See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this Arvada Home Sales report tells you:  8% of Arvada homes currently available for sale in the $200-250,000 price range are short sales or foreclosures, compared to a whopping 22% of those under contract.  This tells me that distressed sales will continue to affect the price that 'regular' sellers will be able to get for their home.  But, if you check out the graph you'll see why I believe things will be turning around, in favor of pushing prices up when the inventory gets cleaned out a bit more. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes that sold between $200,000 and $250,000.  I'm using the term 'dist... 07/13/2012

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this Arvada Home Sales report tells you:  Looking for foreclosures to buy in Arvada?  This price range and below is where you're going to find the largest percentage of them. But, you better look fast! If you take out the short sales, which skew the statistics for how long homes are staying on the market, Arvada homes in this price range have a median of only 21 days on market. Absorption rate (inventory) is barely over one month. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold between $150,000 and $200,000.  I'm using the term 'distressed sales' to refer to short sales and foreclosures. A 'regul... 07/12/2012

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this Arvada Home Sales report tells you:  Looking for an Arvada home under $150,000 almost guarantees you'll be viewing distressed sales.  They're either foreclosures or short sales, and all will be in dastardly condition.  As you can see by the graph, the number of homes sold in this price range is decreasing, but I think that's due mainly to the fact that prices are beginning to push upward, not a lack of interest from buyers. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold for $150,000 or less.  (I'm using the term 'distressed sales' to refer to short sales and foreclosures. A 'regular' sale m... 07/11/2012

Arvada firefighters offer free home safety classes, and now they are being offered at neighborhood fire stations throughout the City.   It's a one-hour class covering how to better prevent a fire from starting in your home and preventing carbon monoxide danger. During the class for the adults, there will be a safety lesson, fire truck tour and and craft for the kids. After the class, they will set an appointment for a local fire crew to come to your house and install a free carbon monoxide alarm. (Whaaaaaat?  Yes, it's true!) While they're at your home, the fire crew can give advice about specific questions you may have about your home, changing smoke alarms and/or batteries, and even conduct a home safety survey. If you can't make the class in your neighborhood, you can go to any other... 07/03/2012

What a bunch of community fun!  Get your family out of the house for an evening, and watch a movie played against the wall of a building in Olde Town Arvada, near the olde town fountain. Friday evenings in August. Free.  Bring something to sit on, and some munchies if you want.  No dogs or alcohol.  Olde Town Arvada Square is at the corner of 57th Ave. and Olde Wadsworth.  Movies start at dusk - approimately 9 pm. Here's the hot-off-the-press lineup:  August 3 - Cars 2 August 10 - The Muppets August 17 - The Karate Kid August 24 - Dolphin Tale August 31 - Ghostbusters Click here to see a map of free parking lots in Olde Town Arvada. * * * * * * * * * * * * Read more about life in Arvada, Colorado. And here’s a little intro to Olde Town Arvada. Find all the homes available in Arvada, Wes... 06/29/2012

Joetta’s Neighborhood Newsletter June, 2012 To All My Friends & Neighbors – Greetings!          Whoa!  I’ve been so busy, I didn’t think I’d get a newsletter written this month.  But I’ve got a lull for a few hours before I have to head out for a new listing in Highlands, while I wait for a response on an inspection objection for some buyers and a counter offer on another listing.          As I often say – “That’s real estate – hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait!” Colorado Burning       As I write, there are 10 to 12 fires burning in our beloved state, with no relief in sight either for the heat or the dryness.  I pray everyone stays safe, do evacuate if you’re advised to.  What a heavy toll these fires are taking.  At least so far, it’s been a small toll in human life.  I’m glad for ... 06/25/2012

Arvada Farmers' Market has 3 locations, 3 times, to serve the needs of our community.  Come to one, or come to all - support your local Farmers' Market! Sunday 10:30 am - 2:30 pm  Olde Town Square (57th & Olde Wadsworth)* Wednesday 3:00 - 6:00 pm Olde Town Square (57th Ave. & Olde Wadsworth)* Thursday 3:00 - 6:00 pm  at O'Toole's Garden Center (94th & Wadsworth) For me, any excuse to go to Olde Town Arvada AND O'Tooles Garden Center, is a GOOD excuse! *Parking is still free in Olde Town Arvada. * * * * * * * * * * * * Read more about life in Arvada, Colorado. And here’s a little intro to Olde Town Arvada. Find all the homes available in Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield, North Denver, Thornton, Lafayette, Louisville, Wheat Ridge and Golden. Gardeners might enjoy my posts about gardening i... 06/24/2012

