Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

New Property Assessments for Highlands Ranch will arrive by May 1st, 2013

Michael Garard — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:12:15 +0000

Property-valuation notices are being sent out across Colorado, and in many areas, homeowners will see values decline or stay about the same, despite current rising sales prices across the state for 2013.

According to some reports, statewide home valuations are down 2.5 percent from the previous valuations two years earlier. In metro Denver, values declined overall about 0.9%, Adams County and Arapahoe Counties, while other metro counties like Douglas County up 1.0% and Jefferson County up 0.3% will see gains.

Agricultural land values will be up about 8.6%.

Overall about 60% of homeowners will see lower values, and about 40% will see increase in values.

Assessors base their valuations on sales over a period of about 18 months from Jan 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, and try to correlate it to the value as of on the exact date of June 30, 2012.

We have a information packet available to help you challenge your assessments, just click on How To Challenge Your Tax Assessment. Or call Michael at 303-888-2488, or email at mcgmhg@earthlink.net.

New Property Assessments for Highlands Ranch will arrive by May 1st, 2013 is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

Highlands Ranch Real Estate Market is Not Slowing Down

Michael Garard — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:08:35 +0000

According to Metrolist, metro Denver had 6,682 homes/condos for sale, which is the lowest level of inventory in 28 years, which is about the time I started selling real estate. Here are some more statistics to show we have a strong real estate market:

March had 46% increase in sales from last month
March had a 20% increase in sales over March 2012
Average price of a Denver area home is up 19%
Average days on the market is down 35%
Average days on the market is 67 days
Inventory levels are 35% lower than March 2012
March 2013 had 4,333 homes sold
March 2013 we had 5,976 homes go under contract
March 2013, market the 9th month over month decrease in inventory

So when you are thinking of selling, or buying, call the professional with 27 years experience, at 303-888-2488, or email at mcgmhg@earthlink.net.

Highlands Ranch Real Estate Market is Not Slowing Down is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

Doug Mayer, Experienced Lender, Moves Back to Wells Fargo

Michael Garard — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:37:28 +0000

Doug Mayer, who recently was the Regional Branch Manager with New Penn Financial, has moved back to lending with Wells Fargo. In the past, he has had prior experience where he had his own lending company known as Premier Lending.

Doug, as an experienced lender, has been lending in the Denver Metro markets for 15 years, and has funded each year on average $25,000,000 in loans .

If you are looking for a loan, at affordable rates, and want closed within your time frames, contact Doug at 720-260-7199, and tell him that you found his name via our website. Here are a few of the items that he can offer to a borrower like yourself:

Fixed rate mortgages: 30, and (21-29 years), 20, 15 (11-14 years) & 10 year terms available
They provide loans for Jumbo purchases up to 85%, with no “MI”
Adjustable rate loans: 10/1, 7/1, 5/1, 3/1
Jumbo loans: Borrow up $3 million with competitive rates
FHA loans: Provides more flexibility in credit, income and equity/down payment requirements
Interest only loans: Available through New Penn’s proprietary loan programs
VA loans: Mortgages for Veterans and Active Military
Renovation loans: Facilitate home improvements, both in conventional and FHA Reno Loans
Real Estate investor loans: Flexible financing to refinance or purchase investment properties
Community Mortgage. 2% down payment with no MI, 1 year self employed
Strive for 25 calender days from application to closing!
Home Equity Lines up to 85% DTI

Click here to find out more information on Doug Mayer with Wells Fargo. His website offers online loan applications, so you can fill out at your own pace. Wells Fargo is a huge lending instution that has a loan to fit all borrowers unique needs, and he is local, with an office at the Southglenn Town Center.

To discuss your own real estate situation, contact Michael at 303-888-2488, or email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net.

Doug Mayer, Experienced Lender, Moves Back to Wells Fargo is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

Do Highlands Ranch Homes Have the Highest Cost Per Square Foot?

Michael Garard — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:23:57 +0000

The answer is definitely not, and although our prices are rising, we are no where near these other world cities.

The 10 Priciest Real Estate Markets in the World

New York is the lone U.S. city to land in the top 10 most expensive residential real estate markets in the world, according to a new report from Knight Frank.

But with luxury homes in New York costing anywhere from $2,030 to $2,240 per square foot, it’s only about half as expensive as the most expensive housing market in the world:

Monaco. There, luxury homes can cost $5,350 to $5,920 per square foot.

