LA7K - March 2023 Edition

Delivered to 24,332 Homes from 1-70 to Highway 285

Bailey: 3,899

Evergreen: 10,055

Golden: 2,691 Morrison: 872

Conifer: 3,976

Idledale: 156 Indian Hills: 720 Pine: 1,963

Life Above 7000 (LA7K) Homes, Lifestyle and Entertainment Up The Hill

Published by Tupper’s Team and PandoraJohnProperties at Madison & Co. Properties

1193 Bergen Parkway, Suite O/P Evergreen, CO 80439

303-997-4050

Editor@LifeAbove7000.com

Tupper’s Team, LLC, and PandoraJohn Properties are not responsible for the content of advertisements herein, or any claims arising from them. We are a group of REALTORS® and out goal in sending this magazine is we want you to enjoy living in the foothills. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, please know this is not intended as a solicitation.

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Have You Ever Wondered…

Real estate answers to (un)common questions

Question:

I am selling my house and am having nothing but problems with my neighbor, do I have to disclose this when selling?

Answer:

Possibly. In selling a home, disclosing issues is paramount in avoiding litigation in addition to simply being the right thing to do. Most sellers know to disclose obvious material defects – like your stove does not work or your roof has hail damage. But what about the more subtle issues like when you have a feud with your neighbor?

Sellers, and your broker, are required to disclose known adverse material facts. So, the circumstances between you and your neighbor may be important.

If you and the neighbor simply do not get along and, as a result, there is just a tense environment, there is probably nothing there to disclose. Perhaps the buyer for your home will get along with them great. However, if you and your neighbor do not get along because the neighbor thinks your fence is on his property and you disagree, this is worth disclosing. Making the buyer aware of the issue allows the buyer to investigate for themselves if there is a problem (or if they care about it). Non-disclosure could result in the buyer moving in and the neighbor coming over and explaining the fence is on his property and he wants it moved. Now the buyer feels sabotaged and starts looking for other things that may not have been disclosed. Another example is

what if the neighbor has dogs that bark incessantly – not at the occasional fox or deer - but bark to the point that you can’t take it anymore and want to move. While this may be a gray area for some, a good real estate professional will advise you that when in doubt, disclose. You do not want to pass on the same headache to the buyer. Give the buyer the information and let them do their due diligence. But hiding the problem will only bring frustration and, possibly, litigation.

So when in doubt, if you have to ask the question “Should I disclose this?” the answer is almost always yes. Using a broker at our local Madison Evergreen office can help get you the best advice.

Cover photo: American Brown Bear

Patrick wasn’t exactly born and raised here, but is as close as you can get! His family moved to Colorado when he was ve years old, and quickly landed in Evergreen, where he is now raising his three little kids with his wife, Jenna. Through Patrick’s time of running his own masonry company, Braveheart Masonry, he has realized that it is all about building lasting relationships and looks forward to working in real estate to continue to serve this wonderful community.

john@pandorajohnproperties.com

THE FOOTHILLS MARKET BY

FOUR WAYS TO BEAT HIGHER INTEREST RATES

by Robin McGlone Managing Director, Move Up Mortgage. (rmcglone@moveupmortgage.com)

Not a day goes by where I don’t get the question, “when are interest rates going to drop?” There are good indications that mortgage interest rates will drop at some point

in the coming 12-24 months, but the short-term view is difficult to predict. In the meantime, how do you maximize your buying power in a higher interest rate market? Let’s talk strategies!

(1) Ask the seller for help. This is not a new idea, but over the last few years, the sellers were in the

driver’s seat and had many offers to choose from, so seller “concessions” weren’t viable. Now, Sellers may be agreeable to paying your closing costs, or putting money into an interest rate buydown as part of your sales contract. Lenders are offering some creative options (a 2/1 buydown, where you can lower your rate for the first two years

of the loan and save thousands on your payment, for example). Or, a seller could pay for your closing costs, leaving you more money to put down and lower your payment. Most loan programs will allow the seller to contribute 3% of the sales price, and in some cases up to 6%, to help you lower your rate or fund your closing costs.

(2) Maximize your credit score. Credit scores are a SIGNIFICANT factor in the interest rate you are offered for a mortgage. By engaging with a local mortgage lender early in the process, 3-4 months before you want to purchase a home, you can find ways to raise your credit score and ensure you have access to the best rates possible.

(3) Marry your home, date your rate. The good news about mortgages… you can always refinance in the future if rates drop. Reset your expectations, be flexible on the current payment, and work with a good local lender to watch interest rates after you close on your home purchase and execute a refinance when the time is right. Most lenders, like us, offer a discount on refinance costs for repeat customers, too.

(4) Get a second opinion. Lenders have different programs and interest rates vary (somewhat) lender to lender. It never hurts to get a 2nd opinion and compare lenders fees, interest rates and programs. There is a misnomer that your credit will be negatively impacted if two lenders pull your credit report - You have four inquiries within a 90 day period from mortgage companies before you would see any negative change to your credit score.

What we do know from historical data? Getting into the homeownership “game” is typically the best choice, regardless of interest rates. Call a good local mortgage lender to discuss your goals!

or Should I Wait?

2023 Should I Buy

The question as to whether buyers should get off the fence in 2023 is lingering on many peoples’ minds. The answer will differ from coast to coast, but when we focus in on our Foothills market, here is what we think:

Our foothills area tends to hold values well and we have a finite amount of housing. When you think of the areas to the north, east and south of the Denver Metro area, those areas have an abundance of undeveloped land that can be converted into housing. The west side of Denver abuts to mountain passes so we have a unique terrain that limits housing expansion. Why is this a reason to buy?

