Boulder Nightlife

May 16, 2013 by

Boulder Nightlife

Work hard, workout hard, then play even harder. That seems to be the creed of so many locals who help keep the after-dark scene in Boulder thriving with places to indulge, relax and unwind.

There are two main areas in Boulder where the selection of bars and clubs are concentrated: The Hill and downtown’s Pearl Street. While each have a distinctive flavor of nightlife, both guarantee a characteristic only-in-Boulder evening.

The Pearl Street Area

For many, Boulder nightlife revolves around downtown, with a hugely diverse number of bars and clubs found up and down Pearl Street and the blocks surrounding it. Kick back in a cozy brewpub or beer-centric bar such as the West End Tavern, The Walnut Brewery or the Mountain Sun. Sip prohibition-era cocktails at the speakeasy-themed Bitter Bar or the ingredient-obsessed Salt. Or go underground to a satisfyingly dive-y spot like The Catacombs or the Sundown Saloon. Don’t forget to check the lineup at the historic Boulder Theater; many big-name musicians love to make a stop in Boulder, and the Boulder Theater is often their venue of choice.

The Hill

The Hill is located next to the University of Colorado campus and consequently has a boisterous, student-centric nightlife scene. Beer-and-pizza institutions such as The Sink, where every inch of the walls are scrawled with graffiti contributed by guests, join swankier newcomers such as Hapa Sushi Grill & Sake Bar. At the heart of it all is the Fox Theatre, a legendary Boulder music venue that has been known to bring in both up-and-coming local and national acts as well as sell-out shows by bands such the String Cheese Incident, Rose Hill Drive, Cake and more.

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John Marcotte

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Boulder County Farmer’s Market History

May 12, 2013 by

Boulder County Farmer’s Market History

Historically, there have been few organized markets in Boulder. There was a time when city grocery stores featured locally grown agricultural products. But as fruit and vegetable production centralized, farms grew larger in size and fewer in numbers. Many growers decided to enter the wholesale business and abandon their seemingly less profitable retail outlets. A small Farmers Market had gathered sporadically at the courthouse for ten years, but it had limited success, due mainly to it’s informal structure, lack of parking and nearby competition with the then newly consructed Pearl Street Mall.

In the Autumn of 1986, a small group of local farmers decided to organize a formal Farmer’s Market to be located in downtown Boulder, Colorado.  The group approached the City of Boulder with their idea, and the City agreed to provide staff support, secretarial services, meeting spaces, appropriate permits and a site for the Market. Four University of Colorado students from the Presidential Leadership Program researched background information about other successful markets, site selection, organizational structure, promotional plans, bylaws and rules and regulations. Boulder County lent support through the County Commissioner’s Office and the Land Use Department. The State of Colorado offered assistance through it’s Agriculture Market Development and Extension Service. After many months of planning, site selection became the top priority. The site had to be permanent, highly visible, attractive, accessible and shaded. Boulder’s Central Park, located in the heart of the city, was chosen and the Boulder County Farmer’s Market was off and running!

The Market’s development is a good representation of many different groups working together for a common community goal. The partnership of private individuals and government entities productively laid the foundation for this successful project. In March of 1987, the Boulder County Farmer’s Market became a Colorado non-profit corporation, organized and run by local agricultural producers. A 13-member Board of Directors was formed to oversee the Market’s general operations, including advertising, promotion and management. Under the Board’s governances, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations and schedules were adopted. The Board decided to charge a minimal membership fee and a small percentage of daily sales to help defray Market operating expenses.

Another decision the Board made early on was that any profits greater than necessary to maintain the Market would become available to nonprofit agricultural and community projects. Over the years contributions have been made to 4H, the County Fair, WIC Nutritional Program and Cultiva!, an at-risk teen gardening project. The Market has also held many fundraising events for other agricultural and community oriented nonprofit centers.

