Please feel free to contact me if you are considering selling your Denver home.

Michelle A. Potter, REALTOR in Denver
303-489-4035

Read the full stories:

Colorado Unemployment Drops to 8.1%; Jobs up 8,800: Colorado’s unemployment rate dropped again in October, to 8.1 percent, the lowest rate in more than 2-1/2 years, as the state added 8,800 nonfarm payroll jobs, the highest monthly gain since early 2007, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reported Tuesday.  read more here

Colorado Small-Business Jobs up 0.5% in November: Employment by Colorado small businesses grew 0.5 percent in November from the previous month, according to a report November 29th from Intuit Inc. read more here

Forbes Rates Colorado 5th-Best State for Business: Colorado ranks as the nation’s fifth-best state for business and careers in the latest annual report by Forbes, posted Tuesday. read more here

Foreclosures Drop in Denver Metro Area: Foreclosure filings and sales continue to drop in the Denver metro area, including Boulder and Broomfield counties, according to the latest report from the Colorado Division of Housing. read more here

Existing Home Sales Edge Higher in October: Homebuyers scooped up more previously owned homes in October, slowly putting a dent in the huge inventory on the market, an industry report showed Monday.  Sales of existing homes rose 1.4% last month to an annual rate of 4.97 million homes, up from a downwardly revised 4.90 million homes in September; the National Association of Realtors reported November 21^st. read more here

Owning a Home is Less Expensive Than Renting: Home prices and mortgage rates have fallen so far that the monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable than at any point in the past 15 years and is less expensive than renting in a growing number of cities. read more here

Noble Energy Joins Anadarko in Plans to Spend Billions in Niobrara, Colorado: Anadarko Petroleum Corp. isn’t the only Texas oil company planning to spend billions of dollars on Colorado’s Niobrara oil field in the next few years – Noble Energy Inc. said November 16^th it also plans to invest heavily in the play. read more here

DaVita to Open Research, Call Centers in Denver Area: DaVita Inc. will open a new research center and call center in the Denver area, bringing 200 jobs to the region, the company announced November 17^th. read more here

Rockies Roll into Grand Junction: Since 1958, Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, Colo., has served as the home of the Junior College World Series. In 2012, the venerable facility will host Minor League Baseball for the first time. The Grand Junction Rockies, Rookie-level affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, were formally introduced at a press conference November 15^th. read more here

Thank you to Jim Renshaw at Land Title for gathering these news headlines.

Residential Highlights

• 15.2% Increase in closed sales year over year
• 39.4% Decrease in Absorption Rate (4.7 months)
• 33% Decrease in active listings (10,213)
• 2% Decrease in average sold price ($275,951)

Condo/Townhome Highlights

• 14.5% Increase in closed sales year over year
• 47.9% Decrease in inventory (2,421)
• 7% Decrease in average sold price ($153,526

Denver Metrolist Inc. (MLS) statistics for November 2011

See additional Denver neighborhood statistics at:  Denver Real Estate Update by Area

Although the inventory isn’t has abundant as a year ago, the Denver real estate market continues to remain especially appealing for buyers as interest rates remain low.  If the pattern continues into December, home sellers can look forward to less market competition and shorter days on market.

Feel free to contact me to discuss your Denver or suburban real estate needs.  Thank you to Jim Renshaw at Land Title for organizing these MLS statistics into easy to read charts.

See the full picture for Denver closings from Metrolist:

Click Here for Total MLS Sales Statistics

*These statistics come from Denver MetroList Inc. and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Feel free to contact me for an analysis of how your Denver or suburban home is doing in today’s real estate market.

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Click on the Weatherstone neighborhood or BackCountry neighborhood to learn about two lovely areas in Highlands Ranch Colorado.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested in learning more about real estate in Denver or the surrounding suburbs.

Zen Garden at Watermark Residences, Denver CO

Each New Year ushers a fresh set of styles and trends as many old ones become clichéd and outdated.  The Denver housing community is not immune to the greater world of trends, as architectural designs shift styles to reflect our changing societal preferences. Architecture is art, and every person should be proud to call the place they live ‘home.’ A home should embody the personality of its owner in everything from the color of the bathroom walls to the floor-plan. As the current year winds to an end, it is now time to examine which kind of architectural trends for 2012 meet your needs for finding that perfect home.

Inspired by the tried and true Japanese concept of Zen, architectural minimalism is picking up steam and will continue to flourish in the coming years. The style is simple yet aesthetically pleasing, functional, and most importantly environmentally and fiscally sustainable. Minimalism simplifies one’s living space which is believed to lead to a simpler and more balanced attitude towards life itself. Extravagant mansions and cluttered homes are falling out of favor with buyer’s, who are instead concerned with finding the perfect balance of functionality and understated elegance.

