Blog • Living • February 10, 2021

10 Tips for Valentine’s Day at Home

by Windermere Windsor

Valentine’s Day is a time for exchanging gifts, indulging your sweet tooth, and spending time with your significant other. Of all the places you and your Valentine could be, where better to spend the day, than in the place you love most: home sweet home. Let this list of ideas inspire your day at home with the one you love.

Tips for Valentine’s Day at Home

Breakfast in bed: Kick off your Valentine’s Day by preparing breakfast in bed. Surprise your Valentine by waking up early to get a jumpstart on decadent breakfast classics like pancakes, an omelet, or frittata, or keep it simple with donuts and coffee.

Create an at-home spa: Couples massages are a fitting indulgence for Valentine’s Day. Fortunately, you can create the same experience at home. Set the mood by lighting candles and putting on some relaxing music. Take turns applying facial masks and giving each other massages to put you both in a state of relaxation.

Scavenger hunt: Combine the thrill of adventure and your memories as a couple with a scavenger hunt around the house. Create clues tied to memories of your relationship and hide them room-by-room, letting the answer to each clue lead to the next. Get creative and plan something special for discovering the final clue!

What’s for dinner? Spending this special day at home gives you and your Valentine countless options for dinner. If you feel like keeping the kitchen quiet, order in your favorite meal. Otherwise, your culinary team of two can try your hand at a Valentine’s Day staple—fondue. For the full fondue experience, go for three courses: a broth fondue to open the palette; a cheese fondue to pair with bread, sliced meats, and charcuterie; and a chocolate fondue with fruit and pound cake bites to top it all off.

Plan a game night: Add some fun to your Valentine’s Day itinerary by setting aside time to play games. A game will help you and your Valentine relax and have a laugh between the food, drinks, and chocolate. Grab a deck of cards for classic two-player games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, War, and Rummy. Add in a game of truth or dare or charades to kick your game night into high gear.

Paint and sip: Keep the creative juices flowing this Valentine’s Day at home with a paint-and-sip activity. It’s simple: pick out your favorite wine, set up two easels, and choose a reference image to paint. For some extra laughs, face each other and paint one another’s portrait.

Dance the night away: Make dancing an integral part of your day at home with your Valentine. Whether slow jams or ballroom classics are more your style, pick out a playlist and turn your living room into a dancefloor.

Save room for dessert: Be sure to save room for the tastiest part of Valentine’s Day—dessert. Whether you put on the aprons and make dessert together or pick something up from your favorite bakery or chocolatier, no Valentine’s Day would be complete without it. Red Velvet Cake, dark chocolates, cheesecake, and brownies are just some of the can’t-miss classics for you and your partner to enjoy after dinner.

Cuddle up for a movie: At the end of your busy day together, cuddle up, settle in, and turn on a movie. Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for a romantic drama or rom-com.

Look to the future: Valentine’s Day is also a time to reflect on the love in your household and where you are headed in the future. What plans or changes lie ahead? How does your home fit with the changes you see coming?

From all of us at Windermere, we wish you and your Valentine a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Blog • Fort Collins Real Estate • Virtual Tour • February 10, 2021

Spacious Beauty!

by Windermere Windsor

Warm and inviting, 7008 Shangri-La Ct Fort Collins, CO is a 3-4 bed, 4 bath, 2-story with exceptional upgrades to include bright open floor plan, beautifully finished basement, vaulted living room, extensive hardwood floors, pantry, gas fireplace, en-suite master bath, upgraded lighting w/dimmers, wired for 5.1 surround sound speakers, Trex-type deck, backs to green belt, SW facing driveway, quiet Cul-de-sac, storage shed, fenced yard, sprinklers, central A/C, covered porch and enjoy area pool, clubhouse, tennis court, separate park. Contact Angie Clauser at (970) 590-9860 for your private showing for more information or click the link below for more details.

