Marianne Bandy

Not only has Federal Reserve Chairman Bernake said the recession is "very likely over" in the U.S. but local Denver economist Richard Wobbekind recently predicted that Colorado will rebound quickly. At a gathering of clients of a local financial planning firm, University of Colorado economist Wobbekind offered a few predictors that showed why Colorado is likely to emerge ahead of other states:

•· Business and technology spending, which recover more quickly than consumer spending is expected to increase in the state

•· Higher commodity and energy prices will help the state, especially in rural areas

•· Retail sales, after a 10% fall, are expected to increase 4.4% next year

•· Job growth, negative this year, is expected to be slightly (.4%) positive next year

The best news of all from Wobbekind is that he expects that the recovery will stick, so Colorado does not slip backwards into a second phase of recession.

What does this mean to the average citizen of Denver, who perhaps is hoping to to buy a home in the metro Denver area? Wobbekind does not include anything about the real estate market but Colorado did not experience the roller coaster ride in the real estate market as other states did. Recent sales figures for Denver homes show a median price of $225,000 for single family homes and $145,000 for condominiums.

This means that someone with a stable job and good credit can feel confident buying an affordable house. Ironically, the only problem is that inventory of lower priced homes has been depleted by first time buyers taking advantage of the $8,000 first time homebuyers credit. The next round of growth in housing sales is expected to be among homes with slightly higher prices.

Critics of Wobbekind's forecast are quick to mention that recent government spending may have artificially propped up the economy and made recovery seem closer than it is. Proponents of this "what-goes-up-must-come-down" theory claim that the next descent could be worse than the first. This type of thinking, though, discounts the role of consumer confidence in propping up the economy.

Homebuyers who buy appropriate homes for their needs and their budgets can make a move in confidence. The new home may be smaller, more energy efficient, or be closer to work and provide savings to offset some of the increase in payment. These days, no one should go into real estate in anticipation that they will make a killing; the fact remains that over the long term, real estate usually provides a decent return in addition to comfortable shelter for the family plus a myriad of intangible returns.

Considering buying an affordable Denver home? The pros at Bandy Homes will show you appropriate properties you'll love to own in Denver, Parker, Castle Rock, Aurora, and the whole Denver metro area.

Marianne Bandy

Outstanding Denver Schools

(Thanks to Callie Hamblin of Aurora for submitting this blog idea)

Aurora, CO recently washed out the competition to win the award for best tasting water in the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Water Works Association's taste test. The competition was open to AWA members in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. A five judge panel composed of news media representatives and water taste test professionals chose Aurora water over that of Denver, Centennial, and out of state competitors and concluded that it had the best appearance, smell, taste and overall impression. In June, 2010, Aurora will represent the Rocky Mountain Section of the AWA in Chicago at the Association's AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) "Best of the Best" Taste Test.

Aurora water meets and exceeds state and federal regulations and has always complied with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The fact that the water also has a superior taste is no accident. The excellent taste of the water is due to its state of the art processing techniques, not just the intrinsic quality of the natural product. Aurora Water is one of six water utilities in the country to have passed a rigorous evaluation that now ranks it as one of the top producers of high-quality water.

Aurora's water supply comes from three river basins of the Colorado, Arkansas, and South Platt Rivers and is collected in reservoirs throughout the area. The city has some dependence on groundwater found deep in the earth, but replenishes its supply from melted snow in the Rocky Mountains and rainwater. To make the water fit for drinking, it is put through a series of treatment processes, including lime softening (to remove hardness), coagulation, recarbonation (to reduce pH after softening to a more stable level), high rate filtration, fluoridation, and disinfection. How this treatment process is carried out is what gives Aurora's water the edge.

Like many cities in the west, Aurora, CO is always concerned about water shortages, especially since water supply depends on yearly precipitation. The area is growing so Aurora is ever vigilant of new sources of water, but also promotes water conservation and reuse to keep up increasing demand. Currently, Aurora is in the final phase of the Prairie Waters Project, designed to pull more water from the Platt River Basin.

The recently expanded Wemlinger Water Treatment Plant, which serves Aurora, treats 80 million gallons a day from two reservoirs in Aurora and Ramparts. It is supported by a top quality laboratory, which maintains water standards as laid out in the 1998 Water Master Plan Update. The Wemlinger Water Treatment Plant has received numerous awards in its quest to assure clean, great tasting water for the Aurora area. For more information on Aurora's water supply, see Aurora Water Facts at a Glance.

Want to have excellent water at your fingertips? Bandy Homes can show you fine homes in Aurora, as well as other nearby Denver homes for sale. Quality water is just one of the amenities you will come to enjoy in this beautiful area of Colorado.

Marianne Bandy

Local Denver Resources

If you are a professional considering a transfer to Colorado, why not aim to make your destination Parker, CO,, the city named #4 on the Forbes Magazine list of Top 25 places to move? If you come from out of state, you won't be alone, as 60% of its residents were born out of state or abroad. Parker, a town of about 40,000 people, is a great place to live.

