Sunday, December 19, 2010

'Dr. Doom’ Gets Optimistic

The Nostradamus of real estate, NYU professor and economist Nouriel Roubini, just paid $5.5 million for a penthouse loft in New York’s East Village neighborhood. In 2005, Roubini made predictions that were then scoffed at but turned out to come true. The New York Times notes that he foresaw "homeowners defaulting on mortgages, trillions of dollars of mortgage-backed securities unraveling worldwide and the global financial system shuddering to a halt".


According to the Wall Street Journal, Roubini recently said economic growth was “too slow to keep unemployment from rising and housing prices from falling further. He put the chance of the U.S. slipping back into recession at 40%. Still, real-estate people in New York were quick to seize on his purchase as a healthy sign for the local property market.”

Sure, every market is local, but count me in with the New Yorkers who see such an esteemed economist take a pricey leap of faith as a good sign!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Bigger Is No Longer Better

A recent Relocation.com survey sheds some insight on consumer preferences when buying a home. Almost half (48%) of respondents prefer a smaller home between 1,000 and 1,999 square feet, whereas 29% would rather have a home 2,000-2,999 square feet.
Perhaps the popularity of McMansions passed when the economy turned sour. With a bigger house comes higher utility bills, more furniture, more maintenance…more money! And in the global effort to go green, an increasing number of people are realizing that less is more.
Interestingly, with the desire to live in smaller accommodations, the majority (54%) prefer suburban living, 24% choose urban areas, and 22% rural.

What do you think, are the days of super-sized homes numbered? It will be interesting to see once home building picks up again if the public tells builders to go small or go home.

Monday, November 15, 2010

History Repeats Itself

We have been spoiled with these low interest rates throughout the past decade. Ten years may seem like a long while, but in the scheme of things it is just a blip in time. It is, however, long enough for many people to forget the alternative—rates double or more what they are now.


For those of you just “waiting it out”…what are you waiting for? Rates below 3%? Unfortunately many prospective homebuyers I’ve come across don’t do the math as to how a higher rate will directly affect them. It may be the difference between buying a townhome instead of single family, or expanding that “ideal location” criterion. A 1% increase in the interest rate, such as from 4% to 5%, is the equivalent of a 10% increase in the purchase price on a monthly payment basis.

And many won’t realize it until it’s too late. Now truly is an incredible time to buy. I’m not saying it’s going to be the 1980s again anytime soon with rates in the mid-teens…though my daughter does have a pair of leg warmers…but we need to realize the 4% mortgage rates are the pleasant exception, not the norm. Having rates climb a few points and thus have a drastic effect on home affordability is quite possible in the near future.

Once rates do start to climb again (and they will), are we going to see people “wait until they go back down”? I’m sure we’ve all heard and possibly forgotten the famous quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

What are you waiting for?

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Long and Short of Short Sales

Being in the real estate business, I come across a lot of interesting situations—really, no two transactions are alike. While many are upbeat and uplifting, like seeing someone lay eyes on their dream home, others are a sad but true reality when homeownership and hardships meet.


We’ve all been familiarized with short sales and foreclosures by the media, but as a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) I see it firsthand. Part of my job is to help homeowners avoid the tarnishing effects of a foreclosure by opting to do a short sale instead. Short sales have many benefits over a foreclosure, such as being able to buy another home within two years of closing (as opposed to waiting seven years with a foreclosure…who knows how high rents will be then), a credit score ding of 30-130 points instead of a whopping 200-400 points, negative consequences with auto and other loans, and the list goes on.

One of the many myths out there about short sales is that they are impossible and never get approved. Trust me, I’ve helped buy and sell short sale homes before and negotiated with the banks myself—they can be done. Having someone well-versed in the intricacies is critical though to a successful short sale for both buyers and sellers. They are indeed possible.

