With budget cuts shrinking our police departments and unemployment fueling crime, the smartest answer to protecting our homes is to work together. Just this month, on Sunday February 16, a neighborhood watch group at E. Woodmen Road and Rangewood Drive were able to thwart a 4 a.m. car burglary by two teenagers.

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood watches began during the colonial era with volunteers patrolling their neighborhoods. In the 1960s in response to a rash of burglaries, neighbors began to organize themselves with the local police department to help keep an eye on each other’s residents and having the police ready to respond.

But it wasn’t until the late 1960s that a true neighborhood watch was established in Queens, New York after the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese. Outraged neighbors decided to set up a neighborhood watch when they learned several witnesses to Ms. Genovese’s murder had done nothing to save her or capture her murderer. By 1972 the National Sheriffs’ Association began to organize a nationwide watch group.

Creating a Safe Community

Neighborhood Watch is effective. Not only does it bring your neighbors together to work as a team reinforcing a communal camaraderie, it also brings citizens together with police enforcement. The two work very well. While law enforcement can’t be everywhere, a Neighborhood Watch can have trained eyes and ears on their neighborhood at all times. And while a citizen cannot and should not attempt to apprehend a criminal, with trained techniques, a citizen can work with law enforcement to capture and prosecute criminals. Most importantly, a Neighborhood Watch can demonstrate their presence in their area at all times, day and night reducing opportunities for crime.

According to the Stapleton United Neighbors website: “In order to get your block active in this program, initial training must be arranged between the residents on your block and the police department. The goal is to attain 70% participation in order to become a certified Neighborhood Watch block.  Certified blocks receive two posted Neighborhood Watch signs. These signs advise passersby of your block’s watchfulness and commitment to reducing crime and promoting safety.”

Get on the Watch

According to a U.S. DOJ Crime Prevention Research Review, “The 2000 National Crime Prevention Survey (National Crime Prevention Council, 2001) estimated that 41 percent of the American population lived in communities covered by Neighborhood Watch. The report concluded, “This makes Neighborhood Watch the largest single organized crime-prevention activity in the nation.”

You invested a major portion of your savings and life to owning your home and so has your neighbor. With tight budgets and our government economically strapped, we can’t depend on our officials alone. But we do what this country has always done best during tough times: work together.

To get started, visit USAOnWatch.org.

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After the late snow we experienced in February it is hard to believe that Spring is right around the corner! March 20th marks the official day of Spring. I'm sure a lot of you are enjoying the longer daylight hours of each day, which is about to be even brighter. Daylight savings is Sunday, March 10th at 2 am so don't forget to set your clocks forward before you go to bed on March 9th.  The infamous, green St. Patrick's Day is on a Sunday this year but there is a lot to do the week prior to the holiday. Friday, March 15th at Fido Irish Bar is St. Baldrick's where fundraisers will be shaving heads for childhood cancer research. Runnin' of the Green on March 10th was voted race of the year by Colorado Runners Magazine. Saturday, March 16th is the Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade, which runs through the Ball Park area of Downtown Denver.

Colorado Sports Fans, Take your Pick!

There is plenty to do for sports fans in Colorado, whether it is watching Colorado Rockies Spring Training on TV or supporting our local teams at a home game.  Here is a list of schedules for Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, and Colorado Mammoth. Colorado will be hosting the World Cup qualifier when US Men's team plays Costa Rica on March 22nd at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. NCAA March Madness begins March 19th. Hopefully a couple of our local college basketball teams will finish strong to make the tournament this year.  

Opportunities for Coloradoans to Give Back, Have Fun, and Eat!

March is a great month for fundraising events.  Give back while having fun at any of these charity happenings: Bunny Bolt, Colfax Marathon, Rescheduled Chili Cook Off for Maxfund, and Denver Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis.

