“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Jude Sandvall

Lend Lease partners with NREL

An article from the Denver Business Journal, reports that on Monday, developer Lend Lease Communities LLC announced it's partnering with the National Renewal Energy Laboratory to incorporate “net-zero” energy, water, and waste goals into its communities. Currently, the company is working on two mixed-use developments in Colorado. Horizon Uptown is a 503-acre project in Aurora and Lowry Range is a partnership with the Colorado State Land Board to create a community on the project’s 3,870-acre development parcel. According to Lend lease, it will pull together local experts to define what it means to be a zero-net energy community and how the concepts can be incorporated into mixed-use developments. Megan Christensen, director of community development and sustainability for Lend Lease Communities said in a statement, “Lend Lease has set a goal to achieve zero-net energy, water and waste on all of our projects worldwide. This is the first step in achieving this goal.”
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/09/15/daily3.html?b=1221451200^1700262&brthrs=1

Colorado No. 15 among states for move-ins

An article from Denver Business Journal, reports that more people are moving to Colorado than moving out. A study released Tuesday covering the first 8 months of the year, ranked Colorado No. 15, with 55% of moves being inbound and 44.7% being outbound. The top reason for moving was for a new job or corporate relocation, while the second most common reason was retiring.
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/09/22/daily14.html?surround=lfn&brthrs=1

FasTracks cash-boost backed

An article from The Denver Post, reports that of those attending RTD's first public meeting on the future of FasTracks, about 75% said they are either very supportive or somewhat supportive of RTD raising more money, possibly with a tax increase, to construct the entire project by 2017. RTD will hold 16 meetings over the next month to gauge public reaction to a number of FasTracks options, including a sales-tax increase for the project or alternatives that call for RTD to build what it can with existing funds. According to RTD officials, they would consider going back to voters for a sales tax increase of between 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points — 2 to 3 cents on each $10 purchase — to fully construct FasTracks by 2017.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10561618

Good news for Denver-area housing market

An article from the Rocky Mountain News, reports that according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the Denver area housing market showed the most appreciation of 20 metropolitan areas tracked from May to June. The Denver area showed a 1.5% gain in that period. The report showed the average percentage change in that one-month period was a loss of 0.5% for all 20 cities, and a loss of 0.6% for 10 of them. Denver homes showed a 4.7% decline from June 2007 to June 2008, the third best of the 20 cities. David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor's said, "While there is no national turnaround in residential real estate prices, it is possible that we are seeing some regions struggling to come back, which has resulted in some moderation in price declines at the national level." Julie Montgomery, a broker associate with RE/MAX Masters Inc. of Greenwood Village, said the key to selling a home in Denver is to make sure it is in perfect condition and shows well.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/26/good-news-for-denver-area-housing-market/

www.judesandvall.com

Housing authority loans $100M for purchase of homes

An article from the Denver Business Journal, reports that the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority has made more than $100 million in loans so far this year to purchasers of foreclosed homes statewide. According to the CHFA, as of August 25, some 35% of the mortgages CHFA of Denver has made this year were for homes banks took back in foreclosure, so-called real estate-owned (REO) properties. Milroy Alexander, CHFA’s CEO, said in a statement, “This is an extremely positive sign for Colorado’s housing market. Foreclosures have been weighing down the market and created a burden on our community.” CHFA reported that 93% of borrowers purchasing foreclosed homes so far this year were first-time buyers. While 42% of buyers were one- or two-parent households with children.
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/08/25/daily4.html?b=1219636800^1690051

www.judesandvall.com