Interestingly, Forbes did not award its placement in the Top 25 based on the usual criteria of income, housing prices, population growth, or school enrollments. What factored in was having a population over 25,000, few seasonal residents like college students or tourists, the number of residents born out of state or abroad, the number who moved from a great distance in the last 1-5 years, and the number who transferred in for a job.

The reason for the criteria is that Parker is considered a "reloville" - a newer city near corporate headquarters that attract young, upscale homeowners who transfer in from out of state. It is so welcoming that transferees quickly feel at home. As Forbes puts it:

"Compared with the rest of the U.S., the top 25 Relovilles that emerged from the analysis {done by Forbes} generally have twice the incomes, twice the home values and home sizes, twice the college degrees, twice as many youth and half as many elderly, twice the divorce rates and twice the numbers of residents who vote Republican. They have less than half as many blacks and more than twice as many Asians and have largely illusory historical roots--new buildings and town centers that overtake forests and prairies."

Parker, 20 miles southeast of Denver Colorado is near several large employers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, First Data, and DirecTV. Many people live and work in Parker, but the city is a rapidly growing commuter town that houses many who work in the southeast section of the Denver Metropolitan Area. The town actively welcomes new residents and works hard at maintaining a small time atmosphere where involvement in civic affairs is encouraged and where interesting local events dot the calendar. Created in 1992, the Parker Recreation Department offers excellent facilities and programs for residents of all ages to enjoy. Meanwhile, the Parker Economic Development Council works closely with businesses interested in moving or expanding to the Parker area. The city operates under the Parker 2025 Master Plan to analyze and plan for development in view of employment trends.

Founded in 1864, Parker was incorporated in 1981 as a Home Rule Municipality in Douglas County, Colorado and is now the 17th most populated city in the State of Colorado. What draws people to Parker? Besides the proximity of being near a major city while maintaining the small town feel, Parker has a low crime rate, excellent city services, and schools of the highly acclaimed Douglas County School District where students are traditionally high performers. Like many Colorado cities, Parker offers spectacular mountain views and plenty of recreational opportunities. Even for the relocated, you can't get much better than Parker!

Intrigued by beautiful, friendly Parker? The pros at Bandy Homes can show you Parker Colorado Real Estate that will make a perfect next home for your family.

Want to be closer to I-25? We can also show you Castle Rock, CO which made #5 on the Forbes list!

Marianne Bandy

Relocate to Denver

When you pay your heating bill, the last thing you want to do is waste money. The government doesn't want to you to waste energy either, so they are saying, "Don't throw your money out the window - buy new windows instead!"

Thanks to the Obama Stimulus Bill, Denver homeowners can now receive energy credits of 30%, with a cap of $1,500, for installing more energy efficient windows and doors. This credit, good through 2010, improves on a popular credit in effect in 2006-2007 by expanding the amount. Besides windows and doors, the credit also covers insulation, water heaters, roofs, air conditioning, and biomass stoves. For homeowners willing to convert to alternative energy sources such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, solar panels, fuel cells, and small wind energy systems, there is no cap on the 30% contribution and they have until 2016 to fully install these systems.

While new windows and doors might improve the appearance of your home, the energy saving aspect is that you will save money while:

• reducing greenhouse emissions from power plants
• becoming more comfortable in your home as you reduce drafts and overheated spaces
• reducing condensation
• reducing sun rays that can damage and fade fabrics in your home by acting as a sun screen

Only windows and doors that have a combination of a less than .30 U-Value and a .30 SHGC qualify for the credit. Prior to June 1, 2009, it was enough to have an Energy Star label on the product. Now window ratings must be certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), the only federally recognized organization for determining the energy performance of windows, doors and skylights. Windows must have an NFRC label. To get the credit, homeowners must obtain a manufacturer certification statement to document window, door, or skylight eligibility for the tax credit. This certification may be available on the manufacturer's Web site if the retailer or installer cannot provide this document. More information about product performance is available at the NFRC website.

Windows are now more efficient due to new glazing techniques and better sealing, so less air escapes from around the frames. Air loss leads to substantial heat loss, heat gain, and moisture migration in a building. Proper sealing around all doors, windows and other open through the walls, ceiling and foundation is as important to energy code compliance as are proper insulation R-Values and component U-factors. Click here for a handy sheet to help you select energy efficient windows in Denver from the Efficient Window Collaborative.

Even with the tax credit, replacing older less efficient doors and windows could be costly to homeowners. Many window companies are running promotions (and financing options) to make it easier for home owners to upgrade. Since the tax credit lasts until next year, there is also time to budget for the replacement.

Looking for an energy efficient home in the Denver Metro area? At Bandy Homes, we can show you a great home that either meets federal standards or that is easily upgradeable.

Marianne Bandy

Fine Castle Rock Homes