Real Estate Information

Do you ever wonder what is causing you to feel as if a Mack truck has hit you?  Well, here are some tips to help you identify what ails you.  Below are descriptions of the 5 most common respiratory infections.

The common cold causes mild symptoms that include tiredness, stuffy nose, sore throat, and headache.  The drainage is usually clear and runny during the first few days and a bit yellow or green for a few more days.  Generally, you will feel much better in about 5 days, although the drainage and coughing may last up to two weeks.  If symptoms persist longer or become more severe, it could be another type of infection.

Influenza (the flu) is more severe than a common cold, but produces man of the same symptoms.  Some of the additional symptoms include muscle aches, fatigue, a high fever and a bad cough.  See WebMD for more information - http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/default.htm.

Swine flu (H1N1) is turning into a major pandemic.  It has similar symptoms to the regular flu but might include vomiting and diarrhea.  If you have any flu symptoms this year, go to your doctor and get tested.  See WebMDs swine flu guide - http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/swine-flu/default.htm and the Center for Disease Controls swine flu update - http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.

Strep throat is a serious bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.  Symptoms include sore throat, fever, and difficulty swallowing.  It does not include any of the nasal symptoms that accompany the common cold.  See - http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/strep-throat-topic-overview for more information.

Acute bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tubes.  A cough that produces phlegm is a sure sign.  It can take up to a month to clear up.  See - http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/acute-bronchitis-topic-overview for more information.

Pneumonia is the most serious of the common respiratory infections.  It attacks the lining of the lungs.  The symptoms are severe coughing, high fever, and weakness.  In addition, phlegm may be bloody, thick, and green or brown.  See - http://www.webmd.com/lung/tc/pneumonia-topic-overview for more information.

Now that you are armed with the information to help you identify what type of infection you may have, you will hopefully be back on the road to recovery much faster.

Summit High School Girls Rugby team wins the State Championship.  For the second year in a row and 3 out of the last 4 years the Summit Tigers Girls Rugby team has brought home the State Championship trophy.  After an undefeated season, allowing only 7 points to be scored against them and averaging over 60 points a game it was not a big surprise that the girls came away with a 49-0 win.  Amazing offense headed by a national team player and several regional players it helped seal the game but the unsung defense and front line played all year to with such determination and grit as to only allow 7 points scored against them all year.  The JV team fought for a first place win against an older and bigger Chaparral team and were not able to meet the challenge but finished second in the bowl bracket.  This speaks well for the program for the next several years.  Our hats go off to all the girls and the coaches for a stellar season.

Learning the Lessons of the Past

 It's often said, "What's Past is Prologue."  In real estate, the past can indeed determine the future, when buyers choose to restore or preserve a historic property.  Opportunities abound for those wanting to purchase a historic home, but so do questions about the soundness of the investment.

Before making an investment in history that potential home buyers consider these questions:

• What regulations govern local historic buildings and districts?
• Does the house need extensive restoration?
• Are original or substitute materials available for repairs?
• Are craftsmen who are knowledgeable about historical materials and building systems available?
• How will the house be appraised?

Knowing what to look for is an important first step. Potential buyers should understand that there are significant differences between a historic house and a new one.  Before purchasing a historic home, consumers will want to research just how much restoration is needed and how much the restoration will cost. That includes, of course, uncovering any possible environmental problems not typically found in new construction such as the presence of asbestos or lead paint.

Knowledge of any structural problem and the time and money needed to fix it should not only influence the decision of whether to buy, but also how much to offer. In some cases, the seller may be required to undertake some of the work as part of the purchase agreement.

Yet the advantages of owning a historic house often outweigh the work that goes into finding and securing one. There is a rewarding sense of history in the unique detailing and meticulous craftsmanship found in historic homes as well as the satisfaction of restoration. 

There may also be financial benefits for a historic home owner.  Those benefits range from reductions in property taxes and adjustments to assessed value, to state income tax credits and property tax freezes for qualified rehabilitation and restorations.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation reports that 37 states and the District of Columbia have laws that provide individuals with incentives for owning historic properties. 

Not every old home is historic. A historic house is an example of the cultural or physical development of a community, state, or the nation due to its architecture or association with an important historical figure or event. 

If a home does qualify as a historic property, then it may be listed individually or as part of a historic district. The listing of a building or district in the National Park Service's "National Register of Historic Places" provides public recognition of its importance, but will not interfere with an owner's right to alter, sell, or determine how an individual property may be used. 

A local or state government housing preservation organization usually will assist owners who want to pursue a historic designation.  However, even if the historic building meets the designation criteria, it will not be listed if the majority of property owners in a district object for whatever reason. In this case, the building is put on an "eligible" list should the objections be overcome in the future.

For more information on historical properties, contact the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers  or to find a historic real estate specialist, log onto  http://www.ncshpo.org/ .  For a list of professional real estate buyer representatives, please give our office a call at 970.368.7000 or go to www.YourSummitRealEstate.com  and ask for a member of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, Inc. 

