While we don't often advertise publicly, we are happy to announce that we are currently hiring!  Our busy (very busy) REO team is currently seeking agents to help us with buyer leads generated by our REO listings as well as by our proprietary, online lead generation tool. 

Are you self-motivated, honest, and willing to work with owner-occupants and investors?  Are you HUNGRY and know the meaning of the word FOLLOW UP?  If so, we definitely want to hear from you!  Please send us your resume and contact information and read on to see what we have to offer.

Benefits:

• Generous compensation package
• Progressive commission structure
• Desirable downtown Denver location
• Company-sponsored continuing education and training
• Company provided marketing materials, signs and lockboxes
• NO monthly fees
• e-contracts
• Professional showing service
• Adequate office support
• Attentive and experienced Managing Broker
• Leads, Leads, LEADS!

Requirements:

• Desire and ability to close 3-4 transactions per month
• Proven track record of success with owner-occupants and investors, regardless of price range
• 2 years licensure history (or equivalent experience)
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team
• Integrity, desire and a can-do attitude.

If this sounds like the next step in your real estate career, we want to speak with you!  Please send resume and contact information to Kelly Stasney at kstasney@metrowestres.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

From the moment you decide to invest in real estate to the moment you actually purchase your fist rental property you’re taking on an exciting challenge.

Owning a property can be a daunting task, but here we’ll examine a few tips to keep in mind when looking for an income property.

1. Neighborhoods
   The quality of the neighborhood will influence the types of tenants you attract and how long you may face vacancies.  Let’s say you buy in a neighborhood near a university. Chances are you’ll attract students and face some significant vacancies during the summer months.
2. Property Taxes
   Property taxes are not standard across the board. As an investor planning to make money from rent, you want to be aware of how much you will be losing to taxes. High property taxes may not always be a bad thing if the neighborhood is an excellent place for long-term tenants, but there are exceptions to every rule.
3. Schools
   Your tenants may have or be planning to have children, so they will need a place near a decent school. When you have found a good property near a school, you will want to check the quality of the school as this can affect the value of your investment.
4. Crime
   No one wants to live next door to a hot spot for criminal activity. Go to the police or the public library for accurate crime statistics for various neighborhoods. Don’t rely on simply asking the homeowner who is hoping to sell the house to you.
5. Jobs
   Locations with growing employment opportunities tend to attract more people. More people means more potential tenants.

Now that you know some things to look for, get out there and get some information on an up-and-coming neighborhood you may consider investing in!

Not only does the Bonnie Brae area house one of the community’s favorite ice cream shops, it’s also a highly sought-after neighborhood for new and seasoned home buyers alike.

Located east of University Avenue between Mississippi and Exposition Avenues, Steele Street and University Boulevard, Bonnie Brae began developing in the 1920s on land that had been granted to the Kansas Pacific Railroad in 1870. The railroad eventually sold the land to farmers, and later it became part of the town of South Denver, one of the many small communities annexed by Denver.

Bonnie Brae features winding streets, mature trees and friendly residents that make it one of the area’s most treasured communities.  The housing boom here really took off in the 1940s and 50s, and residences here range from original unique smaller homes to multi-million dollar custom-built houses.  Original houses feature a modern architectural style. These types of homes use classical elements in a streamlined manner. You’ll often see curved corners and bands or panels of glass blocks in the homes in Bonnie Brae.

Home prices in Bonnie Brae remain strong, which illustrates the popularity and convenience of living near the center of a major metro area close to parks, restaurants and shopping all within a few miles. One of Denver´s most popular and historic pizza parlors is here in the Bonnie Brae business district, alongside an ice cream shop, wine shop, and several restaurants. Local residents can easily walk to these amenities and the public library as well.

Bonnie Brae’s close proximity to Wash Park and Cherry Creek also make it a highly desirable neighborhood in the metro area. The commute to downtown Denver from Bonnie Brae is less than 15 minutes and it’s only about 5 minutes to the nearby Cherry Creek shopping center, and Washington Park is an easy five-minute bicycle ride away.

The days are getting longer and while the winter chill may still be in the air, spring is definitely on the way. Spring is an optimum time to sell a home. Why? Because April, May and June see the largest number of buyers who are actively searching for a new home. Here are a few tips to maximize the season and add a sold sign to your property.

Wash windows inside and out and polish all mirrors

Sparkle is free, and can help sell your home. A potential buyer may not realize why your home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and your mirrors reflect sunlight. Cleaning is the first step to preparing your home for sale.

