Best of Boulder East County 3rd Year in a Row!

 

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@elevatedrealestate.com

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Louisville Water Rebate for Seniors

Boulder Valley is a great place to live, and the nation knows it. Thanks to word of mouth and Top Ten type lists the population keeps growing, which is driving up house values. That can make affordability a problem for groups like first-time buyers and seniors.

The City of Louisville is aware of this, and is offering a $100 water rebate to seniors who have paid property taxes in 2020 or rent in 2019. Certain qualifications apply - check out the details and apply with the city by November 30, 2020!

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@elevatedrealestate.com

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FOR SALE: 750 Pinehurst Court, Louisville

Gorgeous 2-story home in the golf course community of Coal Creek Ranch! Louisville has made so many Top Ten lists in the past few years when it comes to quality of life. Top rated Boulder Valley Schools, adorable downtown area with restaurants, shopping and breweries, lots of trails and open space to enjoy, and a short drive into the mountains for skiing and hiking.

Not to mention this great home...updated kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances, new refrigerator and gas cooktop on the large island. On the main floor you'll find wood floors, an office that could be a 5th bedroom and large laundry/mud room that leads into the 3 car garage. 

The master bedroom can easily accommodate a king sized bed with end tables plus dresser, as well as a sitting area. The newly remodeled 5-piece master bath is bright and spacious with two closets. Head down the hallway to see the two large bedrooms with a shared bathroom that has also been updated. The carpet upstairs has been replaced, and the whole house fan supplements the central A/C unit to keep the house comfortable all year long.

Enjoy the beautiful fireplace while enjoying your coffee in your family room, and a second fireplace in the dining room. Not only do you get a plenty of common living area on the main level, but a large rec room in the basement! Another bedroom and bathroom round out the lower level. There's places for everyone to get a little privacy when needed, and also to come together for movie night or celebrations! The house has 2465sqft above ground and 3756sqft including the basement and is listed for $915,000.

The backyard has a deck and grassy area to play. You can hop on your bike and go for miles without ever having to cross a busy road. If you have children, they can walk to Monarch K-8 or the high school.

Check out the virtual tour and let me know if you'd like to see it in person. We had a lot of showings over the weekend but there's still time to get in!

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@elevatedrealestate.com

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What Do May's Numbers Tell Us?

May Boulder County stats have been collected and they are showing moderate decreases across the board since this time last year. However, it's still too early to tell if these numbers are reflective of the quarantine time when showings weren't allowed and listings were delayed, or if they are going to continue. With unemployment up and the number of mortgages in forebearance, there is more of a possibility that future foreclosures will alter the market later in the year. Even so, Boulder County has a long history of holding steady through crises.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior VP of Research at the National Association of Realtors, points to the number of homeowners who elected mortgage forebearance out of caution and not necessity. This would indicate that less people are seriously in danger of foreclosure this year than the numbers seem to point to.

Just like detached dwellings, there are less condos and townhouses on the market right now, so the number of properties under contract and closing are correspondingly down. Sales prices are up a tick, though, which is consistent with properties listed under $500,000. I was just in another multiple offer situation with a client this weekend for a townhouse in Broomfield, and another for a home in Louisville in the mid-$800s. If you're a seller who's been waiting to see what the market was going to do, give me a call for a specific analysis for your home and your neighborhood. There's still a lot of pent-up buyer demand, so you may discover that now is a great time to get on the market!

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@elevatedrealestate.com

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That's Who We R

The National Association of REALTORS has begun a new campaign to help consumers understand that there is a difference between real estate agents and REALTORS. Click HERE to see a short video about how we are not just sales people, but people invested in our clients and neighborhoods.

If you'd like a better (and longer) explanation, let me know. I'm happy to buy you a cup of coffee or an adult beverage.
  

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Louisville 2019 StreetFaire Musical Performances

Louisville's popular StreetFaire series begins June 14, 2019 at the Steinbaugh Pavilion! Enjoy music, vendors, kids' rides and more Fridays nights from 5:30-9:30pm. Here is the band schedule:

• Los Mocochetes - 6/14
  
• Wild Child - 6/21
• The Burroughs - 6/28
• Charlie Musselwhite - 7/12
• MarchFourth - 7/19
• Wood Belly - 7/26
• The Texas Gentleman - 7/22
• Samantha Fish - 8/9

The music starts at 7, although last year they had opening bands start earlier. Try parking at DELO and taking the pedestrian pass under the train tracks, or park by the ARC Thrift Store on South Boulder Road and take the designated shuttle. Let me know if you're going to be heading down there - I'll leave you a free beer or wine ticket at the Staufer Team booth!

