How to Choose Your Home Inspector
by Osman Parvez ---- How do you pick a home inspector? A home is probably one of your largest financial investments. When you're getting ready to buy, pick an inspector who not only knows his stuff, but will give you an unbiased inspection. Certifications are minimal at the state level. Virtually anyone can be a home inspector and over the years, we've seen some poor examples (one memorable inspector couldn't operate a window latch). At the March Boulder Real Estate Meetup, I invited Phil Gage of Homefront Inspection to tell us how to go about choosing a home inspector. It [...]
Home Improvements – Neighbors Helping Neighbors
by Osman Parvez ---- Would you like to make home improvements and save some money? At the April Boulder Real Estate Meetup, urban planner and local resident Eric Stonebraker talked to us about his "Do It Yourself" efforts to update his Boulder house. With the support of neighbors and friends, he's been steadily making improvements and repairs, and sharing what he's learned. As it turns out... having a great neighborhood (with an email list) has many benefits. Here's "Affordable Do It Yourself Home Improvements - Neighbors Helping Neighbors" ---- Want to get blog updates via email? Click HERE. [...]
US 36 – Future Taking Shape
by Osman Parvez ---- I recently attended a presentation of the US 36 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a required component to improve infrastructure along the Boulder-Denver Turnpike. The US 36 EIS Schedule Additional Resources: US 36 Draft EIS - Executive Summary US 36 EIS - Documents and Press Releases US 36 EIS - Homepage Citations for noise in Martin Acres A Boulder Resident's US36 EIS Meeting Review ---- Want to get blog updates via email? Click HERE. Ready to buy or sell? Schedule an appointment or call 303.746.6896. You can also like our Facebook page or [...]
Sales off 50% in Boulder – 1Q09
by Osman Parvez ---- In case you missed it, there was a piece on Boulder market conditions in yesterday's Daily Camera. The number of homes sold in Boulder in the first quarter of 2009 was down by a whopping 50 percent compared to the same period last year, and the city is far from alone in its poor statistics. I was interviewed for the article. To clarify... 1. Mortgage Rates - Yes, I believe rates are still trending downward and will continue to do so, possibly bottoming around 4%. But that alone shouldn't drive your purchase decision. If rates drop [...]
Boulder Real Estate Meetup – April 6th
by Osman Parvez ---- Since January, I've been hosting a monthly Boulder Real Estate Meetup for people who are interested in discussing real estate related topics. The meetups have been good opportunities to learn new information and engage in great discussions It's community oriented, with presentations that are about various aspects of buying, selling, and owning homes in Boulder. There's also a wildcard presentation at each meetup. The next Meetup is tomorrow (Monday) and you're invited! WHEN: Monday, April 6th at 7pm (tomorrow). WHERE: 1942 Broadway - 3rd floor (suite 314). That's the corner of Broadway and Pearl Street. WHO [...]
March Sales Snapshot
by Osman Parvez ---- The health of the Boulder housing market is getting a lot of interest. Here's a sneak peak from my latest real estate update. For March, the preliminary number shows 35 home sales in Boulder, compared with 60 that occurred last year - a 42% decline, year over year. Sold property ranged in value from $345,000 to $2,625,000. There are currently 498 homes in inventory on the Boulder market, 57 of which are under contract. This implies 12-14 months of inventory. As regular readers know - there's a huge difference between the market for luxury and basic [...]
More Affordable Housing – So it is Written, So it is Not Done
by Osman Parvez ---- The City currently requires 20% of a new development to be affordable, or for the developer to pay the city a fee of $110,000 to $119,000 for each one not built. According to the Daily Camera, City Council thinks this isn't good enough and wants more affordable housing in our community: Developers should either build more affordable-housing units alongside the rest of the homes in their Boulder projects, or put more money into the city's affordable housing fund, elected leaders said Tuesday night. Most developers are paying the fee instead of building affordable housing, so the [...]
