Platt Park is a charming neighborhood with an urban suburban feel.  The streets are tree-lined and the houses are a mix of older  bungalow & victorian houses and newly constructed single-family & duplex living.   The shops of Old South Pearl Street are a gathering place at all hours of the day and evening.   The area is a short walk to Washington Park or the RTD Light Rail into Downtown Denver or DTC.  Easy access to I-25 provides a quick escape route to the mountains or a headache-free commute to work.

** All information subject to change.  Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  Contact post author for the most current evaluation. 

Does Denver’s Platt Park seem like it might be your style?  See if there are properties available in Platt Park that interest you.  Don’t hesitate to contact us for additional information.

Loving Denver Life,

Vali Hooker

Having a honey-do list is true to some extent in everybody’s house.  Chores are always getting completed just as a few more items are added.   It’s good to understand the difference between items on the list that don’t have to be taken care of immediately and those that needed to be fixed yesterday.  Here’s the list of chores that cannot wait, get your tool belt ready.

10 Things You Can Live With About Your Home That Buyers Can’t—And Won’t

1.Light switches/fixtures that don’t operate or have mystery functions. If there’s a switch, it should do something. There should be a working light bulb so that people can see it in action–and for goodness sake, the switch should not come with any warning labels! (See picture). Don’t leave any questions about the integrity of your electrical system and make sure all fixtures work properly and safely.

2.Things that wiggle, shimmy, shake or teeter. While you may know where to grab the basement handrail so it doesn’t wiggle, buyers won’t and inspectors will be sure to notice and list the item in the report. So walk through the house as if you are a buyer, note any items that need securing and fix them right away. (You might even enlist the help of a friend since it will likely be hard to find these things that you are so used to).

3.Anything that takes “magic” to operate. If there is an item in your home that requires a “magic touch” to properly operate, chances are it’s something that should be on your list of necessary repairs. People who walk through your home will expect every item to work the way it’s supposed to–without jiggling, banging, jerking, or secret combinations of lifting, turning and shoving. (This includes stuck windows and doors).

4.Sinks or showers that don’t drain efficiently. We get used to sinks or showers that don’t drain well, but this is a symptom of an issue. It’s time to remove the stopper, remove clogs, and if necessary, snake drains. Buyers will appreciate it, and you’ll probably realize how much nicer your bathroom functions (and wish you’d fixed the issue years ago).

5.Leaks, drips, or water stains. Buyers don’t want to see any little brown spots, no matter how small or old the stains are. If you have water anywhere where it shouldn’t be, it’s time to take care of it and repair the damage it left behind.

6.Loss of pressure in the shower. Do you have low pressure in your shower or do you lose pressure if anyone else in your house so much as thinks about using another fixture? This may seem like a minor nuisance, but your buyers probably won’t think so. Start by checking for a clogged shower head or a shower shut-off valve that has been inadvertently knocked partially closed. If that doesn’t work, have a plumber evaluate the system to determine what and where the problems are.

7.Moist or musty basements. The first thing buyers think when they smell a musty basement is water problems. So take an assessment of your basement: why does it smell musty? Do you need a dehumidifier? Do your walls need to be sealed? Is a basement professional necessary for water penetration issues? It’s better to address this now, rather than later. A musty smell is something that could instantly turn-off potential buyers.

8.Fireplaces that don’t work. It’s a great idea to make sure that your fireplace is in tip-top shape when you are selling. Fireplaces are features that draw buyers, but they can also bring worry if there is any uncertainty about its condition, especially for a buyer who has never had one before. If it’s functional and recently serviced or clean, that’s one less thing the buyer has to worry about–and just think how nice winter showings can be with the fireplace going in the background.

9.Uneven walks. Can you say tripping hazard? Now can you say it five times fast while a stranger walks up your path for the first time with a baby in her arms? Are you wincing? Anyone visiting your house should be able to safely navigate your walkways without risking bodily harm. So if that’s not the case at your place, fix it, and fix it fast–you’re about to have a lot of foot traffic!