Our housing values tend to hold well in down markets and up markets because there is nothing like our foothill suburban areas. There seems to be a never-ending desire to live here. This makes your investment a safer bet. So, while the prices will ebb and flow, over time, your investment should be more secure than other areas of the Metro area.

You have a better chance this year of securing a house than last year. Last year’s record low inventory disenchanted many buyers who were out-bid time after time. While there still may be instances of that happening, overall, the buyer pool has temporarily shrunk. So if you have the ability to purchase a home, now may be your best time. You are less likely to be up against 5, 10 or 20 cash offers. And while prices may appreciate, it is most likely not at the unsustainable rate we saw over the past few years.

The interest rate debacle comes into play. So if you are buying your first house, yes interest rates are higher than they have been in recent years, but this “higher” interest rate level will most likely not last beyond 2023. If economic predictions hold true, we should see interest rates decline in the second half of 2023. So the interest rate you lock into now may be something you can refinance in a year or two. Also, there are alternative options available – such as interest rate buy-downs or adjustable-rate mortgages – that will allow you to enjoy a temporary lower rate until the time comes that you refinance.

Buyers should have more bargaining power than in 2022. Last year, due to the buying frenzy, buyers didn’t have time to even think about their offers (and in some cases, didn’t have time to even see the home they wanted to buy) – they just had to throw their hat in the offer ring on a moment’s notice. In 2023, buyers should have the ability to shop around, have a little more room in negotiations and may not have grovel to sellers the way they did in 2022. Houses that need more updating, maintenance or are vacant, may be good options for the buyer looking for a “deal”.

So look back 5, 10 or 25 years ago. Our foothill investments have been some of the best, long-term wealth building options available. If you look at your purchase as a long term investment, you should be in a good position. Renting a 3 bed/2 bath house may cost you over $2500/month. Investing in your own home is almost always a better option than renting. No one has a crystal ball, but we do have the expertise to look back over the past 25+ years to see the trends and know that 2023 is probably a great time to take the plunge and buy a home this year.

Elevating the Art of Fine Dining

We create authentic Italian dishes, crafted only with fresh, local ingredients. Chef changes the menu seasonally to showcase the best of the season. Our wines are Sommelier selected and make for the perfect pairing with our menus. Come dine in a sophisticated atmosphere surrounded by incredible art and live music. The unique supper club vibe delivers an exceptional dining experience!

Now open for lunch Tuesday ~ Saturday 11 am - 2 pm. Dinner service Tuesday ~ Saturday 5 - 9 pm.

For Reservations, call 303.674.6826

29011 Upper Bear Creek Rd • Evergreen, CO 80439 BistroDelLago.com

GARDENING AS IF NATURE MATTERS

Above: The Silvery Lupine attracts many varieties of bees and butterflies

Right: The lavender Columbine attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

By Dennis Swiftdeer Paige

Coming from northeastern Illinois back in the fall of 2016 I was spoiled in terms of adequate water, a temperate climate, very workable soil, few pesty critters and a longer growing season to boot. Not so when I came to the montane plant zone of Colorado. We moved here a little over 7 years ago and what I have learned as a native landscaper, attempting to ecologically apply a healing approach to the land, is to stand back and watch what your land is telling you.

There are basic understandings that I wish to address to those just starting to garden for bringing nature back to your piece of the planet. First, native plants, also called indigenous plants, are plants that have evolved over thousands of years in a particular region. They have adapted to the geography, hydrology, and climate of the region. Native plants have evolved with the pollinators as well as other plants. As a result, a community of native plants provides habitat for a variety of native wildlife species such as songbirds and butterflies seeking host plants to lay their eggs while feeding off the nectar and leaves.

Non-native plants, also called non-indigenous plants, invasive plants, exotic species, or weeds, are plants that have been introduced into an environment in which they did not evolve. Such monoculturally aggressive plants like Canada thistle and Myrtle spurge can pose harm on the ecology of other native plants and wildlife.

So why should you use native plants? Here are my reasons:

1) Native plants do not require fertilizers.

2) They are hardy, drought resistant and require fewer pesticides than lawns.

3) They help reduce air pollution and sequester carbon, thus helping to contain the increase of global warming.

4) They provide shelter and food for wildlife.

5) They promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.

6) They save money.

7) They entertain and inspire the deeper nurturing connections with nature rooted where you live.

8) They provide beautiful aesthetic impressions of nature.

Last year I applied with the National Wildlife Federation to receive the status stating our property is certified as a Wildlife Habitat. We have a seasonal creek, scattered aspens, Doug firs and Ponderosas, and 4 newly installed wren-chickadee bird houses on opposite corners of our land along with a bat house to go after the Western spruce budworm moths in the late spring.

So far on our half acre lot I have been able to identify 75 native plant species and still counting over the years. To help get you started you can check out these useful links:

• Native Plants: nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/ About/Native-Plants

• Resources: homegrownnationalpark.org

• Certify: nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Certify

• Colorado Native Plant Society: conps.org

We continue to grow through hands-on understanding as we experience this little challenging earth with humility, patience, and knowledge.

Dennis Swiftdeer Paige is an environmental educator and native landscaper in Conifer. His is the author of Community Eco-gardens: Landscaping with Native Plants. Community Eco-Gardens – McFarland (onpressidium.com) He presents eco-garden talks based on his book through zoom regularly. Contact Dennis at littleearth21@hotmail.com.