Clean drapes, curtains & blinds and open every window

Send your window coverings to the dry cleaners or wash, dry and press. Toss blinds into a soapy bathtub for a quick wash. Get rid of all accumulated dust and spider webs. Crisp linens and a spring-time breeze through the windows invites the season inside.

Utilize towels, throws, pillows in light colors – yellows, pinks, pale blues, lavenders

Even if it means replacing items, towels, linens, throws and sofa pillows are inexpensive accents you can buy. In soft spring colors, they will light up a room. Layer towels on bathroom towel racks and place rolled wash cloths on the counters in a fashionable pyramid.

Rake the yard and trim back bushes

Clean out dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don't let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance.

Transplant tulips and daffodils or buy flowers in containers

Yellow flowers stimulate buying urges. After a long winter, everybody is anxious to see the first signs of spring. Yellow tulips and daffodils induce feelings of happiness and contentment. Arrange containers in groups of three or five near the entrance.

Offer an outside mat for cleaning shoes & put umbrella stand at entrance

Spring weather can be unpredictable. Here in Colorado it can be 72 degrees one day and snowing the next. If it's raining, give buyers a place to stash umbrellas and wipe their feet before entering your home.

Denver offers a broad variety of neighborhoods, from trendy downtown spots to more rural communities that offer a quieter pace of life. Here we’ll take a look at some of the popular city-center areas and some of the highly-sought-after ‘burbs where you may consider settling down.

Downtown living is mostly in Lo-Do, Golden Triangle, Uptown, Curtis Park and City Park. Of course these areas are also pricier than the outlying suburbs. In these downtown areas you’ll find traditional condos, lofts, townhouses, renovated Victorian homes as well as bungalows. These areas are popular with younger buyers looking for the nightlife as well as empty nesters enjoying amenities including theater, sports, shopping and fine dining.

Denver suburbs offer less crowded living but many still feature all amenities of downtown. The south suburbs along with I-25 corridor are generally considered Denver’s “executive belt”. Homes here are generally more expensive and neighborhoods are typically very safe and well kept. Both Cherry Creek Schools and Douglas County are among the best in the state.

Littleton, Evergreen, Morrison, and Conifer are picturesque suburbs located southwest of the city offering more of the Colorado atmosphere. Lakewood, Golden Westminster, Arvada are located on the west side as well and offer a variety of home choices and good schools. Other northern suburbs are Commerce City, Thornton and Brighton. These areas offer very affordable homes in nice neighborhoods with average schools

Aurora is Denver’s largest suburb on the east side of town. Neighborhoods on the north side of Aurora have fair schools but extremely affordable homes. You’ll find southern Aurora to be like an entirely different city with upscale homes and renowned Cherry Creek Schools.

From nightlife to schools, transportation options to affordability, there are so many things to consider before purchasing a home. Compromise is inevitable, but determining your ideal location is an excellent place to start.

Gearing up to buy your first place? Shopping for a home is exciting, exhausting and a little bit scary. In the end, your aim is to end up with a home you love at a price you can afford. Here we’ll discuss three costly mistakes that could put a hold on that sold sign.

1. Not Knowing What You Can Afford
What the bank says you can afford and what you know you can afford or are comfortable with paying are not necessarily the same. If you don't already have a budget, make a list of all your monthly expenses (excluding rent), including vehicle costs, student loan payments, credit card payments, groceries, health insurance, and retirement savings and so on. Don't forget major expenses that only occur once a year, like any insurance premiums you pay annually or annual vacations. Subtract this total from your take-home pay and you'll know how much you can spend on your new home each month.

2. Skipping Mortgage Qualification
What you think you can afford and what the bank is willing to lend you may not match up, especially if you have poor credit or unstable income, so make sure to get pre-approved for a loan before placing an offer on a home. If you don't, you'll be wasting the seller's time, the seller's agent's time, and your agent's time if you sign a contract and then discover later that the bank won't lend you what you need, or that it's only willing to give you a mortgage that you find unacceptable.
 

3. Failing to Consider Additional Expenses
Once you're a homeowner, you'll have additional expenses on top of your monthly payment. Unlike when you were a renter, you'll be responsible for paying property taxes, insuring your home against disasters and making any repairs the house needs (which will occasionally include expensive items like a new roof or a new furnace).

Here in Denver we LOVE our abbreviated neighborhoods – LoHi is the Lower Highlands, LoDo is Lower Downtown, and so on. Well here’s one more emerging neighborhood to add to the list – River North – or as those in the know call it: RiNo.

