Marianne Bandy

Given that the average lifespan for Americans is 78, aging does not mean that life after retirement means racking up endless hours in a rocking chair. People want to stay active and enjoy traveling, sports, social activities, and other pursuits as long as they can. While they may still want the financial benefits of home ownership, they may not want the responsibilities of lawn care, the hazards of steps, or the burden of space. As they find their health slipping a bit, they want to be in a place that can comfortably accommodate change, with transportation options.

Within the Metro area, there are over 120 Denver developments geared to the over 55 population, with prices starting in the low 100's. Virtually any active adult who wants to be a homeowner can enjoy the climate, natural attractions, and reasonable cost of living that Denver is famous for and do so in a home in their choice of a single family home (often ranch style), townhouse, condominium, or high rise. Many senior adult communities offer additional amenities to make the development a self-contained social and recreational center. Some areas are viewed as over 55 properties exclusively, but others are considered good retirement properties because senior-friendly floor plans are available.

One community specifically for active adults is the Del Webb Anthem Ranch Community in Broomfield, CO. Acquired by Pulte Homes in 2001, Del Webb started building retirement communities back in 1960, when they built their first complex in Phoenix. This group now has 50 developments in 20 states, including Anthem Ranch in Broomfield. Anthem is gated and promotes a lifestyle within that includes many recreational facilities and many opportunities for developing relationships with neighbors - so much that the residents only need venture out to shop. A golf course and fitness center are on site, as well as opportunities to pursue hobbies, join clubs, or take classes. A 30,000 square foot community center further brings the residents together.

The community, only a few minutes from Denver and Boulder, is served by buses. The availability of reliable public transportation makes the location a good one for mature homeowners who might need or want to cut down on their driving over the years.

The Anthem Ranch homes are built by a company noted for its green building practices - a good fit for Colorado, a very environmentally conscious state. Since 1996, Pulte has built 70,000 Energy Star Certified Homes; currently, 70% of homes constructed by the company nationwide are built to these standards. The company has been recognized by the Department of Energy for its participation in Builder's Choice, a voluntary energy-savings program aimed at constructing homes 30% more energy efficient than typical homes built to code. Pulte also utilizes value engineering to use resources more efficiently and reduce waste in home building, plus aggressively recycles waste on the jobsite. About 8,000 pounds of waste are generated in the construction of a 2,000 square foot home; Pulte recycles over 70%.

Anthem Ranch is only one of the senior-friendly communities near Denver that bring together convenience and green goals. Another popular community with active senior adults is Heritage Eagle Bend in Aurora, CO. At Bandy Homes, we can lead you to a home you'll love in Aurora, Broomfield, or Castle Rock.

Marianne Bandy

We Work with Denver Buyers

For some people, moving to a new home is almost a rite of passage when the last kid leaves home, retirement comes, or health deteriorates. The home with the two acre lot, the spiral staircase, and huge storage space can lose its appeal when the urge to downsize, simplify, and "de-step" the house takes over. In many cases, this is a great idea; in fact, in the Denver area, communities for mature active adults often feature ranch style housing with no lawn responsibilities and plenty of activities on site.

Some senior developments are transit oriented developments (TOD's), whole communities built around transit lines. TOD's are proving to be a perfect solution for those who hope to make one last move that will provide comfortable, hassle-free shelter for their remaining decades of life. With shopping nearby and reliable, and easily accessible transportation nearby, planned transit oriented communities can also limit dependence on government-subsidized transportation and meal delivery, while allowing seniors to remain independent longer. Seniors, along with childless couples and others who want the perfect blend of compact housing and convenience are the major demographic groups expected to assure the popularity and expansion of TOD communities.

Other people are equally adamant that they want to keep their homes - all their memories are there, they can maintain it, etc., so why move? Assuming that the home is one they can safely continue to live in, they may decide to "age in place" and renovate the home they love so they can continue to live there independently.

