Real Estate Today Columns by Jim Smith
Published Saturdays in The
Denver Post, and Wednesday or Thursday in 24 weekly newspapers
Get my articles by email! Subscribe free at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com.
Click on dates to view columns
Oct. 31, 2026 What to Know About Pres. Trumps Executive Order
About Lowering Housing Costs
Also: See My Substack Post About Using
Copilot (AI tool) as an Editorial Collaborator
Oct. 24, 2026 Tapping Deep-Earth Heat to Generate Electricity Approaches Mainstream Status
Also: Developments in Utah and Germany Point to Deep-Earth Geothermals Future
Oct. 17, 2026 Mortgage Rates Over 7% Have Put a Wet Blanket on Todays Real Estate Market
Also: MLSs Green Disclosure Catches Up With Newer Technology
Oct. 10, 2026 A 7% Mortgage Rate Has Put a Wet Blanket on the Real Estate Market
Also: Colorado Association of Realtors Opposes Amendment 87, but Why?
Oct. 3, 2026 31st Annual Metro Denver Green Homes Tour Is TODAY, 9am to 4pm
Also: Coloradans Are Going All-Electric in Their Homes
Sept. 26, 2026 Portability of the Senior Property Tax Exemption Was a 2-Year Law; It Ends in 2027
Also: Advice to Boomers When Remodeling to Age in Place; Why Are Production Builders Not Building Homes That Dont Burn?
Sept. 19, 2026 How Artificial Intelligence Is Making Real Estate Wire Fraud Harder to Spot
Also: Solar PV Could Generate Electricity at Night From Power Beams From Satellites.
Sept. 12, 2026 Fall 2026s Hottest Home Design Trend Is Homes That Finally Feel Like Home
Also: NARs Fall Political Focus Turns to the Capital Gains Tax on Primary Residences; Climate Change in Colorado
Sept. 5, 2026 First-Time Homebuyers Have Many Lending Benefits Available to Them
Also: What Buyers Should Note During a Showing; New Law Toughens Emissions Limits on Home Furnaces and Water Heaters
Aug. 29, 2026 Homebuyers Are Specifying No HOA on Their Home Searches; Heres the Data
Also: A Condo HOAs Condition Can Scuttle a Mortgage Approval; Beware, QR Codes Are Scammers Latest Tool
Aug. 22, 2026 Buying a Condo or Townhome? Its a Buyers Market, But Not So for Single-Family Homes
Also: The World Is Going Solar, While U.S. Backpedals; Follow-up on Roof Deductibles; Neighbors Can Help You Assess a Home
Aug. 15, 2026 Insurance Companies Are Changing How Roof Deductibles Are Calculated
Also: The Top 10 Issues Reported by Professional Home Inspectors
Aug. 8, 2026 Denvers ADU Program Is a New Model for Building Affordable Homes
Also: Buyers Dont Have to Sign an Agreement to Be Shown a Home; EU Has Mandated Tethered Plastic Bottle Caps
Aug. 1, 2026 CHFAs New Loan Program for Teachers, Boosting Buying Power But With Appreciation Sharing
Also: Five Indoor Air Hazards That Buyers Should Test For (Radon, Mold, Asbestos, Lead, and Carbon Monoxide)
July 25, 2026 Colorado Doesnt Need to Have Blackouts to Avoid Triggering Wildfires. Here Are Alternatives.
Also: Key Takeaways From the Big New Housing Bill; FHAs Kiddie Condo Program Is an Alternative to Paying Dorm Rent
July 18, 2026 Are You Approaching Retirement and/or Ready to Downsize, But Feeling Trapped?
Also: National Report Details Racial Inequality in the Pricing of Homeowners Insurance
July 11, 2026 Neuroaesthetics in Architecture: An Approach to Improving Home Life
Also: Deed Fraud Is Surging in Detroita Warning for Us; Confused About Plastic RecyclingHeres Some Advice
July 4, 2026 Are You Thinking of Buying a New Home? Dont Overlook Your After-Closing Expenses
Also: Classical Academies Are Becoming Increasingly Popular Nationally and Here, Too
June 27, 2026 If You Prefer an Existing Home to a New One, Factor in Some Improvement Expenses
Also: All Front Range Cities Are Losing Value Year-Over-Year; Join Our Team, Were Hiring Agents
June 20, 2026 Mortgage Offerings Can Vary Greatly. How Do You Shop for the Right One?
Also: Outdoor Living Is Becoming a Longevity Habit; Denver Post No Longer Publishes Sold Listings, But I Can Send Them to You
June 13, 2026 Slowly But Surely, Builders Are Gravitating From First Cost to High Performance
Also: Beware of Texts or Emails Creating a Binding Agreement; Inman Column Recounts History of Real Estate in U.S.
June 6, 2026 Heatwaves Are Quietly Reshaping the Real Estate Market, and Colorado Is Not Immune
Also: Redfin Names Denver 4th Most Neighborly City; ADU Academy Comes to Denver on June 12th
May 30, 2026 March Case-Shiller Report Shows Denver 2nd Only to Seattle in Home Price Decline
Also: Colorado Homeowners and Buyer Can Be Grateful for Our More Equitable Property Tax System
May 23, 2026 Doubling or Eliminating the Capital Gains Tax Exemption Would Increase Housing Inventory
Also: Get Used to Hearing VantageScore Instead of FICO Score.Let Me Explain the Difference.
May 16, 2026 Here Are Some Interior Products Worth Specifying for the Eco-Conscious
Also: Real Estate Scams Are Serious, But Here Are Some Other Scams You Need to Watch Out for
May 9, 2026 Boomers Are Defying Predictions Theyd Create a Silver Tsunami of Available Homes to Buy
Also: Survey Shows Preference for Renovating vs. Moving; MLS Is a Media Company It Just Doesnt Know It Yet
May 2, 2026 If Youre Not Married and Cant Afford to Buy as a Single Person, How About Buying With a Friend?
Also: Many Seniors Wonder: Will Medicaid Take My Home?
Apr. 25, 2026 Micro Renovations Small Fixes Delivering Big Impact for Homeowners
Also: Are You Frightened by Artificial Intelligence? I Have Made Friends With It
Apr. 18, 2026 Northwest MLS Says Compasss Private Exclusives Scheme Constitutes Deceptive Advertising
Also: Design Trends Boosting Sales Prices of Homes; Cordillera Shows What Money Can Buy in Terms of Wildfire Resilience
Apr. 11, 2026 An FHA Loan Can Beat a Conventional Loan in Many Scenarios You Might Not Expect
Also: Here Are Five Design Trends Youll Be Seeing in 2026
Apr. 4, 2026 Community Land Trust Model Creates Home Ownership Opportunity Under $160,000
Also: Title Lock Services Dont Prevent Title Fraud; The Same Service Is Available Free From County Clerks
Also: We Welcome Lorraine DAversa to Century 21 Golden Real Estate
Mar. 28, 2026 How Temporary and Permanent Buydowns Enable Buyer to Lower Monthly Loan Payments
Also: Heres How to Prepare for and What to Expect at Real Estate Closings
Mar. 21, 2026 Colorado Jurisdictions Must Adopt a Fire Resiliency Code by April 1st
Also: KB Home Takes the Lead in Building Fire-Resilient Neighborhoods
Mar. 14, 2026 Artificial Intelligence Is on Track to Play a Bigger Role in the Real Estate Industry
Also: Follow-up on Heat Pumps: Be Sure You Only Order a Cold-Climate Heat Pump; States Take Action vs. Off-MLS Listings
Mar. 7, 2026 Oregon Takes the Lead in Mandating Heat Pumps for HVAC in New Residential Construction
Also: Are You Thinking of Renting Instead of Downsizing? Rita and I Recommend Bel Aire Apartments
Feb. 28, 2026 Rebuilding After Los Angeles Wildfires Should Inspired Colorado Builders
Also: What Should You Address in Preparing Your Home for Sale? Recycling Glass Countertops Are Gaining Popularity
Feb. 21, 2026 Heres a Reverse Mortgage Alternative That Eliminates the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium
Also: Youll Like Homes.coms New AI-Powered Search Tool; Help Me Convince Congress to Reduce Junk Mail This Way
Feb. 14, 2026 Next Weekend Come to Golden for the 20th Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival
Also: Fix Problems Before Listing Your Home, But Only Pay at Closing; Heres a List of Some of My Evergreen Columns
Feb. 7, 2026 Sadly, Not All Homebuyers Value Energy Efficiency, Solar Power, or Other Green Features
Also: Property Tax Is Another Cost of Ownership to Consider; N.M. Builder Ditches Natural Gas Connection for Homes
Jan. 31, 2026 By Leasing, Homeowners Have Until July 4, 2026, to Benefit From the 30% Solar Tax Credit
Also: Redfin CEO Identified 10 Real Estate Trends in 2025; CEFF Lists 53 Environmental Films for This Years Festival
Jan. 24, 2026 Has This Weekends Cold Snap Got You Thinking About Improving Your Homes Insulation?
Also: Listing Agents Should Always Treat Buyers as Customers; Why Dont More Listing Agents Shoot Video Tours?
Jan. 17, 2026 Any Home Going Under Contract in 2026 Must Use the New Sellers Property Disclosure
Also: Lender Lonnie Glessner Cautions Buyers of Homes in Metropolitan Tax Districts
Jan. 10, 2026 Gig Workers Face More Obstacles in Quality for a Home Mortgage
Also: Here Are Some of the Products That Caught My Attention at CES 2026 in Las Vegas
Jan. 3, 2026 2025 Saw Home Values Fall in 98 of the Top 300 Markets. Denver Was #25 on That List.
Also: A Wood-Burning Fireplace May Not Be Best for Your Health or the Climate
Dec. 27, 2025 2026 Will Be the Year in Which Artificial Intelligence Changes the Face of Real Estate (Literally!)
Also: The Real Estate Market Varies Widely Across the Nation; Ill Be Attending CES 2026 in Las Vegas
Dec. 20, 2025 Common Sense Institute Presents Its Starter Home Zoning Template for Colorado
Also: Online and Email Scamming Has Reached a New and Scary Level
Dec. 13, 2025 Too Many Sellers Are Being Conned Into the Advantages of a Private Listing Network
Also: Zillow Removes Climate Risk from Listings; Redfin Does Not; Save Belmar Park Inc. Says the Battle Is Not Over
Dec. 6, 2025 Heres Some Advice on Home Staging and What Should and Neednt Be Fixed or Updated
Also: Denver Ranks 2nd Nationwide on Helping First-Time Homebuyers; Newer Apartment Buildings Discourage Energy Efficiency
Nov. 27, 2025 Why 50-Year Mortgages Arent Coming Anytime Soon, And Why You Probably Wouldnt Want One
Also: Architect Peter Ewers Speaks to Sustainable Golden; We Welcome New Agent, Monica Fullmer
NOTE: This Column Was on Hiatus Between September 27th to November 27th
Sept. 27, 2025 What I Learned From This Years Green Homes Tour
Sept. 20, 2025 Reverse Mortgages Arent for Everyone. What Are the Advantages and Drawbacks?
Sept. 13, 2025 Hows the Market? Were Clearly In a Slowdown, But What Does the Future Hold?
Also: Schools Should Teach Critical Thinking Skills
Sept. 6, 2025 The Aspen School District Is Investigating the Exploitation of Geothermal Energy
Also: Thrive Home Builders Is the Only New Home Builder I Recommend
August 30, 2025 ADU Series, Part V: Exploring the Modular (Built Off-Site) Option
August 23, 2025 Come to Our Seminar on Tuesday, Aug. 26th, About Estate Planning for Baby Boomers
August 16, 2025 A Real-Life Success Story of a Reverse Mortgage for Purchase
August 9, 2025 Seller Concessions Have Surged Over the Last 5 Years. Here Are Two Explanations.
Also: National Association of Home Builders Lists the Top 10 Design Trends for 2025
August 2, 2025 Can an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Be Big Enough For Me?
Also: My Favorite Home Inspector, Jim Camp, Has Published a Book, Useful Tenant Tips
July 26, 2025 Many Coloradans Can Defer Payment of Property Taxes at an Interest Rate Under 5%
July 19, 2025 The Reverse Mortgage Chronicles: A Case Study of Financial Freedom in Retirement
Also: Are You Thinking of Going Green?The Time to Act Is NOW, Before Trumps Tax Bill Takes Effect
July 12, 2025 Golden Real Estate Is Now Century 21 Golden Real Estate What It Means to You (and Me)
Also: Whats In and Whats Out With Kitchen Improvements
July 5, 2025 NAR Boasts About Getting Its Top Priorities Into the Big Beautiful Bill
Also: Successful Program Teaches Trade Skills to the Autistic
June 28, 2025 With Temperatures Rising, Homeowners Without A/C Are Asking What Is the Best Way to Add It
Also: New Energy Colorado Honors Former Gov. Bill Ritter
Also: Trump Can Replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in 2026; What That Could Mean for Real Estate
June 21, 2025 More Buyers Are Choosing Adjustable Rate Mortgages Heres Why It Might Be a Smart Strategy
Also: Denver Leads the Nation in the Increase in the Number of Unsold Listings
June 14, 2025 More Sellers Are Putting Their Homes on the MLS, But Buyers Are Playing Hard to Get
June 7, 2025 What Ive Learned About Why Condominiums Are Getting Harder to Finance
June 5, 2025 Why Arent More Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Being Built?
May 29, 2025 How Deferred Maintenance Can Rob Landlords and Homeowners of Equity
2nd Ad (click here): Divorcing Couples With a Home Need a Realtor With Specialized Training
May 22, 2025 Home Sharing Helps Single Seniors Deal With Finance and Loneliness, Allowing Them to Age in Place
May 8, 2025 Heres What Being a Full Service Real Estate Agent Means at Golden Real Estate
April 24, 2025 (Denver) Next Week Homeowners Receive Updated Notices of Valuation From Their County Assessor
Click on these other editions: Jefferson County/Aurora/Adams County/Douglas/Arapahoe County
Also: Free Earth Day Films Sponsored by CEFF; Lennar to Build 1,500 Geothermal Homes; My Review of the Mustang Mach E
April 17, 2025 Drop in Consumer Confidence and Trade War Concerns Arent Reflected in Real Estate StatisticsYet
Also: Redfin Report Highlights the Increasing Cost of Buying versus Renting a Home
2nd Ad (click here): Buyers Are Dealing With High Interest Rates by Negotiating Concessions to Cover Interest Rate Buydowns
April 10, 2025 The Typical Wood-Frame, Site-Built Home So Common Since the 90s May Soon Be a Thing of the Past
Also: Does Your Home Have a Federal Pacific Electric Breaker Panel?
April 3, 2025 NAHBs International Builders Show 2025 in Las Vegas Showcased Some New & Inspiring Products
Also: Defying Critics, NAR Retains Its Policy Against Pocket Listings; Most Listing Agents Post Faulty Legal Descriptions on MLS
Mar. 27, 2025 One Large Brokerage Takes the Lead in Promoting Off-MLS Listings as Private Exclusives
Also: Heres How Money Is Handled at a Real Estate Closing
Mar. 20, 2025 Homes Are Still Selling, Buyers Are Still Buying, But Market Is Slowed Down by the Chaos in D.C.
Also: Have You Wondered Why Some Metal Window Wells Rust While Others Dont?
2nd Ad (click here): Thinking of Using a Reverse Mortgage to Purchase a Home? Heres Some Information
Mar. 13, 2025 Will Colorado Be Able to Sustain Its Green Agenda Under Pressure From Washington?
Also: Many Eager Sellers Lose Out by Accepting a Quick Good Offer Instead of Waiting for a Better One
Mar. 6, 2025 With Affordability a Growing Problem, More Buyers Consider a Condo But Can They Get a Loan?
Also: 62% of Americans Think a 20% Down Payment Is Required, But Its the #1 Myth
Also: Follow-up on Last Weeks Article About Sellers Still Paying for Buyers Broker
Feb. 27, 2025 As Society Deals With Homelessness and Affordability, Expect a Greater Focus on Manufactured Homes
Also: Buyers Deserve Professional Representation, But Shouldnt Have to Pay for It;No Tillage/Low Tillage Is Trending on Farms
Feb. 20, 2025 We Have a Tool to Help You Find the Perfect Home Thats Not on the MLS But Might Want to Sell
Also: Beware of Pig Butchering, the Most Pernicious Kind of Crypto Scam
2nd Ad (click here): Considering an ADU for Your Property? Here Is Some Financing Information
Feb. 13, 2025 New ADU Law Makes It Possible for Homeowners to Invest on Their Own Lot
Feb. 6, 2025 Colorado Real Estate Commission Says Clients, Not Brokers, Should Select Settlement Service Providers
Also: Its the End of the Road for Golden Real Estates Free Box Truck
Jan. 30, 2025 A Professional Home Inspection Is the Best Investment a Buyer Can MakeAlso: Many Subdivisions Have Covenants But No HOA to Enforce Them; Also, We Offer Help to Wildfire Victims
Jan. 23, 2025 Expect a Lot of Talk About Making Homes Wildfire-Resistant. Heres My Contribution.
Also: Local Net Zero Home Is Featured on Heart of a House PBS Program This Saturday
Jan. 16, 2025 Mill Levy Should Be a Required Field on MLS Listings
Also: HOA Info Is as Important as Property Taxes; What It Means When a Listing Is Sold As Is
2nd Ad (click here): Understanding the Debt-to-Income Ratio and Its Importance to Lenders
Jan. 9, 2025 Statistics Confirm That the Covid-19 Sellers Market Finally Evaporated by the End of 2024
Also: New App Adds Neighborhood Politics as a Search Criterion
Jan. 2, 2025 NARs 2024 Survey of Buyers and Sellers Offers Some Interesting Insights on the Evolving Market
Also: Is a Reverse Mortgage Right for You?
Dec. 26, 2024 As Pro-Tenant Laws Expand, Some Small Landlords Are Considering Cashing Out
Dec. 19, 2024 What Are the Costs of Buying or Selling a Home in Colorado?
2nd Ad (click here): Do You Think That a Down Payment Is Always Required?Think Again.
Dec. 12, 2024 Media Coverage of the Real Estate Market Can Be Confusing and Even Misleading
Also: Explaining the Components of Your Homes Exterior
Dec. 5, 2024 Department of Justice Objects to Key Part of the NAR Settlement
Also: The Origin of the 2.8% Co-op Commission A History Lesson
Nov. 28, 2024 Many Real Estate Brokers Are Taking a CE Class That Will Be Obsolete on Jan. 1st
Nov. 21, 2024 If Buyers and Sellers Were On the Fence Awaiting Election Results, Where Are They Now?
Also: Teslas Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Is Great, But Too Expensive
2nd Ad (click here): When Your Home Purchase Involves Financing, These Are the Players on Your Lending Team
Nov. 14, 2024 We Learned Firsthand Last Month About Vacant Land Scams
Also: Reflections on Publishing My 1,000th Real Estate Today Column
Nov. 7, 2024 We Need to Take Seriously the Pollutants Emitted When Cooking With Gas
Also: NARs Clear Cooperation Policy Is Under Attack Again
Oct. 31, 2024 Cooperative Living Presents an Attractive Alternative for Downsizing Seniors
Also: Rita and I Have Chosen Water Cremation
Oct. 24, 2024 A Sign of the Times: Zillow Displays Climate Risk Data for All Active Listings
Also: NAR Stresses Importance of Online Promotion of Listings Post-Covid, But Neglects to Mention Narrated Video Tours
Oct. 17, 2024 Research Shows Almost No Buyers Are Compensating Their Agents as Result of the NAR Settlement
Also: Understanding the Different Kinds of 55+ Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)
2nd Ad (click here): New Loan Options Are Making Homeownership Possible for Many More Buyers
Oct. 10, 2024 2024 Saw the Enactment of Numerous Housing and HOA Laws
Oct. 3, 2024 Visiting Other Countries This Year Gave Me New Insights on Whats Possible
Sept. 26, 2024 Some Thoughts on Keeping Your Death From Becoming an Undue Burden on Your Heirs
Also: Is a Heat Pump Right for You? Heres Some Information to Help You Decide.
Sept. 19, 2024 Inspection and Dealing With Inspection Issues Is Crucial to the Homebuying Process
Also: Our Past Clients Have Given Great Reviews of Golden Real Estates Agents
2nd Ad (click here): If Falling Interest Rates Make You Think About Refinancing, Here Are Some Considerations
Sept. 12, 2024 With the Market Shifting in Buyers Favor, Selecting the Right Listing Agent Is Key
Sept. 5, 2024 What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?