Tupper Briggs and John Erlandson An Improving Market?

TB. John, with interest rates stabilizing and prices rising more slowly, are you seeing business pick up with the warming weather?

JE. We can feel the positive push up here in the foothills with more listings and more buyers. Of course, we have an advantage in working in the foothills since so many folks want to live in this paradise. We find today’s buyers & sellers realize there’s more to real estate than all the alarmist headlines about a housing crash. Bottom line… folks still want to buy, and folks still want to sell.

TB. I agree. While the inflation fight has taken its toll on the number of sales, home values continue to rise, proving that buyers who are willing & able to buy are making a sound investment.

JE. We recently closed on a home that was listed by a “down the hill” agent who over-reacted to the headlines about home values softening. He underpriced the property and our buyers jumped on it because they realized the pricing flaw. Our buyers wake up with a smile every day. Tup, home values continue to rise. What are the stats on that, and what do you predict going forward?

TB. The number of home sales dropped off by nearly 30% but the average home’s selling price rose by10% at the end of ’22. The number of home sales is still down from last year’s levels but the average selling price continues to rise. There’s structural under-supply to meet high demand for housing across the entire country that will buoy real estate for years to come.

JE. Buyers come in all shapes and sizes, but they all believe in the American dream of homeownership. We find buyers in general have moved from a cautious reticence to a more settled optimism. What are you seeing, and what do you think the perfect buyer looks like? Perfect seller?

TB. I think the perfect buyer is someone who is mentally & financially comfortable buying with today’s prices & interest rates and whose outlook is positive. The perfect seller is someone who has a good reason to sell, enjoys robust equity from the last couple of years, and is willing to price & stage their home competitively.

JE. Yeah, our buyers are not the kind that sit and sour over negative press. They dream and they do, despite what the negative gloomers and doomers say. Interest rates have settled down since the Fed started their battle with inflation last year but some buyers are still on the sidelines. Do you think we’ve seen the worst of the effects of any economic downturn?

TB. Yeah, I’m looking forward to more buyer activity as the year unfolds. I expect home values to hold their own through ’23 and show positive growth in ’24. This is a great opportunity for buyers who are willing and can afford to buy.

JE. Do you know how to tell if a banjo player is worried?

TB. No, how?

JE. He frets a lot.

TB. Groan…

Homeowner’s insurance in the Foothills has become costly and uncertain in the aftermath of the Marshall Fire in Boulder County. Many homeowners impacted by that fire discovered that they were underinsured, and that the cost to rebuild in many cases was much higher than the dwelling coverage in their homeowner policies.

The cost to rebuild in the Foothills is typically higher than the cost to rebuild “down the hill” in the greater Denver area. Homes in the Foothills are located in a wildland-urban Interface zone which is an area where homes and businesses are at higher risk because of the proximity to forest land. The potential for wildfires is much greater here than in an urban area.

It is a good idea to review your home policy coverage amounts with your insurance professional annually, and ideally at the policy renewal date. Here are some things to look at when reviewing your home insurance:

Dwelling coverage—this is the base amount of coverage in the policy to replace your home in the event of a total loss. Most policies have an extended replacement cost provision in the event that the base dwelling coverage is not enough to rebuild the home with the same fit, finish, and quality as before the loss. This additional dwelling coverage amount is typically 20-50% of the base dwelling coverage amount. Your home should be insured for a minimum of $300 per finished square foot as a baseline amount for what it would cost to rebuild that home in the Foothills area.

Loss of Use coverage—this is coverage for any expense you incur when you are displaced from your home because of a covered loss. The reimbursement for those expenses typically defaults to twelve months from the date of loss. This is not a long enough time period for loss of use coverage. Victims of the Marshall Fire, which happened over twelve months ago, have still not had enough time to rebuild their homes. This coverage should be extended to 24 months, as it will take 18 to 24 months to rebuild your home in the event of a total loss.

Building Ordinance or Law coverage—this is additional coverage to help defray additional building costs that result from county building code and ordinance changes. Boulder County changed building codes to include requirements to use fire resistant materials, ecologically friendly materials, and other code changes that increased construction costs dramatically, driving up the cost to rebuild for Marshall Fire victims.

This coverage should be a minimum of 10-25% of the dwelling coverage to compensate for increased building costs of new codes.

Many insurance companies are not accepting new home policies in our area and many companies are non-renewing existing customers because of the perceived wildfire risk in the Foothills. Home policy premiums are rising because of the wildfire danger. That’s why it is wise to review your home policy with your insurance professional. It is better to understand and adjust your coverage now before a catastrophic loss event happens.

Bruce Anderson

Farmers Insurance

4860 Highway 73, Unit A Evergreen, CO 80439-7381 303-674-2724 (Office) 303-718-9966 (Mobile)

banderson2@farmersagent.com

www.farmersagent.com/banderson2

EPRD… A Success Story

You don’t have to be a swimmer, skater, gym rat or pickleball player to appreciate the impact of the Evergreen Park and Recreation District.

EPRD is a success story with a unique history of vision mixed with resolve, community “buy-in” and a “get-‘er done” work ethic. From its inception in 1969 and soon after, under the direction of legendary Executive Director Dick Wulf 1972-2007, as well a number of dedicated iconic Board members such as A.J. Johnston, Hank Alderfer, Peter Eggers, Dan Lincoln, Rash Hendryx and Deb Browne, the District wisely and strategically made decisions for the good of us all.

