http://coloradorealtors.com/car_news_viewarticle.asp?ArticleID=2490

One of the great secrets to boosting your energy is taking action.  Just by simply changing something in your life and doing something different you’ll increase your energy flow.  Action gives you energy.

Sometimes we get bogged down with situations, habits, or people that drain our energy.  What can you do?  Begin by committing to spend time doing things that support your goals.  Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and avoid situations and people who drain you.  In addition, here are 10 quick steps you can take today to boost your energy:

1.   Take A Daily Power Nap. Taking a short 20-minute nap when you’re feeling tired can give your brain a rest and invigorate you...and a short power nap won’t keep you up late at night.

2. Make a List of Things That You Like Doing. You can ramp-up your personal and professional energy level by focusing your attention on what you like doing. Motivation increases energy.

3. Take A Walk. Taking a 10-minute brisk walk will increase your energy level up to two hours, reported California State University researchers. Experts say increasing your physical activity whether it’s swimming, running, dancing, or biking will boost your energy level.

4. Eat Healthy Meals and Take Vitamins. Eat a balanced diet and take vitamins with minerals to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs. Also, make sure you’re getting enough magnesium (300 milligrams) by eating almonds, cashews, whole grains, bran, and fish – particularly halibut.

5. Turn Off The Negative News.  Reduce your daily diet of negative news (TV, newspaper, radio, the Internet), which can cause additional stress and fatigue. Focus your attention on the positive things happening in our world, and in your life.

6. Watch A Funny Movie. Think about how you feel after you’ve watched a really funny movie, or had a big laugh.  Laughing is good for your heart, reduces stress, and increases your energy.

7. Pump Up Your Fluids. Even a little dehydration can leave you feeling tired and lethargic. Pour yourself a tall, cool glass of water.

8. Get a Good Night’s Sleep. Make sure you get sufficient rest, which, for the average person, is eight hours.  Keep your sleep area dark to reduce any disruptions. A good night’s sleep goes a long way to keeping your energy level high.

Where and what you buy will affect you for as long as you live in the house. Get your priorities in order before you start looking or even talk to a real estate broker or sales associates.

For first-time home buyers this is a new experience, so it's especially important to do your homework. If you currently own a home, you know exactly what's lacking. You may need another bedroom or bathroom, or a good school nearby.

First, decide where you want to live. A big part of the answer hinges on where and how you earn a living. If your job requires a lot of reading or is quite stressful, public transportation may offer valuable time to sit quietly. Regardless, you should practice the commute in rush hour before you make a commitment. A seemingly quiet road can transform into gridlock during peak hours.

People with children have other major considerations: school and safety. If you plan to send your children to private schools, you can live where you want assuming you can easily arrange transportation. On the other hand, a lavish public school system may indicate high local real estate taxes. Check them out.

Obviously, lifestyle is an important consideration. People who frequently dine out, go dancing and attend the theater probably belong in the city or a close-in suburb. In other words, make sure you're in close proximity to the things that matter most.

It used to be that homes came in a limited variety, but today, you have many choices. In addition to the traditional single-family home, you can buy a townhouse, condominium or apartment condominium or co-op. 

In planned unit developments (PUDs), you can find almost any combination. In condos and other such communities, make sure the rules and regulations, as well as the by-laws, match your lifestyle. This type of housing is great for people who want to own their own space without being responsible for mowing the lawn or repairing the roof; a management company handles that.

On the other hand, you'll pay fees for these services. In addition to checking the documents and financial soundness of the homeowner's association, you must determine if the monthly fees are worth the services and additional amenities such as a swimming pool or exercise room.

Affordability can be a factor not only in the type of housing, but whether it's new or an existing home. Old houses often have fine woodwork or interesting nooks and crannies not normally found in new homes. They generally sit on landscaped lots with mature trees and grown bushes.

New homes may cost more, but you can make many more decisions on amenities, colors, carpeting and fixtures. Make sure you're dealing with a reputable builder, and have an attorney review all documents.

Selecting a real estate professional is an important first step in beginning your search. Ask for personal recommendations to find an individual who is knowledgeable about the neighborhood and has access to the local Multiple Listing Service. Make sure you feel confident about his or her knowledge and skills, and understand the business relationship that you have established between you.  Of course, you can always start here by contacting us via our website...www.GetYourSummitHomes.com.  Thanks!

