Nov. 20 found more than 550 real estate agents, attorneys, bankers and other interested people from the Boulder, Denver Metropolitan and Fort Collins area gaining insight into the state of real estate from a panel of industry experts, including: Brad Blackwell, Wells Fargo retail national sales manager, Tracy Harlow, communications director from ConocoPhillips; Lou Barnes, owner of Boulder West Financial Services; and DB Wilson, managing broker of RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc.
According to DB Wilson, real estate prices in the Denver/Boulder area are stable or upward. He pointed out that the real estate prices in the area did not go up dramatically in the last five years, so it was spared of participating in the real estate "bubble." He compared the area's real estate prices to San Diego, where the prices rose dramatically and are now coming back down.
See DB's presentation here
Boulder Valley Fall Real Estate Conference and Forecast
The time is right for owning or buying a home in Boulder
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If you own a house in
“Insofar as our market area is concerned, we really should be counting our blessings that we own property in the
Although the latest market statistics had a couple gloomy areas – such as a drop in the number of sales in every
“Stability in this environment can be a good thing,” Hotard says, noting that the “bad news keeps piling up” – such as Citigroup laying off 53,000 employees – and “announcements like that are probably not at an end yet." If this were an area where many of those primary jobs were lost, the picture would be darker, he says.
The fact that the federal government has yet to determine how to allocate $700 billion in bail-out funds isn’t helping the economy or the real estate market, Hotard says. Banks continue to sit on whatever funds they have, which is limiting its circulation in the economy through mortgages and other credit. “Until we see credit free up, we’re going to rock along month to month pretty much as we do now,” he says. “If it sits, it’s not working. It needs to be moving to create income.”
Hotard agrees with U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson that bailing out homeowners with upside-down mortgages – they owe more than their homes are worth – should not be the thrust of the bailout. Instead, the government should restore credit to the market. Regardless, Hotard expects no decisive action until the inauguration of the new president in January.
As far as the
“For folks who are looking to get in … this is great time to buy in the
And for those who have to sell, Hotard says, “get yourself a darn good Realtor. Now’s not the time to do it yourself. This is a tough market. This is when Realtors earn their keep, for sure.”
What’s hot and what’s not among today’s home buyers
The real estate market may be struggling, but buyers still know what they like and want in a home – and what they don’t.
According to Elizabeth Weintraub of About.com, buyers don’t want homes built in the 1980s, and they even pass up homes built from 1970 to 1999 in favor of newer or older ones. That means they’re likely to pass over homes with Formica counters, walnut cabinets and baseboards, shag carpet, gold-toned trim or avocado-colored appliances in favor of these more stylish abodes:
• Homes built pre-World War II, which includes homes with any kind of architecture with Ol
d World style, charm and character;
• Mid-Century homes, including those built in Cape Cod or Frank Lloyd Wright style and may have flat or shallow-pitched roofs, geometric shapes, cantilevered construction and open floor plans.
• Mediterranean with Spanish or Italian details such as wrought-iron accents, dramatic staircases, archways throughout and rounded wall corners and grand, covered entrances.
Fort Collins named best Colorado city for families
Business Week recently named
The magazine said the town, which is home to
Business Week named the best places state by state this year, instead of ranking them nationwide. It worked with OnBoard Informatics, a New York-based provider of real estate analysis, to select towns with a minimum of 50,000 residents and a median family income between $40,000 and $100,000. It then narrowed its search down with weighted criteria, including school performance, number of schools, household expenditures, crime rates, air quality, job growth, museums, parks, theaters and other amenities, and diversity. The magazine weighted school performance and safety most heavily, but also gave strong consideration to amenities and affordability.
The organizing principle was affordability, according to the magazine, so it weighted the results to prevent pricing out most readers. Some cities may have performed well in categories such as schools and amenities, but were too expensive for many to afford to live there. Other cities may have not made the list because of a higher cri
me rate.
Park Gables in Boulder
Park Gables is an enclave of 10 homes in the tradition of the Bungalow style in a gorgeous setting at the foot of Flagstaff Mountain and Boulder Creek - an easy walk to the West Pearl District and downtown Boulder. Each home features private outdoor spaces and an oversized two-car garage 
with ample storage for outdoor gear.
These easy-to-maintain homes include an HOA that manages everything from snow removal and lawn maintenance to exterior window washing and trash removal, making them perfect lock-and-leave homes for those with heavy travel schedules or who live in Boulder only part time.
Prices of these Bungalows start in the $900,000s and go up to $1,425,000; they range in size from 1,621 square feet to 2,529 square feet. The first phase will be ready for move in in winter 2008. For additional information, please contact me! 
Fitness In Balance offers exercise prescription, nutrition guidance and coaching
Shannon Derby is the fitness director for Mountain’s Edge Fitness Center in the Table Mesa Shopping Center and owner of Fitness In Balance Personal Fitness Training. She has worked full time in the fitness industry since 1991 and teaching fitness classes since 1986.
Shannon currently works individually with people looking to improve muscle tone, lose weight and train for specific athletic events as well as provides secondary rehabilitation after physical therapy. Fitness and health are passions for Shannon: she delights in sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge with everyone she encounters.
The University of Colorado in Boulder provided Shannon with her two degrees, one in psychology and one in kinesiology. Shannon has been a nationally certified instructor and personal trainer since 1986. She also works for the original indoor cycling company Spinning© as a Master Trainer and Instructor.
Shannon enjoys the outdoors here in beautiful Boulder alone, with clients, groups and her son. She’d love to meet you and help you with any fitness or health-related questions you might have. If you don’t run into her on the trails, you can reach Shannon at msderby1@comcast.net or by phone at the Mountain’s Edge, 303-494-5000.
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