Topic name:  Investor Series:  Understanding Egress Windows  A lot of investors ask what an egress window is and when one is needed. Technically, it's a window for a room below grade that a municipality has deemed large enough to be safe for exit in case of emergency.   While there are some variations, the window needs to be large enough that a firefighter with an oxygen bottle on their back could get in, then carry out an injured person in a fire.  Most often, it's associated with a basement bedroom window, making it a legal bedroom. Basement bedrooms without egress windows are illegal.  Installing an egress window makes them legal.    The confusion is that different cities, counties and agencies have different size requirements and height-above-floor requirements for these windows. Th... 12/18/2008

Topics for Investors:  Basement Kitchens You walk into a property you're looking to buy and rent and you walk down into the basement and voila! you find a full second kitchen.   Great!  You start calculating how much rent you could get if you could rent the downstairs separate from the upstairs and the cashflow is out of this world!  But wait, there are a number of very real problems with this scenario.   First of all, it's illegal unless the property is zoned for more than one tenant and the property has been converted to non-residential use. But there are even more practical reasons why having two separate tenants is often not a great idea. The first is the utilities. Since it's a house there will only be one bill for Excel and water. Who's going to pay it?  Can you really get the ten... 12/18/2008

Homestead Hills Park updateThe City of Thornton is finally beginning construction on the Homestead Hills park project.  The project was supposed to be done in 2007 but now is planned to be finished in the summer of 2009.  The project includes the construction of a neighborhood park with a playground, pavilion, picnic tables, benches and a trail system with a small parking area.  Approximately 12 acres of the park land is planned to remain as natural vegetation.  This should be the final park to be completed in the Homestead Hills subdivision.  Since Morrison Taylor is coming close to being done with building new homes, the subdivision should be complete hopefully by the end of next year.Obviously in this current market condition that is a big plus for the residents and current homeowner... 10/25/2008

Quail Valley Quail Valley is a community that is very close to the 'action' in the north corridor of Thornton.  Located just north of 144th Avenue and the Wadley Farms neighborhood.  The homes in Quail Valley range from modest size 1800 sq ft up to over 3000+.  One thing they all share are large lots!  Also the neighborhood is just east of I-25 and is very close with easy access to The Orchard shopping center.  Super Target and King Soopers grocery stores are close and even making a quick trip up to the Larkridge shopping center is only about five minutes.  The School district is Adams 12, and since both Silver Creek elementary and Rocky Top middle school are so close, many of the kids can easily walk to school.  We are very familiar with these homes and neighborhood and have specializ... 10/04/2008

Northbrook The neighborhood of Northbrook in Thornton is laid out mostly in a grid pattern that is easy to navigate and find your way around.  Located just north of Horizon high school and bounded on the west by Holly Street, it is a quiet neighborhood of homes built in the late 90's and early 2000's.  Many of the homes have fair sized mature trees and landscaping with decent sized lots relative to the houses.  The streets have sidewalks on both sides and are wide enough that two cars can pass get by each other if there happens to be a car parked on the street.Some of the homes have mountain or city views but it is generally from an angle in the backyards or from the front porch.  The school system is the Adams 12 district and high school students can walk to Horizon through the neighbo... 10/04/2008

Investor often ask me what types of real estate investments are available on the market.  Here's what we tell them. This is the first of several postings on the topic. Please offer comments - positive or negative! Assignments.  If you don't have much equity to work with, and/or if your credit power is limited, assignments can be a way to get started in real estate investing.  You will need to have a strong "sales" personality to succeed at it, though.    Rental Condo or Rental Home.  Purchase of a residential property to be rented out to tenants, usually on a 6-12 month lease term.  This is how most new landlords get started.  You can hire out all of the property management functions, but in many cases you will do many of them on your own.  There are smaller down payment requirements th... 09/24/2008

Cinebarre's newest location Thornton COCinabarre is a theater that let's moviegoers enjoy food and drinks from a full menu while watching a movie.  Their newest location just opened at 10001 Grant Street at the Thornton Town Center.  The theater has eight movie screens, a beer and wine bar and louge.  Also for Broncos fans, Denver Broncos games are on every weekend. 09/24/2008

