Mortgage July 9, 2021

Foregone Conclusion

For anyone worried that mortgage forbearance would eventually cause a flood of distressed properties to hit the market, there is good news this week.

The number of mortgages in forbearance continues to drop and hit its lowest point since April of 2020.

Loans in forbearance dropped 12% compared to one month ago.

It appears the growing economy is helping homeowners to exit forbearance and keep the market free of distressed properties.

BlogCommunityNeighborhood Improvement July 6, 2021

Windermere Celebrates 37 Years of Community Service Day

Every year in June, Windermere offices close for business in order to participate in Community Service Day. An annual tradition since 1984, our agents, staff, and franchise owners spend the day volunteering in their communities completing a variety of neighborhood improvement projects. Here are a few highlights from this year’s Community Service Day from around our network.

 

Windermere Rowland Realty – California

The Windermere Pinole and Diablo Realty offices joined together and volunteered for the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano Counties, working in their warehouse to bag produce for a food giveaway. After reaching out to their clients and peers, agents were able to gather $2,850 in donations for the food bank, an amount that will allow them to provide 5,700 meals to the local community.

 

A group of people bag produce in a warehouse.

Pictured: Scott Tuffnell, Denise Ramirez, Mike Rowland, Renee Rowland, Diane Cockrell, Mona Logasa, Dave Nardi, Ellen Osmundson, Jim Georgantes, Tina Rowland, Jacob Cardinale, Nicolars Ramirez, Luis Ramirez-Agudelo

 

A group of people hold up a check in a warehouse.

Pictured: Scott Tuffnell, Denise Ramirez, Mike Rowland, Renee Rowland, Diane Cockrell, Mona Logasa, Dave Nardi, Ellen Osmundson, Jim Georgantes, Tina Rowland, Jacob Cardinale, Nicolars Ramirez, Luis Ramirez-Agudelo

 

Windermere Fort Collins & Windsor – Colorado 

For CSD 2021, Windermere Fort Collins partnered with ChildSafe Colorado, an organization that provides therapy for victims of childhood abuse and seeks to “break the cycle and heal the trauma resulting from childhood abuse and neglect with specialized treatment, education, and community outreach.”

Windermere agents and staff completed a variety of indoor and outdoor projects including painting, planting flowers, landscaping, as well as supply collection and organization. In addition to their hands-on work, Fort Collins also set up an online portal for clients, friends, family, and community members to support their work through online donations to ChildSafe.

 

Two women and a boy work in the garden.

Pictured: Heather Patel, her son, and Jill Pino

 

The Windermere office in Windsor, Colorado partnered with the Weld RE-4 School District to host a school supply drive to provide supplies for children in low-income households for the 2021–2022 school year. In addition to the in-person event, they also had over fifteen local businesses volunteer by hosting a drop box in the weeks leading up to the event. Twenty-five boxes were donated by a local moving company, Johnson Moving & Storage. On the day of the supply drive, the boxes were filled with donations.

 

A group of women handle drop box donations.

Pictured: Suzanne Ekeler, Tammy Fisher, Angie Hoskins, Kelsey Vandemark, Angie Clauser, Karla Laferriere, and Anali Roath

 

Windermere Sandy Real Estate – Oregon

The Windermere Sandy Real Estate office organizes blood drives every year, so when it came time for this year’s Community Service Day, they knew exactly where to turn: The American Red Cross. With the help of Windermere agents, Red Cross volunteers set up in Windermere Sandy’s conference room, getting folks registered for the drive and handing out t-shirts. The Windermere Sandy staff greeted donors on the way in and during the afternoon, reception was handled by Windermere owners Alan and Therese Fleischman.

 

A white American Red Cross truck parked in a parking lot.

A white American Red Cross truck parked in a parking lot.

 

Windermere Real Estate Utah 

In communities throughout the state of Utah, Windermere agents were out in force for Community Service Day. The office in Layton, UT weeded and maintained playground areas and outdoor spaces at the Safe Harbor Crisis Center. Agents joined together to lay bark and install solar lights along the walkways on the property. The organization was also presented with a $5,000 check from the office’s Windermere Foundation funds.

Agents from the Park City office worked with local organization EATS Park City to package seeds and provide interview clips of stories relating to food and local culinary traditions. EATS Park City is dedicated to empowering and growing healthy communities with fun, food, and nutrition advocacy. Windermere Utah also made a $5,000 donation to the organization.