Its mission was and is “to improve the quality of life of the Evergreen community by providing a wide range of excellent, financially responsible park and recreation amenities and programs while maintaining and enhancing the area's mountain character.” The ‘powers that have been’ have been good stewards over the years making virtually everything better they have touched and leaving a rich legacy.

Early on, it was about swimming for the kids, and in 1972, a deal was cut for a 99year lease with the school district on land just south of the high school. A building was constructed which housed a swimming pool, two locker rooms, a multi-purpose room, and administrative space for the district. It was known as the Evergreen Recreation Center until 2008, when the property was named in honor of Dick Wulf and became the Wulf Recreation Center.

More deals were made with the school district to use athletic fields and playgrounds, and over time, new land was purchased adding more ballfields, tennis courts, parks and trails. The Center would expand to include a gymnastics gym and much more. EPRD would also collaborate with the Evergreen Metropolitan District and Jeffco Open Space to develop the trail around the lake which included steps on either side of the dam and three bridges east of the dam. The Lake House, Evergreen’s pride and joy, was constructed and opened in March of 1993 under their direction and determination.

Throughout the ensuing years, EPRD purchased land in north and south Evergreen. Most notable was the ’94 purchase of the initial 4 acres that make up Buchanan Park, along with negotiating to buy adjacent properties and assisting alongside MALT in

saving Noble Meadow / Elk Meadow from developer overreach. They oversaw construction of the Buchanan Park Recreation Center and it opened in 2003. A year later they secured 14.1 acres at Marshdale Park, which today sports athletic fields, tennis/ pickleball courts, a playground, a picnic pavilion and trails.

The list is nearly endless as to what the over-achievers accomplished. Under Dick Wulf and the many board iterations, the trajectory was onward and upward. We owe them a great deal for their vision, courage and tenacity which resulted in the essence of what is Evergreen today.

Peter Eggers rightly states how things happen up here,

“The spirit of volunteerism is in the soul of Evergreen. After all, it has always been up to us, and only us, as groups of individuals, to dream together and envision new possibilities that fulfill common needs. Whether it is firefighting or coaching or performing or raising money for a good cause, as citizen leaders, we are much the same. We are led and inspired by our neighbors and friends who sit on boards and form organizations to make Evergreen a better place.”

So what has gone on since the glory days?

Truth be told, we have seen some ebb and flow. Good things have continued for sure, but the recession of 2008 thwarted EPRD Master Plan efforts to grow and expand.

The big idea was to work with Denver Mountain Parks and utilize a combined larger 67-acre area, take Buchanan into Phase II and realize the potential of the property by expanding the Buchanan Rec Center footprint, increasing recreational services, providing a place for the arts, and in general take it all to the next level. The times were a-changin, funds were more difficult to come by and the Bergen community, as well as Evergreen at large did not buy in. The Master Plan was shelved, albeit several smaller projects from within the plan were realized over time.

Executive Directors weren’t serving long, the makeup of the Board of Directors changed and there was a cautiousness, and in some cases an un-doing of what had been established. Another bond & mill levy increase was on the ballot in 2018 and was narrowly defeated. Certainly during the slow-down years there have been bright spots (Heart Cameron) and those who gave it their all to make things better. Thank you, John Ellis & friends.

Happily, we are feeling renewed hope, and a sense of well-being has emerged with the hiring of our new Executive Director, Cory Vander Veen, along with newly-elected

will come to fruition this year through their leadership.

Know also that right now they and we are in the midst of ‘Strategic Plan ’2022-23’ and are in the Discovery Phase, which is a time for Community Engagement, EPRD Board & Staff Engagement, Communitywide Survey Participation, Facility and Park Assessments, as well as Financial and Market Analyses. Additionally, Board Elections are scheduled for May 2nd, and two (2) directors will be elected to serve four-year terms. There’s an opportunity for you.

To all who have served… ED’s, Board Members, Staff, Volunteers, thank you for your sacrifice and leadership in giving us the best of Evergreen.

-John Erlandson

ABOVE

Board members Peter Eggers, Betsy Hayes and Mary McGhee. The Evergreen Lake North Trail

Source: Linda Kirkpatrick, Records from EPRD… Thanks Linda!

Below: Ever-Clean Evergreen Day

Top Foothills Team for 2022!

Dear clients, Neighbors and Friends,

From all of us at Tuppers team, we wanted to thank you for your business, trust, and loyalty in 2022. We know there are many brokers to choose from but your repeat, referrals and trust have continued to make us the top real estate team in the foothills Year over year. We treasure the opportunity to be your real estate team of choice and we look forward to helping more of your friends and neighbors in the new year.

In gratitude, Alice, Carrie, Dana, Jennifer, Matt, Peg, and Tupper

The short but glorious hike to the top of Chief Mountain has become more popular, but there are still many who aren’t aware of this little gem. If you want to escape to the high country for a relatively quick outing without traveling up I-70, this hike is for you. Just head up Highway 103 for 10.4 miles to the trailhead near mile marker 18. In a short but sweet 1.5 mile hike you can be above tree line at the little scraggy peak with glorious 360 degree views. The trail is not steep, albeit you may be panting a bit once you traverse up the windswept area to 11,800 feet in elevation. And speaking of wind, the wind often howls here, making for an adventuresome alpine feel. So, dress accordingly! There is some protection in the rocks at the top on those blustery days. For times with fresh snowfall, snowshoes are ideal here. However, when the snow is not so recent, the well-trodden path and rocky terrain at the top may be better suited for sturdy micro spikes. Do stay on the trail as alpine tundra ecosystems are extremely fragile. Flowers and lichen

take years and years to recover when even slightly damaged by hikers.

