Golden transcript 0213

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February 13, 2014

50 cents Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 148, Issue 11

A publication of

goldentranscript.net

STEVENSON RESIGNS

Supply is in high demand for Real Estate market Home purchases and mortgage rates to rise in 2014 according to experts By Amy Woodward

awoodward@ coloradocommunitymedia.com

Board member Julie Williams speaks to Jeffco Schools superintendent Cindy Stevenson, who announced her resignation Saturday rather than retire later this year. Photo by Crystal Anderson

Lack of trust by new board majority cited Superintendent Cindy Stevenson resigned from Jeffco Schools Saturday amid expressions of dissatisfaction with the direction of the school board. Following the general election in November, Stevenson announced her retirement and had agreed to serve through June — allowing the district time to recruit a new superintendent — before Saturday’s resignation. “I can’t lead and manage, because

I am not trusted or respected by this board of education,” Stevenson said at the start of the meeting. “Consequently, I did approach the board, and said this isn’t working.” Stevenson’s decision came after three months of work with a board that contains three newly elected board members: John Newkirk, Julie Williams, and Ken Witt, who are credited with sharing conservative per-

spectives. According to a press release, sent out by the board’s attorney, Stevenson approached the board seeking early termination of her contract. Stevenson said the three do not respect her or allow her to make decisions or lead the district. Throughout the meeting, which Resigns continues on Page 16

Civic foundation awards grants Close to $100,000 raised for local organizations POSTAL ADDRESS

By Amy Woodward

awoodward@coloradocommunitymedia.com The Golden Civic Foundation’s 35 participating organizations and academics gathered for a celebratory luncheon in which the foundation dispersed $87,383.98 to help support local nonprofits. Among the recipients were Miners Alley Play-

GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT

house, who will use the funds to renovate its theater in order to make room for musicians for musical productions; the American Mountaineering Museum and Golden’s elementary schools. Cindy Stevenson, Jeffco schools superintendent, was in attendance as five Golden area schools received checks for books, iPads and after-school technology programs such as the Lego Robotics club at Shelton Elementary. “It’s funding that really helps them strengthen the programs for our kids,” Stevenson said. “It just Civic continues on Page 16

Housing market experts seem to be in agreement that real estate is booming and healthy in Colorado. For Jeffco, single family homes averaged 48 days on the market which is a 32 percent decrease from 2012 where single family homes averaged 71 days, according to a market report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. “It’s showing a healthy market, it’s leaning a little bit to the buyer’s side and that’s just a lack of inventory,” Mike Welk, metrolist director of DMAR said. “That lack of inventory is going to be one of the obstacles consumers will face as demand surpasses supply. New listings are down 35 percent which is drastically under where the county is normally at,” Welk said. “When we have an increase in price and a decrease on days on market we’re just getting a competitive situation where supply is not there but the demand is very high which is driving the price up and lowering the days on the market,” he said. “We just need more inventory on the market for it to be more of a balanced market.” Still, buyers are purchasing homes over the asking price and cities like Golden are seeing homes being gobbled up by eager homebuyers. Today, the city of Golden has only six active listings and homes that hit the market can disappear in five days or less but no more than 26 days, according to Golden Real Estate. In the past there were 20 to 30 listings, said Jim Smith, broker and owner of Golden Real Estate. “If you’re thinking of selling your home and thinking that buying season is in the spring, forget about it,” Smith said. “That’s what people need to know is there is no season for buying.” Smith reported that low interest rates on mortgages have contributed to the buying frenzy and why “it’s been such a hot winter for real estate.” But Smith, along with Welk both predict that mortgage rates will increase as winter turns to spring and the state begins to warm up. “Mortgage rates will probably continue to increase this year, into the five (percent) maybe,” Welk said. He projects that demand from buyers will increase and for homeowners who were considered a distressed property, they may see a comeback this year. “With the median home price going up, if you were underwater the last year or so, you’ll probably come back to being even or having a little equity in your property,” Welk said. “Now is a good time whether you’re a buyer or a seller to get out there and use a realtor and just ask questions.”

(ISSN 0746-6382)

OFFICE: 110 N. Rubey Dr, Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 110 N. Rubey Dr., Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403. PERIODICALS POSTAGE 6x1.75_BringAppetite_Layout 1 2/3/14 11:15 AM Page 1 PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 110 N. Rubey Dr, Unit 150, Golden, CO 80403 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. | Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Tues. 12 p.m.

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