Archive for November, 2008
Eco Fun Facts
November 30th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Boulder, Trends
Did you know that turning your thermostat down by just 1 degree, you’ll cut fuel consumption by as much as 10% ? Cutting down on energy use is great for so many reasons - global warming being one of them.
Boulder Colorado has got to be one of the most environmentally progressive cities in the United States. Because the mountains provide ample outdoor activities for people of all ages, the earth and nature are respected here. When I park to go shopping, I am always in awe of so many Toyota Prius Hybrids in one place! Everyone is joining the green revolution. We have Eco Realtors, “green” mortgage lenders, eco-handymen, eco product stores, sustainable building, healthy home consulting…and the list goes on and on. Here in Boulder, you need to be up to date on your eco facts. Read more and impress your friends with what you know.
Written by Julie Johnson | Discussion: 1 Comment »
RATES INCREASE DESPITE FALL IN TREASURY YIELDS
November 25th, 2008 Categories: Buyer's Corner, First Time Buyers, Market Conditions, Relocating, Selling Thoughts, Trends
Mortgage interest rates increased slightly this past week despite the yield on the US Treasury 10 year note falling from 3.71% to 3.174% currently. This is the biggest weekly drop in the 10 year note since the stock market crash of 1987. Money continues to flow into safe Treasury debt with short-term yields nearing zero and out of the stock market.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at 7,528, down almost 1,000 points on the week. The market is now speculating that the Fed may cut the Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points at its December FOMC meeting.
Economic data of note included the Producer Price Index (PPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). PPI fell 2.8%, its largest decline since 1947 and CPI fell 1.0%, its largest decline in 61 years. October Housing Starts and Building Permits fell substantially. Housing Starts are at their lowest level since 1959 and Building Permits are at their lowest level since 1960.
Crude Oil futures prices continued to fall, dropping over $8 per barrel to $48.59 per barrel currently. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced that they will suspend foreclosures over the holidays. Citigroup announced that they will eliminate over 50,000 jobs.
Next week look toward Tuesdays second look at third quarter GDP and Wednesdays Durable Goods Orders and Personal Income and Outlays as potential market moving events.
Written by Brody Stinson | Discussion: No Comments »
Water, Colorado’s Liquid Gold
November 24th, 2008 Categories: Colorado Round Up, Real Estate Tales
Where do we get our water? Yes, you turn on the kitchen tap and viola, there’s water. Seriously where does 
our precious water originate. Most of Colorado’s water is largely dependent on Colorado’s winter weather, from the mountain snow-melt. Once the snow melts it either streams east toward the Atlantic or West towards the Pacific oceans. Some water is diverted, some replenishes our aquifers and the rest is captured in our reservoirs.
Because most of Colorado’s population is on the east side of the Rockies or Continental Divide, Pacific bound water is transported to the east side reservoirs. Did you know that 90% of Colorado’s water usage is for agriculture! Pipelines have been established to move water through the Continental Divide moving water from the Western Slope to the Front Range. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Ro Troia | Discussion: No Comments »
The Price Is Right; How To Sell Your Home In A Buyers Market
November 23rd, 2008 Categories: Buyer's Corner, First Time Buyers, Focus on Boulder, Market Conditions, Trends
People are always asking me how my career is going with the “bad” real estate market. I always answer that I’m doing just fine and state that it’s not a bad market in Boulder county - it’s a buyer’s market. I’ve stayed busy showing buyers homes and closing some pretty good deals. As for sellers, we’ve been successful as well. The supply of homes for sale continues to grow throughout Boulder, and it’s been a long time since home sellers have faced these conditions. Homeowners looking to sell are in unchartered waters. So why have we been able to have successful home sales in Boulder Colorado? Because we know how to sell a house in a buyer’s market and it’s equally important to educate homeowners on how to sell in a buyer’s market.
Written by Julie Johnson | Discussion: No Comments »
How To Keep Your Man in Nederland
November 20th, 2008 Categories: Boulder Subdivisions and Neighborhoods, Mountain Living, Relocating
Well, one way to do it is when he dies you keep him frozen on ice. 
