Keller Williams Realty Bucks National Business Trends During the Toughest Real Estate Market on Record

RISMEDIA, January 29, 2009-Bailout. Credit crunch. Foreclosure. Despite these words permeating the headlines and airwaves, there are companies out there moving forward - even in real estate. Keller Williams® Realty Inc., the fourth largest real estate company in North America, announced that it outpaced the market in 2008, while remaining free of debt, and gave back more than $30 million in profits to its agents.

“Our strategy is no secret. We faithfully follow the sound financial model of leading with revenue - the same model our market centers follow,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty Inc. “As we watch companies throughout the country take on billions of dollars of debt, we are proud to say that our company has not one dollar of financing debt and we remain strong and financially sound. It is our joy to be able to give back to our agents during these times.”

Despite pervasive downward trends in the real estate industry, Keller Williams Realty continues to outperform the industry. For the first 11 months of 2008, existing home sales for the United States fell 17% when compared to the same period the year before. By comparison, Keller Williams Realty is poised to outdo those numbers by 10 percentage points, and in addition, the company experienced a much smaller contraction in its agent base compared to the National Association of REALTORS®, who saw a 10% decline in membership.

“Keller Williams was founded 25 years ago during one of the toughest markets on record - when interest rates were higher than 18 percent. We continue to urge our agents to zero in on lead generation and reducing expenses so they can thrive during this market,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty Inc. “We admire our agents’ spirit, tenacity, and dedication to their businesses. They just keep powering forward.”

Throughout 2008 Keller Williams Realty launched new products and services specifically to boost its agents’ businesses, including two new books: Your First Home: The Proven Path to Home Ownership for first-time home buyers, and SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times. Both books are written by Gary Keller, co-founder and chairman of the board of Keller Williams Realty, who also authored national best sellers The Millionaire Real Estate Agent and The Millionaire Real Estate Investor.

For more information, visit www.kw.com.

Get out and vote!

This is a friendly reminder to get out and vote on Tuesday November 4th. Having the power to help elect who has the power to make decisions that directly impact our lives, our children's lives and their children's lives is one of the great things about this country. The Colorado Success Team is not endorsing any particular candidate, however we will say to use your voice. This is probably one of the most watched and talked about elections in history. In challenging times economically as we are seeing it is even more important to get out and vote, our future is in our hands and that who we elect into office. So please make time on November 4th 2008 to make your voice heard.

Positive Perspective - Highlighting the Upside of the Economy in a Challenging Market

September 2008, Issue Three

U.S. Treasury Department Announces Takeover of Fannie Mae; Freddie Mac: Much to the relief of those in the real estate industry, on September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department announced its takeover of mortgage-finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. From it should come a much-needed boost to the nation's housing market. (REAL Trends)

Job Gains: The Colorado economy added roughly 35,000 net new jobs during the most recent 12 month period, a 1.5% gain. Such growth currently ranks fifth in the nation behind Wyoming, Texas, New Hampshire, and Utah. (Vectra Bank)

Cherry Creek Rolling Along: After a successful round of high-end redevelopments, the district will see several upscale new hotels, shops and office buildings in the next few years. (Denver Post)

New, energy efficient apartment tower coming to Cherry Creek: At a time when many major real estate construction projects are being delayed or killed, RedPeak Properties has broken ground on a 14-story, $58 million luxury apartment high-rise in Cherry Creek. (Rocky Mountain News)

Good News for Denver-area Housing Market: The Denver area housing market showed the most appreciation of 20 metropolitan areas tracked by the closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices from May to June. (Rocky Mountain News)

Mortgage Volume Up 7.5%, Rates Down: The Mortgage Bankers Association reports a 7.5-percent increase in home loan demand during the week ended Aug. 29. The index indicates a 10.5-percent jump in purchase applications and a more modest 2.1-percent rise in refinancing requests. (Daily Real Estate News)

”Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start." Nido Qubein

by Land Title Guarantee Company

Michelle Obama's Speech

Well let me just start by saying that I do not know a lot about politics, it has never been my strong suit. I do however take the presidency very seriously and as the Obama's say after the Bush administration for the last 8 years I am looking for a change. I have been a supporter of the Obama's from the beginning. I think that his values are right where they need to be and I have to say that I really like his background. I feel like he can offer the most positive change for our country over John McCain any day! I really enjoyed Michelle's speech last night, she focused a lot on family values and the future of our country. She talked about driving home from the hospital with their first child. She stated Barack was "driving at a snails pace". It brought back memories of my husband driving our son and I home from the hospital at the same "snails pace." She really put a down to earth touch to her and her husband with this story, reminding all of us that they are just like you and I, not "celebrities"! Having kids like her, she touched a spot in my heart when she said that her children are the first thing that she thinks of in the morning and the last thing she thinks of every night. She also talked about her struggling father with MS who got up every morning and gave everything he had to provide for their family. She really drove home the point that she and Barack Obama were brought up like so many American families not over privileged but loved and with a dream to make a difference some day in this world. If I was teetering on the fence before I am definitely not anymore. The Obama's have my vote and by the way Michelle you are an inspiration to us all!

Link to all events of the 2008 Democratic National Convention

If you are looking for a link to the 2008 Democratic National Convention look on the left hand tab of our home page and there you will find it! Welcome to Denver!

Welcome attendees of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver!

Next week Denver will be hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention. We would just like to take a moment to welcome all of the people visiting Denver Colorado! While a lot of the residents here are excited about what this means for our city, we have a lot of people who are not looking forward to the traffic and congestion it is going to cause downtown. The convention has been great for all of those trying to rent out property in the areas surrounding the downtown area. I even heard through the grapevine that Oprah is renting a house in the Capitol Hill Neighborhood for somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000 dollars! While there will be plenty of things for you to do that are convention related, we thought it might be helpful to include a link to the Colorado Vistors guide in case you find yourself with a little spare time while visiting here and would like to experience some of the great things our city and state have to offer. (Denver visitors guide link: http://www.denver.org/ ) This guide will also be helpful if you are looking for a place to eat! Who knows you may like it so much you will want to move here!
To start your free no obligation search of all Denver Metro area real estate for sale visit http://www.jeffcorealestateblog.com/ and click on the icon on the right labeled Home Buyers Scouting or email us at www.cosmithteam@kw.com.

Covenant Controlled versus No Covenant Communities with messy neighbors

Yesterday a family member called me who does not live in a covenant controlled community, complaining about their neighbors yard that, well lets say was not in perfect condition. They asked me if there was anything they could do, I replied yes, but got to thinking if they lived in a covenant controlled community the process may be a little easier. I asked how well they knew their neighbors and if they felt comfortable going over and asking them if they could address the issues in their yard. You never know if someone is going through something that is affecting their ability to maintain the exterior of their home. If you know your neighbor well and you are the neighborly type, you may even be able to offer some assistance in helping them address their issues. If that fails I suggested that they call the local city/county’s code violation department. They would most likely send out an officer to write up any code violations that they had. Depending on what the city ordinances were they might get some of the problems that they listed addressed but not all. If they lived in a community with a Home Owners Association, they might have better luck at getting specific items addressed or not have had these issues at all. I myself live in a community with a Home Owner’s Association and appreciate the factor that we have to get out paint colors approved and keep our lawns watered and mowed. It really keeps our neighborhood looking nice and also aids in our property values. You always will have the one or two neighbors in your neighborhood that try to bend the rules, or that don’t take care of their front yard the way that you do. In a covenant controlled community they would face fines and or letters from the Home Owners Association to correct the problem, some home owners associations will even send in a landscaping company to fix issues and then charge it back to the seller. HOA’s have a lot of downsides too, but I do feel that the value is truly there for keeping a neighborhoods home values up in a volatile market.
For more information on the value of your home or to start your free no obligation home search with Home Buyers Scouting visit www.coloradosuccessteam.com or email us at www.cosmithteam@msn.com.

Tips on helping your children adjust to your move

We all know how difficult a move can be. The stress of packing up your whole life and moving it to a new location can take a toll on your family. Kids are so resiliant we often forget or overlook their signs of stress. It is important to remember to take good care of yourself as well during a move, so that you can give the support to your children that they will need. Below are a few tips that will help you to help your children adjust to your move!

Before you move:

• Get information about the new place. Gather information from the local Chamber of Commerce, Welcome Wagon and Board of Realtors.
  
