Robert & Jani Bielenberg, CRS, GRI,e-PRO Centennial, Colorado

For the 5th year in a row, Centennial ranks as the safest City in Colorado! CQ Press released its annual publication of CityCrime Rankings 2009-2010: Crime in Metropolitan America and Centennial ranked 15th out of 393 cities. Hooray!

Mayor Randy Pye was quoted as saying, "I am proud that Centennial has once again made the list as the safest city in Colorado. It is an impressive honor and one that would not be possible without the Arapahoe County Sherrif's Office as our law inforcement agency. There is no better measure of the quality of life for our citizens than this".

There are six crime statistics used when calculating the crime rate rankings: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. Included in this report are cities with at least 75,000 residents that report crime data to the FBI.

Price declines don't affect all homes the same way. When we compare the average sales price of a Denver home from January to May 2009 and compare that to the same period in 2008, we find that the average Denver home price dropped about 8%. (It has since improved to a 6% year-to-date decline). Are all homes impacted in the same way? No, it depends a lot on the size and location of the home.

The smaller 10% of the homes that sold (those under 910 square feet) experienced only a 2% drop. The larger 10% (those over 2875 square feet) experienced a 17% drop. The home size segments in the middle generally matched the overall average price drop.

What does this mean for you?

• If you have a smaller home, it appears that prices are about at the bottom. In many neighborhoods, prices have already began to rise. If you want to trade up to a larger home, now is a great time to do so!

• If you have a mid-size home, and want to trade up to a larger home, this is also a great time to do so. You may not get as much for your current home as you'd like, but you'll find that the larger homes have never been more affordable.

• If you have a larger home, and need to sell, perhaps your best move will be to price it right and move now in case prices drop slightly further.

• If you've been thinking about buying an investment property, now is the time to make that purchase. Don't wait any longer. Prices on good rental properties are firming up and won't be any more affordable than they are now and you risk interest rates going up in the coming months.

We are always happy to discuss the Denver real estate market, your options and answer any question that you may have!

The Streets at SouthGlenn celebrated their Grand Opening on August 28 - 30th. It was a fabulous weekend speckled with many activities for all ages to enjoy. The merchants are extremely happy to be a part of the City of Centennial at the beautiful and stunning revitalization of The Streets at SouthGlenn. Please do stop by and welcome them to our community! And don't forget your checkbook - you are going to love the shopping and dinning opportunities!

One opportunity you won't want to miss - The Streets at SouthGlenn Tile Project. Hundreds of hand-painted tiles are going to cover the wall outside the concierge lobby. This showcase of tiles will be painted by the children in our community.

The number of tiles is limited, so reserve your tile now! The price is $25 for each 6" X 6" tile. The donation is tax deductible and benefits the Arapahoe Library Friends Foundation, which provides funding for programs such as summer reading, writing contests, computer labs and much more.

Painting will take place at the new SouthGlenn Library at The Streets at SouthGlenn, 6972 South Vine Street, Centennial, Colorado 80122. Times will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. An email confirmation will be sent upon receiving your order and will confirm your scheduled time and date.
Contact Nicolle Davis at 303-798-3021 or ndavies@ald.lib.co.us

Saturday, August 29th, 10am - 1pm and 1pm - 4pm
Saturday September 12th, 10am - 1pm and 1pm - 4pm
Saturday September 19th, 10am - 1pm and 1pm - 4pm

Tile artists and their families will be invited to a special breakfast and unveiling of the wall during The Streets at SouthGlenn Tile Unveiling Party this fall!

Hurry and get your order in now! Orders must be received by September 15th, 2009!

Tips for preparing your home for fall showings.

Curb appeal is important year-round. Because first impressions are irreversible, make sure your home is inviting. Think as if you were going on a blind date!

During the autumn months, rake leaves, pull weeds, prune shrubs and trees.

Apply new bark mulch and plant fall annuals.

As always, mow your lawn and clean out any debris clogging your gutters.

• Paint the front door and hang a festive wreath.
• Remove all cob webs and wash the house exterior. Paint the exterior if it needs it.

If it snows, be sure to clear a path to the house.