A community bonfire to kick-off the Gold Rush Weekend event.  Join us at the Frisco Bay Marina for a bonfire at dusk and fireworks 7:30 pm.  Refreshments benefit the Summit Nordic Ski Team.

40th Anniversary Salomon “Frisco Gold Rush”
featuring the SALOMON Nordic races and TUBBS Snowshoe 7K

February 7, 2010

Join us at Colorado’s oldest XC Ski & Snowshoe event – the Frisco Gold Rush hosted by the Town of Frisco and the Frisco Nordic Center. To Benefit the Summit Nordic Ski Club.

February 7
9 am 5K/10K Classic
9:45 am 5K/10K Skate
10:30 am 20K Skate
11:30 am 7K TUBBS Snowshoe

Limited Parking at the Frisco Nordic Center. Shuttles will be available from Summit County Commons building (3/10 mile west of the Nordic Center entrance). Plan to arrive early as shuttles begin at 8 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.

Colorado Romp to Stomp

March 06, 2010

Frisco Nordic Center, CO

3k or 5k Snowshoe Walk OR 3k Snowshoe Race

Strap on your snowshoes for the Colorado Romp to Stomp--a fun, family-friendly snowshoe event that is truly in a class of its own! With the majestic Rockies raising high above, thousands of people decked out in pink, and a festive atmosphere complete with live entertainment & FREE breakfast, this event is not to be missed!

Quick Facts
Benefits: Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Year started: 2003
Total # of participants since inception: 10,668
Total raised for Susan G. Komen: $468,960

Registration Costs:
Adult
Early Bird Pre-Reg Rate: $25
Pre-Reg Rate: $35
Day-Of Rate: $40

Lil Romper (Ages 6-12)
Early Bird Pre-Reg Rate: $15
Pre-Reg Rate: $25
Day-Of Rate: $30

Lil Bitty Romper (Ages 0-5)
Free with adult registration (still must be registered)

Snowed in for the Cause
Early Bird Rate: $25
Regular Rate: $35
Snowed in? Planning to sleep late? If you can’t make it to the Romp you can still participate in SNOWED IN FOR THE CAUSE. You’ll be supporting a great cause and still feel like you’re part of the action!

Suggested Fundraising Goal Per Participant: $100

Click here to register for the Frisco March 6 event.  http://tubbsromptostomp.com/event/co

This is such an inspirational video that I felt the urge to share.  This man is celebrating his 95^th birthday skiing at Loveland Ski Area with his friends and family.  He started skiing in 1941with his wife; absolutely one for the bucket list.

http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=63746211001

If you’re in the market for you’re first home, it’s important to start looking NOW! Mortgage rates are near their lowest levels in history, affordability is at an all-time high and there is an excellent selection of Summit County homes available. These three factors make it an extraordinary time to buy – and we can tell you from experience it won’t stay this good forever.

Let’s get together soon to talk about the opportunities we’re seeing right now. In the meantime, we think you will find the $8,000 Closer to Home eBook a great resource.

We look forward to helping you on your path to homeownership, contact us at www.yoursummitrealestate.com to speak with an agent on this incredible opportunity!!

http://mykw.kw.com/kwintranet/image/YFH_eBook_Tax_Credit_010710_1263329913890.pdf?id=2500

If you are single and buy a first-time home as a part owner, you can claim the full credit as long as you qualify for the credit.

For example: If you are a single person who qualifies for the credit and you have a co-signer or co-owner, such as a parent who does not qualify, you can still claim 100% of the credit says the IRS.

The IRS says the parent doesn’t qualify for any portion of the credit, but if the child hasn’t owned a home during the three years preceding the current purchase and can qualify based on income, he or she can be allocated the entire $8,000 credit.

When unmarried individuals co-purchase a home and only one of them is eligible for the credit, then the full $8,000 can be allocated to the eligible buyer.

Source: Internal Revenue Service  www.irs.gov

Mortgage rates continue to stay at or below the amazing 5% level. This may not last forever and forecasters are predicting a modest increase to about 5.25%. This is still an attractive rate. Low interest, low prices and motivated sellers have made this the most affordable market in history.

