Economic Stimulus Bill Affects Us Positively

The number one way most Americans establish wealth in their lifetime is through the ownership of their homes. Historically, home values across the nation double in value every ten years. So, any program that increases our ability to own a home is good for our financial security.

This month our Federal Government will pass an economic stimulus bill increasing both FHA and Conventional Loan Limits that will now enable 700,000 home owners to refinance their existing home loans with more affordable interest rates. The bill will also enable over 430,000 Americans to sell their homes that have not been able to do so in past months. Additionally, over 130,000 new FHA buyers will be able to enter the housing market as a result of passage of this important economic stimulus package.

Be sure to view the National Association of Realtor's® Podcast discussing the February 19, 2008: Stimulus Package that will boost our national housing market.

Check out the quality of schools before you buy your next home

This week the Denver Public Schools closed one charter school while putting six others on probation because of low test scores. Although this is an unfortunate event that we as citizens have little direct control over, we do have control over the homes we elect to purchase and the quality of schools servicing the home we buy.

Anyone thinking about buying a home should seriously consider the quality of schools in the area. This should be the second consideration right after establishing the price range they can afford. The quality of schools will greatly affect the home values in the area. (The best school systems attract buyers more readily.) Even if you do not have school aged children, you should still consider buying in an area with high performing schools. Because, one day, you too will sell and when that day arrives you want to have as many positive factors working for you as you can. The quality of schools servicing the property you purchase will affect not only the value of your home, but how quickly buyers become interested in your home.

In order to help clients establish the best school system for their needs I frequently suggest review of the following school information web sites. I hope you too find them to be beneficial.

http://reportcard.cde.state.co.us/reportcard/CommandHandler.jsp
http://www.homefair.com/Find_A_Place/School_Reports/
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/sar_info.html
http://www.cde.state.co.us/

A national database of school demographic information can be found on the National Center for Education Statistics Web site. Click on the "School, College and Library Search" tab at the top in order to view data including a particular school's student-to-teacher ratio or enrollment by race and ethnicity.

For a snapshot of academic performance and to compare schools, a prospective homeowner might browse the School Matters Web site, a service of Standard & Poor's.

Another site, Great Schools, offers similar tools.

Here are links to other metro Denver area schools:
The official Cherry Creek School District’s web site is at:
http://www.ccsd.k12.co.us/

http://www.ccsd.k12.co.us/dist_info/dist_mapMED.html Cherry Creek School System Boundary Map

Here is the Douglas County School District's web site.
http://www.dcsdk12.org/

The Littleton School District’s site is at:
http://www.littletonpublicschools.net/

The Jefferson County School District's site is at:
http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/ext/dpt/portal/learning.htm#jcps
and also see
http://www.jeffcoonline.net/schools.htm

Denver Public Schools
http://www.dpsk12.org/

State of Colorado’s Official Web Site - Education
http://www.colorado.gov/education.htm

Colorado K-12 Schools Web Sites
http://www.cde.state.co.us/utility/k12schls.htm

Colorado School Districts - Web Sites
http://www.cde.state.co.us/utility/k12schls.htm#districts

http://www.cde.state.co.us/

Also, click on my web site page at:
http://www.denverrealestateonline.com/PageManager/Default.aspx/PageID=851132&NF=1

and explore these other links:
School Information

Public Schools Review

Private Schools Review

Boarding Schools

http://www.cde.state.co.us/

Understand your builder's bentonite soils test before buying

Obtaining the builder's bentonite soils test to determine the swell potential of the soil could save you tens of thousands of dollars later on by simply knowing what property you should or should not buy.

Pure bentonite (montmorillonite clay) can expand 15 times its normal size and exert a pressure of 40,000 pounds per square foot when it becomes wet. Expansive soils test showing 2% to 12% swell potential can result in various degrees of cracking and movement of your basement cement floor, garage floor, drive and walks, and in some cases, even foundation walls. The bentonite swell potential tests are typically available from your builder. You will want the specific swell potential numbers interpreted by a qualified person to determine if the swell potential is too great for your comfort level.

Be sure to also lean what you can do (or what a previous owner have neglected to do) to prevent swelling problems from occurring through proper landscaping, drainage and watering. One excellent publication from the Colorado Geological Survey Department of Natural Resources entitled Special Publication 43: A GUIDE TO SWELLING SOILS FOR COLORADO HOME BUYERS AND HOME OWNERS is available by calling (303) 866-2611 or you can order it Online for $7.00.

Further reading can be found at: EXPANSIVE DENVER SOILS - BENTONITE GUIDE: (Expansive Soils - Must Read Material)

Marketing Tip # 3 To Get Your Home SOLD

Sure, many area neighbors know your home is on the market. Many of your neighbors have pulled a flyer out the brochure box and now have an opinion about your asking price. BUT, will they actually help you find the buyer? Probably not - since they were not asked by you or your Realtor® to help direct possible buyers your direction.

