ConocoPhillips is the "Mystery Buyer" for the Louisville, Colorado campus of Sun Microsystems.  For the past month, We've been talking about the shell company that bought the large property and most speculation was leaning towards either Microsoft, or Google as the purchaser.  Now we find out it's Conoco/Phillips?  I'm disapointed, yet I don't know why.  I was hoping some sexy, high tech company was going to be the puchaser.  ConocoPhillips, just isn't that sexy.What I do find interesting, is the proposed plan for the campus will be for a "Worldwide training center" and "Global technology center"  Conoco says it will use the facility to research hydrogen fuel cells, solar and wind power, along with cleaner diesel fuel, made with renewable resources. After further review, I like the clea... 02/21/2008

SAVE THE DATE Join us on in Denverfor Green Real Estate 2008EcoBroker® Annual Conference & Expo with theAssociation of Energy & Environmental Real Estate Professionals This year Green Real Estate 2008 will be an energy-filled two-day conference and expo with national speakers, business building tracks to help maximize your utilization of green real estate tools and resources, and a green products expo that will help take your business and community service to the next level! Topics for discussion include: •·    Affordability, durability, comfort, and homeownership •·    The latest in green finance options for your clients •·    Working with conservation easements, energy raters, and real estate consumers •·    The latest energy technologies and real estate applications •·    Greening t... 02/21/2008

There had been a sense of mystery surrounding the purchase of the Sun Micro Systems / StorageTek campus in Louisville for a few weeks.  Yesterday Governor Ritter announced that he had received a call from a representative at ConocoPhillips announcing they were the mystery buyer.   This is huge economic news for the Denver area - it is not evidently clear how many new jobs ConocoPhillips would potentially bring to the area but the center will house corporate development and training and research in the field of renewable energy. The new facility was announced to be up and running by 2011/2012.   This is fabulous news for the entire Denver metro area and the Denver economy.      Related News Stories: ConocoPhillips Corporate Learning Center coming to Colorado Conoco Deal Fuels Optimism Cl... 02/21/2008

We central Denverites love our alleys. That's where our garages are, where we can "donate" unwanted items to alley scavengers and where we keep our City dumpsters. Sometimes we get mad at our dumpsters when they block access to our garages (and just TRY to get a dumpster moved!), but for the most part, I'd say we're pretty happy with our trash disposal system.However, a few days ago, I saw a pick-up truck cruising down my alley, stopping at each dumpster and poking around in it. His pick-up bed was full of "stuff" - treasures I'm sure. But suddenly, the obvious smacks me in the head. What did I just throw in that public dumpster? Hmmmmmm.So last night, I took out a small bag of trash - mostly old magazines and junk mail. Today when I opened the lid of the dumpster to toss in the remains... 02/16/2008

My new website is up and running and while it's far from perfect (or complete), I'm pleased enough with it to GO LIVE. It doesn't have a home search feature yet - I'm still investigating my options and several pages are Under Construction... but... here it is! www.CharmingOldDenver.com.I also did my first virtual tour of 2008 - it's a tour of my Charming Old Northwest Denver neighborhood - so if you're interested in where I spend my days... click here. Feedback? Please! 02/15/2008

According to the Metro Denver main website (www.metrodenver.org) Colorado seems to be weathering this downtrodden market a little better than it's neighboring states. 02/14/2008

From Post-News Marketplace 5/7/04Galperin named Manager of the YearAl Galperin was awarded Manager of the Year at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage's annual awards ceremony held recently at the Hyatt DTC.Galperin credits the success of the office to the diversity, dedication and hard work of the 130 brokers under his leadership. The award is based on his office-ranking number one on a combination of return on revenue, profitability and using the company's ancillary services.Nationally, Galperin was awarded the Presidents Council award for managers for the second consecutive year and is the first in Colorado to recieve the award two years running. This is one of the highest honors any mnager throughout all of Coldwell Banker can achieve.Mark Caldwell, an agent from the Cherry Creek o... 02/13/2008