High end renovations might include putting in a first floor bathroom or transforming a first floor den into a bedroom. A tasteful ramp that blends into the exterior landscape might be added for easier access to the home. Small improvements that incorporate "universal design" principles can be made. Such things as putting in lever-style door knobs and faucet handles, moving outlets higher off the ground and light switches lower, and adding kitchen counters with different heights can make the home easier to live in for aging residents and make the home resalable to a growing segment of the market.

"Aging in place" consulting is a booming new industry. Firms such as Safe Aging of Florida assess homeowners' needs and abilities and make recommendations on how to make living space more convenient, safe, and comfortable. Lifease of Minnesota takes the process to the next level and identifies potential suppliers who can implement the suggested solutions.

Retrofitting a home for aging in place can be a costly venture; as is true with anyone debating whether to renovate or move, the homeowner must decide which option is better. Some homes, even if adapted for better access, are not good candidates for renovation. The Bandy Home Team will help you understand your options. We can show you some of the new TODs built for convenience as well as many other elder-friendly properties in Parker, Aurora, or other Denver-area communities.

Marianne Bandy

Denver Metro Real Estate

Becoming greener and staying that way is public policy in Denver, Colorado. Blueprint Denver, the city's plan for future development, envisions an inviting urban center with plenty of green space, less reliance on cars, and housing planned in tandem with public transit.

What will pull the city plan together is the FasTracks project, a $4.7 billion plan that includes 119 miles of light rail and commuter rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, 21,000 new parking spots at transit stations, and expanded bus service. Approved by voters in seven counties in 2004, the FasTracks Plan will develop new stations along the Central, East, West, North Metro, U.S. 36, Southeast, and Southwest Corridors and along the Gold Line to make Metro Denver one of the five urban leaders in fixed rail mileage.

Transit-oriented developments (TOD's) are built around bus and light rail stops so that residents can easily access public transportation or walk to work or shopping. Bike and pedestrian friendly, Denver TODs will promote a sense of community and encourage people to live, work, and play in the area. The city will be more like the "walking cities" of 19^th century America and will fit the changing demographics of the area.

Though Denver is considered a young city, the population of seniors over 60 is expected to double by 2030 as the general population ages and expands by 1.2 million. Many of the newcomers will be couples without children or single parents. These trends will lead to an increasing demand for more compact housing that is affordable and accommodating to smaller families as well as seniors who want to relocate to space that will allow them to "age in place." These groups are expected to provide the greatest demand for TOD communities.

The expected effect of Transit-Oriented Developments is to lower reliance on the car. While commuting to work in a car is convenient, emissions add to air pollution and contribute to respiratory disease. Cars are costly to operate, in term of gas costs and maintenance, as well as parking and insurance. If people lived in a TOD that is well served by public transportation, they could save money, perhaps not even need a car, and promote the public good by driving less.

A newly-constructed TOD in Englewood, CO pulls together new housing, shopping, office space, public buildings, and parks - near a FasTrack stop. Though the TOD model for new housing is likely to spread throughout the area, it is a great way to revitalize older urban areas as well. In downtown Denver, the 16^th Street Mall is at the center of a thriving community of retail, office space, and a variety of housing, including converted industrial buildings and warehouses, parks, and entertainment.

Bandy Homes can help you find your TOD home of the future in Metro Denver.

Marianne Bandy

Relocate to Denver

Close to 90% of home shoppers use the internet in the home-buying process, according to a recent National Association of Realtors survey. At Bandy Homes, we have taken note of this and upgraded our websites to be very user friendly and full of information. Seeing area homes on line familiarizes potential buyers with what is available in the area. It gives you an idea of how much you will get for your money and saves a lot of legwork.

Using the internet when looking for your Denver area home does not mean that you should put off finding a good local agent. Though the internet has revolutionized real estate, few internet shoppers actually make a real estate purchase on line. It's one thing to take a leap of faith and buy a pair of shoes on eBay, but there's a lot more money involved and a lot more long-term consequences for making a bad choice in real estate. Even before a buyer is ready to make a purchase, there are several good reasons to use the expertise only an agent can offer to supplement your internet research.

