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!

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When you’re selling your home you’ll be inundated with advice and recommendations from what feels like everyone.  Much of it will be welcomed and some of it may not apply. Here we’ll discuss a few myths of which every seller should be aware.

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.

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.