Minimalist architects focus on creating an open environment, highlighted by strategic windows that allow for natural light to illuminate each room. The materials used in these homes are often environmentally friendly, such as lightweight steel, adobe, and other materials that don’t promote forest demolition. Another advantage of minimalist homes is lower energy costs due to their simplicity and efficient use of lighting, heating, and electricity.

If minimalism sounds too bare for you, than it is worth considering that the sparing design by the architect, allows for greater personalization– and accenting the simple home with a lush garden is the perfect way to complement its eco-friendly nature. This article includes some pictures and further elaborates on minimalistic style: residential architecture trends.

As over-the-top styles of architecture becomes passé, so does excessive use of flashy colors. Neutrals the new black in 2012 and many low key color combinations create an effect that is anything but bland. Gray and khaki are considered conservative by lovers of eccentric colors, but the wide array of shades offered today make them the hottest colors. Every neutral color is actually a mix of complimentary colors, an effect which creates a warm glow in any home. True, many shades of tan or gray look boring alone, but consider a pale beige living room highlighted by light gray floorboards and a pearly white ceiling. The combination creates a warm atmosphere for your home, and compliments any color of furniture or accessories. Check out this great article on neutral colors at Re-do it Design for some inspiration: interior color trends for 2012.

Simple colors and architecture will prevail in 2012, creating a modern style that is elegant and functional.  This does not make extravagant houses irrelevant — older styles such as Victorians and Colonials are timeless. Every person has a unique taste in homes, and it is never wise to ignore your instincts. This article serves as a guideline for all of those who wish to find a modern home, or add some modern flair to an existing one.

The architectural history in the Denver is proud and diverse, as evidenced by the seamless blend of old and new in neighborhoods and suburbs throughout the area.   Each generation has a unique attitude that is reflected by the homes they choose, and the guide towards minimalism greatly represents the desire to simplify life.

Denver Commercial Real Estate Rebounding: The commercial real estate market across the Denver area continued to improve in the third quarter, according to a preview of Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross’ (NKFFR) Market Trends report. read more here

Denver Luxury Home Sales on Upswing: More luxury homes in metro Denver sold in September than in the prior month and compared to the same month last year, according to a report analyzing Metrolist Inc.’s sales data released October 14^th. read more here

Revised HARP Could let More Owners Refinance: Regulators have made key changes to a mortgage refinance program designed to help borrowers who owe more on their loans than their house is worth. The revamped version of HARP, the Home Affordable Refinance Program, is expected to help about 1.8 million borrowers take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. read more here

Colorado Lands GE Solar Plant: Gov. John Hickenlooper made it official October 13^th: Colorado has beat out several other states for what will be the largest solar-power panel factory in the nation, to be built by General Electric  Co. in Aurora. read more here

Colorado Business Leaders, Officials Welcome Arrow Electronics’ HQ Move: Arrow Electronics Inc. said October 10^th it will make suburban Denver its global headquarters, making it the largest company to be based in Colorado. read more here

Denver Named One of Nation’s 10 Best Vacation Cities: Forbes has named Denver one of the nation’s 10 best cities for a weekend vacation. read more here

American Furniture Warehouse Hiring More Than 100 People in Grand Junction: The store says they’re interviewing for about 120 jobs. The positions include managers, janitors and warehouse workers. Each position starts at at least $14 an hour. read more here

Mesa County Local Unemployment Rate Down to 8.5 Percent: Mesa County’s unemployment rate dropped to its lowest point since February 2009 this September, when 8.5 percent of the county’s work force was unemployed, down from 9.5 percent in August. read more here

Boosting the Economy in Our Mountain Communities: After his bill passed the Senate October 17th, Mark Udall announced that ski areas using public lands can start planning for year-round activities that will shore up mountain communities and stabilize local jobs during shoulder seasons.  The bill, which was co-sponsored by Senator Michael Bennet and passed the House earlier this month, now goes to President Obama to be signed into law.       read more here

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in taking advantage of Denver’s current market conditions to buy or sell real estate.

Click Here for Total MLS Sales Statistics - this link will explain the market statistics in your particular Denver geographic area.

Thank you to Jim Renshaw at Land Title for compiling these monthly Denver real estate  reports.  Please contact me if you are interested in learning more about how your home is faring in today’s market.

