The Kearns Team Stapleton Real Estate News - Information on Buying and Selling Real Estate in Stapleton and Denver Colorado

Register now for Bike to Work Day

2012-05-11T06:48:00-07:00

Wednesday June 27, 2012 is Bike to Work Day in Denver, and participant registration is now open on the Bike to Work Day 2012 website. The website includes bike routes and brakfast stations, and allows riders to create grou rides or find buddies to ride with. You can also buy a t-shirt or check out the prizes available to win! According to DRCOG (the Denver Regional Council of Governments), nearly 24,000 people rode their bikes to work for the 2011 event, and they are hoping to have even more participants in 2012.

Support Stapleton local business: Caution Brewing Co

2012-05-14T08:40:00-07:00

If you had the chance to check out Caution Brewing at last year's Stapleton Beer Festival, then you know that Danny Wang and Betty Fey are brewing some great beers right in Stapleton's back yard. Unfortunately, their beers have been in limited release (festivals, the Lao Wang Noodle House, and a few bars)... until now! This Friday, May 18, Caution Brewing will be opening their new Tap Room at 12445 E. 39th. Avenue, Unit 313 (building C), Denver, CO 80239 - basically that is a block east 39th and Peoria - just a few minutes from Stapleton. Doors open at 4pm on the 18th and will probably stay open as long as there are people with a hankering for really good beer! Regular hours (Fridays 5-9pm, Saturdays and Sundays noon to 6pm) start on Saturday the 19th. For more information, check out Caution Brewing's website, on Twitter, or on Facebook. See you on Friday!

Open House - Sat 5/12 - 2601 Hanover Ct, Denver CO 80238

2012-05-12T07:59:00-07:00

OPEN HOUSE in Stapleton Today, Saturday May 12 from 1:00 to 3:00pm. 2601 Hanover Court, Denver CO 80238. View proprty photos and more info.

New Listing - Home for sale in Stapleton - 2601 Hanover Court

2012-05-09T10:53:00-07:00

We just listed a gorgeous New Town Builders Tamarac model home in Stapleton at 2601 Hanover Court, Denver CO 80238! This home features three bedrooms (including a spacious master suite) upstairs; a main floor study, formal dining room, and open kitchen / family room;and a finished basement with rec room, guest suite and a workout room (or 5th bedroom). Outside there's an inviting covered porch in front, a private patio retreat in back, and a three car garage. Priced at just $509,900, this home is sure to sell quickly. Check out the photos online or contact us to schedule a private showing. We're also planning an open house for Saturday May 12th from 1:00 to 3:00... if the house isn't sold by then!

Town Hall Meeting on Healthcare Reform

2012-04-23T06:15:00-07:00

Colorado State Representative Beth McCann, whose district includes part of Stapleton, is holding a Town Hall Meeting to discuss Health Care Reform. When: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm Where: Park Hill Library, Community Room, 4705 Montview Blvd Topics: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) as it affects Colorado, The ACA's individual mandate, and Health Exchage Programs Speakers: Patty Fonteneau (Executive Director, Colorado Health Benefit Exchange) and Bob Semro (Health Policy Analyst, Bell Policy Center) This town hall meeting is sponsored by Rep Beth McCann (CO HD8). For more information, please email beth@bethmccann.org or call 303-866-2959.

Stapleton Earth Day Recycling Event - Saturday, April 21, 2012

2012-04-21T05:15:00-07:00

Location: Sam's Club Parking Lot, 10am - 2pm Electronics - Metech Item fees: Batteries: $2 / lb Computer Monitors: $10.00 TVs up to 32”: $18.00 TVs over 32”: $1.00 per diagonal inch All other Electronics: $1.00 Keyboards, Mice, IPods, PDAs, Cell Phones, Handheld Games: FREE Shredding (documents, hard drives, DVD, CD, floppy disks) - Cintas There will be a $5 fee per person. Latex Paints - Paint Genius Accepting reusable latex in good condition. The paint needs to be in its original can with a readable label. Will not accept intermixed paint. The recycling fee is $2 per container or $2 per gal in the case of a 5-gal bucket. Moving Boxes - The Kearns Team, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek www.BuildingStapleton.comReuseable moving boxes - must be flattened. Note that this is not cardboard recycling, only useable boxes. If you have extra boxes, bring them - if you need boxes, take some. FREE Plastic Grocery Bags - other small plastic bags without holes, such as from bread, deli, etc.We will donate these to poop scoop locations around Stapleton Pet Food and Accessories - The Urban Farm at Stapleton Home Furnishings: Furniture, Appliances, Tools, Plumbing Fixtures, Building Materials (nails, wood, etc.) - Go Green Warehouse - Veterans Green Jobs FREE - furniture should be gently used Bicycles and accessories - The Bike Depot Plastic only Flower Pots, Flats, Containers - City Floral Bookswill be donated to Park Hill Community Bookstore Car Seatsout of date car seats, will be taken to a recycling facility in Golden (this is not a donation of good car seats) TerraCycle items - SUNThese items will get you an entry for the $50 Whole Foods gift card

Stapleton New Home Sales Statistics

2012-04-11T07:06:00-07:00

New Home update from Forest City Stapleton: Historically, new home sales at Stapleton steadily increased year over year until 2006, which was when we started seeing a decline in total sales due to the economy. This decline lasted through 2009. The good news is that in 2010, we saw a slight increase in new home sales of 3 ½ %. And in 2011, Stapleton rebounded with a 45% increase. This upward trend has continued in to the 1st quarter of 2012, with a 62% increase over the 1st quarter of 2011.

Last Chance for Tickets for Kids' Night Out - Sponsored by Stapleton MCA

2012-02-29T16:28:00-07:00

A message from the Stapleton Master Community Association Last weekend's SNL...Kids' Night Out event was incredibly successful! We had a great turnout and we are so excited to host this event once again this Saturday, March 3. This weekend will include similar activities and dinner will be provided! Parents, remember to pack your child's swim-suit and towel for the pool! Kids will be allowed to access the Central Park Rec Center's pool facility. We will also have a variety of arts and crafts, the hamster ball, booger wars, and other fun activities! This event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. and will end promptly at 9:00 p.m., so please plan accordingly to assure you are there on time! Pre-register your kids through the Stapleton MCA, either online or in-person. Tickets will be sold for $10 until Friday, March 3. Tickets will be sold at the door for $15, but tickets are limited and are only available on a first-come, first-serve basis. We are planning to have a much larger turnout this weekend. Give yourself a break from the kids and purchase your tickets today! Many Denver restaurants still have reservations available for 5280 Restaurant Week. Pick your menu and book your reservation today at http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/. To register for the event, please click on the link: Saturday, March 3

Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Purchase Office Site at Stapleton

2012-02-23T16:46:00-07:00

DENVER, Feb 23, 2012 -- Forest City announced today it has sold a site for an office and training facility in Stapleton’s Enterprise Park to the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. John S. Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton, Inc., master developer for the former airport, said the 13 acre parcel of land is on the north side of 40th Avenue, directly west of the Enterprise Park buildings housing other tenants that include SMA Solar and USBank. “The Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters made the right choice when they chose Stapleton for their office and training facility,” Lehigh said. “Stapleton offers businesses excellent freeway visibility, easy access to interstates and public transportation and diverse, flexible real estate options—all of which is just minutes from Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport. When the ribbon was cut on the new Central Park Blvd interchange on I- 70 late last year, we opened another door to one of the region’s most exciting office locations and sent the message that Stapleton is truly ‘business ready.’” “This is a great addition to the next phase of our development,” Lehigh added. “Stapleton is Denver’s fresh, new business address.” “We think this is a great location for our new facility,” said Mike McCarron, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters. “We are looking forward to building our newest training center here in Denver because it is an important resource for carpenters and contractors alike.” Among the diverse group of business or government interests who have chosen Stapleton for their office location are the Denver Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the A.F. Williams Family Medical Center, The United Air Lines Flight Training Facility and Nobel Sysco.

North Stapleton Park Public Meeting, March 14

2012-02-25T06:39:00-07:00

Denver Parks and Recreation in partnership with Forest City Stapleton will host the 2nd Public meeting to obtain input on the North Stapleton Park Project. Please plan on attending or contact David Marquardt or Tom Gleason. Wednesday, March 14, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, at the Central Park Recreation Center, 9651 E. MLK Blvd, Denver CO 80238 For More Information Please contact: David MarquardtDenver Parks Planning Division720-913-0629David.marquardt@denvergov.org Thomas J. GleasonForest City Stapleton, Inc.(303)382-1800 Ext 72720Tomgleason@forestcity.net

Forest City Sells Quebec Square Retail Center

2012-03-01T14:34:00-07:00

CLEVELAND, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Forest City Enterprises, Inc., (NYSE: FCEA and FCEB) today announced the closing of the sale of Quebec Square, a retail 'power' center in Denver, to Quebec Square, CMH, LLC. The sale price of $34.25 million generated net proceeds of approximately $8 million, representing an effective cap rate of 6.4 percent based on 2011 net operating income. 'We're pleased to complete this sale,' said David J. LaRue, Forest City president and chief executive officer. 'The disposition of this center is part of our retail strategy to focus on our regional malls and anchored lifestyle centers around the country, as well as urban retail in our New York core market.' The company plans to use proceeds from this and future dispositions to pay down debt, reinvest in its portfolio, and selectively activate new development with a focus on existing entitlement. Forest City will continue to manage Quebec Square on behalf of the new owner. Quebec Square is located at the corner of Quebec Street and Smith Road in Denver, adjacent to Stapleton, Forest City's mixed-use redevelopment community. The center has a total of 739,000 square feet of space, with gross leaseable area (GLA) of approximately 217,000 square feet, including current tenants Famous Footwear, Ross Dress for Less, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Office Depot and PetSmart. Anchors (not included in the GLA) are WalMart, Home Depot and Sam's Club. About Forest City Forest City Enterprises, Inc. is an NYSE-listed national real estate company with $10.5 billion in total assets. The company is principally engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.forestcity.net. Safe Harbor Language Statements made in this news release that state the company's or management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. The company's actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements due to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of current lending and capital market conditions on its liquidity, ability to finance or refinance projects and repay its debt, the impact of the current economic environment on its ownership, development and management of its real estate portfolio, general real estate investment and development risks, vacancies in its properties, further downturns in the housing market, competition, illiquidity of real estate investments, bankruptcy or defaults of tenants, anchor store consolidations or closings, international activities, the impact of terrorist acts, risks associated with an investment in a professional sports team, its substantial debt leverage and the ability to obtain and service debt, the impact of restrictions imposed by its credit facility and senior debt, exposure to hedging agreements, the level and volatility of interest rates, the continued availability of tax-exempt government financing, the impact of credit rating downgrades, effects of uninsured or underinsured losses, effects of a downgrade or failure of our insurance carriers, environmental liabilities, conflicts of interest, risks associated with the sale of tax credits, risks associated with developing and managing properties in partnership with others, the ability to maintain effective internal controls, compliance with governmental regulations, increased legislative and regulatory scrutiny of the financial services industry, volatility in the market price of its publicly traded securities, inflation risks, litigation risks, as well as other risks listed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to, the company's annual and quarterly reports. SOURCE Forest City Enterprises, Inc. Robert O'Brien, Executive Vice President - Chief Financial Officer, +1-216-621-6060; Jeff Linton, Senior Vice President - Corporate Communication, +1-216-621-6060

Denver Public Schools closed February 3rd due to weather

2012-02-02T18:32:00-07:00

Just received from Denver Public Schools: Dear DPS Community: Due to severe winter weather and unsafe road conditions forecasted to last throughout the day tomorrow, all Denver Public Schools will be closed on Friday, Feb. 3. This includes all before- and after-school programming, athletics and after-school activities. All DPS district offices will also be closed for Friday, Feb. 3. Be safe and have a good weekend. DPS Office of Communications

Pre-Opening tour of the Sam Gary Denver Public Library in Stapleton

2012-01-16T09:41:00-07:00

Please join Councilman Christopher Herndon, Councilman Albus Brooks, City Librarian Shirley Amore and members of the Denver Public Library Commission for a sneak peek at the new Sam Gary Branch Library due to open in mid-2012. When: January 28 at 1:00 pm Where: 2961 North Roslyn Street (Southeast corner of Roslyn Street and 29thAvenue in the Stapleton Town Center) What: An up-close and personal look at the construction progress of the new Branch Library! The new branch library was recently named after Sam Gary, who has been dubbed by the Front Porch as “the key community member in Denver who brought the new-urbanism planning concept to the redevelopment of the old Stapleton airport.” He is an upstanding citizen and philanthropist who dedicates much of his life to help economically challenged inner-city children through his foundation, the Piton Foundation, as well as contributing to early childhood education and healthcare programs. In an effort to ensure the quality programming, materials and faculty for the upcoming library; The Denver Public Library is offering the community an opportunity to purchase beautifully engraved sandstone pavers as a special way to memorialize your family or business outside of the new Sam Gary Branch Library in Stapleton. For more information on purchasing a paver or to learn about interior naming opportunities, please contact Brenda Ritenour at 720-865-2046 or britenour@denverlibrary.org.

Free trees available to ALL Denver Residents

2012-01-05T09:12:00-07:00

Availability is limited - apply no later than February 12, 2012 DENVER, CO – This spring only, all Denver residents are eligible for free trees regardless of where they live within the city. This rare opportunity is made possible by two tree distribtuion programs: The Park People’s annual Denver Digs Trees street tree program and the City’s Mile High Million tree planting initiative. “We’re thrilled to be part of this exciting partnership that is sure to add thousands of trees Denver neighborhoods across the city,” says The Park People’s Paige Heydon. “The trees are being offered at no cost. It’s a win for the city’s urban forest and a win for Denver residents.” Any resident of the City and County of Denver can apply for free trees to plant along the street in the public right-of-way. Additionally, those who have space for trees on the west side of their homes – whether in front, back, or side yards or along the street – are eligibile to have trees delivered and planted for them. “Trees planted on the west side of houses not only offer wonderful shade, they also reduce energy consumption,” says Sara Davis, the Program Manager for Denver Parks and Recreation’s Mile High Million Program. “With that in mind, we are happy to offer the trees and the planting free of charge.” Availability will be limited, so apply no later than February 15, 2012. Visit www.theparkpeople.org or call 303-722-6262 for application information. “Trees beautify neighborhoods, improve property values, provide environmental services, and support good health by encouraging people to spend time outdoors,” says Denver’s City Forester Rob Davis. “This is a great opportunity for Denver residents to enhance their neighborhoods.” The Denver Digs Trees program is able to offer free street trees to all Denver residents this spring thanks to a partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation Forestry Division and the sponsorship of Xcel Energy Foundation and the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development. The Mile High Million’s Trees for Energy Savings program is made possible with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Park People The Park People is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, enhancing and advocating for Denver’s parks, recreation resources, open space and urban forest. Through its Denver Digs Trees program, The Park People is responsible for adding more than 43,000 trees to Denver’s neighborhoods, with hundreds more sold each fall and spring to help raise funds for the organization’s public tree efforts. Visit www.theparkpeople.org for more information. Mile High Million In 2006, Mayor John Hickenlooper (now Governor) announced an ambitious tree planting program with a goal of adding one million new trees in metropolitan Denver by the year 2025. The initiative aims to engage and motivate individuals to become life-long stewards of our natural environment through planting and caring for trees. The end result will be a healthier and more extensive urban forest, creating more inviting places to live, work and play. Visit milehighmillion.org for more information. Denver Forestry The Denver Parks and Recreation Forestry Office is the city agency responsible for trees and shrubs in public parks, parkways and around government buildings. They also are involved in programs that add trees to Denver neighborhoods. Trees are an extremely valuable resource that not only provide attractive landscapes, but also replenish oxygen in the atmosphere, cool us with shade in the summer and help clean the air. Denver is a fortunate city with a broad tree canopy and public policies that recognize the value of trees through promotion programs and regulation. Visit www.denvergov.org/forestry for more information.

