Blog the Rockies

Fine Dining in Boulder Colorado

2009-11-05T21:43:28Z

Fine dining is an experience we have all shared. You walk into a dim lighted restaurant with a decor that only this establishment has seemed to perfect. The smell of the food hits you almost instantly just as the hostess greets you. From there your anticipation of what’s to come is overwhelming while you walk to your table. With all the noise color and distractions around you, all you see is the menu infront of you. Enjoying the moment you review every item on the menu, as not to miss anything that might tempt you, but you do so quick enough to make sure you can get an appetizer and drink ordered as soon as your first meet your waiter. From there conversation great food and an unforgetable memory ensues. This is the fine dining experience, and Boulder Colorado has many restaurants that offer just that. If you are one of those who “Lives to Eat” rather than ”Eats to live” then Boulder has what you crave. For a list of ALL the restaurants in Boulder Colorado, CLICK HERE.

First on our list is The Flagstaff House. Located part way up flagstaff road at 6,000 ft, the drive alone gives you one of the best views of the city of Boulder. Originally a cabin built in 1929, this family owned restaurant has become well known and liked by locals and visitors. Not just Boulder’s but Colorado’s premier dining experience combines an award-winning wine list with exquisite food. The great Vitner’s rooms allow a 20,000 bottle wine cellar to be viewed by the restaurants patrons. Please CLICK HERE for a more details about the Flagstaff House.

If you are looking to see the “greener/healthier” side of Boulder’s fine dining restaurants, you can not pass up the Sunflower. It’s location on Pearl street makes sunflower a prefect choice. Sunflower provides a delicious array of food that satisfies and promotes your good health. Their menu states, “Your meal will be prepared from specially selected fresh, whole foods without any preservatives, chemical additives, or artificial ingredients of any kind.” Certified organicially grown foods are used in preperation. It is truely a unique experience. CLICK HERE to find out more about Sunflower.

Here are a few more I would suggest you check out while in Boulder: The Kitchen on Pearl St. This European bistro is the whole package when it comes to fine dining experiences. Ras Kassas Ethiopian is so close to the real thing it will leave you speechless. Brasserie 10 10 offers French-inspired cuisine for lunch and dinner you should go and see for yourself.

Please if you are a bit hungry after reading this come visit Boulder and its fine dining restaurants. They won’t let you down

Getting your FACE-book, LINKED-in so others can see your my-SPACE

2009-10-18T21:11:03Z

Getting connected with today’s home buyer, generation X and Y, seems like a challenge. It is. But considering the tools available to you, it also has never been so easy. The old ways of open houses, cold calling and sending postcards seems obsolete. While not entirely true, there are better ways to get your name face and message out to your sphere and others….social networks. There are so many out there it will amaze you. CHECK HERE

You may ask, “How do you establish the trust, that face to face relationships are best at, via the web?” Go to one of the sites and see for yourself. The users give you access to their lives through their profile, which consists of: pictures. self descriptions, school and job histories, stories, their friends, and their friends’ friends, and the list goes on and on. We need to socialize ourselves, not in the traditional way, but rather the virtual way. Anyone interested in staying connected with the web will need an ever changing early-adopter attitude. The web is always changing and requires our utmost attention to stay up with it.

Your Profile

Here are a few of the social sites that I am connected with and recommend you get connected with as well:

CLICK HERE TO SEE

First is FaceBook. The most visited social networking site there is. It is not a site just for connecting with your third grade buddy, no no no. It’s a way to view profiles of people with the same interests as you. It is a way to view people in your area who are connected with similar interests as you . Ultimately it is a way into millions of people’s lives through information they choose to share, which you will find is quite a lot. Here are some of the baffling stats of Facebook.

More than 300 million active users, 50% of our active users log on to Facebook in any given day, The fastest growing demographic is 35 years old and older, Each friend has an average of 130 friends, over 2 billion photos uploaded each month, over 14 billion videos added each month.

Twitter is a great site that gives you up to the minute updates to individuals. Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Use Twitter to productively market, promote, converse, or network to millions of followers. It is your job to provide value to your followers so they will promote that value to others. They will watch your every move and wait for your next post. With generation X and Y wanting their info. so immediate, this can be a extremely valuable service to them. Primarily a service useful in business, and many people have used twitter in their business. See for yourself here. Here are a few stats on Twitter.

55 million visits every month, it is the third most visited social network, 72.5% of all users have joined since January 2009, 93.6% of users have less than 100 followers, while 92.4% follow less than 100 people.

