At Home Colorado: Boulder County Edition

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate News, Open Home Listings, Homes for Sale, Rentals and More!

BOULDER COUNTY

A Newcomer’s Perspective on Relocation and the Boulder Area

We spoke with WK Real Estate’s new Executive Vice President Kari Newman about her recent relocation, perspective of the area and role with WK Real Estate.

Open Homes and Virtual Tour Quick Guide Looking for a home? View comprehensive listings of local virtual tours and open houses taking place from all across the area.

October 22-23, 2021

Features and Floor Plans: Dream Home Considerations for Real Life

Time to Downsize?

Signs to Help You Decide

While it’s helpful to have a vision, it’s often difficult to find a real-life floor plan that matches your dream-home expectations. Let’s consider some of the top priorities when searching for your next home.

Just like the home-preferences of single adults are different from those of families with young children, so are the home needs of retirees.

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REAL ESTATE COLORADO HOME AND REAL ESTATE

ATHOMECOLORADO.COM CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sean McIllwain Mary Lynn Bruny Elaine S. Povich Tom Kalinski Duane Duggan Cathy Hobbs Paul F. P. Pogue ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Thais Hafer Toni McNeill Mary Romano MARKETING FEATURES COORDINATOR Greg Stone

EDITORIAL

At Home Colorado is a weekly publication designed for the Colorado home and real estate community. The Boulder County edition publishes Friday in the Boulder Daily Camera and Saturday in the Longmont Times-Call.

The Northern Colorado edition publishes Saturday in the Greeley Tribune and Loveland Reporter-Herald. Submit news releases and articles to: gstone@prairiemountainmedia.com.

ADVERTISING

To advertise in At Home or to promote your virtual home tour visit AtHomeColorado.com/Advertise, call Thais Hafer at 303.473.1456, Toni McNeill at 303.684.5329 .

At Home is an advertising feature of the Boulder Daily Camera, Greeley Tribune, Longmont Times-Call and Loveland Reporter-Herald. ©2021 Prairie Mountain Media.

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AT HOME COLORADO

Features and floor plans: Dream home considerations for real life Like most of us, you’ve probably daydreamed about the floor plan of your dream home.

Maybe it’s got gleaming quartz countertops, a wrap-around SEAN front porch or MCILLWAIN possibly a pool for relaxing on summer days.

While it’s helpful to have a vision, it’s often difficult to find a reallife floor plan that matches your dream-home expectations.

Let’s consider some of the top priorities when searching for your next home.

Use Everyone uses their home differently, so it’s important to consider how you'll use your home. For example, if you need a home office or a two-car garage, you’ll want to look at floor plans that offer flex spaces and garages that are the appropriate size.

Many floor plans are centered around entertaining, with a welcoming space for guests as soon as they enter your home. A wide foyer flowing into an open and seamless floor plan would be ideal for hosting guests. If your family is more private and you don’t want your home on display every time the front door opens, you may opt for a small entryway and a formal living room adjacent to the front door.

This allows guests a place to relax while keeping the rest of the house separate.

For many families, the central hub of the house is the kitchen.

Think about your ideal kitchen: Do you want an island? Do you need a lot of counter space? Is a walk-in pantry a must-have?

Think about the size of the kitchen in relation to other rooms of the house and the flow between them. Privacy and noise are worth considering, too. How close are the bedrooms to the kitchen – and what separates them from the noisier, more communal areas of the house?

Verticality Choosing between a single-story or a multi-story home is a matter of personal preference, location

and budget.

Some single-story homes tend to group communal spaces in the center of the house, with bedrooms and baths on the outer wings. Multi-story homes may offer more expansive views, and give family members more privacy and elbow room.

For more noise-sensitive families, a single-story home is ideal for the lack of overhead noise. While a multi-story home offers more privacy and space, it might mean that any bedrooms on the bottom floor are subject to hearing overhead footsteps, TVs or other communal noise.

Also, consider whether the structure is a condo/townhome or a detached single-family home. When thinking through a townhome versus a detached single-family home, each has its own vertical benefits that are unique to your family’s needs.

Space This may seem overly simplistic, but it’s important to figure out how much space you really need. The old adage “bigger is better” doesn’t always apply to your ideal floor plan. Size is important for making sure your family and your belongings fit comfortably.

Think about your current home and your family’s needs, and consider how your current home’s floor plan uses its square footage. By understanding the size and uses of your current rooms, you can ensure that your new home will have ample space for your family’s needs. Also, home size can affect the overall feeling of togetherness. Sprawling spaces may be great for the added privacy, but could you hear your daughter if she called you from her bedroom?

Style If you have a specific home style in mind, such as a Craftsman, MidCentury Modern or Victorian, you’ll want to consider whether the floor plan will accommodate your needs. Consider ceiling height, walls and angles. Note anything you may want to avoid like tight hallways, angular walls or an overly complicated layout. And don’t forget window

placement: the views out, the views in (and what they can see), as well as natural light.

Outdoors Your floor plan will most likely include an outdoor leisure area.

Whether it’s a porch, a cozy fire pit, a swimming pool, or other outdoor amenities, it’s important to assess how much your family will use these areas. Similar to a large yard, an outdoor leisure area is beautiful when you maintain it, but can look disheveled if you don’t.

Backyards are great for hosting summer gatherings, giving your kids a safe area to play, and letting your dog run free. Depending on your lifestyle and family size, you might need a lot of outdoor space to accommodate your kids and pets. However, a lot of outdoor space also means a lot of upkeep. Mowing the lawn, tending the beds, sweeping the patio, and keeping the pool clean are just some of the year-round chores that require consistent servicing. Before you decide on an ideal outdoor space, make sure you consider whether the work is worth the reward.