First, most websites do not offer all the properties available in the area. Agents, however, have access to all listings on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and may even know of other properties that may be coming up for sale in the near future. Popular sites that you might visit such as Realtor.com, Zillow, or Trulia only include part of the listings that are live in the MLS. Your perfect house might be missing from those sites.

Second, if you need to sell your home before you buy another one, you will want to know how much it would sell for. On-line comparative market value analysis can offer you a ballpark figure for how much your property is worth but cannot account for the unique features of your home, the condition, or any other neighborhood variables. Your agent can actually pull up the selling price of other homes in your neighborhood, as well as evaluate your particular home. You may get the word from the agent that your black walls and leaking basement will make the value less, while your deck will justify a higher price.

Third, though you can amass a lot of knowledge about buying or selling a home by reading real estate blogs, market data, and housing news, your local agent can give you information and advice based on your situation and the local market. When it comes to conducting the transaction, your agent also makes sure all the right paperwork is processed and at the right time. You do not want to make a costly mistake based on your inexperience.

Fourth, it's easy to overlook homes for sale by owner (FSBO) in internet searches. As many as 25% of homes for sale do not come up on various sites and are not in the MLS. Your internet search should cast a wide net, including Craigslist, to get a fuller range of what is available FSBO. Your agent might even have a better handle on FSBO properties than you can get on your own.

Fifth, not all listings on the internet are legitimate. Some listings (especially those without pictures) do not really exist, and by clicking on them, you may enable a scammer to gather some information about you. People who do not own property can portray themselves as owners and even collect deposits that will not apply to the property.

The internet is a valuable asset in home buying and selling. When used as a source of background information, it can help you work with your agent to come up with just the right home and just the right offer. But there is no substitute for an experienced, professional real estate agent.

Looking for an agent with local expertise in Aurora, Parker, Castle Rock, and greater Denver? The agents at Bandy Homes will help you bring it all together.

Marianne Bandy

Relocate to Denver

You've gotten pre-approved for a home loan, you have a stable job, you have enough money in the bank for a down payment and closing costs, and you have figured your budget a million times to make sure you can afford it. Still, you wonder if this is a good time to buy a home in Denver. Every time you hear something positive about the economy, there's always a naysayer who says "What if...."

Recent facts indicate that the economy is picking up, with consumer confidence along with it. Of the 10 indicators tracked by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (EDC), 10 show Denver is solidly on the road to recovery.

Customer confidence has been on the rise throughout the country, but according to Tom Clark, executive vice president of the EDC, "Consumer confidence has jumped 28 percent in one month. While this has been an across-the-nation increase in consumer confidence, Denver saw twice the national jump..."

Some of the indicators included in the Denver EDC's monthly tracking include:

• Unemployment claims have decreased from the previous months, though the rates are still higher than last year.

• The unemployment rate of 7.6% is below the national average of 8.8%.

• Despite some new foreclosures, foreclosure rates have fallen in the region 14.2% year-to-date from a year ago.

• Companies are expanding in the area, including Fortune 500 DaVita Inc., which moved its headquarters to Denver.

• Stimulus projects are underway, such as the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere lab at Colorado State University. This project received $64.4 million over five years to study atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) received $64 million to construct a new facility, plus $4 million in annual funding for the next five years. Additional stimulus dollars will be pumped into internship programs in bioscience, energy, aerospace, and information technology.

• Denver is viewed as the Number 1 city for a housing rebound as noted in our earlier blog Denver Poised to Recover First from Real Estate Slump, which was based on a Today show report. Inventories of unsold homes are declining, which means that the supply and demand for homes are getting more balanced.

These indicators do not mean that Denver is totally out of the woods so far as the recession is concerned. None of us have access to a crystal ball that will reveal exactly how the economy will play out. However, recovery is fueled by consumer confidence which is on the upswing in Denver and throughout the country. At the moment, you also have the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit to stabilize your position.

Buying a home is a great thing to do this spring. If you are ready to go - or even if you have concerns - contact Bandy Homes. We can find you an affordable home in Parker or other fine Denver area communities and even show you how the $8,000 tax credit can help out with your down payment.

Marianne Bandy

Great schools in Denver