Boulder’s best buy on BEAUTIFUL light and bright, end unit townhouse.

Awesome features include:

Over 1000 square feet with ATTACHED 2 car underground parking garage.

An A/C that will knock your socks off !!

Also includes a  large shaded private patio, which is south facing. Great for outdoor dining and bbq’s. 

All newer and updated appliances, and the washer and dryer are included!   Read all about this great deal on an affordable home.

You won’t beat this price! 2 Bedrooms and 2bathrooms (1F, 1T). The spacious master includes a bathroom and 2 closets with plenty of storage.  2nd bedroom is WEST FACING so enjoy those views.  An end unit townhome is hard to find so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Dogs are allowed and it’s only one block to AWESOME open space trails, bike paths, and nature trails.

CHECK OUT THESE VIEWS! ONLY TEN MINUTES TO BOULDER!

Also within walking distance to bus stop, community park, playground, golf course, Boulder Country Club, shops, & restaurants.  Newer carpet and wood-laminate flooring. Southwest facing with beautiful back range and seasonal Flatirons views! Be on Pearl St. in 10 minutes. This one won’t last!

Only a mile from a King Sooper’s shopping center, which has: the delicious Gunbarrell Deli, Page Two Coffee & Gifts, Gurkhas Indian Food, and Serrano’sSouthwestern Grill.  There’s also Dairy Queen, a liquor store, the Gunbarrell athletic club, Blackjack Pizza, a nail salon and two day cares, Burger King and a Quiznos, and a postal store with USPS mail drop, also a bank, Short Stop gas station, J&S Full Service automotive repair and car wash.  Summary…. this location has everything you need!

Give me a call, we’ll get you in for a showing today! (303) 319-3346.

taken by Sam Hall

With this latest fire, over 1,800 Boulder Colorado residents were asked to evacuate their homes yesterday and the breaking news for today is that the evacuation was lifted.  And according to the Daily Camera, mandatory evacuation orders remained in place overnight for at least 139 Boulder County residents and 1,700 people within city limits west of Seventh Street, from Canyon Boulevard on the south, to North Street on the north. Also, Boulder Community Hospital’s Maxwell and Mapleton facilities were also evacuated and will remain closed Saturday. The hospital’s north Broadway location was not affected.  Read about how the fire started and more.

The cause of the “Dome Fire” is still uncertain but not at all uncommon.  As a resident of Boulder for over 15 years, the community knows that this is the dry season.  We’ve had little rain, no snow yet and the winds have been insane.  Several days ago, I think the winds were over 60 mph!  Thank goodness there wasn’t a fire that day.  There were actually two fires yesterday.  The first is possibly from a campfire and the second was caused by a blown ember.  The fires then combined into one blaze that moved with high winds to the north and east and that’s when the evacuation orders were prompted.  Along with reverse 9-1-1 calls, police went door to door. 

Check out some more great pictures.

While devastating and  worrisome, fires are a part of mountain living.  Luckily no structures have been damaged in this latest fire. My heart goes out to all who lost a home in the Fourmile Fire.  My advice has a real estate agent, please make sure to purchase homeowners insurance if you own your home outright and renters insurance for you renters.  If you have a mortgage, you are required to carry insurance anyway.   

Boulder’s best buy on BEAUTIFUL light and bright, end unit townhouse.

Awesome features include:

Over 1000 square feet with ATTACHED 2 car underground parking garage. 

An A/C that will knock your socks off !!

 Also includes a  large shaded private patio, which is south facing. Great for outdoor dining and bbq’s. 

All newer and updated appliances, and the washer and dryer are included!   Read all about this great deal on an affordable home.

 You won’t beat this price! 2 Bedrooms and 2bathrooms (1F, 1T). The spacious master includes a bathroom and 2 closets with plenty of storage.  2nd bedroom is WEST FACING so enjoy those views.  An end unit townhome is hard to find so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Dogs are allowed and it’s only one block to AWESOME open space trails, bike paths, and nature trails.

CHECK OUT THESE VIEWS! ONLY TEN MINUTES TO BOULDER!

Also within walking distance to bus stop, community park, playground, golf course, Boulder Country Club, shops, & restaurants.  Newer carpet and wood-laminate flooring. Southwest facing with beautiful back range and seasonal Flatirons views! Be on Pearl St. in 10 minutes. This one won’t last! 

Only a mile from a King Sooper’s shopping center, which has: the delicious Gunbarrell Deli, Page Two Coffee & Gifts, Gurkhas Indian Food, and Serrano’sSouthwestern Grill.  There’s also Dairy Queen, a liquor store, the Gunbarrell athletic club, Blackjack Pizza, a nail salon and two day cares, Burger King and a Quiznos, and a postal store with USPS mail drop, also a bank, Short Stop gas station, J&S Full Service automotive repair and car wash.  Summary…. this location has everything you need!