Two New Homes for Sale in Stapleton, Denver, CO

2011-12-29T10:13:00-07:00

Two great new homes, just listed for sale in Stapleton! 3465 Willow Street, Denver CO 80238offered for $469,999 This beautiful home from New Town Builders is located less than a block from Stapleton's 80 acre Central Park. It features three bedrooms upstairs (including a huge Master Suite), and kitchen, great room, dining room, and study on the main floor. For more photos, please visit our virtual tour. To schedule a private tour of this home, please contact The Kearns Team at 303.331.4500. 3367 Xanthia Street, Denver CO 80238offered for $825,000 Truly one of the finest homes in Stapleton, this Court Home from the Infinity Home Collection sits between Stapleton's Central Park and a neighborhood pocket park. In addition to the impeccable custom upgrades and gourmet kitchen, this home features 5 bedrooms (three with private baths) and a finished basement with family/media room. For more photos, please visit our virtual tour. To schedule a private tour of this home, please contact The Kearns Team at 303.331.4500. xx

United Parcel Service plays Scrooge in Denver

2011-12-24T14:38:00-07:00

Apparently 8-10 inches of snow is enough to create havoc at United Parcel Service in Denver. A Christmas Week snowstorm which delivered 8-10 inches of snow in Denver (more in some areas, less in others) on December 22 has delayed delivery of 50,000 packages until after Christmas. Packages which were scheduled for delivery on Thursday and Friday were instead re-routed to the UPS center in Commerce City. Customers who called UPS were told to go to the center to pick up their packages, as UPS would not attempt redelivery until Tuesday December 27. I write from personal experience - I was one of the customers who was supposed to receive a package on Friday, only to have my delivery status updated to read, 'Emergency conditions beyond UPS' control.' I called Friday night, and after 30 minutes on hold was told to go to the center to pick up my package on Saturday. When I arrived there at 10:30 Saturday morning, the line of customers (over 300 by some news reports) already snaked around the building and waits were reported at over 2 hours. As the day went on, UPS's problems only grew. The lines got longer, and the wait was said to exceed 3 hours. Perhaps one problem is the crazy layout of the UPS facility on Commerce City, where the huge warehouse sits across the street from the customer service office. This creates a need for employees to run back and forth from the customer service office to the warehouse to look for packages. According to Denver's Channel 7 News, police were called to the scene mid-afternoon after employees were harassed by customers. Calling UPS at their 800-PICK-UPS number didn't help. I was personally told that I, 'need to understand that there was an emergency situation in Denver which caused the delay.' When I asked the agent for an explanation of the emergency, I was told that they didn't have that information. Later I was told that it was 'a blizzard on Friday' - the snow actually tapered off early Thursday, and both FedEx and USPS were able to make deliveries to my house. I really do feel sorry for the font-line UPS employees who bore the brunt of customer frustrations today, but I have no sympathy for the company which had no idea of how to deal with the situation. It tends to snow in Denver in December. Packages get delayed. A company like UPS, which undoubtedly receives a large percentage of their annual revenue from December deliveries, needs to be better prepared - and better able to communicate to their customers. Related News Reports: Denver Post: Hundreds wait for backlogged packages at UPS center in Commerce City Channel 7 (ABC) News: Irate Customers Demand UPS Packages 9 News (NBC): UPS says 50,000 packages delayed by Denver weather

Study affirms that Sellers tend to overvalue their homes

2011-12-07T14:11:00-07:00

It probably won't come as a shock, but a recent survey by HomeGain reports that 76% of home sellers believe their home is worth more than their real estate agent recommended. This comes despite other surveys which indicate that consumers expect home prices will be flat or down in the next 12 months. While sellers believe their homes are under priced, 68% of home buyers believe that homes are over priced - and 32% said homes are overpriced by at least 10%. Perhaps some of this discrepancy is based on the availability of 'questionable' pricing data from online sources such as Zillow. “Homeowners and real estate professionals appear to be in sync regarding the direction of home prices. Home buyers and sellers, however, continue to remain apart as to home valuations with the vast majority of homeowners thinking their homes are worth more than their agents and the market are telling them,” said Louis Cammarosano, General Manager of HomeGain. HomeGain's 4th Quarter 2011 Home Value Survey included responses from Over 400 real estate agents and brokers and over 2,000 homeowners. Locally, we've seen most prices rise slightly after being stable for the past year or so. Stapleton homes priced below $400,000 have been selling well, while those above $500,000 have been slow to sell. We've seen an increasing number of sellers 'boycott' the market, declining to sell until they believe that prices are higher. This has led to a lack of overall inventory... and the laws of supply and demand have begun to benefit patient sellers.

Colorado State House Redistricting Splits Stapleton

2011-12-05T11:44:00-07:00

On Sunday, the Denver Post reported that under a new state House district map, endorsed by former Mayor Wellington Webb, Stapleton would be split and fall into two different districts. Webb is the Vice-Chairman of the Colorado Reapportionment Commission Under the proposed map, Stapleton homes south of E 28th Ave and east of Central Park Boulevard (roughly the 'Southend' neighborhood plus additional houses to the north) would shift into House District 8, currently represented by Rep. Beth McCann. The balance of Stapleton residences would remain in House District 7, represented by Rep. Angela Williams. According to the article, Webb reportedly said that, '...the move was sone in order to protect 'African American influence' in House District 7.' Interestingly, both of Rep. Williams challengers (both withe males) in the last primary election live in the area to be moved out of her district. It could be worse: under a Republican sponsored map, Stapleton would have been divided among three different districts. So, is this a big deal? With a proposed build-out of 12,000 homes and over 30,000 residents it is unlikely that a completed Stapleton would have remained within a single district.

Military and Veteran 1st time homebuyers may qualify for $5000 grant

2011-11-30T10:56:00-07:00

Active duty military personnel and veterans may qualify for a grant of up to $5000 towards down payment and closing costs on their first home. The Dream Makers program is provided by the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, but the grants are available to non PenFed members and may be aaplied to a mortgage from any financial institution. Additional information is available on PenFed's website. According to information on the website, you are eligible for a grant if: You're Military (Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard or Veteran), a Department of Defense employee or a Department of Homeland Security employee. You're a first-time home buyer, or you have not owned a home for the last three years, or you have lost your home through divorce or disaster. The gross household income, including allowances, that you use to qualify for your mortgage loan is: A maximum of $55,000 per year, or A maximum of 80% of your community’s median income based on your family size

Impact of FHA loan limit reductions

2011-11-01T09:34:00-07:00

On September 30, 2011 the US Congress allowed FHA and conforming loan limits to drop from 125% of an area's median home price to 115%. While critics of the higher loan limits claimed that the government shouldn't be supporting mortgages 'for the rich,' recent data shows that the reductions have had a larger impact to the overall real estate market. According to a survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORs NAR Research arm, 16% of home buyers were forced to leave the market because of the reductions. Especially hard hit were areas with high median home prices and areas where there are a wide range of home prices. Further survey results showed that 52% of buyers had to come up with additional down payment money and 32% were forced to look for a lower priced home. In Denver, FHA loan limts dropped on October 1 from $406,250 to $368,000.

Up With People is looking for Denver Host Families

2011-11-29T07:37:00-07:00

Up With People, the international educational and cultural program, is looking for families to host cast members during their four-week stay in Denver, January 6 – February 6, 2012. Host families are asked to provide a bed, breakfast, dinner, and limited local transportation (bus or light rail passes will be provided to cast members if needed). Cast members are out in the community during most business hours Monday through Saturday – Sunday is considered “Host Family Day.” This is an opportunity for families to connect with other countries and cultures while sharing your community. Host families receive two complimentary tickets to the February 3rd show in Denver. More information is available on the Up With People website. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Shawna Reed at 303-408-4143 or email her at sreed@upwithpeople.org

Mortgage Market Update - Nov 28, 2011

2011-11-28T08:09:00-07:00

Mortgage Market Update for November 28, 2011 - provided by Julie Whalen of Guild Mortgage Last week, October Existing Home Sales inched up to an annual rate just under 5 million units. And although things appear to be improving only slowly, existing home sales are actually UP 13.5% from a year ago. Even better, the months' supply of existing homes fell to 8.0 and inventory is now down 13.8% versus a year ago. The naysayers jumped on the fact that the median price was also down. But a large portion of October sales came from distressed properties whose prices are heavily discounted. Although some see this as a negative, it's what's needed for inventories to be worked down and for the housing market to recover. This Week’s Mortgage Forecast NEW HOME SALES, PENDING HOME SALES, JOBS... Of great interest this week will be more housing market reports and the jobs numbers that are key to the real estate recovery. October New Home Sales are expected to hold steady, above the 300,000 level. September Pending Home Sales, indicating Existing Home Sales a few months out, look to be up a tad. Friday, we get the November Employment Report. Although payrolls should rise, the number of new jobs is still not enough to bring down the unemployment rate. for more information, contact Julie Whalen at Guild Mortgage.

Stapleton Winter Welcome Celebration this Friday

2011-11-17T10:27:00-07:00

Well, the weather forecast for Friday in Denver is calling for highs in the mid 60s, but winter is coming to Stapleton as the Master Community Association hosts the annual Winter Welcome Celebration Friday evening, November 18, from 6:00 to 8:00pm. One Stapleton's most popular events, the Winter Welcome includes open houses at many East 29th Avenue Town Center businesses, refreshments, carolers, and of course the first night of the community's holiday light display (planned for 6:15pm). According to the MCA website, 29th Avenue will be closed from Noodles east to Roslyn Street. We will close the street at 2:00pm to have time to setup the event. Booths will be setup in the street and fountain area around the tree. These booths will include a roasted almond vendor, fire pits complete with s’more makings, hot chocolate, light necklaces, a DJ and much more.We will have two “dancing” trees, complete with music and passing out candy canes courtesy of the [Greater Stapleton Business Association]. There will be carolers strolling up and down 29th Avenue. Biker Jim’s, Crockspot, Gigi’s Cupcakes and the Bon Bon Buggy will be selling yummy treats so bring a few extra dollars. The MCA will be selling tickets for $2 at their booth in front of Noodles, and all proceeds from the same of s'mores, roasted almonds, and light necklaces will benefit the Bluff Lake Nature Center, Sand Creek Regional Greenway, and Girl Scout Troop 653.

Denver withdraws support for National Western Stock Show Move

2011-11-18T12:45:00-07:00

In a reversal of one of the strangest decisions of his predecessor's administration, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock today announced that Denver was withdrawing its support for a Regional Tourism Act grant which would have helped the National Western Stock Show move from Denver to Aurora, CO. “Over the last several months, as we have worked with our partners at the Stock Show and listened to all interested stakeholders, it has become clear it is not in Denver’s best interest to remain a co-applicant,” Mayor Hancock said. “Especially in these tough times, we need to be thoughtful about what we ask from our taxpayers. That is why we are working closely with the Stock Show and all stakeholders to find a solution that benefits the Stock Show, the people, neighborhoods, and businesses of Denver.” In late June, shortly before Hancock replaced Mayor Bill Vidal in office, representatives of the National Western Stock Show announced their intention to leave Denver and relocate to Aurora, near a proposed hotel development to be built by Gaylord Entertainment. Representatives of Mayor Vidal's office appeared at the presentation in support of the NWSS move. Controversy has swirled since the June 28 announcement, and subsequent grant request which was endorsed by the then Mayors of both Denver and Aurora. At the time, Jack Finlaw, Denver Mayor Bill Vidal's Chief of Staff, was quoted as saying, 'While technically the stock show would be in Aurora, it still could be a Denver institution.' Public opinion in Denver quickly formed against the proposal, as it required that the Stock Show break their lease with Denver, and would require a reported $150 million bond issue to be approved by Denver voters to facilitate the move. Not sure how this one got through in the first place: NWSS breaks its lease with Denver and moves the Stock show (including jobs and revenue) from Denver to Aurora, while Denver government supports a grant to make it happen and Denver voters pay $150 million. The Mayor's decision tooday to withdraw Denver's support for the RTA grant is a good step in seeking a better solution for the Stock Show.

Sidewalk Closure on 35th between Central Park Blvd and Valentia in Stapleton

2011-11-16T08:54:00-07:00

New Town Builders is preparing to pour the permanent sidewalk on the south side of 35th between Central Park Boulevard and Valentia. They will be removing the asphalt walk on Saturday, (11/19) , forming the new concrete walk on Monday (11/21), and, pouring the concrete on Wednesday (11/23). The permanent sidewalk will then be open for use on Thursday (11/24). During the construction of the sidewalk on the south side of 35th Avenue, pedestrians – --particularly parents walking their children to and from Swigert McAuliffe International School -- are urged to use the temporary asphalt and permanent concrete sidewalks on the north side of 35th Avenue between Central Park Boulevard and Syracuse, where there is a safe school crossing.

30 year fixed-rate mortgage drops below 4% again

2011-11-11T14:02:00-07:00

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Averages 3.99 Percent Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average mortgage rates changing little from the previous week amid a mix of economic data reports as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.995, dropping below 4.00% for the second time this year. The 30-year fixed averaged 3.94% in the October 6, 2011 survey. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.99% with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 10, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.00%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.17%.

Standard Pacific Homes Wins an Award for Best Interior Design at Their New Stapleton Model Home in Denver

2011-11-10T13:37:00-07:00

Standard Pacific Homes was recognized recently for its interior design at this year's 32nd annual BAR Awards. The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver hosts the award ceremony to recognize marketing and construction achievements across the new-home industry. “For us, it was a win … we’re certainly appealing to people outside of our own company, whom are judging homes across the Denver-Metro area,” said Mike Davidson, Standard Pacific’s Marketing Director. The builder’s Huntington model in The Vines collection won Best Interior Design (Detached Home) for the $400,001 to $500,000 price range. The interior design concept for the home is unique for the Stapleton community. “Traditionally, a more modern look and bright color pallete has been used for models in Stapleton. We went for a more traditional look which we feel shows off our unique style of homes here” said Davidson. “The concept of this home is based on a Restoration Hardware’s, ‘Updated-Classic’ style,” said Amber Shay, the Interior Designer. “The open floor plan was enhanced with the use of contiguous, large-plank, hand-scraped, wood flooring and a soothing, neutral palette, allowing the outdoor setting to flow seamlessly into the dwelling.” “Something different about us is that since 2009, we have not used a traditional Interior Design firm like most other new models you see around Denver, “said Mike Davidson. Instead, Standard Pacific decided to utilize the talents of their in-house decorator, and Design Studio Vice President, Amber Shay to design the interiors of their model homes. “Amber is an expert and the same design consultant who meets with all of our home buyers. We feel she is skilled in helping buyers make their design choices, and as such, has the best knowledge of what today’s homebuyer wants to see in a model home” said Dan Jacobsen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. The Vines Collection, from Standard Pacific Homes is definitely different from rest of the home collections in this well known urban community. Like many of the other homes in the nearby Central Park West neighborhood, The Vines are as energy-efficient as they come. All homes boast Energy Star 3.0 qualification and 5+ Star ratings which make these homes 20-30% more efficient than homes built just 5 years ago. However, Standard Pacific took it a step further and includes solar panels on all of their Vines Collection homes. Another unique feature for The Vines Collection is the front entry, oversized, 2-car attached garages and traditional driveways. “In a community where a majority of the homes have alley loaded rear garages, our designs have driveways in front that can become a play area and allow larger backyards” said Jacobsen. The two-story Huntington model is a brand new floorplan for the national builder which features a large, wrap around covered front porch and an open main floor with the Kitchen, Great Room and Dining Room flowing together for easy entertaining. The master bedroom and 5-piece bathroom are the focus with his & her walk in closets and a romantic Juliet balcony.

Stapleton MCA Annual Members Meeting

2011-11-04T15:07:00-07:00

A message from the Stapleton Master Community Association: Notice is hereby given that the 2011 Annual Members’ Meeting for THE MASTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. (the “Stapleton MCA”) will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Stapleton Community Room located at 2823 Roslyn Street. This meeting will be available as a webinar to the first 150 members who log on to www.StapletonCommunity.com and click on the “Join Meeting” link (access code: 3880724). A complete meeting packet will be available and can be printed from the MCA website one week prior to the meeting at www.StapletonCommunity.com. Meeting packets contain updated meeting agenda, previous minutes, the 2011 year-end projection, a summary of the Executive Board’s proposed 2012 Reserve Fund and Operating Budgets, and any other pertinent meeting information. If you do not have access to the internet please contact us at the number below to request that a copy of the above information be sent via mail. In addition, members are required to elect seven members of the community to serve as District Delegates for the following calendar year (January – December). Delegates are charged with ratifying the MCA’s annual budget and shall elect all Non-Appointed Executive Board Members. A current map of the delegate district along with a list of current serving delegates can be found online at www.StapletonCommunity.com. Nominations will be accepted in writing prior to the meeting or in person at the Annual Meeting. Voting will be open for one week following and will close at Noon on November 16. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person or by the webinar presentation, please download and mail a completed ballot (ballots available online or by phone request only) by Noon of the annual delegate meeting date 11/16/2011. Completed paper ballots can be sent by mail to the attention of Jenifer Graham, Executive Committee Secretary at the Stapleton MCA, Inc., 2823 Roslyn St. Denver, CO 80238 or fax it to (303) 388-1673. The Stapleton MCA is a 501(c)4 community development organization whose mission is to create and sustain a sense of community through comprehensive programs, events and facilities maintenance. All owners of both residential and commercial property are members of the Stapleton MCA and support its mission through monthly assessments levied to all property within the Stapleton boundaries.

Red Robin Burger Works coming to Northfield Stapleton

2011-11-02T17:19:00-07:00

A few months ago, Red Robin Restaurants announced that they were working on a new restaurant concept - a simplified version of their popular Red Robin restaurants. Well, the first Burger Works location is opening at Northfield Stapleton on November 21! The Burger Works Menu looks to combine some of the traditional Red Robin favorites with some 'Burger Works Originals' and a Build Your Own option with tons of topings to choose from. Hopefully they will also bring over Red Robin's great steak fries - although I doubt that they will come in bottomless baskets! According to their website, Burger Works was created to keep it simple. Basically, we're burgers. The fresh, fire-grilled burgers you love about Red Robin and a few other menu all-stars. A simple concept that makes scrumptious sense. You just belly up empty and belly away full. Simple. The first Burger Works is opening November 21, 2011 at Northfield - from the map it looks like they will be across from Qdoba. 2012 will reportedly bring new locations to the campuses of THE Ohio State University and Metro State College of Denver.