303-489-4035 

144 Colorado Companies on Inc. 5000: Inc. magazine included 144 Colorado companies on its annual Inc. 5000 of the fastest-growing private companies in America, including 14 that made the Inc. 500 list. read more here

Denver Residential Real Estate Sales Top $1B in July: For the second month, the amount of residential real estate sold in metro Denver topped $1 billion in sales volume. read more here

Denver 20th in U.S. for New Home Projects: Metro Denver ranked 20th in the nation for new housing construction projects authorized in 2010 out of 366 metro areas, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. read more here

Colorado Foreclosure Filings Decline: Foreclosure filings in Colorado continued to decline in the second quarter, dropping almost 30 percent from the same months of 2010, according to a state report August 11^th.  read more here

Pro Cycling Challenge Give Colorado Economy a Boost: Because of the U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge, the weekend of August 27^th all hotels in Denver were booked. And that’s just one benefit of the week-long event that will have a huge economic impact on Colorado. read more here

HUD: Colorado Leads Region in Job Gains: Economic conditions in the Rocky Mountain region have improved in recent months, with the largest recent payroll increases reported in Colorado and North Dakota, according to economists from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. read more here

12 Colorado Schools on Forbes Best-Colleges List: Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of America’s top undergraduate schools puts the United States Air Force Academy in the top 10. Also on the list from Colorado: Colorado College in Colorado Springs; Colorado School of Mines, Golden; University of Denver; University of Colorado, Boulder and more. read more here

Denver Hotels Lead Nation in Two Key Areas: Hotels in Denver had the highest jump in the average daily rate among the country’s 25 largest metro areas, according to a new report by STR Global, a Hendersonville, Tenn., hotel research company. read more here

Forbes Rates 2 Colorado Cities ‘Best Small Places for Business’: Grand Junction ranks in 12th place in a new Forbes ranking of the nation’s “best small places for business and careers.” And Pueblo ranks No. 37 on the Forbes list out of 184 smaller cities and towns. read more here

Louisville Named Best Small Town by Money Magazine: A Colorado town has topped Money Magazine’s “Best Place to Live” list once again. For towns with populations ranging from 8,500 to 50,000, Louisville has been crowned number one. read more here

Thank you to Jim Renshaw at Land Title for compiling these headlines.

Here are the national news headlines about the Denver CO. real estate market and economy collected over the past month:

144 Colorado Companies on Inc. 5000: Inc. magazine included 144 Colorado companies on its annual Inc. 5000 of the fastest-growing private companies in America, including 14 that made the Inc. 500 list. read more here

Denver Residential Real Estate Sales Top $1B in July: For the second month, the amount of residential real estate sold in metro Denver topped $1 billion in sales volume. read more here

Denver 20th in U.S. for New Home Projects: Metro Denver ranked 20th in the nation for new housing construction projects authorized in 2010 out of 366 metro areas, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. read more here

Colorado Foreclosure Filings Decline: Foreclosure filings in Colorado continued to decline in the second quarter, dropping almost 30 percent from the same months of 2010, according to a state report August 11^th.            read more here

Pro Cycling Challenge Give Colorado Economy a Boost: Because of the U.S. Pro Cycling Challenge, the weekend of August 27^th all hotels in Denver were booked. And that’s just one benefit of the week-long event that will have a huge economic impact on Colorado. read more here

HUD: Colorado Leads Region in Job Gains: Economic conditions in the Rocky Mountain region have improved in recent months, with the largest recent payroll increases reported in Colorado and North Dakota, according to economists from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. read more here

12 Colorado Schools on Forbes Best-Colleges List: Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of America’s top undergraduate schools puts the United States Air Force Academy in the top 10. Also on the list from Colorado: Colorado College in Colorado Springs; Colorado School of Mines, Golden; University of Denver; University of Colorado, Boulder and more. read more here

Denver Hotels Lead Nation in Two Key Areas: Hotels in Denver had the highest jump in the average daily rate among the country’s 25 largest metro areas, according to a new report by STR Global, a Hendersonville, Tenn., hotel research company. read more here

Forbes Rates 2 Colorado Cities ‘Best Small Places for Business’: Grand Junction ranks in 12th place in a new Forbes ranking of the nation’s “best small places for business and careers.” And Pueblo ranks No. 37 on the Forbes list out of 184 smaller cities and towns. read more here

Louisville Named Best Small Town by Money Magazine: A Colorado town has topped Money Magazine’s “Best Place to Live” list once again. For towns with populations ranging from 8,500 to 50,000, Louisville has been crowned number one. read more here

If you are interested in learning more about Denver real estate, please feel free to contact me.