Barbara Salisbury

These five words RULE! These five things are most important to the majority of home buyers. If your home is lacking in any of these, decrease your price because your home will not sell quickly if you don't.

In this article I will list these five parts of your home and tell you the most important things most buyers are looking for in these areas. My aim is to help you know what you can do to your home to make it more desirable. Tomorrow I will list some additional things that most buyers of higher priced homes are looking for in these areas. In the Denver area, this would apply to homes over $400,000.

The Five Words in order of importance: Kitchen, Bathrooms, Hardwoods, Wired and Outside.

Kitchen

Since this is the most important room in the house, consider as many of these as is possible.

• Islands are big! Buyers like the extra storage, additional counter space and seating area. With the kitchen becoming more of an entertaining or gathering area, islands create a perfect place for cooking while interacting with family or friends.
• Stainless Steel appliances are very popular
• Cheerful, not boring. Whites are popular for cabinets.
  Colored walls in yellows, golds, oranges and reds are the most popular although keeping the boldness down with a pale gold or yellow are more likely to please the most people.
• Rustic woods, shaker styles, and cherry woods are all well received.
• Metallics are gaining popularity for backsplashes and other accents.
• Lighting is huge! Overhead, under cabinet, in cabinet, pendant and natural lighting. More is better. Light up your kitchen!
• People love big pantries. If you don't have one and can find a way to create one without making your kitchen smaller, do it! Knocking out a wall to a laundry, closet or other room might be a way to create space for a pantry. If that cannot be done, a cabinetry type pantry is a good second choice, but make sure it matches other cabinets.
• If you are going to be changing out your cabinets for new ones, keep in mind these popular cabinet features; moulding at the top, roll-out shelves, lazy susans, end panels, 42" heights on upper cabinets and staggered heights.
• Hardwood is becoming more and more popular for kitchen flooring.
• Upgrade that faucet with a newer design and one with pull-out sprayer.
• Stainless Steel and composite granite sinks are the most popular.

Bathrooms

• Lighting again is huge! Above and to the side is the best for vanity areas. Lighting over the tub is the most left out, but desirable. Use separate switches for different lighting fixtures so all lights do not need to be on each time one enters the bath.
• Tile is a must, no linoleum. You can spruce up on tile by either bringing in a grout cleaning service or replacing the grout. If you will be putting in new tile, there are so many beautiful choices now. The look of stone is extremely popular. Plain white or off-white ceramic tile is not desirable.
• Mildewed or dirty grout around the tile in the tub area is one of the surest ways to keep your house from selling. Once again, hire a grout cleaning service, re-grout, or replace grout and tile.
• Bathroom cabinets take a beating. Replacing those worn-out ones with a popular new style or wood will help your bathroom values incredibly.
• Likewise with faucets, shower heads and sinks.
• Here are some bathroom additions that will add sale-ability to your home; tile additions on walls and backsplash, additional shower heads, stand alone shower, second vanity in master bath, additional lighting, additional storage-as in a linen closet or more cabinets.

Hardwoods

• Hardwood throughout many areas of the home is a very strong trend Oak is okay, but something different is better. Hickory is one of the hardest and has lots of variations is color making it very interesting. Other woods gaining in popularity are walnut, distressed pine, Brazillian cherry, bamboo and eucalyptus. Walnut is a little softer than oak. Distressed pine is beautiful if you like that rustic look, but not everyone does and it is not a great floor when you have toddlers. Brazillian cherry, unlike regular American cherry, is the hardest of woods. Any cherry, including Brazillian, will turn darker from the exposure to sun. This creates lighter areas where furniture or rugs are located so that these items cannot be moved with refinishing the floor. Many people like the idea of using woods that replace themselves faster like bamboo and eucalyptus.
• Most popular areas for hardwood; entry, hallway, breakfast area and kitchen.

However, more and more hardwoods throughout the living areas of kitchen, dining, family and living rooms is what my buyers are seeking.

Wired

• Wired with Cat 5
• Wired for cable
• Wired for surround sound
• Wired for outside speakers
• Wired for multiple phone lines

Outside

• All buyers want either a deck or patio, decks being most popular. Decks need to be in good shape. Trex decking or similar is most desirable. The larger the deck or patio, the better.
• Most buyers with families want a large yard with quite a bit of grass. However, if you don't have a large one, don't fret. You may still be able to sell. Empty nesters often want a smaller yard with less grass.
• Mainly make sure your yard is picture perfect which includes being well manicured and maintained. Some blooming flowers in the spring, summer and early fall will draw buyers even if they are only in pots.
• Remember, the first impression you make on your potential buyer is when they pull up to the curb. The front of your home and yard should be very appealing. Money spent to fix-up the front of the house and the front yard is well spent. Ask your friends for suggestions or better yet, ask a stranger.
• The condition of your front door tells buyers a lot about the condition of your home. It is another very important "first impression." Clean it, paint it and change the door knob if worn.
• Sure turn-offs; trash of any kind, toys and sports equipment left in driveway or front yard, trash cans left out, untrimmed trees and bushes, weeds, half dead trees, grass or bushes, no bushes, trees or grass, front porches or patios used for storage, old worn-out lawn furniture, peeling paint, broken down cars, too many cars parked in front of house, oil on driveway, severely cracked or broken concrete on drive way or sidewalks.

During the month of June in Denver the housing market saw increases in both the average price and in the number of sold homes for the 5^th month straight while "days on market" decreased. These are all good signs.

The average price has increase steadily from $213,330 in January to $258,434 in June. That is a 21% increase and indicates a reviving market.

The number of sold homes in January stood at 2469. That number has increased every month since to a current high in June of 4186. That is a 41% increase! Quite a bounce!