One fact is that short sales often are great deals because there are less buyers for them since some people steer clear, thinking they’re going to be a hassle. Are you looking for a deal? I just listed this short sale in Longmont at 6 Dartmouth Circle. It is in a great neighborhood on a beautiful lot, ready for your personal decorating touches!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Another Great Neighborhood Spot

I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t like a good pizza, myself included. So when I heard about Martino’s Pizza in Lafayette which opened earlier this year I knew I had to try it as part of my continuous search to find delicious pizza. Finally made the trip there this weekend and it was excellent! Think Chicago thin crust (yes, Chicago actually has great thin crust – not just deep dish) meets Italian style pizza. The crust was very thin yet didn’t topple over when I grabbed a slice, the sauce was nicely flavored, and the toppings were as fresh as could be. We’ll definitely be back to Martino’s and I hope this place stays around for years to come. Next time I think I’ll be more adventurous and try one of their delicious-sounding sandwiches too.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Unreported Housing Data

The media reported in August that home sales dropped 27% year over year. Realtors knew this in June. Official housing data is a lagging indicator of what is actually happening in the market. Here is the top secret info that you will find out about from the media at the beginning of next year.
After a slow summer with a lot of negative news about the real estate market, the fall is finally here. Traditionally, October/November is one of the best times of the year to sell because of low inventory and anxious buyers. This year isn’t any different as 19% of sellers took their homes off the market in the last two months; plus, 30 year fixed rate mortgages are at 3.93% (as of 10/14/10). The time to sell is now while rates are low and before the 19% of sellers that took their homes off the market re-list.

The bad news is that since May, home prices have dropped about 5-10% in the Boulder, Colorado area (and 5-10% nationwide from what my contacts have told me). This drop will be reported at the beginning of next year and only reflects same home sales, not average sales price. For example, a home that may have sold for $500,000 in March 2010 is now selling for $450,000. WHAT HAPPENED? Inventory was too high and sellers started to capitulate on price, causing a chain reaction of falling prices. This phenomenon has the Federal Reserve scared about a deflationary economy and is part of the reason they are trying to cause inflation.
Everyone’s situation is different, what is yours?

Buying: Rents are starting to rise and you can lock in your monthly payment at below 4.0% which means a $300,000 house will run about $1,450 per month including taxes and insurance.

Selling: Great time to move up and a bad time to downsize. Low rates and ample bargains mean taking a hit when you sell but getting an even greater deal when you buy.

Staying: Refinance at these record low rates. Appraisals may be a problem but there are programs for loans owned by FHA, Fannie, and Freddie that will help you refinance without bringing money to the table.

Investing: Make sure that you are diversified as even the brightest economists don’t know what will happen. Inflation will ultimately raise rents, property values, and interest rates, while deflation will cause the opposite.

Monday, October 11, 2010

How Did Q3 Fare in Boulder County?

With another quarter behind us, I ran some numbers for Boulder County to see how the third quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter, as well as Q3 of 2009.


Q3 2010 showed the lowest amount of new inventory with 1,875 homes listed during that three month period—good news for sellers with less competition, bad news for buyers who’ve looked at everything out there and still aren’t finding exactly what they’re seeking. 1,950 homes were listed for sale in Q3 2009 and 2,559 in Q2 2010.

The amount of homes sold was down last quarter, however, prices showed a slight uptick. 887 homes sold compared to 1,190 in Q3 2009 and 1,343 in Q2 2010. The median price for these homes was $339,900 last quarter, $306,000 in Q3 2009, and $315,900 in Q2 2010.

Though median home prices are up that does not necessarily mean that home values are up. I have seen same home sales drop about 5-10% since May, meaning that for the median sales price you get that much more home. Median home prices are up because the high-end is moving while the lower end has slowed. We won’t see the drop that the agents on the street have seen in the headlines until the beginning of next year; that is how long it takes the official numbers to come in from Case Schiller and FHFA. The 5-10% drop is just a gut feel for the market from talking to agents nationwide and locally.

A little fun fact…the highest priced home that sold in Boulder County last quarter was $3,900,000.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Is Your Realtor Credentialed?