In the same general area but accessed by a separate trail is the Forest Service Fire Tower at Mestaa’ehehe (pronounced messtaw-hay). The trail, Forest Road 192.1, is not quite as charming, so not as ideal for a day hike, but if you book a night at the tower, you will be treated to truly astounding views. The 2 mile forest service road is skiable now but snowshoes are a good option as well. Do expect snow until late spring.

This little hiker has enjoyed a full moon hike and ski on these trails as well. It’s cold no doubt, and one should be extra wilderness-prepared, but adventure awaits just a short jaunt up the mountain!

Chief Mountain Trail: https:// www.hikingproject.com/ trail/7006074/chief-mountaintrail-58

Fire Tower Reservations: www. recreation.gov

Music, Events & Arts Calendar

4/1 Wine Club Dinner | Aspen Peak Cellars Music by Mint, 6 - 9:30 pm

4/1 Mile High Beer Festival | Stockyards Event Ctr 4 - 10:30 pm

4/1- Foothills Home Show | Evergreen High School

4/2 Sat 10 am - 5 pm | Sun 10 am - 3 pm

4/5- Exhibition: Landscapes of the West - PopUp 4/9 Center of the Arts, Evergreen

4/5- Taste of Vail - Iconic Food & Wine Event 4/8 Check out TasteofVail.com for more info.

4/13- Exhibition: Touch & Go: Texture and Movement

5/20 Center for the Arts, Evergreen

4/20 Bootstraps Sips for Scholarships | Twin Forks Restaurant, Morrison 6:30 - 9 pm

4/20 CAE Originals Concert with Manas Itene Center for the Arts Evergreen, 6 - 9 pm

4/21 Very Vivaldi | Evergreen Chorale Evergreen Lutheran Church, Evergreen 7:30 pm

4/23 PandoraJohnProperties Homeowners Insurance Forum | Madison & Co Evergreen, 4 - 6 pm

4/28 Springtime Boogie featuring The Jerseys The Wild Game, Evergreen, 6 - 9:30 pm

5/4 Women in Business Luncheon | Evergreen Chamber | Mt. Vernon CC Golden 11 am - 2 pm

5/6 - Cinco de Mayo Celebrations | Downtown Denver

5/7 Civic Center Park

5/6 - Remembering Patsy Cline | Center Stage

5/7 Evergreen, 7:30 pm & 2:30 pm

5/12- Mt. Evans Hospice presents Cody Rocks the Rockies

5/14 Again! | Lakewood Cultural Center 7:30 pm

5/19 Born in the USA | Cactus Jack’s Saloon Evergreen, 8 pm

5/24- Exhibition: Characters of Colorado Pop-up

5/29 Center for the Arts, Evergreen

6/1 - Whale of a Used Book Sale | JeffCo Fairgrounds

6/1 - Exhibition: Sculpted

7/8 Center for the Arts, Evergreen

6/2- Once | StageDoor Theatre, Conifer

6/25 Contact Stagedoortheatre.org for information

6/3 Center for the Arts “Annual Day of the Arts” Bergen Meadow Elem Field, Evergreen 10 am - 6 pm

6/17 Evergreen Rodeo Parade | Main Street Evergreen, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm

6/17- Evergreen Rodeo | Rodeo Grounds

6/18 Evergreen, 2 pm Sat & 12 pm Sun

6/23 Boogie House Concert w/Sirsy for CAE, 6 - 9 pm Check out Boogieatthebarn.com for details

6/24 Baritone Steven Taylor | Center Stage Evergreen, 7:30 pm

6/24 Evergreen Sustainability Spring Clean Recycling Evergreen Lutheran Church, 10 am - 2 pm

6/24 Mountain Area Land Trust (MALT) Night in the Park Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, Evergreen 5 - 9 pm

6/28 Evergreen Concert Series | Artist TBD Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen 4 - 8 pm

6/30- Bighorn Little Musical Festival & Camp-Out

7/2 Kremmling, Colorado

7/4 4th of July Freedom Run 5K Evergreen Middle School, 8 am

7/12 Evergreen Concert Series | Artist TBD Buchanan Field, Evergreen 4 - 8 pm

7/26 Evergreen Concert Series | Artist TBD Evergreen Lake House, Evergreen 4 - 8 pm

7/29- Center for the Arts SummerFest Art & Music

7/31 Buchanan Field, Evergreen 10 am - 5 pm

You know him, you love him, you can’t live without him. Joe Bye is a major player and a difference-maker when it comes to the local music scene up here in the hills. For this listener, his no-nonsense approach to making fun for everyone is evident by the show of dancers dancing and singers singing every word to every song. Compelling covers and killer originals have us rockin’ -nrollin’ like 17 year-olds. You might even see some air guitar.

Joe is music and music is Joe. He’s been a rockstar his whole life, from his Long Island upbringing, through his tenure at The Bucksnort and up till now in Evergreen, Ft. Collins and everywhere in-between. I see Springsteen and Hiatt. I hear both Dylan’s. I find myself waking up to his ‘Travelin’ With A Stranger’ and ‘My Latest Addiction’ rolling around in my brain. Keep on a-rockin’ Joe… we need the difference you’re making! -JohnE Check him out at https://www.reverbnation.com/joebye.

Will 2023 be a good year for investing?