RTD FasTracks Update - Open House Schedule

2011-11-03T16:30:00-07:00

Just received an email from RTD about community Open Houses scheduled to provide project updates on the RTD FasTracks East Rail Line. Here are the details: Work is well underway on the RTD FasTracks East Rail Line, the commuter train from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport. Come to any of our community 'Open Houses' to get updated on our construction schedule, accomplished milestones, and what to expect in the coming year. Select from any of the dates/locations below to have your questions or comments addressed by members of our project team. Open House: 6:30pm, Presentation begins at 7:00pm. Nov 9: Bruce Randolph School, 3955 Steele Street, Denver Nov 10: Holy Transfiguration of Christ Church, 349 E 47th Ave., Denver Nov 15: Central Park Recreation Center, 9651 E Martin Luther King Blvd., Denver Nov 17: Fletcher Primary School, 10455 E 25th Ave., Aurora Dec 1: Centro San Juan Diego, 2830 Lawrence St., Denver Light refreshments will be served. For additional information, for special needs requests, or to request Spanish translation, please contact Joshua Solis at 303-297-5284 or joshua.solis@dtpiv.com

How accurate is a Zillow Zestimate?

2011-03-22T16:28:00-07:00

I have to admit that Zillow has an incredibly cool and user friendly website, and they continue to grow in popularity with consumers. When we started designing the BuildingStapleton.com website we looked at Zillow's design for tips on what consumers are looking for in a real estate website. The one nagging issue for me has always been the accuracy of Zillow's 'Zestimate' - their automated estimate of a home's value. Can an automated system accurately predict a home's value? A few years ago my parents sold their home. Zillow estimated the value to be in the low $200,000s, yet their home sold quickly (about two weeks) in the mid $300,000 range. Why was Zillow so far off? Because their had been very few sales in their neighborhood in the previous 5-10 years, so Zillow was relying on outdated data. In Stapleton, another challenge for automated systems is that you will often find two very different builders across the street from one another. When an automated system compares homes so close together, it must 'assume' that they are comparable (other than square footage). This can result in a devaluation of the custom home that sits across the street from a basic tract home (which in turn shows an inflated value). Zillow's measurement of its own accuracy Recently I learned about an often overlooked link on Zillow's own website. Right there on the bottom of their home page, in pale grey print against the blue background, is a link that says, 'About Zestimates.' This link takes you to a chart showing Zillow's own measure of their accuracy. Here's the chart as of today (March 22, 2011) with Denver's stats highlighted: According to their chart, Zillow rates their accuracy with four stars. Sounds great, right? Read the rest of the data, and it says that 28% of the time the 'Zestimate' is within 5% of the actual sale price. That means that 72% of the time the Zestimate is more than 5% off. On a $400,000 home, that means the Zestimate would be off by $20,000. More than half the time (52%), the Zestimate is at least 10% off... or $40,000 on a $400,000 sale! Remeber, this is Zillow's own analysis of their accuracy, not something provided by a competing website (or a disgruntled real estate agent). As I said, Zillow is a cool website, and their technology is amazing, but would you consider a $40,000 error in the valuation of your home to be accurate? If you're looking for a true valuation of your home's current market value, we'd be happy to provide it to you at no charge. Just fill out this form. We look at recent sales and market conditions, combined with our personal knowledge of the local real estate market. For an even more accurate estimate, we'd be happy to come over and personally look at your home!

Interest Rates Down. Home Prices Stable. Time to Buy?

2011-10-19T08:54:00-07:00

Over the past several years home prices have dropped throughout the U.S., but stability is returning to many markets. Even in Denver, where prices have been pretty stable, we're seeing a shift away from a Buyers' Market towards a more balanced real estate world. Is it time to buy? Warren Buffett, a pretty successful businessman in his own right, has been quoted as saying that he is greedy when others are scared, and scared when others are greedy. A few years ago a lot of people in real estate (buyers and sellers) were greedy - today they are scared. Falling Prices and Home Affordability As prices fall Sellers suffer and buyers benefit. Of course many buyers are still afraid and continue to wait on the sidelines. Homeownership, which was moving out of reach of buyers in many areas, is becoming more and more affordable today. Maybe it's time to take the plunge? The Wall Street Journal reported this week that, 'It's Time to Buy That House.' Interest Rates reach all-time lows Over the past couple of weeks, the news media has been full of articles about low mortgage interest rates. Sub 4% rates for 30 year fixed rate mortgages came and went, but rates in the low 4's are still available. According to the National Association of Realtors' Housing Affordability Index, the combination of lower prices and low mortgage rates has made home ownership about as affordable as it has been in the past 40 years. Rent vs Buy As home prices dropped and interest rates fell, rental rates climbed. Today we're seeing many renters pay MORE per month for a home than they coudl if they purchased the same home. This is great news for landlords, but maybe it is time for tenants and potential buyers to take another look at home ownership. Is it a good time to put your home on the market? Is it a good time to buy? Call or email The Kearns Team today, and let us put our experience to work for you. We'll help you create a personalized game plan to help meet YOUR goals in this challenging real estate market.

Are Home Sellers Boycotting the Market?

2011-10-14T08:18:00-07:00

The Denver Post reported that the number of homes for sale in the Denver metro area was down 26.5% in September compared to a year ago. While their headline was a bit sensationalist, the question si whether this is good news or bad. Are Sellers boycotting the real estate market? With the media sending a fairly consistent negative message about the housing market, many Sellers have decided to sit on the sidelines and wait before putting their home on the market. The result is that home inventory is way down, and a larger than normal percentage of homes that are for sale have Sellers who 'have to sell.' Supply and Demand For some areas, the reduced number of homes on the market is helping to push prices up. It's simple supply and demand. As the number of homes 'plunges' (the Denver Post's term), Buyers have fewer homes to look at and may find themselves paying more for a home. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article titled, 'it's Time to Buy That House,' citing reduced prices and historically low interest rates. In other areas, the boycott by 'voluntary' sellers continues to press prices lower. When the market becomes dominated by distressed sales, bank owned properties, and sellers who need to move, prices fall - regardless of overall supply. Listings are Down, but Sales are Up The same Denver Post article quoted additional stats that showed home sales in Denver were up 12.8% in September 2011 over 2010, while prices were fairly stable. Put it all together So, let's summarize: The number of homes listed in Denver is down substantially. The number of home sales in Denver is up. Denver Home prices are stable. Interest rates are extremely low. Sounds like the the balance between Buyer Market and Seller Market (or at least an even market) may be shifting. Is it a good time to put your home on the market? Is it a good time to buy? Call or email The Kearns Team today, and let us put our experience to work for you. We'll help you create a personalized game plan to help meet YOUR goals in this challenging real estate market.

Stapleton Open House Schedule for July 9-10

2011-07-09T04:57:00-07:00

We are holding Open Houses at two Stapleton area homes this weekend. 7937 E 22nd Place, a beautiful John Laing model 100 home (very few of these homes were built) will be open today, July 9, from Noon to 2:00pm. This 4 bedroom home has upgraded finishes throughout, an open floorplan, and a separate study with glass French doors. 1470 S Quebec Way, Unit 68, is a 2 bedroom townhome located a little south of Stapleton near the Cherry Creek Trails and the Highline Canal. It will be open tomorrow, July 10, from 1:00 to 3:00pm. With 1571 square feet and a finished basement, this townhome also offers access to a community pool and clubhouse. You can always find our schedule of Stapleton area open houses online. If you are interested in seeing a home, but there are no scheduled Open House dates (or the next scheduled date is not convenient), please click on the listing address or photo, and then select Schedule a Showing. We would be happy to find a convenient time to show the home to you personally

Compact Fluorescent lights vs Incandescent lightbulbs

2011-07-12T07:14:00-07:00

On their Facebook page this morning, Denver's channel 9 (KUSA - NBC) posed this question: Energy conservation versus personal freedom -- those issues are colliding in Congress, where a fight is underway to overturn parts of a national energy act requiring more energy-efficient light bulbs. What do you think? Should legislation requiring energy-efficient bulbs remain, or should it be overturned so we can buy any light bulb we want? Responses came quickly, and many focused on whether this is an appropriate topic for Federal legislation (a very good question in my opinion). I'm not going there, but thought I would address some of the other issues that were raised by 9News viewers on Facebook at Twitter. By the way, CFL's are not bulbs (technically they are lamps) but since people call them CFL bulbs I may do the same! CFLs cost too much CFLs pay for themselves over time in energy savings. At 12 cent per kWh for electricity, a 60 watt incandescent bulb costs 0.72 cents per hour to operate. An equivalent 14 watt CFL costs 0.168 cents per hour. At a cost of $1 for the CFL (Home Depot sells them in 4 packs for $3.97), the CFL pays for itself in 180 hours of use. During a CFL's lifespan of 6,000 to 15,000 hours, it would save $33 to $83 in energy costs. CFLs contain mercury and, '.. if you break one you need a hazmat crew for clean up.' A CFL contains about 5mg of mercury (1/6000th of an ounce). By comparison, a mercury based fever thermometer contains 100 to 600 tims as much mercury. According to the website www.CFLFacts.com, 'Because CFLs contain mercury they should be recycled instead of thrown in the normal trash. However, even if a relatively large number of CFLs are disposed of in landfills instead of being recycled, they will not significantly increase the amount of mercury in the waste stream. A report titled Mercury Programme, published by the United Nations Environmental Programme, estimated that in 2000 there were 145 metric tons of mercury added to the solid waste stream in the United States. If 200 million CFLs, each containing 5 mg of mercury were placed in the solid waste stream in one year, they would add only 1 metric ton, or less than 0.7% of the total annual mercury load in the waste stream.' By the way, many retailers (including Home Depot) accept CFLs for recycling. Visit the EPA Website for more info. CFLs '...are all made in China, so they are not good for our economy' True, most CFLs are made in China and India. Of course the last major U.S. plant to make incandescent bulbs (in Winchester VA) closed in September 2010. And where do you think all of that oil we use (and could reduce) comes from? CFLs 'take a long time to warmup and don't give off good light' According to GE, 'The first compact fluorescent bulbs flickered when they were turned on because it took a few seconds for the ballast to produce enough electricity to excite the gas inside the bulb. Thanks to the refined technology in our new GE compact fluorescent bulbs, there is now no significant flicker (less than 1 second). However, these bulbs do require a short warm-up period before they reach full brightness, which is why they may appear dim when first turned on. Compact fluorescent bulbs are best used in fixtures that are left on for longer periods of time, rather than in fixtures that are turned off and on frequently.'

Its a wrap: The 2011 Stapleton Community Garage Sale

2011-07-19T08:31:00-07:00

It's a wrap! The 6th Annual Stapleton Community Garage Sale was held this past weekend, and it was another successful event. At final count there were 330 homes registered to take part in the Garage Sale this year, another record turnout. This year the sale covered both Saturday and Sunday, with good turnouts both days. Assuming an average of about $300 per home (we heard stories of some sales generating over $1000!), that's about a $100,000 economic impact to the neighborhood over the weekend. We also heard from the Denver Children's Advocacy Center that they collected over 11,000 pounds of donations after the sale. Over the three years that we've partnered with DCAC, they've collected over 40,000 pounds of donations! The 2012 Stapleton Community Garage Sale will take place on the weekend of July 20-21, 2012. See you then!

Using QR Codes in Real Estate

2011-08-02T10:39:00-07:00

What do you think of QR codes? QR codes are those square barcodes that are popping up everywhere these days. They are in magazine ads, store price tags, and increasingly on real estate signs. Many Realtors have replaced color flyers on sign boxes with QR codes that allow consumers to go straight to detailed info (and sometimes even virtual tours) about the property. Reasons include cost savings (color brochures are expensive) and providing more information to consumers. What do you think of QR codes? Have you tried using them? Do you find them useful? Do you think you would use them if you were househunting?

Its okay - go play in the street!

2011-08-08T06:57:00-07:00

That's right kids (and grownups), go play inthe street! This Saturday, August 14th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Denver's 23rd Avenue will be closed to auto traffic from City Park to Stapleton. Denver residents are pretty used to street closures for construction, but this time the street is being closed so we can get out and play! The celebration is called Viva Streets, and it is being sponsored by LiveWell Colorado and Bike Denver. Instead of cars, 23rd Ave will be taken over by bikers and pedestrians wandering down the street to enjoy parades, food vendors, musicians, and more. Here's a map of the 'party zone' with markers of what is happening along the route. Learn more about Viva Streets by visiting the LiveWell Colorado website!

Thank you. Again.

2011-08-09T06:44:00-07:00

In 2010, and again in 2011, our clients, peers, and real estate industry experts selected Diana and Michael Kearns as Five Star Real Estate Agents for providing exceptional service and for overall customer satisfaction. Fewer than 1 in 14 real estate agents in the Denver area qualify for this honor. Diana and Michael will be recognized in the September issue of 5280 Magazine. According tot he Five Star website, 'As part of an in-depth research process real estate agents are evaluated by their customers and real estate industry professionals based on customer service, integrity, market knowledge, communication and negotiation skills, closing preparation, helping you find the right home, marketing the home being sold, and overall satisfaction.' Diana and Michael Kearns live and work in Stapleton, and are honored to have helped their friends and neighbors buy or sell over 180 homes in our community.

2nd Annual Stapleton Beer Festival - August 20, 2011

2011-08-16T10:50:00-07:00

Are you wondering what to do this weeend? Are you just counting the days until the Great American Beer Festival comes to Denver (it's September 29 - October 1, in case you were don't know). Well how about coming to an event that features 15 breweries, 8 food vendors, 2 concerts, and a great neighborhood? It is the 2nd annual Stapleton Beer Festival, and it happens this Saturday, August 20, from 4:00 to 8:30pm! Click on the poster for more information. After the great success of last year's Stapleton Beer Festival, how could the Stapleton Master Community Association top itself this year? Come out on Saturday and find out! Fifteen Colorado breweries are participating, including some great craft brewers that you may not know (yet). Here are the list of participants: Avery Brewing CompanyBreckenridge BreweryBull & Bush Brewery CAUTION: Brewing Company Coors Brewing Company Copper Kettle BrewingCrabtree Brewing CompanyDel Norte Brewing Company Great Divide Brewing Company Left Hand Brewing Company New Belgium Brewing Odell Brewing Company Oskar Blues Brewery Renegade Brewing Company Strange Brewing Company Getting Hungry? Well, there will also be 8 food vendors on site, and your ticket price includes food coupons for the vendors! Biker Jim'sBon Bon BuggyCrockspotGigi's Cupcakes Jim-n-Nick's BBQRocky Mountain Chili BowlSteuben'sStreet Eats Oh, did I mention that there are also TWO concerts going on? Opie Gone Bad will perform from 4:00 to 6:00pm, and Chris Daniels and the Kings are on from 6:30 to 8:30pm... and the concerts are free! If you don't want to taste the beers, you are free to come and listen to the music. Beer, soda, and water will also be available for sale. Tickets are $30 through August 18, or $35 day of event. For more information, please visit www.StapletonCommunity.com or call the Stapleton MCA at 303.388.0724.

Two Denver Recycling Events

2011-08-24T05:03:00-07:00

Here's the scoop on two recycling events coming up in the Denver / Stapleton area: On Tuesday, August 30, the Colorado Association of REALTORS is holding an electronics recycling event from 7:30am to noon at the Brentwood Center, northwest corner of Evans & Federal Blvd. The recycling service will unload your vehicle for you, certify that all personal information and data have been destroyed and properly dispose of all electronic and toxic materials. Price is $25 per vehicle (limit one monitor/screen) and proceeds go to support the REALTOR® Political Survival Fund. For a list of items you can recycle, click here. On Saturday, September 3, Stapleton United Neighbors is sponsoring a multi-item recycling event from 10am - 2pm, in the Sam's Club Parking Lot at 7805 East 35th Avenue. Among the items accepted at the SUN event are electronics, paper (for shredding), mattresses, paint, furniture, clothing, and batteries. The Kearns Team from RE/MAX of Cherry Creek will be joining in for another Moving Box Exchange (bring your used moving boxes, or pick some up for a future move). For a full list of items you can recycle at the event, and costs, click here. there will also be food sales on site and prize drawings!

Have you checked out Stapleton Connect?

2011-09-07T08:54:00-07:00

Have you checked out the new Stapleton community website StapletonConnect.com? I met with Dan and Erin last week (relatively new Stapleton residents and the enthusiastic team behind Stapleton Connect), and wanted to share some info about the website. In addition to community information, events and resources, there is a social componenent designed to help Stapleton residents connect with one another through social networking (forums, groups, blogs and more). Drop by and check it out! You can use Facebook, Twitter, Google or Yahoo to set up your account in moments. By the way, the hope is that StapletonConnect can continue to be a POSITIVE website where friends and neighbors can share useful info about this great community! They also just launched a photo contest called 'Capture Stapleton,' on the StapletonConnect Facebook page. There are numerous prizes from local businesses including Wine Cellars by Stapleton, Harkins Theatres, Art & Framing by Stapleton and the Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre.