Give me a call, we’ll get you in for a showing today! (303) 319-3346.

The family farm invites you to be a farmer for a day; spend the day harvesting and learning about Colorado produce.  Miller Farms has been in production since 1949 and they enjoy teaching folks of all ages about how produce is grown.  And what an awesome deal – the admission fee included harvesting plus all activities at the farm including the cost of the produce.   Spend the day at the farm (not far from Boulder/Lyons/Longmont), then go home to enjoy the taste of locally grown vegetables.  Some activities besides harvesting include barrel train rides, huge corn maze, antique tractors, real monster truck, giant dirt hill, and hay pyramid. 

If you are a school or wish to have a bunch of friends for a birthday party, there are group rates, just call or visit their website to reserve a space. 

The farm is open through mid-November, 9am-6pm daily and is located just 5 miles of I-25 at exit 243.

Longmont/Lyons exit) Located on Highway 66 and County Road 19. The address is: 9040 US  Hwy. 66, Platteville CO 80651. 

Contact info: (970) 785-6133

Looking for some Halloween fun and fright delight? Experience the haunted adventure at the farm by reservation only.  October 10th – October 31st, dusk to 10pm.

A part of CSA; a great community supported agriculture program! Eat nutritiously, buy locally, be healthy! 

See you there!

Well - in Boulder Colorado  it could be!  With over 40 dispensories, growers, in home care services and herbal medicine shops just in Boulder alone with ” medical marijuana” names such as Bubbua Kush or Blue Dream.   Nope!   In fact Rockygrass  isn’t something you plant or smoke! It’s a bluegrass festival in Lyons Colorado that happens every year in July. Lyons is located 15 miles north of Boulder Colorado and the festival is held at Planet Bluegrass Ranch on Hwy 35 just northwest of Lyons.  Just 25 minutes from Boulder and 1 hour from either Denver or Ft. Collins it’s known as one of the best bluegrass festivals around the country.   Three Days of sun, music, river wading and floating, good food, camping, and exquisite scenery!   Check out this years music lineup! – Doc Watson, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, and Tony Rice, just to mention a few.  Read on for more info

If you are planning to visit Boulder Colorado during the summer, make sure you check out the Rockygrass lineup of musicians for that year and buy your ticket(s) in advance (they go on sale in Jan or Feb) because they sell out quickly.  My family visited me the summer of 2008 and we went to all 3 days of the Rockygrass  festival.  Not only was the music fantastic, but during the hot mid day sun we spent hours in the North St. Vrain river cooling off.  No matter where you are sitting in the park, you have good views and the music just surrounds you!   If you need a break you can visit the small quarry town of Lyons where they have restarants and antinque stores.  You could schedule a morning mountain biking at Hall Ranch or touring Rocky Mountain National Park, or take a ride into Estes Park and have lunch.    There is camping at Planet Bluegrass Ranch and there is also local lodging close by in Boulder or Longmont.   I found that my Verizon cell phone worked well, but some other service providers were a little spotty.  As much as you love your dog……please leave Spot at home, there are way to many young, old, dancing, singing people and children around – so NO DOGS.    I found it easy to buy my tickets online at www.shopbluegrass.com or call them at 800-624-2422.  Have a great summer in Boulder!  Call or email the Troia Team if you are making a visit to Boulder any time soon.  We offer free tours of the area!     Lyons Colorado is a nice affordable alternative to Boulder and close enough to be able to participate in the Boulder Fun!

One of my favorite things to do is take a hike.  Weather it is a short afternoon trip or a long challenging trail that takes me to isolated alpine lakes over a few days, hiking gives more than it takes.  In Boulder Colorado there are plenty of trails to choose from and a variety of degrees of difficulty amongst those trails.  You can jog up the red rocks trail and take a look east over our beautiful city.  Or you can drive a bit north and start at 4 a.m. to conquer Pikes Peak.  Trust me, you will need a bit or training for that one.  If you enjoy the outdoors, are looking to get in shape, or just need to blow off some steam than take a hike.

Below are a list of hikes that I recommend.  Review the list pick one and go do it.

The Anne U. White Trail: This is a short hike and easy to compete.  With only 200 feet of elevation gain, it’s very doable.  Proximity to Boulder and a very pleasant arroyo environment make this a Boulder favorite for casual hikers and dog lovers. It features a delightful riparian area and rock gardens.  Get out there….

Bald Mountain Scenic Area: As the name suggests, this is a short, scenic hike around and up to the top of Bald Mountain (7,160 feet). There are spectacular views of the Indian Peaks and the plains. Great hike for the young ones.