Future plans Depending on how long you plan to live in your new home, you may want to consider whether the floor plan you choose will adapt to your needs in the next five to ten years. Consider family changes such as the kids leaving the house, your family growing (whether that means a new baby or an elderly parent), and whether you’ll want to climb stairs every day to go to bed.

When starting the househunting process, it’s best to create a list of home features that include the categories listed above. By identifying your absolute musthaves alongside your wouldbe-nice-to-haves, you can easily prioritize the most important features for your next home.

Sean is the founding broker of Mod Boulder Real Estate.

Call 720.252.6051, e-mail sean@modboulder.com or visit modboulder.com.

BOULDER DAILY CAMERA / LONGMONT TIMES CALL

THE LIGHTER SIDE

American products: Everything’s shrinking (except the prices) I got out a new roll of toilet paper the other day and saw that it was noticeably narrower than what has always been the standard size. What the MARY LYNN heck? Do TP BRUNY manufacturers think we won’t notice this, that we’re this clueless? Hey, product manufacturers: We do notice. We know you’re doing this because of increasing raw material costs but we do not like this product shrinkage.

First it was two-by-four boards.

This was pre-pandemic. Did you know that two-inch by four-inch wood boards are not actually two-by-four inches? No, they are a bit less. How silly is this? Lumber manufacturers thought this was a way to save a dime, so there you have it.

Side note: On the opposite end of the spectrum are the women’s clothing manufacturers. Every year clothing sizes are getting

smaller even though the clothes are getting bigger. I’ll admit, I do not mind this falsity. As our oldest son sadly said when his father cruelly told him that Santa Claus wasn’t real: “I know it was a lie, but it was a beautiful lie.”

Learning that the Easter bunny wasn’t real almost put him over the edge, poor little dude. Don’t worry: Now he’s a happy, welladjusted adult who only cries a little on the holidays.

But back to these annoying manufacturers. What’s really causing me math stress is the shrinkage of food products. I first noticed this when I went to make Laura’s crunchy glazed pecans last

year during the holidays. (These are everybody’s favorites. Great as a snack or on a salad with pears and goat cheese. Yum! If you want the recipe, email me.)

This recipe is based on a pound of nuts, 16 ounces. But now nut manufacturers, trying to keep the same price point, are packaging nuts in 14-ounce bags. Thus I had to try and figure out what 7/8 of all the other ingredients would be.

What is 7/8 of a teaspoon and a half of salt or 7/8 of a quarter cup of corn syrup? I needed an app for this or a younger brain.

But even worse is the shrinkage effect on the hundreds of Campbell soup recipes - staples where I grew up, the Midwest.

These recipes are all based on the traditional sized soup can. But these have shrunk too causing recipe conversion confusion.

Granted, I haven’t made a Campbell soup recipe in a long time. But who knows when I will want to rediscover my Ohio roots and make a tuna noodle casserole with condensed cream of celery soup? This delicious dish has the perfect ratio of bad fats, empty

carbs and salt. (Again, email me if you want the recipe.) Growing up, a dinner like this would have been followed by a festive dessert like Jell-O with canned fruit chunks.

Got to get your daily helping of processed sugar, too. (All this being said, Midwesterners are very happy people. Maybe instead of giving up gluten or fasting until noon we should consider this diet.

I would call it “The Midwestern Potluck Party” diet.)

Unfortunately, I think more shrinking products are in our future. We Americans love low prices even if we have to buy more of something. Thus I’ll need to buy two bags of nuts to make my regular nut recipe. While shopping I might as well pick up some mini candy bars for Halloween. I hear although they’re half the size of regular candy bars they only have a quarter of the calories. And that’s a beautiful lie I’m choosing to believe.

Mary Lynn Bruny writes about local real estate and home-related topics. Contact her at ml.bruny@ comcast.net.

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October 22-23, 2021

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REAL ESTATE

Homebuyer ‘love letters’ may stir bias

A home for sale in West Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group/TNS)

Elaine S. Povich Stateline.org (TNS) Several years ago, Kristine Chadwick and her family were trying to buy a house in Eugene, Oregon. The market was competitive, so her agent suggested she write a letter to the seller, describing her husband, three kids, two dogs and one cat, and why she wanted to raise her family in the house. Hers was not the highest bid, but she got the house anyway.

The letter worked.

“It was really important to the seller who was going to be there, raising a family,” said Chadwick, an executive in an education consulting firm, in a phone interview. “She wanted a family who would love the house the way she loved the house. We wanted a place to happily finish raising our children (then two teenagers and an 8-year-old).”

Notes like Chadwick’s, often called real estate “love letters,” have become even more popular lately as the residential housing market sizzles around the country and more homes for sale attract multiple offers.

But such letters also could open the door to discrimination. If the seller reads a letter or sees a photo that reveals the race, sex, religion or ethnicity of the would-be buyer, and the seller rejects the bid out of prejudice, that might violate federal or state fair housing laws – especially if the suitor happens to be offering the highest bid.

With that in mind, Oregon recently became the first state to 4

AT HOME COLORADO

prohibit real estate agents from transmitting such letters from buyers to sellers, starting next year.

In doing so, the state was heeding entreaties from real estate agents who worried that passing on such missives might ensnare them in a fair housing violation.

But such charges are devilishly difficult to prove, fair housing experts say, and few if any lawsuits have been filed using love letters as the criteria for a case. In addition, the new law may do more to protect real estate agents than homebuyers.

