A few weeks ago, I posted a blog called "Chicken Paws." It was about how I'd found chicken feet at the local 
Super Wal-Mart and thought my dogs might enjoy them. I'd been considering putting the pups on a BARF diet (Bones & Raw Food) for many reasons, not the least of which was to reduce the poop-load in my new, tiny back yard!
You can read more about BARF here.
Well, we've been BARFing for a few weeks now and it's going well! My dachshund's skin problems are all but gone, the dogs all seem healthier and more energetic and I think the poop-factor is much improved (hard to tell, though with all the snow). And of course, the dogs LOVE their new diet.
I've been feeding them mostly chicken, but am worried because Ziggers has been wolfing down her chicken wings whole. Doesn't seem to bother her, but I'm a nervous mom. So I read that you can buy a meat grinder and grind up the meat, making it safer, but... I'm not in the meat grinding business and don't really wanna be. What to do, what to do?
So today, I happened to drive by a little shop in Wheat Ridge called "Rocky Mountain Meats." Hmmmm... I wonder if they could grind some meat up for me?
Well, apparently, Rocky Mountain Meats is THE place for BARFers! As soon as I uttered the words Dog Food, the owner showed me an entire freezer full of ground up meat especially for dogs! Bones and all!
Cost? Like... $1.29/pound! You can get Wild Game or a Chicken/Turkey mix; I bought some of each. I'll let you know how it goes over.
I've been selling real estate in Denver since 1996. Gone thru crazy boom markets and, of course, those not-so-fun, not-so-booming markets. But thru the years, one thing has remained true in this Charming Old Denver real estate market.
Spring is the best time sell. Period. Naturally, some springs are better than others - those who have been around awhile might remember the springtimes of the mid-to-late 90's where every house put on the market sold for $10,000 more than the last, resulting in crazy appreciation rates in a matter of months. But the market always dies on July 4th and stays pretty dead thru November.
Will this trend hold true in 2008? Well, it's hasn't failed me yet, and although we probably won't see the Spring Fevers of year's past, it's not out of the question. Fall of 2007 was brutal to home-sellers (and not so kind to buyers either) and there may be a bit of pent-up demand out there. Here in central Denver, there is an optimism in the air and SOLD signs on the streets. I think we may be heading for a decent spring! Yay!
What does this mean for Charming Old Denver homebuyers or sellers? Well... a few things. If you're thinking of buying, you might consider doing it sooner rather than later. Interest rates are low (in the 5's) and inventory is good. If we do see a seasonal surge in the market, prices will almost certainly go up. Buy now... enjoy the appreciation.
Sellers? If you're thinking of selling in 2008, shoot for an on-the-market date of no later than May 1, if that timeframe works for you.
I'm happy to help brainstorm options with you. No pressure, no obligation!
Disclaimer... Of course, I don't have a crystal ball and nothing I say here should be construed as any sort of guarantee... just a report of my own anecdotal historical experience. Please do your own research and soul-searching before making any decisions regarding your real estate portfolio.
Been gone from Denver a few years - two years and 6 weeks to be exact. Got back to town a week ago today. Love it, Love it.
So, to celebrate my first week back home, here's a little tribute to Denver...
Denver Is....
...Friendly
I've yet to leave the house for any sort of errand and not had a pleasant conversation with someone - a conversation that left me smiling on my way to the next pleasant conversation. Now, that may not sound like much to you, but I'm not at all a people-person and I tend to retreat into my own little world when I'm in public. People are so nice here! I'm inspired to hold up the tradition!
...Healthy
In my two years away, I'd forgotten how darn healthy this town is. 2 degrees outside? No problem! You still see people biking and jogging (not me). I've yet to see a cigarette and last night I couldn't find a parking space at the new organic grocery store in my neighborhood. When I tell someone I'm gluten-free (can't eat wheat), nine times out of ten they know what I'm talking about. 
...Sunny
My first day here, last Sunday, was so darn sunny I could hardly stand it. Where else on the planet do you have Sun Glare reports in conjunction with the local traffic reports? Seriously, the sunshine is fabulous and can make an otherwise chilly day feel like spring. Maybe all the sunshine is why people are so friendly?
...Dry
Dry is good... except while you're adjusting. I have a pot of boiling water on my stove which needs replenishing every hour. Chapstick is never far from reach. When I put on my moisturizing lotion in the morning (at 40, I gotta think ahead, y'know), I have to add more 15 minutes later. But, once my body gets used to this, dry is great. There really IS such a thing as "dry" cold and "dry" heat, both of which make temperature extremes much more bearable.
...Easy to Navigate
On my way to Denver from Alabama, I stopped off in Kansas City to see family. Got lost, lost, lost and lost again. I grew up there, for gawd's sake! Denver? All grid. Straight lines that intersect at perfect right angles; even the highways are pretty much straight and uncomplicated. Oh, and most of the streets in Central Denver are alphabetical! How cool is that??? (e.g. Zenobia, Yates, Xavier, Wolff, Vrain, Utica, etc.).
...Home
It just feels right. It's good to be home.
I believe a great real estate agent is a master of her market. Simple as that. She focuses on a few geographic areas and knows them inside and out. She knows, from the address, whether or not that house is on the bus route or if that condo is subject to highway noise (e.g. the west side is okay; the east side is too noisy). She knows if two-story houses are selling better than one-story houses, and she knows why. She knows if it's possible to get a two-car garage, or if off-street parking is as good as it's gonna get.
During my ten year career in Denver, I focused on the Charming Old Neighborhoods, particularly Highlands/Northwest Denver. That's where I lived, worked and roller-bladed, and I knew it inside and out. Give me an address and I could almost tell you what the house sitting there looked like.
I've been living in Alabama for the last two years, but am moving back to Denver next week. I know that the Denver market has changed (duh). Not just the values and marketability; in my beloved Highlands, there's development everywhere! Little Bungalows being torn down and replaced with custom duplexes. Lofty condos going up with views of the City. A trendy new shopping area in a previously rather seedy area, and best of all (for me) there's now a Sunflower Market just SEVEN blocks from my house. 
When I left Denver two years ago, I sold my house for $322,000. Apparently right after I closed, that little neighborhood skyrocketed and values shot over $400,000. Sheesh. The little Bungalow I'm moving into that I purchased as a rental in 2005 for $269,900 is now over $350,000 (for 950 sqft - wow - I'm a little spoiled by the Alabama prices I've enjoyed the last two years).
My point is that I have some catching up to do. My first order of business upon landing back in Denver is start previewing like a mad-woman. I LIKE being an expert and I intend to become one again, as quickly as I can. Believe me, it's great fun to be a Master of Your Market and I know of no better way to generate interest at a social gathering than to be able to talk real estate intelligently, at a local level. Seriously - if I'm going to a party, I'll actually preview houses in the area beforehand!
But anyway, I'm looking forward to the challenge of getting back up to speed. If you're in central Denver and you see a little yellow Subaru buzzing around, it's probably me, Re-Learning My Market.
I take care of the details! As my FIRST priority, not as an afterthought when my prospecting is done. My clients get my full attention which is why... dare I say it...I've never had to prospect ;-)
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