In the discussion of the best Arvada neighborhoods, Meadowglen and Pomona Lakes often come up. Meadowglen is a lovely neighborhood in northeast Arvada.  Meadowglen is considered one of the best in Arvada neighborhoods because it's a small, close community; it has a neighborhood park and pool; and a nice lake with walking paths all around.   Meadowglen is located near Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, and near plenty of shopping and entertainment.   There is a homeowners' association, which makes sure homes are kept up to neighborhood standards for appearance. Meadowglen has 279 homes.  10 homes have sold in Meadowglen in the past year, for a 4% move-out rate.  Their prices ranged from $224,000 to $377,000 ($242,000 is the low price if you eliminate foreclosures).  Median is $273,750. ... 06/23/2012

I've lived in my Arvada CO home since 1993.  I never thought I would live anywhere that long.  But tonight I was reminded of why it's so great to actually live in a community. There's a Mexican restaurant my family and I really like, called 3 Margaritas.  It used to be so close by that we could walk to it.  One sad day, it closed it's doors and moved away. 3 Margaritas only moved 10 blocks north though, and my family and I have continued to eat there about once a week, usually on Thursday evenings. Tonight when we were seated, my daughter noticed a placemat there, with a scene from the movie, Cars, on it.  She commented that it looked just like the one they had lost.  Then it dawned on her - this was the very same one they had lost! We called Angelica over to the table, and asked if we ... 06/22/2012

I thought I saw a food truck!  I did, I did see a food truck in Arvada! I love visiting cities where you can buy food on the street.  When I'm hanging around outside, on the street, I don't want to be bothered by waiting for a table, and on and on, just to get something good to eat. Food trucks are the answer, but I've never seen one in my small town of Arvada CO. Until a couple weeks ago, that is.  Not only did I see a food truck parked in the shade near the water fountain in the square, but I sampled the food and it was G.O.O.D.  **Apparently, the City of Arvada recently approved food trucks.  (Or not.  See note below.) This one was called Still Smokin, owned and operated by Erik & Cagney Hedahl.  They smoke all their own meats, and make their own sauces too.  Personally, I'm not a bi... 06/20/2012

Take a little day trip to Olde Town Arvada, and be sure to stop in at Silver Vines Winery, right on Grandview Ave.   My family and I stopped in there last week, after visiting Scrumptious.  Scrumptious had an ice cream flavored with a chocolate port from Silver Vines Winery. Since I'm a sucker for that kind of community working together-edness, I was on board when my daughter suggested we stop in at Silver Vines Winery. What fun, tasting a couple of wines and chatting with the owners. And of Course, we went home with some Chocolate Delight. Mmmmmmm ...  Brothers Danny & Jeff Chayer opened Silver Vines Winery in December of 2011.   I'll be headed back to Silver Vines Winery this Friday or Saturday for some live music (starting at 7:30).  Meet you there! 303-456-5212 * * * * * * * * * * *... 06/19/2012

This is a monthly market report for Arvada homes, a small town between Denver and Boulder. Arvada's real estate market is not the same as Denver or Boulder, but is very similar to Westminster, Broomfield, Lakewood, and Golden. See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) I hope that issuing these reports every month will help give you an idea of the real estate market, in case you want to buy a home or sell a home in one of the best places Denver to Boulder! Click the underlined text to read the report for Arvada homes April 2012 I've categorized my Arvada homes market reports by price range. You can see the categories below. Clicking on a category will take you to the respective report once it's complete. I hope this will be helpful, and you wi... 06/18/2012

One of Arvada's many jewels that make life in our small town so lovely - Majestic View Nature Center and Park. Majestic View Nature Center is 80 acres of interpretive trails, lake, wetlands, prairie grasses, and demonstration gardens, plus a 3,000 square foot southwestern-style building with nature displays, hands-on experiences for kids, a meeting room with fireplace, and a huge deck.  It is accessed from Garrison Street, west of Carr via 68th. Majestic View Park includes tennis courts, playground, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, and picnic area.  Best access is via 72nd Ave., west of Carr.  But whichever parking lot you use, it's an easy 1/3 mile walk to get to the other side. Hours for the Majestic View Nature Center building are: June 1 through September 30: Tuesdays and Thursday... 06/17/2012