Real estate trade groups in states such as California and Washington also have recognized the issue Oregon’s love letter law seeks to address, but no similar bill has been introduced in any other state this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Association of Realtors. Many states do, however, discourage the practice.

The Colorado Division of Real Estate, for example, warns agents in the real estate courses they are required to take that they should steer their clients away from writing or considering love letters. However, the state does not prohibit them, according to Eric Turner, the division’s deputy director.

“Generally, it’s frowned upon,” Turner said in a phone interview.

“If a seller is looking at multiple offers, it should really be about the terms they are offering. If in a letter they self-identify, it could be a protected class. That could potentially go sour for the

seller who could intentionally or unintentionally use that information about a protected class.

“The focus should be on the purchase offer and what’s contained in that offer.”

The National Association of Realtors, an industry advocacy group, has advised agents of the risks of love letters, said Bryan Greene, vice president of policy advocacy, and has issued guidance against them. “There is risk from a fair housing perspective. It may be small from an enforcement perspective; I’ve not seen any litigation involved. Beyond risk, there’s just an ethics issue (of) whether use of these letters can perpetuate segregation.”

Oregon state Rep. Mark Meek, a Democrat and a real estate broker himself, said agents in the Oregon chapter of the Realtors group approached him about their concerns, leading to the bill. But he said he did not know of any related fair housing cases “I’m a listing agent, I receive offers from my clients. All of a sudden, these pictures flash in my face, them and their kids, them and their dogs. And a letter explaining why we love the house, [we want to] have kids walk to school, church is right down the street,” he said in a phone interview. “We probably should not be allowing these pictures, because sellers can make decisions based on who is in them.”

He said the wording of the letters gets tricky, if they contain “red” words “that would skirt on the border of breaking fair housing laws.” One example, he said, would be a reference to the desirability of having a church nearby. Prior to the Oregon law, he said, agents had a professional responsibility to pass along any communication from the prospective buyer to the seller.

“When it came to these letters, we had to pass them along also, we had no latitude,” he said.

He said that he has had situations where there are three offers, all over the asking price, and a seller chooses a lower price offer. “I asked why, and they said they really want to see those kids walk to school. In hindsight, those implicit biases really do weigh in.”

Cutting down on the interpersonal communication between buyer and seller could

help ameliorate the disparity in homeownership between people of color and White residents, he said. According to the American Community Survey in 2019, 72% of White residents were homeowners, compared with 42% of Black residents, 61% of Asian residents and 48% of Hispanic residents.

The unspoken, but badly kept secret is that the letters work.

Oregon real estate broker Bobby Stevens, who helped Chadwick and her family with their housebuying love letter, said he used the letters to “try to give my clients an extra edge.” He said a shortage of properties has sent most buyers into bidding wars lately with multiple offers on every property— many far above the asking price.

The letters, he said, “put a face on the buyer and maybe help influence the sellers.”

But the new Oregon law will take him away from that practice.

Stevens said he fully understands the potential for discrimination and will simply say that his buyers love the house and meet the financial qualifications “not in a personal way.”

In the Oregon legislature, what little opposition there was came from Republicans who disapproved of government interfering in the housing market.

State Sen. Lynn Findley, a Republican, one of 11 senators who voted no, said in an email that “discrimination of any kind is never acceptable and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

However, he said he voted against the bill because in “an open dialogue between buyers and sellers, communication is important in such a significant decision for either party. I don’t see this as a matter where the state legislature needs to get involved.”

Richard Stanley, a Los Angeles real estate agent, said he has not seen a seller “blatantly” discriminate against a potential buyer who wrote a letter, but he has seen the letters backfire.

Stanley said he had a seller who was “very astute on the internet” and researched the six or seven offers he got from would-be buyers, some of whom wrote love letters. One that did was a local family whose letter said they were CONTINUED - See Page 18

BOULDER DAILY CAMERA / LONGMONT TIMES CALL

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PERFECT FOR ADU/GUEST HOUSE/OFFICE 825 North St BOULDER $1,250,000, 4 Beds, 2 Baths, 3146 SqFt

OASIS ON 5.2 ACRES 256 Millionaire Dr E BOULDER $1,225,000, 3 Beds, 3 Baths, 2535 SqFt

OFFICE SPACE FOR 5 190 Arapahoe Ave BOULDER $1,200,000, 1985 SqFt

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QUIET STREET W/ VIEWS 1147 Crestmoor Dr BOULDER $1,125,000, 3 beds, 2 Baths, 1480 SqFt

2-STORY IN SADDLE RIDGE CUL-DE-SAC 624 W Hickory Ct LOUISVILLE $1,100,000, 5 Beds, 4 Baths, 4140 SqFt Carl Worthington 303-809-6963

PIECE OF CO HISTORY 14500 County Road 7 MEAD $1,100,000, 2 Beds, 2 Baths, 2383 SqFt

TRI-LEVEL W/ VIEWS 6365 Baseline Rd BOULDER $1,050,000, 4 Beds, 3 Baths, 1816 SqFt

PRIVATE & MATURE STREET 1432 Wonderview Ct BOULDER $995,000, 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 1882 SqFt

CHARMING HORSE PROPERTY 8029 Firethorn Dr LOVELAND $850,000, 5 Beds, 3 Baths, 2464 SqFt

SWEET HOUSE W VIEWS 221 76th St BOULDER $799,000, 3 Beds, 2 Baths, 2154 SqFt

SETS ITSELF APART 1468 Amherst St SUPERIOR $799,000, 5 Beds, 3 Baths, 3097 SqFt

SUN DRENCHED 22 ACRES 1451 Ridge Rd NEDERLAND $489,000

GREAT STARTER OR INVESTMENT HOME 10760 Carrol Ln NORTHGLENN $400,000, 5 Beds, 2 Baths, 2008 SqFt

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SPACIOUS LOCK & LEAVE 104 Springs Cv LOUISVILLE $749,900, 3 Beds, 4 Baths, 3496 SqFt

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Lafayette 303.497.0588

109 N Public Rd View these homes online!

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225 W South Boulder Rd Louisville, CO 80027

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REAL ESTATE

Time to downsize? Signs to help you decide

Downsizing is almost inevitable for most of us. Just like the homepreferences of single adults are different from those of families with young TOM children, so are KALINSKI the home needs and wants of retirees.