• Tell older, school-age children about the move several months in advance, if possible.
  Share information about your new home, town and state with your child. Give him/her brochures and postcards. create a fun project that offers information about the new place (e.g., make a map or draw pictures of the new house).
  
• When possible, take your child to see his/her new town, house and neighborhood.
  
• Visit your child’s future school. Schedule time to meet the principal and some of the teachers and future classmates ahead of time.
  
• Plan a goodbye/moving party for your child. Involve her in the planning. Help her get addresses and phone numbers of friends and family they will be leaving.
  
• Request that your child’s school records be sent to his/her new school. Obtain medical and dental records for you and your children.
  
• Pack some of your child’s essentials for the trip: toiletry items, snacks, games, pillows and special comfort items.

After you move:

• Help your child decorate his/her room making it a special place in your new home.
  
• Make some exploratory trips into the community with your child such as visiting neighborhood parks, nearby restaurants or a skating rink.
  
• Take your child to enroll in his/her new school and meet teachers and classmates.
  
• Discuss extracurricular options with your child and sign up for some activities such as piano lessons, gymnastics, Girl/Boy Scouts, sports, clubs at schools, library programs.
  
• Encourage your child to call or write friends and family to let them know about the new place.
  
• Listen to your child’s feelings (sad, scared, excited) about the move and offer extra support.
  
• Help your child take pictures of your new home to send to friends and relatives.
  
• Get to know some of the other parents and find out about their activities and their children’s interests.

Why should you get pre-approved prior to house shopping in today's market?

It has been hard not to notice the numerous changes in the housing industry over the last year or two. Lenders are definitely tightening up on their loans now more than ever. It is very important to go through the pre-qualification process prior to shopping for that new home. It is not as easy as it once was to obtain a home loan. Credit scores are more important now than ever and if you don’t have a “perfect” credit score meaning “A” credit then it will affect your interest rate, which in turn will affect your monthly payment and what you can qualify for. You must have money down, the days of 100% financing and no income verification are long over. Only legitimate down payment assistance programs are going to be accepted by lenders in the next couple of weeks. Gone are the days of seller funded down payments from programs such as Nehemiah. Legitimate programs such as CHFA are still in existence though. Even though all of the lending standards have tightened it is not impossible to obtain a loan. Many lenders have been closing their doors lately so do your research and make sure that your lender has a long standing reputation in the industry. You can always ask your REALTOR for a couple referrals to lenders that you can interview. For more information on how to start your home buying process visit www.coloradosuccessteam.com or email us at cosmithteam@msn.com.

HGTV is coming to Denver!

The Colorado Success Team just received the following press release from High Noon Entertainment!

BUYING YOUR FIRST PLACE?Then HGTV is looking for you! MY FIRST PLACE, HGTV’s hit series, is coming back for a Fifth season and we’re looking for first-time homebuyers in the Greater Denver area RIGHT NOW! We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are just starting the home-buying process for their first place! Our goal is to capture all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and buying your first place. Taping takes place between May and October, 2008. Ideal candidates will be enthusiastic buyers with a great story to tell and a desire to share their experiences. Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply!

Candidates who are chosen for the show will also receive a unique SURPRISE that HGTV has picked just for you!

If you are a first time home buyer or know of someone who is looking to purchase their first home and are interested in being on the show, contact us and we will send you the application you need to apply! email us at cosmithteam@kw.com or visit our website at www.coloradosuccessteam.com

Visit http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_hmfp for more information on the show or to watch episodes.

What should you look for when selecting a home inspector?

So you are making the biggest purchase of your life. You need to hire someone to inspect your purchase to make sure that the major components are in working order and the structure is in good shape. How do you pick someone that is reponsible for inspecting one of the biggest purchases you will have in your lifetime? There are many things to look for when hiring a home inspector.

What does your inspectors inspection cover? You should make sure that the inspection complies with all the ASHI’s standards of practice. To find out what your inspectors inspection covers you may ask for a copy of their inspection report up front to review. Most inspectors will be happy to email or fax it to you. This is the report that will be completed and in writing after your inspection.