Denver Restaurant Week continues through March 8th. Check out the new car models, exotic vehicles and energy efficient, green cars at the Denver Auto Show. There is a lot going on at the National Western Complex this month from the Denver Home Show to the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo including Denver March Powwow.  Hops and Handrails combines some of Coloradan's favorite hobbies; hand crafted beers and snowboarding. For all you fashioners Aspen Fashion Week will kick off March 10th. 

Fort Collins Wine Fest will be held end of March. Foodie Walk is the monthly self-guided walk for all your foodie lovers in Downtown Ft. Collins on Friday, March 15th. March 1-14 will be the Great Plates of Downtown. Similar to $52.80 Denver Restaurant Week, Fort Collins' restaurants will showcase their top dishes for $25 a plate. St. Patrick Day celebrations on Saturday, March 16th will be Sharin' O The Green 5K run/walk and Lucky Joe's St. Patrick's Day Parade. The Men's Basketball Rams need your support for the remaining home games.  

I hope you enjoy the last day of March with your family and friends for Easter Sunday. The majority of you will have Spring Break in March. I hope you enjoy the inviting changes of the season. May you have a healthy, green March!!  Sláinte

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Cherry Creek residents lost a battle, but Cherry Creek may have won an economic revitalization. After a long meeting lasting late into the evening on Tuesday, Feb. 19th, the Denver City Council voted 11-0 to rezoning 245 Columbine St. in Cherry Creek North to a CMX-8 zone. This means that higher density construction will be allowed on the half-acre land where the abandoned U.S. Post Office has sat for three years.

The Building

Denver developer Jim Sullivan will build a new 7 story, 90,000 square feet office and retail building. James Sullivan submitted plans for the project in September. It will also include several floors of underground parking, ground-floor retail, office space and two luxury condos on the top floor. The developers decreased the building height to seven stories from eight and reduced the building by 13,000 square feet to appease some of Cherry Creek residents’ concerns.

SullivanHayes Cos. is a Denver-based retail real estate company bought by Chang Enterprises of Mission Viejo, California in 2004. Jim Sullivan started SullivanHayes with Jed Hayes in 1978.

The project was designed by Brian Klipp of Klipp Architects. Klipp Architects was founded in 1979. From two experts to nearly 40 today the well awarded company located in downtown Denver has built such notable projects as the Hyatt Regency Denver Colorado Convention Center, Lincoln Station, Denver School of Science and Technology, the Denver Central Library and the recently built Denver Justice Center.

The building will be constructed by Western Development Group. Western Development Group is a Denver-based, privately held real estate development company specializing in mixed-used developments in Colorado. Local projects include the redevelopment of 200 Fillmore in Cherry Creek North.

The Gloves Are Off in Denver

The vote embittered the North Cherry Creek Neighborhood Association, who felt their 12 weeks of meeting and work on a special white paper made by neighbors and architects as guidance was completely ignored. Their fears are that the project is too large adding too much traffic and will destroy the character of the neighborhood. Residents also feel that the Sullivan building will set a new precedence for over-development.

The developers argue that traffic will have little effect in the area as it will be directed on to the already busy Josephine Street.

The battle will be ongoing. The association has started a legal defense fund to hire the 24-year-old Colorado real estate development firm of Jack Reutzel.

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Riverfront Park’s heart of the community

We love LoHi and over the past year the rapid growth of this exciting neighborhood has provided us with stories about great new restaurants, breweries, and new real estate developments.

With everything going on in LoHi you might not know how much has been changing across the pedestrian bridge in another favorite neighborhood. Riverfront Park has seen some gradual but significant changes to their core public space… the Plaza in Riverfront Park.

Downtown Denver condo and Downtown Denver loft owners love to have amenities outside their front door. One of the most popular amenity is tied to our appetites and taste buds. We love to have great restaurants close by.

More dining, more gathering, and more fun

The Plaza in Riverfront Park began with a very mixed use environment. This mix included a Zengo, a wine shop, a bank, a florist, a coffee shop, and beauty salon, and a number of office spaces.

