At Home Colorado: Boulder County Edition

Equity Colorado Northern Front Range

Open Homes and Virtual Tour Quick Guide

Looking for a home?

Boulder and Fort Collins Rank Highly in Best Places to Live for Quality of Life

Boulder

Home & Garden: Creative Containers for Fall

As your

revamp

beginning

ATHOMECOLORADO.COM

COLORADO HOME & REAL ESTATE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Michaela Phillips

Mary Lynn Bruny

Tom Kalinski

Duane Duggan

Cathy Hobbs

Pam Moore

Amy Lentz

Hunter Boyce

Katie Laughridge

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Thais Hafer

Toni McNeill

REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Mary Romano

MANAGING EDITOR

Greg Stone

Submit your news or home-related events to gstone@dailycamera.com

To advertise, call 303.473.1456.

A Marketing Feature of

MORTGAGE Recession vs. pricing correction

At Home Colorado is a Marketing Feature that is produced weekly by the Boulder Daily Camera and Longmont Times-Call. dailycamera.com timescall.com athomecolorado.com

©2022

When the market adjusts in any direction, it can cause alarm. However, that’s the natural order of a healthy market to wax and wane reflecting economic trends, politics, and world events. Currently, the market is settling down from the past few red hot years thanks in large part to a federal interest rate adjustment. How can you tell if we are entering a recession or a simple market correction? Here’s what you need to know:

U S GDP has increased from Q2 to Q3 and from Q3 to Q4.

What is a market correction?

(global pandemic, war, etc.).

MICHAELA PHILLIPS

A market correction (or pricing correction) is defined by a percentage based decrease in the market. When the market declines at least 10%, but not more than 20%, a pricing correction is happening The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are indicators that represent that market on the whole If we look at the S&P 500 peak at $4,818 in 2021, we see that it is down more than 10%, but not more than 20%.

Events like this cause investors to participate in more cautious financial behavior, which can cause the entire market to slow.

What does this mean for the housing market?

What’s a recession?

A recession occurs when economic activity (defined by gross domestic product) dips consistently for two consecutive quarters. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) defines a recession a little more loosely as “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale retail sales ” The current market in the U.S. could reflect a recession upon initial glance because of inflation, supply chain problems, and the Russian Ukraine war. However,

HOME & GARDEN EVENTS

The Log Home & Timber Frame Show

Oct. 7-9, 1 p.m., The Ranch Events Complex, 5280 Arena Circle, #100, Loveland www.treventscomplex.com/ events/detail/the-log-hometimber-frame-show

“Tipi to Tiny House: Hands-On Homebuilding” exhibit PresentedbyLongmontMuseum Now through Jan. 8, 2022. www.longmontmuseum.org

A correction is a sustained, slow decline in the overall value of a market, as measured by its index. Corrections can happen across the board like to the S&P 500, or can happen on a smaller scale, like to the shares of a software company

The market is made to fluctuate Riding out market corrections is part of investing, and those who invest in real estate can rest assured that a correction isn’t indicative of an incoming recession. Pricing corrections are happening all the time However, when they happen on the tail of a redhot economy, it can trigger a panic response in everyone. A correction, like the one we are currently experiencing, is often triggered by a world event

There’s hardly ever a right or wrong time to buy or sell a home It’s one of the largest financial decisions people make and is incredibly particular to one’s own personal situation. However, during a booming market, like the one we’ve been experiencing over the past two years, sellers may benefit more than buyers As the market cools off, the reverse happens. Homes become more available, people think twice about buying because interest rates are higher, and buyers are able to negotiate more aggressively to secure a deal that economically benefits them.

Working with a knowledgeable and qualified loan officer can allow home buyers to better understand the current market and how they can use it to their advantage

Michaela is the Senior Lender for Synergy One Lending in Boulder. She enjoys teaching her clients the pros and cons of being a Real Estate Investor. Contact Michaela at 303 579 5517, e mail michaela@michaelaphillips.com or visit michaelaphillips com NMLS: 312874.

Lunch n’ Learn Gardening Class: Great Plants for Fall Color (Virtual Event)

PresentedbyNorthernColorado

Libraries&CSUExtension Oct. 12, Noon to 1 p.m., www.lovgov.org/Home/ Components/Calendar/Event/99 531/20?curm=10&cury=2022

Resource Central Tool Sale Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Resource Central, 6400 Arapahoe Road, Boulder

www.resourcecentral.org/event/ tool-sale

Aging at Altitude Expo & Job Fair

PresentedbytheBoulderDaily CameraandLongmontTimes-Call Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Boulder JCC, 6007 Oreg Ave., Boulder, www.dailycamera.com/aging.

Send us your home/garden events, email gstone@prairiemountainmedia.com. View more events at DailyCamera.com/ Calendar or TimesCall.com/Calendar.

The easy new way to decorate for the fall-winter holidays

I got a catalog in the mail a month ago that was peddling Christmas goods It was 90 degrees that day. It was hard to fathom future Christmas when my skin felt like it was frying when I went outdoors.