YouTube is a website we have all visited, but how many of us have posted a video? Founded in 2005 it has since become the second most trafficked social networking website. YouTube is a platform used by individuals to express, connect, inform, and inspire others who view their content. This can be another valuable service in any profession. Musicians, real estate agents/brokers, comedians, teaching, filmmakers, and professional content providers are just a few of the professions taking advantage of YouTube. You can share your talents and expertise thus establishing trust with a client you have never met. Express yourself publicly or privately and gain subscribers awaiting your newest video. It is easy to do and effective. Perhaps your next video will be the newest number one gaining close to 23,000,000 views. Now that’s good advertising.

A “Few”Tube stats. Every minute ten hours of video is uploaded into YouTube, 150,000 videos uploaded daily, over 100,000,000 videos to view, It would take over 450 years to watch all the videos…

So now that you know all the advantages these social networks have to offer try a few out. I recommend FaceBook and Blogspot.com. Soon you will have hundreds of new contacts and new friends as well as reconnecting with old ones.

Boulder Open Space, Come and see it……

2009-10-09T18:30:33Z

Imagine you are in your apartment and get the urge to take your dog for a jog. Only problem is that you live in a metropolis. You put on your running shoes, slip Fido’s leash around his neck and head down stairs for your exercise. Heading outside you start jogging, noticing your view is mostly reflections of the city in the glass windows of the buildings lining the streets. People all around you, no where to go but where the streets take you and you feel like you are trapped.

Concrete Jungle

After a few urban switch backs you return home and know something is missing. ”Might as well have ran on the treadmill”, you tell yourself. You are missing the trees, the grass and the overall open space that are ideal for a jog with your dog. Your answer to this problem is Boulder Colorado.

Boulder Colorado is one of the best outdoor towns in the country. The lands teem with native plants and wildlife and are home to threatened and endangered species. Our open spaces serve as a buffer zones between Boulder and nearby development, so in the future Boulder will look as beautiful as ever. These land provide us with untold benefits to the natural environment – clean air, water, and earth. Don’t you want to be surrounded by such an environment?

Open Space Everywhere

It is Boulder’s citizens who, through many years of planning and action, have created and maintained these special lands. As early as 1898 Boulder citizens were showing their appreciation for conservation, when they purchased Chautauqua Park right next to the foot of Flagstaff Mountain. Through a community charter and efforts by the people, we have and continue to preserve our green lands. Ranked #1 Sports Town in America by Outside Magazine, our town offers you plenty. With over 45,000 acres of open space, most of which goes directly through our town, Fido will never be board again. Creek paths, green parks and mountain trails are only three of the many options you will have. Hikers and their dogs, bikers, horseback riders and others are welcome to explore over 200 miles of public hiking trails. Get lost in the wilderness and never leave Boulder. Boulder’s beauty is in its conservation of wilderness, come join and help preserve Boulder.

Get Started

Extend And Expand The Homebuyer Tax Credit

2009-10-05T16:39:54Z

Hurry!! Time is running out!! In order to be eligible for the first-time homebuyer tax credit you must:

find the perfect home,
complete a contract,
satisfy any contingencies,
secure financing, and
negotiate inspection

BY NOVEMBER 30th!!!

I would say time is out! Now, it is so important for Congress to Extend and Expand the tax credit ASAP!

The $8,000 tax credit expires December 1st. The usefulness of the credit diminishes daily if the credit is not extended well before that date explains The National Association of Realtors.

The Association goes on to say that the credit has been a success as homebuyer interest peaked and home sales increased. Today’s lower prices and interest rates appeal to customers but it’s the tax credit that really drove clients to open houses and to home-ownership. But a homeowner is only eligible for the tax credit before December 1st which rushes the process of finding a home, completing a contract, satisfying contingencies, securing financing, and making it to the closing table by November 30th.

According to Seven News, more than 27,000 Colorado homebuyers have taken advantage of the credit. This week, the White House said its economic team is evaluating the credit’s impact on home sales and will make a recommendation to President Barack Obama. There have been more than a dozen bills introduced in Congress to prolong the life of the tax credit past the Nov. 30 deadline, and on Thursday Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid endorsed the idea of extending the credit for an additional six months. The housing market has been devastated in Reid’s home state of Nevada.

If you would like to take action urging Congressto expand and extend the homebuyer tax credit, write a letter and let them know. I would say that the tax credit did help boost the economy, but it wasn’t enough. Why not extend it another year? Besides the tax credit, what else could be done? Something has to be done about appraisals. For instance, deals are falling through much too often these days because of a poorly done appraisal. Anyway, don’t get me started. What do you think should happen?

