At Home Colorado: Boulder County Edition

BoulderHomeSource It’s a Lifestyle

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.

Although it may be tempting to go for sale by owner (FSBO) in an attempt to save money on a Realtor’s commission, it’s far from the best option (and can even end up costing you).

Design Recipes: Hygge for the Holidays

Looking for ways to welcome a sense of hygge this holiday season? Begin by evaluating your whole home.

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COLORADO HOME & REAL ESTATE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Gary M. Singer

Tom Kalinski

Jennifer Egbert

Duane Duggan

Gabe Bodner

Amy Lentz

Cathy Hobbs

Paul F. P. Pogue

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.

REAL ESTATE NEWS WK Real Estate welcomes Ed Rankin

LONGMONT – WK Real Estate has announced the addition of their newest Broker Associate, Ed Rankin to their Longmont of ce.

Ed relocated to Colorado from the District of Columbia in 1999. He has enjoyed a diverse career path from commercial shing to technical sales/account management at Oracle, and now real estate. He is currently raising two fantastic boys and a German Wirehair in Longmont.

REAL ESTATE Q&A

Ed believes investing in Colorado real estate is the best bet you can make. Whether you’re buying or selling, he will care for your transaction like it’s his own. Having been a Front Range homeowner for over 20 years he understands that real estate choices are some of the most important decisions in life.

Ed can be reached at 303.746.3563 and via email at erankin@wkre.com.

How can I avoid problems if my sister buys me out of property we co-own?

Q: I own a vacation home with my sister we inherited years ago. Recently she approached me about buying out my half of the house. We get along well, and I rarely use the property, while she practically lives there, so this seems fair. But I do not want to cause any problems because of the transfer. How can we protect against this turning out bad? – Raoul

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A: I have seen many solid relationships turn bad once money became involved. This is often caused by each party understanding the deal differently than the other because of too many assumptions and poor communication. It is usually agreed to verbally and sealed with a handshake.

Unfortunately, memories fade,

and misunderstandings occur.

I often tell clients, “If they can say it, they can sign it.” People are reluctant to enter a written contract when dealing with people they are close to. However, this is one of the times that a detailed document will provide the most bene t by avoiding misunderstandings and disputes that stem from them.

Other than favorable terms, you should treat this transaction like you would if selling the property to a pleasant stranger. Have a detailed written agreement drafted and use a professional to prepare the deed and other closing documents and handle your transaction’s details.

Just because your family owned the property for years, do not assume it is problem free. Unfortunately, just because you do not know about a problem does not mean problems do not exist.

You may want a professional home inspection to identify any material issues.

You should also consider

purchasing a title insurance policy to protect against unknown ownership issues.

These problems might not be discovered until your sister tries to sell the property years later.

The easily solvable problem found now can become a giant hurdle a decade from now.

Gary M. Singer is an attorney and board-certi ed as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. He practices real estate, business litigation and contract law from his of ce in Sunrise, Fla. He is the chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is a co-host of the weekly radio show Legal News and Review. He frequently consults on general real estate matters and trends in Florida with various companies across the nation. Send him questions online atsunsentinel.com/askpro or follow him on Twitter @ GarySingerLaw.

GARY M. SINGER

Ed Rankin

REAL ESTATE

Mortgage rates fell in November, stimulating mortgage applications

Mortgage rates more than doubled in 2022, but good news made an appearance in November, a positive sign for those buying or re nancing a home.

Indeed, the 30-year xed-rate mortgage fell for the second week in a row in November, hitting 6.67% — down almost half a percentage point from its recent high of 7.16%, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) reported.

Correspondingly, mortgage applications increased in the same period, rising 2.2% for the week ending November 18, according to weekly data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.  While the Re nance Index increased 2% from the previous week, it is 86% lower than the same week one year ago.

“The decrease in mortgage rates should improve the purchasing power of prospective homebuyers, who have been largely sidelined as mortgage rates have more than doubled in the past year,” Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, said in a statement reported Nov. 16, 2022. “As a result of the drop in mortgage

rates, both purchase and re nance applications picked up slightly last week. However, re nance activity is still more than 80% below last year’s pace.”