Eat Frozen Yogurt, Benefit Denver language School

2011-09-12T07:42:00-07:00

Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt in Stapleton (Quebec Square) is hosting a fundraiser tonight, Monday 9/12 to benefit the Denver Language School. 25% of purchases between 6:00 and 8:00pm till be donated to the school. Please support DLS and enjoy some great frozen yogurt! For more information on Denver Language School, please visit their website.

The 2011 HGTV Green Home is for sale

2011-09-13T17:23:00-07:00

Didn't win the 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton? Well, now it can be yours - for a price. That's right, the winners of the HGTV Green Home decided to take a cash option instead of moving from NJ to Colorado, and now the home is available for sale. Listed for $699,000, the price includes the dog wash and the iPad controls, but the art and furnishings will cost you a little more. Built by Infinity Home Collection, a premiere Stapleton homebuilder, the HGTV Green Home in Stapleton is certified at the LEED Platinum level and is loaded with eco-friendly options. Exotic Colorado beetle kill pine doors on the 'do-room' and airport runway concrete incorporated into the low maintenance backyard are just a couple of the creative green aspects of the home. Located on a corner lot in Stapleton's Central Park North neighborhood, across from the 80 acre Central Park, and a short distance from the former airport's control tower, HGTV selected the homesite well when they decided to build the 2011 Green Home in Denver's newest 'classic neighborhood.' A short commute to the Fitzsimons Anschutz Medical Center, Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport, the home's location will become even more convenient in a few years when RTD completes the commuter rail line from DIA to Downtown. The Central Park Station will be close enough to walk to from the Green Home, but far enough to avoid the noise and traffic. The 2011 HGTV Green Home is also just a short walk to Stapleton's Swigert-McAuliffe International School, opened in 2011, and the Denver Central Park Recreation Center. Here's your chance to own a home like no other in the country. The 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton is available for sale. Contact Diana or Michael Kearns today to schedule a private tour of this amazing home!

RE/MAX of Cherry Creek

2011-10-01T06:18:00-07:00

We've moved! Today is an exciting day for The Kearns Team, as we join the team at RE/MAX of Cherry Creek as Brokers and Co-Owners. After several years with RE/MAX Alliance in Denver, we made the move to RE/MAX of Cherry Creek because their business focus and philosophy blends well with ours. RE/MAX of Cherry Creek is one of the most successful single office RE/MAX franchises in the country. While RE/MAX Alliance is a very large and successful multi-office franchise, we feel that the single office focus at RE/MAX of Cherry Creek, and their focus on central Denver real estate, lines up better with our business and with our clients' needs. Within the RE/MAX of Cherry Creek office we will also have access to a dedicated marketing staff and on-site mortgage and title companies. In addition to being Realtors within RE/MAX of Cherry Creek, we are also part owners of the company. So what does this mean for our clients? Continued representation by the Kearns Team, with the support of Denver's leading real estate brokerage. Access to on-site marketing, mortgage, and title services. Increased visibility for home listings within Central Denver.

Click to Text

2011-10-02T06:27:00-07:00

If you look, you may notice a new feature on our website today: Click To Text. About a year ago we implemented a LiveChat feature on the website, allowing site visitors to chat with us in real time to answer real estate questions. The only donwside of this feature was that if we weren't sitting in front of the computer, the LiveChat service was more like an answering machine. In real estate we're often out of the office with clients, in closings, or meetings, so the LiveChat service wasn't as valuable to clients as we had hoped. Recently we came up with the idea of replacing LiveChat with a click to text service to allow clients to reach us via text message even when we are out of the office. Our web developer designed the interface, and today we've launched! We hope that our new Click to Text feature is helpful to you, our real estate clients.

Stapleton Community Garage Sale registration has begun

2011-06-01T12:01:00-07:00

Registration is underway for the 6th annual Stapleton Community Garage Sale! Sponsored entirely by Diana and Michael Kearns, the Kearns Team at RE/MAX of Cherry Creek in Denver, and first held in 2006 with about 75 homes participating, the Stapleton Community Garage Sale has grown to over four times its original size and in 2011 it is expanding to 2 days! When is the 2011 Stapleton Community Garage Sale Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 8:00am to 1:00 pm (homes West of Westerly Creek) Sunday, July 17, 2011 from 8:00 to 1:00 pm (homes East of Westerly Creek) Where is the 2011 Stapleton Community Garage Sale Individual sales at homes throughout Stapleton. A list of homes participating (with a map) will be created and posted here a week before the sale, and there will be signs posted throughout the neighborhood. We expect to begin distributing the signs around June 10. Stapleton Community Garage Sale Registration and Cost All costs of organizing and advertising the sale are paid by Diana and Michael Kearns, The Kearns Team, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek. It is our way of saying Thank You to the Stapleton community. To register, visit the garage sale page on our website at www.BuildingStapleton.com/GarageSale. If you have additional questions, please check out our Stapleton Garage Sale FAQ page and our Garage Sale Tips page... and if you need more information, you can email us at GarageSale@BuildingStapleton.com.

Fireworks displays around Stapleton - Denver, CO

2011-07-01T05:34:00-07:00

Most Stapleton residents know that the Colorado Rapids' '4th Fest' fireworks show is visible throughout the neighborhood, but where is the best place in Stapleton to view fireworks... and when are the shows? The Colorado Rockies' fireworks shows at Coors Field on FRIDAY JULY 1 and SATURDAY JULY 2 should also be visible from Stapleton. Shows begin after the Rockies' games against the Kansas City Royals. Games start at 6:10pm and the fireworks begin 45 minutes after the games end (probably between 9:30 and 10:00pm). For more info visit the Rockies website. The sledding hill in Central Park (not to mention the parking lot at Northfield Stapleton) should be packed this SUNDAY JULY 3 (not on the 4th) to watch the show put on by the Rapids and Commerce City. The show will begin after the Rapids' game vs the Houston Dynamo. Game starts at 7pm, expect the fireworks around 9:30pm. You can also make a day of it at 4th Fest - activities begin at 4pm. Get more info at www.4thFestColorado.com. You might not be able to see it from Stapleton, but a free concert and fireworks show on SUNDAY JULY 3 features the Colorado Symphony at Civic Center Park ( 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, across from the City and County Building). Lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The concert starts at 8:00pm and the fireworks are scheduled for 9:15pm. One more show on SUNDAY JULY 3 is hosted by the Denver Outlaws lacrosse team at Invesco Field. Billed as 'Denver's largest fireworks show,' the pyrotechnics will start after the 7:00pm game. More info is available at www.DenverOutlaws.com. And finally, there actually will be fireworks in Denver on July 4! Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park is offering live music and entertainment on SUNDAY JULY 3 and MONDAY JULY 4, with fireworks shows capping off both days. Visit Elitch's website for more info. These are just a few of the dozens of professional fireworks shows throughout Colorado. Please be careful this holiday weekend and remember that every type of firework - including sparklers - are illegal in the City and County of Denver.

Update: Stapleton Community Garage Sale Registration

2011-06-30T13:26:00-07:00

Following up on a few requests that we've received, we're making a change for this year's Stapleton Community Garage Sale. Some residents expressed concern that the Saturday / Sunday split by location was inconvenient for their schedules, or that they were afraid they wouldn't get enough traffic on their assigned day. So, here's what we are going to do: The sale will still be held, as scheduled on Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17. Participants can pick which day (or both) they want to hold their sale. We will note the day(s) of each participant's sale on the map and list that we publish. This should address everyone's concerns, and should help us to gauge the traffic level each day in preparation for next year's sale. The online registration form has already been updated to add a 'which day' section, and everyone who already signed up has been contacted to update their info. Thanks for participating!

Study ranks Denver as 5th Greenest City in US and Canada

2011-06-30T12:22:00-07:00

Recognition of Denver as a leading 'green' city keeps rolling in. A few months after HGTV built the 2011 HGTV Green Home in Denver's Stapleton neighborhood, a study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked Denver as the fifth greenest major city in the U.S. and Canada. The study also noted that Denver, ' ...is the top performer overall among mid-income cities in the index.' Commissioned by Siemens Corp, the study examined the environmental performance and policies of 27 cities to create the 'Green City Index.' According to the Study, Denver ranked first in 2 of 10 categories (Energy and Environmental Governance) and in the top 10 of 4 more (Buildings, Transport, Water, and Air). Denver's investment in mass transit was highlighted in a section of the study titled, 'Denver: From T-Rex to Fastracks - an integrated mobility concept.' Oddly, one of Stapleton's strengths was noted as a weakness for Denver. According to the study, Denver was '...marked down for having the smallest amount of green space in the index as a proportion of its administrative area - just 3% versus the index average of 12%.' By contrast, fully one-third of Stapleton's 4700 acres is dedicated open space. The full survey is available here.

Do Denver's Union Station Neighborhood Plans include an Apple Store?

2011-06-25T06:13:00-07:00

So, I received an email this week from the 'Union Station Neighborhood Company' touting a video update for their vision for the redevelopment of Denver's Union Station and the surrounding area. The video, and the website in general, show an amazing transformation of Denver's iconic Union Station into a transportation, pedestrian, and retail hub for the City. It iwll also be the downtown arrival point for the commuter rail line that will begin at Denver International Airport and move through Stapleton. I was so awestruck by the video that I wantched it a few times... and that is when I noticed a familiar retail logo. You see, the 'vision video' flies through the interior and exterior of the station, and then outside to the pedestrian and retail areas. While there aren't ANY other recognizable retail logos in the video, there is clearly an Apple logo and an Apple Store display window in the retail area! Look to the left of the video between 35 and 42 seconds. Does this mean that the Union Station redevelopment has an agreement in place for an Apple Store in downtown Denver? Here's a link to the full Union Station Neighborhood website, and a link directly to the video.

Cycleton, Stapleton's local bike shop

2011-06-22T08:58:00-07:00

So, my road bike was in need of some tires and tubes for a new set of wheels I recently purchased. As I was getting ready to head to one of Denver's mega-sized bike shops, a friend reminded me about '...the new bike shop in Stapleton.' I'm really glad he did! Cycleton is a Specialized Elite bicycle store that opened in Stapleton's 29th Ave Town Center in May. Based onthe number of customers I saw inside, and the rack of shop tickets, it sure looks like Stapleton (and northeast Denver in general) has welcomed this new business to the neighborhood. Combining a beautiful store, friendly employees, and a strong focus on customer service, Cycleton looks like a great addition to Stapleton. In addition to the Specialized brand, Cycleton carries Orbea, Nirve, Thule, Burley, B.O.B and Capo. They host a Saturday morning group ride (about two hours, leaves the shop at 6:30am) and have just started a Sunday group run (about an hour, leaves the shop at 8:30am). Cycleton looks to have something for just about everyone, from kids to cruisers to serious riders. Next time you're in the Town Center stop in and check them out - and definitely visit the store when it is time to service your current bike or to buy a new bike or accessories! Cycleton is located at 7480 E 29th Ave, Denver CO 80238 and their phone number is (303) 329-0069. Check them out online at www.cycleton.com or visit their Facebook page.

As Tax Time Approaches, Don't Miss Important Deductions from Your Home

2011-02-17T05:07:00-07:00

RISMEDIA, February 8, 2011—April 15 will be here before you know it, and for those who have recently purchased or sold a home, there are a number of tax deductions of which you should be aware. One of the best things about owning a home is the fact you can deduct the mortgage loan interest every year on your tax return. The deduction that most buyers forget about is points. Points on a home loan are tax deductible if they are used to bring down the mortgage interest rate. “Points or origination fees that were paid during the purchase of a home are generally tax deductible in full for the year that you paid them,” said Manhattan accountant Russell Goldstein. “However, origination charges from the lender that constitute a service fee are not tax deductible.” Making home improvements to the home prior to the sale or once one moves in might qualify for an interest deduction on your home improvement loan. It must be an improvement that adds value to the home, such as an added room or installing energy-efficient windows. “The most important tax deductions that a buyer would not want to miss when it comes to home improvement are the most expensive ones that they can legally deduct,” said real estate blogger Bill Gassett. “For example, remodeling a kitchen is not something you would want to forget about.” Many times during a sale, the seller will send the local tax collector’s office a check for real estate taxes prior to the closing. In many circumstances, however, the buyer will pay a pro-rated portion of the taxes for the year at closing. This tax deduction is one that is forgotten quite often. Homebuyers can also declare pro-rated mortgage interest. “When you are buying a home, depending on when in the month the home sale closes, the buyers pay either a small or large amount of pro-rated mortgage interest for the particular month they close,” Goldstein said. “Whether the amount is large or small, a home buyer can write that amount off. The final closing settlement statement will show just how much the buyer is due.” Home sellers may also be able to deduct advertising costs, legal selling fees, inspections fees and commissions paid to a real estate agent. Every year, the tax laws change and certain tax deductions become available while others phase out. If you have recently bought or sold a home, it’s probably a good idea to seek out a professional tax consultant to help you with your taxes, experts say. “The biggest reason it is important to speak with a tax expert is because of the missed deductions and on occasion deducting things that you are not able to claim,” Gassett said. “Missing deductions that you can legally claim can add up to quite a bit of money. The thing is you can continue to make tax mistakes on a yearly basis that over a long period of time could add up to significant money.”

Denver named one of the most electric vehicle-ready cities by Ford

2011-04-13T04:59:00-07:00

The Denver Post reported this morning that Ford Motor Company yesterday named Denver as one of the 25 most 'electric vehicle-ready cities' in the United States. In an amazing coincidence, a few months ago Ford had named Denver as one of the 19 launch cities for the late-2011 launch of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. The Nissa LEAF, another anticipated electric car, launched in Texas and Hawaii in January 2011 - apparently they didn't share Ford's love for Denver!

Denver Council considers increased rec center fee structure

2011-06-06T05:22:00-07:00

Denver City Council's Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will meet on Tuesday June 7 to discuss proposed changes that affect the City's recreation centers. The changes, as proposed by Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR), would create a tiered facitlity and membership structure for the City's rec centers. Rec centers would be classified as Regional, Local, or Neighborhood based on thier size, location, amenities, hours, and pricing. The recently opened Central Park Rec Center in Stapleton would be one of seven 'regional' centers. According to DPR, 'the Regional Centers were selected because they are larger centers which house more amenities such as competitive size basketball courts or indoor pools. The will be operational 7 days a week, have been equitably distributed to ensure 7 day a week coverage across the City, and will have a higher pricing structure.' The DPR documents submitted to City Council propose increases to the individual Adult membership fee from the current $190 per year to a range of $180 to $360, depending on rec center tier. Youth memberships, currently $35 per year, would range from $30 to $95. Two additional changes would be the addition of a Young Adult membership category for those ages 18 to 24 (currently classified as 'adult') and the creation of a Family membership package which would provide 50% discounts to additional members after the head of household. According to DPR's bill request to Council, 'This new pricing structure will increase DPR's cost recovery model targets by potentially increasing revenue by $900,000 and will bring Recreation fee [sic] more in line with metropolitan Denver municipal proce structures.' Copies of the bill request, executive summary, proposed tier alignment and fees (obtained from the City's website) can be viewed here. The Council committee's public meeting will be held Tuesday June 7, 2001 at 10:30am, in room 391 of the City and County Building, 1435 Bannock Street.

Rotary Pancake Breakfast at the Stapleton Farmer's Market

2011-06-17T10:40:00-07:00

Rotary Club of Denver Stapleton – Pancake Breakfast Sunday, June 19th (Father's Day)At the Stapleton Farmer's Market at Founder's Green (29th between Roslyn and Syracuse) The Rotary Club of Denver Stapleton will host thier annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, June 19th at the Farmer's Market. Bring your families (and appetites!) for pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice. Rotarians will be serving breakfast from 8:30am – 11:00am. Suggested donations are $5 for adults, $3 for ages 3-11, and children 2 and under are free. Proceeds from the Pancake Breakfast support... End Polio Now – a campaign to directly support immunization in developing countries where polio continues to infect and paralyze children. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - Each summer the Rotary Club of Denver Stapleton sponsors area students to attend a leadership training program for young people. Our Rotary Club spends $800 to sponsor two students from area schools to attend a week-long leadership camp with other students from across the Front Range. ShelterBox – this year a ShelterBox will be on display. Each box costs $1,000 to assemble and ship anywhere in the world. It provides shelter and one month's worth of food & supplies for a family of 10 people. Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

RTD Central Park Station Area Plan Public Meeting

2011-06-16T08:01:00-07:00

Public Announcement from the City and County of Denver: Central Park Station Area Plan Public Meeting June 29, 2011 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Renaissance Denver Hotel 3801 Quebec Avenue You are invited to participate in the first public meeting for the Central Park Station Area Plan on June 29, 2011 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Avenue. This public meeting will help establish the needed vision and principles to direct the planning process for the area surrounding the planned Stapleton Transit Facility located near the intersection of Unita Street and Smith Road. The transit facility includes one of six stations on the East Commuter Rail Line, which is scheduled to begin operations between Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport in 2016. A majority of the station area is within the boundaries of the Stapleton Development Plan, commonly known as the “Green Book”. Since the adoption of the Green Book in 1995, the station area has been intended to become a walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood serving as Stapleton’s portal to the regional transit network. The goal of this planning effort is to provide a framework to direct future development and infrastructure around the transit station in a manner that capitalizes on the area’s access to transit by creating vibrant urban places. The plan will identify a plan vision and principles consistent with the Stapleton Green Book, the Transit Oriented Development Strategic Plan, and Blueprint Denver, as well as develop plan concepts to achieve the community vision for the area.