The Market has grown in other ways. Select food vendors now sell during Market hours, providing breakfast and lunch fare for shoppers, as well as opportunities for farmers to sell directly to restaurant purveyors. Many agriculturally related organizations are allowed space to recruit for their cause. Special children’s events are scheduled throughout the season. A Chef’s Event, featuring Boulder’s world-famous chefs is a highlight of the year. Freshly baked goods from local bakeries are available. Fresh flowers and crafts (created from things grown or gathered by the seller) are in abundance. The Market employs nine people and contributes sales tax to the City and County coffers. The Market sells t-shirts, canvas shopping bags and other items as a way of generating revenue.

 

John Marcotte

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New home permits soar 61%

May 8, 2013 by

New home permits soar 61%

New home building activity in the Denver area rose 61.2 percent in February compared with February 2012, continuing a trend that is approaching a two-year mark, according to a study released today by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.

“If we get to April and we do it again, it will have been two years,” of consecutive month increases from the same month in the previous year, said Jeff Whiton, president of the local trade organization.

This 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom, new homes in Parker is on the market for $849,500.

This 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom, new homes in Parker is on the market for $849,500.

The HBA tracks building permits issued in Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, and Jefferson counties, as well as every municipality within each county. Building permits track future starts.

“The market is improving,” Whiton said.

The report shows that there were 490 permits issued for single-family detached homes in February, compared with 304 in February 2012.

In the first two months of this year, there were 967 permits issued for homes, a 58.4 percent jump from the 623 permits issued in the first two months of last year.

During the Great Recession, when the new housing market fell to the lowest levels on record, new homes accounted for only about 10 percent of all homes sold in the area, Whiton said.

Given the historically low inventory levels of resales on the market, new homes should account for a much bigger percentage of the overall market, Whiton said.

“The market share for new homes is climbing,” Whiton said. “It has been as high as about 20 percent and I think this year it will be at least in the low teens.”

Many more Realtors are focusing on selling new homes, rather than resales, he said.

“There has been a big market shift,” Whiton said. “Not only is there this huge shortage of resales, it is just easier to sell a new home than a resale. A new home is a much better product. Builders just make it easier to buy a new home. They build a better product. They are more energy-efficient and fresh. They can often be customized to the way the consumer wants it.”
 However, builders may not be able to construct enough homes quickly enough to meet demand, he said.

“The existing supply of lots that are ready for building being absorbed quickly,” Whiton said. “Builders are looking for new lots.”

He said new homes prices are beginning to rise. During the tough times, builders weren’t able to charge consumers for things such as lot premiums, but they are today, he said.

“The market dictates what the price levels can be,” Whiton said. “Now, if homes with unique features, such as great views or next to a park or on a golf course, or near a good school, customers are bidding up those prices.”

www.insiderrealestatenews.com

 

 

John Marcotte

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RE/MAX names new board member

May 6, 2013 by

 

RE/MAX names new board member

Kathleen Cunningham, who has more than 30 years of executive experience at a wide-range of enterprises, has joined the RE/MAX’s 12-member board of managers.

 

“Kathy’s depth of experience and extensive leadership skills, are the reasons we asked her to join our board,” said Dave Liniger, co-founder and chairman of  Denver-based RE/MAX LLC.

“With her finance and governance knowledge, she has been a valued contributor at a number of organizations, guiding them through various stages of growth.”

Cunningham will serve as chair of the audit committee and as a member of the nominating/governance committee for the board.

Currently, she is a member of three corporate boards. Cunningham also has executive experience as CEO, Chief Operating Office and Chief Financial Officer in software, telecommunications and banking companies.

Kathleen Cunningham

Kathleen Cunningham

She also has a background in real estate, working as a financial a financial consultant and board member with Chileno Bay LLC, a resort development company in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Cunningham served as CFO with three Colorado software companies: NxTrend Technology Requisite Technology and Webroot Software.

She also has held and has also held executive positions at U S West (now Century Link) and Intrawest Financial Service (nowWells Fargo).