Bear Peak: This is more of a challenge.  But it takes you to the highest point over Boulder there is.  A strenuous but great hike up the summit of Bear Peak (8,461feet), one of Boulder’s most visible landmarks. The Bear Peak Trail follows Bear Creek up beautiful Bear Canyon, then makes a steep ascent up the Bear Peak West Ridge Trail to the summit of Bear Peak. Expect beautiful vistas and blooming wildflowers during the summer months.

Big Blue Stream and South Boulder Creek Trails: If you are looking for more of a flat, dog friendly hike check this one out.  Late spring and summer, you will hardly be able to see the big bluestem grass for which a portion of this loop is named because the wildflowers will be too thick. You will find penstemon, lupine, Indian paintbrush, and sego lily along the route, among others; bring along a wildflower guide, or better yet, a botanist friend. It will be educational. If you can peel your eyes away from the flowers, they’ll without doubt be drawn upward to the red ramparts of the Flatirons.

With plenty more out there get up, put your hiking boots on and start walking….

For the pick of Boulder Colorado’s finest grown produce there is only one place to be….  If you are looking for live music outside, I know where you should go…If you are interested in tasting some local flavors such as tamales and honey, the destination is clear….. Boulder’s Farmers’ Market.  The Boulder County Farmers’ Markets take pride in bringing you locally grownvegetables, meats, fruits, flowers, plants, gourmet cheeses and wines sold by the farmers that produce them. While you’re purchasing your fresh vegetables and fruits (many of them organically grown) enjoy a tasty pastry from a local bakery or a meal created by local chefs.       There was a time when city grocery stores featured locally grown agricultural products. But as a demand for fruit and vegetable production increased, farms grew larger in size and fewer in numbers. Many growers decided to enter the wholesale business and abandon their seemingly less profitable retail stores.  In the Autumn of 1986, a small group of local farmers decided to organize a formal Farmer’s Market to be located in downtown Boulder, Colorado.  The site had to be permanent, highly visible, attractive, accessible and shaded. Boulder’s Central Park, located in the heart of the city, was chosen and the Boulder County Farmers’ Market was off and running!!!!!!

Having been there myself, more than a few times, I can suggest some of the vendors you must visit.  The local honey goes unrivaled.  There is a bread vendor, who has the best loaf of olive wheat bread you will ever taste.  Enjoy a nice lunch from a number of vendors while you listen to a local musician play music for you.  Of course if you want to escape the crowds, a local restaurant called the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is a few steps away.  There is a yogurt vendor who has some of the freshest varieties of delicious flavors.  Of course my back yard is full of flowers and vegetables that I picked up at the market.  These are just a few of my favorites.  For a list of all your favorite vendors click here.

Near the corner of Arapahoe and Broadway Central Park is an ideal location.  Sunshine shade and the Boulder Creek will be there waiting for you.  Many people bring their children and dogs to just chill in the park and enjoy the day.  The Saturday market is a great family environment, and will be open to the public from 8 in the morning to 2 p.m. April 3-November 6.  For a more mature scene head there on Wednesday nights.  There is beer being served and fewer kids running about.  That market is open Wednesday nights from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 5-October 6.

If you are interested in a more local scene with “roots” in our city, don’t head to Safeway or King Soopers, head to the Boulder County Farmers’ Market.  I will see you there……

Really?  Not a short sale?  Not a foreclosure?  It’s called a ” Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure” which actually lets a homeowner voluntarily turn over the deed to their house to the lender!    This is not a new concept, however, neither is foreclosure, but this crazy real estate market we are living in now requires that you cover all you bases before making a final decision on how to get out from under your mortgage.  Even thought the federal government launched some new rules earlier this month concerning short sales, some homeowners might not quality for a short sale because they have no hardship. Could this be you?  Read on please….

A Deed in Lieu options sometimes allows the homeowner to negotiate more favorable exit terms than a foreclosure allows.  It is a signed written legal instrument that is used to grant a right that will convey all interest in your property to the mortgagor to satisfy a loan that is in default, ultimately avoiding foreclosure.  If you have already declared bankruptcy, however, and your home is part of the bankruptcy, a Deed in Lieu will not apply. After talking to a short sale facilitator recently, I found out that If you are contemplating bankruptcy sometimes it’s best to settle your real estate affairs, either with a short sale or deed in lieu prior to filing for bankruptcy.  You should always professional legal and accounting advice before making your final decision.  

