Deanna Vermillion

Another beautiful winter day in Denver. Yes, yesterday it was blustery, snowy and cold, but as I look out of my office window today, I seen not a cloud in the sky and hardly a memory of yesterday's snow.

Funny how people around the country believe that if you live in Denver, you are up to your knees in snow from October thorugh April. Not so, in fact, for those of us who live here, we know to not even put away our shorts, because they could be worn many times throughout the winter.

So although it is always sad to say goodbye to the summer, we welcome the bright sunny days of winter mixed in with the occassional snow.

I live in a golf community just 20 miles east of Denver. When this community was started in 2000 it was hopping. Why, cheap gas prices, and the homes featured at least 1 acre each, all for around $300,000-$400,000.

Okay, while that may seem like a lot of money, the reality is that you could not touch 1 acre of land in the Denver metro area for much less than $1M.

Since moving there, we have seen gas prices surege to around $4.00 per gallon, before declining with the housing market. Many people have been laid off, this area is relatively close to DIA, where most of the residents work, and the airlines have taken a huge hit also.

But now, the Denver market is picking up! Yah! But what about our little community? It is still slow going. I was speaking with my neighbor the other day, who was wondering how much longer it would be before the market again turned toward Bennett? Happily, I replied, take a look around, the market is turning upward. Yes, the home prices are sluggish, but the number of homes on the market is low compared to 2 years ago, and yes, they are even starting new construction again! Whohoo!

Right now, if you are looking for a golf community, in a small town, with a 1 acre or more lot, this is the place. Prices for existing homes are hovering in the high $200k, but the new construction homes are priced in the high $300k.

It's a safe place to raise your kids! And businesses are booming here. Within the past 1 1/2 year, we have opened a Rec Center (currently building an indoor pool), a King Sooper, Subway, Cost Cutters, and they are starting to break ground on a McDonalds. Yes, we have all the big names!

Plus, this great Golf Community features its own restaurant/sports bar! Upstairs of the restaurant is elegant dining, and downstairs you can order pizza, wings, burgers and sandwiches. What more can you ask!

This fabulous community is called Antelope Hills in Bennett, CO. Whether you are ready to move now, or looking to build your own customized home, it's worth taking a look. Who knows, this may be exactly what you are looking for.

For more information on Antelope Hills Golf Community, contact me, 303-549-0805. We'll get golf carts and drive around all the homes for sale so you can see for yourself, that you are finally home!

Well, I opened my email again today, only to find another 5 spam emails either offering me the $5,000,000 I won in the UK Lottery (that I didn't enter), or wanting me to update my account with XYZ Bank (that I don't have), or the ultra famous, My wealthy spouse/father/brother just passed away in Africa and due to the law, only I (who have no relation with whatsoever) can collect this money, and I will receive a whopping 10% of the $10 billion dollar fortune!

Really, who is still falling for these? If you are online (yes, that's how you are being contacted) then you have heard that these are scams, right? Or is there someone out that how really believes that it is their lucky day, and they have won a lotto that they didn't even participate?

The best, however, is the XYZ Bank sites, who's grammer is poor and words are misspelled. I mean, if you are going through all the trouble of creating a mirror site and sending this fake email to scads of people, shouldn't you invest in a proofreader?

I received an email earlier this week from one of my contacts saying she had to make an emergency trip to England, and is stranded. Needs me to Western Union $2,500 pronto. Ya, right. I emailed my friend, only to find that they have hijacked her entire email account. So, me and my cleaver thinking, picked up the phone and called her, yes, here at her home in Denver. Seriously, do you think I would have a good friend which I would loan $2,500, but not have her telephone number? If I don't have your phone number, I'm not sending you $2,500.

I can only assume people continue to fall for these, or else they would stop altogether. I wonder how many other people are constantly bombarded with these crazy emails?

So I recently had buyers who wanted to purchase a great "short sale" home. The list price was $150,000, and that's what the buyers offered. Once fixed up, the home will value closer to $190-$200k. Great price, uh. But alas, it is a short sale, so we wait 1 month before we get the short sale approval.

The listing agent then advises me that their seller is really selling to an investor, who in turn is selling to my buyer! Okay, I advise the lender - Wells Fargo - they say nothing. The buyers proceed with the appraisal, inspection, get all resolved, and on our way to closing, the Lender, Wells Fargo, advises that they will not fund on this property, as they don't like the amount of money the INVESTOR is making, uh? What does that have to do with my buyer? And we are driving to the closing! The Lender further states that there is no way they will lend on this property, period, unless the investor pulls out and we buy directly from the owner/seller. Unfortunately, the investor has already closed on this property, 4 hours earlier.

Thankfully, we were able to find another lender, who processed quickly, and closed 11 days later. But beware, if you are buying a property from an investor who is buying as short sale, have a backup lender, just in case!

Denver finally welcoms summer! We cursed at the daily thunderstorms, but now, as I drive around in the afternoons with buyers, wow is it hot! With homes too close to use your air conditioner, it seems all the hotter. My poor buyers are thinking maybe fall would be a better time for home shopping.

But, as we all know, winter will soon be here again, and we will be hold up in our homes, awaiting again for summer.

So take heed buyers, if you buy now when it's hot, you will be in your dream home for snowfall!