Cunningham earned an MBA in finance from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Politics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is a fellow and past president of the National Association of Corporate Directors, and completed the Harvard Business School’s Audit Committee Governance Program.  She currently lives in the Denver area.

 

 

John Marcotte

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Developers shy away from buying home

May 5, 2013 by

Developers shy away from buying home

Highlights:

  • Only one developer bid on mansion overlooking Denver Country Club.
  • Sonja Leonard Leonard believes other developers were scared off.
  • Conservation Fund stands to lose well into six figures because of lack of developer bids.

A number of developers did not make bids for a large home on six city lots overlooking the Denver Country Club, because they feared opposition from neighbors and Historic Denver Inc., according to the listing broker.

Sonja Leonard Leonard is listing the home at 101 S. Humboldt St. on behalf of the Conservation Fund.

Developers were scared to bid for this home listed for $2 million on behalf of the Conservation Fund.

Developers were scared to bid for this home listed for $2 million on behalf of the Conservation Fund.

The 5,198-square-foot home, donated to the Conservation Fund by the late Helen “Prue” Grant, was priced at $2 million.

“None of the bids were high enough for the Conservation fund, so we are going to continue marketing,” said Leonard, who was listing the home for the non-profit group for a 1 percent commission.

“Our problem is that developers or folks who want to tear it down face a huge obstacle in a neighborhood protest and in Historic Denver promising to jump in the minute a demolition permit is pulled,” she said.

Leonard said neighbors and Annie Levinsky, the executive director of Historic Denver, told her they planned to try to save the home, which lacks a historic designation, if a demolition permit is issued by the city. Levinsky could not immediately be reached for comment.

“I’m trying to find out exactly what non-owners can and cannot do,” Leonard said.

In December, the City Council made it more difficult for citizens to seek Landmark status for properties they do not know. The new ordinance, among other things, requires a minimum of three Denver residents or property owners, to seek the designation. Far more neighbors than that oppose the demolition of the home, Leonard said.

Leonard she said she believed the existing home could be razed and the parcel could include three new homes. The home was designed by Denver architect Thomas Moore. Victor Hornbein, another well-known architect, also was involved with the design of the home after it was built.

While about a half dozen developers looked at it, only one, a Texan, made an offer. That offer, she said, had a number of contingencies, such as the ability to allow him to move forward on the demolition, before he would pull the trigger.

“A lot of developers were blind-sided by Historic Denver,” she said. “It just scared the living daylights out of them.”

Leonard said she did receive a number of offers for the home and it is possible that it may be placed under contract shortly, although a developer would be willing to pay a higher price.

“I think it will be sold by Sunday,” said Leonard, who held open houses for the property during the previous two Sundays, which together drew about 550 people.

“All of the offers came in within $100,000 of each other,” she said. “We took the one, which was not the highest, but had the fewest contingencies, and made a counter offer. We’ll see what happens.”

She said she can not be specific about the dollar amount of the offers.

Leonard said the irony about the opposition from Historic Denver is that she loves to preserve buildings and if she had her druthers, the home would be saved from the wrecking ball.

 

 

John Marcotte

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Preserving Our Environment

April 30, 2013 by

Preserving Our Environment

The Center of the Green Movement — Groundbreaking Practices Establish Lifestyle Standards

Boulder’s reputation as an environmental leader didn’t happen overnight or by accident.  Since 1951, Boulder has instituted groundbreaking sustainable practices ensuring the preservation of its land and lifestyle.   Federal research labs, an innovative university, self imposed taxation to purchase open space, curbside recycling, city-wide mandated residential green codes and a carbon taxare all firmly rooted into the community.  Shopping malls have parking spots dedicated for hybrids, the soccer team is carbon-neutral, restaurants use locally-raised produce, and kindergarteners plant trees on Earth Day.