Here are few of the advantages that I found for both the borrower and the lender:

Advantages for the homeowner:

• The borrower is immediately released from “most” or all of the personal indebtedness
• The borrower avoids the public notoriety of a foreclosure proceeding
• The borrower may receive more generous terms from the lender than if they went into formal foreclosure
• The borrower’s credit might be hurt less than with a foreclosure, however, if you are concerned about your credit, a short sale is the best alternative.  The bank still has to re-sell your house with a Deed in Lieu to recoup their costs, it’s a close cousin of foreclosure.
• The borrower might be able to stay in the house a few months longer

Advantages for the lender:

• Lender has a reduction in the time and costs of a repossession
• Lender has a lower risk of owner revenge (vandalism before sheriff eviction), although lenders have the option of coming after the homeowner if there has been vandalism). Remember in your mortgage contract….there’s this clause that says..you will maintain the property and not damage it.
• Lender can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and other costs associated with foreclosure

Contact your lender and discuss your options before it gets too far down the road.  As always, communication is “crucial” with your lender to get maximum outcome.  Here are some things you should also know in order to be considered for a Deed in Leiu of foreclosure:

• Both lender and borrower must enter into this agreement voluntarily and in good faith – which means with honest intentions
• The value of the agreement between you and your lender must be at least “fair market value of the home”, which is the estimated value that a knowledgeable, unpressed buyer would pay a seller in the current real estate market.
• Sometimes the lender will agree to a Deed in Lieu even if the amount owed on the mortgage is more than the current fair value, because they will end up with the property anyway
• Lender will want the borrower to sign a written offer of conveyance stating that the offer and negotiation is being done voluntarily.  The will prevent either party from presenting evidence that contradicts or adds to the written contract and will protect the lender from a  possible claim that the lender acted in bad faith or pressured the borrower into the settlement.
• Get in writing from the lender “debt forgiveness”  otherwise they may come back and ask the for difference.

One more important thing to note is  “document everything”, from phone calls to certified letters and please don’t forget to have an attorney help you with the negotiations. I wouldn’t suggest negotiating this alone.

As a Realtor on the Troia Team in Boulder Colorado, we are doing our due diligence to educate ourselves and our clients as to what the options are for them.  We know how hard it can be, we’ve worked with many home owners and understand the complexity, complications and the anxiety that are a part of our real estate world today.  How may we help you?

Here ya go readers and potential buyers.  Another update on the mortgage rates here in Boulder Colorado.  Not much has changed but a few numbers have.  Please check them out.

1) 30 yr is at 5.2 with no points and 5% even with 1 point

2) FHA 30 yr is 5.238 with no points and 5.138% with 1 point.

Also, I would like to inform you all about a unique program that only Coldwell Banker is offering.  It is a Pre-Purchase Rate Protection (PPRP).  It allows a buyer to lock a rate without identifying a property, and is good for a 90 day lock.  Every Coldwell Banker Mortgage customer gets the opportunity to enroll in the (PPRP) as soon as they receive a mortgage pre-approval decision from Coldwell Banker Mortgage.

So click here and lock in your rate today with a professional mortgage broker.

This is more than important information to know if you are buying, selling or renovating real estate in Boulder County and anywhere in Colorado.  As many of you know, if you sell or rent a home built before 1978, you must disclose that your home may contain paint that contains lead.  Not only is there a disclosure form to sign, but a pamphlet that highlights the paint’s risks, especially to children.  But did you also know that a new law will go into effect this month?  Read on to obtain this essential piece of knowledge.

Here’s the law according to the EPA, which signed a new regulation regarding the renovation of child-occupied buildings built before 1978 on April 22, 2008. The rule becomes effective April 22, 2010. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. EPA’s RRP rule impacts many construction trades, including general contractors and special trade contractors, painters, plumbers, carpenters and electricians. Activities performed by all of these trades can disturb lead-based paint and have the potential to create hazardous lead dust. For most individuals, eight hours of training is required. However, individuals who have successfully completed renovation courses developed by HUD or EPA, or an abatement worker or supervisor course accredited by EPA or an authorized State or Tribal program, can become certified renovators by taking a four hour EPA-accredited renovator refresher training.

Before hiring a contractor, consider the following before performing the renovation to your home built before 1978:

     1.  Safety first.  If any contractor is pushing you to do upgrades prior to the rule change to cut costs, they probably would not have been safe to begin with.
     2.  Verify the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured.
     3.  Has the contractor received the lead paint certification?  If not, find out what their safety practices are to avoid contamination and when they are getting certified.
     4.  Contact references from previous work.  If no references available, move on.
     5.  Get at least 3 detailed bids to compare costs of different contractors.  Pay attention especially to the labor costs as that is where the fees will increase due to the new rules.
     6.  If subcontractors are required for the job, will there always be at least 1 certified lead paint contractor on site?
     7.  Referrals of qualified contractors from family, friends and co-workers is a great place to start.  Ask The Troia Team, we can help.  And if you would like up to date real estate news, subscribe to our website.