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/125059922

Blog • Fort Collins Real Estate • Virtual Tour • February 9, 2021

West Fort Collins Condo!

by Windermere Windsor

1704 Pecan Street 1A is an adorable condo in desirable West Ft. Collins that’s close to CSU’s campus, Horsetooth Reservoir, the foothills, and so much more, this is an opportunity you’ll simply not want to miss out on in this HOT market! This property features two large bedrooms, two bathrooms and an attached one-car garage, plus an additional parking space designated in front of unit. Enjoy foothills views from the private covered balcony off the primary bedroom or the fenced-in side yard with mature landscaping offering plenty of summertime shade. Be sure to soak in year round enjoyment in the sunroom offering flex space for hobbies, home office, etc. So much storage offered in this place! Association fees are $215/mo and include pool access! Downstairs half bath and laundry room remodeled and new roof in Nov ’20. Upstairs bathroom remodeled in Jan ’17. Beautifully done engineered hardwood floors throughout the living room and sunroom and tile in the kitchen. Wonderfully maintained home makes this a rare find! Contact Meaghan Nicholl at (970) 497-9045 for your private showing for more information or click the link below for more details.

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/125016363

Blog • Virtual Tour • Windsor Real Estate • February 8, 2021

Gorgeous Patio Home on the Lake!

by Windermere Windsor

Wouldn’t you love to live in a resort-like golf community right on the water? Look no further! 1509 Waterfront Dr Windsor, CO is a well-maintained 3 bedroom 4 bathroom patio home that provides unobstructed waterfront views, private beach access and an oversized custom System Pavers patio and pergola perfect for entertaining or relaxing. Admire the waterfront view from the living room through the oversized sliding glass door and enjoy gathering in the open kitchen offering granite countertops, custom cabinetry, and immediate access to a patio for outdoor cooking. This home features an expanded garage, a spacious main floor master complete with 5-piece master bath and large walk-in closet as well as main floor laundry and half bath and two additional bedrooms with walk-in closets and dedicated bathrooms. Don’t miss the all new fresh and professionally done paint throughout the main and second levels. This property is in great condition and lived in by only one owner since being built. New water heater 8/24/20! Contact Meaghan Nicholl at (970) 497-9045 for your private showing for more information or click the link below for more details.

https://windermerewindsor.com/listing/125012190

Blog • Buyers • Colorado Housing • Fun Facts • Home Price Appreciation • Market News • Market Update • February 5, 2021

Latest Ranking

by Windermere Windsor

CoreLogic produces one of the most respected and widely-used home price index reports in the United States.

They track home price appreciation in the largest markets across the Country.

Here are the highlights from their most recent report:

Home prices are up 9.2% Nationally
This is the highest increase since February, 2014
Denver ranks fourth among the largest 10 cities
Denver’s appreciation was 8.8% over the last year
Phoenix was first at 13.7%

Blog • Buyers & Sellers • Colorado Housing • Economy • Market News • Market Update • Northern Colorado Real Estate • Windermere Real Estate • February 3, 2021

Q4 2020 Colorado Real Estate Market Update

by Windermere Windsor

by Matthew Gardner

The following analysis of the Metro Denver & Northern Colorado real estate market is provided by Windermere Real Estate Chief Economist Matthew Gardner. We hope that this information may assist you with making better-informed real estate decisions. For further information about the housing market in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact your Windermere agent.

REGIONAL ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

The job recovery that appeared to be firmly in place in the summer has started to wane. Though Colorado has recovered more than 209,000 of the jobs lost due to COVID-19, employment levels remain almost 210,000 below the level seen last February. Even with employment growth stalling, the unemployment rate stands at a relatively respectable 6.4%, down from a peak of 12.2%. Regionally, unemployment levels range from a low of 5.4% in Boulder to a high of 6.9% in Greeley. Rising COVID-19 infection rates continue to impact the job recovery, and I do not see much in the way of palpable improvement until a vaccine becomes freely available, likely in the second half of this year.

COLORADO HOME SALES

❱ In the final quarter of 2020, 12,207 homes sold. This represents an increase of 21.8% compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, but 19% lower than in the third quarter. I am not concerned, though, because seasonal influences tend to impact sales in the winter.