By Brianna Griffin

The past three years have been a challenging real estate environment for home buyers and investors alike. With interest rates at record lows in the past two years and severely low inventory available, buyer demand far surpassed supply, creating an explosion in home price appreciation. These inventory shortages, not only in the housing market but across all aspects of life, led to the highest inflation seen in the U.S. since the early 1980s. In mid 2022, the Federal Reserve responded to this with the quickest and highest rate hike in history. As a result, many buyers could no longer afford the homes they were searching for due to the increased borrowing costs. Within a matter of months, the market shifted from a strong seller’s market to a more traditional market, where buyers have more negotiation power in regards to price, concessions and inspection for the first time in years! This is a natural benefit of a market shifting in the buyer’s favor. There are many questions about what the future holds: what is the future of the economy and is a recession looming? Are we going to see another “bubble” like we did in 2008? From our perspective, the answer is no for several reasons. First and foremost, there have been much tighter lending policies adopted since 2008 to ensure buyers are well qualified to obtain a mortgage. Secondly, a majority of homeowners are sitting on a huge amount of equity due to the unprecedented appreciation that has accumulated over the past 8 years, therefore, they are better positioned to absorb a slight depreciation in values. And finally, supply is still far lower than we saw in 2008.

For instance, at the end of 2022 the housing inventory in Denver and 11 surrounding counties was under 5,000 (including attached and detached homes). In 2008, the inventory soared above 26,000, while

demand and population was far less than today. It is not likely that inventory will significantly increase either, as many homeowners are locked into low interest rates that we may not see again in our lifetime, and therefore are not motivated to sell and enter a higher interest rate environment. For those reasons, my investment team and I at Wealth by Real Estate are gearing up to buy and invest so that we can take advantage of the transition away from a strong seller’s market while still being reassured that the market is not likely to experience a “bubble,” but rather stabilization in pricing and overall market conditions. Sitting here today, we know that these market conditions will provide opportunities we may never see again.

Where does the most opportunity exist?

The rise in interest rates has deterred many home buyers, which leaves little to no options but for those buyers to rent as they wait out the transitional market conditions. We believe that for this reason single family rentals and multiunit properties, in particular, will see a surge of demand. We personally own just under 30 rentals and have not seen a vacancy for longer than 2 months in the past 5 years and continue to see high demand. Our strategy going forward is to take advantage of the transitional market and to target motivated sellers whose homes have been listed for more than 30 days. If we are able to offer a number that will net positive cash flow and provide a capitalization rate of at least 6%, then it is an opportunity worth pursuing. The capitalization rate can be calculated by dividing your estimated annual net income by the purchase price.

Keep in mind that most rentals are

not going to cash flow significantly in the near future. The main benefits of a long term rentals include long term appreciation, mortgage buydown with rental payments (equity building), tax benefits/ write-offs (depreciation, operating expenses, insurance, etc), and long term cash flow as rents increase over time while your mortgage remains fixed (also a natural hedge against inflation). They also provide great diversification to a retirement portfolio and are considered low risk investments relative to other real estate investments such as fix and flipping, short term rentals, and commercial properties. How can you capitalize on your home’s equity to invest?

So, for all those homeowners sitting pretty on their equity, how can you too take advantage of the opportunity that 2023 presents? There are three common types of equity lending that you may be familiar with: HELOCs (Home Equity Line of Credit), cash out refinance, and a fixed rate second mortgage. HELOC’s are short-term lending facilities that are typically used for renovations or other short-term investments like fix and flips; both cash out refinances and fixed rate second mortgages are long-term lending facilities with fixed interest rates, therefore, if the goal is to purchase a long term rental, these facilities would be the best option.

If you have a low interest rate on your first mortgage and do not want to refinance the entire mortgage to tap into additional equity, then a fixed rate second mortgage allows you to borrow a lump sum of cash against the equity you have in your home, and may be the better option given the current higher interest rate environment.

The main consideration with tapping into your equity to finance investments is to ensure that your projected investment return exceeds your lending cost. For instance, if your interest rate on your fixed rate second mortgage is 6%, the goal would be to secure a long term rental that meets or exceeds a 6% return in order to reduce the leverage risk. Again, keep in mind that long term rentals may not cash flow much at all in the early years but do provide significant other benefits which we touched on earlier.

As Warren Buffet says, when others are greedy be fearful, and when others are fearful be greedy. As other buyers and investors gear back in the transitional market, we view 2023 as the year to be greedy!

Brianna and Michael Griffin are licensed brokers at Madison & Company Properties. They have successfully completed over 300 fix and flips and counting, acquired $30 Million in real estate in the past 5 years (including long term rentals, short term rentals and commercial rentals. They own WEALTH BY REAL ESTATE Investment coaching company, a staging company, UPSTAGED DENVER and title company, ELEVATED TITLE. Brianna has a financial background that has helped in creating and understanding analysis worksheets for investing and was the top Denver Metro Association of Realtors producer in 2021 with $85 million in real estate sales and 175 total transactions. Michael has been a serial entrepreneur owning everything from several liquor stores, a partner in the largest commercial steel and drywall company in CO, a luxury car rental business, restaurants/ bars, a first aid company, and was the managing partner at Madison Commercial Properties and continues real estate investing and brokering.

THE

FOR BOTH MARKETS

The housing market was active the first half of the year.

Listings garnered multiple offers within days (sometimes) hours in the first months of 2022.

Increased interest rates slowed the markets significantly during the last six months of 2022.

There were fewer offers and longer time on the market.

Neither market saw the catastrophic price declines that the news media hyped in other US Metro areas.

Both markets survived 2022 with significantly fewer sales, but higher prices than 2021.