PRICE REDUCED SPECTACULAR LONGMONT HOME FOR SALE

2009-10-01T22:01:45Z

Best Deal In The Neighborhood. Priced to sell. MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION.

One of our newest listings, 11793 Pleasant View Ridge in Longmont is located within the Elms Meadow Vale Subdivision and the PRICE is being REDUCED by $50,000. Within walking distance to Union Reservoir and Sandstone Park, this 5 bedroom, 5 bath home really stands out with its modern and contemporary upgrades. Conveniently located near I-25, Ft. Collins, Boulder, and Denver, the home has views from every direction and the subdivision is well-maintained with a community park. You’ll love this home, click here to view the details.

This is a stunning home, immaculate and move-in ready with PREMIUM updates throughout. It was custom-built in 2006 with a gourmet kitchen including slab granite countertops, butlers pantry, double oven, and all stainless steel appliances. The open and spacious floor plan makes it great for entertaining and family gatherings. Beautiful hard wood floors, modern lighting, and the high-quality custom tile backsplash make this a dazzling kitchen you’ll love to cook and entertain in. Here you’ll find access to the new patio with custom built outdoor gas grill station. Spend many evenings from this backyard enjoying views of the plains. You’ll often see many horseback riders right outside your back door. This home is located on one of the best lots in the neighborhood because of its privacy. As you can see, there are no neighbors located directly behind the home and on one side, is a well-maintained grass lot, giving seclusion to the neighbors on the south. As we go back inside, just off of the kitchen, you’ll find the huge great room with high ceilings and fireplace. The custom-tile the owners added around the fireplace is amazing and unique. The high windows let in plenty of light making this an inviting room for the family to hang out after a busy day. Just off the great room is a main level study with venetian plaster wall finish and double french doors. Off the kitchen you’ll enjoy the separate and eloquent dining room including a raised ceiling with more venetian plaster. It’s beautiful and admired by all guests.

As you enter the front door, you’ll be delighted by the foyer and open staircase.

As you reach the top of the stairs, overlook the great room and check out the amazing views.

Upstairs is a master suite unlike you’ve ever witnessed before. Unique wall paint add to the contemporary feel and enjoy the ooh’s and aah’s you’ll receive from all who see it. The master suite includes a 5 piece master bath and sitting area.

Again, check out those views!!!!

There are three more bedrooms upstairs with a jack and jill bathroom. Perfect for a family with children or a family who has a lot of company. The home has over 5700 square feet which includes a new finished basement. Many of the homes in this neighborhood do not have the basement, making this home one of a kind. A pre-wired mother in law suite or a nanny suite is located in the new basement with a spacious 5 piece bathroom. The tile floor is luxurious and classy. Your mother in law, nanny or guests will be totally impressed. The basement also includes another office or workout room. It is also great for entertaining or family night with a gathering area and theatre/media room. Are you a musician? This room makes a perfect studio. And the entrance way to this room includes a dazzling tile floor, which does not go unnoticed by any guest to the home.

Custom Tile in Bathroom

From $549,000 to $499,000

Don’t miss the opportunity to see this home and call me for a showing!

And the Award goes to……Boulder!!!

2009-09-29T18:10:47Z

When it comes to living in the United States there are few places as unique and attractive as Boulder Colorado. Nestled in the foothills, where the rolling planes meet the majestic Rockies, you will find Boulder.

Boulder is centrally located within an hour from Denver, the airport and El Dora ski resort, making it an ideal location. There is a one of a kind outdoor scene that very few places can offer. Hundreds of hiking trails, rivers/creeks, and endless extreme sports are just a few of these attractions our town has to offer. Come explore…..

If it’s a night life you desire head to Pearl street for countless restaurants, pubs bars, and shops. Trust me there is something in Boulder for you.

Come on over midwesterners our weather is unbeatable. With over 300 days of sun a year (more than San Diego or Miami) there are pleanty of chances to get outside and enjoy yourself. A moderate winter and perfect spring break up the year just right. click here for details. Make sure you do not forget about all the SNOW. Snow junkies enjoy world class mountains only a few hours from our great city. Vail, Winter Park, Beaver Creek, and Breckenridge are just a few. Both with over 10,00 acres to ski, Vail and Winter Park will keep you skiing new terrain for years. Come and ’ski’ for yourself!!!