Aug. 29, 2024 The Revised Purchase Contract Includes a Section to Specify Buyer Broker Commission
Aug. 22, 2024 As the Real Estate Market Shifts, Were in Uncharted Territory Thanks to the NAR Settlement
Also: Buyers Need to Beware of Sellers Eavesdropping on Them During Showings
Aug. 15, 2024 Less Than 3 Percent of Homeowners Took Advantage of IRAs Clean Energy Tax Credits in 2023
Also: Todays the Day: Buyer Agent Compensation Is Removed From the MLS
Also: What to Ask When Buying a Solar-Powered Home; We Need to Level-Up Sustainability and Recycling
2nd Ad (click here): How Low Will Mortgage Interest Rates Go, and What Will Be the Impact on Buyers and Sellers?
Aug. 8, 2024 Seniors Over 70 Might Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home
Also: Trusts as an Estate Planning Strategy; Kudos to Wendy Renee, Loan Officer Extraordinaire
Aug. 1, 2024 We Now Know How Buyer Agent Compensation Will Be Handled in Colorado
Also: Costco Is Building 800 Apartments Above Its New Store in South Los Angeles. Is Denver Next?
July 25, 2024 Many Homeowners Dont Understand Title Issues, Which Could Lead to Big Problems Later On
Also: How to Avoid Home Repair/Renovation Scams (or Disappointment)
July 18, 2024 Renovation Trends Reflect a Post-Pandemic Desire for Comfort, Warmth and Healthy Living
Also: Dont Accept and Unsolicited Offer to Buy Your Home Without First Checking With Us to See if the Price is Right
2nd Ad (click here): Whats the Best Way to Tap Your Homes Equity to Finance Your Next Home?
July 11, 2024 How Does Our Real Estate Market for the First Half of 2024 Compare With the First Half of 2023?
July 4, 2024 New Englands MLS Goes Its Own Way, Challenging DOJ Regarding NAR Settlement
June 27, 2024 NAR Settlement Should Inspire Agents to Begin Producing Narrated Video Tours of Their Listings
Also: A Reader Suggests a Strategy for Dealing With the Home Insurance Crisis
June 20, 2024 Wouldnt It Be Nice if a Buyer Could Assume the Sellers Low-Interest Loan? If Its a VA Loan, Thats Possible.
2nd Ad (click here): The All in One Mortgage Is Linked to Your Bank Account, Saving Thousands in Interest Costs
June 13, 2024 Readers Provide No Solutions to the Home Insurance Crisis, Only More Horror Stories
Also: NARs Rules for Buyer Agent Agreements Are Flawed and Crazy
June 6, 2024 Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises After Closing
Also: How to Do Advanced Searches on the MLS Call One of Our Broker Associates or Me!
May 30, 2024 Will You Be Among Those Homeowners Focusing on Improving Outdoor Living in 2024?
Also: The Practice of Real Estate Wont Change All That Much Due to NRA Settlement
May 23, 2024 Aurora Model Home Tour Was Uninspiring.Wheres the Innovation and Sustainability?
Also: Heres the Innovation and Sustainability Thrive Home Builders Loretto Heights Project
May 16, 2024 EPAs Energy Star NextGen Designation Is for Fully Electrified Homes
Also: A Full-Blown Home Insurance Crisis Is Brewing
2nd Ad (click here): Your Mortgage Lenders Escrow Account Is Costing You Interest Income
May 9, 2024 Zillow Proposes a Touring Agreement That Doesnt Comply With Colorado Real Estate Law
Also: NAR Releases Additional Rules Pertaining to the Settlement Effective August 17th
May 2, 2024 Want to Break Away From Common Exterior Products? Check Out These Winning Products
Also: New Homes Can Have Inspection Issues, Too
Apr. 25, 2024 Heat Pump Petting Zoo in D.C. Puts Multiple Sustainability Solutions Under One Roof
Also: Backyard Solar PV Solutions: Solar Pergolas and Solar Hammocks
Apr. 18, 2024 Improvement in Home Laundry Machines Is Unending Introducing Heat Pump Dryers
Also: Real Estate Market Surges After Jan. 1st; Consider Testing for Asbestos When Renovating a Pre-1980 Home
2nd Ad (click here): Are You Thinking of Refinancing Your Home Mortgage? Consider a HELOC.
Apr. 11, 2024 How Does the Idea of For-Sale-By-Owner Change Under the NAR Settlement?
Also: Renovating Your Kitchen? Consider Adding a Back Kitchen
Apr. 4, 2024 How the NAR Settlement Will Play Out for Sellers, Buyers and Their Agents
Also: Report Shows an Increase in Home Renovation Spending; Lakewood Park Space Petition
Mar. 28, 2024 Here Are My Thoughts About Media Coverage of the Recent NAR Settlement
Mar. 21, 2024 Whats Behind the Buzz About Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome?
2nd Ad (click here): Plot Your Financing Path, Even If Buying a Home Is Not in Your Near-Term Plans
Mar. 14, 2024 Heres How to Play the Inspection Game on Each Side of a Real Estate Transaction
Mar. 7, 2024 State Legislation Promoting Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Passes Its First Hurdle
Also: A followup on last weeks article about propane as a backup energy source
Feb. 29, 2024 When Realtors Violate the Code of Ethics, Clients Often Suffer. Here Are Some Examples.
Also: Propane as a Backup Power Source; 3 Passive-House-Certified Homes in Boston; Seniors Choosing Housemates vs. Downsizing
Feb. 22, 2024 Most Sellers Dont Know How to Interview a Listing Agent. Heres Some Guidance.
Also: Startup Develops Concrete That Absorbs CO2; Another Turns Straw Into Building Boards; Alpen Gets Big DOE Contract
2nd Ad (click here): An Interest Rate Buy-Down Could Help You Purchase a Home Despite High Mortgage Rates
Feb. 15, 2024 Heres an Innovative Approach to the Off-Site Modular Home Construction Industry
Also: County Bans on Renewable Energy; Scammers Pretending to Alert You to a Scam
2nd Ad (click here): Here Are Some Principles That Have Guided Jim Smiths Real Estate Career
Feb. 8, 2024 Empty-Nest Baby Boomers Own Twice as Many Big Homes as Millennials With Children
Also: Beware of Cloned Realtor Voices; I Recommend Subscribing to Big Pivots; EV Adoption Could Lower Electric Rates
Feb. 1, 2024 How Much Did Home Sales Fall in 2022 and 2023, and Was It a Record Drop?
Also: The Private Exclusive MLS Status Is Intended to Combat Pocket Listings
Jan. 25, 2024 NAR Releases Its Annual Profile of Metro Denver Buyers and Sellers
Also: Here Are Some Dos and Donts for When It Comes to Preparing Your Home for the Market
Jan. 18, 2024 Heres a Statistical Review of the 2023 Denver Metro Real Estate Market
2nd Ad (click here): In Mortgage Lending, Whats the Difference Between Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved?
Jan. 11, 2024 I Bought 4 Jeffco Property Tax Liens at Auction; Heres What I Learned
Jan. 4, 2024 Controversial Building Project Next to Lakewoods Belmar Park Is About More Than Birds
Dec. 28, 2023 Some Thoughts About the Future of the MLS in Light of the Recent Commission Lawsuit Verdict
Dec. 21, 2023 D.R. Horton Inks Deal to Build Homes With OSB Made From Grass Instead of Wood
Also: Home Sellers Can and Should Choose the Company That Provides Title Insurance
2nd Ad (click here): A Savvy Mortgage Shopper Understands Loan Estimates and Why They Might Vary
Dec. 14, 2023 Many Real Estate Agents Are Taking a CE Class That Will Be Outdated in One Month
Also: Giving Circles Can Give Meaning and Focus to Your Giving
Also: Here Are Some Holiday Gift Suggestions That Can Help Save Our Planet and Energy Too!
Dec. 7, 2023 Zillow Predicts More Homes for Sale and Improved Affordability in 2024
Also: Expect More Housing Density, as Construction of Rental Apartments, Townhomes and ADUs Surges
Nov. 30, 2023 Denver Appraiser Describes Fannie Maes Shift Away From Traditional Appraisals
Also: A Tale of 2 Real Estate Markets: During the Pandemic vs. the Post-Pandemic Mortgage Rate Increases
Nov. 23, 2023 Scamming Has Become Its Own Industry, and Were All Prospective Victims
Also: The RV Is Being Reinvented As an Electric Vehicle
Nov. 16, 2023 With the Rise of eContracts, Agents May Not Be Fully Explaining Contracts
Also: The Long-Standing Colorado Listing Agreement Allows for Compliance With the Recent Verdict on Co-op Commissions
2nd Ad (click here): New Rules and Limits Should Make Investing in Multi-Family Homes Easier
Nov. 9, 2023 Here Are Some Ideas for the Adaptive Reuse of Vacant Office Buildings
Also: Appraising/Valuing of High-Performance Green Homes Is Still Deficient
Also: 3D-Printed Home Construction Firm Is Relocating to Greeley, Colorado
Also: Explaining the Recent Court Verdict on Real Estate Co-op CommissionsWhat Now?
Nov. 2, 2023 If Your Low-Interest Mortgage Is Keeping You From Selling, Consider What Rita and I Did
Also: Get a $600 Tax Credit for Upgrading Your Electrical Panel
Also: Reflections on the Mass Murder in Lewiston, Where My Parents Met in College
Oct. 26, 2023 Co-op Commissions to Buyer Agents Are Being Challenged. Here Are My Thoughts.
Also: Lakewood Website Has a PDF Listing Where to Take Hard-to-Recycle Items
Also: Theres a Trend in Colorado of Replacing Non-Functional Sod to Reduce Water Consumption
Oct. 19, 2023 Electronic Signatures Are Now Common in Real Estate At Least Until Closing
Also: Real Estate Market Shows Shifts and Opportunities in September
2nd Ad (click here): Dont Let Down Payment Requirements Keep You From Buying a Home
Oct. 12, 2023 I Found a Company Selling Self-Powered Manufactured Homes Starting at $310,000
Also: Heres My Advice to Homebuyers About the Importance of Hiring a Professional Home Inspector
Oct. 5, 2023 Dont Miss This Saturdays Tour of Denver Area Green Homes and Electric Vehicle Roundup
Also: All-Electric Net Zero Energy Subdivisions Are Now Being Built in Colorado
Sept. 28, 2023 Insurance Companies Are Pulling Out of California. Is That in Colorados Future?
Also: Vermont Electric Utility Makes Deal to Tap Thousands of Tesla Powerwall Units to Save Money Handling Peak Loads
Sept. 21, 2023 Your Home Just Went Under Contract With a Buyer. Now What Happens?
2nd Ad (click here): Lenders Are Offering Interest Rate Buydowns to Help Lower Initial Payments
Sept. 14, 2023 I Found Only One Marshall Fire Home Being Rebuilt With Fire Resistance in Mind
Sept. 7, 2023 Geothermal Energy, the Big Sister of Geothermal Heating and Cooling, Is Coming Along
Aug. 31, 2023 Is Losing Your Gas Fireplace Keeping You From Making Your Home All-Electric
Also: Becoming a Realtor Is Optional, So Why Should Agents Pay $500+ in Dues Per Year?
Aug. 24, 2023 NARs Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, Says, The Housing Recession Is Over
Also: What Are the Capital Gains Tax Implications of Selling Your Primary Residence?
Also: If the Energy Efficiency of Your Next Home Matters to You, Call (and Hire) Golden Real Estate
Aug. 17, 2023 Community Solar Makes Solar Power Available to Apartment Dwellers and Condo Owners
Also: New State Laws Limit What Landlords Can Include in Leases
2nd Ad (click here): Should You Consider a Reverse Mortgage as Part of Your Retirement Plan?
Aug. 10, 2023 What Are Some Common Mistakes That Homeowners Make When Selling?
Also: I Found a Great Website on Home Electrification LoveElectric.com
Also (Jeffco edition only): Golden Real Estates Styrofoam Corral Closes Permanently on Aug. 31, 2023
Aug. 3, 2023 Do Open Houses Help to Sell Homes? Some Sellers Say They Only Benefit Listing Agent
July 27, 2023 The Extreme Heat Crisis Is Keeping Climate Change and Its Mitigation Top of Mind
July 20, 2023 Unlike Most Professionals, Real Estate Agents Work for Free Most of the Time
Also: Heres Why Im Not a Fan of Tankless Water Heaters
2nd Ad (click here): A Look at Mortgage Rates Over Time Puts Todays Rates in Perspective
July 13, 2023 Selling Your Home and Renting Might Be the Answer for You, As It Was for Us
July 6, 2023 At Golden Real Estate, Our Brokers Focus on Whats Important to Buyers
Also: Learn What It Takes to Make a Building Net Zero Energy
June 29, 2023 At Golden Real Estate, Our Brokers Focus on Whats Important to Buyers
Also: Cost-Effective Improvements to Help Your Home Sell for More Money
June 22, 2023 Real Estate Industry Is Abuzz With How Brokers Could Utilize ChatGPT
Also: The Pros and Cons of Including Love Letters With Real Estate Offers (written by ChatGPT)
Also: Realtors Anti-Woke Tweets or Likes Could Constitute a Code of Ethics Violation
June 15, 2023 Dont Let Capital Gains Tax Deter You From Cashing Out on an Investment Property
Also: If the Energy Efficiency of Your New Home Matters to You, Call Us!
Also: We Welcome Broker Associate Kathy Jonke to the Golden Real Estate Team
2nd Ad (click here): Financing a Home Purchase Has Its Own Special Hurdles for Gig Workers
June 8, 2023 Survey of 2,500 UK Households Shows 81% Satisfaction With Heat Pump Heating and Cooling Systems
Also: Renewables Surpassed Nuclear and Coal for Electricity Generation for the First Time in 2022
Also: Are You Interested in or Curious About Cohousing? This Event May Interest You.
June 1, 2023 Innovative Startup to Manufacture Carbon Negative Building Materials Made From Grass
Also: International Rescue Committee (IRC) Honors Golden Volunteer Judy Denison
Also: What Listing Agents Dont Understand About Legal Descriptions
May 25, 2023 Governor Signs Into Law Massive Tax Credits and Rebates for EVs and Home Electrification
Also: New Disclosure Targets Financial Crimes and Fraud in Residential Real Estate Transactions
Also: Nine Signs Your Home May Have a Water Issue
May 18, 2023 Liv-Connected: A New Player in the Rapidly Growing Manufactured and Modular Housing Industry
Also: The We Buy Ugly Houses Company, HomeVestors, Is the Subject of a ProPublica Investigation
Also: So Many New Scams! Here Are Some That Were Seeing
2nd Ad (click here): Yes, I Know Its Confusing, But There Are Some Changes in Loan Rates
May 11, 2023 Do Agents Inflate the Cost of Buying or Selling Your Home with Junk Fees?
Also: Emissions From EVs Depends on the Fuel Mix of Your Utilitys Electricity Generation
Also: Finalists Announced for DOEs Home Electrification (EAS-E) Prize
Also: On the MLS, a Half-Duplex Is No Longer Considered a Single-Family Home
May. 4, 2023 (Denver) This Week You Received the County Assessors Valuation of Your Property. Now What?
Click on these other editions: Jefferson County/Aurora/Adams County/Douglas/Arapahoe County
Also: Proposal to Reduce Property Taxes Shouldnt Affect the Effort to Reduce the Assessors Valuation of Your Home
Also: State Program Pays $150 When You Replace a Gas-Power Lawn Mower With an Electric One
Apr. 27, 2023 Now That Spring Is Here, Homeowners Turn Their Attention to Lawn Care and Landscaping
Apr. 20, 2023 What Are Some Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers?
Also: Why Would a Real Estate Agent Not Want to Maximize the Exposure of His or Her Listings?
2nd Ad (click here): A Good Loan Officer Can Help You Navigate Buying Before You Sell
Apr. 13, 2023 Some Thoughts on War and Peace As Rita and I Vacation in Eastern Europe
Also: Preparing for the Biennial Property Tax Appeal Process
Apr. 6, 2023 YouTube Playlist Features Over 40 Top Green Products From the International Builders Show
Also: 2 Denver Entities Cited for Their Housing Affordability Work
Also: Sellers Are Helping Buyers to Buy Down Their Mortgage Interest Rates
Mar. 30, 2023 Whats the Story With Zillow? Specifically, Why Do Many Real Estate Agents Dislike Zillow?
Also: A Follow-up on Last Weeks Article About Potting Soil Being Flammable
Also: Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco Electrical Panels in Many Older Homes Are Defective
Mar. 23, 2023 Geothermal Heating and Cooling Can Be Practical and Affordable on a Community Level
Also: Did You Know? Potting Soil Can Be a Fire Hazard
Also: Comcasts TV Remote Can Be Programmed to Have a 30-Second Fast Forward Button
Mar. 16, 2023 Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Accommodating to Seniors
Also Cord Cutting Is Becoming More and More Common; Heres Our Story
2nd Ad (click here): With Credit Scores More Important Than Ever, Heres What You Need to Know
Mar. 9, 2023 February 2023 Statistics Show Some Stabilizing of the Metro Denver Real Estate Market
Click here for the same article focused on Jefferson Countys real estate statistics
Also: Colorado Now Regulates Installers of Radon Testing Devices and Radon Mitigation Systems
Also: Connecticut Launches Green Liberty Bond Program to Finance Small Solar Energy Projects
Mar. 2, 2023 NAHB Reports on What Buyers Want in a New Home
Also: The Colorado Environment Film Festival Expanded My Woke CredentialsBut Thats Not Bad!
Feb. 23, 2023 Boxabl, the Las Vegas Manufacturer of ADUs, Is Ramping up Production
Also: MIT Technology Review Article Tells You All You Need to Know About Heat Pumps
Feb. 16, 2023 Colorado Environmental Film Festival Returns Live to Golden Next Weekend
Also (in non-Jeffco editions of YourHub): Have You Wondered About 72Sold? Its Not Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Colorado
2nd Ad (click here): What You Need to Know About FHFAs Changes to Rules and Rates
Feb. 9, 2023 Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How Its Managed in Super-Insulated Homes
Also: How to Recognize Scam Emails, Text Messages and Phone Calls
Feb. 2, 2023 Heres a Guide to the Tax Credits and Rebates Available for Making Your Home More Energy Efficient
Jan. 26, 2023 This Years CES Show Featured Some Exciting New Home Technologies and Products
Also: A Canadian Company Manufactures Hail-Resistant Roofing Made of Recycled Rubber Tires
Jan. 19, 2023 Fannie Mae Requires Appraisers to Use a Measurement Method the MLS Doesnt Use
Also: The Real Estate Market Is Showing Signs of Springing Back to Life After a Moribund December
2nd Ad (click here): HELOC vs. Bridge Loan As an Alternative to Refinancing: Here Are Some Considerations
Jan. 12, 2023 Harvesting Atmospheric Rivers to Replenish Aquifers and Fill Reservoirs
Also: Heres a Solution to Your Snow-Packed Residential Streets
Also: Media Literacy Should Be Taught in High Schools
Jan. 5, 2023 Experts Differ on What 2023 Holds for the Real Estate and Mortgage Markets
Also: Youre About to Develop a New Habit Reusable Shopping Bags
Also: Revisiting Lessons Learned from the Marshall Fire a Year Later
Dec. 29, 2022 Have You Considered Cohousing? Heres an Explanation and Some Examples
Dec. 22, 2022 Getting Personal: Reflections on My Two Decades As a Colorado Realtor
Dec. 15, 2022 The 2023 Update of the Sellers Property Disclosure Is a Great Improvement
Also: Lennars New Subdivision Near Austin, Texas, Features 3D-Printed Homes
Also: DMARs Metro Denver Market Statistics Actually Cover Many Rural Areas
2nd Ad (click here): For the Right Homeowner, the All-in-One Loan Pays Down Mortgage Faster
Dec. 8, 2022 A Subdivision in Pueblo Sets the Standard for All-Electric Home Construction
Also: What Is a Heat Pump, and How Does It Work?
Dec. 1, 2022 NARs Annual Survey of Buyers and Sellers Reveals Some Major Deviations From Prior Years
Nov. 24, 2022 Thanksgiving 2022 In Spite of Everything, We Have Much to Be Thankful for This Year
Nov. 17, 2022 Redfin Shuts Down Its iBuyer Unit. Can Opendoor and Offerpad Survive The Market Downturn?
Also: We Took Delivery Last Wetheof Fords Electric F-150 Lightning Heres My Review
2nd Ad (click here): A Reader Asks Whether a Reverse Mortgage Could Be Funded by Heirs at Less Cost
Nov. 10, 2022 Heres How Denvers Real Estate Market Has Performed Since the Start of the Pandemic
Also: KB Home Is Building All-Electric Homes But Not in Colorado
Also: Streaming Has Now Made Cable TV and Satellite TV Obsolete and Unnecessary
Nov. 3, 2022 Whats the Cost of Converting a House From Gas to All-Electric?
Also: Follow-up on Last Weeks Column About Property Tax and Sales Tax in the Metro Area
Oct. 27, 2022 Sales Taxes May Be Lower, But Property Taxes Are Higher in Unincorporated Areas
Also: Evidence Mounts That Natural Gas Stoves Are Harmful to Ones Health
Also: Wire Fraud Can Rob Home Buyers of Their Life Savings
Oct. 20, 2022 How Does This Octobers Real Estate Market Compare to October 2021s Market?