10.Toilets that run or need special instructions to flush properly. One thing MANY of us get used to over the years is our quirky toilets. I’m sure all of us have been to someone’s home and witnessed first-hand a toilet that doesn’t operate as expected–or you are laughing to yourself right now because you have one of these trick toilets. Toilets are a great invention, but they’re also pretty simple–one of the easiest items around the home to fix. So address any issues right away so they don’t end up being another question on the mind of a buyer.

Making sure all these items are in good working order before you put your house on the market will ensure smoother showing experences for the potential buyers and eventually a smoother inspection.

This information is courtesy of www.usinspect.com

Loving Denver Life,

Vali Hooker
Denver Real Estate Chick

The Rosamond by Berkeley Homes

Lowry has been a great place for buyers that want brand new construction in Denver that’s not too far from downtown and an easy commute to I-70.   Newer single-family homes in Lowry have traditionally had price tags starting in the high $300′s up into the million and a half mark.   Berkeley Homes has just introduced their new series of homes, The Greens at Lowry, that will be priced starting in the high $200s.

The model home will be opening in July 2011 which will showcase what The Greens has to offer.  There will be three models available, each having two elevations with square footage ranging from 1,750- 1,950.  Berkeley Homes will be offering flexible floorplans will allow individual home purchases to customize if they want an additional bedroom, a loft area or a second master suite in their home.

The Ashgrove by Berkeley Homes

These homes will focus on open-plan living, 9′ ceilings, five-piece master bathrooms, over-sized & energy efficient windows and gourmet kitchens with granite counters & stone backsplashes.  Each home will feature an iPad home sound system and Internet connection, standard in every home.

The lots are all ready to be built and the delivery of the first homes will be September 2011.   If you think that The Greens at Lowry would be a good fit for you I’m happy to help you get more information.

Loving Denver Life,

Vali Hooker
720-273-1969
Denver Real Estate Chick

Here is a list from Land Title of all the deal sites and discounts for you to score big around Denver.  The deals range from half priced meals at local restaurants or spa services to deep discounts on skydiving, whitewater rafting or house cleaning services.   The types of items offered are endless and the discounts are truly discounts.

Those should contain enough deals to keep you busy for a while.  Are there any others not mentioned?

Loving Denver Life,

Vali Hooker
Denver Real Estate Agent

Have a craving for something local, something Colorado?  Well the 3rd annual Swallow Hill Winefest is just around the corner – Sunday, May 15th at 3:00 pm.

Taste a variety of wines from Colorado-grown grapes and enjoy the local sounds of pianist, Leslie Brown.

Her prolific exploration into many genres of music now brings us her first, much anticipated EP: “Disarmed and Dangerous.” The mix of soulful, jazzy vocals, deeply grooving rhythms, and catchy doo-wop background vocals found in this unique EP flawlessly captivate listeners from all walks of musical interest.

Now if that alone doesn’t charm you then maybe the local winery and vineyard sponsors can entice you with a glass or two?  Alfred Eames, Augustina’s, Two Rivers, Spero Winery, Verso Cellars and Balistreri will all be there supplied with a variety of wines, keeping glasses full.

While enjoying your spring Sunday afternoon you’ll be happy knowing that all proceeds benefit the efforts to keep roots and folks music alive in the community.  Tickets are $37 or $70/pair – available online or at the door.

Loving Denver Life,

Vali Hooker
Denver Loft Chick

This is a roofing maintenance checklist homeowners can use to assess the health of their roof. As for repairs, it is always recommended that a licensed, professional roofer is used. You may find a problem using the methods below, but it is essential that repairs are performed correctly and thoroughly by a licensed professional; otherwise, the problem could continue to exist—or even get worse. Here are some things to consider when examining your roof:

•Look at the edge of the shingles at the fascia or gutter area. Do you see multiple layers? Three layers is the maximum desired. Do you know the age of this roof covering? Most asphalt shingles are designed to last about 20 years.

•Debris in valleys and gutters should be removed as it blocks water runoff, which may backup under shingles and penetrate the home. Gutters and downspouts should be free flowing and unrestricted.