I posted some videos of the fire on YouTube.  There are four videos, click on the “see all” link to find all of them.

http://www.youtube.com/timt1064

The Woodward at Copper first opened The Barn on February 28th, 2009.  The Barn is the first indoor ski and snowboard training facility with 19,400 square feet of terrain park and pipe progression.  The facility allows year round training in doing all the airial flips and tricks that young people are thriving on now. Additionally, Copper hosted The Grand Prix Snowboarding Event. This was an Olympic qualifying event and all the biggest names in the sport participated. Needless to say the resort was packed with the vast majority of attendees under thirty. Copper was also the first resort in Colorado to open their halfpipe for the season.

Powdr’s business strategy centers on the mountain. According to a statement released after the sale; Powdr really focuses on providing an unparalleled on-mountain experience, and everything else is a bonus. Why do people live in or choose to visit the mountains? To ski and ride. That's why they focus on making that experience the best it can be. This is certainly a change from the Intrawest focus on the village and real estate development which resulted in Copper suffering from a lack of on-mountain improvements in recent years.

At this time you can purchase a ski-in/ski-out two bedroom in Copper Mountain for about the same as a one bedroom in Breckenridge. With the focus on the future that Powdr brings this may not last forever. Best of all, with all the growth going on in Breckenridge, Copper still has the feel of a small resort. It’s easy to find your way around and get around.

Of great concern is if the new owner does not intend to occupy the home the act provides that the owner take the property subject to the lease and the tenants get to occupy the property for the remainder of the outstanding lease.  If the tenant has a lease that is 4 years and only 1 year has been used the new owner will have to adhere to the lease agreement.  It is difficult to get the information on a lease in the foreclosure process and hard work and determination will need to be used.  The tenant has no obligation to the prospective new buyer to provide any information. 

In the Summit County housing market there are a lot of leased homes and a good realtor who is willing to do there research would be very helpful in a foreclosure purchase.  Link to www.YourSummitRealEstate.com for more information on this and to speak with an agent…

You’ve started looking for a home and a real estate professional to assist you, your buyer’s representative may ask you to sign a Buyer’s Representation Agreement….what is this form and why should you sign it? 

A Buyer’s Representation Agreement or Buyer’s Agency Agreement is a legal document that formalizes your working relationship with a particular buyer’s representative, detailing what services you are entitled to and what your buyer’s rep expects from you in return.  While the language used in the document is formal, homebuyers should view it as an important and helpful tool for clarifying expectations, developing mutual loyalty and most of all, elevating the services you will receive. 

Here are five (5) reasons why you should use a Buyer’s Agent:

1. Receive a higher level of service:  If you’ve formalized an agency relationship with a buyer’s rep, you can expect to be treated like a client instead of a customer…what’s the difference?? Clients are entitled to superior services, relative to customers.  While the details vary from state to state, and from one buyer’s agent to another you can generally assume that being a client means that you’ve formed a fiduciary, or agency relationship with your buyer’s rep. 
2. Get more without paying more:  in almost every case, home sellers have already agreed to pay a buyer’s agent’s commission, if they haven’t you can ask your buyer’s rep to avoid showing you any such homes.  Or you can still view the homes knowing that you will need to factor in your agent’s commission into any offer you may write.  While buyers rarely pay real estate commissions, this is an important detail you’ll want to discuss with your buyer’s rep and clarify in their representation agreement.
3. Ways to avoid misunderstandings:  A Buyer’s Agency Agreement clarifies expectations, helping you understand what you should and shouldn’t expect from your buyer’s rep and what they will expect from you…which usually centers on loyalty to one another. 
4. Agency relationships are based on mutual consent:  While most representation agreements specify a time period, like six months, they can be terminated early if both parties consent.  Most buyers’ reps are willing to end the agreement early if the working relationship isn’t going too smoothly.  Some buyer’s reps also offer representation agreements for as little as one day, for the purpose of giving both parties a brief trial period to explore working together. 
5. Strength as a team:   When you and your buyer’s rep work together within a formalized agency relationship, you have created a team dedicated to helping you achieve the best possible home buying experience! 