Intellectuals welcome. We are one of the most educated towns in the country. Forbes Magazine ranked us “America’s Smartest City” in 2008. More than 92% with a high school diploma, more than 52% of us have a bachelor’s degree or better, and close to 4% with a Ph.D. With plenty of good schools to choose from and a State University to match, bring your kids to a stimulating environment to grow up and learn in.

ACCOLADES

1) 2002-ranked #1 Thinnest City – by Self Magazine 2) 2002-ranked Americas 50 Healthiest Places to Live – by USA Today 3) 2003-ranked BEST Overall Place to Live – by Mens Magazine 4) 2003-ranked Best Cities for Singles – by Forbes Magaznine , 2004-ranked Best Place in the Country for Singles – by Forbes 5) 2004-ranked Best Cities for Relocating Families (Boulder/Longmont) – by Worldwide ERC and Primary Relocations 6) 2005-ranked #1 Best Place to Live – by Mens Journal & #1 Best Place to live – by Successful Meetings 7) 2005-ranked 50 Fabulous Gay Friendly Places to Live – by book by Greg Kompes 8) 2006-ranked Top ten Places to Retire – by Bottom Line Retirement & 2007-ranked Best Places to Retire – by US News and World Report.com & 2008-ranked Top Ten Brainiest Places to Retire – by US News and World Report

and the list goes on and on………………CLICK HERE TO SEE

These are just a few of the reasons so many folks have chosen Boulder as their home. Come here and see all the others for yourself…. We will be waiting.

Louisville Ranked #1 Place To Live In 2009

2009-09-21T14:56:59Z

Louisville has been ranked THE NUMBER ONE place to live in the United States! And for those of us who live here, we already know why. Previously ranked in the top ten places to live, now Louisville Colorado in Boulder County is at the top of the list for best place to live (for populations under 50,000).

Not only is the local economy here still thriving: there is low crime, great job opportunities, and affordable housing. This is where you want to live so read more to find out why.

So what is it about Louisville Colorado that always puts it high on the top ten places to live? For one, it’s an escape from the steep home prices in Boulder and some would say; it’s a little more “down to earth”. The historic district is quaint and friendly with ice cream shops, cafes and endless summer fairs. Activities abound for the children; you’ll never run out of family activities to embark upon. And according to Money Magazine, it’s also weathering the economic downturn as well. Robust industries in the area such as high tech, energy, and healthcare, make county unemployment one of the lowest in the the state.

According to ConocoPhillips, too further strengthen and invest in our people and technology capabilities, ConocoPhillips recently purchased property in Louisville, Colorado, on which the company plans to develop a corporate learning center and a global technology center. This 432-acre property – about halfway between Denver and Boulder – presents the opportunity to do this at a prime location and in a campus environment that will foster sharing of knowledge, innovation and creativity. This will just further the economic strength of the community in Louisville by providing ample job opportunities.

Add the great outdoors…and you have a perfect place to call home. Louisville has more than 30 miles of trails and open space galore. Are you a golfer? Then, it’s Coal Creek Golf Course you’ll be visiting. It’s a quick trip to the Rocky Mountains and within two hours of several ski resorts such as Eldora and Arapahoe Basin. Also conveniently close to Denver and The Flatirons Mall. You can’t beat the schools, low crime and low taxes. And the real estate? Well, call me today for the perfect home at an affordable price.

Fall Fun In Boulder Colorado

2009-09-06T01:36:30Z

Is it just me or is it starting to feel more and more like fall around here in Boulder Colorado? Farms are advertising for their festivals, temperatures have dropped, the outdoor pools are closing, school has begun, and it’s already Labor Day. Today I even found two bright red leaves in my lawn (although it’s a little premature for that). Fall is in the air and right around the corner. Luckily we live in Boulder where there are ample amounts of fall activities for you to enjoy. Miller Farms has started advertising for their Fall Festival which includes a corn maze, tractor rides, pumpkin picking and a playground. They also have a Farmer For A Day which includes harvesting your own vegetables to take home.

Read more about all the events to enjoy during Fall in and around Boulder.

Besides Miller Farms, there are several other farms who host pumpkin picking, haunted corn mazes and other fun activities for everyone in the family. Cottonwood Farms offers free admission! Rock Creek Farm provides 3 corn mazes with over 5 miles of paths or try the hay bale maze for a simpler challenge. Don’t forget to see the farm animals. They have pigs, goats, ponies, donkeys, and chickens.

