Erie, CO

My neighbor and business partner, Becky Coet and I decided to give back to our community here in Erie, Colorado by starting an annual Food Drive. We simply delivered donated paper bags to each home in Erie Commons and will be picking up the filled bags at the end of the week. We have had such a warm response already and people have been contacting us to come and get their bags, I'm pleasantly surprised to see how much people are donating. I have a hard time believing that one neighbor had 3 bags of food just lying around their pantry (which consisted of 3 huge jars of peanut butter) and have a feeling they actually went out and purchased items for the drive...it makes me goopy just thinking about that extra effort being given to help the hungry!! The picture below is just a fraction of what my family donated...

I'm so proud of Erie Commons for coming together to support the local families. We do our official pickup on Friday and are so excited to see how well our community has come together! I can't wait to deliver all the food to the food bank and be able to help the families that are feeling the current economic pinch.

So, be sure to be thankful for what you have. As Sheryl Crow put it in the song Soak Up the Sun, "It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got." Be thankful for the things that you have and the things we often take for granted like food and clothing. If you can spare any items that others would die for, please give this holiday season. You will make a difference in your community and maybe even a family that you wouldn't be able to help otherwise.

Thank you to Safeway for donating 250 bags!!

And mostly, Thank You to Sister Carmen Community Center for providing such an amazing service!!

Heidi :)

Being a native Coloradoan, I've grown up having seasonal snow. From the blizzard of 1982 (I think, I was a kid so I'm not completely sure of the year), to the one in 2006, it's inevitable that we will get some snowy cold white stuff soon. Here it is November and we haven't had any snow (unless you live in the mountains). I have an alterior motive to wanting it...read on my friends!

Looking back on snow storms, they are the best way to have fun family activities. I'll never forget putting on my powder blue snow suit with this horrible '80's multi-colored jacket. My dad had shoveled snow for a good couple hours and the snow was still about 4 feet high. We had the generator running for some heat in the house and for a hot plate since the power was out. As a kid, this was fun and exciting (Mom didn't think so because she wanted to take a shower). To make the happenings a little more fun, Dad had a sled and decided to pull me around until he couldn't find fresh snow to make tracks in. I think he pulled me around for hours.

My latest fond memory is that of the Blizzard of 2006. We had only lived in Erie Commons for about 2 months, I was working at Nordstrom at the time and they had closed the Flatiron Crossing Mall (which I didn't find out until later) but my husband (who drove a truck) decided to go to work that day in my car and leave me his truck because it was safer, he's such a good guy. Little did we know that I didn't have to go in. Poor guy, took my car, was stuck in traffic for 4 hours on his way home in the horrible weather when he could have had is truck that I ended up not needing. Long story short, he got the car almost home but got stuck about 4 houses down the street ( I was so proud of him to make it that far in my little Nissan). It was that night that we learned about how wonderful our neighborhood was going to be. We had all the men on the block with shovels in hand, snow boots, gloves, hats, you name it, digging out my poor car! That same night, we all went to one of their houses for home-made chicken noodle soup and from that night on, we gather on someone's front porch to chit-chat!

It's funny how one event can bring people closer. We often joke that we live on the "East Side" of Erie Commons but everyone knows our street and how we tend to "gather". I never thought that a neighborhood could be so wonderful.

So, I say BRING ON THE SNOW because of what it has done for my family and the rest of the families on the street. Whether it's weather or something else, you should always take the time to know those around you, you never know what friendships could be hiding behind the neighborly doors!

Heidi :)

What an amazing weekend it was. The weather is beautiful, if I remember correctly, we had snow about this time last year. I'm hoping the sun stays out for trick-or-treating on Friday.

Saturday was the 26th Annual Eerie Erie hosted by the Optimist Club. This was a huge event! Over 600 participants joined in the fun. Many of the runners were even from out of town, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that people from outside Colorado knew of this great event in our great town!

There was also the Trunk or Treat event at the Erie Community Center that brought in a huge crowd. I wasn't able to attend this but the parking was insane. My neighbors informed me that they didn't have enough candy for all the kids and families that attended. I guess the town didn't realize how big of a hit their events are.

I also noticed as I was driving into my community the other day that we are getting our very own Walgreens and the construction has already begun. This will be such an amazing addition to our community. We already have some great services available from local business people but this will be filling in the gaps. We'll only have a 5 minute (if that) drive to get some cold medicine late at night. It will be great!

I'm so proud of our town, it is thriving beyond belief and I know that we will continue to have success in the coming years! I'm happy to introduce those of you not familiar with the area, you'd feel right at home!

Heidi :)

I had to write today because I'm sitting at the Erie Community Center here in Erie. I'm watching my 3 1/2 year old in her ballet/tap class. There are so many kids in her class and I can't help but wonder if they will all grow up to compete on "So You Think You Can Dance?" My daughter, is the one in class that probably won't because she is running around galloping like a horse.