Also: This Might Be a Good Time to Consider Some Home Improvements While Waiting for Market to Improve
2nd Ad (click here): The Slumping Stock Market Is Making a Reverse Mortgage More Appealing to Retirees
Oct. 13, 2022 Homes That Survived the Marshall Fire Were More Airtight and Had Conditioned Attics
Oct. 6, 2022 How to Make Sure That the House You Buy Will Not Be a Money Pit
Also: Heres How the Inspection Objection Process Works
Sept. 29, 2022 Dont Miss the Metro Denver Green Homes Tour on Saturday, Oct. 1st
Also: People Ask Me: Hows the Real Estate Market These Days?
Sept. 22, 2022 What Steps Can You Take to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?
Also: Cash Sales of Homes Are Up Less Here Than Nationally
Sept. 15, 2022 Looked at Correctly, It Costs No More to Build (or Buy) a Sustainable Home
Also: Heres More Info on Incentives Contained in the Inflation Reduction Act
2nd Ad (click here): Interestingly, Seller Concessions Can Benefit Both Buyer and Seller
Sept. 8, 2022 Report Details How the Inflation Reduction Act Will Transform the Building Sector
Sept. 1, 2022 MLS Statistics Confirm a Rapidly Slowing Real Estate Market in the Denver Metro Area
Aug. 25, 2022 Crested Butte Bans Natural Gas for New Construction A New Statewide Trend?
Also: Pricing Your Home Right Is More Important Than Ever
Aug. 18, 2022 Statistics Help to Quantify the Slowing Real Estate Market in Metro Denver
Click here to read the same analysis limited to Jefferson County statistics.
Also: Here Are Some Reasons Well Never Have Fully Self-Driving (Driverless) Cars and Trucks
2nd Ad (click here): How Concerned Should Home Buyers Be About Fed Interest Rate Hikes?
Aug. 11, 2022 Looking for a Good Deal? Opendoor Is Slashing Prices to Clear Its Inventory
Aug. 4, 2022 Lets Hear It for the Multiple Listing Service: The Best Tool for Buyers and Sellers
Also: Realtor Magazine Promotes Electric Vehicles for Its Members in a 4-Page Article
July 28, 2022 Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Here Are Some Considerations
July 21, 2022 Buyers and Sellers Are Confused by Todays Chaotic Real Estate Market
Also: Indoor Air Quality Is a Subject of Growing Concern A CERV Might Be Your Answer
Also: A New Colorado Law (HB22-1137) Prohibits HOAs From Foreclosing Over Unpaid Dues or Fees
2nd Ad (click here): Mortgage Interest Rate Buydowns Can Serve Both Buyers and Sellers
July 14, 2022 Are You Wondering If Your Home Is Underinsured? A Reader Shares His Research
July 7, 2022 Toronto Rejects High-Tech Smart City in Favor of Something More Livable on Its Waterfront
June 30, 2022 How Much Has the Real Estate Market Slowed? Here Are Some Statistics
Also: We Can Save You Thousands of Dollars on Moving Costs
June 23, 2022 Realtor Magazine: Builders Need to Respond to the Trend Toward Home Electrification
June 16, 2022 Zillow Has Published a Primer on Home Solar Here Are My Reflections on It
Also: You Might Want to Reconsider Cooking With Natural Gas
Also: How Does a 3-Day Test-Drive of a Tesla Sound to You?
2nd Ad (click here): With the Rise in Mortgage Rates, ARMs Are Making a Comeback and Can Save You Money
June 9, 2022 MLS Statistics Seem Not to Support the Idea That the Real Estate Market Is Slowing Down
Also: An Apple AirTag Can Help You Locate Your Stolen Car
June 2, 2022 Both State and National Realtor Associations Make the Environment and Sustainability a Priority Issue
May 26, 2022 Reflections 7 Weeks After Selling Our Home and Moving Into a 55+ Rental Community
Also: Some Advice to Sellers in a Slowing Real Estate Market
May 19, 2022 The Sharing of Listing Commissions With Buyers Agents Is Being Challenged
Also: Dont Fall for This FSBO Scam Targeting Vacant Land
Also: When Can Buyers and Sellers Talk Directly With Each Other Instead of Through Their Agents?
2nd Ad (click here): Overdue Medical Bills? Upcoming Changes Will Improve Your Credit Score
May 12, 2022 Report from Division of Insurance Details Extent of Underinsurance in the Marshall Fire
Also: DMAR Creates a Smartphone App for Realtors and Homebuyers
May 5, 2022 Are Investors Snapping Up Homes, Squeezing Out Other Buyers? Yes and No.
Apr. 28, 2022 Community Solar Makes Solar Power Available to Condo Owners and Apartment Dwellers
Also: If a Slowdown in the Real Estate Market Is Coming, Aprils Statistics Dont Reflect It
Apr. 21, 2022 Home Builders Arent Getting It When It Comes to Building Sustainable Homes
Also: The Surge in Mortgage Rates Could Trigger a Market Slowdown
2nd Ad (click here): Amid Todays Rising Interest Rates, Lets Revisit the Concept of Buying Down Those Rates
Apr. 14, 2022 AirCrete Is a Lighter, More Climate-Friendly Version of Concrete for Home Construction
Also: Zillow Says Late April Is the Optimum Time to Sell Your Home
Apr. 7, 2022 Property Tax Increases for 2023 / 2024 Will Be Limited by TABOR in Some Jurisdictions
Also: Heres How the National Association of Realtors Advises Its Members on How to Handle Multiple Offer Situations
Mar. 31, 2022 Politically Correct? Denvers MLS Makes the Switch From Master Bedroom to Primary Bedroom
Mar. 24, 2022 The Current Surge in Sold Prices of Homes With Cause a Surge in 2023-2024 Property Taxes
Mar. 17, 2022 MLS Statistics Document the Return of Last Years Out-of-Control Sellers Market
2nd Ad (click here): Changes to Second Home and Jumbo Loans, Self-Employed Borrowers and Appraisal Fees
Mar. 10, 2022 With Prices So High, Many Homeowners Are Wondering If Its Time to Cash Out
Mar. 3, 2022 Buy Before You Sell Is Being Offered by Some Companies But at What Cost?
Feb. 24, 2022 The Colorado Environmental Film Festival Is Back This Week for Home Viewing
Also: 55+ Communities Get More Attractive With Age
Feb. 17, 2022 The 2.8% Co-op Commission Is Becoming Less and Less Common
Also: No Brokerage Has Experimented More With Co-op Commissions Than TreloraAlso: Fifty-Six Percent of Americans Say They Would Live in a Tiny Home
2nd Ad (click here): The Hidden (But Very High) Cost of Waiting to Buy Your Home
Feb. 10, 2022 Theres a Persistent Myth That the Standard Real Estate Commission is 6%
Feb. 3, 2022 Why Arent More Homes Going on the MLS Amid This Record Shortage of Listings?
Also: Houston Home Builder Specializes in Building Net Zero Homes Using Concrete
Jan. 27, 2022 The Buying of Homes Has Become More Frantic Since the Marshall Fire
Also: How to Alert Residents About Approaching Wildfires
Also: The U.S. Cement Industry Sets a Goal of Carbon Neutrality by 2050
Jan. 20, 2022 Here Are More Examples of Concrete Construction and Fire-Resistant Roofing
2nd Ad (click here): Do You Have an Adjustable Rate Mortgage? Here Are Some Important Changes
Jan. 13, 2022 Homes Built of Concrete Garner Increased Interest in Wake of Marshall Fire
Also: Politicians Could Learn About Civility From the NFL
Jan. 6, 2022 Last Weeks Fire Disaster Is a Wake-up Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes
Dec. 30, 2021 The Year in Review: 2021 Saw Unprecedented Real Estate Market Changes
Also: Our WindoVision Unit Allows Passersby to Search MLS Listings on a Touchscreen 24/7
Dec. 23, 2021 Climate Change Vulnerability Is Increasingly an Issue for Homebuyers
Also: Our Downtown Golden Office Doubles as a Gallery for Noted Golden Photographer Todd Caudle
Dec. 16, 2021 Whats the Effect of Surging Inflation Rates on the Real Estate Market?
Also: Housing Trends Reflects Pandemics Influence
Also: Realtor Magazine Features the Trend Toward All-Electric Homes
2nd ad (click here): Interest-Only Loans Make a Comeback. Is One Right for You?
Dec. 9, 2021 Must Read: From Homes to Cars, Its Now Time to Electrify Everything
Also: Recommended Video: Are We in a Housing Bubble?
2nd ad (click here): Come Visit Us at Our New Downtown Golden Office, 1214 Washington Ave.
Dec. 2, 2021 My Favorite Home Improvements When Purchasing a New-to-Me Home
Also: Electric Cars Are Your Best Cold Weather Choice
Nov. 25, 2021 Happy Thanksgiving! Here Are Some Things Were Grateful for This Year
Also: Dont Wait Until Spring to Sell Your Home. There Are Many Advantages to Putting It on the MLS in Winter
Nov. 18, 2021 Interviewing a Listing Agent? Ask Him or Her to Bring Their MLS Production Print-out
Also: Im Reconsidering the Advice Ive Given About What to Fix or Improve Before Listing Your Home
Nov. 11, 2021 NARs Clear Cooperation Policy Has Failed to Reduce the Number of Pocket Listings
Nov. 4, 2021 What Are the Steps You Can Take Toward Making Your Home Net Zero Energy?
Oct. 28, 2021 As Real Estate Disruptors Abound, Lets Hear It for the Traditional Brokerage!
Also: Restoring Regulation of Community Association Managers; A Professional Inspection Is Money Well Spent
Bonus article for Jeffco edition: Arvada City Council Buys into Developers False Narrative About Natural Gas
Oct. 21, 2021 We Are Now Witnessing the Transition From a Sellers Market to a Balanced Market
My Page 2 Column on Home Financing: Jaxzann Riggs on Why This May Be the Best Time to Buy
Oct. 14, 2021 Court Rules That Sending an Email Can Bind You, Even Without Signing It
Oct. 7, 2021 What Are the Most Common Foundation Issues You Might Encounter in a Home?
Sept. 30, 2021 Metro Denver Green Homes Tour Is This Saturday, Oct. 2nd, Both In-Person and Virtual
Sept. 23, 2021 Want to Boost Your Homes Appeal? What You Should and Shouldnt Spend Money On
Sept. 16, 2021 Why Are Real Estate
Agents (except ours) Still Resistant to Shooting Narrated Video Tours?
Extra column this week: Planning for Retirement? Add a Reverse Mortgage to Your Retirement Tool Box.
Sept. 9, 2021 Now That the Summer Months Are Behind Us, Hows the Market Shaping Up for the Fall?
Also: Integrity, for the Most Part, Still Rules in Real Estate
Sept. 2, 2021 MLS Email Alerts of New Listings Are a Good Reason to List Your Home on the MLS
Also: Golden Real Estates Commitment to Keeping Styrofoam Out of Landfills
Aug. 26, 2021 Sellers Who Value Their Privacy and Security Can Make Their Home Visible Only to Agents
Also: Most Agents Are in Sales, Primarily of Themselves
Aug. 19, 2021 More Homeowners Are Asking About the Tax Implications of Selling Their Homes
Also: Moving Industry Struggles to Keep Up With Demand
Aug. 12, 2021 The MLSs Campaign Against Pocket Listings Is Serious, With $1,500 Fines
Aug. 5, 2021 Is the Real Estate Market Slowing or Isnt It? Here Are Some Useful Statistics.
Also: Title Insurance Is an Essential Part of Every Real Estate Transaction
July 29, 2021 Brokerages Should Allow Agents to Enter or Change Their Listings on the MLS
Also: When Will Your Car Need These Expensive Repairs?
Also: Bidding Wars Are Slowing For Higher Priced Homes
July 22, 2021 Can We Say Goodbye to Agents Claiming to Be 5280 Five Star Professionals?
Also: Lets Call It What It Is: Climate Destabilization
July 15, 2021 Xcel Energy Is Penalizing Small Businesses Which Offer Workplace Charging of EVs
Also: Are More Contracts Falling Because of Bidding Wars (Buyers Remorse)
July 8, 2021 Every Industry Is Facing Disruption of Some Kind. How About Real Estate?
Also: A Further Update on the Ongoing Bidding Wars
July 1, 2021 How Listing Agents Handle Bidding Wars: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
June 24, 2021 Winning a Bidding War Is Harder Than Ever for Buyers. Here Are Some Ideas for Success.
Also: Abuse of Lockbox Access Is Serious But Rare
June 17, 2021 Dont Fall for Title Lock Services. Theyre a Waste of Money and Dont Provide Much Protection
Also: The Real Estate Bidding Wars Are Not Abating
Also: We and Our Truck Go the Extra Mile for Our Clients (and Non-Profits)
June 10, 2021 Democratic Sponsors May Regret HOA Legislation Banning Limits on Political Flags and Signs
Also: Lets Make Our Summer a Little Quieter by Ditching Our Gas-Powered Lawn Mowers and Weed Eaters
June 3, 2021 National Association of Realtors Member Profile Reveals Drop in Realtors Median Income
May 27, 2021 Heres Some Advice on Avoiding Scams When Hiring a Moving Company
Also: Arvadas Net Zero Energy Geos Community Facing Challenge to Its Principles by New Developer
Also: We Have Reserved a Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup Truck
May 20, 2021 What Should You Fix or Improve Before Putting Your Home on the Market?
Also: How High Are Bidding Wars Driving Up Home Prices?
May 13, 2021 I Learned Some Things I Didnt Know About Title Insurance in a Recent CE Class
Also: Heres Some Guidance on Appealing the County Assessors Valuation of Your Home
Click here for the Jeffco Assessors letter-size appeal form.
Click here for the Denver Assessors letter-size appeal form.
May 6, 2021 This Week Property Owners Received Updated Valuations From the County Assessor
Also: Dont Let Service People Take Advantage of You
Apr. 29, 2021 Here Are Some Strategies for Assembling Your Down Payment Funds
Also: 1200+ Metro Area Listings Are Just Sitting on the MLS No Bidding Wars on Them!
Also: Dont Fall for This Gift Card Scam
Apr. 22, 2021 Home Buyers Have Widely Differing Needs and Motivations
Also: How High Are Bidding Wars Driving Up Home Prices?
Also: Golden Real Estate Wins Sustainability Award for Its Net Zero Energy Office
Apr. 15, 2021 Redfin Survey Suggests Colorado Will See Influx of Buyers Due to Climate Fears
Also: Higher Property Values Mean Higher Property Taxes
Also: Golden Real Estate Wins Quality Service Award
Apr. 8, 2021 Manufactured and Modular vs. Stick-Built Homes: Here Are Some Observations
Also: Learn the Benefits of the Realtor Advantage
Apr. 1, 2021 Do You Want to Get the Most Money for Your Home? Dont Sell Too Quickly!
Mar. 25, 2021 Deed or Title Homeowners Are Confused About Ownership Instrumnets
Also: Postscript to Our March 11th Column About All-Electric Homes
Mar. 18, 2021 Zillows Offer to Buy Your Home for Its Zestimate Is a Brilliant But Devious Strategy
Mar. 11, 2021 All-Electric Homes (and Buildings) Are Key to Mitigating Climate Change
Also: Selling Agent vs. Sellers Agent Confuses Lay Persons
Also: We Must Face the Coming Crisis of Road and Bridge Funding
Also: Do You Want to Avoid Bidding Wars?
Mar. 4, 2021 CES 2021 Featured New Tech and Designs for Kitchen, Bath and Elsewhere
Also: This Climate Change Movie, Kiss the Ground, Is a Must-See
Also: Big Battery-Electric Trucks Are Coming Soon
Feb. 25, 2021 NARs Clear Cooperation Policy Is a First Step Toward Eliminating Pocket Listings
Feb. 18, 2021 Division of Real Estate Warns Homeowners of Equity Skimming Schemes
Also: Equity Sharing vs. a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Also: 2021 Will Be The Year of the Electric Pickup
Feb. 11, 2021 Environmental Film Festival Opens Virtually This Weekend; See All the Films Online
Also: Denver Realtor Association Reports That the Average Home Price Increased by $100K in the Last 12 Months
Feb. 4, 2021 What Defines a Bedroom? Neither the Real Estate Commission nor the MLS Will Say.
Also: Why You Might Consider Installing a Heat Pump Water Heater
Also: Real Estate Magazine Names Jim Smith a Real Estate Influencer
Jan. 28, 2021 We Can All Learn From Studying Racisms Role in the Evolution of Zoning
Click here for the full text of Don Camerons A History of Golden Zoning
Jan. 21, 2021 The Pros and Cons of Buying in a Community With a Homeowners Association
Also: Why You Might Consider Installing a Heat Pump Water Heater
Jan. 14, 2021 Could Accessory Dwelling Units Be a Solution, Albeit Small, to the Housing Shortage?
Jan. 7, 2021 Denver Real Estate Market Ends 2020 With a Record-Breaking December
Dec. 31, 2020 National Association of Realtors Promotes Pathways to Professionalism
Also: Happy (and Better) New Year to All!
Dec. 24, 2020 Fewer Sellers Are Trying For Sale By Owner Here Are Some Reasons Why
Also: Narrated Video Tours Are Still Surprisingly Rare on MLS Listings
Also: Readers Appreciate Our Free MLS Neighborhood Alerts
Dec. 17, 2020 Downsizing Safely and Effectively in Your Senior Years
Also: Up For Growth Promotes Affordable Housing and Accessible Growth
Also: Look to Us, Not Zillow, for an Accurate Valuation of Your Home
Dec. 10, 2020 Everyone Wants to Know: Wheres the Real Estate Market Headed in 2021?
Also: FHA Raises Loan Limits: Now $596,850 for the Denver Metro Area
Also: News Literacy, Like Civic Literacy, Needs to Be Taught in Our Schools
Also: If You Want to Buy or Sell a Solar Powered Home, Call Golden Real Estate
Dec. 3, 2020 Agents Who Submit Love Letters Could Be Committing a Fair Housing Violation
Also: Incorporated or Unincorporated: Whats the Difference?
Nov. 26, 2020 Happy Thanksgiving! Let Me Share What We at Golden Real Estate Are Grateful For
Also: NAR Agrees to More Transparency re: Buyer Agent Commissions
Also: NARs New President Apologizes for Associations Racist Practices in the 1900s
Nov. 19, 2020 Biden Presidency Will Bring Renewed Focus on Affordable Housing and Discrimination
Also: We Help Buyers and Sellers With the High Cost of Moving
Nov. 12, 2020 Denvers Realtor Association Reports That October Listings and Sales Broke 22 Records
Nov. 5, 2020 3D Printing Is Being Used to Build Homes for the Homeless and Poor Using Lavacrete Walls
Also: Electric Cars Are Your Best Cold Weather Choice
Oct. 29, 2020 As Winter Approaches and Covid-19 Lingers, Whats the Denver Real Estate Outlook?
Also: Trying For Sale by Owner Can Be a Big Mistake During a Sellers Market
Also: NAR Proposes to Include Hate Speech as a Violation of the Realtor Code of Ethics
Oct. 22, 2020 MyMove.com Reports a Surge in Moves During Covid-19, 28% Citing Virus as the Reason
Also: Denver Has Among the Nations Lowest Foreclosure Rates
Oct. 15, 2020 Youve Heard of NIMBY (Not in My Backyard). Next Year You May Be Hearing About YIMBY.
Also: Realtor Association Takes Fair Housing Seriously
Oct. 8, 2020 Report Names 7 Cities Most at Risk of a Housing Crash. Denver Is Not One of Them.
Oct. 1, 2020 Sustainability, Starting With Solar Power, Can Be Your Key to a More Affordable Lifestyle
Sept. 24, 2020 Experts Are Predicting a Surge in Foreclosures, But I See the Situation Differently
Also: A Reader Asks How to Handle Inspection Objections
Sept. 17, 2020 Despite Global Pandemic, Our Real Estate Market Was the Hottest Ever for August
Sept. 10, 2020 If You Dont Put Your Home on the MLS, You May Not Get What Your Home Is Worth
Sept. 3, 2020 Any Talk About Affordable Housing Must Include Mobile Homes
Also: Open Houses Are Back Here Are the Rules We Must Follow
Aug. 27, 2020 When Its Time to Replace Your Gas Forced-Air Furnace, Consider the Alternatives
Also: Heres Where I Get My Topic Ideas and What I Watch, Listen to, and Read
Aug. 20, 2020 Many Organizations Contribute to Rapid Shelter Effort Addressing Homelessness
Also: As More Companies Embrace Work-at-Home, Expect More Office Space to Convert to Apartments and Condos
Aug. 13, 2020 Home Ownership Surged During the Pandemic, According to a Realtor.com Report
Also: How Should Listing Agents Manage Multiple Offers/a Bidding War?