The villages of Eastlake and Eastlake Estates are homes near Eastlake Shores Park – a beautiful natural park surrounding a lake with walking trails that are great for taking the dogs for a walk, bicycling or just enjoying the great Colorado outdoors.  Eastlake Villages is a quiet neighborhood of newer homes, mostly built by Pulte Homes in the early 2000’s.  Most of the homes have open floor plans with vaulted ceilings, five piece baths, tile and hardwood floors and brick or stone partial exteriors.  The neighborhood streets have sidewalks on both sides and the streets are wide enough so that you don’t feel trapped if a car happens to be parked next to the curb.  With quick access to I-25 via 120th Avenue, the Eastlake Villages neighborhood is tucked in between 120th and 124th Avenues in... 08/04/2008

Hunters Glen Most of the homes in Hunters Glen were built in the mid 1980's to the late 1990's.  There are also some townhomes and apartments available in the neighborhood.  The home sizes are mostly between 1800 and 2400 square feet on the main levels.  Many of the current homeowners have finished or partially finished their basements and updated their homes.  The community is well thought of and has a community pool, one of the few neighborhoods that does.  HOA fees are reasonable and the association seems to be fairly well  run.  Additionally, Hunters Glen has a fairly active homeowners association (HOA) and the local elementary school is the Hunters Glen Elementary School and is part of the well regarded Adams 12 school district. For more information on Hunters Glen Homes for Sale o... 07/09/2008

Signal Creek The Signal Creek neighborhood in Thornton has newer styled homes with vaulted ceilings, five piece baths, and larger more open designs common to most homes built in the late nineties. Signal Creek is also one of the few communities in Thornton that boasts a community swimming pool. The community features curvilinear street planning with many cul-de-sac streets so through traffic is kept to a minimum. The community is located south of 136th avenue and north of 128th avenue between Colorado blvd and York street. Signal Creek is also close to Eastlake Shores Park and the Thorncreek Golf Course. Thorncreek is an 18-hole, par 72 course that is open to the public every day of the week. The course features a pro shop, driving range, restaurant and putting greens. 07/02/2008

The Multi-use Holly Sports Complex at 136th Ave and Holly Street in Thornton Colorado The new Sports Complex at 136th and Holly in Thornton Colorado (approved by the city of Thornton in 2007) is under construction this summer.  I attended some of the city meetings for this complex and am happy to see them putting in both Soccer and Football fields.  At a later date it looks like additional parking lot landscaping, lighting, additional fields and possiby even a skate park are possible at this site.Indirectly all citizens of Thornton will benefit from this project as the city becomes better known for balanced master planning and quality of life.  But the neighborhoods close by like Marshall Lake, Homestead Hills, Northbrook, etc. will find that it is a much easier commute to get your kids... 07/02/2008

Fallbrook Farms Thornton Colorado Location and General Info:The Fallbrook Farms Community is located off 144th Avenue between York Street and Colorado Boulevard. Fallbrook Farms provides easy access to the Denver, Broomfield, and Boulder employment centers along I-25 and Highway 36. This new Fallbrook Farms neighborhood features over 32 acres of parks, open space and trails. The community is conveniently located near major highways, shopping including the regional Flat Irons Mall, The Orchard, Larkridge, and the Thornton Rec. Center.  Children will attend the highly sought after Adams 12 5-Star School District with the elementary and middle school within walking distance. In addition, a future light rail development within the Fallbrook Farms Community will allow for convenient trips to... 07/02/2008

Homestead Hills in ThorntonThe Homestead Hills subdivision in Thornton is finally nearing completion.  Although Beazer has been finished for over a year, buyers can still purchase a Morrision-Taylor home in the community.  There are a few resales, and so far there have been a couple short sales, but no homes have been through the entire foreclosure process which is a very good thing!A recent sale in the neighborhood was only .25% less than the owner paid in 2006.  Considering how some other neighborhoods have done that's not too bad.Also, with the Orchard Center at 144th and I-25 getting more complete, and addtional stores and businessess at the Colorado and 136th corner opening the amenities for Homestead are making the neighborhood a better place to live.All we need now is for the Cit... 07/01/2008

Thornton Colorado MLS The Thornton Colorado MLS is available here for potential buyers and sellers to search all Thornton's residential listings for single family houses, condos, townhomes, and duplex's listed in the Thornton Metro area. Commercial listings are available in different property databases and you will need to contact a broker to help you search for them. Thank you. For More Information please contact:Stuart DobsonBroker AssociateInfinity Real Estate Services LLC303.919.0309 cellular303.410.8300 office303.327.7642 faxStuart@StuartDobson.comColorado MLS Search   06/24/2008