Often retirees need less room in their home and yard and more freedom from home chores and expenses. Even so, many find it difficult to choose to downsize. In fact, 64% are planning to remain in their current home throughout retirement, according to a Merrill Lynch survey of 50+ retirees.

But delaying downsizing can mean the loss of tens of thousands of dollars or the ability to move yourself independently due to health or mobility restrictions.

Deciding to downsize can be smart financially and give you a new sense of energy and freedom.

So how can you tell when it’s time to move to a smaller home?

Unoccupied rooms If you have many bedrooms and living spaces that are no longer in use, you are likely to appreciate a home with less space. No need to heat all of that unused space when you don’t need it.

Often retirees need less room in their home and yard and more freedom from home chores and expenses. (Photo: Marcus Aurelius/Pexels).

Here are seven clear signs it’s time to downsize, as first published by Bradley K. Tuttle in RealtyTimes.com.

Location, location: your neighborhood no longer meets your needs Families with children often buy

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300 Hopi Place

$1,500,000

CONTINUED - See Page 18

Steve sells more homes in Boulder than any other real estate agent or team!

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Modern Frank Lloydesque 2,602 sqft, 3 BD, 3 BA home with panoramic views located on 5 acres only 10 minutes west of Boulder. Superbly well built by a renowned Boulder builder for his personal residence.

$1,150,000

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5469 Seneca Place

Remodeled 4BD, 2.5BA, 2,148 sf, 4-level in Keewaydin Meadows with open concept on the main level. Kitchen with big center island, cherry cabinets, quartz countertops, and ss appliances. Close to East Boulder Rec Center and open space trails!

$995,000

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Home features don’t support aging in place Today, we age differently than a few decades ago. We live longer and stay active, which drives more of us to choose to age in

STEVE ALTERMATT, BOULDER’S #1 REAL ESTATE AGENT!

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a home in a neighborhood close to good schools and perfectly suited for young children. If your neighborhood fits that description, chances are it is still filled with young families. Perhaps you’d like to be surrounded by others in your stage of life for a more active social life and companionship.

639 Arroyo Chico

Sprawling 4,328 sqft, 6 BD, 4 BA, Ranch in Frasier Meadows sits on a beautiful 1/3 acre lot with mature trees. Wonderful floorplan built around a central atrium. Remodeled kitchen and bathrooms. Great view of the Flatirons!

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Home care and maintenance is overwhelming The time in your life when you need to be at home every weekend taking care of your family has passed. Why let your home keep you from experiencing that carefree freedom? Or you may have physical limitations that make it harder for you to keep up with the chores. Smaller homes and smaller yards need far less care and upkeep, freeing you up for activities and hobbies you enjoy.

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4282 Eldorado Springs Drive

Lovely 2,096 sqft, 3BD, 3BA, 2-story home nestled in Eldorado Springs Canyon.

Updated kitchen, private primary suite on 2nd floor with vaulted ceilings, balcony, and attached bath. 2-car garage.

$899,500

714 E Simpson Street

Old Town Lafayette 2,567 sqft, 4 BD, 3 BA home features an expanded main level with primary bedroom and family room additions with vaulted ceilings, an open kitchen, and an alley accessible 3 car garage.

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Steve Altermatt, CRS 303-441-5669

www.SteveAltermatt.com • steve@stevealtermatt.com 6

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BOULDER DAILY CAMERA / LONGMONT TIMES CALL

19 Years

of Boulder County Gold Awards!

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AT HOME COLORADO

8127 Hygiene Rd $1,050,000 Cute and private ranch house with attached greenhouse, detached garage, wonderful trees and water rights on 1.6 acres.

303.444.3177 klrealty.net team@klrealty.net BOULDER DAILY CAMERA / LONGMONT TIMES CALL

REAL ESTATE

Now is the time to buy your retirement home, even if you’re not ready to retire No matter when you’re planning to retire, the earlier you take action the better. The sooner in your life you start saving, the DUANE more time there DUGGAN is to grow your retirement nest egg. In addition to financial investments, start thinking about where your ideal retirement home might be located, whether it’s here in Colorado, in another state, or even another country. Once you’ve decided where you want to live, buy a home to retire in as soon as you can. Ideally, you will own this second home free and clear to move into when you’re ready to retire.

There’s no better time than now to buy a retirement home. If you change your mind in 15 years and don’t want to move to the home you buy today, you can still sell it and use the proceeds to buy a home where you want to live.

The homebuying environment is perfect right now for making such a decision: mortgage rates are still at historical lows and the rental market is strong. The combination of these two factors make it possible to rent out your future retirement home -- and even have a positive cash flow.

There may even be tax advantages for you if you treat the property as a rental on your tax return. Of course, be sure to check with your professional tax advisor first.

Odds are pretty high that your future retirement home will cost a great deal more 15 years from now than it would today. We don’t know what the interest rate will be 15 years from now, but again, odds are high that they won’t be any lower. This is another argument for purchasing now, so you can lock in the home price and interest rate. Otherwise, it may be tough to afford a home 15 years from now.