Within the past 12 months the mix has been moving towards creating an upscale food and drink center of the neighborhood.

The florist, bank, and beauty salon have been replaced by a number of restaurant offerings.

INK Coffee, Al Lado, and now McLoughlin’s

The first of those was the expansion of Ink Coffee to almost double their space. With a plan to offer Ice Cream (which we hope to see in the summer) the local neighborhood coffee shop expanded space and hours for its neighbors.

Then Zengo announced the addition of Al Lado Wine Bar. Upscale, hip, and cozy those living in Riverfront had another great option from great chef Richard Sandoval.

Then this month, the neighborhood’s favorite gathering spot got a HUGE expansion. McLoughlin’s Irish Pub (same owners as the Irish Snug) took over the old Bank space and expanded to roughly 3 times their original size. The new and improved McLoughlin’s includes a new expanded patio, new menu, and a beautiful interior design.

And just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

We can’t wait to see what will be next as the Plaza in Riverfront Park continues it’s evolution into a dining and gathering hot spot for Denver.  To learn more about this exciting neighborhood please contact anyone on the New Era Realty Team today.

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No lawn care, no maintenance responsibilities, no utility bills, no problem when you live in a Denver metro condo or loft property! Living the Downtown Denver condo and loft lifestyle not only provides high-rise, urban amenities, but worry-free living when it comes to typical homeowner responsibilities. Instead of spending your summer weekends pulling weeds and grooming acres of landscaping, Denver’s condo and loft lifestyle affords you the luxury of sitting poolside during your summer weekends as your HOA handles the property management and maintenance of your condo property.

But, before you jump into buying your dream Downtown Denver condo or loft property, it’s important to decode your desired property’s HOA so you understand what your monthly HOA fees cover and don’t run into any surprises along the way. Check out the following five areas of an HOA before embarking on the journey luxury living in an urban, high-rise condo or loft.

Identify Services and Amenities Covered by the HOA

Whether your dream condo or loft resides in LoDo, the Ballpark neighborhood, LoHi, Uptown or Riverfront, every condo and loft building comes equipped with its own specific HOA and the services/amenities that are covered by your monthly fee. HOA services can include the basics such as maintenance of amenities (pool, fitness center, lobby area, etc.), grounds maintenance, common area maintenance, heat and air conditioning at properties like 888 Condos in Capital Hill, as well as more extravagant services and amenities at properties like the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons Lofts. These upscale loft properties include various extra amenities and services such as gym memberships, routine housekeeping/hotel services, and exclusive owner lounges and boardrooms.

Understand HOA Approval Process

One of the duties of an HOA is making sure that all homeowners follow the rules and regulations set forth and governed by the HOA board. The purpose of HOA rules is to ensure uniformity and consistency of units, as well as to maintain the overall condo building’s marketability and value. This means that you need to be comfortable with your desired property’s HOA rules in regard to modifying/changing/updating the outside or inside of your condo. If, for instance, you want to paint your front door red, it is important to know ahead of time whether your preferred paint color is an option and what process you need to go through to get HOA permission to change your front door paint color.

Determine HOA Financial Vitality

HOAs collect set amounts of money from their residents each month, but they also are responsible for providing certain services with the collected HOA fees. Before moving into an HOA-controlled property, it’s important to review the financial statements of your property’s HOA to determine whether it has enough financial reserves to not only cover day-to-day operational expenses, but regular upgrades to the property, building and landscape as well.

Identify Rental Restrictions

If you are in the market to buy a condo or loft as a rental investment or you want to have the option to rent out your condo down the road after living in it, it’s important to check with the property’s HOA to make sure it doesn’t have any restrictions about whether owners are allowed to rent out their properties.

Meet Your HOA

As the governing board for your condo building, HOAs typically include a board of directors who have a vested interest in your condo property and building. Before you move into a new condo or loft building in Downtown Denver, attend a monthly HOA meeting to get a feel for the type of residents who occupy the building and determine whether the HOA’s goals/visions/bylaws align with your personality and lifestyle.