The following are the top 10 priciest housing markets in the world and the average cost per square foot in U.S. dollars, according to the report:

Monaco: $5,350 to $5,920
Hong Kong: $4,570 to $5,050
London: $3,890 to $4,300
Geneva: $2,720 to $3,010
Paris: $2,350 to $2,600
Singapore: $2,340 to $2,580
Moscow: $2,040 to $2,260
New York: $2,030 to $2,240
Sydney: $2,020 to $2,230
Shanghai: $1,820 to 2,020

Other U.S. cities rounding out the top 20 list were Miami at number 13 (priced between $1,300 to $1,440 per square foot) and they just went thru a big real estate bubble, and Los Angeles at number 15 (priced between$1,210 to $1,340 per square foot).

So when you are looking at homes in Highlands Ranch, keep in mind our price per square foot of about $160, and is easily affordable when compared to $5,350 per square foot in Monaco.

For more information about your specific home, email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net, or call at 303-888-2488.

Do Highlands Ranch Homes Have the Highest Cost Per Square Foot? is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

Michael Garard Was Rated 5 Stars in a Zillow Review

Michael Garard — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:30:02 +0000

Over the past 27 years, I have strived to give the best possible service for my buyers and sellers when they buy real estate in Highlands Ranch and the surrounding cities. With more and more reviews starting to hit the internet, it is nice to see a review from a satisfied client.

Here is the review, along with a section to print out the review.

Here is what user 1376596 wrote:

How likely are you to recommend Michael Garard?

*****

highly likely

Rate Michael Garard on specific characteristics

Local knowledge:

*****

Process expertise:

*****

Responsiveness:

*****

Negotiation skills:

*****

Summary of their experience
Michael is efficient and honest. He begins by telling you what to expect, coaches you on features and maintenance issues and patiently selects homes that meet your criteria or facilitates and shows homes you find pointing out potential problems and negotiatin points. I would never use another agent and we reccommend him to anyone wishing a quality and successful house hunt. Michael also follows up after the closing to see how your new home is working for you. A terrific experience all around.

Service provided
Helped me buy a home or lot/land

Street address
S. Washington St, Centennial, CO 80122

Year
2012

To print out a copy of this Zillow review, click on Zillow Review of Michael Garard.

For more information, or to contact Michael, email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net, or call 303-888-2488.

Michael Garard Was Rated 5 Stars in a Zillow Review is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

Colorado Foreclosure Sales Drop to 6 Year Low in 2012

Michael Garard — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:00:38 +0000

This is incredible news for Colorado and Highlands Ranch.

New foreclosure auction sales of homes in Colorado were down nearly 19 percent in 2012 from the year before, with 11 of the state’s 12 metropolitan counties reporting year-over-year declines, according to a report released late Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Housing.

Colorado had 15,903 foreclosure auction sales, or completed foreclosures, in 2012, compared with 19,617 in 2011, the report said.

In the fourth quarter alone, foreclosure auction sales dropped 7.3 percent to 3,706, versus 4,057 in the fourth quarter of 2011.

New foreclosure filings also fell in 2012, declining 10.6 percent to 28,579 from 31,975 in 2011. Foreclosure filings in the fourth quarter were down 33.4 percent, falling to 5,685 from 8,540 in the same period of 2011.

“Foreclosures in 2012 basically dropped back down to 2006 levels,” Ryan McMaken, economist for the Colorado Division of Housing, said in a press release. “There are also many more households now than in 2006, so if you adjust the foreclosure rate for the population growth, we’re almost back at 2005 levels.”

Douglas and Larimer counties reported large drops in foreclosure auction sales in 2012, with sales down 32.8 percent and 28.5 percent, respectively, in those counties.

Foreclosure sales are opened foreclosures that have proceeded through the full foreclosure process to final sale at public auction. Filings denote the beginning of the foreclosure process, and once a foreclosure is filed, the borrower has at least 110 to 120 days to work with the lender to avoid a completed foreclosure. It is during that time that borrowers work with lenders and housing counselors to work out loan modifications, short sales or other ways of withdrawing the foreclosure.

We have turned the corner, and compared to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Miami, we are close in values to where our highs were from 2006. Call me at 303-888-2488 to discuss your real estate situation, or email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net.