•Do you see signs of damage from wind, hail, or mechanical impact? Shingles may be torn, missing, worn from tree branches, have holes or punctures, or may be cupping and curling at the edges. Ice damming commonly occurs when melting snow refreezes at the roof’s overhang and will cause shingles to deteriorate prematurely. If in doubt about any observed deficiencies, contact your insurance company and schedule an adjuster to conduct an inspection free of charge.

•Check for worn or damaged flashing around projections through the roof such as vent pipes or hoods, skylights, radon vents, and chimneys. You might also look for metal flashing in the valleys, inspecting for rust.

•Protruding nails (called nail pops) or nails not flush with underlying shingles need to be reset or replaced.

•Look at the top of the chimney, called the splay or cap. Is it cracked or otherwise allowing water to penetrate the chimney interior?

•Are there signs of ponding created where low sloped roofs have started to sag? Do you see cracking, blistering, or alligatoring of the roofing material of low sloped roofs?

•Are there signs of previous repairs? Note the location and condition of those repairs.

•Take a moment to look at your roof venting. Make sure it is not blocked or clogged. Birds, squirrels, and raccoons commonly will nest in vents and roof overhangs.

•Look for moss, mold or brown spots on roofing material. Also check for low hanging limbs or tree branches resting on the roof.

Courtesy of: www.usinspect.com

Art anyone? The first Friday evening of every month is when the local art studios and galleries open their doors so the public can get a glimpse of local and international art. Even if art isn’t your thing the city’s art walks are a great place to people watch and enjoy the free wine & snacks. The are walks are not overly pretentious but open to all walks of life and open to everybody who is interested in the talent that is displayed. Here’s where the Art Walks happen:

Santa Fe Art Walk.
Lincoln Park (80204)
Santa Fe between 5th & 10th

This is the original Art Walk in Denver and features the largest number of studios and galleries in one swoop, 30 to be exact. First Friday Art Walk is one of the many events that goes on here, click out www.artdistrictonsantafe.com for the full deal & other weekly happenings.

Tennyson Art Walk.
Berkeley (80212)
Tennyson between 38th & 45th.

Tennyson Art Walk features 15 galleries and stores in the Berkeley neighborhood just west of Downtown. Tennyson Art Walk is zesty and has a much different feel, one that is a combo of shopping, art, music & perhaps some food.

Golden Triangle Arts.
Golden Triangle (80204)
Colfax/Broadway/Speer

This First Friday offers a Free art bus sponsored by Golden Triangle Museum District that will cart participants around the Golden Triangle to the galleries that are a bit further from one another. It’s a cultural evening that is free and fun–can’t beat that. The maps for featured galleries are available at www.gtmd.org or for info 303.534.0771.

Navajo Street District
In Lower Highlands on Navajo St between 35th and 37th Ave. You can stroll a handful of galleries – D Gallery, Zip37, Edge, Next and Pirate then grab a bite at one of Denver’s oldest Italian eateries, Patsy’s.

River North Art District
RiNo - Boundaries:  North/I-70, West/I-25, South/Park Ave. W., East/Arapahoe St.

The industrial district full of businesses in creative spaces and most all galleries are open to the public during First Friday and they even have a Second Saturday.  The area is steps outside of Downtown with theaters, galleries and studios with a handful of pubs.  It’s a fun First Friday on a bike.  Each visit will lend itself to a new experience.   A few months ago I was able to drop in Blake Street Glass to watch the artists creating. They even let some onlookers help blow the glass!

The Art Walks have become really popular through the years and are a great way to spend an evening doing something a little different in Denver. They are held year-round but the summer nights create a perfect backdrop to stroll the street and see what Denver’s art culture has to offer. Check it out and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the art, food, people & fun.

[where: 80204, 80212, 80205, 80211]

HUD-owned properties are homes there were acquired by HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) by mortgage default on an FHA-insured mortgage. HUD offers the properties for sale that they have obtained through foreclosure to recover their loses from the defaults.