The market composite index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, rose 2.2% for the week ending November 18 after registering a 2.7% increase in the previous week. Compared to the same week in 2021, however, the index fell 67.8%.

Purchase applications were up 2.76% the week of Nov. 23 compared to the previous week, but 41% down year over year. Meanwhile, the demand for re nance index, which dropped 86.2% year over year, increased 1.5% from the prior week.

Mortgage rates trended up alongside the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike, but started to fall following

lower-than-expected consumer price growth in October, as reported by HousingWire.com. The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 7.7% year over year — the smallest 12-month increase since the period ending in January 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Buyers and sellers nationwide are still on the sidelines, however. Data from Realtor.com shows that fewer homes were listed for sale in the week ending Nov. 19 compared with a year ago, which is the 20th straight week of yearly declines.

Fewer home sales are resulting in a much needed uptick in inventory. Here in Boulder County, single-family homes for sale in October 2022 grew more than four-fold to 874 vs. a mere 206 at the close of 2021, according to statistics from the

Boulder-Longmont Realtors trade association (BOLO Realtors). Condominiums and townhomes for sale also increased, though the numbers remain strikingly low. In Oct. 2022, only 264 attached dwellings were for sale across Boulder County, compared to 74 in Dec. 2021.

For more information on the statistics see:

• www.mba.org/newsand-research/newsroom/ news/2022/11/23/ mortgage-applicationsincrease-in-latest-mbaweekly-survey

• www.housingwire.com/ articles/demand-formortgages-is-on-the-riseas-rates-fall

• www.realtor.com/news/ trends/housing-marketstatistics-week-endingnovember-19-column

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.

TOM KALINSKI

Mortgage rates more than doubled in 2022, but good news made an appearance in November, a positive sign for those buying or refinancing a home.

REAL ESTATE

Why you should avoid selling your home without an agent

Many Boulder homeowners have astounding equity, leading some to consider selling. If you’re thinking about listing your home, be sure to avoid the pitfall of selling without an agent. Although it may be tempting to go for sale by owner (FSBO) in an attempt to save money on a Realtor’s commission, it’s far from the best option (and can even end up costing you thousands). There are many reasons to avoid selling your home without professional assistance, and here are just a few:

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Although it may be tempting to go for sale by owner (FSBO) in an attempt to save money on a Realtor’s commission, it’s far from the best option (and can even end up costing you thousands)

Your home will sell for less

Thinking you’ll save some money by forgoing the help of an agent? This is almost never the case, since most homes sold by the owner sell for significantly less than homes that are presented by an agent. According to a 2015 analysis, FSBO properties sold for 16% less than comparable homes listed by an agent. This is likely because FSBO homes often sit on the market for longer, leading the homeowner to become

frustrated and settle for less.

You may be susceptible to lawsuits

We live in a litigious society, and selling your home without an experienced realtor on your side opens yourself up to the possibility of being faced with a lawsuit. Unlike an agent who is covered by errors and omissions insurance, the liability falls on you when you represent yourself. A simple mistake like stating the home has hardwood

floors when it’s actually a wood veneer leaves the door open for the buyer to sue–and who has time or energy for that?

Scams are more common than you may imagine

Whether you’re buying or selling a FSBO home, you may be surprised by how common scams are. Many of today’s scammers are savvy and can con even the most in-the-know sellers. Some of the risks of listing your home as FSBO include the solicitation of your personal information, fraudulent papers, and deposit scams (in which the “buyer” sends a fake check in the incorrect amount and then requests a refund).

There are hidden costs

In addition to the increased likelihood of your FSBO home selling for less than similar properties, it’s also important to factor in hidden costs. Sellers who represent themselves will have to pay to list their home on MLS and will also be responsible for all marketing costs. Pulling a buyer’s credit report and drawing up a contract also takes more money out of your pocket that would be better spent working with a qualified agent.

Listing agents play an instrumental role in protecting the seller and navigating complex situations that arise all too often. Even if you’re sitting on a mountain of equity, you can waste thousands (and seriously stress yourself out) by passing on help from an agent.