Do you see an “MD” for your health and a “CPA” for your accounting needs? And who handles one of your largest investments – your home? Many people don’t think twice about who they use to represent them in their real estate needs, but this can be a serious mistake.


The real estate industry is host to advanced designations and credentials like many fields. When you get a Realtor’s business card, pay attention if they have any letters after their name. If their name is followed by acronyms, this means they have taken the time and met requirements to further educate themselves and enhance their services. Think of it as a form of higher education in real estate.

I am proud to have just earned my fourth credential—the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). Less than 4% of Realtors hold this designation because it is the most difficult to obtain. Not only did I need to pass courses in a variety of subject areas, but I also had to meet strict production requirements to even be eligible.

What does this mean for you? Home buyers and sellers can be assured that CRS designees subscribe to the strict Realtors code of ethics, have access to the latest technology, and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a home.

In addition to being a CRS, I am also a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Certified Distressed Property Expert, and Certified Negotiation Expert.

Take an extra second to look at your Realtor’s business card…it may make all the difference!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Boulder Makes National News Again: “Foodiest Town”

Is it just me, or does the City of Boulder, Colorado, at about 100,000 people, seem to make the national news quite a bit? Well it just happened again, and with another accolade: “America’s Foodiest Town 2010” by Bon Appetit. Kind of ironic that the skinniest state can also have some of the best restaurants, not only in terms of food quality but service and atmosphere too. I also like the emphasis placed on “local”from produce to meats to beerit’s another thing that makes Boulder unique and “foody.” Not to mention all the unbeatable happy hour specials! You can read the article at http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2010/10/americas_foodiest_town_2010_boulder.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Boulder Is Different

The Boulder Economic Council recently released its 2010 Economic Profile of Boulder, Colorado. As a guy who enjoys numbers, the data is both entertaining and optimistic. Below are some interesting facts on our city:


• Population: 103,606; Housing units: 43,878 (includes CU students who reside in Boulder)

o 2.361 people for every housing unit

• Mean travel time to work: 18.9 minutes vs. national average of 25.5 minutes

• 73% of Boulder residents work in Boulder vs. national average of 31.1% nationally work in their city

• Average rent: $976 vs. $824 national (This was surprisingly low for anyone looking to rent a place.)

• 50.6% of all housing units are rentals vs. 33.4% nationally

• 19.3% of Boulder residents walk or bike to work vs. 4.6% nationally

• 9.6% of Boulderites work from home vs. 4.1% national (Why would you want to live in North Dakota if you worked from home?)

• Home price appreciation year over year: -2.3% Boulder, -4.6% Colorado, and -6.8% national

• $46 million in venture capital for the first half of 2010 in Boulder County

• Unemployment rate: 6.4%, state 8.0%, and national 9.5%

With more than twenty-three pages of detailed statistics on the City of Boulder and surrounding metropolitan area, there are answers to your questions and great trivia for your friends.

CB Matches Donations for Fourmile Fire Victims

Every year, Realtors from Coldwell Banker offices throughout the state come together for a power week of fundraising in an event called “Ride the Range.” Riders will cover 316 miles over five days, beginning in Colorado Springs. I’ll be participating in one day of the ride again this year as I bike 50+ miles from Evergreen to Boulder. (Whew, getting exhausted just writing about it!)


Coldwell Banker has committed to raising funds for the American Cancer Society, however, all the money raised by the Boulder office will benefit the victims of Boulder’s Fourmile Fire…and Coldwell Banker will be matching each of these donations, dollar for dollar!