That’s how Frozen Dead Guy Days got it’s name. Every year on the first full weekend in March (burrrrrr….) Nederland Colorado celebrates “Grandpa Bredo” who supposedly is still kept on ice in the Tuff Shed. His grandson, a Norwegian immigrant brought his deceased “Grandpa Bredo” to Nederland Colorado in 1989 where his body lies frozen in a shed (at -109F) behind his daughter’s old house. I’ve heard it said that Trygue (the grandson) wasn’t aware of American taboos about storing deceased relatives with yard tools…anyway Trygue was finally deported by the US government (not because of his grandfather..), and the City of Nederland Colorado grandfathered in Grandpa Bredo, against all odds, and Grandpa is allowed to remain interned in the Tuff Shed until they discover a cure for being dead. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Karen Cifala | Discussion: No Comments »
Only in Boulder
November 17th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Boulder
It’s a catchy headline, but I’ve been saying that ever since I moved to Boulder, Co in 1993. Boulder has a unique culture, I guess is one way to describe it. I tell people that someone could walk down Pearl St. naked and no one would bat an eyelash. They did just do that as hundreds of nude runners took the streets with the Naked Pumpkin run this past Halloween. It’s an annual event that takes place every halloween and not one that you would take your children to. Boulder did have a M
unchkin Masquerade on the Pearl Street mall for the children that was held during the day.
On November 21, the Boulder Ice rink at One Boulder Plaza will open. You can enjoy outdoor skating and the cafes and shopping that surround this area. Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Ro Troia | Discussion: 4 Comments »
RATES INCREASE SLIGHTLY ON TREASURY DEBT AUCTIONS
November 14th, 2008 Categories: Buyer's Corner, Colorado Round Up, First Time Buyers, Focus on Boulder, Market Conditions, Real Estate Tales, Relocating, Selling Thoughts, Trends
Today’s Market Commentary:
Interest rates increased slightly this past week as the US Treasury auctioned off $55 billion of debt. Economic data continued to be negative. Weekly jobless claims jumped by 32,000 claims on expectations that claims would actually fall by 2,000.
Continuing claims increased to 3.9 million from 3.84 million the previous week. October Retail Sales fell by 2.8% on expectations that sales would fall by 1.2%. Excluding auto sales, Retail Sales fell by 2.2% on expectations that sales would fall by 0.9%. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported third quarter losses of $29 billion and $25.3 billion respectively. Markets increasingly expect the Fed to cut short term interest rates by 50 basis points again at their FOMC meeting December 16.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at 8,503, down about 440 points on the week. Crude oil futures are currently trading at just over $56 per barrel, down almost $5 per barrel on the week. China announced a $586 billion stimulus package to keep their economy growing.
Next week look toward Monday’s Industrial Production, Tuesday’s Producer Price Index (PPI), and Wednesday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Housing Starts as potential market moving events.
Written by Brody Stinson | Discussion: No Comments »
Boots and Fur (faux of course, it’s Boulder)
November 12th, 2008 Categories: Colorado Round Up, Focus on Boulder
You know it’s winter in Boulder Colorado when the bike racks come off the cars and the ski racks go on AND the fashion changes for the women to “boots with fur” around the top! I think it was my son in law that coined that phrase about Boulder Colorado because it was the first thing he noticed on his very first visit as we went strolling down Pearl Street Mall. Everyone was wearing them! More Boots with Fur….I think he might have been noticing the girls to..do ya think? Pearl Street Mall happens to be within walking distance of the University of Colorado so the mall is abuzz with young inventive fashion designers. Winter in Boulder, ahhhh… Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Karen Cifala | Discussion: No Comments »
Mortgage Market Update
November 11th, 2008 Categories: Buyer's Corner, First Time Buyers, Market Conditions, Selling Thoughts, Trends
Today’s Market Commentary:
RATES FALL
ON WEAK ECONOMIC DATA
Interest rates improved this week on generally weaker than expected economic data. Today’s employment report for October showed job losses of 240,000 on expectations of 200,000 lost jobs. The unemployment rate increased 0.4% to 6.5% on expectations that it would increase to 6.3%. The October ISM Manufacturing Index was reported at 38.9 on expectations that it would come in at 42.0. Any read under 50 indicates contraction. The September ISM Services Sector Index and September Factory Orders were also weaker than expected.
Other economic news of note included interest rate cuts by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. The Bank of England cut their benchmark lending 
rate by 1.50% and the European Central Bank cut its rate by 0.50%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at 8,894, down about 330 points on the week. Crude oil futures are currently trading at $60.99, down about $7 per barrel on the week. The one month Libor continues to fall and is currently at 1.622%.
Next week look toward Thursday’s International Trade and weekly jobless claims and Friday’s October Retail Sales reports as potential market moving events.
Written by Brody Stinson | Discussion: No Comments »
First Time Home Buyers on The Rise
November 11th, 2008 Categories: Buyer's Corner, First Time Buyers, Trends
According to the National Association of Realtors, NAR, the number of first time home buyers is definitely on the rise. The number rose from 39% to 41% in 2007. What do we attribute this to?
Several factors: Read the rest of this entry »
Written by Ro Troia | Discussion: 1 Comment »
