Real Estate in Denver and the Suburbs

Centennial Real Estate - Aurora Real Estate - Homes Sales Statistics - April 2008

Real Estate sales in this area have held pretty steady in April.  Inventory in single family homes is a bit down, yes closed sales are up and pending home sales are as well, just a bit. Overall, this is good.  As for condos and townhomes for sale - its much of the same.  For sale inventory is a bit down but closed sales are up and pendings are up a bit as well.

Here are the AUS Aurora South numbers for April 2008 - Aurora South and parts of Centennial

Aurora South - Residential Real Estate - Single Family Homes

Total Active 1393
Average Asking Price Price $241,945
New Listings 661
Listings Back on Market 211
Sold 302
Average Price Actually Sold $185,815
% of List Price 99%
Days on Market 98
Under Contract 486
Expired Listings 89 

Aurora South Condos & Town Homes

Total Active 694
Average Asking Price $134,853
New Listings 293
Listings Back on Market 94
Sold 180
Average Price actually sold $98,601
% of List Price 96%
Days on Market 118
Under Contract 214
Expired Listings 53

*Statistics from MLS deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

*These numbers may not include homes that are sold by owner (FSBO) and New Construction

Steve Scheer, REMAX Masters, Inc.
Denver Real Estate - Centennial Real Estate - Aurora Real Estate

Market Reports & Sales Trends - Centennial, Littleton, Greenwood Village, Englewood Homes Sales & Real Estate - April 2008

In this Denver suburban area - homes for sale inventory (single family homes) has risen form last month as has homes sold and even pending sales has slightly risen.  Condos and townhomes in the area are a bit more level as March - althgouh sales have increased slightly.  There are definitely still some areas and neighborhoods that are doing better than others and I suspect we will see this trend continue through the summer months ahead.

This report includes all areas of the Denver MLS known as SSC - South Suburban Central: parts of Littleton, parts of Centennial, western parts of Greenwood Village and parts of Englewood - April 2008

South Suburban Central - Residential Real Estate - Single Family Homes

Total Active 596
Average Asking Price Price $573,065
New Listings 344
Listings Back on Market 62
Sold 111
Average Price Actually Sold $271,380
% of List Price 96%
Days on Market 98
Under Contract 158
Expired Listings 26 

South Suburban Central - Condos & Town Homes

Total Active 228
Average Asking Price $196,839
New Listings 109
Listings Back on Market 29
Sold 40
Average Price actually sold $172,165
% of List Price 97%
Days on Market 85
Under Contract 54
Expired Listings 17

*Statistics from MLS deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

*These numbers may not include homes that are sold by owner (FSBO) and New Construction

Steve Scheer, RE/MAX Masters, Inc.
Denver Real Estate - Greenwood Village Real Estate - Littleton Real Estate - Centennial Real Estate

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April 2008 - Highlands Ranch Real Estate - Lone Tree Real Estate - Sales & Market Trends in Denver's Suburbs

The Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree areas of Denver's south metro real estate market are still seeing decent activity.  THis is the area that is found in the Denver MLS as DHL.

I dislike repeating the same mantra - but price and condition are going to be key if you are a home seller right now.  With that said, activity is up with an increase in closed sales and pending home sales in Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree, especially in regards to single family homes.  Condos and Town Home sales in the area are a bit slower but there is still activity.

Here are the DHL Douglas County - Highlands Ranch & Lone Tree numbers for April 2008.

Highlands Ranch & Lone Tree Single Family Homes

Total Active 697
Average Asking Price Price $474,089
Listings Back on Market 69
Sold 150
Average Price Actually Sold $345,812
% of List Price 97%
Days on Market 71
Under Contract 235
Expired Listings 36 

Highlands Ranch & Lone Tree Condos & Town Homes

Total Active 154
Average Asking Price $260,932
Listings Back on Market 15
Sold 26
Average Price actually sold $215,667
% of List Price 98%
Days on Market 100
Under Contract 34
Expired Listings 9

*Statistics from MLS deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

*These numbers may not include homes that are sold by owner (FSBO) and New Construction

Steve Scheer, RE/MAX Masters, Inc.

If you are considering a move to Denver, one of the things you will want to put on your list of things to do is the Denver Zoo.  A trip to the zoo could also be a perfect diversion during a home shopping trip, once you have found your home!

The Denver Zoo is really one of the nicest zoo's I have ever been to - and I am not just saying that because I live here in Denver.  It truly is.  We have been countless times and there was a period of about 5 years when my kids were a bit younger that we were Zoo members.  (Membership at the Denver Zoo is truly a great deal if you plan to visit often!)  Now that the kids are a little older we aren't able to get over there quite as often as a membership would enable, but we do still visit a few times a year - and each visit is just as great or even better than the last. 

I think that springtime is the perfect time to visit the zoo - the weather is still generally cool and there is a pretty good chance that you will be able to see some zoo babies on a spring trip.  So far this spring there have been twin Golden Lion Tamarins, born in March and an Eastern Bongo Calf that was born on March 30th.  The tamarins are now starting to appear on exhibit and the Bongo calf is sometimes outside with his mother.    The zoo is also very busy in the spring with Denver area school field trips - so if you are planning a visit during the week, you are sure to see school groups. 

Improvements in the zoo seem to be constant - there is almost always something new each time we are there.  Predator Ridge is one of the newer larger areas in the zoo and I can't wait to see some of the changes in store for the future.  I hear one of the big changes on the way is to re-do the elephants' home in an area that will be called Asian Tropics. 

The pictures here from around the zoo were taken recently, on a spring day, while I was in the area between appointments. 

The Denver Zoo is located on 23rd Avenue off of both York Street or Colorado Blvd. - next to City Park.

Steve Scheer, REMAX Masters, Inc.
Denver Real Estate

Vacant Homes For Sale Are Probably Not The Same As Occupied Homes In The Eyes of Your Insurance Policy

Last Sunday we had breakfast at my mom's.  The kids had slept over and we went over for some breakfast burritos when we picked them up.  Thanks mom!

My mom always has a little article or tidbit to share with me when we visit.  She just rips them out of the newspapers or magazine that she finds them in.  I love seeing what she has to share as its generally rather interesting and I enjoy seeing what sparked her interest. 

On this day, it was a real estate article as it often is.  Common Interest.  She had read an article in the Denver Post a while back and had saved it for me.  It discussed the dangers of having your home on the market while it was vacant.  It was a good reminder that I should discuss this issue here.  You can read the article here. 

Of course, there are many homes in Denver that are now being sold vacant due to longer times on the market, quick relocations and a variety of other reasons.  And I would be willing to bet that most of those homes that are vacant have homeowners that do not know that they are putting their home insurance policy on the line.

If you have to make a claim while your home is vacant, you may not be covered.  The majority of home insurance policies are for occupied or owner-occupied homes - and if you are leaving your home vacant - you need to let them know and maybe even make a change.

Whenever I have a seller that needs to leave a home vacant while it is still on the Denver real estate market, I do remind them that they need to check into their home insurance coverage and see what changes need to be made.  Recently I was told by the seller when discussing this, that over the years they had sold numerous homes that were in a vacant state and no one had ever told them this.

Now of course I am not an insurance expert.  I am a real estate agent.  So you need to do your homework to know for sure what YOUR policy covers and when and under what conditions.  But I do know that the chances are pretty good that this is something you need to take notice of if you are going to be leaving your Denver home vacant while it is on the market.  If you have pipes burst, a break-in or even worse, a fire, you need to know if your home is covered if it is vacant.

Check it out.

Steve Scheer, REMAX Masters, Inc.
Denver Real Estate