Denver Has One Of The Lowest Risk Factors For Price Devaluation In The Nation Denver is 1 of Only 12 of the nations 50 Metropolitan areas have a low risk of price declines, according to the PMI Mortgage Insurance companys Winter 2008 Market Risk index. This index is based on the 3rd quarter Office of Federal Housing Oversight data, and ranks the 50 largest metropolitan areas according to the likelihood in price declines. 12 of these metropolitan areas have a 1% or less risk of price declines. Denver is one of the twelve low risk areas. Areas that had the highest price run-ups in recent years are at highest risk of price deterioration. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jan/16/metro-area-home-values-likely-hold/ 02/10/2008

Barbara Lambert-Denver Board of Realtors Best In Continuing Education BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Barbara Lambert, CEO Denver Board of Realtors, welcome. Barbara Lambert: Thank you. BrokerIPTV : Glad to have you hear. I think you guys do a terrific job with you education process. I mean I am peppered with information about a classers or a speaker, I can go and see. Well done for you. What's the response from agents? Barbara Lambert: Well, thank you for the complement, first of all, we are pleased that you do read our emails and our flyers, the responses has been terrific, I think because you are realtors and you are extremely busy. Where has to broadcasting email to you, using technology is the quickest way to get on message out and people take the advantage of our education.... 02/10/2008

Barbara Lambert-Denver Board of Realtors Protecting Realtor And Consumer Rights BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Barbara Lambert, CEO of the Denver Board of Realtors. Welcome, thanks for being with us, nice to have you. Barbara Lambert: Thank you. BrokerIPTV : One of the things you doing. I did not realizes until I actually got into the business to get started is that you work for us. I mean you protect realtor's rights, you lobby and you are involved in legislation. So, tell what are really some hot button issues I should know about here? Barbara Lambert: Well, I glad that you recognized as your trade association, we do help you in protecting you and your ability not only to earn of living, but to practice your trade in a very non-litigious environment and so we do a great deal o... 02/10/2008

If you are new to Denver, planning to live in Denver, or have been here forever - a must see at some point is the Hammond's Candy Factory.  Located on Washington Street on the north side of Denver, Hammond's Candy Factory is a fun stop for everyone.  My kids have been recently and they sure did get their sugar fix for the day.    Hammond's is most known for their thick candy canes, ribbon candy and swirled lollipops but they do make chocolates as well.   It is really quite amazing to see how they make the candy canes and lollipops with all that swirl in them and the ribbon candy crimper is pretty cool too.     Free tours are available on Monday through Saturdays and run about every 30 minutes.  The tour is short & sweet - literally sweet, as candy samples are offered in the tour waiting... 02/10/2008

Cara McDonald Of 5280 Magazine -Good Print Media  Has To Fit Your Demographic BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Cara McDonald, Deputy Editor of 5280 Magazines and thanks to with us. Cara McDonald: My pleasure. BrokerIPTV : What opportunities are there for realtors with 5280? Cara McDonald: We definitely do, I am having a steady stream of realtor's advertisers, we have lot of readership those are very interested in this, even people mode in the market. So, there is different varying page rates and sizes, there is also call up opportunities to pull together in a market place type advertising situation, as well as special sections running, when we run our real estate issues, which is annual editorial content and then there is an opportunity to buy in and post as an advertisement a pro... 02/09/2008

Cara McDonald-Real Estate Marketing In 5280 magazine Is Very Effective BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Deputy Editor of 5280 magazine, Cara McDonald and thanks for being with us. I want to talk about marketing in general when it comes to real estate and obviously there is lot of people putting a lot of time energy and money in internet. Is print competing, having a difficult time competing with Internet products? Cara McDonald: A lot of print is. Something they were seeing in magazine, especially regional magazines however is that, it is having the opposite effect. The Internet is really competing with more of the daily and the news print in the weekly. Magazine lifestyle regional magazines, I have actually seen a broom, it is the golden age for them because they are reaching a v... 02/09/2008