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Time for a Tour

Now that the weather is a little nicer, it's nice to take some time and visit properties for sale. I try to do this weekly to get more familiar with the listings, but honestly, when the wind sticks my nostrils together it's hard to get out.

This week, it's a tour of Boulder and Louisville.

• 565 Utica Ave., Boulder - 4 bed, 4 bath, 2 story, 3519 total sqft in Wonderland North
• 1190 Oakdale Pl., Boulder - 4 bed, 5 bath, 2 story, 3738 total sqft in Durand Mitchell
• 1091 Copper Hill Ct., Louisville - 5 bed, 6 bath, 2 story, 7182 total sqft in Copper Hill
• 501 W Spruce St., Louisville - 5 bed, 4 bath, bi-level, 4310 total sqft in Bridgefield
• 701 Grant Ave., Louisville - 2 bed, 1 bath, 6524 total sqft, former church in Old Town

Let me know if you'd like to join me! Even if you aren't anticipating buying or selling for a year or more, it's never too early to get to know the market.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Friday Foto

Missing 1984? Take in the NuTone Music Intercom 3003 Series, still helping and entertaining a lucky family in Louisville. Allows you to interrogate the solicitor at your front door or call your teenager locked in their bedroom down to dinner.

Play the radio (AM and FM!) or listen to your Duran Duran tapes throughout the house. A phono setting is also available if you recently got Thriller on vinyl at the local thrift store. Go ahead, get out your citron yellow mini skirt and matching socks. I know you have them.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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City of Louisville Holiday Events

The Louisville First Friday Art Walk is tonight, Dec. 7, from 5-9pm and the Parade of Lights starts at 7pm. Santa will be visiting the Chamber of Commerce around 5:30, and the ice rink at the Steinbaugh Pavilion is open. Come out for the festivities, and stop by the Staufer Team office for art, hot chocolate or something a little harder to keep you warm!

There's No Place Like Home ~ Robbin Merta, Glasslight Studio

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Are You Seeing Everything There is to See?

Most people begin their real estate search online these days. It makes sense that people would want easy tools that could give them facts about their home or other properties right away with no commitment. Information is plentiful, but separating the wheat from the chaff can be more challenging. No, I'm not going to rant about any public real estate sites. They are here to stay, though it's important that we understand their place in the real estate firmament. If you would like to see my more expanded opinion, you can check out this post.

You probably know that the local MLSs feed information to other public real estate websites, sometimes very quickly, sometimes not. You may not know that sellers on the MLS can choose for their homes NOT to be listed on some of these properties, for a variety of reasons. This means you can't always be sure that you are seeing all of the homes for sale unless you have access to the MLS directly.

Another snag - the Boulder MLS and Denver MLS haven't been playing very nicely together. Due to a failed buyout attempt, they have decided not to share information with each other. This means that real estate agents have to set up property searches for their clients twice. And because there is overlap in the service areas for both MLSs and some of us agents belong to both, clients are often getting duplicate emails and properties. Frustrating and time wasting for everyone, and it doesn't look like it's going to get resolved anytime soon.

Staufer Team to the rescue! In order to provide the best customer service we can, we have purchased a website that combines all of the listings from both MLSs. Even better, our clients can login, look for houses, and save properties searches themselves. They can mark their favorites, make notes and request showings directly through the site. One stop shop.

How do you find this dream come true? Login to robbin.viewboulderareahomes.com. Despite the name, it'll show you properties from Julesburg to Durango. It's never too early to get to know the market, and I won't bug you (too much) ;)

Image: J i J y
  

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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Buyers, Don't Stress!

Buying a home is a big decision, but that doesn’t mean it has to terrify you! When you’re ready, let’s meet up and put some of those home buying fears to rest. I am an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), and love working with first time homebuyers.

https://homebuying.realtor/content/terrified-buy-home-put-your-biggest-fears-rest?om_rid=AABel6&om_mid=_BZqIbmB9fseWK2&om_ntype=REBACWeekly

I look forward to hearing from you!
  