Other good signs are the under contract numbers which have also increased steadily since January when the number was 3831 to June which had 5664. Average "days on market" has decrease to 100 from a high of 107 in February.

Denver Home Sales Statistics

January February March April May June

Active 19,748 20,059 20,628 20,705 20,734 20,853

Under Contract 3831 4183 4826 5183 5343 5664

Sold 2469 2484 3206 3390 3628 4186

Avg DOM 101 107 106 104 105 100

Avg Price 213,330 218,010 232,395 233,482 243,022 258,434

% of Orig Price 90% 90% 91% 91% 91% 92%

More houses are selling, at higher prices and in less days. That is music to sellers ears.

Another bit of good news, the percentage of selling prices to original prices is up to 92%, a 2 point increase since January.

As we predicted the housing market is improving. The improvement is steady and some of it is just normal for this time of year. We are not out of the woods, yet. The job market being down is probably a damper on the housing market. However, the $8000 buyer tax credit is helping. Since we will have the tax credit around until November, that factor will continue to help home sales. How the job market improves or gets worse will also have an effect on them.

Highlands Ranch Statistics

Jan Feb March April May June

HOMES

Active 570 611 667 692 714 717

Under Contract 121 135 186 156 204 203

Sold 53 57 121 136 135 172

Ave. Price 368,011 307,185 349,459 325,073 349,744 368,011

% of Original Price

91% 93% 91% 95% 94% 94%

CONDOS

Active 113 120 120 143 139 133

Under Contract 18 17 25 19 36 45

Sold 14 13 13 14 29 28

Ave. Price 235,534 251,730 225,842 235,658 274,552 240,788

% of Original Price

92% 94% 90% 91% 92% 94%

From 1937 to 1976 the land on which Highlands Ranch now sits was a large ranch owned by Lawrence Phipps, Jr. In 1979 it was purchased by Mission Viejo Company. Mission Viejo filed a plan with Douglas County call the Highlands Ranch Development Plan. It called for a broad range of housing types and sizes. The plan called for 61% of the land to be devoted to non-urban uses like open space and recreation, 31% for residential and 8% to business.

The first homes were built in 1981 and in September 1981 the first residents moved in. In 1997, J. F. Shea Co., parent company of Shea Homes, purchased Highlands Ranch. Since those first homes were built in 1981, Highlands Ranch, CO grew to approximately 93,352 residents in February of 2008. There are 28,997 homes and 3,289 apartments. Once the community is fully developed in 2020, there are expected to be 100,000 residents in approximately 36,700 homes.

Highlands Ranch is not an incorporated city and is under the jurisdiction of Douglas County. Due to the large planned population, the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District was formed to provide services usually provided by city governments such as water, sewage, parks and trails, landscaping and maintenance. The board of HRMD is made up of seven directors who are elected by the residents. HRMD has established a partnership with the City of Littleton for fire protection and two fire stations are located in Highlands Ranch. The community has an enhanced 911 emergency phone system. Douglas County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement in Highlands Ranch.

Also established was the Highlands Ranch Community Association which has a five member governing board and a community manager. They are charged with operating and maintaining the community four recreation centers, a portion of the Back Country Wilderness Area and provide architectural control, covenant enforcement, community events and recreation programs. Every homeowner in Highlands Ranch is a member and pays dues to the HRCA.

Highlands Ranch is a very unique community that is well run, beautiful, has lots of exciting things to do and has been the model for other similar communities around the country.

Interested in knowing more about Highlands Ranch or in possibly relocated here? I will be glad to help you. Just call 720-884-6040 or email barbara@kennarealestate.com.

Barbara Salisbury

Your Highlands Ranch Expert

Kenna Real Estate

Kennarealestate.com

Recently we Highlands Ranch and Douglas County received our Spring/Summer issue of “Access, The Magazine for Douglas County Libraries.” While browsing its contents I found these pieces of information about our wonderful Douglas County Libraries.

In 2008:

178,867 people attended library programs and events.

7,126,027 items were checked out.

There were 1,868,010 visits to Douglas County Libraries.

There were 721,267 items in their collection.

There were 500,000 visits to douglascountylibraries.org and over 4 million pages were viewed.

351,172 reference questions were answered.

There 173,660 library patrons, 24.905 of them new.

22,308 adults, teens and children signed up for reading programs.

20,012 audio books and movies downloaded.

24,265 hours were donated by volunteers.

3,508 storytimes were performed by youth librarians.

350 people were employed by Douglas County Libraries.

Amazing statistics! But then I always knew we have a superior library system in Douglas County.

Barbara Salisbury

Your Highlands Ranch Expert

Kenna Real Estate

720-884-6040

Barbara@kennarealestate.com

Highlands Ranch will soon be home to a new historic park, Fly’n B Park. This park will encompass 37 acres that were once part of the 140 acre cattle ranch of Johnny Bowen which he called “the best little cattle ranch in Colorado.”

The area which is in the northeastern corner of Highlands Ranch off Plaza Dr., is currently being transformed. The park will have a theme of water, its history, imprortance and benefit. Highline Canal, dating back to the 19^th century, travels through what will be the park and there are numerous ponds in the area.

The first phase of the park is underway. It includes the renovation of the Plews House, built in 1906. This historic home will be the center of activities and a focal point for the park. Other parts of this first phase include parking facilities, trails, a bridge over Highline Canal, play features and a park shelter with a pier at one of the ponds.

I am excited about this new historical park. It sounds like it will be a great spot for relaxation. You can learn more by visiting www.highlandsranch.org and clicking on the Parks link where you will find a project file.

Barbara Salisbury

Your Highlands Ranch Expert

Kenna Real Estate

720-884-6040

barbara@kennarealestate.com