Colorado Foreclosure Sales Drop to 6 Year Low in 2012 is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

WOW! 5,541 residential homes for sale in Metro Denver

Michael Garard — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:21:48 +0000

The Feb 2013 Metrolist statistics for real estate have been released, and they are really good.

Inventory for both homes and condos, now stands at 6,786 units, which is a 32% drop in inventory from Feb 2012. Just think of supply and demand, what will give?

This breaks down to:

5,541 Homes

1,245 Condos

The average days on market has improved 24% from 106 days to 81 days, year over year.

There is now about a 1.75 months supply of homes, this is very low.

So if you are thinking of buying, it is imperitive to contract with a buyers agent, like myself, or if you are looking to sell, contract with a sellers agent, like myself. Email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net, or call 303-888-2488.

WOW! 5,541 residential homes for sale in Metro Denver is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

What Do Home Buyers Really Want in Their New Highlands Ranch Home?

Michael Garard — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:16:30 +0000

What do buyers want in a new home, and also what are buyers ready to leave behind in a new home in 2013? A new study released by NAHB, was designed to answer those questions and to provide a current and accurate info on buyers preferences.

The first answer is that buyers want Energy Efficiency:

94% want Energy Star Rated Appliances
91% want an Energy Star Rated Whole House
89% want Energy Star Rated Windows
88% want Ceiling Fans

Buyers Want their homes Organized:

93% want a Laundry ROOM
90% want a Linen Closet in the bathroom
86% want space in the garage to store bikes, sports equipment or gardening tools
85% want a Walk-In Pantry

But, what do buyers NOT want, or unlikely to buy:

70% do not want a home with an Elevator
66% do not want to live in a golf course community
56% do not want a Dense community
48% do not want a gated community
44% do not want a mixed use community
43% do not want a Two Story Family room
38% do not want a Two Story Entry Foyer
31% do not want a Full Outdoor Kitchen

These are new trends, of which next year, may have new ideas for new homes. Give me a call, at 303-888-2488, or email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net to discuss your home in todays real estate market, you will be surprised.

What Do Home Buyers Really Want in Their New Highlands Ranch Home? is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

Luxury Home Sales in Highlands Ranch and Denver are High

Michael Garard — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:40:40 +0000

Looks like the beginning of 2013 is starting a lot like the way 2012 ended for luxury home sales in metro Denver: we will call this strong.

There were 12 percent more sales of homes costing more than $1 million in January in the Denver area, according to a report released Monday. Buyers bought 28 such homes last month, compared

to the 25 sold in January 2012.

Those homes were worth $40.8 million, a 14 percent increase over the dollar volume moved in the same month last year.

The average sales price for those home increased slightly year-over-year, from $1.43 million in 2012 to $1.46 million.

The average days on the market continued to fall, from 239 in January 2012 to 214 last month.

The most expensive home sold last month was for $4.1 million.

For more information of the real estate in Highlands Ranch, call me at 303-888-2488, or email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net.

Luxury Home Sales in Highlands Ranch and Denver are High is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com

How Many Bank Owned Homes Are For Sale in Denver??

Michael Garard — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:37:04 +0000

I was surprised when I completed a quick look for Bank Owned Homes for sale in South Metro Denver area. But looking into the details further, several have lousy locations, that I would never let my buyers or investors purchase. But this is the overall extent of the homes for sale:

Price range from $120,000 to $470,000 in the south metropolitan area of Denver:

Highlands Ranch: 2 for sale

Littleton: 10 for sale

Centennial: 3 for sale

SE/SW Denver: 8 for sale

SE Aurora: 11 for sale

North Parker: 7 for sale

This data is of March 4th, accumulated from our MLS, of those homes showing “Active”. But with bank properties, there could be offers already submitted to the bank, and until the asset manager signs the offer, the listing broker can not designate it as U/C, or Pending. What this means, is that several of these homes, are really under contract, waiting for signatures, so the total above could be significantly less.

Call me at 303-888-2488 to discuss how you can buy a bank owned home, or email me at mcgmhg@earthlink.net, about my experience in selling bank owned homes. I have represented over 39 different banks and financial institutions over my 28 years in selling homes.

How Many Bank Owned Homes Are For Sale in Denver?? is a post from: Highlands Ranch Real Estate and News - GarardRealEstate.com