MARY LYNN BRUNY

But of course the hawking of Christmas wares in early September was inevitable Over the years retailers have become more desperate to grab the attention (and bucks) of us holiday shoppers, thus pushing their goods earlier and earlier Back in the old days, these retailers would wait until one holiday was over before barraging us with junk for the next one Such sweet, simpler times

Then some zippy retailers started selling Christmas goods a few weeks before Thanksgiving This was the crack that has led to our current shopping pandemonium: a fall winter holidays palooza of decorations all available at once. Go to some home goods stores in the fall and you’ll see all types of decorations mashed together. In one day you can buy a life sized skeleton with flapping arms, a doormat which states, “Turkeys Beware: Deep Fry Zone Ahead,” and a motion activated dancing Santa Claus

singing “Gangnam Style

”

It seems at some point we busy consumers will just give up and join in, blending all our fall winter holidays decorations too. Instead of laboring to decorate our homes for each celebration, we’ll just mash them all together like some stores

What a relief this will be! There will be no need to get out boxes of decorations each month only to pack them back up a few weeks later In our busy world this is way too much effort Decorating once just makes sense. Then we can devote more time doing the quality things that really matter during the holidays, like spending more time on our phones watching TikTok videos.

And why should we wait until the day after Thanksgiving to set up our Christmas trees? (Which, let’s be honest, is really a pain after just cleaning up the Thanksgiving onslaught including cleaning the walls the little kids smeared with buggers and mash potatoes ) Instead let’s go for Labor Day and use fake trees. Sure they’re soulless imposters, but real trees sacrifice their lives and then die just too sad

Decorations can represent each holiday however one interprets this. Blinking carrot lights, yellow rubber ducks and “House of the Dragon” figurines? Sure! If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to decorate our

homes in a way that makes us think happy thoughts instead of spiraling with worry about things like the demise of the world’s financial markets (and your retirement accounts). So why follow some dated norms based on tradition or so called good taste? Decorate simply to boost your fragile mental state.

And won’t it be nice to stop having these judge y norms about when decorations should come down? Finally the people who leave their outside holiday lights up all year round can feel vindicated, not lazy. And the people who don’t take down their Christmas tree until February can stop getting concerned looks from their friends and family like they’re considering an intervention Really, maybe we should never take any decorations down at all. Why bother?

The fall winter holidays will be here again in just a mere nine months barely enough time to get through all the good streaming series on our watch lists. Maybe instead we should just add in some decorations for the other yearly holidays, like the Fourth of July and Saint Patrick’s Day. No doubt catalogs peddling these wares will be arriving soon

Mary Lynn Bruny writes about local real estate and home related topics Contact her at ml bruny@comcast net To read previous The Lighter Side articles, go to athomecolorado. com/the lighter side

REALESTATE

Boulder and Fort Collins rank highly in best places to live for quality of life

Many factors makeup “quality of life” and at least two Colorado metros deliver them in abundance. Boulder ranks as No. 2 across U.S. metros while Fort Collins shines in the eighth position, according to the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report’s Quality of Life Index.

TOM KALINSKI

What makes quality of life high? A good day-to-day experience, which U.S. News ranked based on residents’ satisfaction with their daily lives, considering factors like crime, quality and availability of health care, quality of education, and average commute time.

Boulder pulls a quality-of-life score of 7.7 on the U.S. News’ Index, topped only by Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a score of 8. Fort Collins hit eighth in the rankings and pulled a 7.2 for quality of life.

What makes Boulder such an exceptional place to live? A beautiful Rocky Mountain backdrop surrounded by open space is a good start The foothills are not only a feast for the eyes; they nurture the soul and body The area is a haven for outdoor activity. “Trail runners, hikers, climbers, cyclists and more move here to live in this perpetual playground, where the answer to ‘What do you do?’ is often one’s activity of choice, not occupation,” writes U.S. News

To soothe the soul, the 324,682 residents can choose meditation, yoga, the summertime outdoor Shakespeare Festival, or just a walk on 155 miles of trails. Plus, the average commute is a relatively short 23.5 minutes — and that could be by bike, bus, or car. Residents are just under 37-years-old by median age and

make an average annual salary of $70,450.

Home prices and rents are on the more expensive side, giving the Boulder metro a 5.1 value score, writes U.S. News. The report shows a metro area median home price of $528,833 and a median monthly rent of $1,582.

The overall ratings for the Boulder-area are:

6.8 Desirability

5.1 Value

7.7 Job Market

7.7 Quality of Life

5.2 Net Migration

No. 8 ranked Fort Collins metro shares a number of similarities with Boulder — there are 350,523 residents with a median age of just over 36, the average commute time is 23.6 minutes and the median home price for the area is $518,755.

It’s also a college town, home to Colorado State University With Rocky Mountain National Park nearby outdoor recreation is a big driver of the economy and popular in social circles.

“Fort Collins is known to

many nationally as the Napa Valley of craft beer, hosting big names like New Belgium Brewing Co. along with new up-and-comers,” reports U.S. News. For more than 30 years, the Colorado Brewers’ Festival has showcased more than 40 microbreweries. New Belgium Brewing hosts the annual Tour de Fat bike celebration.

Here are the overall ratings for the Fort Collins metro-area:

5.4 Desirability

5.5 Value

6.5 Job Market

7.2 Quality of Life

6.6 Net Migration

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live rankings evaluates data on metro areas from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. News’ own internal resources. Each index is weighted based on a March 2022 public survey in which people from across the country voted for what they believed was the most important factor to consider when choosing where

to live.

In summary, here are the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live for Quality of Life:

No. 1 Ann Arbor, Mich. No. 2 Boulder, Colo. No. 3 San Jose, Calif. No. 4 Naples, Fla. No. 5 Trenton, N.J No. 6 Madison, Wis. No. 7 Boston, Mass. No. 8 Fort Collins, Colo.

