If you’ve never checked out the National Western Stock Show, you’re truly missing out. The Denver institution is back once again and will be open through January 22.

In its 106th year, the National Western Stock Show provides college and graduate level scholarships in agriculture and medicine for practice in rural areas. Youth involvement is one of the highlights of the livestock shows. Young exhibitors from across the nation participate in our competitive arenas for prize money, national recognition for their achievements and a chance at college scholarships. The organization’s mission is to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier Stock Show, Rodeo, Horse Show and center for year?round events. For 16 days the show serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, largest horse show and Colorado’s largest tradeshow.

Visitors can see more than 15,000 head of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, alpacas, bison, yak, poultry and rabbits that step foot on the grounds of the National Western Stock Show each year. The show is noted for hosting the world’s only carload and pen cattle show, held in the historic Denver Union Stockyards.

More than 350 vendors fill the nearly 100?acre show grounds with a variety of food and shopping opportunities. The National Western Trade Show offers a variety of products including fine art and jewelry, clothing, household items and agricultural products and equipment.

Tickets for adults are $8 – $14 and gives visitors access to stock show grounds, animal shows, petting farm and much more. Additional ticketed events include performances in the Stadium Arena, Denver Coliseum and National Western Events Center. Among these are the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, PBR Bull Riding Touring Pro Finale, ProRodeos, and much more.

While you may not keep that resolution to eat better or exercise more, if you’re selling your home in 2012 there are some resolutions you should make – and keep – to get your property off the market. The following resolutions will help keep you on track and may make the difference between “for sale” and “sold.” If you’re on the flip side and looking to purchase a home this year, we’ll also examine a few resolutions you can make to make the buying process a little more manageable.

1. Sellers – begin thinking about fixing up your home – not next week, not three months from now – but TODAY. Now is the time to start working on home repairs and making sure your house is more than livable.
2. Sellers – begin cleaning out your house – NOW. If any room in your home looks like you could be filming an episode of “Hoarders” it’s time to clean house.
3. Sellers – price your house for 2012, not 2007. No one wants to hear their home is worth less than they thought, but the hard truth is if your home’s not competitively priced, it won’t sell.
4. Buyers – seek pre-approval for your mortgage. It’s absolutely crushing to fall in love with a home only to find out you can’t afford it.
5. Buyers – vow to clean up your credit score. This will increase your odds of pre-approval and help your overall financial goals.
6. Buyers – buy a house you can actually afford.  Crunch the numbers. Living in the house of your dreams may not be as great as you think if you’re house-poor and can’t afford to do anything else.
7. Buyers – begin to consider the long-term. Your first home probably won’t be your only home, so if you’re a first time buyer, consider your starter home exactly that – your starting point.
8. Buyers and sellers – remember this is a business transaction, not an emotional one. While it can be exciting, overwhelming, sentimental, and just about every other emotion you can think of, buying or selling your home is a business transaction and should be treated as such.
9. Sellers – get a pre-inspection before you put the house on the market. Nip damages in the bud and your house will sell faster.
10. Buyers and sellers – think about moving expenses and logistics – NOW. You don’t have to reserve the moving truck, but it’s a great idea to check out different vendors and their rates.

One of Denver’s most historic neighborhoods, Curtis Park was developed in the 1860s and 1870s as a popular residential suburb. In fact, Curtis Park residents are quick to proudly point out that this is the oldest residential neighborhood in the city. Take a quick trip to Curtis Park right now and you’ll understand why it’s still one of the center city’s most accessible neighborhoods.

A diverse community, Curtis Park is a mixture of all kinds of housing, a variety of social and economic levels, and residents. Since its founding, Curtis Park has had featured a variety of people and cultures. Historically, the area has always been a mixed-income neighborhood where you’ll find turn of the century mansions, as well as smaller homes built by waves of immigrants who came to Denver to join the workforce during the city's early years.

While in the early days residents took the streetcar to jobs downtown or strolled the 15-minute walk to Denver’s center, lucky neighbors today can take a quick ride on light rail to get to downtown businesses and office buildings.

Curtis Park's housing mix is as charming and varied as its residents. Single story duplexes stand next door to recently renovated grand Victorian mansions, while flat-roofed row homes reside beside classic, two-story Denver Square brick houses. Queen Anne-style homes with second floor porches are also numerous in the area.

The neighborhood features many gems including Sacred Heart – the oldest functioning church in the city. Sacred Heart is a place of worship that was established in 1879 for Italian and Irish immigrants. Run by the Jesuits, this church is in the traditional cruciform shape. The interior has a Gothic feel with intricate windows of stained glass.

Also in Curtis Park you’ll find the Denver Enterprise Center, an innovative small-business incubator that utilizes the local labor force from the surrounding neighborhood. Its mission is to assist small and start-up businesses by fostering entrepreneurship, creating local jobs, developing work skills, and promoting community businesses and their products and services.

Rich in history and diversity, Curtis Park is definitely one of the most up-and-coming areas in Denver.

