Adventures of a Denver Realtor, no more...

Well, as much as I wanted to see it be a successful career venture, the time has come for me to hang up my license.  While I have enjoyed so many aspects of being a Realtor, the reality of it was that it was not turning out to be as lucrative as I had hoped. 

And, so, a new chapter begins once again - and my blog is changing as well.  After all, "Adventures of a Denver Realtor" wouldn't really seem honest ;)

So, I've renamed the blog to something a bit more appropriate: "Nonsensical Ramblings of a Rambunctious Mind"

Keep that "nonsensical" part in mind when you read something and wonder what the hell I was thinking.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Denver makes Forbes top 10 for recovering markets!

Well folks, once again we're seeing others take note of what we've been seeing here.

In a new article from Forbes magazine, Denver is listed as #7 in the top 10 recovering markets. Now is the time to buy - especially if you're a first time home buyer hoping to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit.

You can read the whole article here: http://budurl.com/eymz

If you're looking to get out and see a house, send me an e-mail or leave a comment and I'll be more than happy to do what I can to help you find your new home!

Open House - 7/25 in Castle Rock

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be holding an open house tomorrow from 10am - 3pm down in Castle Rock. The home is a 3 bed / 2.5 bath.

The address of the home is:
6561 Ocaso Drive
Castle Rock, 80108

The MLS# for the property is 785162. So, come by and say "hi"!

Why do they call it a Short Sale if it takes so long?

I have had many buyers ask me why Short Sales take so long. After all, aren't they called "SHORT" sales... shouldn't that mean they're fast? Well, they're actually called Short Sales because the Seller is selling the house for less than they owe on the mortgage(s). In other words, they are going to be short on what they owe the Lender.

There are many reasons that banks take forever to respond, but when the process drags on and on, it becomes more difficult for the Buyer to understand why the wheels are moving so slowly. I have seen banks respond in days, but I have also seen banks take 5 months or more to respond. The process can turn into a frustrating nightmare if you're not prepared. The bottom line is that Short Sales require an understanding of not only the process, but how that process can get inexplicably bogged down within the Lender's processes.

There are deals to be had, but they require everyone to be ready for the worst case scenario.

Attention Aurora Residents!!

On Friday, Buckley AFB will be conducting a drill simulating a mock terrorist attack. Please see the information below.

Operation “Vigilant Front Range” Exercise

Buckley Air Force Base and the City of Aurora will have a training operation on Friday afternoon this week - a mock terrorist attack. Around 4:00 p.m. you may hear a loud explosion and see smoke at Buckley AFB, followed by emergency vehicle sirens for several hours. There will be helicopters and ambulances in abundance to and from the east area hospitals. There will probably be traffic jams too. You may also hear and see a few helicopters flying low and landing on the base. Please pass word to neighbors and friends in the area. You may see additional activity on Saturday, May 16.

Description:The exercise will take place on the grounds of Buckley Air Force Base and will be a large-scale, simulated terrorist attack. The exercise is designed to test coordination, communication and response among Aurora Police, Aurora Fire, Buckley Personnel, EMS, and local Hospitals to name a few. This exercise is a large scale operation, possibly involving as may as 300 – 500 participants.

The purpose of this communication is to help alleviate any alarm or concerns that residents may feel if they hear, or see this unusual activity May 15 and 16. “Vigilant Front Range” will bring together all agencies to review current plans, responses, recovery and investigative efforts in a unique way of building understanding, trust and relationships that are essential in the fast paced operational environment of a major disaster exercise. The information that is learned by these types of emergency exercises is invaluable and will prove to be useful in the future.

Have you ever been to Casa Bonita?

Before I ever came to Denver I heard about the infamous Casa Bonita Mexican restaurant. People that lived here spoke about the restaurant while barely containing their laughter. South Park even immortalized Casa Bonita in an episode centered on a visit to the restaurant. The episode ends with one of the characters running through the restaurant trying to quickly experience all of the "attractions" before being taken by the police.

So, I'm curious... Has anyone reading this blog ever been to CB? If you have been there, what did you think?

If you're willing, please share your experiences.

And the music goes on and on and on...

If you're a local you probably already know that Denver has an amazing music scene. However, if you're reading this from someplace else in the country you may be completely unaware of just how incredible the scene is here.

Now, I'm not going to try and say we have the best music scene, but the sheer number of shows and diversity of genres is mind boggling. Just this last weekend there were 2 shows happening on Colfax that basically drew from the same crowds (jam band). Moe. was playing 2 nights at the Fillmore and North Mississippi Allstars were playing at the Bluebird. To top it all off, on Saturday night there was even an after-show with Blue Turtle Seduction - a great group of guys out of North Lake Tahoe, CA - that kept the music going until just after 2 in the morning.

That's just one of the many shows that are happening on any given night here in Denver. Whether you want jazz, blues, rock, metal, alternative, or a smattering of all those with a dash just about anything else that suits your musical palate, Denver seems to have it all.

If you're wondering what might be coming to town soon, you can check out these sites for more info:

Westword Magazine
Jambase
Live Nation
Ticketmaster

Plus, you can't forget that we have one of the PREMIER outdoor venues in the U.S. - Red Rocks!! Absolutely one of the best places to see a show.

Get out there and support the local artists as well. We're fortunate to have a stunning array of talented local musicians. Not only do you get the pleasure of supporting local artists, but you have an opportunity to see a much more intimate show.

Rock on!

A friend in a time of need?

Thanks to everyone who contacted me about losing Slick. He really was a great companion for many years.