Its Election Day in Denver - don't forget to vote

2011-06-07T05:50:00-07:00

Don't forget that today is Election Day in Denver. Since this is a mail election, if you haven't already sent in your ballot you will need to drop it off at one of the 13 Voter Service Centers no later than 7:00pm tonight in order to have your vote count. Even if you lost your ballot or didn’t get one in the mail, you can still go to one of the 13 Centers and vote – just be sure to take your ID. All 13 Centers will be open until the polls officially close at 7pm. Here is a list of locations: District 1: Scheitler Recreation Center, 5031 W. 46th Ave. District 2: Harvey Park Recreation Center, 2120 S. Tennyson Way District 3: Barnum Recreation Center, 360 Hooker St. District 4: Christ Community Church, 8085 E. Hampden Ave. District 5: Montclair Recreation Center, 729 Ulster Way District 6: Washington Park Recreation Center, 701 S. Franklin St. District 7: Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave. District 8: Blair-Caldwell Library, 2401 Welton St. District 9: Tivoli Student Union at Auraria, 900 Auraria Pkwy., Rm. 261 District 10: Christ Church United Methodist, 690 Colorado Blvd. District 10: Denver Elections Division, 200 W. 14th Ave. District 11: Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center, 3334 Holly St. District 11: Montbello Recreation Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave. The Denver Mayoral election between Chris Romer and Michael Hancock tops the ballot, and it promises to be a close race. Please make sure to vote and to have your opinion count!

Hot Holiday Deals from David Weekley in Stapleton

2010-11-11T09:15:00-07:00

Brand new Stapleton home from David Weekley! 8966 E. 35th Ave. - $474,900 Originally listed at $513,941 2847 sq. ft. w/3 beds + loft, 2.5 baths, & 1422 unfinished sq. ft. basement December 2010 close! This deal won't last long! if you are interested in this, or other new or resale homes in Stapleton, please contact us today! And if you are thinking about buying a new home through a builder, make sure to read this important info on why you should have a Buyer's Agent to represent you.

New David Weekley home available in Stapleton Central Park West

2011-04-12T07:32:00-07:00

David Weekley Homes has announced that one of the first new homes in Stapleton's Central Park West neighborhood is available for sale and scheduled to close in June! The home, located at 3492 Trenton Street, is 2175 sq ft (plus an 1,100 sq ft unfinished basement) and offers 3 bedrooms plus a loft, 2 1/2 baths, and a 2 car garage on a corner lot with mountain views. The $416,705 purchase price includes 42' maple cabinets, hickory hardwood floors, granite slab counters in the kitchen and bathrooms, stainless steel appliances, fireplace, tankless water heater, and more! Contact us today for more information. By the way, if you are considering buying a new home in Stapleton, contact us BEFORE you visit the builder's model homes. We can help you learn about all Stapleton has to offer, and when you decide to buy we may be able to represent YOU at no cost - the builder pays our commission. Learn why it is important to have a Buyer's Agent when purchasing a home through a builder.

Central Park Boulevard Project Update

2011-05-27T07:17:00-07:00

Update provided by the City and County of Denver Central Park Boulevard Project Update- May 26, 2011 The time has now come to set the girders and deck panels for the new Central Park Boulevard Bridge over I-70. On Friday night June 3 we will be closing down the highways around the Central Park Boulevard Interchange project starting with a single left lane on I-270 EB at 6 PM. Then, the I-70 EB and WB closure will start being implemented at approximately 10 PM but the detour and complete closure of the highway will not start until midnight. It will be picked up by 7 AM Saturday. Saturday 6/4 will be similar, however we will start a little earlier with the lighter weekend traffic. I-270 will still get a single left lane at 6PM, but I-70 EB and WB will start being implemented with a single left at 8PM, and progress to a full closure at 10PM. It will be picked up by 7AM on Sunday. Sunday night 6/5 into Monday and Monday night 6/6 into Tuesday will also have similar closures. Sunday night will start early again (10PM full closure), Monday night full closure will not take place until midnight. These both will be picked up earlier, by 5AM on the weekday mornings of 6/6 and 6/7. I-270 WB will not be affected. The on and off-ramps will be used as the detours for the full I-70 closures. I-70 will be constricted down to one lane and then we will take traffic off on the ramps. They will go through the new diamond interchange and down the off-ramp back onto I-70. Pretty straightforward, but is strongly suggested traffic take alternate routes, especially the time-sensitive airport traffic on I-70 EB. for more information, please visit http://www.denvergov.org/capital_projects_center/ProjectsinProgress/CentralParkBoulevardInterchange/tabid/431817/Default.aspx

Politics as Usual - Chris Romer proves to be a quick study

2011-05-11T06:29:00-07:00

Sorry, this morning's posting is about Denver politics instead of real estate, but I can't help myself. And in the interest of full disclosure, I've known Councilman and Mayoral Candidate for several years and support his candidacy because I know the kind of person and leader he is. Chris Romer, Denver Mayoral candidate and son of former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, has spent his campaign portraying himself as an outsider who can come into Denver government and shake things up. He has touted his career as an Investment Banker - when was the last time anyone viewed investment banking positively? - and his four years as a State Senator. This morning I saw a new Romer commercial where he attacks his political opponent Michael Hancock as practicing 'politics as usual.' Romer's charge is based on Hancock's politically unpopular decision as a Denver Councilman to vote in favor of future pay increases for Denver's Council, Mayor, and a handful of other positions (although he said he would not accept the increase if elected Mayor). Somehow it is hard to say that making an unpopular decision because you believe it to be the right one qualifies as 'politics as usual.' To this Denver voter, here are better examples of 'politics as usual:' Going negative as early in the campaign as possible. While Hancock runs inspiring ads about his background and releases plans for his first 100 days in office, Romer uses his fundraising advantage to launch negative ads about his opponent instead of talking about his own plans for the City. Ripping a campaign opponent during the election and then cozying up to him when it becomes politically favorable. During the first round of voting for Denver Mayor Romer was on the offensive, attacking opponent James Mejia. During one event Romer accused Mejia of waffling on issues, at one point stating, 'I’d also like to point out one of my colleagues up here has had three answers on this question: Yes, no and maybe.” Of course when it was time to seek former-candidate Mejia's endorsement, Romer decided to make Mejia Chairman of Romer's campaign and offer him a position in Romer's administration if elected. Afterwards (remember, politics as usual), Mejia accepted the offer and endorsed Romer. Waffling positions on issues while accusing others of doing the same. Remember Romer's comment about 'yes, not and maybe?' Funny how Romer's public stance on eliminating the position of Manager of Public Safety changed quickly when he wanted endorsements from Mejia and another former candidate Theresa Spahn - both of whom disagreed with Romer's position. This after Romer's comments on election night as reported by the Colorado Statesman: 'You’ll always know where I stand,” he said. “We may not always agree, but I will have the tough decisions and I will know how to say ‘no’ in city hall.' Jumping on the bandwagon of hot-button issues like medical marijuana as Chris Romer did while in the State Senate. Romer burst onto the medical marijuana scene in late 2009 - and announced his Mayoral candidacy in 2010. I'd love to say something here about Romer's stance on cupcake trucks (highlighted in an early campaign ad), but I have trouble putting 'hot-button issue' and 'cupcake truck' in the same thought. C'mon Chris, get real. The race to the June 7 election is a sprint and we need to hear what you really believe in. Denver voters deserve better than mud-slinging ads and, in your own words, 'politics as usual.'

Open House Today - Brick ranch home in Montclair

2011-05-01T07:45:00-07:00

This charming brick ranch is located on a large corner lot in Denver’s Montclair neighborhood. Featuring hardwood floors, an open floorplan, and an updated bathroom, this home is ready for you to move-in! There are two bedrooms, a living room with fireplace, dining area, and a separate family / sun room. The attached garage also offers additional storage. The corner lot with a large fenced yard provides additional room to grow. Located in a great Denver neighborhood, this home offers an easy commute to Downtown Denver, the Anschutz / Fitzsimons Medical Campus, the Denver Tech Center, or DIA. OPEN HOUSE - Sunday May 1, 2011 - 2:00 to 4:00 pm796 Kearney Street, Denver CO 80220

New Listing in Stapleton! 2 bedroom townhome with loft

2011-05-02T13:39:00-07:00

Just Listed in Stapleton! Fabulous townhome, one block from Puddle Jumper Pool and a few blocks to Bill Roberts and Westerly Creek Elementary Schools and the Denver School of Science and Technology. Two bedrooms plus loft with private balcony, 2 1/2 baths. Hardwood floors, granite counters, fireplace in the living room. Showings begin today! 8893 E 24th Place, Unit 101 - offered for $249,900

Great American Food Truck Race comes to Denver

2011-05-06T11:13:00-07:00

The Food Network will be filming for season 2 of 'The Great American Food Truck Race' this weekend in Denver! Exact location for the trucks seems to be hard to come by. It looks like participants are not allowed to tweet or facebook their locations directly, but they are partnering with local vendors who CAN make announcements! DenverStreetFood.com seems to be doing a good job of posting updates as soon as info is known. The Food Network hasn't confirmed the participants, but here's what the blogs are saying: Hodge Podge, Cleveland, Ohio Korilla Barbecue, New York Roxy's Grilled Cheese, Boston, Massachusetts Devilicious Food Truck, San Diego, California The Lime Truck, Irvine, California Seabirds, Orange County, California Cafe con Leche, Van Nuys, California

4 Bedroom Stapleton Executive Home - Open House

2011-05-07T07:06:00-07:00

Open House - Saturday May 7 - 2:00 - 4:00 pm7937 E 24th Place, Denver CO 80238 This rare four bedroom home is filled with custom upgrades, inside and out, and is located in a fabulous Stapleton neighborhood. The main floor features rich hardwood floors and an open floorplan. The gourmet kitchen, with striking wood cabinets, slab granite counters, stainless steel appliances and a large island, opens to the breakfast area and living room with fireplace. There is also a formal dining room and a study with French doors. Upstairs are four bedrooms, including a large master suite with five piece bath and walk-in closet. The yard offers a custom deck with room to relax or entertain, and an oversized two car attached garage. This home is extensively wired for media, inside and out. Located in an established Stapleton neighborhood, this home is close to parks, pools and schools, and offers an easy commute to Downtown Denver, the Anschutz / Fitzsimons Medical Campus, the Denver Tech Center, or DIA.

Forest City announces new multi-family rental housing at Stapleton

2011-04-25T08:34:00-07:00

Forest City announced today it will break ground this summer on two new multi-family rental complexes at Stapleton. The Eastbridge Apartments will be comprised of 118 rental homes on E. 29th Drive at Havana. The new apartments will be within a block of a neighborhood pool and park that opened at Stapleton in 2008 and just minutes west of the major employment center of the Fitzsimons Life Science District and the Anschutz Medical Campus. Units in the two and three story buildings that comprise the complex will include 1 and 2 bedroom units. Rents for the Eastbridge Apartments are expected to range from $1,050 to $1,425. The second new complex at Stapleton will be the Novella Apartments located north of Martin Luther King Boulevard two blocks north of the E.29th Avenue Town Center along Roslyn Way. The apartments will be within a short walk of the Quebec Square Regional Retail Center, the planned FasTracks multimodal center on Smith Road to the north and Central Park to the east. A new Denver Public Library is scheduled to open in the Town Center in 2012 and the new Swigert-McAuliffe International School (ECE-8) will be opened by Denver Public Schools near the Novella Apartments in August of this year. The 85 units of the first phase of the 220 unit development are expected to include 1 and 2 bedroom apartments with leases expected to range from $1,050 to $1,350. “The multifamily market has rebounded swiftly,” said John Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton, Inc. “The flexible zoning at Stapleton allows Forest City to take advantage of market opportunities and bring product to market quickly in ideal locations. “We have every reason to expect that these new rental developments will receive an enthusiastic welcome from the market and further enhance Stapleton’s image as a community that offers a diversity of housing choices,” Lehigh added.

Solar Panels boost home values

2011-04-21T12:00:00-07:00

In a study released today, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that installing solar panles on a home in California increases its value by $17,000 on average. While this is not an exact sicence, and LBNL's study was confined to homes in California, it does show that buyers see value in the photovoltaic systems installation. The study looked at 72,000 home sales between 1999 and 2009, and found that on average a photovoltaic system increased a home's resale value by about $5.50 per watt. Locally, in Stapleton we are seeing more and more homes with solar power systems. New Town Builders has offered solar as a standard feature of their Solaris model homes, tor the past two years. Their CEO, Gene Myers, recently told 9News that he belives the addition of solar, combined with increased overall energy efficiency, has helped New Town prosper in the current real estate market. Considering buying a new home in Stapleton? Contact us BEFORE you visit the builder's model homes. We can help you learn about all Stapleton has to offer, and when you decide to buy we may be able to represent YOU at no cost - the builder pays our commission.Learn why it is important to have a Buyer's Agent when purchasing a home through a builder.

Stapleton MCA to equip pools with defibrillators

2011-04-20T10:58:00-07:00

Cool news from today's meeting of the Stapleton Master Community Asosciation (MCA) delegates: The MCA received a grant from the American Red Cross to place five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the community. Four will go to the neighborhood's four pools, and the fiftth will be on hand for community events. The grant saved the MCA about $12,000 while providing extra care for residents in case of emergency. According to the American Heart Association, 'Sudden cardiac arrest and other life-threatening emergencies can happen anywhere... Giving CPR and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can greatly increase the victim’s chance of survival.' Paula Deorio, Aquatics Director for the MCA, could barely contain her excitement as she talked about the defibrillators while Keven Burnett showed off one of the units. Paula noted that the pool's lifeguards would be trained on use of the AEDs, but the units are designed so that others could use them in case of emergency.

Builder incentives and negotiation fading away in Stapleton

2011-04-20T08:34:00-07:00

In a sign that the times are improving for home builders in Denver's Stapleton neighborhood, the days of price incentives and negotiations are coming to an end. For the last few years, buyers have approached builder pricing sheets in about the same way that they view the MSRP on a car - as a quaint but not always relevant number. Whether builders were open to negotiations usually came down to the status of each individual home, but buyers have expected to be in the drivers' seat. With 240+ new home sales in Stapleton last year, new designs and energy saving features being added to homes in Central Park West, and a smaller supply of available lots, builders have been encouraged to price their homes to avoid offering incentives. Of course we will probably still see incentives and negotiations on spec and inventory homes that are unsold as they near completion (these are usually homes where the original buyer had to drop the contract). There are also a few deals left to be had where builders are closing out models and styles in areas outside of Central Park West. Interested in a new home in Stapleton? Contact us today!

Street Sweeper crashes into Famous Dave's BBQ in Stapleton

2011-04-19T17:24:00-07:00

Famous Dave's BBQ restaurant in Quebec Square in Stapleton re-opened for business today, just 33 hours after a street sweeper truck crashed through an eterior wall and into the bar area. The accident occured around 5am Monday morning. No one inside the restaurant was hurt, and the truck driver was taken from the scene in an ambulance, with non-life threatening injuries. The truck was estimated to have been traveling at approximately 40 mph when it crashed through the restaurant's wall. Mike Higgins, Area Director for Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, was quoted on the restaurant's Facebook page as saying, “It’s amazing that things have turned around this quickly. Just yesterday I was standing in a pile of rubble, although optimistic, I thought it would be 2-3 days before we were able to get the doors open again.” Here's a link to some pretty amazing photos, posted on the restaurant's Facebook page.

H&M confirms first Colorado location at Denver Pavilions

2011-04-13T13:30:00-07:00

After a long courtship, H&M announced this morning that it will be opening its first Colorado location in Denver, at the site of the current Niketown store at the Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall. An opening date has not been announced, but press reports say it should be sometime this fall. Gart Proeprties purchased the Pavilions in 2008 and mentioned H&M as a retailer they hoped to lure to Denver. Earlier this month Nike announced that they would be closing their 12 year old Niketown store in the Denver Pavilions sometime in mid-May. Niketown was one of the Pavilions original tenants. “Denver is one of the most exciting markets we’re announcing this year,” said Nicole Christie, H&M spokeswoman. H&M currently has 2,200 stores worldwide, 210 in the United States. In a Denver Business Journal survey in April 2010, about the same time that IKEA began construction on their Denver-area store, Trader Joe's, In-n-Out Burger, and H&M were ranked as the top three stores that readers wanted to have open in Colorado.