IN 2023 WE SHOULD SEE

by Linda Kirkpatrick LindaKirkpatrick@comcast.net

Some of the most creative people on earth do not channel their talents through the bristles of a brush, the sharp edges of a chisel, or the soundwaves from a microphone. They are not likely to be cast as artists, but they are the artists who give purpose and understanding to humanity by effecting change — sometimes by bringing to fruition the ideas of others and sometimes by implementing their own unique thoughts of what would make for a better world.

Rich Levine is one of those mega-stars whose name is not likely to appear in lights on a marquis nor etched into the base of a bronze casting. Eliciting ideas, drawing people out, instilling confidence, creating goodwill, and making things happen constitute his craft.

He’s an attorney by trade. He brings people together for the common good, oftentimes when they start out as adversaries. And his office is filled with art, much of which has been created by his clients.

A fixture in the Evergreen community for 25-plus years, the Southern California native hangs his shingle at a log building on Southview but has quietly permeated the essence of Evergreen from one end to the other. His three children attended public schools in Evergreen; and his wife, Kim, taught elementary school at the Bergens.

Rich brings with him experience managing largescale events and project development at a national level. In his early days as an attorney, he was involved with the creation of the Korean War Veterans’ Memorial, World Pro Ski Tours, LPGA tournaments, USA Olympic Volleyball tours, and civic development initiatives.

In the ‘90s he managed World Cup USA and the Colorado Rapids, with licensing, merchandising, sponsorships, and entertainment properties being just part of his long list of responsibilities that also included negotiating leases with stadiums and television.

As President and CEO of National Pro Fastpitch, an affiliate of Major League Baseball and ESPN, he led the organization through its transition to national status, drawing on skills that impacted player relations and league sponsorship.

From maritime law to patents and copyrights to international law, he’s expanded his knowledge base gained at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law after having earned two degrees in three years at UC, Santa Barbara with the highest honors. His bar memberships include the United States Supreme Court.

Locally, in addition to practicing law, he imparts his vast knowledge to students at Colorado School of Mines at the senior level, something he’s done as

an Adjunct Professor since 2005, teaching Constitutional Law and Intellectual Property for Engineers and Artists. In addition, he teaches Applied Philosophy and Leadership in the McBride Honors program. His students have given him top marks as an exceptional faculty member. These days he’s more into real estate issues, easements, zoning, HOAs, personal injury cases, contracts; representing small businesses; and dealing with estates, wills, and trusts. He shares his expertise with the nonprofit community quietly and behind the scenes.

He was part of a group that raised

RICH LEVINE

position for a Special Olympics athlete.

“The organization serves more than 20,000 athletes annually,” Rich points out, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. “What most people don’t know is that Special Olympics is also involved with providing screenings for vision, dental, hearing, and foot care … reducing bullying, building bridges of trust, building opportunities for employment and nutrition.”

the funds to build Evergreen’s synagogue – Congregation Beth Evergreen – and brought in Evergreen’s first full-time rabbi, Jamie Arnold. Rich served as president of the synagogue for a year and taught seventh graders in Hebrew School. Part of his responsibility was to speak at each bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah – comingof-age rituals in the Jewish faith.

“We learned about beekeeping,” Rich says of his teaching seventh graders, “and the richness of honey,” incorporating the aspects of wax and the bees’ life in communities. His students decorated the hives and installed the bees into their hives. He led river rafting trips and built stained glass windows with his class.

In 2016 when Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen (RMAE) made the decision to end its preschool, Rich was instrumental in forming a nonprofit organization and re-establishing it as the Learning Center Preschool administered by Congregation Beth Evergreen. “We retained all the teachers and rebuilt the school for 30-some preschoolers.”

One of the associations he holds near and dear is his Emeritus Board Member status with Special Olympics Colorado where he rewrote the bylaws, making Colorado the first chapter in the world to create a co-chair

Special Olympics Colorado is responsible for contracts with local grocery stores, for instance, in hiring people with intellectual disabilities.

Rich also serves on the board for Mountain Resource Center (MRC), based in Conifer but serving residents in rural Jefferson and Park Counties to promote self-sufficiency and economic stability. “I’m proud of the work MRC does in providing vital, needs-based assistance to people,” Rich says. “In order for a community to thrive, we need to take care of people.”

Explaining that an organization needs a staff yearround, in between the times people volunteer, Rich expounds on why he works to stimulate private donations to the nonprofit that serves as a focal point for children, single women, veterans, people with mental health issues. Jefferson County provides services and funnels that support through MRC.

During his short time on the board, he’s been instrumental in retiring the entire debt so all donations now support programming.

And, coupled with his quiet tendency to mold and craft, create and polish, Rich has officially dabbled in the arts by providing legal support for the recent merger of Center for the Arts Evergreen and Sculpture Evergreen, producing a more viable and sustainable arts community.

Simply put, what he does matters.

Eliciting ideas, drawing people out, instilling confidence, creating goodwill, and making things happen constitute his craft

BUSINESSES

Alexa Interiors

Alpen Way Chalet

Anderson Insurance Company

Kelli Anderson / Berkshire Hathaway

Barnes Bros. Creative

Bear Paw Stanbro Property Management

Bistro Del Lago

Cactus Jack’s

Campfire Evergreen

Coaty Marchant Woods, PC

Valli Crockett / Bergen Peak Realty

Jennifer Davenport / LIV Sotheby’s

Tamara Drozda / Madison & Co.