I wanted to take a moment to thank a very special group of people for their help at a very difficult moment. The folks over at Seven Hills Veterinary Center (http://www.7hillsvet.com/). At one of the most difficult moments I have had in many years, they were kind, caring, and compassionate. They had a room set-up that was comfortable. There was even a sheepskin mat on the normally cold steel table.

If you're in the Aurora area and looking for a good vet, please check these folks out.

Goodbye, dear friend...

R.I.P - Slick (1994-2009)

Today is a very sad day for me. Today I lost a dear companion that has been by my side for nearly 15 years. At some point during the night it appears that Slick suffered a stroke. I found him this morning unable to walk more than a few steps, hips swinging wildly, before collapsing to the floor. He deteriorated rapidly this morning and died in my arms after being given a sedative. I fed slick from a dropper when he was a kitten and I cradled him in the same way then as I did today.

So, today I say...

Goodbye, dear friend. Thank you for all the time we had together. Thank you for being my constant companion across so many adventures. Thank you for knowing when I could use a little extra companionship and for knowing when I was down. You were a friend as true as any and I will miss you. I hope that at the end of the path you find an endless supply of warm sunny spots in which to nap. Goodbye, dear friend. I will miss you.

Baby, it's cold INSIDE!

Yesterday I met with a buyer at a home that has been vacant since April. For those of you who don't know, it was 8 below zero Monday night/Tuesday morning. By 10am when the buyer and her young son arrived, it was about 20 degrees outside. Yes, 20 is cold, but there are degrees of cold. The winds were calm and the sun was out, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

HOWEVER, the inside of the home was actually colder than it was outside. All of us walked through the house shivering. The next home, a HUD owned home, even worse because the sliding glass doors in the back of the house weren't large enough for the opening. Both panels were about an inch too narrow. So, all the cold air from the night before was still filling the home. I felt so bad for my buyer and her son... what a morning to get out and look at your first homes!

Oh well, just another adventure... and a reminder to always keep "Hotties" hand warmers handy.

Do ducks square dance?

So, I was over at Sloan's Lake the other day and saw what I thought was some pretty quirky behavior from the ducks that were hanging about. The ducks were gathered in little groups and swimming in circles. I tried to take a couple pictures, but it's hard to capture what I saw in a still image. When you look at the pictures, just try to imagine the little groups spinning in circles like a bunch of ferris wheels. I kept listening for the sound of a fiddle and a caller telling someone to dos-i-do (I'm sure that's spelled wrong).

Pygmy goats that think they're dogs?

Today was one of those days that reminds me that you should never say you've seen it all. The moment you have that thought you'll come across some new unexpected surprise.

So, what did I see today that had me shaking my head and chuckling? Two pygmy goats that, as the owner told me, think they're dogs. Apparently these goats were raised with the dogs and bonded with them. So, they try to play with the dogs... by ramming them with their HORNS! You've never seen a dog look less tough than it does when it's dodging horns. It was obvious that they were playing a well known game amongst themselves, but to the newbie onlooker it was quite a spectacle.

I also like that the owner told my buyer's teen-age daughter to just tell the goat to stop if he tried to butt her, but to tell him "...firmly, so he knows you mean it." Will he rollover and fetch too? There were no incidents and everyone enjoyed seeing the animals... and I had another experience to remind me that there are adventures everywhere.

A sure sign I'm spending too much time at Starbucks...

Today, for the first time ever, I walked into my local Starbucks (at the corner of Chambers and Smoky Hill) and the barrista behind the counter looked over at me and confirmed my order before I had even asked...

It's a strange thing, this coffee drinking obsession. When I worked in offices, I was typically one of the only people that didn't drink coffee. It all started to change when I went to work at the corporate offices of a coffee and smoothie franchise. Suddenly I was surrounded by the delicious smell of 100% Kona coffee being brewed.

Eventually I caved and it's been a fast ride ever since. I'm an Americano guy now... something about those 4 wonderful espresso shots and hot water that I just can't resist. So, the next time you're out with me and I'm talking a million miles an hour, take a peek for a cup of coffee... it's probably not far away.

You live where?

Okay, so there's something about living in the Denver area that can be very frustrating. There are quite a few areas - especially as you get Southeast and Southwest of Denver - where cities share zip codes. I happen to be "lucky" enough to live in one of those areas. I'm a proud resident of the Smoky Hill Neighborhood in... wait for it... Centennial! Yes, I said Centennial.

Granted, my neighborhood is very close to the Aurora/Centennial border, but it is in Centennial and my mailing address reflects the same. You're probably saying to yourself, "self, so what?" Well, on more than one occasion I have had issues making web or phone purchases because my zip code automatically defaults to Aurora. Have a navigation device in your vehicle? Don't try to get to my house in Centennial... oh no. You have to either use my zip or enter Aurora. Personally, I'm at the point where I only use zip codes when using my navigation device. Yes, I know it's a minor inconvenience, but it's just one of those things that irks me.

You see some of the same things in the Northern suburbs as well. Every once in a while I suspect it's just a conspiracy to keep us all confused. And I resent that because I don't need any help in that department. LOL!

Shall we wander?

So, I was out with a buyer the other day - if you read my profile you know I'm a Realtor in Denver - and we started discussing blogging. It made me think of some of the mind-boggling things I've seen showing people homes. The discussion started me thinking about blogging about some of my experiences. So dear readers (currently 0), here I am now.

What can you expect from this blog? I'm not sure exactly. You're watching an experiment in progress. Knowing my nature, I'll likely cover a variety of topics including my life as a Realtor.

So, when I ask if you want to wander, consider it fair warning that there will likely be tangents lurking around some of the corners.

So, shall we wander?