News from the Central Park Recreation Center

2011-04-11T13:00:00-07:00

All information provided by the Central Park Recreation Center. Call the Center at 720.865.0750 with any questions. Easter Bunny at Central Park April 23 Saturday, April 23rd from 10:00 am-2:00 pm the Easter Bunny will be at the Central Park Rec Center to take pictures at no charge. Make sure to bring the camera! Swim Team - Central Park Cost is $50 plus spirit gear. Practice days are Mon-Thur 8:30 am -9:30 am or 9:30 am-10:30 am. Ages 17 and under. Must be able to swim length of the pool. Practice starts June 6th. Summer Baseball/Softball 5-6 Coed T-Ball-$40 6/5-7/30 Practice: Mon & Wed Group A: 4:30 pm-5:15 pm Group B: 5:30 pm-6:15 pm Groups will be combined when games start 7-8 Coed Coach Pitch-$40 6/5-7/30 Practice: Tue and Thur Group A: 4:30 pm-5:15 pm Group B: 5:30 pm-6:15 pm Groups will be combined when games start 9-10 Boys Baseball-$50 5/15-8/6 Practice: Tue & Thur 5:30 pm-6:30 pm Games: TBA 9-10 Girls Softball-$50 5/15-8/6 Practice: Wed & Fri 4:30 pm-5:30 pm Games: TBA 11-12 Girls Softball-$50 5/15-8/6 Practice: Mon & Tue 4:30 pm-5:30 pm Games: TBA Swim Suit Drive Please donate new or nearly new (in good condition) swim suits for other kids in need. A drop-off box will be located in the lobby at Central Park. These suits will be distributed to other Denver Parks and Recreation facilities for kids who cannot afford swim suits. Swim Lessons Next lottery for swim registration is April 11th-12th. Classes are two days a week for four weeks. Adult Ultimate Frisbee - CoEd and Men's Registration Dates: April 4 -April 22, 2011 Season Dates: May 2-June 29, 2011 (8 Games) Game Nights: Monday or Wednesday Nights Cost: $450 per team or $65 for individuals NO registrations will be accepted without full payment Adult Kickball - CoEd and Men's Not only is kickball a great way to get some exercise but it's ridiculously fun! Registration Dates: April 4-22, 2011 Season Dates: May 3-June16, 2011 Game Nights:Tuesday or Thursday Nights Cost: $350 per team or $55 for individual NO registrations will be accepted without full payment

Fair trade - Sunflower for Trader Joe's

2011-04-13T06:10:00-07:00

Okay, so it is just wishful thinking on my part. I read this morning that Colorado-based Sunflower Farmers Market is expanding into California next month when they open their first store in Roseville Square, near Sacramento. It only seems like a fair trade to me that we get Trader Joe's to open in Colorado in exchange... ...and how about we also get a few In-n-Out Burger restaurants in Denver for good measure?

Buy Tour Tickets for 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton

2011-04-09T06:28:00-07:00

Tickets are now available for public tours of the 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton! Tours will be held Thursday through Sunday, May 5 through July 3. Hours are 10am to 6pm Thursday through Saturday and Noon - 5pm on Sundays. Tours begin every 30 minutes, and leave from the Stapleton Discovery Center at 7706 Martin Luther King Blvd, Denver CO 80238. Tickets are $20 each and benefit Urban Peak. Space is limited, and demand is high, so get your tickets early! Buy tickets at Blacktie Colorado.

Construction detours on I-70 and I-270 for Central Park Interchange

2011-04-08T07:37:00-07:00

The City and County of Denver has provided this update on the Central Park Boulevard and I-70 Interchange. The Central Park Boulevard Interchange with I-70 has started to pick up in earnest as winter ends and spring begins. The project is nearing the end of the design phase and the construction phase is in full operation. There will be a significant traffic change occurring this coming weekend (Friday April 8 – Sunday April 10). Starting at 6PM Friday night 4/8, I-270 will go down to one lane in the EB direction, just past the I-70 flyover. At that point, traffic will now be diverted, permanently, onto the new I-270 ramp to I-70. This will be a new road for traffic. The old I-270 ramp will be out of service and will be demolished soon. I-270 will be down to one lane for the whole weekend, until Sunday evening 4/10. Please use caution in the work zone during this permanent traffic switch. The next major operation will occur late in the month of May and an update will be provide the specifics of that operation as they become available. For more information on the construction project, please click here.

HGTV Green Home 2011 receives LEED Platinum certification

2011-03-05T10:03:00-07:00

For Immediate Release The 2011 HGTV Green Home, located in the Stapleton community of Denver, Colorado, recently received a Platinum LEED certification-- the highest rating a home can earn within the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. In addition, the home also received an Energy Star certification which acknowledges its energy efficiency. The 2011 HGTV Green Home, which features construction and design elements that contribute to an energy efficient, cleaner and healthier living environment, is part of a grand prize package that will be given to one lucky viewer in August. The 2011 HGTV Green Home Giveaway will be open for entries Thursday, April 14 through Thursday, June 2, 2011. More information about the home and giveaway can be found at HGTV.com/greenhome. The LEED certification signifies that the HGTV Green Home, with approximately 2400 square feet offinishedspace, meets rigorous standards for sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, proximity to transit and existing infrastructure and innovative design. Of the 9,812 homes nationally that have received some level of LEED certification (certified, silver, gold, or platinum), less than 25% were platinum homes. In Colorado where the home is located, 36 homes have earned the platinum rating. LEED for Homes, a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, is a project of the U.S. Green Building Council. The 2011 HGTV Green Home also achieved an Energy Star Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 38, indicating that it exceeds governing energy conservation building codes by 62%. In order for a home to qualify as Energy Star it must achieve a HERS score of 85 or lower. The energy star scoring system is based on an index established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). “We are proud of our commitment to the environment through the HGTV Green Home Giveaway,” said HGTV President Jim Samples. “As we enter our fourth green home giveaway, we continue to hear from many of our viewers that they are interested in learning more about eco-friendly lifestyles. The HGTV Green Home Giveaway provides an excellent opportunity to showcase examples of accessible approaches to green living while featuring the high level of style that our viewers expect.” ABOUT HGTV GREEN HOME The HGTV Green Home Giveaway complements the network’s annual HGTV Dream Home Giveaway, one of the most successful consumer promotions in cable TV history. The HGTV Green Home Giveaway 2011 involves sponsorship from several national advertisers including: GMC, Shaw Floors, Moen Incorporated, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Rinnai Corporation, Andersen Windows and Doors, and Trex Company, Inc. ABOUT HGTV HGTV, America’s leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 99 million U.S. households and is one of cable’s top-rated networks. HGTV’s website, HGTV.com, is the nation’s leading online home-and-garden destination, which attracts an average of more than 4 million unique visitors per month. ABOUT STAPLETON Located on the site of Denver’s former international airport, Stapleton is one of the largest urban redevelopments in the United States. The core objective of the community plan is to create a living example of progressive, sustainable neighborhood design. With a walkable mix of energy-efficient new homes, retail districts, schools, offices and an extensive network of parks and open spaces, Stapleton is not only leading the way environmentally but economically and socially, too. For more information, visit StapletonDenver.com. The community is being developed by Forest City Enterprises, Inc., an NYSE-listed national real estate company engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate throughout the United States. For more information, visit ForestCity.net. ABOUT INFINITY HOME COLLECTION Infinity Home Collection is a privately-owned, upscale homebuilder in Denver, Colorado. As award winning builders in the Denver area for over fifteen years, Infinity is recognized for their green home designs and attention to detail. Every Infinity Home is Energy Star certified and built with the most current sustainable building practices. For more information, visit InfinityHomeCollection.com.

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Scenarios

2010-04-27T21:18:00-07:00

The following information is reproduced directly from the IRS.gov website. S1. If a single person (Taxpayer A) qualifies as a first-time homebuyer at the time he/she purchases a home with someone (Taxpayer B) that is not a first-time homebuyer and then later that year they marry each other, is the credit still allowed? A. Eligibility for the first-time homebuyer credit is determined on the date of purchase. If Taxpayer A, a first-time homebuyer, buys a house and then later that year marries Taxpayer B, not a first-time homebuyer, the credit is allowable to Taxpayer A. Taxpayer A may take the maximum credit. S2. Taxpayer A is a single first-time home buyer. Taxpayer B (parent) cosigns for A and does not qualify. Both names are on the mortgage. Can Taxpayer A claim the credit and, if so, how much? A. Yes. Taxpayer B is not a first-time homebuyer and cannot claim any portion of the credit, but A may claim the entire credit ($7,500 for purchase in 2008; $8,000 for purchase in 2009), if the home was purchased as Taxpayer A's primary residence. S3. A taxpayer owned her principal residence. Several years ago, she decided to relocate to a rented apartment, but did not sell the former residence. Instead, she rented it out to tenants. Now the taxpayer plans to buy another house and make it her new principal residence. Does she qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit? A. A taxpayer who owned rental property within the past three years is still eligible for the credit. The taxpayer cannot have owned and used a home as his or her principal residence within the last three years. S4. If husband and wife wanted to sell the home that the wife owned when they got married, and the husband had not owned a home within the past three years, could he qualify as a first-time homebuyer for the credit even though the wife would not qualify? A. No. The purchase date determines whether a taxpayer is a first-time homebuyer. Since the wife had ownership interest in a principal residence within the prior three years, neither taxpayer may take the first-time homebuyer credit. Section 36(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code requires that the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse not have an ownership interest in a principal residence within the prior three years from the date of purchase. The husband may not take the credit even if he filed on a separate return. S5. Taxpayer purchased a home on April 24, 2008, while she was separated from her husband. Later in the year, they reconciled and were living together at the end of 2008. She has not owned a home since 2004 but he owned one which he sold in 2006. They remained married the entire time. Is the taxpayer eligible for the first-time homebuyer credit? A. No. The purchase date determines whether a taxpayer is a first-time homebuyer. Since the husband had ownership interest in a principal residence within the prior three years, and the taxpayers were legally married, neither taxpayer may take the first-time homebuyer credit. Section 36(c)(1) requires that the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse not have an ownership interest in a principal residence within the prior three years from the date of purchase. While individuals do not have to be married to get the credit, marriage (and legal separation) imputes ownership of a previous home upon the other spouse. The wife may not take the credit even if she filed on a separate return. S6. I have been estranged from my spouse for over three years and file married filing separate. I don’t know if my spouse has owned a main home in the last three years, but I have not. If I buy a house in 2009 that otherwise qualifies for the first-time homebuyer credit, can I claim the credit? A. Section 36(c)(1) requires that the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse not have an ownership interest in a principal residence within the three years prior to the date of purchase. While individuals do not have to be married to get the credit, marriage (and legal separation) imputes ownership of a previous home upon the other spouse. If your spouse has not owned a main home in the last three years, then you may claim the credit. S7. I am separated from my spouse and considered unmarried, and qualify for the unmarried head of household filing status. My spouse has owned a main home in the last three years, but I have not. If I buy a home on May 1, 2009, that otherwise qualifies, can I claim the first-time homebuyer credit? A. No. Section 36(c)(1) requires that the taxpayer and the taxpayer's spouse not have an ownership interest in a principal residence within the three years prior to the date of purchase. While individuals do not have to be married to get the credit, marriage (and legal separation) imputes ownership of a previous home upon the other spouse. The taxpayer may not take the credit even if filed on a separate return. S8. A qualifying taxpayer bought a home in August 2008 that needed a lot of work before occupying. They finished the renovations and moved in the home in January 2009. Can they claim the $8,000, since they did not occupy the home until 2009? A. No. Taxpayers who purchase an existing home and renovate the property before moving in are eligible for the first-time homebuyer credit based on the date of purchase, not the date of occupancy.

Sign up for the Stapleton Community Garage Sale

2010-06-14T13:20:00-07:00

Signups are underway for the 5th annual Stapleton Community Garage Sale. The sale will be held on Saturday, July 17, 8am - 1pm. Last year we wound up with about 300 homes participating. If you want to sign up for the sale, please send an email GarageSale@BuildingStapleton.com with the following info: Contact Name - This is for our use in communicating only, and will not be shared Phone number - This is for our use in communicating only, and will not be shared. Since I cut/paste into a spreadsheet, please don’t put any punctuation into your number. Just type it as 1234567890. E-Mail Address - This is for our use in communicating only, and will not be shared Street Address Where will you have your sale, Alley, Front, or Courtyard? If you have a front load garage (with a driveway), please say 'front.' I'm compiling a spreadsheet for the map, and it will be easiest if everyone says either 'alley' or 'front' or “courtyard” (so I don't have to edit). What are the two or three main things you will have for sale? Examples: 'furniture and lawn equipment,' 'baby clothes, toys, and computers.' Again, so I don't have to do too much editing, please limit your description to about 10 words or less. :-) Once again we will to produce a map/list of the homes participating. We'll have the list online as we get closer to the actual Sale. We'll have ads in the Denver Post over the sale weekend and the weekend before. We've also posted the FAQs and Tips on our website at www.BuildingStapleton.com/garagesale Finally, we’re modifying a bit the way we distribute signs. Delivering them to 200 (or so) homes each year has become quite an undertaking, so we’re going to try something new. You can pick up a sign from us on Saturday June 19 between 10 am and Noon, or Sunday June 20 between 1 and 3 pm. We will be at the South End Row model home, 8709 E 23rd Ave. It is at the corner of 23rd and Central Park Blvd, just north of the Police Academy, where Southenders Coffee Shop used to be. After the 20th we will distribute any remaining signs to people who have signed up. We have about 225 signs, and over 300 homes signed up last year, so you may want to come pick one up! Please check out the FAQ online about where to your sign, and where not to! We'll also collect the signs after the sale to reuse for next year. For more info, probably answers to most questions, visit our website at http://www.buildingstapleton.com/garagesale. We’ll update the site as we get the signups rolling and get closer to the sale date.

HGTV Selects Denver, Colorado for 2011 HGTV Green Home Giveaway

2010-08-31T16:49:00-07:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- HGTV will build its fourth HGTV Green Home in Stapleton, Denver, Colorado's eco-progressive community created on the site of a former airport in Denver. Stapleton is reusing/recycling 4,700 acres of land and reconnecting it to Denver's urban fabric. Over the past decade the community has emerged as one of the country's most ambitious examples of sustainable development. The 2,400-square-foot, custom-built 'green' home being built there will be given away as part of the HGTV Green Home grand prize package next spring. A video and information about the location of the home is available at HGTV.com/greenhome. 'The HGTV Green Home gives us an opportunity to display the latest products and highlight the newest practices for the ever-evolving standards of sustainable living,' said Jack Thomasson, HGTV House Planner. 'The combination of a spectacular eco-healthy home design, built in a vibrant community, will undoubtedly make this our most dynamic HGTV Green Home ever.' The HGTV Green Home will feature open spaces that flow together to create an interactive environment. The home's exterior mix of hipped and cantilevered roof forms gives a feel of a winged structure, recalling the site's airport past. By not replicating a traditional house style, the HGTV Green Home of 2011 looks to the future with a modern prairie look and does not try to reproduce the past. Constructed by Infinity Home Collection of Denver, it will feature construction and design elements that are known to contribute to an energy efficient, cleaner and healthier living environment. Viewers can enter for a chance to win the HGTV Green Home Giveaway grand prize package during the entry period from April 14 – June 2, 2011. 'We're honored that HGTV has selected the Infinity for the construction of its 2011 HGTV Green Home,' said David Steinke, general manager, Infinity Home Collection. 'We love building smart homes for smart people and to us, building green is practically second nature. It gives us great pleasure to have our work featured as part of this year's HGTV Green Home Giveaway.' 'In Stapleton, we've worked to create a community that is founded on sustainability,' said Denise Gammon, Senior Vice President of Development for Forest City Stapleton, the master developer of the Stapleton Community. 'We'll be delighted to welcome the lucky winner of the Green Home Giveaway to the neighborhood.' About HGTV HGTV, America's leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 99 million U.S. households and is one of cable's top-rated networks. HGTV's website, HGTV.com, is the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination and attracts an average of 5 million unique visitors per month. About Stapleton Located on the site of Denver's former international airport, Stapleton is one of the largest urban redevelopments in the United States. The core objective of the community plan is to create a living example of progressive, sustainable neighborhood design. With a walkable mix of energy-efficient new homes, retail districts, schools, offices and an extensive network of parks and open spaces, Stapleton is not only leading the way environmentally but economically and socially, too. For more information, visit StapletonDenver.com. The community is being developed by Forest City Enterprises, Inc., an NYSE-listed national real estate company engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate throughout the United States. For more information, visit ForestCity.net. About Infinity Home Collection Infinity Home Collection is a privately-owned, upscale homebuilder in Denver, Colorado. As award winning builders in the Denver area for over fifteen years, Infinity is recognized for their green home designs and attention to detail. Every Infinity Home is Energy Star certified and built with the most current sustainable building practices. For more information, visit InfinityHomeCollection.com. SOURCE HGTV

2011 HGTV Green Home - Photos!

2010-09-01T23:39:00-07:00

For everyone interested in the 2011 HGTV Green Home under construction in Stapleton, I've posted an abum of photos under the Photos tab on our Facebook page and I've started a discussion topic under the Discussions tab. I'll try to answer questions that people may have about the house, location, Stapleton, etc.