Aug. 6, 2020 A High-Performance Car Can Kill You. A High-Performance Home Can Save Your Life.
July 23, 2020 Realtor.com Weighs in on the Real Estate Markets Surprising Rebound
July 16, 2020 Buyers Benefit From Having an Agent Who Knows Home Systems and Sustainability
Also: Here Are Some Things You Should Expert to Learn From a Home Inspector
Also: Bidding Wars Are Back, According to Redfin
July 9, 2020 After a Dreadful March and April, Denvers Real Estate Market Surged in June
Also: Houstons Realtor Association Drops the Use of Master
Also: If You Oppose Taxation Without Representation, Support D.C. Statehood
July 2, 2020 Discover Arvadas Geos Community, Where the Homes Energy Costs Are Essentially Zero
June 25, 2020 Homeowners Complain About Over-Solicitation by Agents, Buyers and Investors
June 18, 2020 John Avenson of Westminster Is a Committed Teacher of Energy Efficiency
June 11, 2020 It Seems That We All Have Racism on Our Minds. Here Are My Thoughts
Also: Golden Real Estate Wants to Earn Your Business
June 4, 2020 More Metro Area Homes Went Under Contract in May Than Ever Before
Also: Accessory Dwelling Units Are Gaining in PopularityHeres What You Need to Know
Also: Last Weeks Column About Seniors Being Cheated Out of Their Homes Equity Got Lots of Reader Responses
May 28, 2020 Investors Target Seniors and Others, Buying Homes Below Their True Value
Also: Beware of Brokerages That Offer to Sell Your Home for 1%
Also: Heres Why the Public Will Not Accept Driverless Cars
May 21, 2020 A Fair Housing Violation Could Ruin a Real Estate Professionals Career
Also: Interested in Net Zero Energy Living? Discover Arvadas Geos Community!
Also: More People Are Considering Electric Cars and Trucks, as the Number of Brands and Models Surges
May 14, 2020 If Youre Surviving Covid-19 Financially, Now Is a Good Time to Buy or Sell
Also: Zillow Shortchanges Agents and Buyers on Video Tours
Also: Most Feedback Requests on Showings Are Non-Productive
May 7, 2020 New Listings and Showings Surged Last Week After Governor Eased Showing Restrictions
April 30, 2020 What Will Be the Short- and Long-Term Effects of Covid-19 on Real Estate?
Also: Why Real Estate Values Wont Crash Like They Did in the Great Recession
April 23, 2020 Real Estate May, Oddly Enough, Be the Last Industry to Adopt Live-Action Video
Also: The Number of New Listings Remains Low, But They Are Selling Quickly
April 16, 2020 The Rule Against Showings and Open Houses Shouldnt Hamper Home-Buying...
Also: Homes Are Still Selling An Analysis of the Metro Real Estate Market for the Week of April 4th
April 9, 2020 Newspaper Headline Gave a Distorted Picture of Real Estate Market Under Covid-19
Also: A Follow-Up of Last Weeks Analysis of the Denver Real Estate Market for the Week of March 22nd
Also: Real Estate Coach Thinks I Should Charge More Than I Do. What Do You Think?
April 2, 2020 The Real Estate Market Is Still Active, Meeting the Needs of Both Buyers and Sellers
Also: How Golden Real Estate Is Coping With the COVID-19 Guidelines
Mar. 26, 2020 COVID-19 Will Certainly Impact the Real Estate Market, But By How Much?
Also: Golden Real Estates Narrated Video Tours Make Open Houses and In-Person Showings Less Necessary
Mar. 19, 2020 Our Newest Listing Is a Case Study on How to Achieve Net Zero Energy at Home
Mar. 12, 2020 What Does Open and Transparent Look Like in Real Estate?
Mar. 5, 2020 Six New Listings from Golden Real Estate (no space for a column this week)
Feb. 27, 2020 Renters Arent Taking Advantage of Rent-With-Right-to-Purchase Program
Also this week: Why Wouldnt the Russians Want Trump Re-Elected? Look at His Accomplishments.
Feb. 20, 2020 Guest Article from Money.com: The Best Home Security Systems for 2020
Also this week: Reflections on the State of Journalism & Saving Our Local Newspapers
Feb. 13, 2020 Do You Think a Big Down Payment Is Needed to Buy a Home? Think CHFA.
Feb. 6, 2020 Big Entities Target Mobile Home Parks, the Last Bastion of Affordable Housing
Also this week: Passive House Technology Underlies Going Net Zero Energy in Homes
Jan. 30, 2020 Taxation of Residential vs. Non-Residential Property Is a Growing Problem
Also this week: As the Housing Crisis Deepens, Zoning Laws Are in the Crosshairs
Jan. 23, 2020 Buyer Beware: You May Be on Candid Camera When Looking at a Home
Also this week: Is Your Gas Furnace or Water Heat About to Fail? Consider a Heat Pump
Also this week: Plant-Based Meat Has Won Us Over; Celebrating MLK Jr. With His Words
Jan. 16, 2020 In Colorado, Real Estate Agents Are Granted the Limited Practice of Law
Also this week: Real Estate Agents Have an Affirmative Responsibility to Report Wrongdoing
Also this week: Do You Really Need a Buyers Agent?
Jan. 9, 2020 What Do the Year-End Stats Tell Us About Denvers Real Estate Market?(see 2nd page for Jeffco stats)
Also this week: January Is National Radon Action Month. Heres What You Need to Know.
Jan. 2, 2020 Learn the True Cost of Selling Your Home off-MLS to an iBuyer Like Zillow
Also this week: Your Car Battery Could Someday Be Your Home Backup Power
Dec. 26, 2019 Denver Post Series Uncovers the Corruption of Tax Districts Created by Developers
Also this week: The Future of Home Heating is Electric Heat Pumps, Not Gas Forced Air
Dec. 19, 2019 Golden Real Estate Uses an App to Protect Clients From Being Scammed
Also this week: Denvers Winter Real Estate Market Isnt Slowing As Much As Reported
Also this week: Jeffcos Winter Real Estate Market Is Slowing More Than in Previous Years (see 2nd page of PDF)
Dec. 12, 2019 Putting Your Heirs on Title so They Inherit Your Home May Not Be the Best Strategy
Dec. 5, 2019 High-Tech, Low-Tech and No-Tech Ways to Make a Home Senior-Friendly
Also this week: Property Tax Is the Original Wealth Tax
Also this week: A Reader Asks: Should I Spend Money on Home Staging?
Nov. 28, 2019 Thanksgiving
Is Here, and We at Golden Real Estate Are Thankful
Nov. 21, 2019 National Association of Realtors (NAR) Rules Against Pocket Listings
Also this week: My TV Viewing Recommendations: Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace and Reliable Sources
Nov. 14, 2019 What Is a Smart Home and What Elements of a Smart Home Make Sense for You?
Nov. 7, 2019 Sellers Ask: Should I Wait Until Spring to Put My Home on the Market?
Also this week: Winter Is When Electric Vehicles Really Shine
Oct. 31, 2019 The Crackdown on Hispanic Immigration Is Impacting the Construction Trades
Also this week: Inspection The Most Important Step in Homebuying
Oct. 24, 2019 Before Putting Your Home on the Market, Take Care of the Little (& Low-Cost) Things
Also this week: Sunset Review Recommends Dispute Resolution Function for HOA Information Center Office
Oct. 17, 2019 Have You Noticed How Many Denver Homes Are Selling for Over $1 Million? Here Are the Stats.
Oct. 17, 2019 Have You Noticed How Many Jeffco Homes Are Selling for Over $1 Million? Here Are the Stats.
Also this week: Golden Real Estates Agents Are Featured on RatedAgent.com
Oct. 10, 2019 Cars Have Titles Which Are Transferred Upon Sale. Homes Do Not. So, Whats a Deed?
Oct. 3, 2019 At Saturdays Green Homes Tour Youll Learn Whats Possible for Your Home
Sept. 26, 2019 Were Last Weeks Climate Strikes Enough of a Wake-up Call on Climate Change?
Sept. 19, 2019 Nothing Would Spur the Real Estate Market More Than Relief of Student Debt
Also this week: Takeaways From Last Saturdays Electric Car Event
Sept. 12, 2019 What Is a Variable Commission and Why Should Sellers Demand It?
Sept. 5, 2019 Is a Recession Coming? If So, How Will It Impact the Real Estate Market?
August 29, 2019 All-Electric Homes Are Practical Now, and Can Help Mitigate Climate Change
Also this week: I Think I May Have Purchased My Last Car
August 22, 2019 Report Reveals the True Cost of Selling Your Home to an iBuyer Company
For a link to the full report from Collateral Analytics, click here.
August 15, 2019 LED Lighting Has Some Health & Vision Side Effects Worth Considering
August 8, 2019 What Requires a Permit? And Does Unpermitted Work Affect Your Ability to Sell?
August 1, 2019 Amazons Deal With Real Estate Megafirm Realogy Could Be a Game Changer
July 25, 2019 Truth Matters in Real Estate, Unlike in Politics and the Legal Profession
July 18, 2019 Some Favorite Home Improvements When Purchasing a New-to-Me Home
July 11, 2019 With His Veto of HB-1212, Gov. Polis Ended the Licensing of HOA Managers
July 4, 2019 Video Is Finding Its Way Into Inspection Reports to Illustrate Issues
Also this week: Digital Editions and Email Newsletters Are the Future of Newspapers
June 27, 2019 Renovate Your Home for Your Own Enjoyment, Not to Help It Sell Better
Also this week: Some Reflections on Our 4,800-Mile Tesla Road Trip
Also this week: How to Research Potential Listing Agents
June 20, 2019 Conserving Water Is Likely to Become More Important in Coming Years
June 13, 2019 Some Thoughts From Attending My 50th Reunion at M.I.T.
June 6, 2019 Here Are Some Questions Sellers Should Ask When Hiring a Listing Agent
Also this week: Climate Change Is Our Nations Most Pressing Issue
May 30, 2019 Finding the Right Senior Community Can Be Confusing!
Also this week: Readability of Websites, Emails and Even Your Smartphone Screen Can Become an Issue as You Age
May 23, 2019 What Is Negotiated When You Buy or Sell a Home? More Than Youd Think!
May 16, 2019 Do You Practice Sustainability? Home Renovation Can Be Done Sustainably, Too
May 9, 2019 What You Need to Know About Appealing the County Assessors Valuation of Your Home
Click here for Same Article but for Jefferson County Instead of Denver County
May 2, 2019 Many Renters Are Unaware of Programs That Make Homeownership a Real Possibility
April 25, 2019 Timing the Sale of Your Current Home and Purchase of a New Home Can Be Challenging
April 18, 2019 Readers Responded in Great Numbers to Our Offer of Free Neighborhood Alerts
April 11, 2019 Why Be in the Dark About Real Estate Activity in Your Neighborhood? We Can Help.
Also this week: No Brokerage Does Better Than Golden Real Estate in Getting the Highest Price for Sellers
April 4, 2019 The Federal Reserve Raised Interest Rates, Yet Mortgage Rates Plummeted. Why?
Also this week: A Seller Asks: Do I Have to Accept a Full-Price Offer?
Mar. 28, 2019 The Way Real Estate Agents Are Compensated Confuses Many Buyers and Sellers
Also this week: Another Area of Confusion: When Is Your Real Estate Agent a Transaction Broker and Not an Agent?
Mar. 21, 2019 Off-Market Transactions Hurt Sellers by Shutting Out Buyers Who Might Pay More
Also this week: Preferential Voting Is a Great Method for Dealing With Primary Elections With a Dozen or More Candidates
Mar. 14, 2019 How Do You Know That the Real Estate Agent Youre Interviewing Is Telling the Truth?
Mar. 7, 2019 Downsizing: One of Those Big Issues Which We All Face As We Age
Feb. 28, 2019 With Home Prices So Much Higher, Shouldnt Real Estate Commissions Be Lower?
Also this week: EVs: Yes, They Have Lower Range in Winter, But Consider These Offsetting Benefits
Feb. 21, 2019 You Can Defer -- or Reduce -- Capital Gains Tax on the Sale of Investment Properties
Feb. 14, 2019 Security Devices Could Allow Sellers to Eavesdrop on Buyers During Showings
Feb. 7, 2019 Some Home-Selling Advice Is No Longer Valid; Lets Review the Literature
Also this week: You Can Sell High/Buy Low and Stay in Colorado
Jan. 31, 2019 Remodeling Your Home to Help It Sell May Not Be the Moneywise Approach
Jan. 24, 2019 (Denver edition) Statistics Show a Slowing Denver Real Estate Market, But Not at Golden Real Estate
Jan. 24, 2019 (Jeffco editions) Statistics Show a Slowing Jeffco Real Estate Market, But Not at Golden Real Estate
Also this week: The Realtor Code of Ethics Exists to Protect You
Jan. 17, 2019 Sustainability Series Session #1: The Many Facets of Insulating a Home
Also this week: The Graying of the Internet What About Readability?
Jan. 10, 2019 Even if Youre a Sophisticated Buyer or Seller, You Need Us And Heres Why...
Also this week: In Defense of Journalists Theyre Working for You!
Jan. 3, 2019 Ways to Defer Capital Gains Tax Exposure When Selling Investment Properties
Dec. 27, 2018 Some Thoughts Regarding Characteristics to Look for When Hiring a Realtor
Dec. 20, 2018 Looking Back on a Busy Year Here Are Some Popular Columns From 2018
Dec. 13, 2018 Statistics Appear Not to Reflect a 2019 Slowdown in Our Real Estate Market
Dec. 6, 2018 Should You List Your Home During the Holidays?The Answer May Surprise You
Also this week: Conforming Loan Limits Raised/More Ideas for Making Your Home Resistant to Wildfires
Nov. 29, 2018 Californias Wildfires Are a Wakeup Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes
Also this week: Golden Real Estates Agents Will Donate Their Earned Commission to Buyers Who Lost Their Homes
Nov. 22, 2018 At Thanksgiving, I Like to Reflect on the Many People for Whom Im Grateful
Nov. 15, 2018 Yes, the Russians Wanted Trump Over Hillary, But Their Real Goal Is to Divide Americans
Click here to view a New York Times video documenting how Russia works to divide Americans and others; or copy this link in your browser: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/opinion/russia-meddling-disinformation-fake-news-elections.html?wpisrc=nl_fact&wpmm=1
Nov. 8, 2018 Senior Homeowners Are at Risk of Being Conned/Scammed Out of Their Homes
Nov. 1, 2018 (Denver YourHub) Are You Ready to Take Full Advantage of the Winter Home-Selling Season?
Nov. 1, 2018 (Jeffco YourHubs) Jeffco Commissioners Quietly Eliminated the Countys Portion of a Business Tax
Oct. 25, 2018 When Buying or Selling a Home, Dont Overlook the Cost of Moving!
Oct. 18, 2018 Behind Golden Real Estates Motto: Hometown Service Delivered With Integrity
Oct. 11, 2018 (Denver YourHub) Denvers Sellers Market May Be Cooling, But Not As Dramatically As Reported
Oct. 11, 2018 (Jeffco YourHubs) Jefferson Countys Sellers Market May Be Cooling, But Not As Dramatically As Reported
Oct. 4, 2018 Saturday Is Your Opportunity to Learn How to Make Your Home More Green
Sept. 27, 2018 While Market Activity Shows Signs of Slowing, Prices Are Actually Rising
Also this week: D.C. Has a 30-Year-Old Law Giving Tenants Right of First Refusal When Landlord Sells
Sept. 20, 2018 Yes, Our Real Estate Market Is Beginning to Slow.Heres the Evidence.
Sept. 13, 2018 Dont Make the Same Mistakes Made by Others When Trying to Sell Their Homes
Sept. 6, 2018 As Manufacturers Gear Up to Build Electric Cars, Come See Whats in Your Future
Aug. 30, 2018 What You Need to Know About Agents Who Claim to Have a Buyer for Your Home
Aug. 23, 2018 (Denver YourHub) Statistics Suggest Denvers Market May Be Slowing Down, But Only Marginally
Aug. 23, 2018 (Jeffco YourHubs) Statistics Suggest Jeffcos Market May Be Slowing Down, But Only Marginally
Aug. 16, 2018 (Denver YourHub) Should the MLS Include a Condition Rating for Each Listing? Heres How It Might Work
Aug. 16, 2018 (Jeffco YourHubs) The Golden Fine Arts Festival Is This Weekend, Featuring 134 Artists in 9 Categories
Aug. 9, 2018 Feedback From Showings Can Be Helpful, But There Are Good and Bad Ways to Ask for It
Aug. 2, 2018 Sell Your Home for $5,000, Regardless of Price? Theres a Reason to Be Suspicious
July 26, 2018 The Home Buying Process: How It Works in the Internet Age
July 19, 2018 Federal Law Unfairly Burdens Buyers When Buying From a Foreign Person
July 12, 2018 Everyone Knows the Value of Video, So Why Arent More Listing Agents Using It?
Also this week: Love Letters Pose a Fair Housing Risk for Sellers
July 5, 2018 What Are the Implications When a Buyer Waives Appraisal Objection in a Bidding War?
Also this week: When Will Colorado Finally License Home Inspectors?
June 28, 2018 Property Taxes in 2019 Will Be Based on the Value of Your Home This Saturday
Denver readers Click HereJefferson County readers Click Here
Also this week: Last Weeks Personal Column Touched a Nerve
June 21, 2018 I Love to Write About Real Estate, But This Week Its Personal
Also this week: A Couple Modest Proposals for Saving America
June 14, 2018 Heres Why You Shouldnt Sell Your House Without Putting It on the Market
June 7, 2018 Gentrification or Revitalization: Its a Hard Topic for a Meaningful Conversation
May 31, 2018 New Program Helps Buyer (and Sellers Who Need to Buy) Succeed in This Market
May 24, 2018 What Is Title Insurance, and Why Do Buyer and Sellers Need It, Anyway?
May 17, 2018 The General Assembly Allows the Regulation of HOA Managers to Lapse
May 10, 2018 Stop the Madness!We Should Never Allow Driverless Cars and Trucks
Also this week: Come to Our Annual Golden Garage Sales on May 12th
May 3, 2018 As Warm Weather Arrives, What Are the Different Ways to Cool a Home?
Also this week: Hardwood Flooring Is All the Rage, But Some Condo Owners Are Having Second Thoughts
April 26, 2018 Just in Time: A Breakthrough in Rent-to-Own for Those Who Cant Buy Now
Also this week: What Is an Escalation Clause, and How Should Sellers Respond to One?
April 19, 2018 As Earth Day Approaches, Coloradans Have Many Opportunities to Do Their Part
Also this week: Would You Like to Be Alerted to Real Estate Activity in Your Neighborhood?
Also this week: Do You Have a Question or Concern About Your Reverse Mortgage?
April 12, 2018 Buyers Save a Little on Property Tax When Buying a Long-Held Home from Seniors
Also this week: Understanding the Scope of the Inspection Process
April 5, 2018 What If Sellers and Their Agents Dont Disclose Known Defects in Their Listings?
Also this week: Golden Real Estates Fleet of Electric Vehicles Continues to Grow
Mar. 29, 2018 How Can Buyers Win a Bidding War?Heres What Our Agents Do
Also this week: Contrary to Conventional Wisdom, Homeowners Are Selling Homes in Record Numbers
Also this week: Follow-up on Last Weeks Column About Off-Market Sales What About FSBOs?
Mar. 22, 2018 Off-Market Real Estate Sales Hurt Sellers by Shutting Out Buyers Who Might Pay More
Also this week: Golden Real Estate Has Joined Good Business Colorado
Also this week: Debbi Hysmith Joins Golden Real Estate
Mar. 15, 2018 Buyers and Sellers Ask: Why Did the Appraisal Come in at Exactly the Contract Price?
Also this week: Time May Be Running Out on Getting a Low-Interest Mortgage
Also this week: Win a Date Night at Goldens Table Mountain Inn
Mar. 8, 2018 How Can Sellers Prepare for the Buyers Inspection? Heres Some Practical Advice
Also this week: You May Want to Pay Off Your Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Mar. 1, 2018 Are You Interested in Urban Farming? Heres an Introduction and an Opportunity
Also this week: Were Holding a Class on Getting to Net Zero and Beyond
Also this week: A Follow-up on Last Weeks Article About Capital Gains Tax Exemption for Married Couples
Feb. 22, 2018 Owned Your Home for a Long Time? Here Are Some Ideas on Limiting Capital Gains Liability
Also this week: Considering Buying an Electric Car? Heres Some Practical Advice
Also this week: Come to Golden Real Estate for a Tour of Our Net Zero Energy Office
Feb. 15, 2018 Dont Miss the 12th Annual Colorado Environmental Film Festival Next Weekend
Also this week: Also Next Week: A Behind the Scenes Tour of Golden Real Estate
Also this week: Carol Milan Joins Golden Real Estate
Feb. 8, 2018 This Years Real Estate Commission Update Class Contains Several Surprises
Also this week: Two Golden Real Estate Agents Are Qualified Staging Experts
Feb. 1, 2018 Here Are Some Obstacles (Real or Imagined) Faced by First-Time Home Buyers
Also this week: Is Deporting Immigrants, Including Dreamers, Bad for the Economy?