Located next to the Capitol Hill district in Denver, Cheesman is one of Denver’s most beautiful parks. The neighborhood itself offers many grand old Victorian homes as well as modern condos, townhouses and apartments.

The Cheesman Park neighborhood is one of the oldest in the city, with plans dating as far back as 1868.  The neighborhood was originally developed with large mansions for some of the city's wealthiest people, but since the 1930s it has become denser with a variety of apartments, lofts and condominiums.

The Cheesman Park neighborhood taps out around 12,000 people per square mile, so if you’re looking for a lot of activity and bustle, this may be the place for you. The neighborhood is exceptionally popular among singles and empty-nesters – about 13 percent of residents are married and only 2.6 percent have children, which makes for smaller average household sizes than other Denver neighborhoods. 

Residents and non-residents alike flock to take advantage of the beauty and activities at Cheesman Park. Notable structures include the Walter Scott Cheesman Pavilion, which serves as a place for formal and informal public gatherings, wedding events and occasional concerts. The park also houses the Denver Botanic Garden's Japanese Garden.

Cheesman Park is considered a gathering spot among the alternative-lifestyle community in Denver.  Notable events that take place at the park include the annual Pride Fest parade and the AIDS Walk Colorado takes place in and around the park each year. There’s also a haunted history to Cheesman Park as it originally served as a cemetery. In 1907 work was completed to convert the cemetery into one of Denver’s best parks, however, rumors and stories abound of hauntings occurring in the Park – some even being documented on national television programs.

Dense. Urban. Diverse. Full of activity – if those are some of the must-haves on your neighborhood list, you should definitely check out Cheesman Park.

With Christmas only 20+ days away, you might be more concerned about your gift list than things to do. But don’t forget to do a little something for yourself this holiday season – and in Denver you won’t find a shortage of activities to get you in the Christmas spirit.

If you don’t feel like battling the massive crowd at Denver’s Parade of Lights, check out the Trail of Lights at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. Amillion colorful lights illuminate the plants and hardscape features on a country forest path. In addition to the lights, visitors can tour the restored (and decorated!) 1880s homestead and enjoy warm drinks to fend off the chill during their walk.

The ever-popular Zoo Lights will be back this year with more than 38 brilliantly-illuminated acres of lights, featuring more than 150 animated animal sculptures that swing through trees, jump across lawns, hide in bushes and appear in places you least expect.

Celebrate the music of the season at the Boettcher Concert Hall with Colorado Christmas. Join the Colorado Symphony, Chorus, Colorado Children's Chorale, vocalists and dancers in a program of beloved traditional Christmas carols and songs. Spectacular lighting and a few special North Pole guests from the North Pole make this holiday classic the perfect way to celebrate the season.

If you’re looking to head out of the city, head up mountain to Georgetown, where each December the town transforms itself for two weeks into a bustling Christmas scene. Thousands flock to this tiny mountain town to experience a traditional holiday where Christmas has remained unchanged for 100 years – partake in roasted chestnuts, holiday shopping, horse-drawn wagon rides through historic Georgetown, and wonderful sights and smells.

Lights, music, tradition – these are the true indicators of the holiday season. And whether you stay in the metro area or venture out to some place new, it’s easy to get in the Christmas spirit in Colorado.

Littleton is a quaint Denver suburb whose history goes all the way back to the 1859 Pike's Peak Gold Rush, which enticed not only gold seekers, but merchants and farmers to the community. New Hampshire engineer Richard Sullivan Little made his way west to work on irrigation systems and fell in love with the area. He, his wife and a handful of neighbors built the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867, which provided a solid economic base and by 1890 the community had grown to 245 people and the residents voted to incorporate the Town of Littleton.

In addition to popular restaurants, shops and boutiques, Littleton offers a host of community events that attract residents and visitors. Since the late 1920s, Littleton has celebrated Western Welcome Week – an annual com­mu­nity cel­e­bra­tion in the greater Littleton area. Western Welcome Week started in the late 1920s, and has been held every year since. The celebration includes over 40 events ben­e­fiting dozens of local civic and char­i­table organizations. Western Welcome week is kicked off by the Carousel of Music, and this year included performances by the Colorado Honor Band, the Denver Concert Band and the Littleton Chorale.

The Candlelight Walk is another popular Littleton tradition, which features a magical evening of holiday festivities, culminating in the illumination of the trees on Main Street and ending with a performance by the Littleton Chorale at the stage at the west end of Main Street. The 28th edition of this Littleton tradition will be held November 25 and attendees can see Santa Claus and his sleigh make his way down Main Street illuminating each block with more than one million lights on the trees and buildings.

Littleton is a town filled with rich history and modern-day amenities attractive to many buyers. Close enough to the city but far enough to offer a very neighborhood feel, Littleton is a popular community worth checking out!

Check out this new HUD listing at 1750 Burlington Place in Denver.  Call us with questions or to take a look for yourself!