Here are more ways that Boulder is ensuring the preservation of its land and lifestyle…

  • Smart Growth — There are 43,000 acres of open space in and around the city of Boulder. This land is preserved because Boulder residents approved a sales tax earmarked specifically to buy, manage and maintain open space. The residents made history in 1967 by being the first US city to tax itself for open space. Additionally, 65% of the land in Boulder County is protected from development. Boulder was also one of the first communities in the country to have curbside recycling
  • Healthy Living — Boulder is full of trails, shops and food that support active lifestyles. There are 350 miles of dedicated bike lanes, routes, shoulders and paths in town. The largest concentration of natural-and organic-products companies in the country is found in Boulder. The Boulder County Farmers’ Market is the largest in the state and there are 70 organizations in town that embrace the idea of local, seasonal and artisanal cooking. There are over 70 Olympians living in Boulder County who are drawn to the area because of the supportive athletic culture.
  • Climate Advancements — Hundreds of scientists collaborated with former Vice President Al Gore and were awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on climate change. Nearly 40 of these scientists live and work in Boulder.
  • Research Facilities — There are seven federal research labs and 3600 scientists in Boulder that focus on science, innovative technology and climate change. Additionally, the city itself will become a research facility as Xcel Energy and the city have partnered to create the nation’s first fully-integrated digital electricity system.
  • Renewable Energy — Along the Pearl Street Mall, most of the shops and restaurants are powered by wind and the Wi-Fi is solar powered. The City of Boulder has 193 alternative fueled vehicles. Beginning in 2012, thousands of ConocoPhillips employees will come to Boulder to train at the company’s hub for research and development of renewable and alternative energy. The National Wind Technology Center is located six miles from Boulder and much of the wind industry’s success can be attributed to the research conducted at this facility.

For more information specifically regarding the environment, visit http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/media/green

 

John Marcotte

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Boulder tops the lists

April 29, 2013 by

Boulder tops the lists

2012
Top Ten Foodie Cities – Livability.com, January 2012
Best Underrated College Towns – NextGen Journal, February 2012
Top Sommeliers of 2012 (Pizzeria Locale) – Food & Wine, April 2012
#1 “America’s Most Creative Cities” – Richard Florida’s Creative Class Index, June 2012
20 Best Vacation Destinations – Frommers, June 2012

2011
Top 10 Winter Towns – National Geographic Traveler, January 2011
10 Great College Towns – US News & World Report, February 2011
#1 “America’s 15 Most Active Cities” – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Study February 2011
Happiest and Healthiest City – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, March 2011
America’s Best New Bars (Oak) – Food & Wine, April 2011
#9 “Top 25 Small Cities for Art”– AmericanStyle magazine, June 2011
10 Great Places for City Cycling– USA Today, July 22 2011
10 College Towns with the Best Food– The Daily Meal, September 14 2011
#1 Most Educated Metro Area – US Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2011
50 Best Bars in America (Oak) – Food & Wine, December 2011
5 Great College Towns for Winter Enthusiasts – US News, Dec 2011
#7 “Top US Travel Destinations for 2012” – Lonely Planet, December 2011

 

2010
Top 25 Destinations in the US – TripAdvisor, January 2010
#4 “Eleven Most Bike Friendly Cities in the World” – Virgin Vacations, January 2011
Happiest and Healthiest City – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, February 2010 #3 America’s Best Bike Cities – Bicycling magazine, May 2010
America‘s Best College Towns – MSNBC.com, June 25, 2010
#9 “Top 25 Small Cities for Art” – AmericanStyle magazine, June 2010
10 Best Cities for the Next Decade – Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, July 2010
America‘s Top Adventure Towns – NationalGeographic.com, September 2010America‘s Foodiest Town – Bon Appetit, October, 2010
Best College Football Towns – Associated Press, October, 8, 2010
America’s “Brainiest” City – Portfolio.com, December 2010

 

John Marcotte

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Multiple Offers: How To Get Yours Accepted

April 21, 2013 by

Multiple Offers: How To Get Yours Accepted

 

 What do I do if there are multiple offers on a home I want to buy? This is a common theme in today’s Denver and Boulder Colorado real estate market for homes under $400k because inventory is low right now. There isn’t a guaranteed way to beat out the competition, but here are some tips that will give you the best chance for success.

