Houses still selling

In Denver, in July, 2185 homes sold, prices are up, days on market are down and the number of sales year to date is also up. What the press and the National Association of Realtors did not tell you is that July almost always "slumps" compared to June. Here is the chart of sales in Denver since 1999 http://www.denverrelocation.com/DenverStatisticschart.html.



OK, I have stomped that to death. What am I seeing out in the market? Buyers who have decided to take advantage are being cautious. Sellers are nervous. Homes not in top condition are languishing on the market while homes in good condition are selling quickly. Neighborhoods that have had prices stay steady if not edge up a bit have continued their slow climb while others that were more impacted by lower prices have rebounded a little more quickly.



As an example in July the "Denver" metrolist there was a 7.4% increase in average sale price while having the average days on market drop 14.3% and total sales for the year to date were up 1.2%. The Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree sections of that same MLS indicate a 2.7% increase in average sale price while days on the market fell 3.9% and the total sales were up 4.2% from the previous year.



Is there a sweet spot? Yes and no...with interest rates as low as they are most folks are figuring out a way to re-finance. The sellers that need to move get realistic quickly on their price and condition. But if there is a spot it is in the 330-450k range as those folks want to move up, but cannot until theirs sells.



The range that seems most active is still in the 200k area although I have great traffic on a 279k listing with lots of showings. And a 349k home that languishes. A year ago I said the sweet spot was the million plus market as the small builders were folding their tents and leaving them with the banks. Now I think the move up market is the prime target.





Pete Doty - Denver Realtor - A Full Time Licensed real estate broker since 1985. I go to work everyday for you & your friends, learning about our home town! It could be Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton, Castle Rock, Centennial, Englewood, Parker, Elizabeth, Larkspur, Franktown, Kiowa, or anywhere in metro Denver Colorado. Talk to me for real estate advice, properties for sale, multiple listing service, all available at www.DenverRelocation.com. Drop me a note to pete@Denverrelocation.com

Being organized helps

From my friend Julie Gram at Naturally Organized some ideas that can help make life smoother, as well as when you are making a move across Denver or the country:

10 ORGANIZING TIPS:

Put "like with like" - that way you know what you have, how much you have, & when you may need replacements.

Purge: clothes, files, unwanted items in your home & office. Disposing of things you no longer wear, don't like, are broken or outdated will make room for lovely new replacements. Out with the old - in with the new.

Donate your discards to your favorite charity or church - consider it compassionate recycling & a tax deduction!

Sort & hang items in your closet by type: blouses, skirts, dresses... Colorize your wardrobe by going from light colors to dark ones so you can easily see & choose the item(s) you want to wear. Think of how a store displays their clothing.

Store things where they make the most sense to find & put away. If you put things in an illogical location (master closet has books, photos, kids toys, etc.), you will have a difficult time remembering where they are & where they belong. Define your closets & storage areas by what makes the most sense to put there.

Things should be convenient to locate & use. Ex: in a home office you should have the necessary tools & files nearby to do your work. Keeping supplies & files in other locations causes confusion, stress, wasted time, & you forget what you have.

Replace publications with updated versions to avoid an avalanche of paper - catalogs, magazines, investment prospectus, etc.

Instead of keeping an entire magazine for one or two articles, cut out the desired article & toss the magazine. Start a binder using sheet protectors & index dividers to catalog these articles for future reference.

Good layout of a room or office is very important for convenience & functionality as well as aesthetic reasons. If the rooms "feels" good & "works", you do too!

When overwhelmed with clutter - get help! A professional organizer can get the job done in a short period of time, & teach you great organizational skills. In the long run you will save money & a tremendous amount of time because you can find what you're looking for at a moment's notice & know where to put it when done!

You can contact Julie at 303-799-8032 or visit her www.naturallyorganized.com. These practical tips are just the beginning and I recommend anyone who fights clutter in their lives to give her a call for a initial consultation. I have clients who utilize the talents of professional organizers every 3-4 months just for the housekeeping aspects and keeping an orderly home.

Pete Doty is has been a Full Time Licensed real estate broker in the Denver Colorado area since 1985. I go to work everyday for you & your friends, learning about our home towns! It could be Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton, Castle Rock, Centennial, Englewood, Parker, Elizabeth, Larkspur, Franktown, Kiowa, or anywhere in metro Denver. Talk to me for real estate advice, properties for sale, multiple listing service, all available at www.DenverRelocation.com. Drop me a note to pete@Denverrelocation.com. Pete Doty, your Denver Realtor.