For example, if you’re thinking of moving into your retirement home 15 years from now, a 15year mortgage could be just the ticket. A tenant paying rent now would help support the current mortgage payment, and in 15 October 22-23, 2021

No matter when you’re planning to retire, the earlier you take action the better. (Photo: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels).

years, you could own your home free and clear. After the home has been a rental for 15 years, you will probably need to fix it up and make improvements to transform it into the retirement home that’s right for you. If cash flow is tight, you can still take out a 30-year mortgage loan to keep the payments smaller, although the equity build-up won’t be as fast.

In Colorado, we have quite a number of “snowbirds,” or seasonal retirees. When the snow starts falling, these snowbirds travel to their retirement home in warmer climes, such as Arizona.

They return to Colorado in the spring and summer. A great example is to buy your retirement home in Arizona and rent it out until you are ready to use it for yourself.

If you go ahead and buy a retirement home today and finance it so that you own it free and clear by the time you retire, there’s yet another benefit. Rather than using the proceeds from the sale of your primary residence to buy a retirement home down the

road, you can use the proceeds to help fund your living expenses during your retirement.

Finally, another option for buying your retirement home is to use your IRA account for buying the home. You will need a self-directed IRA (SDIRA), and you can use your SDIRA funds to invest in real estate. The catch is that you CANNOT use it for personal benefit while your IRA owns it. However, you can rent it out to someone who is a third party. There is a list of “disqualified persons” who cannot use the property for vacations and personal benefit, but in general, this includes your family members.

If you have planned far enough ahead, you can start dispersing the value of the retirement home over time to yourself personally.

An example would be to disperse 20% of the value of the retirement home over five years. If you plan even farther in advance and have a ROTH IRA, the disbursements would not even be taxable! Then you can move into the home after 100 percent of the value has been

dispersed.

Your Realtor® has connections across the nation. If you’re thinking of looking for a retirement home in another city, ask for a referral for an Realtor in that city and get the process started. Be sure to consult your tax professional and a reputable self-directed IRA custodian to go over these ideas as well.

Duane Duggan has been a Realtor for RE/MAX of Boulder in Colorado since 1982 and has facilitated over 2,500 transactions over his career, the vast majority from repeat and referred clients.

He has been awarded two of the highest honors bestowed by RE/MAX International: The Lifetime Achievement Award and the Circle of Legends Award.

Living the life of a Realtor and being immersed in real estate led to the inception of his book, Realtor for Life. For questions, email DuaneDuggan@boulderco.com, call 303.441.5611 or visit boulderco.com.

ATHOMECOLORADO.COM

9

COVERPROFILE

A Newcomer’s Perspective on Relocation and the Boulder area of innovation, active outdoor lifestyle and great food and music.

My husband and I visited Colorado over the years to ski and spend time with family, and he had the vision of moving here a few years before I did. I remember the first call from him and our adult son saying that we should move to Boulder. I was not opposed to the idea but it was always a “someday” idea. Then one perfect, sunny, sixty degree day in December we went out for a bike ride and had this “ah ha” moment. We thought, why wait to move? We want to enjoy all this area has to offer while we are still young and healthy, so we decided… let’s do it now!

Over the years my love for the mountains surpassed my love for the beach. For me, the mountains bring an active lifestyle, one I’d like to live every day, while the beach is for lounge chairs and little umbrellas in your drink.

Kari Newman and her family enjoy spending time hiking in and around Boulder. (Photo: Jonathan Castner).

We spoke with WK Real Estate’s new Executive Vice President Kari Newman about her recent relocation, perspective of the area and role with WK Real Estate.

E

conomic opportunity.

Proximity to family.

Quality of life. Cost of living. These are some of the reasons for the global phenomenon known as the “Great Resignation” or the “Great Reshuffling.” Americans continue to quit jobs in record numbers, driven in large part by the global pandemic, as they opt for other opportunities they feel will bring them more flexibility, happiness or money. 11% of Americans moved in 2020 and over 20% more Americans plan to move in 2021. Colorado was the sixth most popular state that movers gravitated toward during the pandemic.

Whether it’s across state lines or just across town, moving and adjusting to a new community is 10

AT HOME COLORADO

never easy. A trained, experienced real estate professional can help make the process go smoothly but how does it go when you have an entire real estate company at your disposal? That’s the edge that Kari Newman and her family had when they moved from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Boulder when Kari joined Boulder County’s WK Real Estate as their new Executive Vice President.

Kari oversees strategic planning, works closely with WK’s staff to fulfill organizational needs, and is responsible for all inhouse professional development and coaching for WK’s 90-plus broker associates. The Daily Camera spoke to Kari about her recent and ongoing relocation experience, to get a newcomer’s perspective on what it’s been like

to relocate and get settled in one of the most popular communities in the country.

The running joke in Boulder is that no one here is a native. Everyone has a story about what brought them to the Boulder area.

What’s yours Kari?

We discovered Boulder when family members moved to the area about four years ago. My brotherin-law left a successful corporate career in the Midwest with the goal to own his own business when he turned 50 years old, and he did it in Boulder! He purchased Parallel Path, a digital marketing company that focuses on health, wellness and lifestyle brands.

Boulder was a huge draw for them and for us due to the culture

Was there something more than the lure of the community that compelled you? How did you end up at WK Real Estate?

I spent a huge part of my career at Charles Reinhart Realtors in Ann Arbor, Michigan, one of WK Real Estate’s partner companies through Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®.

I’m passionate about the local independent business model in real estate and WK Real Estate is the largest such company in Boulder County.

