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About La Plata County, CO

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IT'S BLUEGRASS!

04-11-08
Charles & Mary Rigby
Charles & Mary Rigby: Real Estate Agent in Durango, CO
  • view my blog
  • Office: (970) 375-2513
  • Mobile: (970) 946-4976
  • Secondary: (800) 834-8445
MELTDOWN: Downtown Durango will have a familiar sound as the 14th annual Bluegrass Meltdown kicks off today. Bluegrass music seems to be synonymous with mountain towns. We have several local groups that play bluegrass and even more that tour through the area. Blue grass music is fun, energetic and dynamic. Our annual meltdown is a celebration of the coming of spring with great music, food, beverages and good times.

This year's festival features two-time Grammy Award winner Jim Lauderdale and three-time Bluegrass Music Award winners, the Infamous Stringdusters. Scheduled performances are held at the Strater Theater, Abby Theater and the Elks Lodge.

The best part of the meltdown, however, is you never know where or when an impromptu jam session will pop up. Restaurants, street corners or parks - Durango will be alive with music. What a place to live!

http://homesindurango.com/
http://durangorealestate.biz/
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BP America

04-04-08
Charles & Mary Rigby
Charles & Mary Rigby: Real Estate Agent in Durango, CO
  • view my blog
  • Office: (970) 375-2513
  • Mobile: (970) 946-4976
  • Secondary: (800) 834-8445
GOOD NEIGHBORS: BP America will contribute $1.1 million to a fund to help low and moderate income families in La Plata County buy homes, the Regional Housing Alliance announced Thursday.

The money will go toward second mortgages for buyers to make up the gap between what they can afford and the cost of entry level houses in the area. The money is expected to help 20 or more families get into homes.

BP, a global energy company, is the area's leading natural gas producer. We're a good neighbor. This is one of the things you do when you operate in a community," said Curtis Thomas, director of government and public affairs in the Rockies for BP.

The mortgage program will be targeted at families that make between 80 percent and 125 percent of the area's median household income, or $49,000 to $78,000 for a family of four.

Those interested in receiving second mortgages through the Regional Housing Alliance should call (970) 259-1418

Reprinted from the Durango Herald-Katie Burford-Staff Writer

http://homesindurango.com/
http://durangorealestate.biz/
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MARKET VALUE

04-01-08
Charles & Mary Rigby
Charles & Mary Rigby: Real Estate Agent in Durango, CO
  • view my blog
  • Office: (970) 375-2513
  • Mobile: (970) 946-4976
  • Secondary: (800) 834-8445
VALUE: CNN carried an interview with a Orange County individual regarding the economic and housing problems in southern California. People are out of work, foreclosures are up in Orange County as they are in many other areas of the country. One statement in the interview stood out. He said, "I can't sell my home for what it's worth."

It's funny that homeowners have no trouble adjusting their value opinion when prices are increasing but in a declining market refuse to recognize value decreases. Market value is the price at which a seller is willing to sell and the price at which a buyer is willing to buy. While often a bitter pill, failure to recognize and accept true market is a mistake most seller's can't afford to make.

http://homesindurango.com/
http://durangorealestate.biz/
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SPRING

03-30-08
Charles & Mary Rigby
Charles & Mary Rigby: Real Estate Agent in Durango, CO
  • view my blog
  • Office: (970) 375-2513
  • Mobile: (970) 946-4976
  • Secondary: (800) 834-8445
THE CELEBRATION OF SPRING: Spring is a season of the year we look for all winter. It's a time when nature renews herself. Dry seeds shake their husks and send their green antenna into the air. Much of the poetry of spring is couched in rural settings, because that is where spring calls out on all sides. Yet the great mass of people today are living in a world of concrete jungles, smooth and twisting freeways, screeching brakes and clanging fenders. Much of what thrilled Grandfather in the spring of the year goes unnoticed today. The robin on the spring lawn, the daffodils pushing up sometimes through a crust of snow. But the spirit of spring is still alive and will ever remain as long as man is in a climate of changing seasons.

Some years ago, the Boston Globe wrote a little story related to the philosopher George Santayanna. He chose an April day in 1912 to bring to a close his professional career as a teacher at Harvard University. While he was engaged in his last lecture at University Hall a robin landed on the window sill. He looked at it for a moment, then sighed softly, "Gentlemen, I have a date with spring." With that he went out the door and closed his career.

Reprinted from Cheer

http://homesindurango.com/
http://durangorealestate.biz/
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BUYING A HOME

03-28-08
Charles & Mary Rigby
Charles & Mary Rigby: Real Estate Agent in Durango, CO
  • view my blog
  • Office: (970) 375-2513
  • Mobile: (970) 946-4976
  • Secondary: (800) 834-8445
GOOD NEWS FOR BUYERS: Both conforming loan limits and FHA loan limits have been raised in La Plata County to $443,750. This is in effect until December 31, 2008. These higher limits will enable buyers to obtain a higher loan amount without having to pay the increased interest rate that a non-conforming loan commands. Today the interest rate rate for both conforming and FHA loans is under 6%, a historically low rate of interest. Buyers can obtain conventional loans with as little as 5% down and a FHA loan with just 3% down. This low interest rate, coupled with the rise in the conforming loan amount, should set the stage for a return of consumer confidence and put a buyer in an excellent position to be buying a home.

It is virtually impossible to time a real estate market; to know when the "bottom" has happened. In many areas this has already happened and the markets are showing signs of improvement with the number of pending contracts on the rise. Individuals thinking of buying a home should view this as the perfect time to act while they can take advantage of favorable financing.

The increased conforming loan limit should open up desirable inventory for both first time and move-up buyers as attractive financing puts more homes within reach. It is important to note, we believe now is the time to buy. Our local real estate market, while slowed, is still vibrant. As the rest of the country's markets rebound our prices will escalate.

Please feel free to contact us regarding your Durango real estate needs.

http://HomesInDurango.com
http://DurangoRealEstate.biz

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