Jennifer is an awardwinning, licensed Realtor® at milehimodern real estate in Boulder with more than twenty years of experience. She specializes in Luxury neighborhoods, home builders and current market conditions. Visit jenniferegbert.com, e-mail by visiting jenniferegbert.com/ contact or call 720.802.3050.

JENNIFER EGBERT

REAL ESTATE

Home for the holidays – gift giving to first-time home buyers – Part 2

The holiday season is upon us, and you may be thinking about finding a special or unique gift your family member or loved one could use for years to come.

In my previous article entitled, “Part 1: Home for the Holidays – Gift Giving to First-Time Home Buyers,” I discussed gifting down payment funds or First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account (FHSA) contributions to first-time buyers to help purchase their new home. In this article, I will discuss another way you can help a home buyer.

Interest rates have been rising this year, even though they are still relatively low, historically speaking. However, as interest rates go up, a homebuyer’s purchasing power is reduced. An exceptional gift idea is helping your relative or loved one with an interest rate or mortgage buydown. Buying down an interest rate means buying points, which then lowers the interest rate, resulting in a lower monthly mortgage payment.

This can make the difference between whether a buyer can afford a home or not -- and in the case of a permanent mortgage buydown, it can mean savings in monthly mortgage payments for years. The longer the new homeowner is planning on staying in the home, the more the long-term mortgage savings there will be.

There are a variety of mortgage buydowns, but I want to touch on the 3-2-1 temporary buydown as well as the permanent mortgage buydown. Market forces do apply here, so be sure to consult your mortgage lender for availability and pricing.

A 3-2-1 temporary buydown is simply that. You pay more at the closing to reduce the

mortgage rate over the first three years of the repayment term.

The rate will be reduced by 3% under the locked-in rate the first year, 2% lower the second year, and 1% lower the third year. For example, if the market interest rate is 6%, the rate would be 3% the first year, 4% the second year, 5% the third year, and 6% for the remaining 27 years. This can really help someone get into a home who is anticipating pay raises as they advance in

their career. The pricing for a mortgage buydown like this is usually just the difference from what the payment should be and what the amount of the payment actually being made is.

The permanent mortgage buydown could be very beneficial to a homebuyer who is planning on staying in their home for several years. This type of buydown entails buying points for the entire life of the loan.

Mortgage buydown pricing is market driven so a mortgage lender needs to be consulted for today’s pricing. However, buydown pricing might look something like this:

Interest rate of 6.25% – 0.00 par rate

6.125% – 0.25% of loan amount to buy the rate to 6.125%

6.00% – 0.50% of loan amount to buy the rate to 6.00%

5.875% – 1.00% of loan amount to buy the rate to 5.875%

5.75% – 1.75% of loan amount to buy the rate to 5.75%

On a $400,000 mortgage, the numbers would be as follows:

$400,000 loan, 6.25% interest, monthly payment is $2,462.87.

Pay 1.75% of the $400,000 to buy the rate to 5.75%, creating a monthly payment of $2,334.29 and a monthly savings of $128.58.

1.75% = $7,000 divided by monthly savings of $128.58= 54 months to stay in the house to break even.

In this example, a gift of $7,000 would lower the monthly payment by $128.58, but the true long-term savings every month will accrue once the buyer stays in the home beyond 54 months.

Be sure to consult your financial planner, accountant, mortgage loan officer, and Realtor to create a plan that is just right for your situation!

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.

DUANE DUGGAN

An exceptional gift idea is helping your relative or loved one with an interest rate or mortgage buydown (Photo: Pexels).

MORTGAGE How does a HECM or Reverse Mortgage actually work?

dues). This is not the case with a HELOC because the funds can be frozen and inaccessible in many cases, like if home values drop. Lastly, when you take money out of the LOC, you are not required to pay the money back monthly, unlike a HELOC which requires payments monthly and your payment can increase if interest rates increase. For all these reasons and more, the reverse LOC is again one of the most powerful methods and uses of the HECM.