 

Windermere Real Estate Ellensburg – Washington

The agents and staff at Windermere Real Estate Ellensburg held a canned food drive, collecting donations at their office and dropping off grocery bags at three-hundred homes in the area for people to add non-perishable food items. They made the round on the final day of the drive, collecting 1,387 pounds of food for the Fish Community Food Bank. After they dropped off the donations, the Ellensburg team went to two different gardens owned by the food bank and spent the day weeding, cleaning up, and planting new foods.

 

A group of people posing for a photo in a garden.

Pictured: Caitlin Wable, Sally Vietzke, Danielle LaHaie, Erich Cross, Jennifer Savage, John Gardner, Cara Marrs, Genevieve Gillman, Casey Mills, Taylor Hull, Misti Sandnes

BlogColorado Real EstateFor BuyersFun FactsReal Estate Market Update July 2, 2021

Inventory Uptick

We are noticing a trend that is very good news for buyers.

Inventory has been increasing over the last month which means that buyers now have more properties to consider.

Just in the last week, the number of homes for sale has increased:

13% in Larimer County

12% in Weld County

11% in Metro Denver

If you are a buyer who has been waiting for home properties to look at, now is the time!

BlogEaton Real EstateVirtual Tour July 2, 2021

Beautifully Updated Ranch

1215 Black Hawk Road, Eaton is a beautiful and cozy five bedroom, three bathroom ranch in the quiet Hawkstone subdivision and instantly feel at home. Admire the custom and updated finishes throughout including the Acacia engineered hardwood throughout the main level, light fixtures, tile work in the bathrooms, stunning cabinetry and countertops in the kitchen, and floor to ceiling stone fireplace highlighting the living room. The bright, permitted basement has Acacia LVP flooring and was just completed in June 2020 providing a spacious rec room/multipurpose space, two bedrooms, a gorgeous and modern dual vanity bathroom as well as abundant storage spaces. The exterior features front and back covered patios, a fully fenced back yard with garden beds, sprinkler system and mature landscaping including Boxelder, Peach Tree, Honeylocust and more! Hawkstone community offers an outdoor pool, clubhouse, play area, trail systems and is in close proximity to Eaton Country Club, the Town of Eaton and Highway 85. Contact Meaghan Nicholl at (970) 497-9045 to schedule your private tour or click the link below for more information. 

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/135618297

BlogMilliken Real EstateVirtual Tour July 1, 2021

Settlers Village Ranch

1723 Sunset Circle, Milliken is great home in Settlers Village. Very close to parks and KQA Charter School. This 3 bed 2 bath home has much to offer with endless potential! In need of some minor TLC and is priced accordingly. Don’t miss it! Contact Brooke Kern at (970)980-8349 to schedule your private tour or click the link below for more information.

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/135618288

BlogEvans Real EstateVirtual Tour June 28, 2021

Ashcroft Heights Home

3308 Santa Fe Avenue, Evans is a wonderful 4 bed/ 3 bath home in Ashcroft Heights. The large master bedroom has a walk-in closet and full master bathroom. 2 more bedrooms upstairs with a full bathroom. The main level is open for entertaining and a large kitchen. The basement is almost finished with a bedroom, a large second living area and rough-in for another bathroom. Central A/C, 2 Car Attached garage, front faces west and a large backyard with mature trees. No Metro Tax and a minimal HOA. Come take a look. It will not last long. Showings start Friday 6/25. Contact Suzanne Ekeler at (970) 590-4841 to schedule your private showing or click the link below for more details. 

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/135149724

BlogDesignHome OwnerLiving June 28, 2021

Designing Your Backyard for BBQs

Summer is the season of spending long days and nights out in the backyard and making home-cooked meals on the barbecue. Whether classic BBQ dishes like ribs and hamburgers or skewered grilled vegetables are more your style, these tips will help get your backyard in prime shape for grilling season.

 

Designing Your Backyard for BBQs

Some homeowners may choose to make their barbecue the focal point of their backyard, while others view it as something to accentuate more central features like a deck, patio, or outdoor kitchen. The grill alone will take up significant space, not to mention the crowd it can attract. With that in mind, avoid situating it in areas of high foot traffic, such as near the stairs of your deck or along a main walking path. You should also provide ample room between the barbecue and your backyard seating.