When I had my first conversation with WK’s Broker/ Owner Dan Kingdom. It was initially scheduled as a brief chat, the conversation turned into a two hour meeting as we discussed the possibility of my joining WK. That initial conversation with Dan was so comfortable and easy, and he seemed truly excited for us to experience this community that is so very important to him and his family.

Meeting WK’s Founder Lew

BOULDER DAILY CAMERA / LONGMONT TIMES CALL

Kingdom and his wife Sally made a huge impact. Lew’s genuine passion for the business is inspiring, as is their commitment to the local community. Lew is still involved in the leadership at WK and Sally was active for so many years, holding important board positions with the local school district, the YMCA, and other organizations.

We agreed that I would join the company mid-summer and we arrived in Boulder the first week of July.

How has your family adjusted to the move, and has there been anything that surprised you or was unexpected?

Michigan, where we moved from, has more than 11,000 inland lakes. While Colorado claims less than half that number, the abundance of water and green space was an unexpected surprise.

Colorado is a land-locked state, so we thought the landscape would be dry and arid. Our family continues to discover and enjoy many creek and stream-side trails that are so easy to access, and we love the Boulder Reservoir. Our favorite things about Colorado so far are the abundant sunshine, no humidity and thankfully no bugs!

We arrived in the summer and we have enjoyed lots of outdoor activities and that really helped with the adjustment. My husband is an avid cyclist, and our 24-yearold daughter has done dozens of hikes already including a 14er.

Hiking is her happy place and has really helped her embrace the change. We look forward to welcoming our son out west soon when he relocates with his fiancé for new career opportunities and a healthier lifestyle. Despite the hassle of the actual move, unpacking the pods and all of the other logistics, we were really looking forward to coming here and it has exceeded our expectations!

The real estate market in the Boulder/Denver area has been pretty crazy, even before the pandemic. How is this market different from the one you came from? Has being part of WK Real Estate given you any advantages?

We sold our beautiful house in Michigan for half of what a similar house would sell for in Boulder County. Despite knowing that, we still chose to come to October 22-23, 2021

Boulder. The higher housing costs didn’t sway our decision because of the historic, stable appreciation and the opportunity to participate in the growing market. Boulder has been in the top three on the SmartAsset.com list of best markets for growth and stability for the last seven years. Boulder is a great investment!

We are having to compete as buyers in this market just like everyone else. We recently made a strong all-cash offer, with no contingencies, and a generous earnest money deposit, and we still didn’t win the bid. The winning offer was $80,000 over the asking price. We’ve learned we just have to be patient.

Despite being an executive at WK Real Estate, I am going through exactly what our clients are. Even as a real estate “insider”, it’s just a tough market for everyone. We saw this same competitive market environment in Michigan, sometimes up to 45 offers on one home, but it was in a lower price range.

There are a lot of good real estate companies in the Boulder area, and someone with your experience and skill set probably had a lot of choices. What made you choose to join WK Real Estate?

I mentioned before that I came from a local independent company that is a partner to WK Real Estate. That made the choice easy, but the first thing I noticed as I got to know the company

After arriving in the summer, Newman, her husband and family have enjoyed lots of outdoor Colorado activities – which has really helped with the adjustment of relocation. (Photos: Jonathan Castner).

was the way Broker/Owner Dan Kingdom and his staff put the agents first. Dan got this cuttingedge mentality from his father, Founder Lew Kingdom. WK constantly curates, invests in and supports new tools and systems.

And they do it to add true value to the agents’ business, not just for the sake of having new shiny objects. Similarly, they are great at evaluating and making tough decisions if things don’t work.

The second thing that really impressed me is how the entire company, agents and staff, work as a team. The word “family” is used a lot, but that truly does reflect the environment at WK. The agents help each other find properties for buyers, share information about the inventory, and are constantly pinging each other with tips, resources and best practices. No request for help goes unanswered. It is very collaborative and “open door”,

which in my years of experience is unique to find in real estate. For agents, the atmosphere, combined with the long time support staff, is a huge competitive advantage.

For clients, it means there is a cohesive and dedicated team working really hard behind the scenes for you.

Finally, building teams, and coaching and supporting agents is my forte and passion. I love the experienced veteran agents that make up WK’s strong foundation, combined with the huge crop of emerging agents that bring new ideas and enthusiasm. There’s a reason WK Real Estate is the 21-year perennial winner of “Best Real Estate Company” in the Daily Camera’s People’s Choice Awards, Boulder County Gold.

WK Real Estate is the best of the best.

In the end I asked myself not why would I work at WK, but why wouldn’t I? ATHOMECOLORADO.COM

11

Aging Altitude at

THROUGH THE GENERATIONS EXPO FREE EVENT! JOIN US! 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 6

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EXHIBITORS INCLUDE: • Alpine Physical Therapy / Alpine PT Home Care • Audio Information Network of Colorado • Balfour Senior Living • Bill Allen, RE/MAX of Boulder • Boulder County Area Agency on Aging • Boulder Valley Hearing • Braverman Law Group • Brookdale Senior Living • CarePenguin • Curantis Health

LEVIN HALL 9 to 9:30 a.m.

Navigating Resources for Aging Well Presented by: Teresa DeAnni and Neal Waite, Boulder County Area Agency on Aging 9:30 to 10 a.m.

Add Life to Your Years and Years to Your Life: Physiatry Tip for Victorious Aging!

Presented by: Cliff Gronseth, M.D., Spine West 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Senior Law Panel Critical Legal Documents: How to plan for incapacity or poor health and how best to enable adult children or trusted friends to act on your behalf Presented by Susie Germany, The Germany Law Firm P.C. Trusts: Probate and Asset Protection for You and Your Beneficiaries Presented by Diedre Braverman, Braverman Law Group

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Age-Related Eye Problems Presented by: Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado 1 to 2 p.m.