Everything inside should sparkle. A good first impression is just as necessary on the other side of the front door.

• Clean the drapes and blinds and make sure your windows are sparkling clean.
• If walls are looking worn, a fresh coat of paint will make everything look fresh.
• Clean appliances. Replace discolored drip pans and burner rings on stove.
• Dust ceiling fans, especially the blades.
• Consider the smell of the house. Remove sweaty clothes from closets, clean litter boxes daily, remove grease from kitchen. Candles and potpourri can help, but they won’t mask cigarette and pet odors. You’ll need to clean or replace carpet and open windows daily to freshen the house.
• Clean or replace dirty switch plates and outlet covers.
• Re-caulk bathtubs and showers.
• Repair any dripping faucets and showerheads.
• Repair running toilets.

Create a warm environment. Your home should offer a warm, friendly experience, especially during the first showing.

• Keep the house cozy and well-lighted. Clean all light fixtures and replace light bulbs with higher wattages.
• Create a warm and welcoming environment with pumpkins and other fall embellishments.
• Turn on soft music.
• Fresh baked cookies are a nice touch.

Depersonalize. You don’t want people distracted by the fact that you live there. You want them to be able to see themselves living there. Help them do that by removing potential barriers.

• Leave your home during showings.
• Take down family photos, trinkets and other clutter.
• Remove posters from bedrooms.
• Neutralize your home. You may have loved living in a sea of pink, but a fresh coat of white paint will go a long way toward making a room feel neutral.

Highlight the architecture. Architectural details may be what sells your house.

• Remove excess furniture.
• Don’t hide a fireplace behind a couch.
• Don’t block a patio door with furniture or plants.

Make it easy to view your home. Buyers want to know everything about a home before they move forward.

• Secure your pets, so buyers can enter the house and yard safely.
• Unlock outside buildings, including shops.
• Store seasonal clothing and remove excess hangers from the closets.
• Clean and organize the garage.

First-time home buyers tax credit is ending soon, and soon is coming sooner than you realize! There has been talk within the industry that it could be extended into 2010 and the terms may change.

But, no official statement has been made! So, let's deal with what is currently available. Here to help, are answers to some of the questions that you may have regarding the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2009:

• A first-time homebuyer is an individual (and the individual's married spouse) who has not owned and used a property as a principal residence at any time during the three years before the date of the purchase of the new residence.

• Applies to purchases that close after April 8, 2008 and before December 1, 2009.

• Applies to purchases of a principal residence only.

• Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases a refund dollar for dollar.

• The credit does not need to be repaid unless you sell your home within a 3 year period of the purchase.

• Tax credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home with a maximum of $8,000 if you purchased your home in 2009 for single taxpayer or a married couple filing jointly. The amount is half that if you are married and file separately.

• There are income limits. The credit is phased out based on your modified adjusted gross income. For married couples filing jointly, the phase out range is $150,000 to $170,000. For other tax payers, the phase out range is $75,000 to $90,000.
  

• Vacation homes and rental property do not qualify.
  

• You must have closed on the property before you can claim the tax credit.

• A home purchased from a close relative does not qualify for the tax credit.

• If within the 3 year period following the purchase, it is no longer used as your principal residence, the taxpayer is required to repay the tax credit.

• Taxpayers can file Form 5405, First Time Homebuyer Credit, electronically.

• If you bought your home early in 2009 and have already filed your 2008 tax return claiming the $7500 first-time homebuyer tax credit under the old rule, you can file an amended return to get credit under the new rule for the $8,000 tax credit.

• If you are now purchasing and would like your money early, you can amend you 2008 tax return. Or you can wait and claim it on you 2009 return.

• For a principal residence purchased in 2009, generally there is no requirement to repay the tax credit. Unless, the home ceases to be your principal residence within 36 months from the date of purchase. Then the full amount of the tax credit received becomes due on the return for the year that the home was no longer your principal residence.

Specifically, first-time homebuyers who purchased a home in 2009, may claim the credit on either their 2008 return (due April 15, 2009) or their 2009 return (due April 15, 2010). If the closing occurred after April 15, 2009, you can claim it on your 2008 return by filing an amended return.