Neighborhood Market Data There are currently 21 Available homes in Belle Creek and Dunes Park.  9 of these homes are existing homes; 12 are Oakwood homes-5 of the Oakwood homes are available for move-in. There are currently 10 Under Contract homes in Belle Creek and Dunes Park. Since January 1, there have been a total of 7 homes sold.  There were 4 detached single family homes sold in Belle Creek, and 3 in Dunes Park. The average Price per Square Foot of all homes sold was $90.  The average Days on Market was 108. The average price for all homes sold was $181,300. In both Belle Creek and Dunes Park, homes are selling at an average rate of 1.6 per month.  This represents a market that slightly favors sellers in both neighborhoods.     05/20/2011

It is hard to believe that school will be out for the summer tomorrow!  Let's get the summer started right by diving into our neighborhood activities:   Don’t forget tonight, Wednesday – May 18th, is the meeting with the Commerce City Police Department regarding police activity and Neighbors to Neighbors.  The meeting will be from 6-7 p.m. in the conference room at the Family Center.    The Annual HOA meeting is next Wednesday – May 25th at 7 p.m. in the Family Center conference room.   Movie night is this Friday night (May 20th)in Central Park, across from the Family Center at dusk (approximately 8:12 p.m.).  We will be showing Toy Story 3.  The current forecast is calling for rain.  If weather is an issue, movie night will be postponed until next Friday night. 05/18/2011

What's Happening this Weekend?  by Jennifer Prestwich- your Belle Creek and Dunes Park REALTOR® Spring has sprung and there are plenty of fun things to do in Belle Creek and Commerce City.  Grab your friends and join your neighbors- here's what's happening: Cops vs Kids Kickball Tournament, TONIGHT- Friday the 13th!- from 5-8pm at Pioneer Park.  Cost is $2, Grades 9-12only.   Belle Creek Charter School Luau,  THIS Saturday, May 14th from 11am-2pm. There will be games, prizes, food, and fun! Come out and support the school and PTO! Middle School Night Pool Party Luau, Saturday NIGHT, 7-10pm at the Commerce City Rec Center.  $2, Grades 6-8 only.   Sunday- Take a Nap!!  You've been partying all weekend!      And Don't Forget the Sunscreen! 05/13/2011

  Springtime in the Rockies- What to do About Your Roof After a Hail Storm Springtime in the Rockies means all kinds of weather- sun, snow, and hail.  But, what do you do if you think you need a roof repair or replacement? If you notice pitted shingles or if shingles have blown off your roof, you may need to have it repaired or even replaced.  To determine the best way to go about this, I asked Adrian Feijoo, a State Farm Insurance agent.  Adrian is a Colorado native actively involved in our community, truly embracing the “Good Neighbor,” motto. “The process is so simple that it’s almost silly,” says Adrian.  “But, if you aren’t familiar with it, there are some common mistakes to avoid.” The first thing to do is to call a roofer, not your insurance company.  Often times when you call yo... 05/12/2011

The Inside Scoop on Belle Creek Real Estate by Jennifer Prestwich- Your Belle Creek REALTOR® It's been a pretty unpredictable market all around the Denver Metro area, and Henderson is no exception.  Belle Creek has seen a bit of a dip in its turnover rate and its average sold price.   Here are the stats: In 2010, there were 20 single family homes sold in Belle Creek.  In the past 12 months, there have been 16. The turnover rate for 2010 was 5.7%.  For the past 12 months, that has decreased to 5.1%. There are 3 New Town Builders homes available for sale in Belle Creek and 3 finished Oakwood Homes in Belle Creek. The average sale price in Belle Creek for 2010 was $184,000.  The average sales price over the past 12 months was $182,000.  There are 7 New Town Builders homes under contract. O... 05/09/2011