For more information on homes in Summit County, Colorado, please visit www.YourSummitRealEstate.com to find a representative that will be pleased to help you. 

Daily Prizes, Avalanche Dog Demos and Helicopters

Copper Mountain, CO…January 13, 2010…Copper is proud to recognize and support the National Ski Area Association’s Safety Awareness Week with Copper’s Safety Fest, featuring three days of safe ski and riding education, demonstrations, and prizes & giveaways worth more than $4,000. Make sure to check out the daily avalanche dog demos at 12:45 p.m., as well as the Flight For Life Helicopter Tour at Patrol Headquarters on Sat., Jan. 16, starting at 10 a.m.*

Copper’s Burning Stones Plaza in the Village at Copper will host Safety Fest, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Jan 16 – 18, and each day guests can visit Copper’s Safety tents to learn about safety, earn a chance for daily prize drawings and watch the avalanche dog demonstration.

This year’s Safety Fest participants include:

• Summit County Rescue Group - Backcountry awareness
• Woodward at Copper - Terrain park and pipe safety 
• St. Anthony’s Medical Center - Helmet safety and general injury prevention
• Copper Mountain Fire Department - General fire safety
• Copper Mountain Ski Patrol - General on-mountain safety practices, Skier’s Responsibility Code, Know your Space, hydration, sunscreen usage, and Emergency Contact Cards laminated at the tent
• Smith Optics (Saturday only) - Eyewear safety topics and helmet safety

Safety Fest tents are open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.*, and those guests who visit all of the booths and get their safety awareness cards punched at each station will be entered into a drawing. The prize drawing will be held at 1 p.m. each day, featuring items such as: lift tickets, lodging certificates, parking passes, Athletic Club memberships and passes, Woodward at Copper One Hit Wonder Sessions, hats, down vests, helmets, ski/ride lessons, childcare at Belly Button Bakery, free rounds of golf at Copper Creek, free orthopedic screenings at Avalanche Physical Therapy, a half day Snowcat trip, gift cards, safety gear and much more. Must be present to win!

One of the highlights of Safety Fest is the Flight For Life Helicopter Tour starting at 10 a.m. on Sat., Jan. 16*, at the top of Copper’s Excelerator and Super Bee lifts. Guests can tour the helicopter and talk to the flight nurse and pilot. Flight For Life is a nonprofit, hospital-based, community service providing critical care transport for a nine state region, with the industry’s most current technology and experienced, knowledgeable staff.

Another great Safety Fest event, the kids especially won’t want to miss, is the daily avalanche dog demos at 12:45 p.m. in Burning Stones Plaza. Typically, a volunteer will “get buried” in an avalanche-type scenario and the Copper Ski Patrol Dog (yes, the dogs are actually members of the Copper Ski Patrol) will use their heightened sense of smell to find the “buried volunteers.”

Safety Tip of the Week:

Skier’s Responsibility Code

• Always stay in control and be able to stop or avoid objects.
• People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
• Do not stop where you obstruct the trail or are not visible from above.
• Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, yield to others.
• Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
• Observe all posted signs and warnings.
• Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
• Prior to using any lift, you must know how to load, ride and unload safely.

Knowing “The Code” is everyone’s responsibility!

*Schedule subject to change

For more information on vacation properties at Copper Mountain, please visit us on line at: www.YourSummitRealEstate.com. 

Photovoltaics is a technology that converts radiant light energy to electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells, also called solar cells, are the building blocks of this technology. PV cells are connected together to form larger modules. A
module is typically placed near or on a home or building to provide a portion of, and in some cases all of, the building's electricity. PV systems are used for "off-the-grid" applications (homes, cabins, and water pumping on farms) as well as federal government applications (traffic warning lights and emergency call boxes near highways).
 

Estimated Cost Savings:
Cost savings for PV systems are typically calculated in terms of other energy options such as extending power lines or alternative energy systems. Stand-alone photovoltaic systems can be more cost-effective than extending power lines for locations as near as a quarter mile off the grid. On a 20-year, life-cycle-cost basis, a remote PV system typically costs from 25 - 50 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Issues:
Electricity from PV systems typically costs more than electricity purchased from a local utility. However, in cases where an area is not served by a utility, a photovoltaic system is likely the most cost-effective option.
Be sure to get bids from two or three (or more) experienced photovoltaic system contractors. Multiple bids will allow you to gain immediate perspective on a fair cost for your PV system.