Stapleton Central Park Boulevard Interchange Groundbreaking

2010-09-15T11:26:00-07:00

DENVER, CO - September 15, 2010 - Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau, City Councilman Michael Hancock, Guillermo 'Bill' Vidal, Deputy Mayor and Manager of Public Works, and Cheryl Cohen-Vader President and CEO of the Stapleton Development Corporation gathered to 'break ground' on the future Central Park Boulevard Interchange at Interstate 70. In 2000, the former Stapleton International Airport site began a transformation to become one of the nation's largest urban mixed-use infill developments. The redevelopment of the 4,700-acre site occurred on both sides of Interstate 70 in east Denver; however a designated road to connect the two sides was not included in the plan. The Central Park Boulevard (CPB) project creates a designated road to make these connections while also providing crucial access to 1-70 and 1-270; as well as their links across the state. 'Thanks to the foresight of Denver voters, the Better Denver Bond program is reinvesting in our future through critical infrastructure improvements like the Central Park Boulevard Interchange,' said Mayor John Hickenlooper. 'This project will improve quality of life for everyone who travels through, shops and lives in the area for decades to come.' The CPB Interchange, which will be located between Quebec Street and Havana Street on 1-70, will feature two major components. The first component will connect the Stapleton Development on both sides of 1-70 with a six lane bridge over 1-70. The CPB bridge will be multi-modal friendly and will include twelve foot sidewalks to accommodate all types of movement: vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle. The second component will connect CPB to Interstates 70 and 270. Due to the nature of the connections, the interchange will consist of a network of 'braided' ramps. This type of ramp is necessary along the north and south sides of 1-70 to provide access to and from the two interstate highways and will be constructed on land already set aside for the ramps. Therefore, the majority of the construction will have little impact to drivers on 1-70 and 1-270. Separate from the CPB interchange project is the design and construction of CPB outside the limits of the interchange, to be constructed by Forest City Enterprises. Forest City, who has been the main developer in the Stapleton subdivision, will spend $20 million to extend Central Park Boulevard from 36th Avenue to Northfield Boulevard, approximately 2 miles north. 'The Stapleton community will be well-served by this new interchange,' said Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau. 'The project is creating well-paying jobs for area workers, building safe multi-use paths for walkers and cyclists and, by reducing travel distance, giving time back to residents and commuters.' The CPB Interchange is part of the Better Denver Bond Program approved by Denver voters in 2007, along with funding from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and additional funding sources. Once complete, an average of 17,000 vehicles will use CPB daily and an estimated 46,000 vehicles are anticipated to use the facility daily in 2035. 'One of the most effective economic drivers is a strong transportation system,' Governor Bill Ritter. 'That's why this project is so important. This new interchange will become a key part of the region's transportation network while also spurring job creation, supporting area businesses and improving the overall quality of life for the thousands of people who live, work and visit this part of the metro area.' A project of this magnitude requires a true public and private partnership. With the combined efforts of the Federal Highway Administration, Colorado Department of Transportation, City and County of Denver, SEMA Construction and our community, the new interchange will be open to traffic in November, 2011, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Time lapse photos of the project, provided by Job Site Visitor, can be found at www.Denverqov.org/CPBlnterchanqe along with additional information about the CPB Interchange project.

Three Homes Remaining in Parkwood's Lighthouse Series in Stapleton

2010-11-17T12:14:00-07:00

Parkwood Homes has announced that there are just three homes remaining in the limited 'Lighthouse Series' they are building in Stapleton. Homes are available, starting at just $349,900. The Morgans Point and Stratford Point prices include a design center allowance. The Palmer Island includes an unfinished third floor - a perfect storage solution! all three homesites offer mountain views, and they are conveniently located across from the Denver School of Science and Technology. These deals won't last long! if you are interested in these, or other new or resale homes in Stapleton, please contact us today! And if you are thinking about buying a new home through a builder, make sure to read this important info onwhy you should have a Buyer's Agent to represent you.

Construction nearly complete on Stapleton Central Park Rec Center

2010-12-09T18:06:00-07:00

A week ago I had the opportunity to visit the nearly-complete Central Park Recreation Center at Stapleton, and to tour and take photos. The Rec Center is pretty special to me, as I've been involved in its design since 2006 as a member and past-Chairman of the Stapleton Parks Advisory Group. It has been nearly 5 years since I attended meetings in residents' homes to talk about the Center's design, amenities, traffic flow, even the positioning of the building on the site. I wrote letters to the Mayor to press for construction, and campaigned to make sure the Center was included in the funding bond initiative. Now we're just weeks away from completion of the Center and its opening is expected to come at the end of January. As a board member of the Stapleton Development Corporation I got to tour the facility last week, and I posted a bunch of photos on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kearnsteam).

Kearns Team recognized for top performance by RE/MAX Mountain States Region

2011-01-04T09:11:00-07:00

Okay, this is pretty cool for us. I usually don't brag (much) about awards, but I found out yesterday that we were the #8 top performing team for RE/MAX in the state of Colorado in November 2010. The great part is that our 'team' is pretty much Diana and Michael (and our assistant, Jennifer), yet we're #8 among all the teams, most of which have a lot more people than we do. We worked hard in 2010 and it feels good to be recognized - especially when we hear so much negative news in the media about how bad the real estate market is. Thanks to our friends and clients for continuing to support us! Here's hoping that 2010 will be a big year for real estate in Denver and Stapleton!

New Pricing on the Last NEW John Laing Homes in Stapleton

2011-01-11T09:28:00-07:00

Final closeout pricing has been announced for the three remaining John Laing new construction homes in Stapleton. 3407 Akron Ct. - $398,900! Originally listed at $434,900 2205 sq. ft. w/3 beds + loft, 2.5 baths, 2.5 car garage & 1122 unfinished sq. ft. basement 7932 E. 29th Place - $329,900!! Originally listed at $369,900 1958 sq. ft. w/2 beds + loft, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage & 850 unfinished sq. ft. basement 3527 Xanthia St. - $479,900!! Originally listed at $499,900 2625 sq. ft. w/3 beds + loft, 2.5 baths, 2.5 car garage & 1100 unfinished sq. ft. basement These deals won't last long! if you are interested in these, or other new or resale homes in Stapleton, please contact us today! And if you are thinking about buying a new home through a builder, make sure to read this important info onwhy you should have a Buyer's Agent to represent you.

Final Seven Artisan Plaza Homes for Sale in Stapleton

2011-01-14T10:36:00-07:00

In Final Closeout. Down to last seven townhomes. These smart, beautiful homes were being offered at great low prices, and now are incredibly priced even better at new reduced prices. Don't miss these opportunities to own a new Wonderland Artisan Plazas townhome in Stapleton. At these new prices, they'll sell out quickly. These are the final new-construction Artisan Plaza homes in Stapleton. if you are interested in these, or other new or resale homes in Stapleton, please contact us today! And if you are thinking about buying a new home through a builder, make sure to read this important info on why you should have a Buyer's Agent to represent you.

Just Listed: 2 Bedroom Stapleton Townhome with Loft

2011-01-14T15:02:00-07:00

JUST LISTED: 2428 Syracuse Street, Denver CO 80238 This beautiful townhome has two bedrooms plus an open loft, and 2 1/2 bathrooms. It is LOADED with upgrades: Custom woodwork, hardwood floors, slate tile, California Closet organizers, and it is a short walk to the East 29th AvenueTown Center restaurants and shops, and Stapleton Parks, Pools, and Schools. LEARN MORE about this great home!

Parkwood Opens Priority List for New Homes

2011-01-18T14:58:00-07:00

Parkwood Homes is now allowing prospective buyers to 'get on the priority list' for their new homesites. Parkwood builds new homes in Stapleton beginning in the upper $300s, and is offering new floorplans on larger lots in the soon-to-build Central Park West Neighborhood. Excitement is building for these new Parkwood homes. if you are interested in these, or other new or resale homes in Stapleton, please contact us today! And if you are thinking about buying a new home through a builder, make sure to read this important info onwhy you should have a Buyer's Agent to represent you.

Help Name Stapleton's Fourth Pool

2011-01-20T13:49:00-07:00

The fourth Stapleton pool will open this summer in filing 19 (north of Central Park), and the Master Community Association is asking for help in selecting a name. Over 100 suggestions were received during the first two weeks of 2011, and the MCA has narrowed the list to the top 7: A-10 Thunderbolt Pool Jet Stream Pool Navigator Pool G-6 Pool Tailwind Pool Runway Pool B-52 Pool Vote your your favorite on the MCA website.

Stapleton Central Park Rec Center Grand Opening

2011-01-23T11:20:00-07:00

Central Park Recreation Center Ribbon Cutting and Community Celebration Join us this Saturday for the grand opening of the Central Park Recreation Center at Stapleton! The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be from 9:00 am to 9:30am, followed by facility tours and class demonstrations. If you can't wait until Saturday, there will be a 'Sneak Peak' on January 26-28 from 1:00-7:00 for facility tours, membership registration, and upcoming program information. By the way, here's a link to the Denver Parks and Recreation's Rec Center fee structure. The Central Park Recreation Center at Stapleton is located at 9651 E MLK Blvd (on the north side of MLK Blvd, at Emporia Street).

Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver Needs Volunteers

2011-01-28T13:58:00-07:00

Construction Volunteers Desperately Needed 1st Week in February Habitat has a huge need for volunteers on February 3rd and February 4th. Volunteers are needed to help frame (build walls) on the Walsh St. duplex in Denver, the E. 69th duplex in Commerce City and the Ivanhoe single family homes in Commerce City. Without enough volunteers these projects will fall behind schedule and delay family move in dates. Please help us stay on schedule! Individual construction volunteers can sign up online by CLICKING HERE. Volunteer groups may contact leanna@habitatmetrodenver.org or 720-496-2717 to organize a group volunteer workday. Habitat Office Looking for Volunteers to Staff the Front Desk The Administration office of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, located at 3245 Eliot St, Denver, 80211 is in need of long term volunteers to work at the Front Desk for one day each week, on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Fridays, 3 hours each day from either 10:00am to 1:00 pm or 11:00 am to-2:00 pm. Duties include answering a 4 line switchboard and assisting visitors. If you would like to help, please email ginny@habitatmetrodenver.org. Metals Recycling Volunteer Needed at the Denver Outlet The Habitat Outlet Stores recycle tons of metal every year. We need a volunteer who can work 4 – 5 hours a week at the Denver Outlet and help organize and separate our metals for recycling. This volunteer will work with our metal recycling guru at the Wheat Ridge Outlet, Roger Jakoubek to learn this valuable volunteer position. Contact Alice Goble with questions or to speak more about this opportunity. alice@habitatmetrodenver.org 303-996-5468. Cash Register Volunteers Needed at the Wheat Ridge Outlet Do you have 4 – 5 hours a week or every other week to volunteer? Call or phone Alice Goble if you are interested. This volunteer will receive training from staff. alice@habitatmetrodenver.org 303-996-5468 Help Family Services Welcome our Future Homeowners Habitat for Humanity welcomes future homeowners into our program every month and we are looking for volunteers to help us. Shortly after each partner family is selected we have a one on one meeting (called the Initial Meeting) with the family to share what Habitat expects of our families and what each family can expect of Habitat. We are in need of volunteers who can commit to conducting 2-5 Initial Meetings per month. Each meeting is approximately 2 hours long and can be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time for the volunteer and the partner family. Training will be provided on Saturday March 5, 10:00am-noon, at the Habitat office. If you are interested in becoming an Initial Meeting volunteer please email Richelle@habitatmetrodenver.org. Do You Like to Cook and Help Habitat The Habitat Outlets will be working with ongoing AmeriCorps NCCC Teams in 2011. These young adults serve in volunteer positions all over the United States much as Peace Corp volunteers serve overseas. The Outlets are looking for volunteers who can make and bring lunches for 12 AmeriCorps volunteers who will be working at both the Denver and Wheat Ridge Habitat Outlets. Volunteers can bring lunches as an ongoing volunteer opportunity or we would welcome volunteers who bring lunch only once. Questions? Interested? Call or email Alice Goble at alice@habitatmetrodenver.org 303-996-5468. For more information about volunteering on site, in the office, on a committee or at the Outlet stores, please click here.

Open House in Stapleton Today

2011-01-30T10:10:00-07:00

Come visit us today, Sunday January 30, from 1:00 - 4:00pm. Open House at this brand new Martha Stewart Home by KB Home in Stapleton. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 1593 sq feet, plus unfinished basement, fenced yard. View more information. See you at 3595 Xanthia Street, Denver CO 80238!

Central Park Rec Center Hours

2011-01-31T05:39:00-07:00

Well, the grand opening of the beautiful new Central Park Recreation Center was Saturday, and the Center opened for business on Sunday. As I drove by at 5pm Sunday I was surprised to see it was closed - so I tried to checked out the operating hours. I didn't see anything in the collection of handouts I got on Saturday, but I was able to track down the hours online, and thought I would share: Mon - Thurs: 5:30 am - 9:00 pm | Fri: 5:30 am - 7:30 pm | Sat - Sun: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Have you been to the Rec Center yet? It really is an amazing facility, and an asset to the Stapleton Community. Check out more information on what the Central Park Rec Center at Stapleton has to offer. By the way, here si their contact info: Email: CentralParkRec@denvergov.org | Phone: 720.865.0750

Stapleton Builder Floorplans

2011-02-01T17:05:00-07:00

Among the most requested items on the original www.BuildingStapleton.com website were builder floorplans, and we are busily scanning our archives to make sure that we have ALL of the Stapleton builder floorplans available on the new website. With 21 builders and well over 100 different model homes, this is a pretty big project! From a quick review of our files it looks like we have most of the floorplans for discontinued models in Stapleton and all of the current floorplans, and we are working with a couple of other sources to track down the few plans that we haven't been able to find. If you are looking for floorplans from any Stapleton homebuilder, please check out our builder section and the individual pages for each builder. We will be adding more plans over the next few days until everything is available online. By the way, if you are considering buying a new home in Stapleton, contact us BEFORE you visit the builder's model homes. We can help you learn about all Stapleton has to offer, and when you decide to buy we may be able to represent YOU at no cost - the builder pays our commission. Learn why it is important to have a Buyer's Agent when purchasing a home through a builder.

2011 Forecasts for Inflation, the Housing Market, and Home Loan Rates

2011-02-03T19:40:00-07:00

What Should You Expect in 2011, Part 2 Forecasts for Inflation, the Housing Market, and Home Loan Rates (Courtesy of YOU Magazine) Recently, we shared Part 1 of our 2011 Forecast, focusing on the economy and employment. But what's ahead for inflation, the housing market, and home loan rates this year? Read on to find out. Inflation One of the major topics that we need to watch in the coming months is inflation. The Fed and the markets keep a close eye on inflation because it impacts so many aspects of the economy, including home loan rates. In fact, inflation is considered the archenemy of home loan rates! Why is this the case? It's because home loan rates are tied to Mortgage Backed Securities, which are a type of Bond - which means home loan rates improve when Bond prices do. But when inflation - or even just fear of inflation - grows, Bond prices fall, meaning home loan rates rise. That's because lower Bond prices are needed to give Bond investors juicier yields that will help outpace inflation. Here's an analogy to help illustrate this point further. Think of inflation as the ocean and interest rates as a boat. As inflation (or the ocean's tide) rises, interest rates (or the boat floating atop the ocean) have to rise as well. In other words, interest rates (or boats) must always be higher than inflation (or the ocean) in order to compensate investors. With that in mind, let's take a look at what's going on with inflation and what you should keep an eye on in the coming months. At the end of 2010, the Fed initiated its second round of Quantitative Easing (QE2), which is the concept of the Fed becoming a buyer of Treasuries and Bonds. They took this step in a bid to stimulate the economy by: creating inflation, lowering the unemployment rate, and raising Stock prices. While those goals may be good for the overall economy, remember that inflation is very unfriendly to Mortgage Bonds and home loan rates. In the end, as a result of the Fed's QE2 and other stimulative actions, we predict a 1.5% increase in consumer inflation by the end of 2011. That should still be within the Fed's comfort zone of 1 - 2%, so inflation should not be too much of a threat this year. However, the unprecedented amount of debt accumulation on the part of the U.S. could spark significant inflation down the road. Housing Industry Home prices began to stabilize during 2010, and homes sales showed some signs of encouragement. We expect more of the same in 2011, although there will be some additional headwinds. After a modestly good start to the year, home prices could actually decline slightly in some areas, particularly depending on the health of the local job market. Another headwind that could weigh on home prices is the overhang of several million distressed properties. The moratorium on foreclosures has ended and all of the major lenders have resumed foreclosure procedures. At the end of last year, three million homes were in foreclosure activity, with over one million repossessions. Overall, we expect to see accelerated rates of foreclosures in the first quarter until things settle to normal during the second quarter and rest of the year. This could extend the housing downturn a couple of months longer. That being said, we still expect to see home prices move higher in the year ahead, especially in the latter half of the year. Home Loan Rate Outlook Now for the big questions: Where will home loan rates go in 2011? And why? Let's start by looking at where we are right now. Although rates are still near historic lows, they have trended higher since early November, and indications are that those unbelievably low home loan rates seen during 2010 may be behind us. In fact, there are only a couple of things that would bring back the lows that we saw in early November 2010: If the Fed's recent round of Quantitative Easing falls on its face and doesn't meet its mission of creating inflation, boosting Stock prices, lowering unemployment and creating consumer demand. If that happens, Bond prices could make some gains as the threat of deflation reemerges. But this is a long shot. As the saying goes: 'Don't fight the Fed.' This means that if the Fed wants to raise inflation, it most likely will. If the financial problems and uncertainties in Europe that we saw in 2010 worsen significantly in 2011. This would drive investors into the safe haven of the U.S. Bond market, which would help Bond prices and therefore home loan rates, but probably only modestly. Realistically, the economy is improving, and as it does home loan rates will gradually increase over time. We expect rates to stay relatively low during the beginning of the year, but gradually rise higher. The good news is that historically speaking, 2011 should still offer exceptionally low rates!