04/23/2011

Move or Fix-up: Will I Get the Bang for My Buck? One of my favorite channels to watch on TV is HGTV.  They feature many fascinating shows, some of which are firmly rooted in reality.   One of the more exciting and fantastical shows is called Bang for Your Buck.  The premise is simple: 3 homeowners renovate an area of their home to their liking and then compete to see whose renovation will get the biggest Return on Investment- or Bang for their Buck. The renovations include everything from the $50,000 master bath renovation to the $120,000 great room (national average great room reno is $110,000). In today's real estate climate many people are thinking of renovating or finishing areas of their home rather than take their chances selling.  Just this past week, I have noticed several permi... 04/13/2011

Who Are the People In Your Neighborhood? Twins!  You know what they say.... there must be something in the water.... It seems that Belle Creek in Henderson, CO, is experiencing a bit of a baby boom.  The ebb and flow of family creation will naturally include twins from time to time.  But in a neighborhood of roughly 300 homes, 3 sets born within 6 months of one another seems like the plot of a sitcom! I just love getting to know my neighbors better.  It helps me to understand the needs of my real estate clients and it brings our community closer together.   That is why I choose to knock on doors rather than mail out my Quarterly Market Data Report for Belle Creek. it was a gorgeous sunny Saturday afternoon- with a record high!- 2 weeks ago.  I slathered on the sun block and set out. Fir... 04/12/2011

Spring is in the Air, Belle Creek! Don't delay in your spring planning.  It may be only the beginning of March, but it's time to think of the warm spring and summer days ahead.  Reserve your garden plot today- they'll go quickly- and be sure to take care of your trees! Get Ready for Summer Fun! Community Garden: The community garden has 13 garden plots still available for the 2011 gardening season.  There are two sizes of garden plots available, 3.5’ x 9.75’ (1/2 plot) or 7’ x 9.75’ (full plot).  The total cost to rent a garden plot is $60 for a full plot and $30 for a half plot.  Those amounts include deposits that are refundable as long as the garden plots are cleaned-up at the end of the season.  Call or stop by the Family Center for more information. Tree Sprays: The District is ge... 03/02/2011

It has been an exciting time for Belle Creek Real Estate.  We are currently experiencing a marked low in existing inventory, and homes are being scooped up fast. The stats: There are currently 3  existing homes available for purchase. There are 3 homes under contract.  The average time on market was 97 days until it went under contract.  2 of those listings went under contract in under 33 days! There were 2 homes that closed sale in the past week.  The average time on market for these was 16 days. Oakwood homes also saw its first closing this month.  With 3 more homes under contract and set to close in Oakwood's inventory in the next 2 months, we are beginning to see a new energy all over Belle Creek! It's an Exciting Time to Live in Belle Creek I get asked all the time about what is a... 02/25/2011

(Well, I guess I am never entirely wordless, am I...?) Yesterday was another deep freeze replete with ice and snow!  I took the DaisyDog out for a cross country ski on the frozen tundra that was the Adams County Park.  I caught a couple of neat shots with the ol' Droid phone, but this one was the best.  Enjoy! Bundle up out there, it's been a chilly few days! 02/09/2011

One of the great things about Belle Creek is that there is the opportunity to live and work in the neighborhood. In addition to the great homes, there are retail and office spaces available. Right now, there are several businesses operating here in Belle Creek. Did you forget something at the grocery store? Maybe you just ran out of paper towels or milk? Head on down to Haraf Foods market on the corner. Mo and Roda are a delightful couple from Ethiopia who are pursuing the American dream- right here in Belle Creek! 01/30/2011

Welcome to Belle Creek! Take a look at all the amenities Belle Creek has to offer. My name is Jennifer Prestwich, and I am your Belle Creek specialist. 01/26/2011

Fourth Quarter Sold Data for Dunes Park saw a tapering from the activity in Third Quarter 2010.   There were two homes sold in 4Q as compared with nine sold during 3Q.  Part of that is due to the usual slowing of the market in the 4Q winter months. We did see a drop in sold price per square foot from 3Q’s $92 to $80 for the end of the year.  This is largely due to the amount of distressed property sales.  Of the 9 sold in 3Q, 5 were short sale or bank owned.  Both homes sold in 4Q were lender owned.  However, this is good news. It further reduces the distressed property inventory and helps to stabilize the market for Dunes Park. This number is also a drop from the 4Q 2009 sold price per square foot of $132.  None of the homes sold in 4Q 2009 were in distressed situations. Home prices t... 01/25/2011