Hearing Health Panel Medical Side Effects from Hearing Loss Presented by: Dr. Samantha Warren, Au.D. CCC-A, Boulder Valley Hearing Hearing Care Is Changing: Learn how consumer expectations are generating better hearing solutions Presented by Chelsea Walters, BS BC-HIS, Family Hearing

PLUS! Join YMCA of Northern Colorado Silver Sneakers instructors Joyce Willis and Khris Wright for an intro to the popular SilverSneakers Circuit!

11:30 a.m. to noon Understanding Annuities: Scams or Safe Investing? Presented by: Ron Vejrostek, Financially Intact, Vejrostek Tax and Financial

9:30 to 10 a.m.

Reverse Mortgages: Utilize Your Equity Strategically to Live a More Fruitful Life During Your Golden Years Presented by: Gabe Bodner, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation

Noon to 12:30 p.m.

Snoring Is a Ticking Time Bomb: Save Your Life and Marriage Presented by: Andrew Kelson, DDS, Dental Horizons

10 to 10:30 a.m.

Home Care and Home Health: Making the Right Choice Presented by: Chuck Philipp, Alpine Physical Therapy 10:30 to 11 a.m.

Patient Advocacy: Cardiac Nurses Help You and Your Family Navigate the Healthcare System Presented by: Kimberly Krusinski, RN BCPA, Heartology Patient Advocacy 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Fall Prevention for Healthy Living Presented by: Nicole Barabas, Frasier

For more information, call 303.473.1420 or email jill@dailycamera.com

12

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The Germany Law Firm P.C. The Natural Funeral Trailhead Community Trail Winds Hospice TRU Community Care University of Colorado Boulder Physiology Laboratory • We Move Your Mom • YMCA of Northern Colorado

LOBBY, ROOM L130 9 to 9:30 a.m.

Using Technology to Stay Well Presented by: Marcia Klassen, Brookdale Meridian

DAILYCAMERA.COM/AGING PRESENTED BY:

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12:30 to 1 p.m.

Medicare 101: The Basics and How to Plan for 2022 Changes Presented by: Mary Hansen, Licensed Advisor/Medicare Solutions 1 to 1:30 p.m.

So you’ve decided a move is necessary…

NOW WHAT?! Helpful tips, tricks & checklists Presented by Kathy Grams, We Move Your Mom 1:30 to 2 p.m.

Holistic Funerals: Natural, Ecological, Sustainable Options Presented by: Karen van Vuuren, The Natural Funeral

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October 22-23, 2021

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DESIGN RECIPES

Do’s 1. Do use pink as an accent color.

2. Do pair pink with foundation colors such as white, black, gray and even chocolate brown.

3. Do pair pink with citrus colors such as yellow and orange.

4. Do use pink in various rooms of the home such as social areas and childfriendly spaces.

5. Do use artwork to incorporate hues of pink into a space.

Pretty in pink

Powder pink dominates this living space and is made luxurious when paired with brass. (Handout/TNS)

Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service (TNS) Pink is a versatile color that can be muted, bold or bright. It can also be gender-neutral and perfect for a host of applications, from social areas such as living rooms to child-friendly spaces.

Why pink?

Pink is a color that comes in a myriad of shades and can easily be paired with other colors. Pink mixed with gray becomes more of a mauve, while pink mixed with white becomes more of a powder pink. Deep shades like hot pink can be used to add a bold pop of color.

Looking for ways to incorporate pink into your home? Here are some top tips.

Don’ts 1. Don’t use too many different shades of pink in the same space.

2. Don’t be afraid to use pink as an accent wall color.

3. Don’t overlook the opportunity to use pink as portable decor, such as throws and toss pillows.

4. Don’t omit opportunities to bring pink into a space using hints of color such as small accessories, books, florals and blooms.

5. Don’t use shades of pink that are too soft or muted. Choose colors that are distinct and visible within your decor space.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert. Contact her at info@ cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.

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Spacious Ranch Home in NW Longmont! This 3,068 sq ft home has it all. Main floor master, that walks out to the back patio. Then 2 more bedrooms and a full bath and laundry room. The entry opens to the living and dining rooms, then flowing to the kitchen and family room walking out to the back patio and garden area. www.1456.wkre.com

VISIT OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM OR CALL 303.473.1456, 303.684.5329 BOULDER DAILY CAMERA / LONGMONT TIMES CALL

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LIST YOUR OPEN HOUSE OR VIRTUAL TOUR: VISIT OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM OR CALL 303.473.1456, 303.684.5329 Boulder

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ASK ANGI

Look out for these contractor red flags Paul F. P. Pogue Ask Angi (TNS) It’s frightening to think the contractors you pay to work on your home may not always have your best interests at heart. While most pros take their duty of good work seriously, there are still those who seek to take advantage of people’s trust. Fear not, though; there is a solution for every underhanded scheme. And in all cases, the best solution is to stop the fraud before it starts. Here’s our rundown of some of the most common scams and the best way to avoid them.

The Flag: The excessive down payment. Your contractor asks for a down payment that seems high for the job.

The Solution: Down payments are entirely normal since contractors usually have big material purchases to make.

However, a crooked contractor can easily take the money and run, and often ask for more than they should. Be skeptical of any contractor who asks for more than 1/3 the cost of the job. (Some areas, such as California, govern down payments with specific limits. Be aware of your state and local laws.)