HURRY….THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!! The Boulder Creek Hometown Fair is a popular annual fair which signals the unofficial end to summer. The event features arts and crafts exhibitors, pie-eating contests, the Great Zucchini Race, beer garden, live entertainment and more. Sept. 5-7, 10am-10pm the first two days and 11am-7pm on Labor Day. On the Municipal Building lawn and in Central Park and at Broadway and Canyon. Call 303-652-4942 for more details.

The EcoHarmony Festival is coming to the Boulder Courthouse Lawn on October 3rd and 4th, featuring ecofriendly products and services as well as organic food, workshops and great live music.

And don’t forget Lafayette in Boulder County with its Celebrate Lafayette Day scheduled for September 26, from 10am-4pm. This is Lafayette’s oldest community festival; the first one was in 1956! ”Hollywood on Parade” is going to be this year’s theme. And keeping with tradition…there will be a parade and street fair. The City and Chamber of Commerce wish to invite vendors who focus their products and services on energy conservation, sustainability, carbon footprint, and recycling.

We’ve seen them around all summer and they continue through fall….I love to watch them go by each Thursday…The Thursday Night Cruzers! There is no qualification to ride except bring a bike (don’t forget your bike lights) and go along with their weekly theme if you wish. Last week was Cirque du Soleil and my daughter loved when the theme was Harry Potter! Fun for the whole family and also for you party animals; they usually end up at a bar around town.

One of my favorites: The Munchkin Masquerade on Pearl Street, Halloween. Each Halloween Downtown Boulder is invaded by 2,000+ tiny ghosts & goblins, dinosaurs & dragons, fairies & princes, super heroes and animals of every size trick-or-treating along Pearl Street. The stores participate with treats. It’s adorable and I have been taking my family for years. It’s also a challenge to guess the weather with an appropriate costume. Be prepared for snow and dress your child as a bear in a warm suit or suit up for sunshine and pull out that fairy dress or pirate gear!

Here’s an event that you won’t be bringing your children to…the Boulder Annual Naked Pumpkin Run down Pearl Street. I’ll let you find it yourself on YouTube. Pretty hilarious.

Let’s not leave out Longmont in Boulder County with its three-day Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 11-13 which features local breweries, live music, arts and crafts exhibitors, and kids’ rides and attractions. 5-10pm Friday, 11am-10pm Saturday and 11am-5pm Sunday at Roosevelt Park, 849 Coffman St. in Longmont. For more details, you can call 303-449-3137.

And what about Niwot which is located just northeast of Boulder? On Sept. 12, the whole community of Niwot gets together for a full day of fun, including a pancake breakfast, a parade, live music, children’s games, and vendor and food booths. In Niwot’s Old Town and in Cottonwood Square.

There is plenty to do around Boulder this Fall and of course, it’s also a great time to buy property.

Search our website for properties and let’s find the home that’s perfect for you! See you around town at all the fun events!

Agent Relationship – a valuable part of your home search

2009-09-02T19:48:59Z

Recently someone said to me, “Wow, real estate agents are really abused, they get tossed aside and run around like there’s no tomorrow”. I hadn’t especially thought of it that way before because we’re always running around like chickens, however, this financial recession certainly has had it’s ups and downs for everyone, including real estate agents. Think about your relationship with your real estate agent like the relationship you’d make with your financial advisor, doctor or dentist.

Residential Real Estate is a hard business to get into and it’s a hard business to stay in. You have to have a genuine interest in working with people and know when to put your business hat on and enjoy the art of negotiation. Listening to each other, rather than just talking promotes insight, driving through neighborhoods and looking at different styles of homes for days narrows the search down; wearing your interior decorating hat helps visualize the possible renovation, and not to mention keeping your car clean are all big parts of the residential real estate agents life and business. However, creating a relationship with your clients is by far the most important. Getting to know them, what their likes and dislikes are, what their lifestyles are like and family needs are play an important part of being able to find the “right” home. It’s also very important to incorporate good communication skills into the real estate transaction to be successful for everyone involved in the negotiations. These essential components are necessary to establish a successful relationship between agent and Buyers or Sellers, plus the other real estate agent working the other side. If the relationship isn’t working, the real estate transaction most likely won’t either.