 

A simple charcoal grill is ideal for small spaces. It also allows you to be flexible with your barbecue setup. If you are hosting a gathering, you can simply move the grill if need be and rearrange your backyard to accommodate the occasion. Built-in barbecues provide a more robust grilling setup, while freeing up space on the deck or patio. Though built-ins are typically more expensive than a standalone grill, they are a hub for outdoor entertainment. For homeowners who enjoy grilling in the shade, or those who live in climates where it sometimes rains in the summer, covered barbecues may be the way to go. Pergolas, canopies, and awnings are all popular options for providing cover. Outdoor kitchens are the most comprehensive grilling setup. With countertop space, a sink, and the barbecue all within reach, all the prep work for your cookout can be done outside, right next to the grill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you’ve chosen the best barbecue for your backyard, it’s time to start designing around it. The right combination of seating will add the social touch to your barbecuing setup. Bench seating is a popular option for barbecuing on the deck, while tables and chairs out in the backyard lawn create more of a picnic-style feel. Installing a fire pit will bring an added element to you outdoor entertaining, helping to make the transition from an afternoon or evening barbecue into a night spent under the stars. Experiment with different fire pit styles to match the surrounding elements of your backyard. For those with built-in barbecues and outdoor kitchens, consider matching your fire pit’s stonework to tie the backyard together.

Image Source: Getty Images

 

BlogFort Collins Real EstateVirtual Tour June 25, 2021

Charming Fort Collins Home

948 Butte Pass Drive is a charming Ft Collins home with a Main Floor Master, Vaulted Ceilings and Spacious Kitchen that opens to the living room with handcrafted Floor-Ceiling Stone Fireplace. 3bed/bath +Finished Basement offers bonus bedroom and entertainment space. Backyard boasts Mature Professional Landscaping, Custom Stone Patio, ORGANIC Vegetable/ Herb Garden, and opens to privately owned field. Enjoy crisp Colorado evenings around the Custom Stone Firepit. Great location! Near schools, parks, trails and mountain adventures! Contact Elizabeth Dolton at (970)396-7233 to schedule your private tour or click the link below for more details. 

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/134770109

BlogVirtual TourWindsor Real Estate June 25, 2021

River West Jewel

Welcome home! 637 Trappers Place, Windsor is located in the coveted River West subdivision, this spacious home truly doesn’t disappoint. With 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, a study, and a large bonus room, you’ll have plenty of room to spread out. Soak in the CO evenings from your spacious back yard featuring gorgeous, mature vegetation. The best part? This home backs to open space! The basement has its own sink, microwave, refrigerator, and can be accessed through the garage/mudroom without entering the main floor of the home. It’s the perfect opportunity for a roommate, or to provide your guests some extra privacy. The tall ceilings and large windows allow natural light to flow throughout, and the easy access to the back deck through the kitchen is perfect for grilling and entertaining. A new roof/exterior paint were completed in 2014, a new water heater installed in 2016, and a new furnace in 2019. Carpet was cleaned on 6/15. Opportunities to live in this subdivision don’t come around very often, see it while you can! Contact Kelsey Vandemark at (970) 573-2620 to schedule a private tour or click the link below for more details. 

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/134827423

BlogEconomics 101Fort Collins Real EstateFun FactsMarket News June 25, 2021

Local Nuances

“All markets are local” is a commonly used phrase in real estate.

This adage is proving to be true as we notice slight changes recently in the market.

Bottom line, the market, in some locations, is not behaving exactly like it did even 30 days ago. Properties that perhaps would have received 10 or more offers last month, are now receiving only one.

It is as important as ever to examine not only the general market area, but also hyper-local markets in order to understand the nuances that exist in specific locations.

A common activity we perform with our clients is to research the months of supply in their own neighborhood. We will frequently find that this stat varies considerably from the market as a whole.

To illustrate how ‘all markets are local,’ take a look at the days of inventory statistic for the following markets:

Larimer County = 18 days
Fort Collins = 15 days
80521 Zip Code = 24 days
80525 Zip Code = 9 days

While data on the overall market clarifies overall trends, it is the hyper-local research that is incredibly valuable when pricing property.