A HECM is a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage which is most commonly referred to as a Reverse Mortgage. In one sentence, a HECM/Reverse Mortgage is a home equity loan that does not require traditional monthly payments. A homeowner 62 years of age or over, that has considerable home equity, can borrow against the value of their home and receive funds as a lump sum, a fixed monthly payment or a line of credit. But unlike any other loan, you do not have to make any monthly payments (you always need to pay property taxes, home insurance and HOA dues).

Let’s break down how a reverse mortgage works. First, a reverse mortgage must be the only loan against the title of

your home. Which means, if you have a mortgage or a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit), the first thing we must do is payoff all mortgages. We can do this by using funds from the reverse mortgage so you do not usually need to come up with any cash. This ensures that the reverse mortgage is in 1st lien position. If you do not have a mortgage or a HELOC and you own your home free and clear of any liens, this does not apply.

Are you wondering how you would get equity out of your home? A HECM has three different ways to receive cash from the equity in your home. You can choose any one of the options or you can use a combination of the three different ways to help achieve your needs or goals.

Option One is called a lump sum.  The lump sum can be used to take cash out for any reason. Some of my clients have used it to: pay off debt, home remodeling, needed home

improvements, gifting, travel or to cover medical expenses but the uses are unlimited. You can even use it to purchase another home!

Option Two is a Line of Credit (LOC). This is certainly the most powerful, and flexible way to get equity out of your home. The reverse mortgage LOC is similar to a traditional HELOC but is a much more efficient and safer strategy for older homeowners. One of the main reasons is because the reverse mortgage is a non-recourse loan which means you can never owe more than the value of the home itself, ever. The other reason is because the unused funds in this LOC are guaranteed to grow regardless of the economy, interest rates, or the future value of your home. The LOC actually grows by the interest rate itself. On top of all of this, the funds are guaranteed to be accessible to you (as long as you continue to live in the home, pay your property taxes, home insurance and HOA

Option Three is to receive monthly disbursements. Depending on your age, current interest rates and the value of your home, the HECM reverse mortgage loan will allow you to RECEIVE monthly disbursements. These disbursements can be set up for a period of time like 5, 7 or 10 years (this is called a term payment plan). Or you can set up monthly disbursements for life (this is called a tenure payment plan). For example, you may be able to receive $1,500 per month for the rest of your life, $2,000 a month for the next twelve years, or $3,000 per month for the next five years. In many cases you can get both a LOC and receive monthly disbursements. Each situation is different and will vary depending on your home value, your age, and current interest rates. Overall, this is a great strategy to replace lost income due to retirement, divorce, or the passing of a spouse.

*Note: With a HECM you must continue to pay the property taxes, home insurance and HOA dues if required.

Gabe Bodner is a Retirement Mortgage Planner in Boulder. Gabe utilizes the latest research from the top researchers to assist his clients to Live for Today and Plan for Tomorrow. To reach Gabe, call 720.600.4870, e-mail gabe@bodnerteam.com or visit reversemortgagesco.com.

GABE BODNER

COVERPROFILE

BoulderHomeSource

It’s a Lifestyle

Marketing Feature

As the motto says, Boulder Home Source Team is a Lifestyle. With more than a billion dollars in sales since 1998 and more than 154 million in the last year. The Boulder Home Source Team has genuinely grown from an idea by Greg Smith and Cyndy Hinkelman Smith into one of RE/MAX’s top 25 Large Teams in the U.S. via a dedicated team of agents working together to provide their clients exceptional customer service while at the same time fully embracing the lifestyle that Colorado has to offer.

Boulder Home Source (BHS) started in 1998 when Greg and Cyndy tried to come up with a name for their website. In 1998, this was somewhat of a cuttingedge concept and idea, but even then, Greg and Cyndy did not

want to brand themselves; they wanted a name representing the area they served. It also helped that Greg was working on his master’s in Information Systems and already had a passion for Search Engine Optimization

(SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) at a time when most brokers had no idea what HTML, linking structures, keywords or JAVA was. At this time, boulderhomesource.com was born and quickly became

one of the most visited websites along the Front Range for buyers looking for property. As the result of boulderhomesource.com the team has had the pleasure of selling some of the highest-priced homes in the area, working with C-Suite executives, entrepreneurs, government officials, teachers, first responders and the list goes on, giving them the insight and expertise to work with a broad network of individuals. Guess what? They all want the same thing: honesty, follow-up, area expertise, and knowing that you care.