Read the full report at realestate.usnews.com/ places/rankings/best-places-tolive-for-quality-of-life

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 40 year background in commercial and residential real estate. For questions, email Tom at tomkalinski33@gmail.com, call 303 441 5620, or visit boulderco com

What makes Boulder such an exceptional place to live? A beautiful Rocky Mountain backdrop surrounded by open space is a good start (Photo: Pexels)

REALESTATE Finding the sun

When buying a home, many of our homebuyers will ask, “Where is the sun?” The immediate answer is “look up and see!” However, it is a bit more complicated than that.

It’s essential to know where the sun is relative to the home you are thinking about buying. Where and how much natural sunlight illuminates the home throughout the year affects a variety of factors. Those factors include how much snow you will shovel off your driveway, solar access for your solar system, solar access easements, electricity and utility consumption levels, the amount of natural light in your rooms, types of lighting and window treatments, outdoor living spaces, landscaping, and more.

The days are getting shorter, and fall colors are here! On the Front Range, the sun falls behind the mountains early on a winter day. The closer the home is to the mountains, the more

likely it is to be sitting in what we call the “early sunset zone”

Luckily, nowadays, you can do more than just “look up” at the sky to determine all you need to know about the sun’s orientation relative to your home Sun Seeker is an app you can add to your smartphone or tablet. Here’s the app’s description:

“Sun Seeker is a comprehensive solar tracking & compass app. It shows the sun’s hourly direction intervals, its equinox, winter & summer solstice paths, sunrise sunset times, twilight times, sun shadow, the golden hour & more. The app allows you to add sun-event notifications & has a widget showing the day’s solar data & position on an arc The surveyor view shows the solar direction for each sunlight hour. Sun Seeker has both a flat compass view & a 3D Augmented Reality (AR) view to show the solar position & path.”

This app has many uses for real estate, including homebuying, homeselling, and homebuilding. I think the most obvious is determining how much sunlight will shine into your home on the shortest winter day. It can help you

determine at what time a westfacing patio will cool down in the heat of summer or figure out the best spot to plan a shade tree to protect the patio Obviously, the snow on south-facing driveways melt the fastest, but you can figure out how much sun the home will receive from other exposures. For example, the app can help you determine the best spot to locate your garden.

If you are building a home, the app can help you decide where to place windows, determine roof angles, solar system placement, porch locations, and much more.

When selling your home and preparing for photographs and video, the app will help you determine the best sunlight times and direction.

How does it do all this?

The Sun Seeker app describes how it works:

Main Features:

• Sun Seeker is a sun locator which uses GPS, magnetometer and gyroscope to find the correct solar position and

sun path for your current location.

• Flat compass view shows current solar position, diurnal solar angle & elevation (separated into day & night segments), sun shadow length ratio, atmospheric path thickness.

• 3D augmented reality (AR) camera overlay view shows the sun’s current position, its path with hour points marked. Check golden hour using this feature!

• Camera view has an optional pointer to guide you towards the current location of the sun & help you with sun direction.

• Map view shows solar direction arrows, sun path & elevations for each hour of the day.

• Choose any date to view the sun position & path

DUANE DUGGAN

Where and how much natural sunlight illuminates the home throughout the year affects a variety of factors (Photo: Pexels)

even includes a reinforced concrete patio with 220V for a future Hot Tub.

lead to the spacious backyard which backs up to a greenbelt. The backyard has both concrete and flagstone

inside the home you will find an open concept kitchen/dining/living space

vaulted ceilings, skylights, plenty of cabinets and built-ins, surround sound, and gas fireplace. Off the living room is a cozy sunroom with sliders at each end to step out on the backyard patios. Head downstairs for a large family/multipurpose room with wet bar with sink and additional cabinets, two additional bedrooms and unfinished mechanical/storage room. This home has been well maintained and pre-inspected prior to coming to market. Since owning the Sellers have replaced the furnace, water heater,A/C,

roof!

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service (TNS)

No windows, few windows or little to no overhead lighting? These issues can make a room or space feel overly dark. They are especially enhanced in small rooms or spaces that traditionally lack an abundance of light, such as basements or lower levels.

What are some ways to overcome the issue of a lack of light? Here are some top tips to help bring a sense of brightness and light into dark spaces.

1. Paint walls a light color. Light colors will help reflect light

2. Use mirrors. Mirrors, especially hung in a series or grid, will go a long way in creating light and the illusion of more windows in a space.

3. Incorporate interior windows in rooms that don’t have a window to the outside

4. Consider installing a glass door to a room or space that doesn’t get much light.

5. Choose light colored fabrics, finishes and textiles.

6. Opt for glass or transparent surfaces, as this will help make a space feel lighter and less heavy

7. Choose bright, cheery colors that can help mimic sunshine such as yellow, red and orange.

8. Incorporate artwork to bring light colored elements into a space.

9. Install overhead recessed lighting if possible.

10. Go minimal. A room full of furniture will feel even smaller and darker than one in which less is more.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Awardwinning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit cathyhobbs.com.

CHAUTAUQUA

PERIWINKLE DRIVE, NORTH BOULDER

S POLK AVENUE, LOUISVILLE

FALL EXPO & JOB FAIR

A.M.

JCC,

OREG AVE

39 EXPO BOOTHS • 20 LOCAL SPEAKERS

JOB & VOLUNTEER FAIR FREE ACTIVITIES & DEMONSTRATIONS

FREE SEMINARS

LEVIN HALL

9 to 9:25 a.m.

Spine health: How to dodge avoidable doctor and ER visits

Presented by: Cliff Gronseth, M D , Spine West

9:30 10:15 a.m.