As a Realtor and homeowner, I know how important “home” is to many people, and being without it in a tragedy like this is unfathomable. As firefighters continue to work tirelessly to fully contain this fire, I ask that you please support those affected by it if you are able. Please visit http://www.events.org/CBRBCOL1/sponsorship.aspx?id=23388 to donate today!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Lucky Location for Lucky Pie

Set back from the street but on a well-trafficked corner, Lucky Pie offers a great spot to enjoy good food and drinks and hopefully good weather too. Lucky Pie is one of Louisville’s newest restaurant additions and fills a niche that wasn’t there before. The pizza is more like Proto’s than Old Chicago or one of the chains—thin crust, fresh ingredients, and a unique mix of toppings. My family and I ate there last week on the patio which was nice and relaxing. We loved our pizzas! Though they have a large beer selection I didn’t find my favorite on the menu (Left Hand) but the server was helpful in offering other selections. We’ll definitely be back to enjoy some tasty pizza and hopefully save room for ice cream next door at Sweet Cow.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Can We Still Appreciate Appreciation?

From The New York Times to cable news, real estate appreciation has been the talk of journalists lately. Specifically, the topic of discussion is whether or not homeowners will ever experience property appreciation the way most parts of our country did in the latter half of the 20th century.

The obvious answer to this is, time will tell. In my opinion, property appreciation will be extremely localized. Maybe I just like to look at the glass half full, but living and working in this area of Colorado—Boulder/Broomfield/Denver—we see firsthand that growth is a real occurrence and not just a plan.

According to the City of Boulder, the originally projected population and employment levels for Boulder Valley in 2020 have already been reached. And Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine last month ranked Boulder as number four on the list of “Best Cities for the Next Decade.” Coincidentally, Boulder’s director of community planning and sustainability was quoted in the article regarding being challenged with managing growth without seeing home prices get too high.

So before you decide to sign another lease, think long and hard about your plans for the future and whether you would rather rent year after year or possibly one day relish in your gold mine of a home. I think you’ll appreciate it.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Timing is Everything

We all know 2009 wasn’t exactly the best year on the books for real estate, so how is this year comparing to last? Let’s start with the good news – the market is picking up. And now the bad news – sales in July 2010 were down 26.6% from July 2009. To explain, the data from July is really from activity that was happening in May and June. With the government tax credit this past spring, there were a lot of buyers enticed to make the April 30 deadline, thus causing a bit of a slowdown in the months following.
What I noticed when the market was hot this spring was that a lot of people listed their homes for sale after realizing this—on the tail end of this peak—but it was too late; the frenzy had begun to subside. Now we’re seeing people who had listed their home in late April take it off the market now after missing those potential buyers. Timing is everything!
Back to the good news—activity has definitely increased the past few weeks. People are getting out of their vacation mindset and back into reality, which for some people consists of moving. Showings are on the rise, and time will tell about prices.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Zucca - Fits Right in to Louisville's Expanding Restaurant Scene

My wife and I finally got around to trying one of the restaurants on our short list, Zucca in Louisville. Thanks to a night of free babysitting by my mother-in-law, we took our time enjoying several courses and loved everything we ate (the linguine with clams was the best!). All the food tasted very fresh, the atmosphere was cozy yet comfortable, and our server was attentive but didn't rush us. Though we didn't try the special offering that night because everything on the regular menu looked so enticing, our server did note that the ingredients came from their farm on 63rd Street, which happens to be the place of this Friday's "Bounty of the Harvest" dinner. The portion sizes were perfect too. They also have happy hour every day and lunch on the week days. We'll definitely be going back!

Monday, August 2, 2010

The Restaurants Are Coming, The Restaurants Are Coming! - David Janis Real Estate

Competition is always a good thing, especially when it tastes good! Take a walk through downtown Louisville these days and you'll notice some new restaurants and a few coming attractions. Now, I've always loved dining in Louisville (did you know Waterloo has an awesome brunch now?) but I think all the options will really put downtown Louisville on the map for eating out.
Recently opened Alley Cat and Zucca seem like they're off to a great start. And you can't help but notice the old post office building will soon be home to Lucky Pie, a much needed pizza joint from the previous owner of the Empire. Across from the Huckleberry the finishing touches are going in on The Cactus Wheel, which will have quite the selection of hot sauce.
Next time you visit downtown Louisville, bring your appetite!