Because of Boulder Home Source’s 22-year commitment to SEO and SEM, the footprint of boulderhomesource.com has expanded to cover the entire Front Range; as a result, BHS can now meet the demands of clients from Fort Collins to Castle Rock. Greg and Cyndy maybe should

Team at Boulder HomeSource discusses strategy. (Photo courtesy: Boulder Home Source at RE/MAX Alliance).

The dedicated team of agents at Boulder HomeSource fully embrace the lifestyle that Colorado has to offer. (Photo courtesy: Boulder Home Source at RE/MAX Alliance).

have been a little more ambitious and chose Colorado Home Source. That 23-year crystal ball was a little fuzzy.

As the BHS team grew, we stepped back and decided to focus first on service by integrating a best-in-class technology suite and leaning into the top-level tools RE/ MAX Alliance offers. After building our support, marketing, and concierge team, BHS introduced a best-in-class contact relationship manager and engaged a best-in-class website team. No more late nights of Greg developing pages and writing blogs across hundreds of websites; thank goodness!

At this time, a fantastic thing happened, and new agents asked to join the team; even more surprisingly, agents from other companies started advising their friends and family that if they were getting into real estate, they needed to call the BHS Team with RE/MAX Alliance. They told them that BHS is truly unique and the only team or brokerage in town with a significant lead flow, first-class systems, and training that is second to none.

As a result, the BHS Team grew organically to over 15 brokers serving the Front Range. BHS now has the pleasure of helping over 200 clients, or new friends as we like to call them, a year to meet their real estate goals.

When we asked Joe Gibbs, the director of operations, and McLean Smith, the director of marketing and inside sales, what makes BHS special, they said it is easy, “it is our commitment to helping our agents fully meet the needs of their clients. We are not marketing the Greg Smith Team; we are assisting Lorrie Trussell or Candace NewloveMarrs to provide their clients with an exceptional experience. Our agents and their clients are our priority, and our team’s name and branding are secondary to us. In many ways, we are similar to a high-end advertising agency specializing in selling Real Estate and promoting our team members. After 23 years

and over 1,500 transactions. We know what works firsthand in a multitude of markets.”

Many new models in real estate have come and gone in the real estate world, but BHS has learned that the key to success still boils down to having the extra hustle and being locally involved in your community. Supporting your community through donations and volunteering in programs such as Longmont Humane Society, Out Boulder, Children’s Hospital, coaching youth sports, Chautauqua, University of Colorado, Continental Divide Trail, and many other great organizations that truly make Colorado a special place to call home.

What is next for the BHS Team in 2023? After sitting down with Greg Smith, Joe Gibbs, McLean Smith, Corinne Wiehe, Annie Zrubek, Candace Newlove-Marrs, Jeff Gazaway, Jordan Tennant, Ken Watkins,

Kevin Murray, Lorrie Trussell, Mark Bosley, Mary Romano, Nicole Duke, Scott Hurst, Sean McAndrew, Shannon McGuire, Susan Martin, Tyler Weber, And Will Ford going through their Life Goals for the coming year, the message is loud and clear they are excited for the market ahead and look forward to helping their clients achieve their Real Estate Goals.

The team feels that in 2023 expertise and a strong work ethic will be keys to success. Putting up a sign and waiting for the phone to ring will no longer cut it when selling a home. You need a true expert helping to guide you through each step of the way, from prepping the home for sale to staging, to when and how to market, and once under contract, how to position yourself for the contingencies that lie ahead while maximizing your investment.