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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FOR SALE: 662 Sunnyside Street, Louisville

Fresh listing in Louisville North! Great location - attend a pilates class, pick up groceries at Alfalfa's & take a short stroll thru the beautiful Colorado weather to your new home! Attend Boulder Valley schools and enjoy all that downtown has to offer. 

This trilevel home has 3 bedrooms, 1 3/4 baths, 1 car garage and 1296 sqft. Extensive hardwood floors greet you, custom kitchen built-ins hold your favorite coffee and the huge master bedroom provides plenty of room for a reading area as well as your bedroom furniture. There's also a backyard flagstone patio, slate tile, walk-in closet, and a radon mitigation system already installed. Great schools, close to downtown it already feels like home! 

I'll be holding an Open House on Sunday, July 16 form 1-3pm if you'd like to pop in. Or contact me to schedule a private showing. Settle in this house before the new school year starts!
  

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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PRICE REDUCTION - 245 Dahlia Drive, Louisville

Now $499,900 - get yourself into Dutch Creek! This 1668 square foot bi-level solves the challenges that some bi-levels have very elegantly! First of all, the upper level flows seamlessly from room to room. The kitchen is open to the family room while still being convenient to formal living and dining. You can just picture your friends mingling and moving comfortably from bar to buffet during your housewarming party!

Upstairs is a bedroom or office and a full bathroom. The kitchen has some stainless steel appliances and a long counter for casual dining. The entertaining space spills out from the family room onto the back deck and brick patio. Play catch in the yard, sip lemonade under the shade of the large tree, or tend to your thriving vegetables and flowers. The PVC hoops provide a structure for plastic sheeting that extends the growing season for those who can't get enough gardening!

The master bedroom walks out into the yard, providing convenience and natural light to the lower level. There's a full master bathroom, second bedroom, rec room and laundry room to round out the downstairs. The floor plan has a nice balance of allowing togetherness and also providing spaces to do your own thing.  

Hardwood floors, slate tile wainscotting, 2-car garage, fenced backyard, new James Hardie ColorPlus siding and front door, two-year old seamless gutters and downspouts, and low-maintenance, established front yard landscaping. At $499,900, you'll be hard-pressed to find the combination of square footage, features and location of this home anywhere else in Louisville.

So much about this area to love - enjoy movies in the park at the Louisville Community Park only blocks away, take your furry children to the dog park, or hop on your bike and head for an ice cream cone at Sweet Cow downtown. The neighborhood schools are some of the best in the Boulder Valley School District. Just move in, get comfortable and enjoy the Colorado lifestyle. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like a private showing.
  

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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FOR SALE: 245 Dahlia Drive, Louisville

Fresh listing in Dutch Creek -  this 1668 square foot bi-level solves the challenges that some bi-levels have very elegantly! First of all, the upper level flows seamlessly from room to room. The kitchen is open to the family room while still being convenient to formal living and dining. You can just picture your friends mingling and moving comfortably from bar to buffet during your housewarming party!

Upstairs is a bedroom or office and a full bathroom. The kitchen has some stainless steel appliances and a long counter for casual dining. The entertaining space spills out from the family room onto the back deck and brick patio. Play catch in the yard, sip lemonade under the shade of the large tree, or tend to your thriving vegetables and flowers. The PVC hoops provide a structure for plastic sheeting that extends the growing season for those who can't get enough gardening!

The master bedroom walks out into the yard, providing convenience and natural light to the lower level. There's a full master bathroom, second bedroom, rec room and laundry room to round out the downstairs. The floor plan has a nice balance of allowing togetherness and also providing spaces to do your own thing.  

Hardwood floors, slate tile wainscotting, 2-car garage, fenced backyard, new James Hardie ColorPlus siding and front door, two-year old seamless gutters and downspouts, and low-maintenance, established front yard landscaping. At $520,000, you'll be hard-pressed to find the combination of square footage, features and location of this home anywhere else in Louisville.

So much about this area to love - enjoy movies in the park at the Louisville Community Park only blocks away, take your furry children to the dog park, or hop on your bike and head for an ice cream cone at Sweet Cow downtown. The neighborhood schools are some of the best in the Boulder Valley School District. Just move in, get comfortable and enjoy the Colorado lifestyle.

I'll be holding an open house on Saturday from 1-3pm if you'd like to stop by. Or feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like a private showing. Buyer demand is high in Louisville and offers are being reviewed as they come in, so don't wait to visit!
  