Greater denver has HUD-owned foreclosures in all neighborhoods, in every price range in many conditions (turn-key to gutted).  A HUD-owned property can be anything from a single-family home to 4-unit residential building.   The process of buying a HUD home is different than purchasing process that is standard in Denver.

Here’s what you need to know:

• HUD Homes are first offered to buyers that will live in the property as their primary residence, owner-occupants.  This exclusive listing period for owner occupants can vary from five days to 30 days depending on the amount of repairs the property needs.  After the exclusive listing period if no bids have been received by owner occupants HUD will open bidding to non-owner occupants, investors.
• During this owner occupant exclusive listing period HUD will collect all bids from owner occupants before accepting one.  They give no priority to the bids that were submitted first.  The property is awarded to the bid that will net HUD the highest proceeds.
• If a buyer bids over the list price then the buyer must bring cash to closing for the amount of the overbid.  So if HUD has a home for sale for $100,000 and you submit a bid for $103,000 because you really want the house you will be responsible for bringing the extra $3,000 to the closing table.  (not including buyer closing costs and down payment)
• When submitting a bid you can ask for HUD to contribute up to 3% of the purchase price towards your closing costs. If you ask for HUD to pay closing costs the amount will be deducted dollar-for-dollar off your bid so don’t ask for closing cost assistance if you don’t want your bid to be lower by that amount.
• HUD Homes are sold AS-IS without warranty or repairs.  It’s strongly recommended to get a home inspection on all properties but no repairs will be made by HUD if problems are found.  If you get an inspection and find there are more problems than you want to deal with then an owner occupant buyer can withdraw before the inspection period ends.
• A buyer must use a HUD-approved real estate broker to view properties, prepare and complete contracts, and submit Internet bids.  When buying a HUD home you really want a professional who is familiar with the HUD buying process.
• HUD homes are in the Denver MLS and are also listed at the HUD Home Store.
• All purchasers must close on or before 45 days of contract acceptance date for normal closings.  Cash closings may be 20 days and 203k closings must close 60 days of contract acceptance.
• It’s true that HUD has 1/2 priced houses under the Good Neighbor Next Door Program.  There are certain restrictions that apply.

This is the short version of buying a HUD property and it’s strongly advised to discuss the entire process in detail with your agent as soon as you find a HUD home you are interested in purchasing.  Each and every one of my buyers that have purchased a HUD home couldn’t be more pleased with their homes but they will all tell you it did take some extra perseverance to get to the closing table.  Denver currently has a number of HUD homes available in all neighborhoods and price points – have you considered buying a HUD property?

Vali Hooker
Denver Real Estate Agent

Photo by Manoel Petry via Flickr

Tomorrow is the kickoff for the famous Denver Restaurant Week 2011 brought to you by Visit Denver.  Participating eateries offer a multi-course dinner for two for $52.80 or one for $26.40 (tax and gratuity are not included).  The list of restaurants is long this year with amazing menus will leave you booked every night.  To pick a place to dine one can find a participating restaurant by neighborhood or browse the list alphabetically.

This two-week event is a wonderful way to try new restaurants and signature items brought to you by Denver’s culinary experts.  Reservations are recommended as tables fill up quickly during the event.  Get out and be adventurous by trying a new place or two.  What restaurants are on your schedule?

Loving Denver Life,

Vali Hooker
Denver Real Estate Chick

Photo: Kristal Kraft ~ Denver Dwellings

How much would somebody have to pay YOU to jump (fly) off this bad boy?

Today is the kick off of Denver Big Air in downtown’s Civic Center Park where a 106-foot ramp has been constructed so skiers and snowboarders can, well, get some big air and do some pretty fancy tricks.  Tonight the skiers will begin at 5 PM and tomorrow the snowboarders will jump.  The ramp is massive and I’m pretty excited to see these dare devils take flight as I’m consistently amazed at what these pros make look easy. Tickets are still available for each night at any Whole Foods or at the ticket booths on location but they no are no longer available online.

Loving Denver Life,