Here’s a big …question. Why do people flit between agents while they’re looking for a home to buy or sell? This is one of the most important money transactions you make during your life! Hopefully they are looking to find the “right” fit; the right personality, the right connection, and the right combination of intelligence in the agent that they choose to represent them. The end result should be that you find an agent that you feel comfortable with so that you can create a relationship with that person. Think of it like a “partnership” with that person. Its human nature folks, if you care about them and their interests – they will care about you too! Get to know them personally a little bit and that will bring all kinds of insights into the search as to what kind of home ”everyone” is looking for. I say “everyone”, because “everyone” is working together to find that perfect home.

Some important things to think about when picking a real estate agent to work with:

1. Do they have access to show you all the properties that you want to see and are they a member of the local board of Realtors that adhere to high ethical standards?

2. Do they ask a lot of questions, do they seem interested in you, or are they just interested in talking about themselves?

3. Do they seem to be updated on local real estate news and markets?

4. Are they a full time agent or a part time agent? (that makes a difference sometimes)

5. Do they seem to be a “know it all” or pushy, or do they listen to what you have to say and make thoughtful suggestions and offer insightful advice.

6. Are they professional in their personal presentation? That says a lot folks…this is a business.

7. Do they come prepared to meet with you, whether buying or selling?

8. Do they seem to care about working with you? It is a profession, it is a business, it is how agents make their living, but do they really care? They should.

9. Do they treat you with respect and are you willing to do the same for the agent? You and your agent should have dialog up front about issues concerning commissions, negotiating procedures, response times and general transaction expectations on both sides.

10. Do you enjoy your agents company and do you feel that they are promoting your interests with good faith, loyalty and fidelity? If not, and if you have already signed a working agreement with them, ask to be released (should be in writing) from your agreement and move on. (There is usually a holdover period of 30-60 days so check the fine print). While no one likes to be “let go”, ultimately if the relationship runs into problems this usually impacts the way the real estate transaction will be handled.

Don’t forget to let you agent know what a good job they are doing. I try to make a point of asking my buyers and sellers when the real estate transaction is done – what they liked and what they thought needed improvement. There’s always room for improvement and it strengthens the relationship even more so you than can feel comfortable referring your real estate agent to family, friends or work associates. It’s a known fact that your relationship with a good real estate agent by far out weighs going it alone, both financially and emotionally.

Real Estate Investment: Do’s And Don’ts

2009-08-27T01:13:40Z

Investors and first-time homebuyers are often aiming for the same goal: great resale. I witness it all the time; buyers who need a place to live who also want to make money someday. It’s important to know the difference in real estate investment. It’s not always for those of us who need to buy in order to have a place to call home. Yes, you should buy a place in which your investment will grow over the years. However, you need a place that’s livable and suitable to your specific needs. On the other hand, if your angle is profits and returnsand not necessarily a place to live, then you are an investor. This blog with help you either way. The do’s and don’ts of real estate investing in a nutshell.

DO: hire a real estate professional like the Troia Team in Boulder Colorado to assist you in evaluating an investment property.

DONT: buy something with poor sale value such as a location in an area with a high crime rate or near the railroads tracks.

DO: You’ve seen it on HGTV…the “fix and flip”. Investors like to flip a property by buying a property with TLC (but not too much – nothing structural), then quickly renovating it. After promptly putting in back and the market and selling it, the investor profits. Luck is sometimes a factor in this deal but the success mostly comes from market expertise.

DON’T: choose something that needs a lot of structural work or an expensive new roof because these expenses add to your cost.

DO: keep your investment low so you can make a good profit.

DON’T: forget to calculate every expense before you buy. This is how you truly know if you can afford the property and all its unexpected costs.

DO: obey all rules and regulations governed by the Colorado Real Estate Commission. Make sure your actions are legitimate and by the book. Again, a great reason to hire a real estate professional to handle the logistics.

Do you like the idea of being a landlord?

DO: calculate in the expenses how long you plan to own the rental. If you only intend on owning it for five years, then you don’t necessarily have to worry about paying for a new roof.

DON’T: forget to add it up. If you want to hold on to the property for 15 or more years, account for that new roof, appliance updates, furnaces, and water heaters. Make sure you’re going to recoup the cost.

DO: develop a network. This is how you find your best deals. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers about preforeclosures, bank-owned, and fixer uppers they may know about.

DON’T: rule out vacant homes you see around the neighborhood and other rentals. Give the owner a call, they just may want to get that property off their hands and sell it to you.

DO: plan for a loan accordingly. Investors need better credit and less debt that other borrowers.

DON’T: underestimate the money you need. A large cash reserve is highly recommended for after the purchase of the home, as well as having a line of credit and one month’s rent for each unit.