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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You Want Anchovies on That?

I've never been good at asking for help; it's something I had to learn. When I was in my 20s, I was afraid that people would think I wasn't smart if I asked a question, and I would do just about anything to avoid that flush of embarrassment. My college roommate and I would even argue over who was going to call to order the pizza. I don't know, maybe they'd mention a topping I was unfamiliar with. The thing is, I was so wrapped up in my concerns that it took me a long time to notice that people never did act with anything other than kind assistance.

Nowadays I'll call just about anyone with any question, and bad on them if they treat me poorly for it. There is so much to explore in real estate and related industries like mortgage lending that one can't isolate and survive. I like learning and collaborating, and I've discovered that most people are relieved when you release them from their burden to be perfect by admitting that you're not, either.

I've also discovered that if you make your intentions known to the people around you, they will often help you achieve your goals. For the most part, people want to help. Especially those of us in the service fields - we'd like to feel that years of schooling and training hasn't all been for nothing. 😉

Why am I telling you this? I've been meeting a lot of younger people lately who were interested in buying a home but were hesitant to ask for help. Some, like me, felt pressure to know all of the answers going in. Some were afraid to waste my time when they didn't yet know what they wanted. Some didn't want to get a high-pressure sales pitch from an industry professional. One thing they all had in common was a lack of time.

There is so much information on real estate available these days; it can be overwhelming. Searching thousands of listings, not knowing for sure if what you are looking at is even available any more, perhaps not knowing for sure what you can afford. Reading articles on mortgages and insurance and interest rates, wondering if your resource is credible. Frustrating and time-sucking.

Like so many things in life, you don't have to do it alone. DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME - it's my job and it is really no trouble. I have helped plenty of people who don't plan on moving for a few years still. It's never too early to start gathering information, and I haven't laughed at a question yet. Although I will warn you - my favorite response to, "Can I ask a stupid question?" is "Better than anyone I know!"

BUYERS:

• Get set up on an automatic search directly from the MLS to save you time and spare you inaccurate information.
• Receive monthly real estate email tidbits and links to help you get ready to enter the market.
• Get the name of a lender who can give you an idea of what you can afford in just minutes on the phone, without hassling you further.
• Ask questions about language or resources while you learn about the home buying process.

SELLERS:

• Get set up on an automatic report of properties like yours that are selling in your area.
• Receive an opinion of value so you can decide if selling now will meet your financial goals.
• Get an estimate of costs and fees so you calculate the potential profit from a sale.
• Receive a report from yours truly and a licensed stager listing suggested repairs and improvements to make your property more marketable.
• Request names of service professionals to help you with anything from renovations to window washing - anytime.

The point is, you can't know what you don't know, and I'm happy to help you either dip your toe in the water or fling yourself off of the diving board, belly-flop style. You can even text me and say, "Look, I'm sure you're great at your job and all, but I just want to see the 1 bedroom, 1 bath condos that pop up for the next 5 years, and I don't want to be bothered all the time. If I need you, you'll know."

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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FOR SALE: 214 Dahlia Drive, Louisville

Brand new listing in Dutch Creek - get into this neighborhood before summer! This 1668sqft bilevel is located between Heritage Park and Louisville Community Park, giving you a ton of options to enjoy Colorado's fantastic weather. Choose between the dog park, baseball, basketball, volleyball, playground, movies in the park, or take a stroll on the Coal Creek Trail. Downtown Louisville is so close you can almost hear the music from the Steinbaugh Pavilion! Between the Streetfaire, Taste of Louisville, the farmers' market, and the shops and restaurants on Main Street you'll never get tired of visiting.

At $499,000, this home boasts bamboo floors throughout, an open floor plan with updated kitchen - sit with friends around the huge kitchen peninsula! 2 bedrooms on the upper level, 2 bedrooms on the lower level, 2 full baths, 2 car garage with workbench, tankless water heater, back patio with great entertaining space - nothing to do but hang your pictures on the walls! 

Showings will run from 2pm on Friday, April 7 until 12pm on Monday, April 10. Any offers will be reviewed Monday evening and responses prepared for Tuesday. I'll be holding an open house on Saturday from 1-3 if you'd like to pop in and check it out. Or feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like a private showing.

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I would love to help you with your real estate journey. 

Please contact me at 303-917-7143 or robbin@stauferteam.com

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