There have been 32 sales from $1.0M to $1.8M in the last 6 months in the Breckenridge area.  The prices have come down some with the average per square foot selling price of $316.00.  There are currently 92 homes listed in our Summit County, Colorado MLS at this time in this price range.  If you are looking for a deal and can be in this price range, now is the time to buy. 

Keystone condos are also a good buy now.  Use the $6,500 tax credit to change your full time residence and take advantage of these great deals.  There are a few bank owned, and distressed homes that are a screaming deal.  Search our link www.summitcountyrealestate.info/ for more information. 

If you are thinking about buying a vacation home and might want to rent it occasionally to help pay off some of the expenses and taxes, you need to know some rules.  A "second home" is used as a personal residence and not a property that you would rent out on an ongoing basis, which would be an "investment property".

Interest on the mortgage is fully deductible on your second home just as interest is deductible on your first mortgage.  There is a limit though of $1.1 million between the two mortgage amounts.  Above that it is apparently not deductible.

Property taxes are also deductible just as on your first home.

The good news is that you can rent your second home for up to and including 14 days without making it an investment property.  And you do not even have to declare the rental income on your taxes.  You may also deduct property taxes just as above too.

You can find out more about these rules and the rules that pertain to investment properties at www.Kiplinger.com or you can print out a simple summary on these tax rules at www.MtnProps.com.

If you do want to rent your vacation home for more than 14 days, things become very tricky.  You need to consult a CPA.  You might want to start with some research at www.irs.gov.

Interest is discussed at:  http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc505.html

Taxes are discussed at:  http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc503.html

Start your search for a second home/investment property located in Summit County, Colorado by logging in here: www.GetYourSummitHomes.com. Lots of good bargains now.

Copper LIfts Off with 5^th annual opening weekend festival, Nov. 6-8

Copper Mountain, CO…November 4, 2009…Copper is scheduled to open for the winter season on Friday, Nov. 6, with top to bottom skiing and riding. Come join us for Lift Off presented by Sprint, Copper’s 5^th annual opening weekend festival, Nov. 6 - 8. Make sure to check out the Lift Off concert on Saturday night with The Heyday, DJ Mike Relm and headliner The Rapture.  Enjoy the latest 2010 ski & snowboard movies, including the Copper premier of TGR’s new film: Re:Session, with proceeds benefiting Team Summit. The weekend will also include equipment demos, après specials, giveaways, a showing of the new Matchstick Productions’ movie, In Deep, at The Woodward at Copper Barn and new this year, Lift Off Late Night.

Friday, Nov. 6*

9 a.m.                           Copper opens for the winter - get ready for a season of Snow Days!

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.              Equipment Demos in Burning Stones Plaza

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.            Lift Off chair prizes

2 – 6 p.m.                     Tap the Rockies 1^st après party of the season at Endo’s

6:30 p.m.                       Lift Off movie - Copper premiere of TGR’s RE:Session in Jack’s Bar

9:30 p.m.                       Lift Off Late Night with DJ Landry at Incline Bar & Grill

Saturday, Nov. 7*

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.              Equipment Demos in Burning Stones Plaza

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.            Lift Off chair prizes

1:30 p.m.                       Free Athlete/Coach demo in the Woodward at Copper Barn

6:30 p.m.                       In Deep by Matchstick Productions at the Woodward at Copper Barn

11:30 p.m.                     Lift Off Late Night with DJ Landry at Mulligan’s Irish Pub

Lift Off Concert in the Copper Conference Center - $12 tickets*

7:30 p.m.                       Doors open

8:30 p.m.                       The Heyday

9:45 p.m.                       DJ Relm

11 p.m.                         The Rapture

Sunday, Nov. 8*

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.              Equipment Demos in Burning Stones Plaza

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.            Lift Off chair prizes

*Schedule subject to change

Guests will enjoy an athlete/coach demo at the Woodward at Copper Barn on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., don’t miss Matchstick Productions’ new film, In Deep, projected on the side of the Barn. Woodward at Copper is the first indoor/outdoor ski and snowboard camp on the planet with a focus on terrain park and pipe progression. The 20,000 sq ft Woodward at Copper Barn gives campers access to Snowflex^® jumps, foam pits, a spring floor, fly-bed trampolines and indoor skateboard features. www.WoodwardatCopper.com.

Copper is hooking you up with a dynamite deal if you ride the slopes and slumber in the lodge this winter. Stay for at least 3 nights and your last night is free. This deal includes the pretty-much-VIP Beeline Advantage Lift Ticket, in addition to youngsters under 12 skiing/riding FREE with the purchase of every adult ticket. Please call your Copper Vacation Specialist at 866-534-7443 to book the 3^rd Night Free lodging and lift package. Restrictions apply.

With Copper opening on Friday November, 6 now is the time to think about getting yourself a season full of snow days. Season Passes are on sale now; visit www.skicolorado.com for your Rocky Mountain Super Pass, Copper Season Pass and Copper 4Pass.