For buyers, being in tune with the market and leaving no stone unturned to help the

buyer find a home is key. Just watching the MLS is not enough. The BHS Agents believe we need to be networking with the agent community, canvassing neighborhoods, and leaning into our over 40,000 registered users on our website to ensure we find the best fit for our clients. Then we need to know what questions to be asking. What financing options are available? Can you sell before you buy? Will the Seller take a contingent offer? Does a 2,1 Buy down make sense? Is a long-term Buy Down a better option? Will the Seller cover the HOA costs for a year? Does a 2-year home warranty reduce the risk? Does this house allow short-term rentals? Is an ADU possible? BHS knows that having a realtor who knows the questions to ask could be the difference between a successful or unsuccessful transaction.

For more information, visit boulderhomesource.com.

The Boulder Home Source Team. (Photo courtesy: Boulder Home Source at RE/MAX Alliance)

HOME AND GARDEN Popular holiday houseplants

Many of you may be receiving a holiday themed plant as a gift this holiday season, or maybe you decide to buy one to dress up your own home. But don’t be fooled, even though most of these plants are sold and promoted this time of year, they are not made for outdoor temperatures or winter landscapes. Most of these are tropical in nature and are to be grown as houseplants indoors. Let’s talk about a few of the most common holiday houseplants:

Poinsettias

I could go on for days about poinsettias because they are possibly my favorite holiday plant! They are available in many sizes and a multitude of patterns and colors to complement your unique holiday style.

Poinsettias are not typically kept very long after the holidays are over because they lose some of their luster. However, if you do want to keep your poinsettia, keep it indoors in a high light area until the summer then move it outside. You may need to repot the plant and don’t forget to water it thoroughly

when dry and allow the pot to drain completely. Remember, poinsettias are tropical in nature so using these steps should help your poinsettia to rebloom and keep growing beyond the holidays.

Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter Cactus

That’s right, there are actually three main types of holiday cactus, each with a slightly different leaf shape and bloom time. These popular holiday plants are short-day plants that require several weeks with less than 12 hours of daily light to bloom. Like other succulent houseplants, these holiday cacti prefer a bright location but also benefit from cooler temperatures.

Amaryllis

I LOVE the amaryllis! These popular houseplants have beautiful trumpet-shaped blooms atop a tall stalk with long, thick grass-like leaves and are truly stunning when they bloom! They come in a variety of colors from red to pink to white - and all shades in between.

The bulbs prefer to be planted

in a container that is 1 inch larger in diameter than the bulb and deep enough to support its long root system. They also like to be planted shallow with half of the bulb above the surface of the planting medium. And, because these plants bloom better when pot-bound, you only need to repot them every 3 to 4 years.

Paperwhites

Paperwhites are an easy plant to force indoors by planting the bulbs in a container of rocks. They are a tropical bulb requiring six weeks to grow and bloom. Paperwhites will show off their fragrant blooms for just a few weeks and can be tossed or composted afterward.

Norfolk Island Pine

This time of year, these popular gifted plants are adorned with lots of holiday decorations to look like miniature live Christmas trees. And even though they are dressed up as cute little pine trees, they are not true pines at all. They are actually large tropical houseplants that would not survive out in the cold!

When caring for these treelike houseplants, make sure to give them a large container to support their growth which can be anywhere from 2 to 20 feet tall in a home setting. These plants can reach heights of 200 feet in their native habitat in Australia and New Zealand!

Norfolk Island pines prefer a mild room temperature of 60-72 degrees and at least two hours of bright but indirect sunlight.

Hopefully these tips will help you to keep your holiday plants happy and allow you to enjoy them well beyond the holiday season!

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

My amaryllis blooms when it wants to and surprises me every time! (Photo: Amy Lentz).

AMY LENTZ

‘Enduring Marble’ pink poinsettias growing in a greenhouse. (Photo: Amy Lentz).