If you are ready to live the lifestyle of luxury in an urban, high-rise condo or loft, give New Era Realty a call today to find the perfect downtown living property to fit your needs. New Era Realty’s condo and loft experts will not only help you find your dream home, but will be by your side to navigate through all of the different HOA specifics in Downtown Denver’s prime condo and loft properties.

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As you prepare your finances for the upcoming tax season, you may be thinking about new ways to invest your money and looking for options to get a better return on your investment. The current condition of the Colorado economy, increased demand in the Denver rental market and projections on continued low interest rates all point toward rental properties as a possible good investment. Condo properties in particular can provide an excellent opportunity as a rental investment due to their low maintenance nature and highly sought after appeal for an urban downtown lifestyle.

Colorado Economy Maintaining Positive Positioning on Economic Index

The Colorado economy in general and the Denver metro real estate market specifically are showing signs of continued recovery as job growth in the state is maintaining and home property prices are starting to see modest increases across the board.  A recent Goss Institute for Economic Research survey released last month showed that the Mountain States region (includes Colorado, Utah and Wyoming) is maintaining an economic expansion trend by achieving an economic index value above 50 for 38 straight months in a row. The survey also pointed toward economic optimism over the course of the next six months, due to improvements in the national economy and an upturn in residential housing.¹

Low Interest Rates Point to Favorable Buyer’s Market

The federal government is continuing to support a low interest rate environment until the job market shows significant improvement nationwide. With the national job market creeping along at a snail’s pace, interest rates are remaining low, making it a favorable time to invest in the real estate market.

Denver Metro Condos a Smart Investment

Whether you’re a new investor in real estate properties or a seasoned veteran, investing in a Downtown Denver condo property can provide financial advantages, as well as property management benefits. At the end of 2012, rent gains in Denver increased 8.1 percent year-over-year and Denver ranked fourth among cities surveyed where rent prices have increased the most in 2012.² These positive trends for the Denver metro area suggest that rental properties can be a viable financial investment.

Investing in a condo property, in particular, can be advantageous for renting as condos are typically located in urban areas where there is a consistent high demand of people looking to rent versus buying. The demographic of urban lifestyle condo tenants tend to include a younger, more transient crowd that enjoys the freedom and flexibility of renting.

Condos also can be favorable rental properties since condo properties are known to have a strong Home Owners Association (HOA) presence. HOAs can be an important asset for condo landlords because it reduces the maintenance responsibilities that landlords typically are required to provide to their tenants. Every HOA includes different amenities and responsibilities, but most include snow removal, outside building and landscape maintenance, as well as shared space maintenance in areas such as the lobby, pool and fitness room.  Depending on the configuration of the condo building, utilities may even be maintained by the HOA, which can reduce the hassle and worry about whether your tenants are maintaining your property appropriately. 

If you are ready to expand your financial portfolio by investing in the Denver metro real estate market, contact the Denver condo and loft real estate experts at New Era Realty today. New Era Realty specializes in helping Denver Metro residents get the most out of their real estate investments.
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1  Denver Post - Business Conditions Index
2  Denver Post - Home prices and rents in Denver up year over year

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The month of February is all about one of our favorite neighborhoods in Denver.... LOHI!
 
So not only will we be posting on our Facebook page details about the many new and upcoming development projects in this neighborhoods, we will be highlighting the numerous amazing restaurants, bars, and bistros.  And we want you to get a chance to try the most popular one.
 
This month we are running our "Best Restaurant in LoHi Contest".  All you need to do to enter is vote for your favorite restaurant. If you don't see your favorite... add it.  At the end of the month we will pick one lucky winner from all the entries for a $100 gift card to the most popular restaurant in LoHi.
 
We just have to wait and see what that restaurant will be! Enter Here!

Congratulations to our Winners!