You should then check their resume. Ask them how long they have been in the business and how many homes they have inspected. ASHI’s members are required to have completed 250 paid professional home inspections and have passed two written exams that will test the inspectors knowledge. You should also make sure that they are specifically experienced in residential inspections not construction or engineering.

You should not use an inspector who’s company offers to do repairs on any defects found, this is a huge conflict of interest.

Your inspection should last around 2 to 3 hours for the typical residential home. Any less time spent or promised should be questioned.

Make sure your inspector carry’s E&O insurance, this is important should you have a claim in the future. Also, some inspectors or inspection companies will offer some kind of written guarantee.

Your inspector should encourage you to attend the inspection and even walk around with them as the inspect the property. We encourage all of our clients to do this. This way they can ask questions as they go along and point out anything that they feel concerned with. There is no better way to get to know your new house and all of it’s components. If something has been found that is of concern it is also good for you to see it first hand and get a first hand explanation of the concern. A good inspector will encourage you to be present and take the time to explain anything that you have concerns or questions about.

Your REALTOR will most likely offer up a couple of different referrals to inspectors and this is a good place to start. Most likely your REALTOR has worked with those inspectors for several years and know their level of knowledge as well as their reputation in the industry. Ultimately the decision is up to you as the consumer, so do your research and work with your REALTOR to find the best home inspector for you and your investment.

For more information on home inspections, state regulations or to find a ASHI certified Home Inspector visit http://www.ashi.org/homeinspectors/

To start your free, no obligation home search on the best home searching engine HBSR visit www.coloradosuccessteam.com and clink on the Home Buyers Scouting Report Link to begin.

2008 Parade of Homes Solterra

Every year the Parade of Homes features a realtor day. Every year I attend mostly to check out the latest trends in housing. This year the parade of homes boasted a Tuscan style in most of their models. The outdoor living space in most homes was spectacular, some however left something to be desired. I have to say that the lot sizes of these multi-million dollar homes suprised me. They are being built one right on top of the other, one would think when paying that much for a home you would get a little space in between. The finishes with in the homes were well thought out. The kitchens in the models were absolutely to die for. If you enjoy cooking and being in the kitchen, you should visit and check out all the latest trends and convieniences available today. There was a floor plan for just about every family situation you could imagine. You are also being given the opportunity to tour the state of the art community center, complete with Infinity pool. This community has definately been well planned out. If you are looking for decorating ideas or are in the market for a new home in a beautiful community you should visit the parade and see what Solterra has to offer. There are many new things coming to the Lakewood/ Green Mountain area including the relocation of St. Anthony’s hospital to the federal center area. Property values in that area could signifigantly increase in the years to come. The Parade runs July 26th through Labor Day. We would love to hear from you on what you thought of this years parade, feel free to post a comment or send us an email.

For map and directions or any other information here is a link to their site: http://www.paradeofhomesdenver.com/

Should you buy an old home?

You love the charm that old homes have to offer. The question is are you the type of person that should purchase that 1890 victorian home in Denver? Older homes can have many hidden problems. If you are not the kind of person that enjoys the 15 trips to Home Depot over the weekend and the countless hours spent fixing “that” problem that lead to another problem, and fixing all of those temporary homewoner quick fixes from the countless prior owners over the last 100 years plus then my suggestion is to purchase a newer home. If you are really set on having the old home, then consider purchasing a home that has had everything updated and when I say everything updated, I do not mean the counters and cabinets. I mean the plumbing, electrical and windows. On the flip side, if you are Mr. or Mrs. Fixit and want to put in the time, effort and money that renovating and maintaining and old home requires then go for it! There is a lot of character, charm and history in Denver, just know what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line. If you have any good old home renovation or ownership stories email us, or comment on this story, we would love to hear them!

Grant Ranch in Littleton Colorado is a very family friendly community

I never understood how important it was to live in a community that offered many great family amenities until I had children of my own. When we originally moved to Grant Ranch we did not have children. The amazing thing about this community is whether or not you have children does not matter. This community offers great parks and walking trails. They just upgraded the playground. It now is geared toward many different age types. There is a community basketball court, tennis courts and pool. There is even another playground right off the pool! They feature movie nights in the summer by the lake with free popcorn, fishing derbies and so much more. If you have children and want to move to a community that has it all. Grant Ranch should be at the top of your search.