The Flag: The scare tactic Here’s a true fright: You hire someone for a job, such as installing a new roof, and they quickly start talking about five other things they should fix right away. And oh yeah, they’ll cost a lot more money.

The Solution: It’s easy to fall for this one because it’s so logical. If

storm. Someone shows up at your door saying they’re willing to work on your roof and even work with your insurance company.

When hiring for roof repair after a storm, make sure you look for locally-owned and licensed contractors rather than “storm chasers” with dubious licensing. (Photo: Dreamstime/TNS)

you’re doing a big job, such as removing a roof, it makes sense that you’ll uncover other invisible problems. To avoid this, always get a second opinion before tacking on additional, expensive extras to a project that’s already underway. Also, look out for scare tactics in their wording. If they say, “Your chimney is about to crumble!” rather than “Your chimney could use some structural work,” be skeptical.

The Flag: The guy with extra materials. Someone knocks at your door. “Hey, I was doing a roofing/ siding/driveway/etc. job in your neighborhood, and I had some materials left over. I’ll work on your house at a discount so I don’t waste them. What do you say?”

The Solution: This is one of the classics. Good contractors don’t use leftover materials on second jobs. Odds are this person has some low-quality materials and is going door-to-door with the

scheme. If you hire them, the work will be shoddy, and you’ll never see them again. Politely turn them down and close the door.

The Flag: The storm chaser A recent storm did significant damage to your roof. You need repairs, but most companies are booked solid because everyone else in the area got hit by the same

The Solution: Roofing experts say this is one of the most common schemes because it’s so tempting to believe. Storm damage often takes weeks for local roofers to catch up with, and you want your roof fixed ASAP. Storm chasers know people are desperate, so they travel around with pop-up businesses to weather-ravaged areas. They’re good at eyeballing how much an insurance company will pay for a particular roof and do the bare minimum to cover it while claiming the entire insurance check. Then, once the storm has passed, the company vanishes, never to be seen again.

To avoid this, only hire licensed, bonded and insured pros who maintain a local and established presence. You want to find someone who will back their work if there are problems years down the line.

Visit Angi.com for more information.

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Homebuyer ‘love letters’ (continued) qualities.”

The letter went on to describe how the would-be buyers’ daughter had just been accepted into an accelerated program with the county school system. Their offer was also the highest. They got the house.

Charlotte, North Carolina, agent Leigh Thomas Brown said sometimes buyers will try to use the letters as “an emotional cudgel,” and she has to remind sellers that this is a financial transaction, not a seduction.

She discourages the letters, “but sometimes buyers will drop off the letters at the house, outside. As Realtors we have to walk this line on ethical considerations,” she said in a phone interview.

Stanley, the California real estate agent, said prohibiting the letters will help take personalities out of a process that really should be a numbers game.

“Anything that makes the playing field closer to being level and simplifies the process is better for everyone,” he said. “It’s a business transaction, it shouldn’t be a beauty contest.”

Read more at stateline.org.

looking forward to having their kids play in the yard.

“He researched everybody, including one family who lived around the corner, who were renters, and had a good number of kids, a large brood. He went by the house and was appalled at the way they kept the [outside] of the house,” Stanley said. “The idea that he would turn it over to a family of five or six kids and have them ride that house hard appalled him. Fortunately, their offer was below the most remunerative offer he did receive.”

An internet search for real estate love letters turned up dozens of sample letters buyers can mimic to express their affection for a home and tout their family’s attributes.

A recently sold home in a desirable Northern Virginia neighborhood inspired this actual letter from the buyers: “We toured your beautiful house yesterday and fell in love with what we saw. The home is a perfect fit, and we cannot wait to enjoy the beautiful screened porch and cook out. We host many family gatherings and love entertaining friends, and your house offers so many great

FEATURED AGENT MARY ROMANO Blue SkyAlliance Colorado Real Estate Re/Max Coldwell Banker Residential

303-588-8433 homes@maryromano.com Read Mary’s At Home profile at:

http://athomecolorado.com/mary-romano

Time to downsize? (continued) place. Your home needs features that support your changing needs as you grow older. If you live in a multi-story home, have narrow doorways or high-maintenance outdoor areas, you may consider these to be signs that downsizing is in your future.

It’s time for a new scene If you have always dreamed of retiring closer to the beach, the mountains or your grandchildren, a smaller home can help you afford the move. You can wake up to your new environment every day. And you may be able to find a community of like-minded people at the same time. What are you waiting for? This is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Housing expenses more than 30% of your monthly budget Financial experts and the U.S. government recommend no more than 30% of your monthly budget should go to your home costs.

When you retire, your new income may put you in that category.

A smaller home and a lower – or no – monthly mortgage payment could change this equation for you.

It’s time to tap into your home equity Like so many of us, your home – and the equity you have built up in it – is your most valuable asset.

You can use that equity when you retire. It can help you travel or cover everyday costs, which is the number one reason retirees often give for tapping into their equity.

Bottom line, there are many, many positives for getting to the downsizing stage of life. Enjoy it!

And let us know if we can help you in this transition.

For the full article see realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/ homeownersadvice/item/10431597-signs-it-s-time-to-downsize.

Tom Kalinski is the broker/ owner of RE/MAX of Boulder, the local residential real estate company he established in 1977.

He was inducted into Boulder County’s Business Hall of Fame in 2016 and has a 40year background in commercial and residential real estate. For questions, email Tom at tomkalinski33@gmail.com, call 303.441.5620 or visit boulderco.com.

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FAIR HOUSING NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise a preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion , sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call The Colorado Civil Rights Office at 1-800-262-4845/ HUD at 1-800-669-9777.

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