If you're thinking of buying a house that needs some remodeling, the top two projects that will recoup at least 75% of your outlay are an attic bedroom remodel (78.9%) and the addition of a wood deck (78.2%). A major upscale kitchen remodel on average will cost you $106,434 and you'll recoup 69.6% of the cost when you sell. A basement remodel costs $56,476 and will yield $41,656 at sale, a 73.8% recovery.Recovering remodeling costs isn't the primary reason homeowners take on a remodeling project. But it's a factor to be considered in today's market. If you plan on staying in your home the cost can likely be recovered in a few years with Denver's appreciation increasing every year from 1988 to 2005.[i] [2006 showed the first price drop in nearly 20 years, but 2007 is expected to show ris... 12/18/2007

If you have ever thought about living in a scenic, historic and centrally-located Denver neighborhood, but still wish to have a brand new, high-tech, contemporary space, you may want to look into some of the new urban flats in the Confluence Park area of downtown Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. The Denver Metro Convention and Visitor’s Bureau offers this summary of the many special features of the Highlands area in downtown Denver: “The Mile High City's largest neighborhood is a 250 acre section of northwest Denver that has undergone amazing changes in the past few years. The trendy neighborhood has been featured recently in Travel + Leisure Magazine and National Geographic Traveler and is an area of tree-lined streets and quaint Victorian brick homes with gingerbread trim with severa... 12/18/2007

As the builder's website says, "This place is something else.."  Stapleton is the Denver real estate answer to the question: Where do I live if I love the city, but want more room, more house, and easy access to everything downtown?  I'll go easy on the sales-talk after this, but if you simply take a drive through Stapleton on a clear, Colorado afternoon, you will agree that this neighborhood feels different.  The view tells you all you need to know about how close it is to the city.  And the gorgeous homes tell you all you need to know about the quality of life.Need some proof?  Our spotlight property of the week falls on 8001 E 29th Ave presented by MB Turning Point Realty.   This 3Bd/3Ba beauty has a gourmet kitchen that must be seen to be believed.  The deck alone is worth a tour.  ... 12/11/2007

Denver real estate may have hit bottom, which means it's a really good time to buy. Interest rates have been dropping and so have prices. Buyers can virtually write their own ticket for seller concessions -- down payment help, closing cost contributions, buying down the interest rate, and even more creative assistance. Buyers are getting houses at an average 3% discount, a figure which has stayed pretty steady over the last year. But the discount is much greater when considering the seller's original asking price. In both October and November sellers' original asking prices on average was 79-89% of what they got at closing. What that means is that sellers were having to discount their original asking price by 21 to 31% of what they originally thought they should realize. The year-to-dat... 12/06/2007

There are a lot of credit tips pitched to help consumers improve their credit scores. Unfortunately, a lot of those tips are nothing more than myths. One such myth is that paying more than your minimum payment positively affects credit score. Unfortunately, paying more than you minimum payment only helps pay down the balance, nothing more, nothing less. Banks only report negative items to the credit bureaus if a borrower fails to pay "as agreed." The big banks are only concerned that you meet your contractual obligation. If you pay your minimum payment, you are in compliance with your contract. Your credit report will reflect "paid as agreed," which in itself is beneficial to credit score. But the idea that paying more than your minimum payment will boost score is nothing more than a my... 12/04/2007

I read an article this week online through the Denver Business Journal that I found very interesting.  A new website has been launched, The Colorado Hospital Report Card, allowing potential hospital-seekers look & compare facts such as cost and quality for Colorado Hospitals.  It is the result of House Bill 1278 that "required Colorado hospitals to report on clinical measures that let consumers compare health care services." The website's homepage states that it has the "primary purpose of ensuring that statewide hospital data and clinical outcomes are made available to the general public in a clear and usable manner."   The article in the Denver Business Journal says that the billing data will be updated annually.  To read the article in its entirety click here.  Just having a very coh... 12/01/2007

While Union Station in Denver is only about six blocks long, it really packs a lot of the best that Denver has to offer in this small area.  Formerly (only about 8 years ago) packed to the gills with railroads and warehouses, this mixed-use area has seen a residential boom over the last few years.  With architectural attention-to-detail, and a stunning mix of glass and steel, Union Station has risen from the ashes to take it's place as one of Denver's coolest neighborhoods.Residents can wander a few blocks from their doorsteps to such popular hangouts as Vesta Dipping Grill and Rodizio Grill for some of the finest food Denver has to offer. Take a look at all of the Union Station homes for sale here if you are actively pursuing a Denver real estate purchase. For more information on Union... 12/01/2007

