Jumbo Loan Becoming More Available

Jumbo loans are becoming more available. They still require a minimum down payment of 10%. Ask your mortgage broker about a 90% loan to value program with NO mortgage insurance. It's a very cool offering!

With jumbo loans the key is debt to income ratio. Ratios have to be at 45% or below.

Mortgage rates drop below 5%

Just last week, rates dropped to 4.5% for the second time EVER. The last time was about a year and a half ago, but they only stayed that low for literally an hour or two. This time, it seems like rates are staying lower a little longer. Today’s rate is 4.625% on a 30 year fixed (certain restrictions apply).

 “Consumer confidence is up, which means consumers are more optimistic about their personal financial situation and more likely to buy higher priced items. However, with unemployment also up and fear in the stock market, money is flowing into bonds and keeping mortgage rates low,” says Blair Weed of the Meridian Lending Group. “My recommendation to those considering financing/refinancing a home is to lock in your interest rate now.  There is so little room for rates to go down, yet so much pressure for them to go up.”

*Market Highlights

Average sold price for single family homes up 7.8% over April 09.

Number of closed single family homes up 22.1% year over year.
*All numbers per the Denver MLS.

Coming Soon

4366 Perth Cir, Denver—3 beds/2 baths, $149,500

Just Listed

8500 E Jefferson Ave #10-I, Denver—2 bed/2 bath, $146,000—Under contract in 9 days!

269 Galapago St, Denver—1 bed/1 bath, $179,900

Price Reduced

3100 Huron St #2D, Denver—2 beds/2 baths, $299,000

594 Chandelle Rd, Castle Rock—4 beds/4 baths, 7 garage spaces, $649,900

5347 W Fremont Pl, Littleton—5 beds/4 baths, $299,900—Under contract!

11627 Bowles Cir, Littleton—5 beds/2 baths, $212,900

2232 E 100^th Pl, Thornton—5 beds/4 baths, $279,900

If you’d like more information on historically low interest rates for the purposes of purchasing or refinancing, let me know and I can help or put you in touch with someone who can. 

In The Heights

I adored this show from the opening scene! Never thought I'd say this, but it's got the perfect blend of rap and soaring ballads. Dancing that you can actually relate to. (Yeah, I guess I relate better to hip hop than tap). The characters are lovable and some are hilarious. I was laughing and talking out loud the whole time, much to Meg's delight I'm sure. If I talk out loud during a show, it's a sure sign that I love it. Besides, the guy next to me was chomping on his gum so loudly the whole time I had to in order for Meg to hear me!

Are you moved to tears sometimes, not because you're sad or overly happy, but just for the sheer fact that something you're witnessing is so well done and the people performing are so dang talented? That happens to me sometimes. I just get this overwhelming feeling and want to shout or cry or something because what I'm seeing is so cleverly, beautifully, joyfully executed. All this emotion wells up inside of me and starts leaking out in the form of laughter, a huge grin, tears or me talking out loud to the person next to me! I love seeing people throw everything they have into something and give it all they've got - especially when they're really, really, really talented. That's the way I felt during this show. It all came together really well for me. Best show I've seen in a long, long time!

The Great Bridge

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked the latter half of this book better than the first. I got tired of the stories of political corruption in New York during that time as well as all the details about the the technical aspects of the construction and lowering of the caissons used for the foundations on the bridge on the New York and Brooklyn sides of the river. At the same time, I don't know how the author could've left much of it out. I guess I wish he would've made a bit more concise for guys like me that just wanna get to the good part.

My favorite part of the book was the characters. Absolutely fascinating men and women. People of such talent, brilliance, and incredible work ethic. These are the people we all lean upon. There are men and women like this in every era. They make our lives better in more ways than we can imagine.

View all my reviews >>

Difficult Conversations

Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss what Matters Most by Douglas Stone

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic book. I'm gonna have to read it again and again. Could use the content for an amazing marriage improvement course. I'd sign up.

Lots of practical advice in this book. I loved the role plays. So easy to relate to. One of the best things I learned (or was reminded about) is that you should never blame someone else for a problem but instead find out how each party contributed to the problem and learn to talk it through openly and fairly.

I wish I'd read this book months ago! There are a number of difficult conversations I've had since then that would've gone a lot better. They still would've been difficult, because difficult conversations always are, but I would've been able to handle them more skillfully.

View all my reviews >>

Monthly Update

Thank you for supporting me by sending me the contact information of anyone you know that’s thinking about buying or selling real estate.

Which part of the market is really moving right now? If you’ve heard that most of the activity in the Denver real estate market is at the lower end, you’re right. According to Metrolist data, almost 93% of the sales in the first quarter of 2010 were priced below $500,000. Of the 8,121 homes (and condos) sold in the first quarter of this year, 7.7% of the homes sold were priced at $500,000 or more. Homes priced at or below $100,000 accounted for 12% of the market. Those from $100,000 to $200,000 comprised 34%; $200,000 to $300,000, 27%; and $300,000 to $500,000, 19%.

That being said, the market is slowly shifting back towards equilibrium. Whereas there was an enormous amount of activity going on for properties priced below $100,000 a couple of years ago, those properties have mostly been gobbled up. There just isn’t a lot of activity in that price range anymore. As the numbers and percentages above show, most of the activity is taking place between $200,000 and $500,000.

Fact or fiction? There is little or no financing available for homes priced above $500,000. FICTION! There’s plenty of financing available. There were actually 834 closings in the first quarter for homes and condos priced above $500,000. A full 107 of them were priced at 1 million or more!

Click Here For Photos & Info On All My Active Listings

Coming Soon

269 Galapago Street, Denver—2 bed/2 bath, $179,900

Just Listed

948 Locust Street, Denver—6 bed/5 bath, $749,900

594 Chandelle Road, Castle Rock—4 bed/4 bath, $695,000

1725 Wild Rye Court, Castle Rock – 5 bed/3 bath, $374,000

16140 Martingale Drive W, Parker—3 bed/3 bath, $239,900

11627 W Bowles Circle, Littleton—4 bed/2 bath, $219,900

17139 E Neu Towne Parkway, Parker—3 bed/3 bath, $219,000

Price Reduced

9221 Weeping Willow Court, Highlands Ranch—4 bed/3 bath, $229,000

10208 Cherryhurst Lane, Highlands Ranch—3 bed/3 bath, $256,900

3435 S Ammons Street, #30-6, Lakewood—2 bed/3 bath, $169,900

23662 E Chenango Place, Aurora—2 bed/2 bath, $264,900

3100 Huron Street-2D, Denver—2 bed/2 bath, $309,000

2232 E 100th   Place, Thornton—5 bed/4 bath, $289,900

1322 Beth Lane, Northglenn—3 bed/4 bath, $209,900

9095 Renoir Drive, Littleton—3 bed/3 bath, $254,900

838 Inca Street, Denver—2 bed/2 bath, $175,000

There is life after the tax credit. I will prove it! Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to come out of the Great Recession together!