I have noticed in just the past few days I am receiving a large amount of traffic to my site here from search terms like, Christmas lights in Weatherstone, House in Weatherstone with Xmas Lights, Dancing Christmas Lights in Weatherstone…. and so on. And they folks are finding posts that I wrote in previous years about the spectacular home in the Weatherstone neighborhood of Highlands Ranch on Meyerwood with a fabulous Christmas lights display that is choreographed to music.

So apparently people want to know if its up again this year, 2011.

I happen to drive by the other day, during the day, and lights were in the yard. So yes, it appears to be a go.  I will make an attempt to drive by this evening and see if they are on yet. But my guess is yes.  I will update here with more info when I have it. updated – yes, the display is on & wonderful!

I will also be posting a list of other great homes in Highlands Ranch that are decked out with lights for the holidays and all over the Denver area, so watch for that too.

Here’s a link to a public youtube video that is online (I didn’t film it) of the home in Weatherstone on Meyerwood of a past year.

I get many questions working with Denver real estate clients or Highlands Ranch homes sellers and buyers that have to do with the real estate contract.  Some issues and questions relate only to Colorado, others are more broad.  This real estate contract series addresses those questions.

Real Estate Transaction Series: Posession

So you have a contract coming in on your home and there will be a lot of details to consider when handling that offer. One of the details will be a possession date and time. Of course there will be the all important closing day but that isn’t always the day the buyer gets possession, at least not here in Colorado.  Here we fund the closing at the table and there is no required escrow period.  Therefore, the buyer could be allowed possession immediately at closing.

The possession date and time is negotiated in the contract and agreed upon by all parties. With that said, let’s give it some food for thought.  Often times the seller would prefer some time after closing to allow possession to the buyer, typically 48 hours or so after closing.  In fact, that is often indicated in the MLS  for other agents to see and know the seller’s preference.  Keep in mind, everything is negotiable depending on which point of view you see the situation.

For the seller, allowing possession after closing can provide some desirable breathing room to finish up the packing and final clean up, not to mention the comfort of knowing that the closing actually took place before completely moving out of the house.  After all, what if something happens, even at the closing table and you still own the home now with all your belongings in a truck?  Yikes!

For the buyer, this is such an exciting time usually and you can’t wait to get into your new home and start making it your own.  Besides, if the seller is still in the house moving out, what if they accidentally damage it or worse?  Not to mention the fact that since closing you’re now paying for it and not living in the house.

So what to do?  There are strong reasons for both sides of the story. Most transactions are flexible with sellers and buyers working out an understanding.  In some cases possession time may be set and required by a third party such as a bank or relocation company.  It’s up to a buyer to agree to that.  In most cases, allowing possession at closing is probably the least troublesome way to go as far as potential liability is concerned.  In any case, if possession will not be at closing a best practice might be to have a written agreement, much like a rental agreement, set forth and agreed to before closing.  Perhaps this agreement may have a deposit made part of it which lends to some level of security.

There is a lot to consider in all parts of a real estate transaction.  After all, our contracts here are now over a dozen pages long, typically with many addenda to accompany it. Possession time is but one small yet very important detail to the whole transaction.

Note: This article is intended to provide general information and is not intended to provide specific advice.

The Real Estate Transaction Series | Posession is one of several posts on the subject of real estate transactions.

You can also read the others as well here:

The Real Estate Transaction Series: The Closing

The Real Estate Transaction Series: Final Walk Through

The Real Estate Transaction Series: Deadlines and Dates

The Real Estate Transaction Series: HOA Matters

Last night from my home in Highlands Ranch I could see a red glow as I looked upon the foothills, it was the Indian Gulch Fire near Golden.  I wasn’t able to get a picture, my camera with the zoom lens had a dead battery.

Today the winds have been brutal most of the day and the fire has now grown, causing evacuations in Golden Gate Canyon to about 100 homes from what I am hearing on the news and twitter streams.

I just shot this photo from my back deck around 4pm, now that the battery is charged, I am not super close, about 20 or 25 miles -  but close enough to see this with a decent zoom.  The smoke can be seen from all over the Denver metro area.  I suspect unless the winds die down pronto that tonight I will see the red glow once again.  It sounds like there are 2 additional fired this afternoon as well, one near Evergreen and the other near Conifer.

I wish safety for all and that the winds die down so all of these fires can be contained.

Highlands Ranch Substation for Douglas County Sheriff Opens

It has been considered for a long time. It has been studied, planned and budgeted for in great detail. It has been carefully designed and built and finally it is here! What is this you say? The new Douglas County Sheriff substation in Highlands Ranch, CO.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s office serves a large area of land to protect the citizens. Although the entire county needs the support of the Sheriff’s Office, the largest population density is in Highlands Ranch. The resources needed and the facility needed in Highlands Ranch has been clear for some time. I believe the figures quoted from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in savings over time, just on resources alone, will be hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to traveling to and from the justice facility in Castle Rock.

A few weeks ago the Sheriff’s Office held a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony at the new substation. I had the opportunity to attend and it is very impressive. It is a top notch, technologically modern facility. The Sheriff’s Office graciously opened it’s doors and allowed folks to tour and ask questions. Many of the deputies were available to demonstrate various places in the substation, and yes that included the jails, or holding cells.

There were law enforcement officials from many different jurisdictions, both local and federal. Some presently serving and some retired as well as dignitaries from local government and business leaders. All a testament to the outstanding work of the Sheriff’s Department and the staff that had the vision and seen the plan through for this outstanding new sub station.

Here’s a short video clip from the opening ceremony outside of the building before we went inside.  I had meant to post this sooner, but have been busy – and yes, that is some snow on the ground.

St Patrick’s Day Activities in Denver And The Burbs

St Patrick’s Day again, I feel like it was just yesterday that we were drinking green beer and cooking up some corn beef and cabbage!

But St Patty’s Day is big in Denver, did you know that the Denver St Patrick’s Day Parade is the largest west of the Mississippi River? Is true!  So head to lower downtown (LoDo)  Denver Saturday morning 3/12 as the parade begins at 10 am at 27th and Blake and continues down Blake to 17th.  You can also follow along on Facebook, the organizers of the Parade have been posting updates & contests.

Sunday 3/13 is another fun event in LoDo – the Annual Running of the Green.  While its a 5K, there is green beer at the end – what is not to love about that!

Highlands Ranch has its own 5k – The St Patrick’s Day 5K on Saturday 3/12 at 9am at Town Center & festivities lasting until about 12:30 also at Town Center.

There are numerous Irish Pubs around the Denver area, I tend to enjoy the one near my home in Highlands Ranch, Lansdowne Arms.

What are you doing to celebrate St Patrick’s Day all week long?