Vision Health Panel

• Reduce the risks of cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, retina detachments

Presented by Dr Geeta Lalwani, medical and surgical vitreoretinal specialist, and Heather Gitchell, OD, InSight Vision Group/RM Retina Associates

• Do I really have cataracts?

Presented by Diane Siegel, M D , comprehensive ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon, Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado

10:20 to 10:45 a.m.

The Inflation Reduction Act and its impact on the Medicare Prescription Drug Program and your pocketbook

Presented by: Mary Hansen, Licensed Advisor/Medicare Solutions

10:50 to 11:55 a.m.

Senior Law Panel

• Protect yourself and your family from incapacity and probate

Presented by: Diedre Braverman, Braverman Law Group

• Protect yourself from financial fraud

Presented by: Susie Germany, The Germany Law Firm PC

• Life testaments

A gift of self: life testaments, or ethical wills, are messages of self and hope for the family and other loved ones Presented by Dan Kapsak, Kapsak | Estes LLC

Noon to 12:25 p.m.

What’s new in hearing

Presented by Chelsea Walters, BS, BC HIS, and Georgianna Hearne, Au D , CCC A, F AAA, Family Hearing

12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Brain Health Panel

• When memory and cognition change: What is normal, what is not, and what to do about it Presented by Erica Meyer, Psy D , clinical neuropsychologist, Amavi Mental Health

• What the Queen did right: Six pillars of brain health Presented by: Dr Ilene Rusk, The Brain and Behavior Clinic

1:35 to 2 p.m.

Music therapy: Using music as a wellness and engagement tool for adults living and aging with dementia

Presented by: Mikayla L Findley, BM, Board Certified Music Therapist, Alta Vita Senior Residences

LOBBY

9 to 9:40 a.m.

Utilize your equity strategically to live a more fruitful life during your golden years Presented by Gabe Bodner, The Bodner Team, One Trust Home Loans

9:45 to 10:10 a.m.

Advocacy in medical settings

Presented by Kaiser Permanente

10:15 to 10:40 a.m.

Surviving inflation

Presented by: Ron Vejrostek, Vejrostek Tax and Financial

10:45 to 11:10 a.m.

Erectile dysfunction: Revitalize your sexual relationship and gain back the confidence you may have lost Presented by Kolleen Hulyk, Superior Medical Solutions

11:15 a.m. to noon

Funeral & Burial Planning Panel

• Taking care of your family through prearrangement

Presented by Rebekah Million, preplanning advisor and funeral director Crist Mortuary and Mountain View Memorial Park

BOULDER

• Green and holistic funeral care at death: How it can ease our grief

Presented by Karen van Vurren, Co founder, The Natural Funeral

12:05 to 12:30 p.m.

Contemplative caregiving: Caring for others and caring for yourself

Presented by: Dr Anne Giesen, board certified in geriatric medicine, family medicine, and hospice/palliative medicine and owner, Sky Health Services

12:35 TO 1 P.M.

Boulder County Area Agency on Aging: Healthy aging programs

Presented by Teresa DeAnni, Boulder County Area Agency on Aging

1:05 to 1:30 p.m.

Planning to maintain independence: Why it’s important to prepare before an event occurs that forces families to search for a higher level of care while under stress

Presented by Jennifer Giovanetto, Mezzanine Assisted Living Administrator and Katelin O’Brien, Leasing Coordinator, Golden West

1:35 to 2 p.m. Benefits of yoga for older adults complete with demonstration

Presented by Melanie Cannata, Exercise Specialist and Yoga Instructor, Frasier

ADDITIONAL PARKING & FREE SHUTTLE

Overflow parking at Naropa University

Campus, 6287 Arapahoe Ave

COVERPROFILE

Equity Colorado Northern Front Range

both Realtors and clients a one-of-a-kind experience

“Real estate transactions may all have the same contract, but absolutely every deal is unique. It’s vital to know that the person sitting in the managing broker chair has experience and perspective.

By Pam Moore At Home Colorado

From its founding in 2000, Equity Real Estate and Equity Colorado, founded in 2010, have focused on change, wherever it was needed. Their basic beliefs were to be fair to its agents in fees and resources. First of its kind, they abolished the concept of large splits, or portions of the agents commission paid to the brokerage, and instead established a low flat fee for each transaction.

Over the years, the company has adapted gracefully to

changes in the real estate market and changes in the greater economy while staying true to its mission: offering their real estate agents the highest levels of autonomy and earnings potential in the industry.

The Northern Front range branch in Longmont at 710 Kimbark embodies that fairness. One of four office in Colorado including Denver, Colorado Springs and Frisco, the 100+ agents in Longmont enjoy abundant resources and training, with the latest addition of kvCore, all included in that $59 monthly fee.

According to Nancy Umbreit,

Equity’s managing broker and owner, the brokerage’s founders envisioned a company that would give realtors “the majority of their commission” without obligating them to pay for bells and whistles they didn’t necessarily need or want. That means agents are not stuck paying for space in a large brick and mortar office they rarely step inside of, expensive software they don’t need or want, or pricey marketing campaigns that may not be necessary.

Umbreit says agents pay Equity Colorado a monthly fee of $59, which represents a

small fraction of what they’d pay to a competitor. This gives them access to office space in downtown Longmont, which includes on-demand access to private conference rooms, as well as a computer, printers and scanners.

Meanwhile, agents have access to all of the education and marketing resources they want— but they aren’t committed to paying for those extras if they aren’t interested. “One of my agents advertises in the Daily Camera every weekend,” says Umbreit. “But those who don’t want to invest in advertising might have access to a lifestyle they couldn’t afford otherwise.”

The support Equity Colorado offers its team isn’t just financial, though. One of the greatest perks is access to Umbreit herself, who prides herself on supporting each and every one of the 106 brokers who make up her team. That means answering the phone to talk through questions big and small, daily from eight in the morning until seven in the evening. And if issues arise after hours, realtors don’t have to wait until the next morning. “After 7 p.m they can send me texts and emails.”

While her contracts are Umbreit’s favorite area to troubleshoot, over her 30 year career, she’s seen it all, is more than willing to assist with anything her realtors throw at her, generally within ten to twenty minutes of receiving a message.

Provided for all agents with less than 2 years of Real Estate experience, the agents are taught contracts and common practices. Umbreit says “real estate schools

teach 1% of an agent’s job We must strive to teach them the other 99%”!

Umbreit’s commitment to her realtors’ success is a huge selling point for the brokerage. Chris Freeman has been a realtor for nearly two decades. When the desire to be in a local office representing Longmont led her to switch brokerages about a year ago, Equity Colorado felt like a natural choice. “There were many very well respected agents I had worked with over the years that had gone to join the office and were so happy they had made the move.” Having followed her colleagues to Equity Colorado, she’s found she enjoys the “personal touch to doing business” that she couldn’t find elsewhere “I love the office and the warm feeling of support whenever you need help or advice. Help and support is always there,” says Freeman,

adding that the brokerage “Feels like a family [Umbreit] is warm, caring and always available for all of her agents.

Teresa Lomax agrees, Equity Colorado was the right move for her. With seven years of experience as a realtor, she joined the brokerage in July 2022 for both the independence and the support it offers agents. “I liked the fact that this is a brokerage that provides perspective, tools, and wisdom, yet allows you to build your real estate business in your own way”

Lomax says, “I love the fact that Equity is there to help give me advice and guidance when I’m in the proverbial ‘tall grass,’ but I am free to build my real estate business the way I want. And even though there is great support, that independence is there for me and my business partner to build our business we

have dreamed of.”

Lomax describes Umbreit, who she describes as “passionate and wise” as a significant factor in her decision to join Equity Colorado. “She is committed to both Equity Colorado as well as all of us who work at the brokerage,” she says. “One of the biggest factors in my decision to move to Equity Colorado was Nancy.” Knowing Umbreit has not only a wealth of experience but also the desire to share her knowledge was a huge selling point. “Real estate transactions may all have the same contract, but absolutely every deal is unique. It’s vital to know that the person sitting in the managing broker chair has experience and perspective. When we as Realtors® come across something in a transaction that we have never seen, or we just need to talk through a scenario, Nancy is there for us.”

While the company has grown over the years, says Umbreit, one thing that hasn’t changed is their commitment to fairness. “The people all the way up the ladder have stayed talented and loyal to our basic concept — to be fair and just to everyone, especially our agents and our clients.”

Contact Equity Colorado

To learn more about working with Equity Colorado in buying or selling your home or to join their team, call Nancy Umbreit at 303.579.0970, or visit the office at 710 Kimbark Street in Longmont.You may also e-mail NancyRealtor@msn.com.

MADE EASY!

Equity Colorado Front Range’s office in downtown Longmont (Photo: Jonathan Castner)

HOMEANDGARDEN

Creative containers for fall

It’s official, fall is finally here and cooler temperatures are ahead! As your summer annuals are beginning to look tired or may have stopped blooming altogether, now is the perfect time to revamp your flower containers

AMY LENTZ

Chrysanthemums, or more commonly just called mums, are probably the most common plant we think of this time of year There are two main types of mums, those sold inside of a florist or grocery that are not cold-tolerant (not hardy) and those that are sold seasonally outdoors which are cold-tolerant to our area (hardy mums). You will want to choose the ‘hardy’ type so that they can withstand the lower temperatures and can even handle a light frost. Choose plants with tight, unopened buds for longevity of the blooms. If we have another mild winter, you can plant your mums in the ground at the end of fall and there’s a slight chance it will come back again next year if they are the hardy type. Mums come in a wide range of colors including orange, red, yellow, purple, white and even burgundy so you can choose your favorite and mix them with other seasonal plants to create a festive display

When creating your fall containers, you can follow the classic “filler, spiller, thriller” method to get both height and fullness to your arrangement.

Save money by reusing annuals from your summer containers such as snapdragons, dusty miller, and marigolds if they are still holding up well Other fall annuals to add to your containers include fall aster, ornamental cabbage, pansies, violas and even Swiss chard or kale (which are both tasty, too!). You might also find

good deals on perennials this time of year which can also be added to your containers to add interest. Yarrow, butterfly bush, coneflower, black-eyed susan, and blanket flowers all have neat seed heads that can be interesting even after their petals are gone. If you want to get really creative, you can work in some succulents or small ornamental grasses to make it more unique. Tie it all together by displaying pumpkins, gourds, and attractive branches from red-twig dogwoods, hawthorns or evergreens.

Once you have gathered your plants and are ready to put the container together, follow these general guidelines to help your containers last until the end of the season:

You can use a number of different container types including plastic, glazed ceramic, terra cotta, wood crates, etc Each will differ in their watering requirements and all should have at least one drainage hole at the bottom.

Refresh the potting media by loosening it, adding 50% new mix and removing any old plant roots from the container

Be sure to break up any rootbound plants by gently teasing/pulling the root system apart with your fingers before planting. Even though it’s cooler, the plants will still grow but you can use a bit tighter spacing since the season is short.

Add slow-release fertilizer at planting and water the container thoroughly once all plants are in

place.

If you are using perennials and want to overwinter them, you can plant them in the ground by late October and mulch well. Or you can simply bring the containers into an unheated garage or cool, dark space. Remember to water occasionally throughout the winter.

Containers are a fun and easy way to decorate for fall and make the most out of your space for the full growing season!

For more information on fall gardening, visit extension. colostate.edu or contact your local CSU Extension Office.

Amy Poston Lentz is the Home Horticulture Program Coordinator for Colorado State University Extension Boulder County in Longmont.

Example of a fall container using ‘Mesa Yellow’ blanket flower, burgundy and pink mums, orange marigolds, ornamental kale and a vining cold hardy succulent (Photo courtesy: Amy Lentz)

NEW HOME BUILDERS

BOULDER, BROOMFIELD & LONGMONT AREA

BOULDER

1 Velo Condos Builder: Thistle Velo LLC

BROOMFIELD

8 Baseline Colorado Builders: Boulder Creek Neighborhoods, Meritage Homes, Thrive Home Builders

7 Vive on Via Varra Builder: Meritage Homes

ERIE

22 Coal Creek Commons Builder: Century Communities

23 Colliers Hill

Builders: Boulder Creek Neighborhoods, KB Home, Richmond American

20 Compass Builder: Lennar

21 Erie Commons Builder: Boulder Creek Neighborhoods

24 Erie Highlands Builder: Oakwood Homes

Our region is home to more than 300,000 residents and includes some of the most diverse, natural landscapes and sustainable development along the Northern Front Range of Colorado

From open space, land use and sustainability policies to forwardthinking and compassionate human services programs, our city and town governments help foster a vibrant, healthy and active community It’s no wonder why those who live here stay and why our the area is coveted as a place to relocate to. Here we highlight a selection of the area’s new home communities and which builders are building where.

To view new home communities and builders across the Colorado Front Range, view our interactive map online at: www AtHomeColorado.com/NewHomeMap

FREDERICK

27 Erie Village Builder: Porchfront Homes

18 Flatiron Meadows Builder: KB Home, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers

26 Morgan Hill Builder: Lennar

Rex Ranch Builder: Taylor Morrison

Westerly Builder: McStain Neighborhoods, SLC Homes, Wonderland Homes

Wild Rose Builder: Lennar

FIRESTONE

9 Barefoot Lakes Builder: Brookfield Residential, Creekstone Homes, Lennar, Richmond American Homes

10 Seasons at Silverstone Builder: Richmond American Homes

LAFAYETTE

15 Blue Sage Builder: Markel Homes

16 Avalon Meadows Builder: Von’s Colorado Concepts

17 Silo Builder: Cornerstone Homes

14 Silver Creek Builder: Markel Homes

LOUISVILLE

13 North End Builder: Markel Homes

SUPERIOR

3 Downtown Superior Builder: Thrive Home Builders, Remington Homes

4 Heights at Downtown Superior Builder: Toll Brothers

5 Lanterns at Rock Creek Builder: Boulder Creek Neighborhoods

6 Montmere at Autrey Shores Builder: Koelbel

2 Rogers Farm Builder: Boulder Creek Neighborhoods

LONGMONT

11 Highlands at Fox Hill Builders: Dream Finders Homes, Landmark Homes

12 Parkside Builder: Coast to Coast Development

29 Terry Street Townhones Builder: New Leaf Properties

FIND

best hanging plants to add to your home

By Hunter Boyce, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS)

One of 2022’s top interior design trends is all about bringing the outdoors in. Following years of being cooped up at home with minimal social interaction due to the pandemic, many homeowners and professional designers are looking for ways to make the home feel more relaxing, inviting and natural.

From mixing and matching different types of metal fixtures to slapping on a fresh coat of a verdant green, there are a number of clever ways to bring the outside in. But, adding some plant life to your living space is easily the most obvious.

Pothos

If you are willing to shoulder the necessary maintenance, plants can be a great way to breathe new life into the home. For starters, consider the pothos

plant.

According to By Brittany Goldwyn, pothos plants are classic choices for hanging decor and can be found at most nurseries. Common choices are the golden pothos, marble green pothos, jade pothos and neon pothos.

Spider plant

Zia Allaway, co-author of the RHS “Practical House Plant Book,” said that the spider plant is one of the easiest houseplants to take care of.

“I love it for its fountains of variegated foliage and little baby spider plants that dance around the leaves on their curved stems,” she said, as reported by Country Living. “It takes some shade, survives drought, and you can feed it occasionally, but it will be happy with very little pampering.”

Calathea (prayer plant)

Another popular choice is the prayer plant. Costa Farms representative Justin Hancock said that it’s a great choice for inside the home.

“Earning its moniker from the fact the leaves fold at night like a set of praying hands, it tolerates low light and adds a

little excitement and contrast to any houseplant collection,” he told Real Simple.

Lipstick plant

For those looking to add a little color to their collection, it’s hard to go wrong with the lipstick plant. According to Gardening Etc, you should hang the plant in a bright position away from direct sunlight. Water the plant when the top of the compost feels dry. Mist the foliage every few days and apply fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer.

Lobelia

For a lot of color, house plant lovers need to look no further than the lobelia plant. The plant blooms in blues, purples and whites. According to Bob Vila, the plant does best in part-shade. The plant can be found at most nurseries.

2190 Dartmouth Avenue Boulder Open Sun. 12-2pm $999,900

SOBO Ranch home on 0 37 acre lot. www.2190 wkre.com

Margaret Flaherty: 303-668-2926

6465 Dry Fork Circle Frederick

Open Sun. 1-3pm $560,000

Newer Construction 4 Bedroom Home www 6465 wkre.com

Rachel Weinberg:303-541-1913

287 Western Sky Circle Longmont

Open Sat. 1-3pm $799,000

4 yr old Upgraded Home on Large Fenced Lot. www.287 wkre.com

Dennis Culver: 303-618 3366

1615 Turin Drive

Longmont

Open Sat. & Sun. 12-2pm $1,225,000 Fabulous Home in Southwest Longmont! www.1615.wkre.com

Matthew Jensen: 303-819-6494

8857 Prairie Knoll Drive

Longmont

Open Sat. & Sun. 1-3pm $1,475,000

Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Custom Home! www.8857.wkre.com

Dennis & Jann Culver: 303-618-3366

1526 Highfield Court Windsor

Open Sat. & Sun. 12 2pm $480,000

Modern main floor living close to amenities! www.1526.wkre.com

Matthew Jensen: 303-819-6494

2320 Clayton Circle Superior Open Sun. 11:30am-2pm $1,025,000

Prime Location on the coveted Clayton Circle! www.2320.wkre.com

Barry Remington Team: 720-373-9297

3735 Birchwood Drive #26 Boulder New Listing!

Updated Condo, Quiet location, Great price! www.3735.wkre.com

Bruce Drogsvold: 303-579-1627

4671 Devonshire Street Boulder New Listing! $715,000

Great opportunity to buy in Heatherwood! www.4671.wkre.com

Craig Cowley: 303-589-4009

BOULDER OFFICE: 303.443.2240

LONGMONT OFFICE: 303 776 3344 wkre.com

STYLEATHOME Halloween details

By Katie Laughridge Tribune News Service (TNS)

The days are getting cooler, and the great Pumpkin Spice Latte finally made its debut weeks ago

It’s officially fall, y’all. As soon as September rolls in, it’s tempting to redecorate your home inside and out to welcome the autumnal season For the truly motivated among us, the planning may start even earlier And that includes planning for the spookiest holiday of them all: Halloween.

I’ve always loved Halloween and have fond memories of my dad littering our yard with dry ice to create an eerie fog for the little witches and mummies that came to our house to trick or treat. I still adore the opportunity to dress up, though there aren’t as many socially acceptable occasions to do so as a grown up. Luckily for me, my older son doesn’t complain when I play along, like the year we all dressed as paleontologists (per his request) And although I’m not decking out my yard every year, my family and I still treasure our time walking from house to house, and of course seeing who (or what) arrives on our doorstep for candy.

If you’re feeling inspired by the change in the air, it’s not too early to show a little seasonal appreciation. Do so with these Halloween decorating tips

Create your Halloween ‘shelfie’

Halloween figures and details are the perfect way to dress up any shelf for the season. My first tip when creating your perfect vignette is to take the opportunity to undecorate before you decorate. I know it seems like a lot of work, but making way for these beauties on your shelf can sometimes mean clearing out the distractions Take your normal picture frames off the walls and decorations off all surfaces including tables, counters and shelves When you add Halloween decorations on top of your normal decor, the result can look a bit cluttered and confused Put all the focus on your Halloween decorations by making them the center of attention

Focus on your color scheme

There is more than one way to decorate for Halloween, and it definitely doesn’t have to be solely orange and black A black and white color scheme can feel just as seasonal. Or you can make it creepy with black, green and purple, or lend an air of sophistication with silver and black Our tip? Try to keep it to three main colors This will keep your house looking put together and polished even if it is full of whimsy

Leave no room unhaunted Spooky decor isn’t just for your living room. Don’t forget

about those often overlooked but frequently used spaces, like the bathroom and kitchen Another tip: Don’t forget to hide those pesky cords from light up decorations to really elevate your design Using painter’s tape to secure cords to the back of your furniture keeps them within reach but out of sight.

Bring Halloween to your tabletop

This seasonal tabletop is a great example of decorating for Halloween ... without really decorating for Halloween Not a fan of the camp of the season? Autumnal blooms and some black linens and soup tureens lend to the season without going all in. Bringing Halloween to your tabletop is an unexpected way to celebrate, and it’s sure to wow your friends and family this spooky season. We just hope none of your guests find an eyeball in their soup!

These Halloween design tips are tame enough that the younger ghouls and goblins among us can get into the swing of the season

This Halloween inspired tabletop features black and gold without lean ing too far into the spookiness of the holiday (Handout/TNS)

without feeling creeped out by all the gory details. I hope these tips and tricks inspire you to get out the pumpkins and into the spirit of Halloween

Adapted from nellhills.com. Katie Laughridge is the owner of Kansas City interior design destination Nell Hill’s For more information, contact Katie at info@nellhills.com.

Finding the sun (continued)

on that day. You can view sunset & sunrise times for each day as well.

• Choose any location on earth (includes 40,000+ cities or custom locations available offline, as well as a comprehensive online map search capability)

• Get additional details including sun rise, sunset & culmination times, maximum elevation, civil, nautical & astronomical twilight times of the sun

• Optional device notifications for all manner of sun-related periods & events, such as golden hour or blue hour, various twilight & shadow periods, or sun at a given compass

heading or above a given elevation.

• This sunrise calendar app allows the user to include equinox, summer & winter solstice paths on both flat compass view & camera view.

Here’s a YouTube video about Sun Seeker app: https://bit.ly/2Rf0CkO

Your Realtor® and architect can help you determine everything you need to know about sunlight and your home.

Duane has been a Realtor for RE/MAX of Boulder since 1982. Living the life of a Realtor and being immersed in real estate led to the inception of his book, Realtor for Life. For questions, e mail DuaneDuggan@boulderco com, call 303.441.5611 or visit boulderco com

QUICK

ARVADA

8716 Flattop St.

$844,000

Sun., Noon to 3 p.m.

Will Calkins

RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 818-8599

BERTHOUD

1649 Mount Meeker Ave. $675,000

Sat., 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kyle Pearcy LC Real Estate Group (970) 402-5412

5405 Sandia Lane

$1,250,000

Sat., Noon to 2 p.m. Alana Childre

RE/MAX of Boulder (720) 560-9690

BOULDER

3818 Howe Court $850,000

Sat., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mark Gisler RE/MAX Alliance (917) 287-2551

2190 Dartmouth Ave. $999,900

Sun., Noon to 2 p.m. Margaret Flaherty WK Real Estate (303) 668-2926

4299 Sumac Court

$1,075,000

Sun., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Terry Larson

RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 589-3028

315 Arapahoe Ave., #201 $1,100,000

Sun., Noon to 2 p.m. Pamela B Griffin Pamela Griffin Realty (303) 931-5321

1720 Lombardy Drive $1,295,000

Sat., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pete Abel RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 441-5603

2090 Grape Ave.

$1,499,000

Sat. & Sun., 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Gene Hayden

RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 870-2918

1085 Oakdale Place

$1,500,000

Sat., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Terry Larson

RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 589-3028

7303 Augusta Drive

$1,500,000

Sun., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cari Higgins & Kristin Kalush Higgins Kalush Collective, Compass (303) 717-9934

Open House // Virtual Tour

QUICK GUIDE

THIS WEEK’S OPEN HOUSES/VIRTUAL TOURS // OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM

3663 Silverton St. $1,850,000

Sat., Noon to 2 p.m. Shannon McGuire RE/MAX Alliance (303) 475-2297

820 16th St. $2,650,000

Sat., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m Cynthia Hogarth

WK Real Estate (303) 579-4884

1885 Quince Ave. $2,795,000

Sat., 10 a.m. to Noon Kristin Kalush Higgins Kalush Collective, Compass (303) 809-1717

720 Mapleton Ave. $4,850,000

Sat. & Sun., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Marybeth Emerson Colorado Landmark (720) 394-1997

BROOMFIELD

1367 Dexter St. $499,900

Sat., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Linda Nehls RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 668-7670

FREDERICK

6465 Dry Fork Circle $560,000

Sun., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dana Runge

WK Real Estate (303) 817-8686

9420 Homestead Drive $975,000

Sat., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Will Calkins

RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 818-8599

GREELEY

200 N. 50th Ave. $425,000

Sun., Noon to 2 p.m.

Laura Chittick

WK Real Estate (303) 332-4118

1406 41st Ave. $479,000

Sat., 10:30 a.m. to Noon Cathy Cowles Sears Real Estate (970) 302-6623

JOHNSTOWN

2229 Podtburg Circle $485,000

Sat., 1 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Kit Magley RE/MAX Alliance (303) 775-5177

LAFAYETTE

452 Levi Lane (Sales Center)

Starting from $579,900

Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Marlita Lazo Markel Homes (303) 651-9565

LONGMONT

2003 Terry St., #107 $417,000

Sat., Noon to 3 p.m.

Jan Marose RE/MAX Alliance (303) 817-9675

620 15th Ave. $471,500

Sat., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sun., Noon to 2 p.m. Brandi Schott

The Colorado Group (303) 875-7223

List

5801 Grandville Ave. (Sales Center)

Starting from $599,900

Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Roz Pinon

Markel Homes (720) 583-2170

287 Western Sky Circle $799,000

Sat., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dana Runge

WK Real Estate (303) 817-8686

5644 Cottontail Drive $1,035,000

Sat., 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Deidra A Laurel Compass (720) 840-2212

1615 Turin Drive $1,225,000

Sat. & Sun., Noon to 2 p.m. Matthew Jensen WK Real Estate (303) 819-6494

8857 Prairie Knoll Drive $1,475,000

Sat. & Sun., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dennis Culver WK Real Estate (303) 618-3366

LOUISVILLE

417 East St. $580,000

Sun., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Keith McQuillen WK Real Estate (303) 589-1432

324 Peerless St. $779,000

Sat., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maury Mills

RE/MAX Alliance (719) 323-8778

MILLIKEN

1909 Wagon Train Drive $469,500

Sat., 10 a.m. to Noon Amy Darcy LoKation Real Estate (303) 725-3756

SUPERIOR

2320 Clayton Circle $999,999

Sun., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Barry Remington WK Real Estate (720) 373-9297

201 8th Ave. $1,299,000 Sun., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Lynn Ryan RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 489-0309

WESTMINSTER

4338 W 117th Way $825,000 Sun., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Michelle Trudgeon WK Real Estate (720) 272-9547

WINDSOR

1526 Highfield Court $480,000

Sat. & Sun., Noon to 2 p.m. Matthew Jensen WK Real Estate (303) 819-6494

Open House or Virtual Tour, Visit: openhomes.athomecolorado.com