Cherry Creek seems to have everything that a serious Denver real estate shopper could want: cool restaurants, awesome homes, great shopping, and a central location.  Go check out Cherry Creek Mall for some of the best shopping in Denver, and then take a walk over to Bella Fiore Day Spa for a relaxing afternoon.  Now you've had a nice taste of Cherry Creek.What more could you want?The Cherry Creek School District is one of the great advantages to living in this neighborhood.  As a former high school teacher, I know that this school's reputation is well-deserved.  They recruit and retain some of the most talented teachers in the state.   If you are currently looking for a home in Cherry Creek, you can see all the Cherry Creek homes for sale here. Real-a-Save has created a comprehensive gu... 11/30/2007

Lowry is one of those spots in Denver that seems to get more and more popular every year.  The developers who transformed this former Air Force Base into the vibrant community that it now is must be pleased indeed.  Just stop by The Tavern Lowry for some beer, good food, and conversation, and you're likely to hear customers sing praise to their neighborhood.With everything from converted airplane hangers, to condos, to mansion-like homes, there is something for everyone in Lowry.  Check out our Denver neighborhood information pages for more information on Lowry.  Just scroll down the left nav area and pick "Lowry" to view that page.  And if you're looking for a home in the area, take a moment to visit this page for all of the homes for sale in Lowry.  You can also adjust the search crit... 11/27/2007

A favorite holiday tradition for my own family, The Parade of Lights hits the streets of Denver this Weekend.   On Friday (11/30) and Saturday (12/1) nights, marching bands, floats, dancers, horse drawn carriages and balloons and of course Santa Claus will parade throughout downtown Denver lit up in their holiday flair adding to the kick-off of the holiday season.   The school marching bands are a wonderful treat as not only are they competing for their musical performance, but for their lights as well.  Throughout the years, I have attended the Parade of Lights several times - generally during the warmer years. The weather looks fairly good for Friday night, I am not sure yet about Saturday - it may be getting colder.  However, one of the bonuses about attending on Saturday is that the... 11/27/2007

I've gotten several calls and emails recently about Berkeley.  This is a great Denver neighborhood with a vibrant, creative feel.  See more Berkeley neighborhood information here, as well as lots of additional Denver neighborhood information including local restaurant reviews, bars, schools, and housing.A couple recent clients were looking for homes they could put a little work into in a neighborhood with tons of character and lots of stuff to do within walking distance.  I think that's a perfect description of Berkeley.  It's Denver's own artistic corner.  And for those of you who picture Denver as having only downtown loft spaces, expensive Cherry Creek real estate, or suburban enclaves- then you've never been to Berkeley.  Take a look at all of the current homes for sale in the Berke... 11/25/2007

The Lowry neighborhood is continuing to grow with lots of opportunities for new buyers interested in the area. Here is a look back on October 2007 home sales in the Lowry neighborhood. The area is generally located between Yosemite Street (east) and Quebec Street (west), E. 11th Avenue (north) and Alameda Avenue (south). There is a small pocket that juts out to the west side. The Lowry neighborhood was developed as a result of the Lowry Air Force Base closure. It is a wonderful community that has a variety of parks, the Lowry Town Center and neighborhood activities that are scheduled year round. Lowry living opportunities range from historical homes that have been renovated to areas still waiting for the soil to be turned before construction begins. The Lowry neighborhoods are within wa... 11/25/2007

Highlands in Denver remains one of my favorite neighborhoods in the Metro Denver area.  I stopped off at Mondo Vino the other day to pick up a bottle of wine and passed by Cafe Brazil on my way home.  Two of my favorite spots in the entire city.  I was back the next day showing an investor a 4-plex in the area and it occurred to me that Highlands is one of those "go-to" spots for me.  I always bring family and friends to this area to get a real taste of "Cool Denver".And there's still some really great real estate to be had in the Highlands area as well.  Just take a look at the latest homes for sale in the Highlands area and I think you'll agree that this is an area of Denver that simply can't be overlooked. For more Highlands neighborhood information you can look here.  11/24/2007