NEW HOME BUILDERS / COMMUNITIES

BOULDER, BROOMFIELD & LONGMONT AREA

Our region is home to more than 300,000 residents and includes some of the most diverse, natural landscapes and sustainable development along the Norther n Front Range of Colorado. From open space, land use and sustainability policies to forwardthinking and compassionate human services programs, our city and town gover nments 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

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

27 Erie Village Builder: Porchfront Homes

18 Flatiron Meadows Builder: KB Home, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers 26 Morgan Hill Builder: Lennar 19 Rex Ranch Builder: Taylor Morrison 25 Westerly Builder: McStain Neighborhoods, SLC Homes, Wonderland Homes 28 Wild Rose Builder: Lennar

FIRESTONE

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

FREDERICK

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: Cor nerstone 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 Lanter ns 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

“We originally thought we did not need an agent to help us with our new home purchase and after several months of frustration, a friend suggested we contact Mar y at Boulder Home Source, within a month she helped us find the perfect new build and negotiated a lower rate and upgrades that we never expected.” The Smiths

DESIGN

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service (TNS)

By now you have probably heard of hygge, the Danish term for coziness and contentment. While you can incorporate the concept into your home and lifestyle throughout the year, the holiday season is certainly the perfect time.

Looking for ways to welcome a sense of hygge this holiday season? Begin by evaluating your whole home, then look for ways to uplift each space using these tips.

Infuse scents

In nature, each season brings a fresh fragrance and overall scents. Fragrance can also help provide a sense of calm. Consider infusing winter scents into your home over the holiday season such as juniper, fig, pine and sage.

Create cozy areas

Make spaces in your home that can be used as places for you and your holiday guests to refresh, recharge and renew.

Find a focal point

Even if you don’t have a fireplace for everyone to gather around, you can still rearrange your space in order to create a central area that can serve as the hub of holiday activity. Go big with creating a cozy room, or simply setting an attractive communal table.

Incorporate nature

Natural elements such as wood can help warm a space.

Play music

Find calming and soothing music or sounds like water, bells or chimes.

Provide comfort

From welcoming your guests with their own cozy throw to providing individual slippers, providing comfort is the cornerstone of hygge.

Use greenery

Evergreens and winter-hardy plants and trees not only help add freshness to a space, but will also help improve overall indoor air quality.

Change your color scheme

Adding earth tones goes a long way to adding warmth and hygge to a space. Consider warm shades of brown, green, yellow and red.

Open the windows

Natural light not only impacts moods and helps enhance lives but improves a sense of hygge. With the sun setting earlier during winter months, you can also achieve holiday hygge by adding festive elements like

While you can incorporate hygge into your home and lifestyle throughout the year, the holiday season is certainly the perfect time. (Photos: Maya Kruchankova/Dreamstime/TNS).

string lights and candles.

The Danish are considered to be among the happiest people in the world. Why not use some of these tips to create a sense of well-being and calm into your home this holiday season?

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Awardwinning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer. Contact her at info@ cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.

ASK ANGI

What are winter rooftop risks?

By Paul F. P. Pogue Ask Angi (TNS)

Your roof is one of the most highly visible and important elements of your home. It works every hour of every day to protect your home from the elements, including heat, driving wind and snow. It’s easy to think of your roof as a stalwart defender, but roof maintenance is critical. Once that steadfast defense cracks, you can find yourself in a world of trouble.

In many parts of the country, cold months provide roofs with their greatest test, and most repairs run around $1,000. Some of the most likely issues you’ll face in winter:

Roof leak

A leaky roof needs to be addressed by a professional and fixed right away. Not only do leaks quickly cause structural roof damage, they’ll damage

a sign of

be

whatever is unlucky enough to be underneath. Call a pro as quickly as possible, remove all items from underneath the leak and place buckets to catch the

water, and use photo and video to document the damage.

Tree limb damage

High winds, winter storms

and snow buildup can break overhanging limbs and hit your roof. If this happens, no matter what time of day or night, cover it with a tarp as swiftly as possible and call a professional. You don’t want to do this work on your own. Be sure to contact your insurance agent right away as well. Your homeowner’s insurance likely covers the damage.

Ice dams

When ice freezes and refreezes on your roof, it can form solid ice dams. These can create damaging roof leaks, mold, and mildew. You can hire a pro to remove these dams, but you’ll pay $300-$600 per hour for the job. Poorly insulated attics often cause ice dams, so make sure your attic is properly ventilated and insulated.