But, enough about my daughter's imagination. I have to say I love this place. I am here at least once a day either working out (which is wonderful for stress relief, I highly recommend it) or bringing my kiddo over to run off some energy in their indoor playground. I even work here 3 days a week as a change of scenery and to make some money for my marketing...it's just fun!

I've experimented with the climbing wall but the fear of heights gets me about 12 feet up in the air. This wall is huge and can often be used as a metaphor for other things in life, like getting that loan approved, the closing completed, you know, fun real estate stuff. But the staff is awesome and guides you through it. They are great with kids, very patient and accommodating.

Then there is the gym which is often frequented by high school kids getting some extra basketball or volleyball practice in. They are so energetic, where in the world to they get that from. Heck, when I was in high school, I got mine from mixing Mountain Dew with Dr. Pepper...it sounds gross but it's actually quite yummy. If I drink that now, I have a headache for hours.

Oh, I almost forgot the pool. What would I have been thinking? This thing is awesome! I've never actually been in it but I do my cardio upstairs which looks down on the fun. There is a huge slide, a lazy river, a water park for the little ones and get this, a rope that you can swing off of and jump into the deep end. It is always packed. They have lap lanes, and a TON of swimming lessons going on all the time. There are a handful of lifeguards watching every inch of this area.

Now I know I sound like a walking billboard for the community center but I think it's a great facility. Erie is quickly becoming one of the most sought out areas to live and this community center I think, is the heart of the community. It's beautiful and it's a quick drive from anywhere in town.

From Active Seniors, Active Tots and everyone in between, this place is wonderful! I'm hoping that this just shows that I love to be out and about in the community and want to make a difference in any way I can.

Heidi

Investor often ask me what types of real estate investments are available on the market. Here's what we tell them.

This is the first of several postings on the topic.

Please offer comments - positive or negative!

Assignments. If you don't have much equity to work with, and/or if your credit power is limited, assignments can be a way to get started in real estate investing. You will need to have a strong "sales" personality to succeed at it, though.

Rental Condo or Rental Home. Purchase of a residential property to be rented out to tenants, usually on a 6-12 month lease term. This is how most new landlords get started. You can hire out all of the property management functions, but in many cases you will do many of them on your own. There are smaller down payment requirements than for larger rental buildings. The purchase process and financing process is very similar to what you experienced buying the home you live in now. It's a great way for beginners to get started.

Small (2-4 units) Apartment Building. Purchase of duplex, triplex or quadplex to be rented to tenants, usually for 6-12 month terms. Usually what the rental home / condo landlords graduate to. In most markets they cost a little more than a rental home, but are much more likely to cash flow on the average month. Less cash flow risk; if one unit is empty you have other tenants that still help you with the mortgage payment so it doesn't all come out of your pocket. Many owners will start to delegate some of the property management tasks to an on-site assistant (typically the most responsible tenant), such as yard maintenance and showing empty units. The financing process is only slightly more involved than a residential loan. Relatively small down payment requirements make it affordable. The purchase process is also very similar to purchasing a home. It's a good way for beginners to get started.

Large (5+ unit) Apartment Building. Still targeting tenants for 6-12 months at a time, buildings with more than five units are considered "commercial" property. The loans are more difficult to qualify for, and usually a larger down payment is needed. Uncommon for the new investor; this is usually what landlords with several years of experience "trade up" to. Cash flows on larger buildings are more stable than for smaller buildings, and the economies of scale make it practical (and desirable) to hire a property manager to take over most the work for you. This takes reduces the hassle factor of the landlord process.

Lease Options. Again you are seeking a tenant for a property, but usually for a slightly longer term (12-18 months) and frequently (though not always) with the goal that the tenant purchase the property from you at the end of the lease. If you purchase the property, then it's an easier process; if you find a highly motivated seller to let you re-lease the property to another tenant, it can be a lot of work to set up. However, the re-lease method doesn't require any cash out of pocket and does not rely on your credit score, so it is appealing to many investors. Great for beginners with the right skills and attitude.

Fix and Flips. Purchasing a home that needs work. The scope can range from the basic "paint and carpet" to extensive overhauls to scraping a decrepit property and completely starting over. Usually does not involve tenants, and the objective is to get in and out of the property as quickly as possible. Great for beginners with the right skill sets or the willingness to learn.

Conversion of Apartments into Condos. A synthesis of the fix and flip and rental operations - purchasing an apartment building in a neighborhood dominated by owner occupants, then converting the building from apartment building to condominium. Often requires renovation of the units to meet the expectations of owner-occupant buyers in that area. Complex and time consuming, but has wonderful tax advantages compares to fix and flips and often has superior returns to all other asset classes. Ideally suited for the sophisticated investor with extensive experience.

Scrapes, Pops and New Construction. Purchasing a small home in an expensive neighborhood that may or may not need work. The home is bulldozed and a new home or duplex is put on the lot. Alternatively, the existing home is renovated and more square footage is added on. A pop-top is adding a second story to an existing home to add more square footage (commonly, a master bedroom suite).

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