This Tuesday's (11/20/07) radio broadcast of "The Real Estate Story Hour" Ben Maxwell from FnH Properties will be our guest.Ben Maxwell is co-founder and manager of Lighthouse Investment Group, LLC which was incorporated in 2004 to build and renovated residential properties in the Denver Metropolitan area. A licensed general contractor, Ben manages all aspects of construction, including the development of financial models for every project, budgeting and accounting, and on-site management. A second-generation builder, Ben began his career in construction in 1994. He has been involved in new home construction and remodeling in the Denver area since 2000, when he started Maxwell & Associates Construction.  He now runs Lighthouse and has recently started a new venture, FnH Properties, aime... 11/20/2007

In this morning's Rocky Mountain News a reader thinks he has the answer.  John A. McElroth of Arvada blames it on "the builders, mortgage people and real estate people" who "did it to themselves."  He thinks real estate is "booming," and cites an article he read somewhere that says mortgage people and builders conspire to raise new home prices, and real estate people talk sellers into higher prices.Mr. McElroth seems not to have the facts straight.  Real estate in the Denver area did boom in the 90s during a time when we thought our economy was on a non-stop path to eternal prosperity.  A house went on the market and buyers outbid each other to buy it.  Homeowners refinanced their mortgages at the drop of an eighth of a point, paying huge fees in closing costs and extending their loans ... 11/17/2007

Denver Museum of Nature and Science - FREE DAYSeveral times a year Denver Museum of Nature and Science offers FREE admission for Colorado Residents.The last free day of this year is DEC. 2nd. You still need to get tickets for any special exhibits at the museum such as The Titanic Exhibit, IMAX theatre or the Planetarium. For more inforation about ticket prices visit: Denver Museum of Nature and ScienceLocation: 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80205 11/17/2007

17th Annual Denver Zoo lights TraditionThis Denver Zoo Holiday Celebration is running from December 7th through Jan. 6thTime: 5pm - 9 pm.Come visit and enjoy over 38 acres of lights, including many animated animal sculptures.Don't miss the opportunity to visit with Santa.Several other festivities are scheduled as well: including performances, carolers, and more.View also the magnificant ice sculptures and sip hot chocolate to take the chill off.Bring in your old cell phone for recycling!. Drop off your old phone at the quest service counter (Main Entrance) and help the environment.For More information visit:  Denver Zoo 11/17/2007

Dr. Ben Bernake and the Federal Reserve have cut short-term interest rates for the last two consecutive months by a total of .75% in an effort to prevent the U.S. economy from slipping into a looming recession. Since most consumers do not understand how short-term interest rates actually impact their ability to borrow money, these rate cuts often create a common misconception that a decrease in the Federal Funds Rate translates to an equal drop in mortgage interest rates when these cuts often cause the latter to rise. There are two primary interest rates controlled by the Federal Reserve that dictate the overall cost of borrowing money on a short-term basis: the Discount Rate and the Federal Funds Rate. The Discount Rate is the interest rate the Federal Reserve Bank charges member banks... 11/15/2007

The Cherry Creek neighborhood in Denver was one of the top neighborhoods searched on the Colorado House Finders website last month.  Since Cherry Creek was one of the most popular neighborhoods searched, we felt it appropriate to provide our in-state and out-of-state visitors a more in depth view of the Cherry Creek Real Estate market. The boundaries for the Cherry Creek neighborhood are bordered by East 6th Avenue (North), East 1st Avenue (South), University Boulevard (West) and Harrison Street (East).  The Cherry Creek neighborhood is a blend of old and new with homes representing architectural designs from every decade since the beginning of the 20th century.  However, over the years the Cherry Creek real estate market has changed from smaller single family bungalows to luxury detach... 11/15/2007

Should you invest in the stock market or own real estate? If you have $25,000 working for you in a mutual fund, that money is earning you more money. But what if your $25,000 could earn a better return? Let's take a look at the stock market vs. real estate.  If you do your research and pick the most fabulous mutual fund, you might get a return of 10%. That's a great return on investment—but it can't compete with real estate over the long haul. If you take that same $25,000 and put it down on a property worth $250,000, let's see what happens. Real estate consistently appreciates at a rate of 5%-6% per year over time. In the Denver area over the last 10 years we’ve seen the median household price go from $134,500 in 1997 to $243,000 in 2007—that’s a 5.8% rate of appreciation. Taking the ... 11/12/2007