If you haven’t had your gutters cleaned yet this season, hire a professional gutter cleaner

We believe actions speak louder than words But in case you want to see the words that hold us to those actions, we’ve got a whole Code of Ethics, too. It’s 8 pages based on honesty, integrity, and trust that’s exclusive to REALTORS®

Heavy icicles are

roof dams, which can be damaging to your roof and need to

addressed quickly. (Photo: Christian Delbert/Dreamstime/TNS).

REALTORS® are members of the National Associat on of REALTORS®

before the freezing days arrive. Clogged-up gutters are another major cause of rooftop ice dams, as well as large icicles that post a danger to your gutters and anyone beneath them.

Repair or replace?

Deciding to replace your roof is a tricky decision. Don’t wait until your old roof starts leaking. By the time you notice a leak, structural damage has

already occurred. You’ll have more extensive work to do, and you’ll pay accordingly. Hire a qualified roof inspector if any of these warning signs appear:

• How old is the roof? Many roofs last 20 to 25 years or longer, depending on material. If you don’t know how old it is, consider having it inspected by a pro.

• What does the roof look like? Check for irregularities in shingle lines. A sag indicates rotting sheathing. Pay close attention to valleys, where rain and snow flow to gutters.

• Do you see asphalt granules in the gutter? If so, that’s a sure sign your shingles are breaking down.

• Does the flashing around

chimneys, vents or skylights show damage like being rusted or eroded?

• What does the attic look like? Check for evidence of leaks or moisture, preferably during rain.

Tweet your home care questions with #AskingAngi and we’ll try to answer them in a future column. Visit at angi.com.

OPEN HOUSE

QUICK GUIDE

BERTHOUD

911 High Mountain Drive $2,275,000.00 Sat., Noon-2 p.m. Janet Borchert WK Real Estate (720) 564-6034

BLACK HAWK 2300 Linden Drive $1,500,000.00 Sat., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Shannon McGuire RE/MAX Alliance (303) 475-2297

BOULDER

1541 Harrison Ave. $649,000.00 Sat., 10 a.m.-Noon Kevin Murray RE/MAX Alliance (303) 818-9249

5350 Illini Way $899,000.00 Sat., 1-3 p.m. Craig Peterson

WK Real Estate (303) 913-7594

1286 Aikins Way $935,000.00 Sun., Noon-2 p.m. Margaret Flaherty WK Real Estate (303) 668-2926

2190 Dartmouth Ave. $999,900.00 Sun., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Margaret Flaherty WK Real Estate (303) 668-2926

2212 Edgewood Drive $1,145,000.00 Sat., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Kristen Martin RE/MAX Alliance (303) 478-1883

6850 Frying Pan Road $1,215,000.00 Sat., Noon-2 p.m. Joshua Legare WK Real Estate

(303) 263-3215

3095 Stanford Ave. $1,895,000.00 Sat., Noon-3 p.m. Dana Hunt WK Real Estate (303) 709-4443

BROOMFIELD

905 W. 8th Avenue Drive $540,000.00 Sat., Noon-2 p.m. Mia Ness Colorado Landmark (720) 273-7567

GREELEY

2029 8th Ave. $475,000.00 Sun., 1-3 p.m. Jenny Oliveira Getting WK Real Estate (970) 534-1188

LAFAYETTE 4051 Longhorn Drive $895,000.00

Sun., 1-3 p.m. Bob Grotluschen RE/MAX of Boulder (303) 441-5645

LONGMONT

2010 Blue Mountain Road $995,000.00

Sat., 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Craig Cowley WK Real Estate (303) 589-4009

4302 Nelson Road $3,775,000.00 Sat., 2:30-4:30 p.m. Kevin Murray RE/MAX Alliance (303) 818-9249

WESTMINSTER

10567 W. 107th Ave. $490,000.00

Sun., Noon-2 p.m. Craig Peterson WK Real Estate (303) 913-7594

VIEW THIS WEEK’S OPEN HOUSES AT: OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM