Real Estate & Relocation ^ Colorado

Colorado's Redstone Castle Remembered

Sad times for the Redstone Castle bring back memories...

The Redstone Castle has a fond place in my heart.  A few years ago Larry and I took the Amtrack from Denver to Grand Junction.  Our intention was to ride our bicycles back home to Denver from the western slope.  The second day on the road was the ride into Redstone over McClure Pass (elevation 8,755 ft).  Our distance was too long for our "condition" and the amount of gear we were hauling.  It was also our very first long trip on the road. 

Our inexperience really got us into trouble, first we ran out of water on the way over the pass.  Luckily, some helpful tourist shared their icy cold water with us.  We managed to finally get over the pass but lost the daylight.

We rode into Redstone in the dark, hungry, dirty and tired.  Silly me thought the Castle would have food for us.  Yes, it did.  It was a Bed and Breakfast at the time, serving a great breakfast, but not catering dinner to hungry cyclists.

Lacking the energy to go in search of food, we feasted on the snack foods from our panniers while soaking in the delightfully deep antique bathtub.

Sleeping that night should have come naturally, but the beds were dreadful.  The mattresses were covered with a heavy plastic protection.  Everytime one moved you could feel the stiffness of the plastic and hear it crackle.  Neither one of us slept.

In the morning we devoured the delightful breakfast and enjoyed exploring the castle grounds.  It was a special place and if the buyer gets rid of those dreadful beds, it could be perfect!

The Redstone Castle in located in Redstone Colorado on the Crystal River.  General location is between Glenwood Springs and Aspen.  More beautiful country is hard to find!

For more adventures in bicycling go to Bike Tracks Around the World

Denver HOT Program - Home Ownership Transformation

In Denver 40 pastors from area churches, the Greater Metropolitan Denver Ministerial Alliance have become activists for home ownership.  Prompted by the need to educate congregants in the benefits of home ownership, they are aligning with three local mortgage companies and the Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation to educate in buying and keeping a home.

Education is a strike back at the predatory lending practices that take advance of people who don't understand the lending process.  Lack of understanding makes homeowners and potential homeowners easy prey for those eager to take advantage of them, by providing loans with outrageous fees and interest rates.

Many victims have lost their homes to these rotten lenders! We give three cheers and a helping hand up to the participants of this program.

A Denver Real Estate Company

Congress & Real Estate Matters

As the lawmakers gather on Capitol Hill this year they are considering tax laws that could affect real estate.  Charitable contributions involving real estate, interest on home equity loans and short-term vacation home rental are being explored for changes.

Considering so many loans today include a first mortgage and a second of a home equity loans (to avoid the costs of PMI), this is something that can have a huge effect on many home purchasers.

For more information...go here.

Denver real estate and relocation

Colorado Castle to sell to highest bidder

Opportunity to Buy a Great Colorado Home...

In recent history, the Historic Redstone Castle had the misfortune to be purchased via fraudulent means.  It is now going to the auction block to be sold on March 11, 2005 so the victims of the investment fraud can be reimbursed.

Area residents were hoping  a deal from local residents would transpire.  But the Treasury Department opted to put the Castle on the auction block instead.  (Redstone Castle Auction Info.)

For details of the fraud Aspen Daily News

Denver Real Estate & Relocation

Treo 650

Testing mobile settings frm treo

Real Estate Industry technologically challenged

Yet another client complained to me tonight about the lack of photos available on homes for sale.  Her comment was, "why would anyone try to sell a house without putting photos of the house on the internet?"

Wish I had a good answer for this one.  Considering how convenient, easy and cheap it is to buy a digital camera these days.  Snapping a few shots of the home for sale is not hard.  Uploading them to the Metrolist system is another no brainer.  We are allowed 6 photos with each listing.

It's the photos that SELL the houses Realtors!  So if you want to SELL the house and not just have a career listing, let's get with the program, give the consumer what they want.  Sell your home with pictures.

Do it from the get go, don't wait for the MLS photograher, do it yourself.  IF you don't know how, ask a kid.

Denver real estate - Kristal Kraft, ABR, CIPS, CRS

Find Denver real estate

Google released a beta Map that will allow users in the U.S. to find local info, navigate through maps and get directions quickly.  Very cool at Google Maps

A parody of Google is here, search Denver Real Estate. It's bad.

Hooters Air Lands at DIA

Guess Denver must be a fun place to come, now that travelers can arrive by Hooters Air!

Hooters, considers themselves a "niche player" not to compete with Frontier and Jet Blue.  The trained Hooter Girl flight attendants initiate trivia games while serving food and hot wings.

Super Bowl Ads

For those who would like to see the creative commercials (without the interruptions of the football game), go to http://dyn.ifilm.com/superbowlads/

The Budweiser explanation for last year's wardrobe malfunction was cute.

Many were great, but my personal favorite was Ameriquest: Cat Killer.  Now don't make a snap judgment here....go see it.

Reverse Mortgages Work for Senior Home Owners

There is a wealth of equity for elderly homeowners, ready to be tapped into, if only they knew about or trusted Reverse Mortgages.

Parents prefer to leave a legacy to the kids.  The kids would rather the parents live a better life...read the Wall Street Journal article here.