Historic, Really?
by Osman Parvez ---- Here's a look at how at how efforts to (further) limit house sizes are conflicting with property rights. For about the past year, I've been attending City Council meetings on the issue of pops and scrapes (now called incompatible development). At the public hearing portion of these meetings, certain members of the Landmarks Board regularly speak up (supposedly representing themselves) about the need for stricter regulations on house sizes. At a few of these meetings, I've noticed these same Landmarks Board members seem to have organized like-minded residents to speak from the same position, thus creating [...]
Compatible Development Update (Pops and Scrapes)
by Osman Parvez ---- First a quick review. This issue is about community reaction to large new or remodeled homes on small lots. When Boulder City Council met in January of 2008, they identified this as being a high priority and tried to implement an emergency change to the maximum allowable floor area ratio (FAR). Due to public outcry over the lack of process, City Council backed off and brought on a team of consultants (led by Winter and Co) to develop a community process to reach consensus. The issue is now once again at the forefront of City Council's [...]
An Interview with Greg Sherwin, Founder of Boulder Creek Community
by Osman Parvez ---- Boulder Creek Community is the brain child of Greg Sherwin, a long term Boulder resident. We happened to catch Greg one early morning and sat down to ask him a few questions. Q. What gave you the idea to create a co-housing community in Boulder? A few years ago, I examined my life and wanted to know if my purpose was something more than what I had been doing. I had been a successful real estate broker, owner and rental manager for 30 years and was just starting a new career in psychotherapy. But after all [...]
Profile: Boulder Creek Community
by Osman Parvez ---- Launched in 2007, Boulder Creek Community consists of 13 units within Gold Run, an established town home and condo development. It's a cohousing community, unique because it features privately financed affordable housing and isn't a new build development like many other cohousing communities. Located in central Boulder along Boulder Creek, the Boulder Creek Community is the result of a year long vision quest and more than two years of development. There is nothing else like it in Boulder, possibly nothing else like it in the country. KEY BENEFITS Healthy blend of community living and personal privacy An answer to [...]
Boulder Real Estate Meetup – March 2009 Presentations
by Osman Parvez ---- Here are the confirmed presentations for tomorrow's Boulder Real Estate Meetup. It starts at 7pm. Please RSVP by clicking the link above. I hope to see you there! Jeff Anderson - Aqualine Services. 7 Facts on Sewer Line Replacement. Root intrusion is common and many homeowners in Boulder deal with annual sewer line clean-outs and costly repairs. Jeff's company offers a more affordable alternative to full line replacement. After careful research, I even used his service on my own house. (ph: 303.775.2797) James Clark - Wells Fargo. 5 Things You Should Know About The Current Mortgage [...]
The “New Hill”: 2009 Edition
by Osman Parvez ---- On Monday, the Daily Camera reported on the efforts of “The New Hill Co.”, who has created a future vision of the University Hill area. Walsh and Riggle make up The New Hill Co. For the past three years, they’ve worked as consultants for two property owners on the Hill: Boulder Hilltop Properties, which owns 1143 and 1155 13th St., and 1314 COEU, whose principals own property between 13th and 14th streets and College and Euclid avenues. The report the company produced — “The Hill Commercial Context Study” — envisions University Hill anchored at the north [...]
The Price of Pearl
by Osman Parvez ---- It's no secret that you'll pay a premium to live in Boulder. The city’s limited growth policy creates scarcity, and the natural beauty and lifestyle of the city win awards, year after year. However, on top of that, downtown Boulder carries an additional premium. Condos along Pearl start at $700-800K for 1,300 square feet and top out at $2-3 million for 2,500 square feet. Just take a look at The Walnut or 1505 Pearl. Location, location, location. Is it worth it? As I’ve pointed out before, work is a key factor in choosing a neighborhood, and [...]
The Verge of Correction?
by Osman Parvez ---- In my last market update, a reader left the following comment. ------ Osman - are we finally, then, on the verge of the correction here in Boulder? Your comments suggest a Buyer's market in 2009, but I do not sense in the listings yet what I am sensing on the street (poor jobs outlook and economic instability). Will Boulder real estate owners lower their prices, or will the lack of inventory (greenbelt, draconian building regs) continue to inflate prices and insulate owners from the bloodbath just outside? --------- It's difficult to get a sense of the [...]