The River North area has recently gained popularity as a distinct district developing north of downtown along the South Platte River. For decades the River North district has been isolated from the rest of the city due to its very industrial nature, but times have most definitely changed. The River North area has recently been discovered for its great mix of authentic industrial grittiness and an historic urban feel that has made it one of the city's hottest emerging districts.

RiNo is bounded by I-70 to the North, I-25 to the West, Park Avenue West to the South, and Arapahoe Street to the East. While retaining its industrial roots, the RiNo neighborhood is now prime real estate for arts and artists. The River North Art District is dedicated to promoting and supporting the people and businesses that reside in the area.
The River North district features a variety of historic properties, including the former Denargo Market, once Downtown's wholesale hub for fresh produce. The area also boasts a vibrant arts scene, as the district's varied industrial and commercial buildings make great spaces for artists to live and work and display their efforts. The Platte River bikeway and the reconstruction of the Broadway and Park Avenue West viaducts have helped reconnect the district with downtown, and River North's proximity to both Union Station and several future transit stations further ties the district to the rest of the city.
River North's transformation from an isolated industrial enclave into a thriving mixed-use district gives the city another downtown-adjacent district that offers an eclectic urban setting with its own character and charm.

Have you hopped on the Tebow train yet? If not you’re one of the few. According to a recent poll taken by ESPN, Tebow beat out Kobe Bryant, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning as favorite active athlete for December 2011.

Though he’s not even got two full seasons under his belt, Tebow made his way to number one quicker than any other athlete in history of the poll, which has been published for the last 18 years. Not only that, but he’s also the second Denver Broncos quarterback to finish at the top – Broncos legend John Elway was the first.

Tebow and the Broncos have gone from underdogs to division winners to potential Super Bowl contenders. And with their recent victory over the Steelers, the Tebow Train continues to gain momentum in the mile-high city and across the nation.

So what do we know about the new golden QB? Well, among other things we know:

1. He's saving himself for marriage
One of the most memorable Tebow moments came in 2009 –which set him apart from the typically macho world of football. Yup, he said that he was a virgin, waiting for marriage. Hear that, ladies???

2. He had a global upbringing
Tebow was born in Makati City in the Philippines where his parents were doing Christian Baptist ministry work. He returned to the Philippines during his high school summers to assist his father with his orphanage and missionary work there.

3. His name has been used to refer to both an NCAA regulation and an Internet fad
In 20120, the National Collegiate Athletic Association passed a rule banning players from writing messages in their eye blacks, cleverly nicknamed "The Tebow Rule" by media because of his habit of adorning his with biblical verses. And thanks to the “Tebowing” phenomenon, Tebow's name has become a verb, with people mimicking his kneeling and praying motion and posting pictures online.

4. He was homeschooled
Tebow, along with his four siblings, were all taught at home by their mother as part of their Christian upbringing. Tebow has been quoted as saying "I think that being home schooled offered me an opportunity to learn some life lessons, and those experiences help me while I'm on the field.” He’s the first Heisman Trophy winner to be homeschooled.

Love him or hate him, Tebow’s becoming a Denver institution, and whether you’ve hopped on the train or not, there’s something to be said for rooting for our home team that’s come so far. Go Broncos!

Myth #1: You should always price your home high and gradually lower it if it doesn’t sell.
Truth: Pricing too high can be as bad as pricing too low.

You may think by listing high you can always accept a lower offer, but if you do, you'll miss the buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come in, because interested buyers are scared off by the price and won't bother to look..  

Myth #2: Minor repairs can wait until later.
Truth: Minor repairs make your house more marketable, allowing you to maximize your return (or minimize loss) on the sale.

Most buyers are looking for an inviting home in move-in condition. Those willing to tackle the repairs after moving in automatically subtract the cost of needed fix-ups from the price they offer, so you save nothing by putting off these items, and you may likely slow the sale of your home.

Myth #3: Once potential buyers see the inside of your home, curb appeal won't matter.
Truth: If the outside of your home is not appealing, buyers probably won’t even make it in.

Many buyers drive by a home before deciding whether or not to look inside. Your home's exterior will have less than a minute to make a good first impression. Spruce up the lawn, trim shrubs and trees, and weed the garden.

Myth #4: Once potential buyers fall in love with the exterior look of your home, you put interior improvements on the back burner.
Truth: Buyers have no qualms about walking right out the front door within 60 seconds if the house doesn't look like it could be theirs.

Remember that most buyers are looking for an inviting home in move-in condition. Spending a few thousand dollars for the right work on your home before you sell it, usually translates into a higher selling price and shorter marketing time.