1. Determine The Most You Are Willing To Pay: Work with your agent to get a report of similar homes that have sold and determine the “maximum” you are willing to pay.

2. Offer Your Maximum: If there are multiple offers and you are convinced this is the home for you, present your “maximum”, often called highest and best, and that way if you get outbid you don’t have any regrets

3. Don’t Believe Your Friend Who Says to Offer 10% below list price: While some people will tell you to always offer X % below asking price, this simply is not true when buying foreclosed home in Colorado. It is competitive. Most foreclosed homes in Colorado sell for 99% of list price. Some sell higher. Your agent can give you professional advice to make a strong offer but without paying too much.

4. Tighten Up Those Dates! – When you write an offer to buy a home in Colorado, we have a date table for all kinds of “outs” for the buyer, otherwise called contingencies. These include a deadline for inspections, appraisals, final loan approval, etc. If you back out of the contract for one of those reasons (on or before the deadline for that contingency), you get your earnest money (deposit) back. If you want to give yourself the best chance of beating out another offer, take out the contingencies you are willing to waive. The ones you need, make the dates as soon as they are feasible to accomplish. This includes closing.

5. If possible, close in the CURRENT MONTH – this is self explanatory, but sellers  (if all other factors in the offers are the equal) will often choose the offer that can close soonest.

6. Show Them The Money! – If you can pay cash, do it! Next in order of preference is a conventional loan with a strong down payment. Last on the pecking order is an FHA loan because it has more hoops the buyer/seller/property need to jump through and increases the likelihood of it falling through. When given the choice, sellers prefer cash buyers and then conventional buyers.

7. Increase the Earnest Money – having a higher earnest money and/or a portion of it explicitly non refundable can help!

8. Take Out Concessions – It’s pretty common to ask the seller to pay a buyer’s closing costs, but in a multiple offer situation, take them OUT if you can afford to. It shows sellers you don’t “need” concessions and are therefore a stronger buyer. The seller ultimately wants the highest offer price that has the lowest likelihood of falling through.

Courtesy of the Taylor Realty Group

 

John Marcotte

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What is market value?

April 19, 2013 by

What is market value?

Ultimately, whether we like it or not, buyer’s ultimately determine market value. What someone is willing to pay IS the market value. If what someone is willing to pay is not what you “need”, the variable we need to adjust is TIME. Maybe another 6 months, or in some cases, another 6 years, but only time will eventually lead to increased market value. Just because you “need” an amount does not mean a buyer will pay it.

How To Avoid It:

Get educated on what similar homes to yours have sold for in the last 3 months. Hire an agent with intimate market knowledge of your area and have them present a market report with pricing recommendations. Price your home where it is compelling to buyers based on this data and not on your desires. If it’s too low, you might consider waiting for the market value to increase.

 

Feel free to call me anytime for a free market analysis.

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John Marcotte

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Choosing a Discount Listing Agent

April 18, 2013 by

Choosing a Discount Listing Agent

This may sound self serving and or like a solicitation, but hear me out. In these tighter economic conditions, many sellers choose their listing agent based on the commission their listing agent charges. There is no “Standard” commission and it varies greatly between companies, and even agents within the same company. However, negotiating is one of the main functions of your realtor/real estate agent. How quickly did they decide to come down in their commission?  If their job is to get you the highest price for your home and that agent is willing to give up their money that quickly, how fast would they be willing to give up YOUR money in the negotiation?  For example, if he/she went from 3% to 2% that is 33% discount – is that really who you want negotiating for you?

How to Avoid It – Hire an agent who is an expert negotiator and don’t choose your agent based on cost alone. Evaluate their entire business proposal, marketing plan, experience, etc. Often an agent can charge slightly more but you still walk away with more money because they can negotiate a higher price and terms for your home.

 

Please visit my website to see how well I will market your Boulder property for sale

 

John Marcotte

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