If the marketing of your home is done correctly, the buyer of your property may actually come from one of your neighborhood or a neighbor in a surrounding neighborhood. After all, everyone now living in your general area has already selected your area as their 1st choice to own a home. Imagine how many of your neighbors need to move on an annual basis, but would like to keep their kids in the same school? Additional reasons neighbors move are: a) divorce, b) house they now have is too large, c) house they now have is too small, d) death in family or distant family. Anyone having one of these issues in your neighborhood can be a possible buyer for your home.

Another source of buyers for your home are friends or work associates of your neighbors. No one can sell the benefits of your community better than someone who has previously made the decision to live in your area.

The easiest way to notify hundreds of area neighbors each month about your home is by way of STRATEGICALLY MAILING TO HIGHER AND LOWER PRICE HOMEOWNERS a large full color custom postcard that presents the best features of your home. I consistently see increased interest in my listings every time I mail out 1,000 brochures to neighbors in the community of my listing. Perhaps we should be doing the same for you the next time you think about finding a buyer for your home.

I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too. Feel free to call or email me.

Bill Kosena ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Popular Denver Area Events

Come and join in on the wonderful cultural events Denver and Colorado have to offer. Attendance grew in 2007 at the Central City Opera House, the Children's Museum, the Arvada Butterfly Pavilion, Denver's Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Zoo.

Event 2007 Attendance
Butterfly Pavilion 248,163
Central City Opera 29,650
Cherry Creek Arts Festival 380,000
Children’s Museum 240,928
Colorado Ballet 70,114
Colorado Symphony 131,607
Denver Art Museum 630,000
Denver Botanic Gardens 585,055
Denver Center for the Performing Arts 685,909
Denver Museum of Natural Science 1,248,100
Denver Zoo 1,672,017
Opera Colorado 31,062

Feel free to call or email me.
Bill Kosena ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

9th Highest Foreclosure Rate Nationally

Although Denver's foreclosures jumped 27.8% in 2007, we are no longer leading the nation in foreclosures. We are actually ninth in the nation.



Detroit Mich.
Stockton, CA
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sacramento, CA
Cleveland, OH
Bakersfield, CA
Cleveland, OH and
Miami, FL
all lead Denver in the numbers of foreclosures they experienced last year.

If you or someone you know may need foreclosure assistance, there are several organizations that my offer advice. Try visiting:

Home Assure - Free Consultation
Denver Office of Economic Development
Foreclosure Hotline 1-877-601-4673
Foreclosure Assistance - 1-877-699-5993

Here is an outline of the changes affecting Colorado Foreclosure Process

I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too.

Feel free to call or email me.
Bill Kosena ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Colorado Road Conditions & Closures

Unlike many states, Colorado offers its residents all four seasons. We have tremendous (world known) excellent skiing opportunities and sometimes the associated bad weather that results in such wonderful skiing. So, before heading up into the mountains, it might be a good idea to check out the Colorado road conditions.

The Colorado state patrol sometimes finds it necessary to close certain roads because high winds and blowing snow can cause visibility to be so low that the roads are not safe for travel. Eastern Colorado roads can be closed for this same reason.

This site can also let you know which roads are icy and/or snow packed. It also has:

- Highway Estimated Travel Time Report

- National Snow Analyses 3D Interface

- 12 hour to 6 day forecasts for Watches, Warnings, and Advisories

- Surface Winds

- Interactive Snow Information Map

- National Snow Analysis

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Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Dipping Bedrock Hazard Areas

Most Denver area real estate professionals know something about our local soils and unique building procedures required by builders to circumvent expansive bentonite in our soils. But, most agents know nothing about our Dipping Bedrock Hazard Areas.

When you are considering buying a home, be sure to ask your agent if he/she is knowledgeable about Dipping Bedrock Areas and where in the metro Denver area they are found. Your agent should be able to explain to you how the hazard affects homes.

A word of caution: During my 30 years as a Denver Realtor®, I have never met a builder or on site sales agent NOR HOME INSPECTOR who, if they knew anything about this hazard, would discuss it with one of my clients. Since this area hazard can significantly damage your home, be sure you know all you can about the effects of the hazard and where it exists before you purchase a property.

If you would like a quick educational overview of the Dipping Bedrock issue, check out this web page which features photos and area maps of the Dipping Bedrock Hazard Areas. Be sure to click back to the other parts of the report for more detailed information.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too. Feel free to call or email me.

Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Why Use A Realtor®? - Then Find The Best One

Land Title Guarantee Company just produced an interesting brochure for the public outlining ten powerful reasons why they should consider using a Realtor®.

Once you decide to use the services of a Realtor, you then want to find THE BEST REALTOR®. I wrote an article regarding just this subject. You can find out how to find one of the best Realtors® in your area with the tips provided in the FIND THE BEST REALTOR® article.

Realize that NOT ALL REALTORS® ARE CREATED EQUAL. The public frequently believes that licensed agents are all basically the same. That they will provide the same level of knowledge and expertise. They sure are not the same and the knowledge, professionalism and expertise runs from excellent to non existent. Be sure to ask lots of questions to insure you find the best Realtor® for your needs.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too. Feel free to call or email me.

Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Denver's Real Estate Market Is Changing

Metro Denver saw a 33.8% increase of homes placed under contract in January of 2008 as compared to December 2007. (4,550 in January 08 v. s 3,401 in December 07.)

Denver home sales also showed a significant six percent increase in numbers of sold properties last month as compared to January of 2007. (Jan. 08 = 4,550 v. s. Jan 07 of 4,292 properties under contract).

It looks like buyers have decided that it is the right time to start buying Denver area real estate.

January active listings for houses and condos came in at 24,489.

January total under contract showed up at 4,550 homes.

January Sold and closed listings were reported at 2,897 properties.

January average days on market was 114 days for the metro Denver area.

January Sold Prices for metro Denver for homes and condos was $256,569.

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I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too. Feel free to call or email me.
Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Are You Living Green?

The earth's natural resources are vital to our existence. With around 6.6 billion people living on this planet, our resources need to be used wisely. If each person made at least one change toward living a green life, we could manage our resources to last for future generations. Living green does not have to happen all at once. Each of us first needs to acknowledge and then agree to make changes to begin living green. Adapting slowly, one step at a time, will allow us and our planet an easy transition to living green.

During winter, lowering your thermostat just 10 degrees when you leave for work save 320 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere over one year. Needless to say, it will also lower your heating bill by around 10% for the year too. Check out this Home Heating interactive site to learn more facts about how much you can save.

Here are some tips for living green:

*Recycle or buy re-cycled goods

*Reuse coffee filters

*Hang clothes instead of using the dryer

*Turn off all appliances and lights when not in use

*Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs

*Get a low-flow shower head

Here are a few helpful web sites:

Test your ecological footprint

The Green Guide

How to build a green house

Search for a recycler in your city

Earth Friendly Cleaning Products

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I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too. Feel free to call or email me.

Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

Family Watchdog & Denver Crime Map

FAMILY WATCHDOG - Type in your home address and see all of the registered offender's living in your area. This site gives you their address as well as their picture.

Award Winning Products that teach kids safety

Internet Safety DVD (42 min.) with Joe Walsh host of America’s Most Wanted TV show and Julie Clark (founder of The Baby Einstein Company)

Download the Strangers Safety Home Guide

Buy the Strangers Safety DVD for $9.99

The city and county of Denver provides a Denver Crime Map web site that is well worth visiting.

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I have been helping buyers and sellers with their housing needs for the past 30 years. I look forward to assisting you too. Feel free to call or email me.

Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957

RADON - Do You Know The Danger In Your Home?

Every time I sell a home, I strongly suggest the buyer has their home tested for radon before completing the purchase. Radon exists in both old homes as well as new homes throughout the nation.

Radon is radioactive gas which is produced from the decay of uranium found within the earth’s crust. Once the decay takes place, the radioactive gas particles rise into the air and attach to dust. Radon gas enters your house through any crack or gap within the foundation. Once in your house, the particles remain trapped and can actually build up over time causing very dangerous levels of radon that you and your loved ones inhale. Radon gas should not be taken lightly. The EPA has proved radon levels greater than 4.0 picocuries (pCi/L) to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. Once the radon is in your lungs, the little particles actually release bubbles of energy which can lead to lung cancer. You can not smell, taste or see radon.

There is no way of knowing if it is in your home is to conduct a test for the gas. I suggest that everyone has their home tested for radon, even if you are not planning on selling. Once the time comes to sell, the results are handy to show your buyers. The tests are fairly inexpensive and the results come within a week or two if you use an inexpensive canister test. More accurate test results can be obtained with the use of a RAD7 continuous monitor read-out machine used by professionals.

If high levels of radon are found, a radon mitigation system can be installed for around $850. A quick and easy test can put you and your family at ease and know you live in a healthy environment. Please contact me if you would like to know more about how to test your home for the presence of radon gas.

Other helpful information web sites are:
Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction

A Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon
A Citizen's Guide To Radon

Feel free to call or email me. -

Bill Kosena, ABR, CRS, SRES - 303-796-0957