Parkwood Homes Introduces Georgetown Collection at Stapleton

2011-02-09T10:43:00-07:00

Parkwood Homes is building the 'Georgetown Collection' of homes in Stapleton's new Central Park West neighborhood. In addition to a few new plans, the Georgetown Collection includes updates of some of Parkwood's current Stapleton models. The new Parkwood homes will offer three to five bedrooms and begin around 2200 square feet. Finished 3rd floor space and optional carriage house over the garage (two features with help separate Parkwood from other Stapleton builders) will continue to be available. Parkwood has home sites available now on 'mews' lots - facing a 40 foot grass area instead of a street! By the way, if you are considering buying a new home in Stapleton, contact us BEFORE you visit the builder's model homes. We can help you learn about all Stapleton has to offer, and when you decide to buy we may be able to represent YOU at no cost - the builder pays our commission. Learn why it is important to have a Buyer's Agent when purchasing a home through a builder.

Standard Pacific brings Central Park Collection to Stapleton

2011-02-10T18:59:00-07:00

Standard Pacific will introduce their brand new Central Park Collection in the spring of 2011 in Stapleton’s Central Park West Neighborhood. There will be two model homes located on the corner of 35th Ave and Uinta St. Base prices will start from the mid to high $400,000s and designs will include four floor plans from 2,298 – 2,585 square feet. These innovative single-family homes were thoughtfully planned by a team of the nations top architects with exteriors that blend an east coast feel with new and innovative Colorado design features. The Central Park Collection will be built with standard solar photovoltaic energy systems and an integrated system for monitoring overall energy consumption. The four plans have also been designed to meet and exceed the latest Energy Star standards. The most unique feature will be oversized side-drive garages facing the street and driveways that will integrate outdoor play-areas for bikes, trikes and basketball hoops. Another distinctive feature will be outdoor living space in the backyard with options for outdoor fireplaces. The interiors will feature finished basement options, large master suites, “launch pad” mud rooms, 3-5 bedrooms and a wealth of flex space for a play or work from home atmosphere. Standard Pacific is known for having the largest selection of choices in finishing touches and as a top builder in new home quality, design and customer satisfaction. Here are a couple of PRELIMINARY elevation drawings, which are still subject to change without notice.

HGTV Green Home 2011 Tour Info

2011-02-14T07:12:00-07:00

Happy Valentines Day! Last week, at a Stapleton development update presentation, I caught some new information about the schedule for tours of the 2011 HGTV Green Home! We're still a couple of months away, but I wanted to share what I learned: The Green Home Tour show will air on HGTV beginning April 16 VIP events will be held in the home from April 21-30 Public tours will begin on May 5 and run through July 3. Tours will be held on Thursday - Sunday (plus Memorial Day) and will be from 10am to 6pm (except Sundays, when they will end at 5pm). Sounds like the tours will cost $20 per person, with proceeds benefitting Urban Peak. According to their website, Urban Peak 'helps homeless youth and youth at risk of becoming homeless overcome real life challenges by providing essential services and a supportive community, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults.' For more information about the 2011 HGTV Green Home in Stapleton, visit the HGTV website.

2010 Stapleton Home Sales Continue Upward Trend

2011-02-15T09:21:00-07:00

DENVER - Feb 14, 20111 - Stapleton home sales continued a positive trend in 2010, bucking a national decline in new and existing home sales across the nation, John S. Lehigh, president of Forest City Stapleton, Inc. said today. Lehigh said homebuyers purchased 453 homes at Stapleton in 2010, an increase over the 412 homes purchased in 2009. In 2010, the homes purchased at Stapleton were comprised of 280 new homes with the balance involving 173 resales. During the previous year, those numbers were 238 and 174, respectively. Lehigh said the 2010 sales have built momentum for the launch of Central Park West, Stapleton’s next new residential neighborhood. “Stapleton continues to enjoy strong housing sales in spite of a very difficult economy,” Lehigh said. “Our homebuilders offer a range of housing types and prices that has strong appeal to the market, capitalizing on Stapleton’s reputation as one of the most desirable and successful new neighborhoods in the nation. “We are now carrying that momentum forward to the development now underway for the new Central Park West neighborhood,” Lehigh added. Central Park West is immediately adjacent to the new Swigert-McAuliffe International K-8 school Denver Public Schools will open at 35th and Syracuse in August of this year. One of the last two neighborhoods to be developed on the south side of I-70, Central Park West is centrally located and benefits from some of the best amenities Stapleton has to offer. The E. 29th Ave Town Center is a 5 minute walk to the south and the 80-acre Stapleton Central Park is located across the street to the east. The Quebec Square Retail Center is immediately north of 35th Avenue and the future Stapleton transit oriented development and an RTD FasTracks rail stop will be located to the north of the Central Park West neighborhood along Uinta Street. Central Park West will be comprised of approximately 375 homes ranging in price from the mid $100,000s for row homes to more than $700,000 for single family detached homes. Stapleton's Central Park West Neighborhood “Central Park West has unique open space and landscape features designed to define its unique character and identity,” said Heidi Majerik, director of development for Forest City Stapleton, Inc. “The use of integrated linear open spaces called “mews” will provide public open space immediately fronting homes, becoming the focus of the neighborhood and a place for residents to interact and foster a sense of community.“ Majerik said Central Park West will have energy efficient “smarter” homes that increase Stapleton’s residential sustainability performance to the highest levels to date. Builders selected by Forest City to build homes in this new neighborhood include Infinity Home Collection, New Town Builders, Wonderland Homes, Parkwood Homes, KB Home, David Weekley and Standard Pacific. Stapleton in the HGTV Spotlight Stapleton’s reputation as one of the nation’s most livable new urban communities was further enhanced in the fall of last year when Home and Garden TV selected Stapleton as the location to build a “green” home that will be given away this spring as part of a national promotion. Built by Infinity Home Collection, the custom-built 2,400 square foot LEED Platinum home is located at 33rd and Wabash in the North Central Park Neighborhood. The HGTV 2011 Green Home will be open for public tours beginning this spring. About Stapleton The redevelopment of the 4,700 acre Stapleton International Airport commenced in May 2001. Forest City is the master developer selected by the City of Denver to implement a development plan created by the citizens of Aurora, Denver and Commerce City who envisioned the former airport could become a mixed use and pedestrian friendly urban neighborhood. Currently Stapleton has an estimated population of more than 12,000 residents who live in 3992 homes and 484 apartments. Stapleton also has more than 2 million square feet of new retail, approximately 500 acres of new parks and open space, and two Denver Public Schools elementary schools, with a third under construction for a scheduled opening in the Central Park West Neighborhood in August of this year. Stapleton is also home to the award winning Denver School of Science and Technology, one of the most successful schools in the Denver Public Schools system. About Forest City Forest City Enterprises, Inc. is an NYSE-listed national real estate company with $11.8 billion in total assets. The Company is principally engaged in the ownership, development, management and acquisition of commercial and residential real estate and land throughout the United States. For more information, visit http://www.forestcity.net

Montview Community Planning Meeting

2011-02-15T13:06:00-07:00

Officials in Aurora today announced the first public meeting for the 'Montview Community Plan.' This plan affects the area immediately south of the eastern portion of Stapleton. The meeting will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on Thursday February 24 at Aurora's Martin Luther King Library (9898 E Colfax Avenue). Funding for the project is coming from the EPA Brownfields Program. According to the Montview Community plan website, 'EPA has selected the City of Aurora as a Brownfields Area- Wide Planning Pilot Program recipient. The city will focus on the western half of the Montview Corridor in northwest Aurora, which is home to approximately 6,000 residents.' The City of Aurora is inviting the Northwest Aurora Community to participate in the 1st community meeting (a visioning exercise) that will contribute to a community based plan that will revitalize the Montview Area. Your involvement is vital to the plan's success. For more details, please go to www.montviewcommunityplan.org or call Chad or Mindy at 303-739-7250.

Montessori School coming to Stapleton

2011-02-21T07:48:00-07:00

Stapleton parents will soon have another great school for their children! The Montessori Children's House of Denver (MCHD) has acquired a 1.8 acre site for its new school at Central Park Boulevard and Xanthia Way and will soon start construction. MCHD will open its Stapleton facility with a toddlers program (18 months - 3 years), a primary program (3 - 6 years) and an elementary program (1st - 6th grade). 'Our new campus in Stapleton incorporates indoor and outdoor classrooms which will provide a rich environment that will inspire children's desire to learn,' according to Rachael Averch, President. MCHD is an award-winning, accredited school committed to supporting your child's individual growth and development within an effective, safe and welcoming learning community. Learn more about the Stapleton Campus of the Montessori Children's House of Denver.

Great Deals on KB Martha Stewart Homes in Stapleton

2011-02-26T10:04:00-07:00

KB Home has announced that there are only NINE homesites left for new Martha Stewart homes in Stapleton! If you are considering building a new home in Stapleton, this is a great opportunity - and it won't last long. Once these nine homes have been sold, there won't be any additional KB Martha Stewart homes built in Stapleton. In addition, there is one inventory home (move-in ready) available at 3595 Xanthia Street - at a newly reduced price! By the way, if you are considering buying a new home in Stapleton, contact us BEFORE you visit the builder's model homes. We can help you learn about all Stapleton has to offer, and when you decide to buy we may be able to represent YOU at no cost - the builder pays our commission. Learn why it is important to have a Buyer's Agent when purchasing a home through a builder.

Xcel Energy Proposes to Reduce Solar Rebates by 88%

2011-02-27T06:20:00-07:00

Information from COSEIA the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association: On February 16, Xcel Energy announced its plans to slash solar incentives. They filed with the PUC to reduce their solar rebate from $2.00/watt to $0.25/watt. This 88% decrease erodes market stability and reduces options for consumers. While Xcel has offered to increase its REC price to $1/watt, they could lower this at any point, putting the solar industry at risk. This is obviously very concerning. All of us have worked hard to make Colorado a national leader in clean energy. Creating a stable marketplace is key to economic growth and job creation. We need to work together to address this challenge head on. Here's how you can help: Urge the PUC to deny Xcel Energy's request to lower the solar rebate by 88% (to $0.25/watt). Submit your comments online: http://www.dora.state.co.us/puc/consumer/ConsumerComment.htm Key messages to highlight: The PUC needs to promote a stable marketplace - reducing the solar rebate by 88% from $2/watt to $0.25 is unreasonable, excessive and destabilizes the marketplace Xcel's proposal has potential to cause significant harm and requires due process with a full vetting of the facts, not an expedited hearing The PUC should reject Xcel's request for such a dramatic change to the rebate program in favor of a more reasonable, predictable and transparent approach which should be developed in collaboration with stakeholders

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Increasing in April 2011

2011-02-28T09:29:00-07:00

I just got off the phone with Ross Barrett at Bank of America, and if you are thinking about buying a home, and financing with an FHA mortgage, some changes are coming in April 2011 that may increase your monthly payment! Last November the annual mortgage premium for FHA loans increased to help increase FHA's capital reserves. Another increase is coming in April 2011. The increase will apply to most loans that are assigned a 'case number' on or after April 18, 2011. In order to beat the increase you probably need to be under contract to purchase a home and have all your documentation submitted to your lender no later than April 11. Here's how the increase works: FHA charges two types of mortgage insurance premiums. The upfront charge (1% of the loan amount) is paid at closing, and that is not schedueld to change. The second premium is an annual amount, paid monthly with your regular mortgage payment. Currently the annual premium is 90 basis points (0.9% of the loan amount) but is scheduled to go up to 115 basis points (1.15% of the loan amount). For a $300,000 loan, this is an increase of $750 annually (0.25% x 300,000) or $62.50 per month. Another way of looking at it is that that additional mortgage insurance premium reduces your purchasing power by about $11,000. If you qualified for a $300,000 loan before the increase, you may only qualify for $289,000 afterwards! Confused or want more information? Give a call to one of our recommended mortgage lenders today!

Hot Buys from Wonderland Homes in Stapleton

2011-03-14T07:13:00-07:00

New home info just received from Wonderland Homes in Stapleton: Artisan Plazas at Stapleton Closeout We are down to the final two townhomes at Artisan Plazas, and prices have never been more attractive. If you are looking for a new townhome this spring, there's no better place than Artisan Plazas, and no better time than the present. Denver Traditions at Stapleton Looking for an oversized lot in Stapleton? Don't miss the incredible buys in our Denver Traditions Collection. These dazzling single-family designs include ranch and two-story plans guaranteed to suit the taste of discriminating buyers. There are still great opportunities to move into a new home at Stapleton this month, including well-appointed homes, priced from the low $300's. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for new locations, and a whole new selection of innovative products in Stapleton's Central Park West neighborhood. Joining our already-popular Denver Traditions Collection are two exciting, contemporary selections in The Edge and Innovations at Stapleton. Aptly christened, The Edge will showcase spacious, sophisticated urban townhomes enhanced by upscale standard features, clean lines, and lots of modern styling. Ranging in size from approximately 1,500 to over 1,800 finished square feet, homes at The Edge will offer private, outdoor courtyards, full basements with nine-foot ceilings, and much more. Innovations at Stapleton comprise five brand new single family plans enhanced by low-maintenance exteriors, unique contemporary styling, and dazzling interiors designed to satisfy the most urbane palate. The ranch and two-story designs will include two or three bedrooms, a study, a minimum of two full baths, plus an unfinished lower level, perfect for expansion. Watch for floorplans and pricing on The Edge, Innovations, and our new and improved Denver Traditions in the next 30 to 60 days!

Xcel Energy to resume solar power rebates

2011-03-16T13:54:00-07:00

A few weeks after announcing plans to virtually eliminate rebates offered to consumers who install solar power systems, Xcel Energy has apparently reached a 'compromise' with the Colorado solar power industry. The agreement sets the total cost of Xcel's rebate program at $97.3 million for 2011, and took the combined efforts of Xcel, the Colorado Governeor's Energy Office, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society and the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, among others. Citing recent reductions in the cost of solar panels and installations, Xcel had proposed to drastically reduce the rebate program or eliminate it altogether. Under the agreement, most upfront rebates will be eiiminated. Instead, customers would recieve 20-year-rebates in the form of Renewable Energy Credits (REC) valued between 16 cents and 11 cents per watt depending on the program. For solar installations at individual homes, Xcel would provide a reduced rebate of $1.75 per watt and a 4 cent REC to be paid out over 10 years for the first 4 megawatts of of production, with the rebate dropping and the REC increasing for larger producers. “All parties reached an agreement that continues the success of Solar*Rewards,” TJ Deora, director of the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, said in a statement. “The agreement maintains the economic benefits of this aspect of the renewable-energy standard, while protecting the environment and consumers.”

Parkwood is selling its Stapleton Model!

2011-03-17T09:07:00-07:00

Parkwood Homes is getting ready to move into their new model home in Stapleton's Central Park West neighborhood, so their current model home is for sale! This stunning home has nearly 4,000 finished square feet (2903 above ground and 1081 sq ft in the finished basement), 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths. The third floor loft is completely finished. The basement includes a wet bar. The yard is completely landscaped with amazing outdoor spaces, and the home is just 2 blocks from Stapleton's 80 acre Central Park. Expect this one to sell FAST! Contact us today for details.

Stapleton Central Park Rec Center - built for energy efficiency

2011-03-29T08:15:00-07:00

According to a recent case study, Denver's Central Park Recreation Center is a national model for energy efficiency and sustainability. Certified at the LEED Gold level by the U.S. Green Building Council, the Central Park Rec Center opened in early 2011. According to the study, the Rec Center's design is expected to produce a savings of 43.5% in energy costs and over 50% in water usage. Over 20% of the materials used on site contain recycled content. Over 24% of materials contain regional components. Solar photovoltaic panels on the roof are expected to produce 12,640 kWh per year - the equivalent of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 9.5 tons per year! Read the full case study here.