Jan. 25, 2018 Life Transitions Are at the Heart of Most Clients Real Estate Needs
Also this week: Did You Know? The Best Car for Wintertime Travel Is Electric
Also this week: Just Listed: A Solar-Powered Home Near DU With a $5.89 Monthly Xcel Bill
Jan. 18, 2018 Study of Competitive Neighborhoods Reflect Slowing of Denvers Real Estate Market
(This is a 2-page PDF, one with Denver statistics, and the other with Jeffco statistics)
Jan. 11, 2018 Why Any Denver Seller Would Be Smart to List with Golden Real Estate
Jan. 4, 2018 Golden Real Estate: Promoting and Modeling Environmental Responsibility
Dec. 28, 2017 Provisions Most Detrimental to Home Ownership Arent in the Final Tax Bill
Also this week: A Reader Asks: Why Do Colorado Property Taxes Vary So Much?
Dec. 21, 2017 Many Buyers of New Homes Shortchange Themselves by Not Having an Agent
Also this week: Now for a Brief Lesson on Type Fonts and Readability...
Dec. 14, 2017 2017 Home Sales Will Hit Record (Again), Despite Reported Low Inventory
Also this week: Real Estate Related Email Scams Are Proliferating
Dec. 7, 2017 One Month Left to Sell Your Home Before Possible Tax Hike
Also this week: Golden Real Estate Has a Record of Success in Jeffco and Denver
Nov. 30, 2017 If Youre a Veteran, You Owe It to Yourself to Consider Using a VA Loan
Also this week: iPhones Siri Can Make Your Driving Safer, As It Has Mine
Also this week: Heres an End-of-Year Special for New Clients of Golden Real Estate
Also this week: Winters a Good Time to Sell a Home, But It Can Be a Good Time for Buyers, Too
Also this week: How Can Applying Feng Shui Principles Improve Your Home?
Nov. 23, 2017 Its Thanksgiving, and Im Thankful for Many Things and Many People
Also this week: When It Comes to Real Estate Statistics, We Should Think Median, Not Average
Nov. 16, 2017 GOPs Tax Bill Favors Homeowners in States Without an Income Tax
Also this week: What Due Diligence Should You Do When Buying a Home?
Also this week: Why Do We Refer to 110-Volt and 220-Volt Electricity, When Its Actually 120 and 240 Volt?
Also this week: If Youre Into Horses, Youll Like This Book About My Brother
Nov. 9, 2017 For Baby Boomers, Its Decision Time: Aging in Place vs. Other Options
Also this week: Percentage of Sellers Trying For Sale By Owner Continues at Record Low
Nov. 2, 2017 Here Are Some Tips on How to Reduce the Cost of Heating Your Home
Also this week: Are We at a Tipping Point in the Electrification of Transportation?
Oct. 26, 2017 What You Need to Know About the Inspection Process When Selling Your Home
Also this week: Research Shows That 3 to 4 Days on the Market Yields Sellers the Highest Price
Oct. 19, 2017 4 Colorado Home Builders Honored by Energy Dept. for Innovation in Construction
Also this week: Reflections on Home Construction in Italy
Also this week: Another New Concept Youll Hear More About Vehicle-to-Grid or V2G
Also this week: Here Are Some Things to Consider When Hiring a Listing Agent
Oct. 12, 2017 As We Learn How Fragile Our Electric Grid Is, Off-Grid Gains More Appeal
Also this week: Heres an Off-Grid Home With Continental Divide Views
Oct. 5, 2017 What Is Our Real Estate Market Like as We Transition to Fall & Winter?
Sept. 28, 2017 This Years Opportunity to Visit Solar & Sustainable Homes Is Oct. 7th
Also this week: A Couple Important Facts About Flood Insurance
Sept. 14, 2017 What Should and Shouldnt You Fix When Preparing to Sell Your Home?
Also this week: Its Not Rocket Science . (about climate change)
Also this week: Jeffcos and Denvers Sellers Market Shows Continued Strength How Long Will It Last?
Sept. 7, 2017 Theres Never an Excuse for an MLS Listing Not to Have Any Photos
Also this week: National Drive Electric Week Kicks Off This Saturday
Also this week: Denver Residents Think Often About Moving to Western Suburbs and Foothills
Aug 31, 2017 When I Became a Realtor 15 Years Ago, I Didnt Know What I Didnt Know
Also this week: Take Outdoor Pictures of Your Home Now, In Case You Sell in Winter
Also this week: Consider This Before Renting Your House to a Marijuana Grow Operation
Aug 24, 2017 Readers Say I Could Write a Book on Real Estate. Perhaps I Already Have!
Aug 17, 2017 Real Estate Transactions Can and Should Be a Win for Both Buyer and Seller
Also this week: Denver Home Buyers Are Increasingly Looking at Western Suburbs and Foothills
Aug 10, 2017 Condo and Townhome Owners Need to Consider Their Collective Liabilities
Also this week: How to Check Out Any Denver Area Real Estate Agent
Also this week: Whats a Material Fact That Needs to Be Disclosed by Sellers and Listing Agents?
Also this week: Golden Real Estate Receives National Recognition
Aug 3, 2017 National Association of Realtors Says Immigration Is Good for Real Estate
Also this week: How Many Square Feet Is Your Home?It Depends...
Also this week: How to Avoid the Most Common Real Estate Mistakes
Also this week: Debunking Some Mistruths About Electric Cars
July 27, 2017 Many Insurance Companies Have Increased Their Deductible for Hail Damage
Also this week: Why Arent Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detectors Required in Attached Garages?
Also this week: If Living Off the Grid Is Your Dream, This Could Be Your Dream House!
July 20, 2017 Heres Some Advice on Downsizing and Prepping a Home for Market
Also this week: Golden Real Estates 10th Anniversary Party Was a Great Success! (Page 2)
July 13, 2017 How Might You Respond to an Offer to Buy Your Home Off Market?
July 6, 2017 (Denver YourHub) Shouldnt a Listing Agent Do More Than Just Put Your Home on the MLS?
July 6, 2017 (Jeffco YourHub & Weeklies) 84% of Jefferson County Is Unincorporated But Has City Addresses
Also this week: NREL Celebrates 40 Years of Making a Difference in Renewable Energy
June 29, 2017 2007 Was a Watershed Year Because of So Much More Than the iPhone
Also this week: My Favorite Sustainable Practices and Improvements (on page 2)
June 22, 2017 Clearing the Deck: Topics Worthy of Mention, But Not a Full Column
Also this week: Why Smart Sellers Are Choosing to List With Golden Real Estate(on page 2)
June 15, 2017 Beware of Less Obvious Costs of Ownership When You Buy a Home
Also this week: Does Your House Need Painting? and: Looking for Green Homes
June 8, 2017 What Is Your Capital Gains Tax Liability When You Sell Your Home?
June 1, 2017 Youve Heard About Geothermal Heating, But How Does It Work, Anyway?
Also this week: Our Closing Gift or Buyers: A Home Energy Audit
May 25, 2017 Do You Have Tenant-Occupied Property? Heres Some Advice for Selling It
May 18, 2017 When It Comes to Identifying Scams and Shams, Google Is Your Friend
Also this week: Testimonial From a Recent Golden Real Estate Client (Tom Slabe)
May 11, 2017 Post-Closing Occupancy Agreements Can Work for Both Buyers and Sellers
May 4, 2017 What You Need to Know About Appealing Your County Assessors Valuation of Your Home
April 27, 2017 Selling a Home on the 1st or 2nd Day (or Without Listing at All) Is Just Not Smart
Also this week: Testimonial From a Recent Golden Real Estate Client (Dick & Nan Bryant)
April 20, 2017 What Makes for Success in Real Estate? Heres What Golden Real Estate Does
Also this week: Testimonial From a Recent Golden Real Estate Client (Brenda Bronson)
April 13, 2017 Good Planning and Help From Our Agents Can Reduce the Stress of Moving
Also this week: NARs Pending Home Sales Index Says a Lot About Our Hot Market
Also this week: Golden Real Estate Was Honored Last Week for Its Business Success
April 6, 2017 Learn From a Victim of Nigerian Scammers Who Died Penniless Last Week
Also this week: 10 Reasons Youd Be Smart to List Your Home With Golden Real Estate
Mar. 30, 2017 First-Time Buyers and Veterans Buying a Home May Be Leaving Money on the Table
Mar. 23, 2017 When the Fed Raises Its Interest Rate, Do Mortgage Rates Increase?
Also this week: Whats a Closing Protection Letter and When Do You Need One?
Mar. 16, 2017 What You Need to Know About Buying a New Home from a Builder
Mar. 9, 2017 Job #1 for Buyers: Finding the Right Mortgage Professional
Also this week: Golden Real Estate Welcomes New Broker Associates Andrew Lesko and Susan Dixon
Mar. 2, 2017 Why Are So Many People Choosing to Relocate to Colorado?
Feb. 23, 2017 How Do Credit Scores Affect Mortgage Interest Rates?
Also this week: Dont Be Fooled by 1% Listing Commission Offers
Feb. 16, 2017 Dealing With Real Estate Can Be Overwhelming for Senior Citizens
Feb. 9, 2017 Where Should Zillow Fit Into Your Home Search Process?
Also this week: Whats the Difference Between a Condo and a Townhome?
Feb. 2, 2017 Whats Your Definition of a Full Service Real Estate Professional?
Also this week: What Are the Rules of Professional Journalism?
Jan. 26, 2017 In This Internet Age, Whats the Future of the Broker-Centric Real Estate Model?
Jan. 19, 2017 When Will Our Legislators Address the Issue of Excessive HOA Transfer Fees?
Also: Colorado Enacts First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account Act
Jan. 12, 2017 Real Estate Commissions Warns About Affiliated Business Arrangements
Also: Surprise! Electric Vehicles Excel in the Winter
Also: 40 Percent of Adult Children Are Living With their Parents
Jan. 5, 2017 Denver Has 10 of the Nations 50 Most Competitive Real Estate Neighborhoods
Click here for the Jefferson County version, focusing on the 4 Jeffco competitive neighborhoods
Also: Have You Downloaded Golden Real Estates Smartphone App Listing Service Providers?
Dec. 29, 2016 (Denver) Happy New Year! What Will the Real Estate Market Be Like in 2017?
Dec. 29, 2016 (Jeffco) Happy New Year! What Will the Real Estate Market Be Like in 2017?
Dec. 22, 2016 Many Agents Are Rushing to Take a CE Class That Will Be Out-of-Date on Jan. 1st
Also: Heres Proof That Now Is a Great Time to Put a Home on the Market
Also: Think Twice, Please, Before Buying a New Car
Dec. 15, 2016 Realtor Code of Ethics Is Supplemented by Pathways to Professionalism
Dec. 8, 2016 (Denver) The Trend Continues: Winter May Be the Easiest Time to Sell a Denver Home
Dec. 8, 2016 (Jeffco) The Trend Continues: Winter May Be the Easiest Time to Sell a Jefferson County Home
Also: Millennials Want to Buy, But They Think Its Harder Than It Is
Dec. 1, 2016 Golden Real Estate Is Taking Colorado Gives Day to the Next Level
Also: The Gas/Diesel Tax Should Be Replaced With a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax
Nov. 24, 2016 Heres a Free and Innovative Real Estate App That Youll Love Using
Also: At Thanksgiving I Find Much to Be Thankful For. Heres a Short List...
Nov. 17, 2016 How Will Trumps Election Impact the Real Estate Market & Industry?
Nov. 10, 2016 What Effect Will Election Results Have on the Real Estate Market? Well See!
Nov. 3, 2016 The EcoBrokers of Golden Real Estate Offer a Variety of Backgrounds and Expertise
Oct. 27, 2016 Realtor Associations Take a Position on Several Ballot Issues, But Pass on Others
Also: Here Are Some Measures You Can Take to Reduce Your Homes Energy Bill This Winter
Oct. 20, 2016 As Winter Approaches, Should Sellers Wait for Spring to List Their Homes on MLS?
Also: Is Home Battery Storage Right for You? What I Learned Visiting a Lakewood Company (Iron Edison)
Oct. 13, 2016 Colorado Is the First State to Install a Solar PV System Under DOEs Weatherization Program
Oct. 6, 2016 Exploiting Work Overload, Some Appraisers Engage in Price Gouging
Sept.
29, 2016, Saturday s Tour of Solar & Sustainable Homes Is a
Multi-Location Educational Event
Click Here,
to
read 8 Weeks to Wellness Taught Me What Makes Us Fat. It s Not Saturated Fat. It s Sugar.
Sept.
22, 2016, Homeowner Associations: Created to Serve Members, They Are Often
Reviled
Sept.
15, 2016, Is Your Neighborhood Going to Pot (Literally)? How Much
Worse Will It Get?
Click Here,
to
read the DEA document Residential Marijuana Grows in Colorado: The New Meth
Houses?
Sept.
8, 2016, For Homeowners Over 62, a Reverse Mortgage Could Address Some
Financial Needs
Also:
Do You Know a Realtor Who Belongs at Golden Real Estate?
Sept.
1, 2016, HOA Transfer Fees Can Be Excessive & Benefit Management
Company, Not the HOA
Aug.
25, 2016, Agent Availability Is the #1 Complaint of Home Buyers and Sellers
Aug.
18, 2016, The Golden Fine Arts Festival Is a Factor in Golden s Rising Home
Values
Aug.
11, 2016, Denver s MLS Adds Data Fields for Smart Home Technology
Also:
National Drive Electric Week Is Coming to Golden on Sept. 18th
Aug.
4, 2016, Why Should Buyers Even Look for Homes When the Inventory Is So
Low?
Also:
Did You Know? The Grace Period on Your Monthly Mortgage Payment Isn t Free
July
28, 2016, Who Pays for What When You Buy or Sell Real Estate? It s All Negotiable
July
21, 2016, Metro Area Property Tax Rates Vary Far More Than Most Buyers
Realize
July
14, 2016, Here Are More Ways to Find a Home That Fits Your Family s Lifestyle
Also:
Self-Driving Cars Are a Pipe Dream
July
7, 2016, House Hunting? How Do You Find a Home That Fits Your Family s Lifestyle?
June
30, 2016, Today s High Performance Homes Go Far
Beyond Energy Efficiency and Solar Power
June
23, 2016, When an Agent Sells His Own Listing, Should the Buyer Be a Client or Customer ?
June
16, 2016, Trying to Sell Without an Agent? Learn from Another Seller s
Experience
June
9, 2016, What Are the Services You Can and Should Expect a Listing Agent to
Perform?
June
2, 2016, More Homes Are Being Listed, But the Number of Active Listings Is
Actually Falling
May
19, 2016, Considering Solar? We Can Help You Sort Through the Various
Financing Options
May
12, 2016, Does Your Organization Welcome Outside Speakers?
May
5, 2016, What Is a Buyer s Recourse When the Seller Fails to Disclose Known
Serious Defects?
April
28, 2016, Here Are Some Common Pricing Mistakes Made by Sellers and Their
Listing Agents
April
21, 2016, Variable Commission Can Benefit Sellers; How I Shed 25 lbs. in 8
Weeks
April
14, 2016, Whose Side Is Your Agent On? What You Need to Know About
Agency Laws
April
7, 2016, Did Your Listing Agent Produce the Buyer? You May Have Left Money
on the Table
Mar.
31, 2016, Listing Agents Seem Confused About How to Handle Multiple Offers
Mar. 24, 2016,
(Denver) Did You Know? 5280 Magazine Doesn t Choose
5-Star Professionals
Click
Here,
to
read the 2012 Five Star Professional Upsell Order
Form/Price List
Mar. 24, 2016,
(Jeffco) Higher Property Values Mean Higher Property Taxes, But What About
TABOR?
Mar. 17, 2016,
(Denver) Denver s Seller s Market Continues to Exceed Everyone s Wildest
Expectations
Mar. 17, 2016,
(Jeffco) Jeffco s Seller s Market Continues to Exceed Everyone s Wildest
Expectations
Mar. 10, 2016,
(Denver) Why Sellers Should Want Multiple Offers and How to Get Them
Also:
Now s the Time to Put That Hard-to-Sell Home on the
Market
Mar. 10, 2016, (Jeffco)
Now s the Time to Put That Hard-to-Sell Home on the
Market
Mar.
3, 2016, Colorado s Property Tax System Makes It Costly to Keep Vacant Land
Vacant
Also:
Why Sellers Should Want Multiple Offers And How to Get
Them
Feb. 25, 2016,
(Denver) Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor About Listing Your Home
Also: Research
You Can Do Online Before the Interview
Feb. 25, 2016,
(Jeffco) Cheap Electricity From Renewable Sources Is
Revolutionizing the Utility Industry
Also:
Golden Optimists Move Their Bicycle Recycle Program to Golden Real Estate s Parking Lot
Feb.
18, 2016, Here s Some Different Advice for Buyers
and Sellers in the Current Real Estate Market
Feb.
11, 2016, House of Representatives Passes Legislation Favoring First-Time
and Low-Income Buyers
Also:
Coming Feb. 18-20 Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden
Feb.
4, 2016, Chart Demonstrates Our Seller s Market More Sales from Fewer
Listings
Jan.
28, 2016, Looking Back: Did Homes Listed in December Sell as Well as I Had
Predicted?
Also:
Let s Prevent a Repeat of the School Board Election Disaster
Jan.
21, 2016, As a Listing Agent, I Used to Think Buyer Agents Were Overpaid,
But Not Anymore
Also:
Understanding the Resale Value of Roof-Top Solar PV Installations
Jan.
14, 2016, 2016 May Be the Year That Home Automation Goes Mainstream
Also:
Don t Have a Smartphone? Find Our Services Providers at
www.GoldenRealEstate.com
www.GoldenRealEstate.com,
Also:
Don t Have a Smartphone? Find Our Services Providers at
Jan.
7, 2016, Finding a Trusted Service Provider Just Got a Lot Easier!
Also: Jefferson
Parkway: Tell County Commissioners to Stop Throwing Good Money After Bad
Dec.
31, 2015, Lobbying by Realtor Associations Serves All Agents, But Also All
Homeowners
Dec.
24, 2015, Holiday Greetings to Our Readers, Clients and Friends!
Also:
Read More About Metropolitan Tax Districts
Dec.
17, 2015, Understanding Real Estate Property Taxes and Why They Vary So
Much
Dec.
10, 2015, The Seller s Market Lives on But Only
for Homes That Are Priced Right
Also:
Looking for a Home Service Provider? We Have an App for That!
Dec.
3, 2015, Some Pros and Cons of Buying and Selling During the Holiday Season
Nov.
26, 2015, It s
Thanksgiving, and My Thankfulness Is Both Personal and Professional
Also:
Bring Your Unwrapped Toys to Golden Real Estate s S. Golden Road Office by Dec. 17th
Nov.
19, 2015, Here s Some of What I Learned at Last
Weekend s Realtor Convention/Expo
Also:
HUD Announces Relaxation of Condo Finance Requirements
Nov.
12, 2015, Teams Can Leverage the Talents of Individual Real Estate Agents
Also:
Christian Action Guild Solicits Unwrapped Toys
Nov.
5, 2015, Why We Believe in and Advocate for a Values-Based Real Estate
Practice
Oct.
29, 2015, How Do You Decide When It
s Time to Downsize? It
s a Very Personal Decision
Oct.
22, 2015, What Is the Value of Hiring a Realtor When You Can Sell Your Home
Without One?
Oct.
15, 2015, Is Your Denver Area Home Listed on the Right MLS? Here s What You Need to Know
Also:
Of Course: Recall the Conservative Jeffco School Board Majority
Oct.
8, 2015, Golden Real Estate s Agents Are Getting
Great Reviews on www.RatedAgent.com
Also: Support
Jeffco s Libraries Vote Yes on Ballot Measure 1A
Oct.
1, 2015, This Saturday is Your Opportunity to Tour 14 Solar &
Sustainable Homes
Also:
Electric Vehicle Roundup Is Part of Golden Solar Tour
Sept.
24, 2015, Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Realtor About Listing Your
Home
Also:
Research You Can Do Online Before Your Listing Appointment With
a Realtor
Sept.
17, 2015, It Can Be Quite Stressful to Buy a Home When You Have to Sell One
First
Also:
Learn About and Experience Electric Vehicles This Saturday at Drive Electric
Week Events
Sept.
10, 2015, Everyone Has a Friend or Relative in Real Estate, But Should You
Use Him or Her?
Sept.
3, 2015, The Denver Metro Real Estate Market Is Still Hot, But It Does Vary
Somewhat by Price Range
Aug.
