Amanda Hendershot, Exit Realty DTC

For those of you with German roots such as myself, October is the time to celebrate. With food, music and Beer. And maybe lederhosen... Each year Oktoberfest in Munich is attended by 6 million visitors who drink more than 5 million liters of beer. While we all can't make it to the famous beer garden under the tents, there are many Octoberfest events to attend. There are local events in many cities and subdivisions.

To name a few, Vail, Breckenridge and Colorado Springs all have festivals. The next two weekends on Larimer Square downtown will be devoted to the holiday. The event will offer cuisine true to the German heritage including several different types of bratwurst, apple strudel, schnitzel, giant pretzels, and sauerbraten. There will be plenty of bier to go around while you listen to live music. September 19 -21 and 26 - 28.

On October 4th Douglas County will be hopping!

Castle Pines North event on October 4th. The family affair is from 11 - 3:00. There will be live music, concessions, fresh produce, artisan vendors, bungee jumping, a giant slide, face painting, cotton candy & popcorn. The sheriff will be there to promote child safety.

Highlands Ranch is having a beer tasting on October 4th from 6:00 - 7:00pm at the Eastridge Rec center. The brew master from Rock Bottom Brewery will lead a sampling of beers. Delicious appetizers and food pairings provided by Rock Bottom Brewery are served as a complement to the brews. You should walk away with a deeper understanding of the different flavors that make up beer while having a great time in the process. All for $15 (If you're 21).

Downtown Castle Rock has Oktoberfest on their calendar as well that day!

Parker has their event listed as tenative on September 20th. If you are in the area be on the lookout!

There are many things in life worth sharing-colds and flu aren't among them.

The first Tuesday in October you can get a flu shot at the Eastridge Recreation Center. The requirements are that you are over the age of four, and anyone under 18 needs to have parental consent. The cost for this service will be $20. A pneumonia shot is available for $45. The good news is no appointment is necessary and cash or credit cards will be accepted.

Eastridge is located at :

9568 University Blvd.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Phone: 303-791-2500

Or Attend a Saturday free flu shot clinic: I have been to one of these in the past, it looks busy but the lines move very fast! *Free to Kaiser members* Walk-in Clinics require a co-pay.

Date: Saturday, October 18
Time: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Date: Saturday, November 1
Time: 8 a.m. to Noon

Location: All Denver/Boulder Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices

Our closest location in Highlands Ranch is located at the intersection of Lucent and Highlands Ranch Pkwy.

Kaiser lists these as the most at risk, anyone in the following at-risk groups should get a flu shot:

• ages 50 and older
• ages 2 to 50 with underlying medical conditions
• women who will be pregnant during the flu season
• children ages 6 months to 18 years
• health care workers involved in direct patient care
• out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children younger than 6 months old
• residents of long-term care facilities and nursing homes
• children ages 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
• children getting their first flu shot need two shots, a month apart

Think of prevention as eating your spinach! Be Well.

Our broker keeps up informed of the lateset news, market trends and mortgage information. This week she forwarded a market study on to me that I want to share.

A study by the Denver area MetroList shows listing inventory drops 18.733% in one year from September 2007. This is the lowest September inventory since 2004.

The inventory reduction is a continuing trend that brings inventory levels down this year. These types of inventory reductions cause the buyers to change their buyer patterns from the last three years. When choices of homes are reduced, buyer behavior increases to make housing choices faster. As buyers make housing choices at a quicker pace, the number of sales will grow faster than the number of new active listings coming on the market, which will result in appreciation of homes.

Watch this inventory number go below 22,000 by January of 2009 and remain at lower levels through 2009 over previous years.

Sold data continues to be the slower indicator of a rebounding market and as of August the number of properties closed still has not yet caught up with the lower inventory and higher under contract data lines. This fall season will start to see year over year changes where 2008 and 2009 will outperform the previous year. The yearly figures for sold data follow a similar trend.

If we annualize these numbers we predict the Denver marketplace will expect to close 42,871 units for 2008. This number reflects a 6.015% decline from 2007 and will be the 5^th year in a row of declining sold data for homes. This might sound gloomy but it actually reflects that we have already hit the bottom and 2009 will be the year of appreciation as inventories continue to decrease and home buyers have a change in their behavior to move quicker into the market.

For Buyers, the shrinking inventory will provide fewer choices. The current absorption rate for homes below $500,000 is 5.985 months.

For Sellers, if you own a home below $500,000 it is good news as your home will be able to stand out as there is not as much competition, but since real estate is localized to the neighborhoods, you must see where you are positioned against other properties in you sub area. For homes above $500,000 sellers must be the first priced home the buyers will find and must be in move in condition to attract the buyers looking for homes above $500,000 in todays market.

There is approximately a 22 month supply above $500, 000. This will start to drop fast and get more in the 13-14 month range by December, as homeowners in these price points will take their homes off the market if they are not selling.

Search the Denver Market! www.exitrealtydtc.com

There is no shortage of controversy once again as the ballots are made for November elections. Sometimes it is overwhelming to make all these decisions. We may feel so passionately we need to discuss this with the community we live in. Here's a few chances to lend your voice.

Look objectively at the issues and arguments for both sides at these times and places. Free to meet, but registration is required. *Lets leave the little ones at home*

Highlands Ranch Library

Thursday, October 2 7pm

Lone Tree Library

Tuesday, September 23 7pm

Roxborough Branch

Tuesday, September 30 7pm

Phillip S. Miller in Castle Rock

Monday, September 22 7pm

The Parker Library will feature a series of discussions, facillitated by local experts.

Global Warming, Wednesday, September 17th 7pm

The Economy, Tuesday, October 21st 7pm

For more information go to DouglasCountyLibraries.org

To Search for homes in Douglas County go to www.exitrealtydtc.com

Location: Antlers Hilton Hotel, 4 S. Cascade Avenue, Colo Springs, 80903

The only 4 diamond hotel in the heart of downtown!

Date: 2008-09-27

Start Time: 6:30pm

End Time: 9:30pm

$75, 719 520-5711 for reservations