Getting It Done:
With the assistance of a qualified contractor, make sure to place your system in a location with adequate exposure to the sun. Check for financial incentives offered in your state by consulting the Database of State Incentives for
Renewable Energy (http://www.dsireusa.org/).

More Information On This Topic:
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Photovoltaics
http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/photovoltaics.html
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Photovoltaic Basics
http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/pv_basics.html
Energy and Environmental Building Association: Photovoltaics
http://www.eeba.org/resources/consumer/photovoltaics.htm

Our agents at Keller Williams Top of the Rockies can also help you with your specific questions regarding photovoltaics as we have EcoBroker agents here in our office, please contact them at www.YourSummitRealEstate.com.  Thanks...have a wonderful day!!

From the Entrepreneur Magazine

AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 21, 2009) — Keller Williams Realty joined the ranks of the top franchises in the world last week, when the company was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine. During the same week, the company was also voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report. “The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is a respected source for the real estate industry and beyond, as is Entrepreneur magazine, and we are excited to see our agents honored in this way for all of their hard work,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. “We certainly wouldn’t have been included on either list without the dedication and resolve of our agents.”

According to the ranking in Entrepreneur magazine, the most important criteria to determine the top franchises included financial strength and stability, as well as growth rate and size of the franchise system. The magazine also looked at the number of years the company has been in business and the length of time it’s been franchising, in addition to start-up costs and financial data. Additionally, Keller Williams Realty made an impressive showing on the overall list, placing higher than any other real estate franchise.The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is published by Stefan Swanepoel, a real estate industry speaker andinsider. The survey was crafted to determine the Most Recognizable Brand for Real Estate Franchises for his report out in February 2010. The survey included votes cast by 11,000 plus real estate agents, who cast 390,000 votes to select the top 10.

Earlier in the year, Keller Williams Realty also received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms from J.D. Power and Associates for the second year in a row.

“We are extremely proud that our associates and company are being recognized for our strength and stability during this time in our industry,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO, Keller Williams Realty.

“We attribute our success to being in business with phenomenal people and to our core business models, which have allowed our franchises to thrive during any market.”

###

About Keller Williams Realty Inc.:

Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 679 offices and 73,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. For more information, visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com).

In One Landmark week:

We were ranked No. 1 real estate franchise by Entrepreneur magazine. The real estate industry ranked us as the most Recognizable Real Estate Franchise for 2009 in a Swanepoel Trends Survey. 

 For Summit County, Colorado homes sales and information please log on to:

http://www.yoursummitrealestate.com/

Welcome back---Happy Holidays and no I am not moving to Christmas Trees and ornaments—pack them up and enjoy next year—I celebrate the 12 days of Christmas and keep the holiday going until mid January.

“D”  DVDs, CD’s and Jewel Cases:  If your want to get rid of that Flash Dance or 80’s disco CD because the music just no longer does it for you any more, you can swap it for disc form another music lover at www.zunafish.com.  If you just want to let it go and not worry about it ending up in a landfill, send it (along with DVD and jewel cases) to www.greendisk.com for recycling.

“E”  Empty metal Cans (cleaning products)  Cut off the metal ends of cans containing powdered cleansers, such as Ajax and Bon Ami, and put them in with other household metals.  Recycle the tubes as you would any other cardboard.

Many towns recycle food cans.  If yours does not you can find the nearest steel can recycle spot at  www.recycle-steel.org.   Make a day of it if you like…go to Boulder and to EcoCycle—they will take them.   By the way not necessary to take off the paper label.

Eyeglasses:  Plastic frames are not on the recycle list, but metal ones are.  Just drop them in the scrap metal bin.  Even better—help those who cannot afford eyeglasses..go to www.neweyesfortheneedy.com (sunglasses and plastic frames in good condition are welcome).  Your eye doctor may very well take them as will Lens Crafters.  Check out www.givethegiftofsight.org for another option.