PB&J drive   City Council and Commerce City staff are teaming up with a Commerce City Boy Scout to "Spread the Love" this winter and collect peanut butter and jelly for families in need.   The food drive targets specific food, peanut butter and jelly, which give children a nutritious meal that's easy to make. All items collected will be delivered to the Adams County Food Distribution Center. Together with Boy Scout Bradly Wolfersberger, a freshman at Prairie View High School, the campaign aims to bring in 1,300 jars by Feb. 14. The drive ends on Feb. 14.   Donations may be dropped off at the Commerce City Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., by Feb. 14. Other collection sites include the Civic Center, 7887 E. 60th Ave., Belle Creek Family Center, 10693 Belle Creek Blvd. and the Reun... 01/23/2011

I am happy to announce that the Belle Creek Family Center is hiring!  Please see the job posting below and contact Shannon Wester with any questions.   EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Belle Creek Metro District No. 1 FAMILY CENTER MONITOR POSITION The Belle Creek Family Center is seeking a part- time Monitor for a community activity center serving the Belle Creek community. The position is responsible for assisting the Family Center Manager with daily center operations, center administration, support for center programming, and community outreach. Certification in CPR and First Aid is helpful. Customer service experience is preferred.  Hours vary, flexibility is important.  The biggest need staff need is for mornings and afternoons. Position Open Until Filled If interested, please fax or send r... 01/20/2011

  Did you see the lights this season?  Belle Creek was alight with displays, blow-up snow globes and convertible-riding Santas.  The competition was pretty fierce for the holiday house decorating contest.  Neighbors voted and the verdict came in.       The Winners?? RYAN AND THERESA STADLER!         This was one of my absolute favorites.  I even featured it in a blog post in December.  If you saw their house, you might have had to do a double-take.  They cleverly featured a mannequin dressed as in his winter gear, dangling precariously off the roof as his ladder laid by the side of the house.  More than one person was fooled before realizing the ruse and enjoying a laugh! Nice job, Ryan and Theresa!   01/10/2011

  Fourth Quarter Sold Data for Belle Creek saw a surprising surge in activity.  Eight homes were sold between October and the end of December, leaving the neighborhood scarce on available existing home inventory.  While the new Oakwood homes are available for purchase, most of these are dirt-start.  At this time, none of them have yet been occupied. We did see a drop in sold price per square foot from 3Q $111 to $95 for the end of the year.  This is largely due to the amount of distressed property sales.  Of the 8 sold, 5 were either short sale or lender owned.  This is good news: it further reduces the distressed property inventory and helps to stabilize the market for Belle Creek. This number is not too far from the 4Q 2009 sold price per square foot of $97.  It is interesting to note... 01/07/2011

Have you New made a Year's Resolution for 2011? It is estimated, in a 2002 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, that 40-45% of Americans make New Year's Resolutions.  The top resolutions are usually to eat better, get fit, and to stop smoking.   Unfortunately, only about 75% of the resolutions are kept past the first week!  After 6 months, that number drops to 46%.   How would you like a boost to help you keep those fitness resolutions? Join the Commerce City Recreation Center on Saturday, February 26 for the Belle Creek Fitness Fair! There will be fitness demos, health screening and more.  If you register for a six-week fitness class, you will get a FREE peroanl training consultation at the Belle Creek Family Center.  Choose from Yoga classes, Women on Weights, Cardio... 01/06/2011

Many of us Coloradans know that on average, we enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year.  (And for you out-of-state folk, yes, I am bragging!) I've always wondered if there was a way to know if it could be harnessed for electricity.  Ok, I know that it can be, but does it make sense?  What if there are trees surrounding your house? Enter the Regional Solar Map of Denver. This thing is pretty darn cool.  When you go to the home page, it looks a little like this: You enter your address in the box and click the search button.  It will then pull up your building- whether it is a residence, office or commercial building.   You can then see how many kilowatts you might generate per month based on your address. This chart shows what the generation would be at my home.  It is no surprise that the summ... 01/05/2011