Cruiser Bike Giveaway
It has been a 2013 contest giveaway as New Era Realty thanks all of our fans and clients for their wonderful support. We have two winners to announce this month and the kickoff of a new LoHi Restaurant contest.
 
We are pleased to announce that New Era Realty Client Steve Zeeh is our Cruiser Bike giveaway winner. Steve has a heart of gold and used his winnings to give a Sugar Skulls 3i Electra Curiser to his fiancé Felicia.
 
Superbowl Party Giveaway
We were really hoping to root for our Broncos in the Superbowl. But when life gives you lemons you make Superbowl Party lemonade.  
 
We decided to give one of our lucky clients their own Superbowl party sponsored by New Era Realty.  We created a video of the lucky winner raffle and you can see who won our Superbowl Giveaway on the New Era Realty video channel here.

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February is known for being the shortest month of the year, black history month and to some, a month for lovers!  There is a lot to do in Denver during the 28 days of February so hold on for the ride!  The first weekend of February started with Groundhog Day and a crazy "lights out" Super Bowl. Although the Broncos weren't there, it was still a great game with an entertaining half time. Thanks Beyonce!
 
The Denver Nuggets are half way through their season and doing well. Hockey is FINALLY back as well!  Support the Colorado Avalanche this short season. Make sure to stop by the Colorado Convention Center for the annual Colorado Home and Garden Show.  

Don't forget your sweetheart on Valentine's Day. Romeo and Juliet is currently playing at The Denver Center of Performing Arts. Reservations are filling up quickly for Denver Restaurant Week so make sure to call your favorite or new restaurant for the $52.80 deals. Mardi Gras is early this year on February 12th.
 
There are several indoor and outdoor festivals to attend this month. Here are a few: 100th Annual Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs, Winter Mountain Games, Winter Festival at Evergreen Lake, Bhakti and Yoga Chant Fest, Boulder International Film Festival.  For those of you thinking of spring and summer the 56th Annual Colorado RV, Boat, Sports and Travel Show comes to Denver.  
 
We hope you have a wonderful February 2013!! 

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If you live in the suburbs and work in the Denver metro area, you are probably familiar with the public transportation. What you may not know is that out of 100 metro areas in the nation, Denver is ranked high for connecting companies to labor pool with one of the most efficient transit systems in the nation.

Connecting Suburbs to Jobs

A study by the Brookings Institution showed that the Denver-Aurora area has 84 percent coverage for commuters, with a servicing frequency of 8.1 minutes giving an overall metro job access to 47 percent of its commuters. This not only makes our transit to and from work easier, but it also makes us more competitive when trying to lure big companies to the Denver metro area. The study found that the nation, overall, did not build an environment favorable for transit operations.

“Houses near transits held their value better nearly by 25% compared to houses that weren’t,” according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. “There has begun to be a fundamental economic rationale for connecting housing to transit that has begun to drive the market in much more fundamental ways.” But data still needs to be build that will help suburbs connect jobs to transit, broadly helping the metro and suburbs do better.

Ready for Denver's future

At a time when gas prices are high, traffic is more congested and our environment at stake, it’s good to know that the Denver-Aurora area ranked 12th for public transit to job locations from neighborhoods with public transit. With Denver’s strong public transit our labor force can arrive to a job within 90 minutes, ranking us ninth for its labor access rate.

The report looked at the proximity of public transit to jobs and how easily the workforce can access the systems. But building mixed-use development is hard. It is simpler to have zoning codes that separate and finance single-use rather than mixed-use development. What makes the Denver system unique is that our transit system works under one organization as one entity for several counties and municipalities. Therefore, the infrastructure for future planning of our transit systems’ expansion beyond county lines is already in place.

So whether you live downtown or out of town, you can avoid the parking headache, the traffic anxiety and finish more work while heading to your job better than most in the country. Contact New Era Realty to map out your next home along one of many of Colorado’s transit options.

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