❱ Sales rose in all markets other than El Paso compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. I believe sales are only limited by the number of homes on the market.

❱ Inventory levels remain well below what I would like to see. The average number of homes on the market in the fourth quarter was down 55% from the same period in 2019.

❱ Pending sales were 34% lower compared to the third quarter. Again, seasonality and a lack of homes to buy impact this figure. Pending sales are still 13% higher than a year ago.

Colorado Counties Graph

COLORADO HOME PRICES

Price appreciation in various Colorado counties.

❱ Home prices rose significantly in the fourth quarter, with the average price increasing 13.7% year-over-year to $532,492. Prices were up 1.8% compared to the third quarter of this year.

❱ Interest rates are unlikely to drop much further and this will lead price growth to slow as we move through 2021.

❱ Year-over-year, prices rose across all markets covered by this report, with significant appreciation in Clear Creek, Gilpin, Park, and El Paso counties. Every county but Arapahoe saw double-digit price gains.

❱ Affordability in many Colorado markets remains a concern as prices continue to rise at well-above-average rates. That said, I anticipate we will see price growth moderate in 2021.

A bar graph showing the annual change in home sale prices in various Colorado counties.

DAYS ON MARKET

❱ The average number of days it took to sell a home in the markets contained in this report dropped 15 days compared to the final quarter of 2019.

❱ The amount of time it took to sell a home dropped in every county contained in this report compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.

❱ It took an average of 26 days to sell a home in the region, down 3 days compared to the third quarter of 2020.

❱ The Colorado housing market continues to demonstrate solid demand, and buyers are clearly competitive as suggested by the short length of time it is taking to sell a home.

A bar graph showing the average days on market for homes in various Colorado counties

CONCLUSIONS

A speedometer graph indicating a seller's market in Colorado.

This speedometer reflects the state of the region’s real estate market using housing inventory, price gains, home sales, interest rates, and larger economic factors.

Home sales and prices are significantly higher than a year ago, and demand for housing is very much in place. Naturally, this favors home sellers who are still in control of the market. I do expect to see some improvement in listing activity this year, which, in concert with modestly rising interest rates, will likely start to take some of the steam out of the market. However, any moderation in the market has yet to appear. Even given the possible headwinds mentioned above, I am moving the needle a little more in favor of sellers, as demand is likely to exceed supply for the time being.

ABOUT MATTHEW GARDNER

Matthew Gardner - Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate

As Chief Economist for Windermere Real Estate, Matthew Gardner is responsible for analyzing and interpreting economic data and its impact on the real estate market on both a local and national level. Matthew has over 30 years of professional experience both in the U.S. and U.K.

In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, Matthew sits on the Washington State Governors Council of Economic Advisors; chairs the Board of Trustees at the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington; and is an Advisory Board Member at the Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of Washington where he also lectures in real estate economics.

Blog • Colorado Housing • Economy • Fun Facts • Housing Trends • Market News • January 29, 2021

Job Bounce

by Windermere Windsor

“How could the real estate market be so strong in the middle of a pandemic?”

That is a fair question and one we hear frequently from our clients.

There are several reasons for this but two stand out.

Interest rates
Jobs

Employment has bounced back much quicker than most people expected. When COVID first showed up, the expectation was that many industries would be hit hard for a prolonged period of time.

The reality is that only a few industries were severely impacted by COVID and the rest were able to get back to a near-normal level of business relatively fast.

Additionally, what we find along the Front Range is that our ‘job bounce’ is even better than the national average.

Here are the numbers…

The COVID-peak unemployment rate for the Front Range looked like this:

Larimer County = 11.1%
Weld County = 10.1%
Metro Denver = 12.3%

Today it looks like this:

Larimer County = 5.2%
Weld County = 5.2%
Metro Denver = 6.4%

Nationally, unemployment peaked at 14.8% and now stands at 6.7%.

So, a main reason why demand is high now is because jobs have bounced back, and the bounce is even higher than the average across the country.

Advice For Sellers • Blog • For Sellers • January 27, 2021

Finding the Right Agent to Sell Your Home

by Windermere Windsor

Selling your home is a collaborative effort between you and your real estate agent. As you prepare to sell your home, it’s important to find an agent who not only can answer your questions throughout the selling process, but who also cares about the happiness and goals of you and your household, as well.

Before You Begin Your Agent Search

Once you’ve made the decision to sell, there are some things to consider before selecting an agent to work with.

Communicate your reason for selling

Behind every homeowner who decides to sell their home there’s a story, and every story is unique. In the early stages of working together, your agent will be processing a lot of information about your timeline and financial goals. Having these details ironed out and ready to communicate will help them understand your motives and guide the process effectively.

Think about selling strategy

Part of a real estate agent’s expertise is knowing the optimal selling strategy to pursue, but no one knows your home better than you. Putting time and effort into thinking about things like how your home will be marketed and how showings will be conducted will help inform your agent’s strategic advice.

Finding the Right Agent for You

You and your agent will be communicating throughout the process of selling your home. You’ll be relying on them for updates and information each step of the way. Though your goal in working together is ultimately the sale of your home, your agent’s ability to connect with you on a human level through the emotional ups and downs of the selling process is just as important as their professional attributes. Accordingly, you’ll want to consider what qualities you’re looking for in an agent.

To set yourself up for identifying good candidates, talk to people you trust who know your personality and goals. Get referrals from your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. If they recommend someone, follow up with that agent to see if they are a good fit for you.

Searching for an Agent

To give yourself the best pool of potential agents, conduct your search both online and in-person. Exploring an agent’s social media profiles and reading reviews online can be useful in assessing whether they’re someone you want to work with. If in-person showings and open houses are occurring in your market, consider dropping by to get a chance to interact with the agent first-hand. After you have narrowed your agent search, ask for client references to get more insights into what it’s like to work with them.

Agent Certifications

Some agents choose to earn additional certifications or designations that showcase their commitment to additional training, coursework, and learning to help them specialize and advance their capabilities. Depending on your specific needs, certain designations may appeal to you as you go about finding the right agent to sell your home. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the largest number of professional designations. Explore them here: NAR Designations and Certifications

For help finding the right agent for you, we’re happy to connect you with an agent here.

Blog • Fun Facts • Housing Trends • Windermere Real Estate • January 22, 2021

Bubble Talk

by Windermere Windsor

A hot topic of conversation these days is the prospect of another real estate bubble. People wonder if prices can continue at their current pace and some fear a repeat of 2008.

Because we get asked about this topic so often from our clients, we thought it would make sense to ask our in-house expert, Matthew Gardner.

Matthew is our Chief Economist and was our Keynote Speaker at the Windermere Annual Market Forecast.

During the Forecast presentation, he discussed the bubble concerns and laid out his reasons why he sees no potential of prices bursting along the Front Range.

Quite the opposite actually, he sees that prices will continue to go up, but just not as fast as they have been.

His reasons for no bubble bursting are as follows:

Record-low inventory – prices cannot crash without a glut of supply on the market
Highly-qualified buyers – lending guidelines are more stringent today than they have been in our lifetime
Growing jobs – job growth in Colorado is projected to far outpace the national average this coming year

So, we project a healthy real estate market in 2021.

To see a replay of the Forecast presentation, simply reach out to us, we would be happy to send you the recording.

(more…)

Blog • Economy • For Buyers & Sellers • Fun Facts • Housing Trends • Market News • January 15, 2021

Rate Heading

by Windermere Windsor

Interest Rate

Rate Heading

Where are interest rates headed?

This question was one of many which were addressed during our annual Market Forecast yesterday.

Our Chief Economist, Matthew Gardner, provided insight on rates, prices, inventory and many other fascinating topics.

Matthew’s prediction is for rates to creep up to 3.07% by the end of 2021. They are currently at 2.79%.

The image below shows how his prediction compares with predictions of his economist colleagues.

If you would like a recording of the presentation, simply reach out to your Windermere Broker or reply to this email.