27, 2015, Brokers and Sellers Must Disclose Defects Learned From Inspections, Not Just Known Defects
Aug.
20, 2015, In Our Internet-Connected Marketplace, What s
the Role of Realtors Now?
Aug.
13, 2015, The Reported Cooling of the Local Real Estate Market Isn t Supported by MLS Data
Aug.
6, 2015, Heating & Cooling Is Important to 86% of Buyers, According to NAR
July
30, 2015, A Familiar Challenge: Mom & Dad Need to Go to Assisted Living
July
23, 2015, Social Media Can Supercharge the
Marketing of Real Estate Listings
July
16, 2015, You d Be
Surprised How Many Real Estate Agents Compete for Your Business
July
9, 2015, Regarding Online Reviews, One Just Has to Take the Bad With the Good
Also:
Update on Jim Smith s Bella Bluegrass Lawn (Less Mowing, Less Water)
July
2, 2015, In Greening Your Home, Where Do You Get the Most Bang for Your
Buck?
Also:
Have You Been Caught in This Rental Scam?
June
25, 2015, A Post-Racial America May Be Closer Than Ever, But It Remains
Only a Goal
June
18, 2015, National Association of Realtors Says That Marginal Agents
Threaten Industry
Also:
What Is Marijuana s Impact on the Real Estate Market
June
11, 2015, What Can You Do If You Don t Have the Money for a Downpayment?
June
4, 2015, You ve Wondered About Electric Cars, Now
Come Check Them Out
Also:
Some Sellers Cheat Themselves by Selling Too Quickly
May
28, 2015, Special New Lawn Doesn t Need Mowing Yet
May
21, 2015, What Does a Full-Time Realtor s Family Vacation Look Like? Well, Here s Mine
May
14, 2015, Does the Assessor s Valuation of Your Home Seem High? Here Are
Some Data
May
7, 2015, Here s Your Guide to Appealing the
Assessor s Valuation of Your Home
April
30, 2015, The Biennial Property Tax Reassessment Process Begins Next Week
April
23, 2015, Celebrating Earth Day Fifty Shade of Green (continued)
Also:
Recent Transactions Show Level of Accuracy of Zillow Estimates
April
16, 2015, What s Your Home s Value?
Assessor, Zillow & Others Differ Widely
April
9, 2015, Here s Why Real Estate Bidding Wars Won t End Any Time Soon
April
2, 2015, A Seller s Market Is the Worst Time to Try For
Sale by Owner
Also:
Locksmiths Aren t Licensed in Colorado
Mar.
25, 2015, How Should a Seller (and Listing Agent) Handle Multiple Competing
Offers?
Also:
Beware of Internet Scams; Denver Metro Area Saw 4th Highest Increase in Rents
Mar.
19, 2015, What Should You Do When You Get an Offer on Your Unlisted Home?
Mar.
12, 2015, It Takes Courage (& a Good Realtor) to Sell One House &
Buy Another
Mar.
5, 2015, Buyer Demand Keeps Outpacing the Supply of Homes for Sale
Feb.
26, 2015, Fifty Shades of Green (cont d): More Big & Small Ways to Go Green
Also:
Panel Urges Licensing of Home Inspectors, But Legislation Fails
Feb.
19, 2015, State Senate Considers Construction Defects Bill With Its Own Defects
Also:
Join Our Agents for a Lunch-and-Learn on Credit Repair
Feb.
12, 2015, Fifty Shades of Green: Big & Small Ways for You to Go Green
Also:
Colorado Environmental Film Festival Coming to Golden on Feb. 19-21
Feb.
5, 2015, Going Green in Your Home Is More Doable Than Most People Think
Also:
The Inspection Objection and Inspection Resolution Process Explained
Jan.
29, 2015, In Today s World, Real Estate Professionals Need to Be EcoBrokers
Also:
Solar PV Vendor Responds to Jan. 15th Column on Rooftop Solar
Jan.
22, 2015, Mortgage Lending Gets More Challenging All the Time; Here s the Latest
Also:
Senior Property Tax Exemption Explained
Jan.
15, 2015, More Than Ever, Overpriced Homes Sell for Less Than Underpriced
Ones
Also:
Having Second Thoughts About Rooftop Solar Panels
Jan.
8, 2015, Realtor Association Moves to Increase Professionalism and Skills
of Members
Also:
Sellers Risk Losing Out If They Sell Without Putting Home on MLS
Jan.
1, 2015, Happy New Year! What s Your Vision for Jefferson County in 2030? Here s
Mine.
Also:
2014 Jefferson County s Real Estate Year in Review
Dec.
25, 2014, Buyers Often Pay More Than They Should (in fees) When Buying a
Home
Dec.
18, 2014, Did You Know? You Don t Need a Suitable Roof to Benefit from
Solar Power
Also:
What s the Future of Solar PV and Electric Driving
Powered by the Sun
Dec.
11, 2014, Buying That First Home May Not Be as Impossible as You Might
Believe
Also:
Realtor.com Ranks Denver Metro Area #3 in Top 2015 Real Estate Growth Markets
Dec.
4, 2014, Negotiating Multiple Offers Can & Probably Should Resemble an
Auction
Also:
How Much Does Landscaping Help to Sell a Home
Nov.
27, 2014, Happy Thanksgiving to Our Readers We Have So Much to Be Grateful
For
Also:
Climate Colorado Summit Gave Birth to Many Sustainable Initiatives Including
Mine
Click here,
for
the PowerPoint presentation Gasoline-Powered Cars Are Obsolete
Click here,
for
the PowerPoint presentation Electric Vehicle Charging as an Employee Benefit
Click here,
for
Steve Stevens PowerPoint presentation on Beyond Net Zero
Nov.
20, 2014, The Pros & Cons of Listing Your Home for Sale During the
Holiday Season
Nov.
13, 2014, Have You Wondered Why Some Homes Don t Sell, Even
in a Seller s Market?
Also: Join
Me This Weekend at the Climate Colorado Summit 2014; Colorado s First
All-Electric Car Share Opens in Golden
Nov.
6, 2014, The Press, With Its Limited Understanding of Real Estate, Is
Easily Manipulated
Also: Metrolist Stops Using Its Corporate Name; Now It s REcolorado
Oct.
30, 2014, Did You Have a Bad Real Estate
Experience? Here Are Some Actions You Can Take
Oct.
23, 2014, NAR Fights Losing Battle for Public Recognition of Its Realtor
Trademark
Oct.
16, 2014, What Owners of Pre-1978 Homes Need to Know About Lead Based Paint
Also:
Jeffco Voters Should Consider the School Board Chaos When Voting for
Commissioner
Oct.
9, 2014, Buyer Activity Keeps Supply of Jeffco Homes for Sale Under 2
Months
Oct.
2, 2014, This Weekend Is Your Opportunity to Explore Solar-Powered Living
Also:
Annual Pumpkin Patch Funds Habitat for Humanity Houses
Sept.
25, 2014, Denver s MLS Moving to Include Listings of New Homes and Rentals
Also:
Our Mascot, Flower, Has Died
Sept.
18, 2014, This Is National Drive Electric Week, With Several Front Range
Events
Sept.
11, 2014, Jeffco5 Petition Drive Failed, But Voters Can Achieve Same Goal
in November
Also:
Find a Five Star Professional in This Month s 5280
Magazine
Click
Here,
to read
the 2012 Five Star Professional Upsell Order
Form/Price List
Sept.
4, 2014, What You Can & Should Accomplish From
Inspecting the Home You Buy
Also:
In Memoriam: A Tribute to Oliver Frascona
Aug.
28, 2014, The Top 5 Reasons Homes Don t Sell, Even in Today s Seller
s Market
Aug.
21, 2014, Love It or Leave It Should You Remodel Your Home or Buy a New
One?
Aug.
14, 2014, Why Isn t My House Selling
Consider Your Selection of Listing Agent
Aug.
7, 2014, Don t Quit Your Job! And Other Pre-Closing Advice (plus 5 new listings)
July
31, 2014, All My Agent Did Was Put a Sign in the Ground and Wait for It to
Sell.
July
24, 2014, Purchase Contract With As-Is Clause
Sounds Great, But It s a
Hollow Promise
Also:
Buyers Can Now Get Email Alerts About New Listings Within 15 Minutes
July
17, 2014, Fear of Homelessness Continues to Keep Sellers From
Listing Their Homes
July
10, 2014, Sellers Often Ignore Their Own Self-Interest in Selecting a
Listing Agent
July
3, 2014, Buyer s Remorse Is Resulting in More Contract Terminations Than
Usual
June
26, 2014, This Year s Surge in Home Prices Will
Impact Next Year s Property
Taxes
June
19, 2014, Real Estate Commission Takes a Stand on Coming Soon Listings
Click
Here,
to
read CP-44, the CREC s position statement on Coming Soon listings
June
12, 2014, The Final Push Is On to Get the Jeffco5
Measure on the November Ballot
Click
Here,
to read
NAR s full press release regarding the 2014 Survey of NAR Members
June
5, 2014, Inventory of Active Listings in Jeffco Is Up, But Not Meeting the
Demand
Also:
Visit Our Electric Vehicle Roundup at Saturday s Super Cruise in Golden
May
29, 2014, If You Have a Hard-to-Sell Home, Now Is the Time to Put It on the
MLS
Also: Remodeling?
Let Habitat for Humanity Do the Demolition
May
22, 2014, Here Are Some Ways Real Estate Agents Can Save Money at Clients
Expense
Also:
At Golden Real Estate, We Like Going the Extra Mile
May
15, 2014, Whether Buying or Selling, Navigating This Market Requires
Expertise
May
8, 2014, The Sellers Market Keeps Outdoing Itself
Just Look at These Charts!
May
1, 2014, Sellers Are Afraid to Sell Their Home and Not Find a Replacement
Home to Buy
Apr.
24, 2014, The Conversation About Coming Soon Signs Continues Among Realtors
Apr.
17, 2014, HDR Imaging Raising the Bar on Real Estate s #1 Tool, Photography
Also:
Slab Granite Isn t the Only Upgrade for Countertops
Apr.
10. 2014, Choosing the Right Lender Is As
Important As Choosing the Right Realtor
Apr.
3. 2014, You May Leave Money on the Table if You Sell Without Listing on
the MLS
Also:
Agents Committed to Sustainable Practices Should Consider Golden Real Estate
Mar.
27. 2014, Sellers Ask Themselves: Should I Sell Now, or Wait for the
Selling Season ?
Also:
First-Time Homebuyer Seminar at Our Office This Saturday, 10 am to Noon
Click Here,
Also:
Follow-up on Realtor.com Exec s Defection to Zillow ( for
16-minute video interview)
Mar.
20. 2014, Zillow Raids Realtor.com s Executive
Suite, Draws Legal Action
Also:
Jeffco School Board s Dysfunction Can Be Attributed to the At-Large Election of
Board Members
Mar.
13. 2014, With Supply of Active Listings at Record Low, Buyers Look to New
Homes
Also:
Golden Real Estate Polishes Its Green Image with Purchase of a Tesla Model S
Electric Car
Mar.
6. 2014, Sure, You Can Sell Your Current Home, But Can You Find a New One?
Also:
Why ALL Traffic at Light Rail Crossing in Golden Is Stopped for 80 Minutes/Day
Feb.
27. 2014, Do Pocket Listings Make Sense in the Current Real Estate Market?
Also:
Why You Should Attend Your Party Caucus Next Wednesday Click here to find
caucus location
Click
here,
Also: Why
You Should Attend Your Party Caucus Next Wednesday to find caucus location
Also:
There is No Excuse for MLS Listings Without Photos
Feb.
20. 2014, Did Your Home Fail to Sell the Last Time You Tried? Consider the
Current Market
Also:
Golden Real Estate Is an Agent-Friendly Brokerage
Feb.
13. 2014, Voluntary Associations Are Being Created in Older Subdivisions
Without HOAs
Also:
Zillow Offers 4 Predictions About Real Estate in 2014
Feb.
6. 2014, You May Have Thought Inventory Was Tight Before,
But Look at This!
Also:
Reader Response to Last Week s Column on Climate Change Has Got Me Thinking
Jan.
30. 2014, Our Planet May Have Already Passed the Tipping Point on Climate
Change
Also:
Meet Golden Real Estate s Broker Associates
Jan.
23. 2014, Now You Can Select Your Next Real Estate Agent Based on True
Evaluations
Also:
Sign the Jeffco5 Petition at Golden Real Estate s office
Jan.
16. 2014, What You Need to Know About Email Notifications of New Real
Estate Listings
Also:
State Legislatures Passed Several HOA Laws in 2013
Click here,
to
view a lengthy description of new Colorado laws affecting HOA s signed into law
in 2013.
Jan.
2. 2014, Qualified Mortgage and Ability to Repay Rules Take Effect on Jan.
10th
Also:
Jeffco5 Petition Drive Begins Shortly and Reflections on the Past Year
Dec.
26. 2013, Home Sales Surged Dramatically Last Week, The Week Before
Christmas
Also:
A list of my evergreen columns from 2013, in case you missed any of them
Dec.
19. 2013, The Pros & Cons of Putting Your Home on the Market During the
Holidays
Dec.
12. 2013, Our Recent Sub-Zero Cold Spell Demonstrated the Value of
Weatherization
Dec.
5. 2013, Realtor.com Creates a Major Uproar Over Its Agent Rating Program
in Beta Testing
Nov.
28. 2013, Readers Ask More Questions About Selling American Real Estate to
China
Nov.
21. 2013, What Are the Implications of Selling American Real Estate to
China?
Click here,
to
view report on where Chinese are buying overseas real estate
Nov.
14. 2013, Here s Some of What I Learned at This Year s Realtor Convention & Expo
Nov.
7. 2013, The Year-End Rush Is on for Agents to Take Soon-to-Be-Outdated
Mandatory Class
Oct.
31. 2013, Mastering the Art and Science of Getting Your Way on Inspection
Issues
Oct.
24. 2013, Your Home s Under Contract Now What
Should Your Do & Expect?
Oct.
17. 2013, Credit Repair Services Can Actually Lower Your Credit Score, Not
Raise It
Oct.
10. 2013, Buyer Activity Has Slowed Down, But Only Somewhat, Across the
Front Range
Oct.
3. 2013, What Impact Will Government Shutdown Have on Real Estate
Transactions?
Sept.
25. 2013, Dropping Membership Points to a Slow, Steady Decline for Realtor
Associations
Sept.
19. 2013, Recent Floods Blindsided the Uninsured, But Does It Need to Be
That Way?
Sept.
12. 2013, Westword Draws Attention to the Effect of Construction Defect
Lawsuits
Sept.
5. 2013, Should You Really Care Whether Your Real Estate Agent Is a Realtor?
Aug.
29, 2013, 18 Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Agent to List Your Home
Aug.
22, 2013, Client Is Glad She Decided Against Trying to Sell Home by Herself
Aug.
15, 2013, What Qualities Make Some Real Estate Agents More Successful Than
Others?
Aug.
8, 2013, Momentum Builds for Having 5 Jeffco Commissioners, Not Just 3
Aug.
1, 2013, There s So Much More to Buying or
Selling a Home Than Getting Under Contract
July
25, 2013, New to Colorado? Most Real Estate Transactions Here Are
Lawyer-Free
July
18, 2013, Trulia & Zillow Are Great, But Not for Finding Homes Actually
for Sale
July
11, 2013, Metropolitan Tax Districts Add Hidden Cost to the Price of Many Homes
July
4, 2013, Buyer Activity & Competing Offers Continue to Decline, But
Still Quite High
June
27, 2013, Here Are Some Typical Questions That Buyers and Sellers Have
About Closings
June
20, 2013, Think Real Estate Agents Are Overpaid? Much of the Time We Work
for Free
June
13, 2013, You Can t Underprice a Home, But You Can
Still Overprice It in This Market
June
6, 2013, Buyer Activity Slows Down Slightly Except for Listings Over
$600,000
May
30, 2013, Confidentiality Reduces Effectiveness & Utilization of
Realtor Code of Ethics
Click here,
to
read the Realty Times article about the California Association of Realtors effort to reverse this policy..
May
23, 2013, Mold - The Hidden Danger in Homes and What You Need to Know About
It
Click here,
for
Scott Lagge s personal story of how his family discovered and dealt with the
effects of mold..
Click here,
for
Scott s article A Healthy Home on surviving mold.
May
16, 2013, What to Do About Coming Soon Listings Is Big Topic at Realtor
Meetings
Also:
Big Price Reductions on Two Golden Listings; Two Big Garage Sales in Golden
This Saturday
May
9, 2013, Unhappy With the County Assessor s
Valuation of Your Home? Here s Help!
Click
here,
for a
guide to appealing the Jeffco Assessor s valuation of your home..
Click here,
for
the Assessor s explanation of the valuation process..
May
2, 2013, Over Half the Metro Area Homes Listed in April Are Already Under
Contract or Sold
Apr.
25, 2013, With Homes Selling So Quickly, It s Tempting to Think You Can Do It Alone
Apr.
18, 2013, How Buyers Can Make Their Offers More Attractive Than Competing
Offers
Apr.
11, 2013, Low Number of Homes for Sale Is Not Due to Sellers Failing to
List Their Homes
Also:
Colorado Real Estate Commission to Review Use of Font Signatures on e-Contracts
Apr.
4, 2013, All Price Ranges in Jefferson County Are Benefiting From This Seller s Market
Mar.
28, 2013, Buyers & Sellers Are Now Being Asked to Rate Agents at
Participating Firms
Click here,
to
read Five Star Professionals 58-page advertising
insert in the September 2012 issue of 5280.
Click here,
for Five Star Professionals rate card for their 2012 advertising
supplement in 5280 Magazine.
Click
here,
to read
comments from Denver agents who are 5280 Magazine Five Star
Professionals.
Mar.
21, 2013, Housing Is Recovering So Quickly, Might the Federal Reserve Raise
Rates?
Mar.
14, 2013, Lenders Hire Property Preservation Firms to Break Into Vacant Homes
Mar.
7, 2013, Hot Market Makes Pocket Listings and Coming Soon Signs More Common
Feb.
28, 2013, An Unwary Buyer Could Be Blindsided at Closing and Lose Earnest
Money
Feb.
21, 2013, This Seller s Market Is Inspiring Greater Use of Escalation
Clauses in Contracts
Feb.
14, 2013, It s Almost
Scary How Buyers Are Bidding Up Properties Above Listing Price
Feb.
7, 2013, Fees on FHA-Insured Loans Are Rising, Hurting First-Time Buyers
the Most
Jan.
31, 2013, How Hot is the Real Estate Market? One Listing Draws 26 Competing
Offers
Jan.
24, 2013, 2013 May Be the Year When Electronic Lockboxes Finally Take Hold
Here
Jan.
17, 2013, The Art of Giving and Requesting Good Feedback on Real Estate
Showings
Jan.
10, 2013, Above & Beyond Services Can Set Apart a Full-Service Real
Estate Agent
Jan.
3, 2013, Don t Believe Reports that the Mortgage Interest Deduction Will Be
Eliminated
Dec.
27, 2012, Denver Metro Association of Realtors Take the Plunge Into Rating of Realtors
Dec.
20, 2012, 2013 Brings Big Change in How Inspection Issues Are Handled in
Transactions
Dec.
13, 2012, Inspection Issues Bring Second Round of Negotiations Between
Buyer & Seller
Dec.
6, 2012, How to Protect Yourself From Being
Scammed After the Next Big Hail Storm
Nov.
29, 2012, Many Realtor Association-Endorsed Candidates, Including Casey
Tighe, Won
Nov.
22, 2012, Habitat for Humanity Dedication Reminds Us of the Value of Home
Ownership
Nov.
15, 2012, It s Easy to
Believe Realtors Are Overpaid for What They Do, But Are They?
Nov.
8, 2012, Mortgage Credit Certificates Can Save First-Time Buyers (&
Veterans) Thousands of $
Nov.
1, 2012, What You Need to Know When You Choose to Buy Without Your Own
Agent
Oct. 25, 2012, Do You
Equate Real Estate Agents With Used Car Salesmen?
Think Again!
Oct. 18, 2012, If You re Selling Your Home Because of an Obamacare Tax, You ve Been Duped
Click
here,
for
NAR s explanation and debunking of this tax on unearned income.
Click here,
for a
10-page PDF from NAR showing 7 different tax scenarios under this provision of Obamacare..
Oct. 11, 2012, Real
Estate Is Just One Area in Which Conflict Resolution Skills Are Useful
Oct. 4, 2012, Don t
Miss the All-Golden Tour of Solar & Sustainable Homes This Saturday
Also:
Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Round-Up This Friday, 5-7 p.m.
Sept. 27, 2012,
Thanks, Norm Lewis, for Educating Realtors & Consumers on Lending Issues
Sept. 20, 2012, The
#1 Mistake of Sellers: Not Checking Their Home s Online Presence
Sept. 13, 2012, Homeowner
Associations: Good or Bad? Here Are Some Points to Ponder
Sept. 6, 2012, Home
Buyers Are Still Buying in All Areas and in All Price Ranges
Click
here,
to see
full charts on Jim s blog..
Aug. 30, 2012, FHA
Responds to Rep. Perlmutter s Request to Ease Condo Financing Rules
Click here,
to
read Rep. Perlmutter s April 25, 2012, letter to the FHA.
Click here,
to
read the FHA s August 10, 2012, response.
Aug. 23, 2012, Some
Useful Questions to Ask When Interviewing Your Next Listing Agent
Aug. 16, 2012, My
Buyer Teaches Us All a Lesson About Not Taking No for an
Answer
Aug. 9, 2012, Making
the Rent vs. Buy Decision: Zillow Calculates the Breakeven Horizon
Click
here,
to
view the Zillow.com web page with figures for 224 metro areas...
Aug. 2, 2012, MCC
Program Dwarfs the Earlier $8,000 Tax Credit, But Is Often Overlooked
Click here,
for a
detailed explanation of the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program...
July 26, 2012, Get
Legal Assistance Before You Offer to Pay Someone Else s
Mortgage
July 19, 2012, How
Can One Be Scammed in Real Estate? Help Me Count the Ways!
July 12, 2012, What
Are the Buyer & Seller Costs Associated With
Buying or Selling a Home?
July 5, 2012, Here s
How Our Area s Real Estate Statistics Compare with National Stats
June 28, 2012, What
Happens at a Real Estate Closing? Answers to Common Questions
June 21, 2012, In a
Seller s Market, It s
Tempting to Try to Sell Your Home Without an Agent
June 14, 2012, Here
Are Some (Barely Half) of the Tasks I Perform to Put a Home
on the Market
Click here,
for a greatly
expanded (over 3 times as long) version of this column on Jim s blog..
June 7, 2012, It s a Sellers
Market, as Buyers Put Half of Non-Foothills Listings Under Contract
May 31, 2012, Here
Are My Favorite Easy Improvements When Moving Into a
New Home
May 24, 2012, Look
at How Much the Cost of Installing Solar PV on Your Home Has Dropped
May 17, 2012, Home
Builders Lead the Way on Solar, But You Can Get It Free in an Existing Home
May 10, 2012, I m a
Big Fan of eContracts, But Look at What Passes for a
Signature
May 3, 2012, Real
Estate May Be Slow Nationally, But Front Range Buyers Are on a Tear
April 26, 2012,
Following Backlash, Jeffco Commissioners Shelve Effort to Legislate Beltway
April 19, 2012, In
Pursuit of Beltway, Commissioners Ask Legislature to Gut Cities Right
Click here,
for the
article in Jefferson County s employee newsletter Frontline
Click here,
for
the full draft of the Beltway Completion Bill
Click here,
for a
summary of the provisions contained in the proposed legislation
April 12, 2012, Here
s My Take on Radon Gas in Your Home, Its Risks, and Its Mitigation
April 5, 2012, If You
Don t Think the Housing Market Is Improving, Ask Any Realtor
Mar. 29, 2012, The
Word Realtor Is Misused as Much as Kleenex, Including by Realtors
Mar. 22, 2012, How
to Respond to Agents Who Send You Letters or Ring Your Doorbell
Mar. 15, 2012,
Sellers Answer the Call and Create a Surge of New Listings, Including Here
Mar. 8, 2012,
Percentage of Listed Homes Under Contract Surges Past the 40% Mark
Mar. 1, 2012, Home
Buyers Can Save by Purchasing Before FHA Fees Go Up on April 1st
Feb. 23, 2012, Not
All Regulation Is Bad In Some Critical Areas We Need
More Regulation
Feb. 16, 2012,
Emails Perpetuate Mistruth About a 3.8% Medicare Tax on Real Estate Sales
Feb. 9, 2012, Why
Owners Who d Like to Sell Their Homes Aren t Putting
Them on the Market
Feb. 2, 2012,
National Press Reports Continue to Mislead & Confuse Local Buyers &
Sellers
Jan. 26, 2012, Sen.
Bennet s SAVE Act Will Bring Sense to Valuing Solar-Powered Homes
Jan. 19, 2012,
Supply of Homes for Sale Is Being Depleted: We Need More Homes on Market
Also: Hiring
Interior Designer Can Pay for Itself
Jan. 12, 2012,
Mortgage Cost Increase to Pay for 2-Month Extension of Payroll Tax Holiday
Also: Jeffco
Planning Commission Promotes Blight
Jan. 5, 2012, Yes,
Virginia, You Can Buy a Home with Less Than 20% Down Payment
Dec. 29, 2011, Real
Estate Industry s Tech Revolution Really Accelerated in 2011
Dec. 22, 2011, Condo
Associations Need to Take Actions So That Members Can Sell Their Units
Click here,
for a
print-out of HUD s approval status for condo projects in all Jeffco ZIP Codes
Dec. 15, 2011, Here
Are Some Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a New Home vs. Resale
Dec. 8, 2011, Is It
Fair to Charge the Same Percentage Commission on High-Priced Homes?
Dec. 1, 2011, Yes, It s a Hot Market, But Your House Isn t Selling. So, What Can You Do?
Nov. 24, 2011,
Thanksgiving Is a Gift to Ourselves, Reminding Us of How Blessed We Are
Nov. 17, 2011, Here s Some of What I Learned at Last Weekend s Realtor
Convention in LA
Nov. 10, 2011, All 4
Front Range Cities Rank Among Top 20 Healthiest Housing Markets
Nov. 3, 2011, Newly
Devised Real Estate Index Answers the Question, How s the Market?
Oct. 27, 2011, Rental
Scams on Craigslist Persist, With a 6th Listing of My Own Targeted
Oct. 20, 2011, Here s Why the Fluctuation in Average Sold Price Can Be Rather
Misleading
Oct. 13, 2011, Buyer
Who Terminated Because of EMF From Power Line Got Me Thinking
Click
here,
to see
my YouTube video measuring EMFs with a gaussmeter
Oct. 6, 2011,
(Arvada Edition) Think Traffic Is Bad Now? Wait Until the Toll Road/Beltway Is
Built!
Click
here,
to see
who has given money to elect Marc Williams mayor
Oct. 6, 2011, Real
Estate Commission Fails to Adopt Controversial Rule on Competency
Sep. 29, 2011,
Realtor Association s Support of Completing the Beltway Doesn
t Make Sense
Sep. 22, 2011, 16th
Annual Solar & Green Homes Tour Is This Saturday Costs Just $10
Sep. 15, 2011, Do
You Know What a Patient Navigator Is? It Sounds a Lot Like My Job!
Sep. 8, 2011,
Choosing the Wrong Inspector Can Really Mess With Your
Home Purchase
Click here,
for
inspector Jim Camp s document on how to select the right inspector
Click here,
for
engineer Tom Stroud s comments on structural issues misread by inspectors
Sep. 1, 2011, If the
Buyer s Agent Sells My House, Why Do I Need a Lazy Listing Agent?
Aug. 25, 2011, Who
Sold That Listing? Real Estate Terminology Clouds the Answer
Aug. 18, 2011, Three
Realtor Associations, Including Jeffco s, Vote to Merge Into
One Board
Aug. 11, 2011, Buyers
Are Snapping Up the Available Inventory, Both in Jeffco & Metrowide
Aug. 4, 2011, The
Appraisal Process Has Many Buyers Confused, So Let Me Explain It
Click
here,
for
comments by an appraisal and three mortgage professionals on this topic
July 28, 2011, Denver
MLS Resists Push to Pay Commissions Based on Net Purchase Price
July 21, 2011,
Misinformation About the Real Estate Market Is at the Highest Level I Can
Recall
July 14, 2011,
Sellers Need to Use Common Sense When Putting Their Homes on the Market
July 7, 2011, Negotiation
of Purchase Price Is Only the Beginning There s More to Follow
June 30, 2011, With
All I See Around Me, I Celebrate Being an American & a Coloradan
June 23, 2011,
Despite Reports of Declining Sales, an Abrupt Increase Is in the Pipeline
June 16, 2011, Want to
Become a Realtor? You ll
Find NAR s Member Profile Discouraging
June 9, 2011, 50 Million Americans Can t
Qualify for a Loan, But Here s a Strategy
Click here,
for
article explaining how wraps work and why they
re preferred to lease/option and contracts for deed.
June 2, 2011, NBC s Today Show Portrays Tricks by Realtors to Promote
Their Listings
May 26, 2011,
Sellers List with Agents They Like, Know and Trust But
Is That Enough?
May 19, 2011,
Appealing the Assessor s Valuation Is Easier Than You and I Thought
May 12, 2011, Don t
Make These Common Mistakes When Appealing Assessor s
Valuation
Click here,
for
instructions on how to appeal Jeffco Assessor s valuation of your home.
May 5, 2011, Jeffco
Assessor s Valuations of Homes Are Surprisingly Inconsistent
Apr. 28, 2011,
Realtor Associations Struggle With the Loss of Members
to Non-Realtor Firms
Apr. 21, 2011, What
Is the Value of Experience, & How Do You Measure It in Real Estate?
Apr. 14, 2011,
Agents & Their Brokers Pay Big Bucks for Features That Most Don t Use
Apr. 7, 2011, Real
Estate Commission & MLS at Odds Over Limited Service
Listings
Mar. 31, 2011, What
the Heck Is Going on in the Mortgage Industry, & Should You Care?
Click here,
to
read US Bank s explanation of the rule to mortgage brokers..
Mar. 24, 2011,
Waiting Until You Have a 20% Down Payment Isn t Wise Or Necessary
Mar. 17, 2011, The Real
Estate Market Springs to Life Call It Day Life Savings Time!
Mar. 10, 2011, The
Good Real Estate Professional Is a Go-Giver, Not Just a Go-Getter
Mar. 3, 2011, For Me,
All Relationships, Including in Real Estate, Demand Authenticity
Feb. 24, 2011, Getting
Real Estate License May Not Be the Best Advice for the Unemployed
Feb. 17, 2011, The
Mortgage Business Keeps Being Tweaked For Better or
Worse
Feb. 10, 2011,
Looking for Foreclosures? Here s How I d Recast Your
Property Search
Feb. 3, 2011, Agents
Aren t Allowed to Put Your House on MLS And Do Nothing Else
Click
here,
to
read the Colorado Real Estate Commission s statement on minimum service
requirements.
Jan. 27, 2011, When
It Comes to Hiring an Agent, the Best Advice is Trust, but Verify
Click here,
to view
Jim Smith s own record for 2009-2010 as an example what to request from an
agent.
Jan. 20, 2011, In
Today s Mortgage Market, Raising Your Credit Score Could Help a Lot
Click here,
to
view Bruce Gustafson s PowerPoint presentation from our credit score workshop
Jan. 13, 2011, MLS Changes
Make Accepting a Contingent Offer Even Less Attractive
Jan. 6, 2011, The
Continued Promotion of Jefferson Parkway Toll Road Defies Logic
Click here,
for a the version printed in the Golden/Evergreen edition of YourHub..
Click here,
for Mayor
Jacob Smith s and Gwyn Green s response to the Golden/Evergreen version.
Dec. 30, 2010,
Appraisal Is Not the Homebuyer s Last Hurdle It s Lender Underwriting
Dec. 23, 2010, If
You Have Decent Credit and Income, You Can Probably Get a Mortgage
Dec. 16, 2010, You
Owe It to Yourself & Society to Speak Up When Treated Unethically
Click here,
for
info on filing complaints with Realtor Associations and the Real Estate
Commission.
Dec. 9, 2010, Denver
s MLS Shifts Into High Gear With
Major Changes & Enhancements
Dec. 2, 2010, It Can Make
Sense to Put Your Home on the Market During the Holidays
Nov. 25, 2010,
Jeffco Homeowners Can Be Thankful for Our Healthy Real Estate Market
Click here,
for
additional comments and for input from other professionals on this topic.
Nov. 18, 2010, What Does
It Cost to Buy a Home? Here s a Breakdown of What You
Pay
Click here,
for a
more detailed breakdown of mortgage-related costs when purchasing a home.
Nov. 11, 2010, What
Does It Cost to Sell a Home? Here s a Breakdown of
What You Pay
Nov. 4, 2010, What s the Difference Between an Appraisal & a Broker s
Price Opinion?
Click here,
to
read comments on this column by several mortgage professionals & an
appraiser.
Oct. 28, 2010,
Realtor Assn. Endorsements in This Year s Election
Cross Party Lines
Click here,
for the
explanation of the Colorado Association of Realtors endorsement process.
Oct. 21, 2010, New
Paperwork Scandal Needn t Spook Buyers of Colorado
Foreclosures
Oct. 14, 2010, 6.1%
of Jeffco Homes for Sale Are Foreclosures; 10.3% Are Short Sales
Click
here,
for the
statistics (by MLS area) for condos/townhomes that are foreclosures or short sales..
Oct. 7, 2010, Jeffco
Foreclosures Far Fewer Than in Eastern Suburbs and National Average
Sept. 30, 2010, Is
Your Home Market Ready? Here s Some Time-Tested,
Sensible Advice
Sept. 23, 2010, Inspection
Issues Don t Have to Kill a Contract If You Prepare Wisely
Click here,
for
the pre-inspection checklist from inspector Kevin Yuran mentioned in this
column.
Click here,
for 10
tips from inspector Judi Browne on how to get the most out of your home inspection..
Sept. 16, 2010,
Thinking of Selling? Learn What You Need to Know at a Free Listing Seminar
Click here,
to
open a web page with links for the Tour of Solar & Green Homes.
Sept. 9, 2010, This Year s Solar Tour of Homes Goes Far Beyond Last Year s Event
Click here,
to open
a web page with links to all of this year s tours and seminars.
Sept. 2, 2010, Today
s Low Interest Rates Save You More Than the Expired Tax Credits
Aug. 26, 2010,
Should a Home s Energy Cost Be a Factor in Approving Your Mortgage?
Click
here,
to read
the grist.org article about this subject.
Aug. 19, 2010,
Uninformed Buyers Make Faulty Assumptions About Declining Market
Aug. 12, 2010,
Sorry, That $30,000 Lot Premium You Paid Has Little or
No Resale Value
Aug. 5, 2010, It s Amazing How Much Time
Realtors Must Spend on Their Computers
July 29, 2010, Don t
Fall for the Claim that the Health Care Bill Includes Tax on Real Estate
Click here,
for
the snopes.com refutation of this claim.
July 22, 2010, Come
to Buffalo Bill Days & You ll Want to Move Here.
(We Can Help!)
July 15, 2010, How
Many Square Feet Is Your Home? Well, It Depends on Where It s Listed
July 8, 2010,
Understanding Foreclosures & Short Sales
July 1, 2010, Things
to Consider When Buying a New Home vs. a Resale Home
Click here,
for
comments from other real estate professionals.
June 24, 2010, New
GPS-Enabled Phone App Makes House Hunting Fun and Easy
June 17, 2010, Local
Rental Scams on Craigslist Are Becoming More & More Common
Click here,
for a
follow-up on this article with example of an email from an actual craigslist
scammer.
June 10, 2010, Ten
of the More Common Mistakes Made by Listing and Selling Agents
May 27, 2010,
Choosing the Right Lender Is as Important as Choosing the Right Realtor
Click here,
to
read the minister s eulogy of Pete Smith
May 20, 2010, Arvada
Softens Its Attitude Regarding Unpermitted Work in Homes for Sale
May 13, 2010, It s Surprising Sometimes How
Sellers Select Their Listing Agents
May 6, 2010, Good
News for Real Estate: Contracts Down for April, But Still Healthy
April 29, 2010,
Homes Went Under Contract in April at ~50% Higher Rate Than in 2009
April 22, 2010, Not
All Agents Are Realtors Why You Should Care Whether Yours Is
April 15, 2010,
Overpriced Listing Are the Agent s Curse And the
Seller s Downfall
April 8, 2010, Still
More New Listings from Golden Real Estate as Tax Credit Deadline Nears
Click here,
for
column: Little Flaws Made Big Impressions on Buyers & Are Cheap to Fix
April 1, 2010, As
Expected, New Listings Surge as the April 30 Tax Credit Deadline Nears
Click here,
for
column: Missing: A System for Verifying the Claims of Real Estate Professionals
Mar. 25, 2010, All Sellers
Want to Get Accurate and Useful Feedback on Their Showings
Mar. 18, 2010, Quiet
Zones Could Reduce the Impact of Train Horns on Neighborhoods
Click
here,
for
the Federal Railroad Administration web page about Quiet Zones
Mar. 11, 2010, Home Sellers
Are Suddenly Jumping Into the Market And So Are Buyers
Mar. 4, 2010, Buyer
Beware: Your Inspector May Not Inspect for Energy Efficiency
Feb. 25, 2010,
Things I Learned & Observed From Attending the
Garden & Home Show
Feb. 18, 2010, The
Listing Contract Now Includes Your Broker s Marketing Commitments
Feb. 11, 2010, Solar
Features, Part III: It s Not
All About Economics for Solar Enthusiasts
Feb. 4, 2010, Solar
Power Offers Homeowners the Best Operating Return on Investment
Jan. 28, 2010, What
You Need to Know Before Investing in Solar for Your Current Home
Jan. 21, 2010, CHFA
Loans Make It Possible to Buy a Home With Only $1,000
in Cash
Jan. 14, 2010, A
Home Inspector Advises: Know Where All Your Home s Turn-Offs Are
Jan. 7, 2010, Agents
Have Ways of Obscuring How Long a Listing Has Been on the MLS
Dec. 31, 2009, If You
Like Buying Low and Have the Means, This is the Time
to Buy a Home
Dec. 24, 2009,
Golden Real Estate Now Accepting Listings in West Metro & Foothills Area
Dec. 17, 2009, Some
Things to Consider Before Buying (or Selling) a Distressed Property
Dec. 10, 2009, Few
Buyers or Sellers Fully Understand the Buying & Selling Process
Dec. 3, 2009, Clients
Ask: Isn t It a Conflict of Interest to Represent
Both Buyers & Sellers?
Nov. 26, 2009, Am I
Thankful? Despite Today s Challenges, Let Me Count the Ways...
Nov. 19, 2009,
Realtor Convention & Expo Report - Drinking From
Yet Another Fire Hose
Nov. 12, 2009, Most
of the Time, Realtors Work for Free, More Than Most Professionals
Nov. 5, 2009, 18 (or
More) Questions to Ask When Interviewing Your Next Listing Agent
Oct. 29, 2009, It s Fun, Or
at Least Interesting, to Watch Real Estate Contracts Evolve
Oct. 22, 2009,
Technological Convergence Has Improved the Practice of Real Estate
Oct. 15, 2009, The
Job of a Listing Agent Is Not to Sell Your Home, But to Get It Sold
Oct. 8, 2009,
Attention 1st-Time Homebuyers: Only 3 Shopping Weeks Left for $8,000 Credit
Oct. 1, 2009, Annual Tour
of Solar Homes Is This Saturday, Oct. 3rd, and You re
Invited
Sept. 24, 2009,
Regulators Prove the Road to Real Estate Hell Is Paved With
Good Intentions
Sept. 17, 2009,
Mortgage Issues Exacerbate Already Difficult High-End Real Estate Market
Sept. 10, 2009, Jeffco
Is Experiencing a Dramatic Surge in Homes Going Under Contract
Sept. 3, 2009, If
House-Hunting in Arvada, Wheat Ridge or Lakewood, Look for Hail Damage
August 27, 2009, It s a Seller s Market at the
High-End and a Buyer s Market at the High-End
August 20, 2009, Real
Estate Property Taxes Can Vary Significantly by City and Subdivision
Click
here,
for a
description of how property taxes are calculated
August 13, 2009,
There Are Some Corners That a Listing Agent Shouldn t
Cut, Yet Many Do
August 6, 2009, Obama
Goal: Incentivize Short Sales & Reduce Foreclosures (Good Luck!)
July 30, 2009, What
Is a Seller Concession, And Why Not Just Lower the Purchase Price?
July 23, 2009, Are
You in the Midst of a Real Estate Move? Believe Me, I
Feel Your Pain!
July 16, 2009, Internet
Scammer Hijacks a Golden Listing; Did You Send Him $800 Rent
?
July 2, 2009,
Analysis Reveals a Different Market Dynamic in Each Real Estate Price Range
June 25, 2009, Listors Live to Sell to an Unrepresented Buyer, But Is It
Really Best for You?
June 18, 2009, When
Does It Serve You to Dump Your Current Listing Agent for a New One?
June 11, 2009, There
Are Lots of Resources to Help You Buy a Home or Keep Your Home
June 4, 2009, As
Residential Real Estate Rebounds, a Crisis Looms for Commercial Sector
Click
here,
to
read a developer/commercial property owner s response to this column.