I've never tried yoga, though I've wanted to for awhile.  Now, I think I've found the perfect introductory opportunity.  Saturday morning yoga in Arvada's Majestic View Park. It's an interesting story how I came to meet Shanti of Shanti Home.  My family and I were hanging out in Olde Town Arvada on a recent Saturday afternoon.  One thing I love about Olde Town Arvada business owners, is they are all so friendly and so supportive of each other.  Visiting a few favorite spots feels like dropping in on an actual community. This day was no different. We started out at Scrumptious, getting some hand-made ice cream.  One of their flavors was, Scrumptious Delight, made with a chocolate port wine swirl from Silver Vines Winery, just down Grandview a few doors.  So of course, we had to stroll ov... 06/16/2012

One day last week my family and I decided to visit an ice cream shop in Olde Town Arvada called “Scrumptious”.  Below are my daughter's thoughts on our afternoon . . .  When I first enter Olde Town Arvada, I am immediately taken to another unspecified time period. The two lane road is lined with large green leafed trees, park benches, parallel parked cars and motorcycles. The flat front two story brick buildings bring to mind the wild west days of America. The classic green lamp posts draped with American flags, and the many short green poles clearly meant for tying up a horse, emphasize it. The street is full of life on this gorgeous Colorado day. There are children running through the fountain in the center of the town square. There are pedestrians and cyclists, cruisers in their loud... 06/15/2012

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this report tells you:  This price range is doing well with days on market, and percent of distressed properties, but number of homes sold has decreased.  No cause for concern with so few Arvada homes on the market in this price range. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold for $150,000 or less.  (I'm using the term 'distressed sales' to refer to short sales and foreclosures. A 'regular' sale may also have been 'distressed' in the sense that the home was in need of major work.) Currently, there are 6 Arvada homes for sale in this price range. One of those homes is a foreclosure, none are... 06/14/2012

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this report tells you:  Arvada homes in the $150-200,000 price range may have hit bottom and turned the corner on how long they're staying on the market, but the percent of distressed sales is holding steady.  The fact that fewer are selling is somewhat concerning, but the absorption rate is still just over a month. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold between $150,000 and $200,000.  I'm using the term 'distressed sales' to refer to short sales and foreclosures. A 'regular' sale may also have been 'distressed' in the sense that the home was in need of major work. Currently, there are 3... 06/13/2012

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this report tells you:  The amount of time Arvada homes in the $250-300,000 price range are staying on the market before going under contract has improved so much, this is one statistic that's better than 2010.  Distressed sales and # sold are at 2010 levels.  The interesting thing to me, is the evidence I see there that distressed properties are still selling first.  (Only 12% of the homes for sale are distressed, while 21% of the homes under contract and 16% of the homes sold were distressed sales.) Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes that sold between $200,000 and $250,000 in May 2012.  I'm using... 06/12/2012

What this report tells you:  An unfortunate rise in distressed sales is the only thing marring this report.  Days on market are reducing nicely, and there's less than a 2-month absorption rate.  Buyers - get out there and make decisions! Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold between $250,000 and $300,000.  I'm using the term 'distressed sales' to refer to short sales and foreclosures. A 'regular' sale may also have been 'distressed' in the sense that the home was in need of major work. Currently, there are 53 Arvada homes for sale in this price range, 2 of them are short sales and 5 are foreclosures.  13% of Arvada homes for sale today between $250 and $300,000 are distressed ... 06/10/2012

See current market reports for Arvada, Westminster, and Broomfield CO (click the link) What this report tells you:  The month of April showed improvement for Arvada home sales in all categories (number sold, days on market, and percent sold as distressed properties).  The numbers haven't returned to the levels of 2010, but they're on the right track. Click this link to see Arvada Home Sales  in the other price categories. This report includes only detached single family Arvada homes listed or sold between $300,000 and $400,000.  (I'm using the term 'distressed sales' to refer to short sales and foreclosures. A 'regular' sale may also have been 'distressed' in the sense that the home was in need of major work.) Currently, there are 60 Arvada homes for sale in this price range.  Two of th... 06/09/2012