Make sure to check out the Lift Off concert in the Copper Conference Center on Saturday, Nov. 7, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Concert tickets are only $12 and are on sale now at Guest Services in the Mountain Adventure Center or can be purchased at the door the night of the show from 6 - 9:30 p.m. Starting off the Lift Off Saturday night concert at 8:30 p.m. is The Heyday, a Denver based band, whose music has been described as a soulful sound mixed with an honest but radio-friendly new take on rock and roll. Next on the line-up at 9:45 p.m. is DJ Mike Relm, based out of San Francisco, who is known for live performances which feature a series of audio mash-ups with video images, manipulated in real-time. The headlining band, The Rapture, starting at 11 p.m., is an American rock band based in New York City, with influences from many genres including post-punk, new rave, dance-punk, acid house, disco, electronica and rock.  

Guests won’t want to miss the Copper premiere of TGR’s RE:Session – doors open at 6:30 p.m. in Jack’s Bar on Friday, Nov. 6 - with proceeds benefiting Team Summit. The evening will kick off with live music by Bryon Friedman. Tickets are $5 at the door, and include an entry for the prizes, $2.50 Coors Banquet and Light beers, as well as Killian’s draft specials. In addition, buy a pint glass from Team Summit and receive the first beer free with $2.50 refills.

During Lift Off, presented by Sprint, guests will have the chance to demo the newest ski and snowboard gear for the 09-10 season, Nov. 6-8.  Just bring your ID to Burning Stones Plaza and then ‘get to know’ some of the most up-to-date equipment in the industry, including: Smith, Union Snowboards, and Capita plus demo the latest equipment from Copper’s Left Lane Rentals.

Join KSMT at Endo’s Adrenaline Café on Friday, Nov. 6 from 2-6 p.m. for the first après party of the season. KSMT will be broadcasting live from the base of the mountain and the party will include great specials from Coors, giveaways, and a chance to win a Never Summer snowboard.

Lift Off, presented by Sprint, is sponsored by: Sprint, KSMT The Mountain, Coors Light, Nature Valley and Team Summit.

www.coppercolorado.com

While in Summit County for the weekend, stop over to our office in Frisco and take a look at the terrific properties there are available at Copper Mountain currently for sale.  Any one of our agents would be happy to help you...check it out at www.GetYourSummitHomes.com.

President Obama is signing the extended first time home buyer credit today.

The National Association of Realtors and countless concerned citizens have spoken! The first time homebuyer tax credit had been extended until April 30, 2010. You must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and close prior to July 1, 2010. There is still time to take advantage of the fantastic Real Estate deals in Summit County. In addition, current homeowners who have owned their homes for 5 years or more may also get a tax credit of up to $6500 if they buy a new home within the same dates. Times have never been better for home buyers to purchase their primary residence. Take advantage of this possibly once in a lifetime opportunity. Check out this link for all of the details:

 National Association of Realtors extended tax credits

Great news out of Washington today...the Homebuyer Tax Credit Law will be extended by President Obama to June, 1, 2010.  He is expected to sign the bill later today, November 6, 2009.  This tax credit is also extended not only to first time homebuyers but also to current homeowners who have owned their homes 5 years who are interested in purchasing a new home,  their credit will be $6500 whereas the first time homebuyer's credit will remain the same as it was at $8000.  Below, I have added some helpful links regarding the tax credit law and some FAQ's.  

Changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit Law

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Bill

In Depth: 2009 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Let us help you obtain your dream of a home of your own in Summit County, Colorado. Please visit us at www.GetYourSummitHomes.com for more information and to take a look at the wonderful properties that are now at reduced prices.

Keystone ski resort opens one day early for the 2009-2010 ski season.

Come enjoy top to bottom skiing on the Spring Dipper and River Run trails. The Gondola is open in to the river run village which is where all the action is at Keystone. In addition there are many opportunities for both ski-in/ski-out and easy access properties for sale. Call our office and speak with one of our Keystone experts today, we can be reached at www.YourSummitRealEstate.com or 970.368.7000.   This is a great opportunity to purchase either a vacation home or a great rental property as well. Take a look and enjoy the skiing and snowboarding.

Finding the Right Home

 With all the choices in today's market, how do you go about finding the right home? It seems the more research you do, the more alternatives you discover.

It's important to visualize your needs and plan ahead.  A good rule of thumb is to know what you want in a home, what's important to you, and what you can live without.  Many of us start out with a champagne taste and a beer bottle pocketbook, so it's important to be realistic.

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 associate.   

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 be sure to 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 (MLS).   Make sure you feel confident about his or her knowledge and skills, and understand the business relationship that you have established between you.

                Make sure your agent is one of more than 50,000 members of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who have attained the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation. As the world's largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing the real estate buyer, REBAC is "The Voice for Buyer Representation," with more than 50,000 active real estate professional members of the organization throughout the world.   There are a few of us at Keller Williams Top of the Rockies…just ask for one of us.  To help you in shopping for that new home, please log onto our website…www.YourSummitRealEstate.com for more information on homes in Summit, Grand, Park and Lake Counties in Colorado.   Thanks!