May 28, 2009, Public
Undervalues Real Estate Agents Because It Doesn t
Know Our Full Job
Click
here,
for
Jim Smith s analysis of the just released March 2009 Case-Shiller survey.
May 21, 2009, For
Buying Denver Properties, the $8,000 Tax Credit Is Just the Beginning
May 14, 2009, I Can
t Believe the HVCC Appraisal Rule Has Actually Been Implemented
Click
here,
for
comments from different readers of this week s column.
May 7, 2009, State Program
Can Still Get You Into a Home with Just $1,000 Cash at
Closing
April 30, 2009,
Scamming & Scheming to Defraud Each Other Is Bringing Us All Down
Click
here,
to
read craigslist s warning about common scams and how to avoid them.
April 23, 2009, Jeffco
Has Programs to Rehab Homes of Low and Moderate Income
Families
April 16, 2009, Here
s Why the Assessor s Valuation of Your Home Isn t Particularly Useful
April 9, 2009, Video
Tours: A Competitive Advantage I m Ready to Share With Other Agents
April 2, 2009, Conservative
Appraisals Beg the Question: How Can Home Values Ever Rise?
Click here,
to
read additional comments by three readers who are mortgage professionals
Mar. 26, 2009, What
Does Full Service Realtor Mean to You? Here s My
Definition
Mar. 19, 2009,
Buyers & Sellers Would Both Benefit From Making
Greater Use of Google
Mar. 12, 2009,
Finding My Real Estate Soul Mate: Here s a Book
Agents Can Take to Heart
Mar. 5, 2009, If You re Waiting for Further Price Declines, You May Miss a
Good Deal
Feb. 26, 2009, Here s Some Practical Advice on Interviewing an Agent to List
Your House
Feb. 19, 2009, For
the Individual Home Seller, Values Continue to Rise, Especially in Jeffco
Feb. 12, 2009,
Bargain Hunting Advice on Short Sales vs. Foreclosures vs. Bank-Owned
Feb. 5, 2009,
Mortgage Rates Are Low, But You ll Pay More Points
for Credit Scores Under 740
Jan. 29, 2009, Plan Ahead: Buying With an FHA Loan
Now May Help You Sell Later On
Click
here,
to
read comments by two licensed mortgage brokers regarding FHA loans.
Click
here,
for Ted
Jones PowerPoint presentation (in PDF form) mentioned in this column.
Click
here,
for an
explanation of hanging walls and how to recognize them.
Jan. 22, 2009, The
War Against Appraisal Fraud Is Producing Mixed Results, Not All Good
Click here,
to
read comments by three licensed mortgage brokers and an appraiser on this
topic.
Click here,
for an
explanation of what s involved in getting quicker hot
water to your master bath.
Jan. 15, 2009,
Showings Are Up Dramatically, But Buyers Aren t Finding What They Want
Jan. 8, 2009, Study
Reveals That Private Resales of Jeffco Home Are Doing Rather Well
Click here,
for a
copy of the spreadsheet referred to in this week s column.
Jan. 1, 2009, Buyers
Are Getting off the Fence as Mortgage Rates Level Off at Around 5%
Dec. 25, 2008, Analysis
Reveals Varying Effect of Foreclosed Properties on the Jeffco Market
Click here,
for spreadsheet with figures for all Jeffco areas and for an MLS area map to go
with it.
Dec. 18, 2008,
Plunging Interest Rates Create Surge of Activity at Usually Quiet Time of Year
Dec. 11, 2008, Public
Is Understandably Confused About Current Situation With
Mortgages
Dec. 4, 2008, This
Week s Energy Star Summit Taught Me Much About Energy Efficiency
Nov. 27, 2008, We
Can Be Thankful Today That We Live in Jefferson County, Colorado
Nov. 20, 2008, Want to
Sell a Lot of Art or Other Property Without Sales Tax? Here s How...
Nov. 13, 2008,
Listing Agents Who Only Put Homes on MLS Hurt Other Agents Reputation
Nov. 6, 2008, Realty
Times: Western U.S. Leads in Apparent Real Estate Turnaround
Oct. 30, 2008,
Realtors Challenge: Representing Buyers & Sellers Without Conflict of Interest
Oct. 23, 2008, Can
You Believe It? The World Wide Web Is Barely 14 Years
(5200 Days) Old!
Oct. 16, 2008,
Realtors Shouldn t Have to Check Their Political
Opinions at the Door
Also: One Realtor s Bush-Bashing Mailer and her email describing the response
she got.
Bush-Bashing
Mailer, Also: One Realtor s and her email describing the response she got.
Oct. 9, 2008,
Year-to-Date MLS Statistics Suggest That the Worst May Be Behind Us
Oct. 2, 2008, Solar
Home Tour & Environmental Film Festival Happening This Weekend
Also: New Environmental Content on GoldenRealEstate.com
GoldenRealEstate.com,
Also: New Environmental Content on
Sept. 25, 2008, Here
Are Some Things That Are NOT Being Said About the Financial Crisis
Sept. 18, 2008, News
Begs the Question: How Many Shocks Can Our Economy Absorb?
Sept. 11, 2008,
Reverse Mortgage Can Rescue Some Elderly Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
Sept. 4, 2008,
Incentives to Buyers Agents Can Constitute an Invitation to Cross Ethical Line
Aug. 28, 2008,
Soliciting Testimonials Not My Strong Point; Plans for New Golden Newspaper
Aug. 21, 2008, Fees Charged
by HOA Management Companies Profit Those Companies, not HOAs
Aug. 14, 2008, The
Eyes of the World Will Soon Be on Colorado, And They ll
Like What They See
Aug. 7, 2008, Do You
Know Who the Registered Sex Offenders Are in Your Neighborhood?
July 31, 2008, All
Those Foreclosures Have Produced a Windfall for Some Local Newspapers
Email from
publisher of Jeffco weeklies (including Golden Transcript),
July 24, 2008, Come By Anytime for a Tour & Explanation of Our Solar Powered
Office
July 17, 2008, Penny
Wise & Pound Foolish Comes to Mind When I See For
Sale by Owner
July 10, 2008,
Statistics for 1st Half 2008 Reflect Well on Jeffco vs. Metro Area or Nation
July 3, 2008,
Promoting and Modeling Environmental Responsibility Is a Core Value Here
June 26, 2008, Short
Sales & Lender Owned Listings Present Different Challenges for Buyers
June 12, 2008, Is
Completing the Beltway Good for Arvada & Jefferson County? Maybe Not
Click Here,
to view CDOT s White Paper about abandoning their beltway effort.
May 29, 2008, Beware
of Mortgage Scam Letters You ll Receive After Closing
on a House
May 22, 2008,
Confucius: Concentrate on Giving, and the Getting Will Take Care of Itself
May 15, 2008, Are
FHA Loans Filling the Need Once Filled by Subprime Loans? Yes and No...
May 1, 2008, Are Open
Houses Worthwhile? My Experience Tells Me, Yes, Absolutely!
April 24, 2008,
Regrettably, You Can t
Verify Many Claims Made in a Listing Presentation
April 17, 2008,
Jeffco Real Estate Market Continues to Heat Up, Defying National Downturn
April 10, 2008,
Agent vs. Transaction Broker It s
Important to Know the Difference
April 3, 2008, Why Is
the Real Estate Market Heating Up So Much Right Now?
Mar. 27, 2008, A
Code of Ethics and State Laws Make Home Buying Different From
Car Buying
Mar. 20, 2008, St.
Patrick s Day Seems Like a Great Time to Write About Going Green
Mar. 13, 2008,
Spring Break Brings the Usual Surge of Parents Buying Homes for Students
Mar. 6, 2008, Buyers
of New Homes: Beware of Losing Deposits if Builder Goes Belly-Up
Feb. 28, 2008,
Should You Worry About Flooding? Some Useful Information for Homeowners
Feb. 21, 2008, There
Is No Better Feeling Than Serving a Client Well, Like I Did This Week...
Feb. 14, 2008, A
Valentine s Card for Some Special Real Estate Friends & Colleagues
Feb. 7, 2008, Data
Sharing by Front Range MLS s Is Good for Both Agents & Consumers
Jan. 31, 2008,
Agents Who List Bank-Owned Properties Operate Quite Differently
Jan. 24, 2008, What
I Learned at Last Week s Presentation by NAR s Chief Economist
Jan. 17, 2008,
Buying a Foreclosed Property Could Entail Unconscionable Addendum
Click here,
( to read the addendum referred to in this column)
Jan. 10, 2008, Flood
of Foreclosures Is Depressing Home Prices, But Causing Rents to Rise
Jan. 3, 2008, Real
Estate Offers an Uneven Income Stream But Don t Focus
on That!
Dec. 27, 2007,
Habitat Builds Its First Solar Powered Homes Without NREL Sponsorship
Dec. 20, 2007, Rocky
Tech Loses Credibility With a Couple of Its Recent
Lead Stories
Dec. 13, 2007, Newly
Required Forms Introduce Degree of Integrity to Mortgage Business
Dec. 6, 2007, Penny
Wise and Pound Foolish Applies to Real Estate as Much as Elsewhere
Nov. 29, 2007, Are
We Moving Toward Paperless Transactions? I m Not Optimistic...
Nov. 22, 2007, Real Estate
Agents Are Slow to Implement Video Tours of Their Listings
Nov. 15, 2007, HOA
Restrictions on For Sale Signage Are an Assault on Property Rights
Nov. 8, 2007,
Northern Colorado s MLS, IRES, Puts Denver s Metrolist
to Shame
Nov. 1, 2007, How Are
Foreclosures Impacting Sales? Should You Be Concerned?
Oct. 25, 2007, House
Hunting? Take Advantage of New Search by Map Technology
Oct. 18, 2007, What
is the Job of the Listing Agent, & How to Identify the Best One (2 Pages)
Oct. 11, 2007, One
Never Knows What Will Sell a House, So I Try to Do It All
Oct. 4, 2007,
Understanding How Market Forces Affect Mortgage Rates Isn
t That Easy
Sept. 20, 2007,
Mortgage Rates & Guidelines Are Still Evolving in Wake of Crisis
Sept. 13, 2007, We
Investigate Those Below-Market Mortgage Offers You Hear Advertised
Sept. 6, 2007 There s No
Perfect Time to Sell a Home If You re Also Buying a
New One
Sept. 6, 2007, There s No Perfect Time to Sell a Home If You re Also Buying a New One
Aug. 30, 2007,
Running My Own Brokerage is Both Challenging and Satisfying
Aug. 23, 2007, Is
the Sharp Decline in Real Estate Closings Caused by Mortgage Crisis?
Aug. 16, 2007, Mortgage
Chaos Was Predictable; Proper Lending Practices Return
Aug. 9, 2007,
Distress in Low-End Homes Creates False Impression of Market
Aug. 2, 2007,
Reducing One s Carbon Footprint Can Make Good
Financial Sense
July 26, 2007,
Thinking of Selling Your Home? Here s Your Sign
(Introducing Golden Real Estate, Inc.)
July 19, 2007,
Considering For Sale By Owner ? Here Are the Considerations
July 5, 2007, Jeffco
s Most Outrageous Real Estate Transactions Revealed
June 28, 2007,
Denver s MLS Sought to Be Best of Breed It
s Not Even Close...
June 21, 2007, Sellers
Do Have Options When a Listing Relationship Turns Sour
June 14, 2007,
Finding Accessible Homes Is Not As Easy As It Could Be
June 7, 2007, How to
Avoid Being Ripped Off by Your Mortgage/Refinance Person
May 31, 2007,
House-Hunting Using Search by Map Can Save Lots of Gasoline
May 24, 2007, Data
Integrity Poses Problems in Pricing Homes, Challenging Assessor
May 17, 2007, I m Not Using a Buyer s Agent So That I Can Get a Better
Deal
May 10, 2007, How
You Can Tell Whether the Jeffco Assessor Over-Valued Your Home
May 3, 2007, If I Were
a Legislator, Here Are Some Mortgage Laws I d
Introduce
Apr. 26, 2007,
Negotiation: The #1 Skill for Which You Hire a Real Estate Professional
Apr. 19, 2007, But
the Mortgage Broker Was My Friend and Did the Loan for Free!
Apr. 12, 2007, As
Lawns Green Up and Trees Blossom, Take Pictures of Your Home
Apr. 5, 2007, Am I
the Best Agent to List Your Home? Maybe Not, and Here s
Why
Mar. 29, 2007, Metrolist Returns to Old Square Footage Rules, With a Twist
Mar. 15, 2007, In
Real Estate, Market Statistics Can Mislead Instead of Inform
Mar. 1, 2007, It s Not That Hard to Do an
Excellent Job of Marketing One s Listings
Feb. 22, 2007, When
Setting Listing Price, Consider Realtor.com s Price Brackets
Feb. 15, 2007, In
Real Estate, Don t Confuse Referral with Recommendation
Feb. 8, 2007, How
Important Is Experience in the Practice of Real Estate?
Feb. 1, 2007, Search
by Map Makes Online Home Searching Much Easier
Jan. 11, 2007,
Jeffco s 2006 Slump in Home Sales Worse than the Metro Average
Jan. 4, 2007, A New
Year And a Renewed Sense of Gratitude
Dec. 28, 2006, Real Estate
Is More or Less Seasonal But Not Predictable; Broker
Dec. 14, 2006, Pride
of Workmanship Can Apply to the Real Estate Industry
Dec. 7, 2006,
Foreclosure Sales Are Dragging Down Metro Home Values
Nov. 30, 2006, Real
Estate Attracting More & More Scammers & Schemers
Nov. 16, 2006,
Faulty Data Can Distort Local MLS Statistical Analysis
Nov. 2, 2006,
One-Stop Shopping Might Not Be in Your Best Interest
Oct. 26, 2006,
Integrity & Full Disclosure Is a Core Value in Real Estate
Oct. 19, 2006, Media
Should Accept Its Share of Responsibility for Misleading Ads
Oct. 12, 2006,
Catching an Error at Closing Saved My Client About $600
Sep. 21, 2006,
Broker Teams Both Allowed & Cautioned by Real Estate Commission
Sep. 14, 2006, When
& Why Realtors Refer Buyers and/or Sellers to Each Other
Sep. 7, 2006,
Technology Keeps Testing Agents Ability to Keep Up With
It
Aug. 31, 2006,
Customer Service: A New Focus Among Savvy Agents
Aug. 24, 2006, Is
There a Best Time of Year to Put a Home on the Market?
Aug. 17, 2006, How Important
Is the Extent of Your Agent s Experience?
Aug. 10, 2006,
Everything Is Negotiable in a Contract to Buy & Sell Real Estate
Aug. 3, 2006, Yes,
Some Agents Are Better Than Others at Giving/Getting Feedback
July 27, 2006, The
Smart Seller Thinks Ahead to the Inspection by the Buyer
July 20, 2006, I
Always Prefer to Deal With a Realtor & You Should,
Too!
July 13, 2006, Here s a Checklist for Selecting the Best Listing Agent for You
Click
here for printable checklist referred to in the above column, .
July 6, 2006, How Much
Do Title Insurance and Closing Fees Vary? Let See...
June 29, 2006, We
Listing Agents Could Do a Better Job of MLS Data Entry
June 22, 2006, Buyer
Registry Service Is for Buyers What the MLS Is for Sellers
June 15, 2006, Metrolist Faces Big Challenge as
www.DenverMLS.com Surfaces
June 8, 2006, What s a Virtual Tour, And How Do the Different Vendors Stack Up
Against Each Other?
June 1, 2006, Why a
Hot Water Recirculation Line Is My Favorite Home Upgrade
May 25, 2006, What
Impact Will Certain Home Improvements Have on Resale Value?
May 18, 2006, You,
Too, Could Be a Victim of Predatory Lending Practices
May 11, 2006, Jeffco
Home Sales Statistics Reflect the Metrowide Housing
Glut (With Statistical Table & Map)
May 4, 2006, Be
Thankful for Our Balanced Colorado Real Estate Market; Need a Contractor or
Other Vendor?
April 27, 2006, When
Choosing One Agent for Both Buying & Selling
April 27, 2006,
Buyer Can Jeopardize Closing by Making Innocent Mistakes; Some Title Insurance
Advice
April 20, 2006, Be
Sure to Read & Understand Your Settlement Statement at Closing
April 13, 2006, Real
Estate s Cooperation & Compensation Model Is Quite
Unlike Other Industries
April 6, 2006, Do You
Know How Your Loan Officer Is Compensated? All Real Estate Is Local
Mar. 30, 2006, It Is
Both Easy & Common to Get Ripped Off Here s Some Advice
Mar. 23, 2006, At
Last, Colorado Is Taking Action Against Mortgage Fraud
Mar. 16, 2006,
(Arvada Edition, YourHub.com) Don t Be Misled About the Proposed Beltway/Toll
Road
Mar. 16, 2006, Some
Real Estate Topics Not Worth an Entire Column
Mar. 2, 2006, Another
Class on Staging Your Home Will Be Held Mar. 6th; Morrison Speed Traps
Feb. 23, 2006, The
Feb. 11th Staging Workshop Was Well Attended; Special Offer from Jim
Feb. 16, 2006,
Beginning Your Home Search? Internet Searches Are Limited
Feb. 2, 2006, Do You
Know How to Stage Your House to Sell Quicker?
Jan. 26, 2006,
Statistical Reporting of Sales by MLS Can Be Misleading / Should I Renovate?
Jan. 5, 2006, Jeffco
s Foothills Out-Perform Rest of County in 2005 Residential Sales
Dec. 22, 2005,
Timing the Buy-Sell Decision When is the Best Time?
Dec. 15, 2005, Price
Per Square Foot Is Now More Meaningless Than Ever
Dec. 15, 2005, CDOT
Admits Toll Road Plan Depends on Continued Local Congestion
Dec. 8, 2005, Habitat
for Humanity Breaks the Cycle of Poverty, One Family at a Time
Nov. 17, 2005,
Thinking of a Career in Real Estate? Here Are Some Facts to Consider
Nov. 10, 2005, Don t
Let Yourself Fall Victim to Real Estate-Related Con Artists
Oct. 27, 2005, The
MLS People Must Be Reading This Column
Sept.
22, 2005, Ah, the Joys of Moving And Other Half
Truths
Aug. 25, 2005,
Effort to Complete the Beltway Isn t Good for Arvada,
Either
July
28, 2005, Buyers of New Homes Should Consider Hiring a Good Real Estate
Lawyer
July
7, 2005, Different Approaches to Succeeding in Real Estate
June 23, 2005, Making
the For Sale by Owner vs. Listing Agent Decision
May
26, 2005, Beltway Push Is About Development, Not Traffic
May
5, 2005, Is a Mortgage Broker Better Than a Mortgage Banker?
Mar.
23, 2005, What Are Real Estate s Leading Indicators ?
Mar.
16, 2005, Advice on Selecting the Best Buyer s Agent to Represent You
Mar.
9, 2005, Advice on Selecting the Best Listing Agent for Your House
Feb.
23, 2005, Denver s MLS (Metrolist) Aspires to Be
Best of Breed
Jan.
26, 2005, You Deserve to Know if Your Agent Has a Criminal Record
Dec.
29, 2004, Some New Year s
Resolutions for the Real Estate Industry
Dec.
1, 2004, Latest Industry Buzz Is About Creating Professional Standards for
Realtors
Nov.
3, 2004, Here s a Scary Halloween Story About
Real Estate
Oct.
6, 2004, How to Time a Home Sale to Match Your Home Purchase; Shake Roofs
Sept.
8, 2004, Here Are Some Upgrades That Make a House Special
August
25, 2004, Should You Call the Listing Agent or Use a Buyer
s Agent?
August
11, 2004, Here s Some Staging Advice So Your Home
Will Sell Better
July 28, 2004, New
Real Estate Contracts Require More Information on HOA s
June 16, 2004,
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver Celebrates 25th Anniversary
June
2, 2004, Myths & Misconceptions About Realtors & Their Profession
May
19, 2004, Your Realtor s Choice of Title Company Can Save You Money
May
5, 2004, There Are a Multitude of Ways Realtors Can Market Your Listing
April
7, 2004, Even Seasoned Realtors Can Learn Something New
February
25, 2004, Inspection Issues Can Kill Contract to Sell Your Home
February
11, 2004, Title Insurance Cost Can Vary Greatly Shop Around!
January
28, 2004, Staging: New Trend That Helps Homes Sell Quicker
January
14, 2004, Good Realtors Knows About Unlisted Homes for Sale
December
31, 2003, Before Pricing Your Home, Tour the Competition
December
17, 2003, Testimonials Can Help You Select a Good Realtor
October
8, 2003, Habitat for Humanity Turns Pumpkins Into... Houses!
August
27, 2003, For Sale by Owner Is Very Tempting But
Will It Work?
August
13, 2003, Choosing a Mortgage That Meets Your Specific Needs
July
30, 2003, Pricing Your Home The Most Important
Element