Tammy Door-Not Enough Inventory In Downtown Denver   BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with Tammy Door, President, CEO of Downtown Denver Partnership, thanks welcome. Tamara Door: Thank you. BrokerIPTV : Good to have you here, tell me what the Downtown Denver partnership is? Tamara Door: The Downtown Denver partnership is been around for 55 years and primarily, we focus on any aspect, that impacts downtown to make it a more vital and vibrant place, that includes, housing, economic development or urban planning. BrokerIPTV : How do they get started? You said it is 55 years old? Tamara Door: 55 years ago, a group of business leaders came together and really looked around in a lot of things they wanted to see done in Downtown and they really came around together around one coordination, ho... 02/09/2008

Just spent my morning looking at homes in Northwest Denver/Highlands. Partly for clients; partly for my own keeping-up-with-the-market commitment. As regular readers of my blog know, I've been away from town for two years, so it's really important to me to get back up to speed on the market in my beloved Charming Old Northwest Denver neighborhood.Because I worked this neighborhood for so many years (from 1996 to 2006), it's an easy task to pick back up on the nuances of the different sub-areas (Highlands Square, West Highlands, Berkeley, Sloan's Lake, etc). Prices have gone up significantly since I left, but I believe that the recently added amenities in the neighborhood support the price increase. In years past, Northwest Denver was cute and charming, but not exactly a mecca of shoppin... 02/08/2008

In spite of national real estate market "doom and gloom" reports, Denver buyers have a golden opportunity to buy at (or near) the bottom. The average price for single family housing across the metro area was $281,203, a drop from December's $287,874. The median price for a single family home is down by 8.1 percent from last January to $216,950 from $236,000 and from $220,000 in December 2007.Condos also dropped to an average price of $165,510 from $170,440 in December, a drop of 2.9%. Median price dropped a whopping 13% from $154,900 in December to $134,000. Condos are a bargain now and are taking less time to sell because of buyer demand. But buyers can still expect to pay 97% of list price for condos and 96% for single family homes.Interest rates are low (conventional loans were at 5.... 02/07/2008

The Rocky Mountain Warehouse is one of Denver's premier original loft buildings, one of the last buildings built between the Great Depression and the real estate boom of downtown Denver in the late 80's. Originally it was used as a merchandise mart for various different tenants.  The building was designed by architect Montana Fallis who also designed the Oxford Annex next to the Oxford Hotel just around the corner.The solid concrete construction provides for a much quieter living environment than many other brick and timber loft buildings in the area. There are two elevators, one huge freight elevator and the original bird cage elevator. The updated common areas have a neutral Art Deco style. In addition, there is a rooftop deck perfect for watching Coors field fireworks or the beautifu... 02/07/2008

A fantastic annual event is set to start in February 2008 - Denver Restaurant Week : "A Seven Day Celebration of Denver's Culinary Scene".    All over the Metro area, participating restaurants will take reservations and offer wonderful multi-course dinners for a set price of $52.80 for two.  All of the fixed menus for each Denver restaurant is listed online as well.   I announced this event here last year as well. A few of the Denver restaurants participating on the list this year that I have enjoyed in the past are:  Barolo Grill (Denver), 240 Union (Lakewood) , Brooks Steak House (Greenwood Village),  Elway's (Cherry Creek/Denver & Downtown Denver) , Gabriel's (Sedalia) ,   and Yia Yias (Greenwood Village).  I have heard very good things about Bang! , so that is where we will go this ... 02/07/2008

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 h... 02/07/2008

Here is an article that was written by Kayla O'Brien about how Cherry Creek GMAC Real Estate has grown in the last two years.From Zero to 70Cherry Creek GMAC Real Estate is gaining momentumBy Kayla O'BrienA little more than 18 months ago, real estate industry veteran Al Galperin had just leased his 9,400-square-foot Cherry Creek, Colorado office, was GMAC Real Estate's newest franchise, and had a real estate team of two: himself and an assistant.Today, Galperin is well  on his way to acheiving his recruiting goal of 70 agents - some of whom commute more than an hour each way to be part of the Cherry Creek GMAC Real Estate team."The first couple of months were a bit scary, but we have a lot momentum now and are building our company based upon our reputation and agent referrals," Galperin... 02/05/2008