EV Studio

Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce

Evergreen Clothing and Mercantile

Evergreen Crafters

Evergreen Discount Liquors

Evergreen Massage

Evergreen Players

Diane Florscheutz / Coldwell Banker

FirstBank

Kevin Freadhoff / Berkshire Hathaway

Stephanie Freadhoff / Berkshire Hathaway

Go Paint / WeeScapes

Amy Good / Good Mountain Real Estate

Highland Haven Creekside Inn

JR’s Landscaping

Linda Ireland / Berkshire Hathaway

Lakepoint Chiropractic

The Law Office of Richard A. Levine

Marie Lynch / Madison & Company

Marmalade

Medical Aesthetics LLC

Meg Reilley Media

Nick Melzer / Berkshire Hathaway

Mountain Home

Mountain Metro Association of Realtors

Murphy ’s Mountain Grill

Cathie Nicholson / Berkshire Hathaway

PandoraJohnProperties

Jason Parker / Colo. Commercial Advisors

Julia Purrington / Berkshire Hathaway

Cindy Sahli / Coldwell Banker

Shadow Mountain Gallery

Deborah Simon / LIV Sotheby’s

Sisters & Company

Stems Flower Shop

Lark Stewart / LIV Sotheby’s

Stillwater Partners LLLP

Tall Grass

Tupper ’s Team—Madison & Co.

Tricia Wales / Coldwell Banker

Troutdale Tavern

Valentine Seevers & Associates

Kevin Wilson / Keller Williams Foothills

INDIVIDUALS

Kate Bober

Charles and Bette Carcano

Ann Chew

Liz Cohen

Greg Dobbs

Peter and Peggy Eggers

Miriam Epple

Anna Murray Garner and Kevin Garner

Penn Gildersleeve

Mary Jo Giroux

Gayle Gordon

Janice and Stephen Kaup

Linda Kirkpatrick

Jim and Anita Kreider

Eric and Nancy Maule

Jani and Bryan McCarty

Jackie and Rich Mohr

Ann and Mike Moore

Lynn and Dan Moyle

Dave and Carolyn Nelson

Jim Pisula

Craig A. Ponzio

Brian Roberts

Jim and Aleta Smith

Richard and Susan Toussaint

Emotional Support Animals vs Service Animals

Many of us are aware of Service Animals – animals who help an owner with specific tasks -  but Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are a rising trend across the country and many people are unfamiliar with the difference.  ESAs are animals that provide “comfort and companionship to their owner to help alleviate the symptoms of an emotional or mental disability. ESAs are commonly referred to as assistance or companion animals.”  They are not considered pets and have some protective rights.  ESA can include just about any domesticated animal from cats, dogs to pigs and miniature horses.

ESA obtain their status through obtaining a letter

from a health professional.  This letter can be obtained through online services or in-person health professionals.   Service Animals differ in that they are subject to strict training and certification designed to help people with mobility challenges, visual issues and can even warn their owner when an medical episode is sensed.  Service Animals have more rights and protection in the law than an ESA.

There has been an increasing trend in ESAs and being informed about the trend is paramount to both an ESA owner and a landlord.

So it is important to know your rights both as an ESA owner as well as a landlord.

1.    Can a landlord charge a pet deposit for an ESA?  No.  ESA are not pets and a landlord cannot charge a deposit.

2.   Can a landlord deny an ESA?  Usually not.  The law does carve out some latitude for “reasonableness” of accommodations (i.e. a 3rd floor

apartment may not be suitable for a domesticated pig).  Animals who may be dangerous to people and property may be denied but a landlord should consult with an attorney before making any decisions.

3.   Does a renter need to disclose the existence of an ESA?  It is best practice to disclose the existence of the ESA to the landlord and present the ESA letter.  This can help avoid disagreements over per deposits and restrictions.

4.   What if an HOA doesn’t allow dogs over 50 pounds or limits animals to only 2 cats?  The HOA is bound by the same laws as the owner and cannot deny the ESA (again with a few/limited exceptions).

5.   ESA owners are still liable for damage caused by the ESA.

This can be a complicated law and landlords can be unfamiliar with the law.  Both the ESA owner and the landlord have rights and again, should consult with an attorney when there is question about what is allowed or not.

TUPPER Briggs (720) 248-8757 tupper@tuppersteam.com

DANA Bossert (720) 989-1244 dana@tuppersteam.com

ALICE Carmody (303) 588-0530 alice@tuppersteam.com

CARRIE Hurich (720) 437-9889 carrie@tuppersteam.com

PEG Schroeder (303) 885-4404 peg@tuppersteam.com

JENNIFER Trinco (720) 989-1180 jennifer@tuppersteam.com

JOHN Erlandson (303) 618-4900 john@pandorajohnproperties.com

PANDORA Erlandson (303) 888-6298 pandora@pandorajohnproperties.com

JENNA McMenaman (303) 912-0338 jenna@madisonprops.com

PATRICK McMenaman (303) 842-5703 patrick.mcm@madisonprops.com

TESSA Larson (303) 908-3317 tessa@madisonprops.com

TRANG Janick (303) 956-0792 trang@madisonprops.com

KELLY Murzynsky (404) 906-7994 kelly@madisonprops.com

MATT Bachus

(720) 644-9363 matt@tuppersteam.com

MIKE

DENA Appleto n (303) 882-9314 appleton@madisonprops.com

CARRIE Baldwin (303) 885-5118 cjb@carriebaldwin.com

TAMMY Drozda (720) 308-1652 tammy@madisonprops.com

KATHRYN Lampert (720) 961-3983 kathryn@madisonprops.com

CHAD Lee (970) 389-4747 chad@madisonprops.com

MARIE Lynch (303) 250-3133 marie@madisonprops.com