HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A HOMEOWNERS TOOLKIT

January 12, 2014 by

HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A HOMEOWNERS TOOLKIT

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If you’re a homeowner, you may have realized that you need a toolkit to help you with the maintenance and repairs on your home.  Having a homeowners toolkit will make all those routine maintenance tasks much easier.  Below are three toolkits you could put together.  The one you choose will depend on your particular skill level.  

Basic Skill Level Homeowners Toolkit
•    Hammer
•    Screwdrivers – a Philips, a flathead and a multi-bit
•    Flashlight
•    Measuring tape
•    Crescent wrench
•    Needle-nose pliers
•    Level
•    Utility knife
•    Wire cutters
•    Extension cords
•    Safety goggles
•    GlovesIntermediate Skill Level Homeowners Toolkit
•    All of the above plus the following:
•    Caulk gun
•    Square-head screwdriver
•    Vice grips
•    Electrical wire stripping pliers
•    Hack saw
•    Allen  wrench
•    Crowbar
•    Putty knife

Advanced Skill Level Homeowners Toolkit
•    Everything from the basic and intermediate toolkits plus the following:
•    Trowel for drywalling
•    Trowel for grouting
•    Trowel for cement applications
•    Tile cutter
•    Sledge hammer
•    Metal snips
•    Air compressor
•    Circular saw
•    Drill – either corded, cordless or both
•    Table saw
•    Chop saw
•    Jigsaw

As you’re putting together your homeowners toolkit, you’ll probably find  it necessary to add various tools from time to time.  Adding new tools will help you  accomplish the tasks for your particular home or hobbies or as your skill level advances.  Additionally, it’s always important to practice basic safety habits when working around your home. One of my favorite stores to find all these tools is McGuckin’s on Arapahoe.
 

 

John Marcotte
Marcotte Real Estate Group
720-771-9401

john@boulderhomes4u.com

Search for homes on my website @ www.boulderhomes4u.com

When thinking of Real Estate, think of John Marcotte
I’m never too busy for your referrals.

 

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HOW TO CALCULATE A HOME’S SQUARE FOOTAGE

December 8, 2013 by

 

HOW TO CALCULATE A HOME’S SQUARE FOOTAGE

Written by Henry Savage

Question:Is there a standard formula to calculate a home’s square footage? I have seen different publications with different square footage for the same house. For example, the county land records will say a house has 3,000 square feet, but a sales brochure will say the same house has 3,500 square feet. Are finished basements allowed in a calculation? What about hallways? I don’t know what or who to believe. It seems misleading.

Answer:You have asked a very good question. I doubt if anyone is purposely trying to mislead the public, but it’s true that not everyone in the real estate business calculates square footage the same way. In fact, it may be different from one geographic area to the next. I’m from the Washington, DC area, so I’ll share with you what I know about how it’s done here.

The square footage listed in the city and county records for condominium units are typically not questioned. These numbers are taken from the original condominium documents and are generally accurate. Unlike detached homes, square footage is less likely to change on a condominium as a result of additions and improvements.

Most real estate appraisers measure the exterior of the home to calculate the gross living area. For example, a two-story home that measures 25 feet by 25 feet would have 625 square feet on each floor, so the appraiser would say the house contains 1,250 square feet. Since he is measuring from the exterior, the calculation includes hallways, stairwells, closets and wall space.

The appraiser will also consider the size of the basement and determine how much of the basement has been finished as living area. Instead of totaling the square footage of a basement’s living area, he will make value adjustments based on other comparable homes. For example, a home with a full finished basement that includes a den, bathroom and bedroom might be credited $15,000 or $20,000 in value compared to a similar house with an unfinished basement. A well-maintained and waterproofed basement by Basement Waterproofing Systems can positively impact the home’s value.

In some cases, even if the lowest level is completely above grade, an appraiser may treat it as a basement. Consider an attached townhouse that has a lower level used as a garage and a den or mud room. An appraiser might consider such a room as a basement.

It gets more complicated. What if the house in our example has a vaulted ceiling in the family room with a second story balcony? This would clearly result in the second floor having less than 625 square feet of actual floor area. Most appraisers won’t subtract the space left out of the second floor to make room for the vaulted ceilings. Why? Because such a floor plan often enhances the market value of the home because it’s a popular feature to have. Remember that an appraiser’s job is to determine the market value of the home. The total size of the living area is only part of the equation. Imagine a 3,000 square foot house that contains 20 small rooms each consisting of 150 square feet. Such a build out would not be very popular for a typical family.

Many real estate agents and builders will include all finished “walkable” areas when totaling the square feet of a house. It’s certainly not misleading. A lot of prospective home buyers would want to know the total living area, regardless of whether some of it is below grade.

The bottom line? Calculating the square footage of a home is more of opinion than exact science. If you’re interested in buying a particular house and want to know the size expressed in square feet, my advice would be to make an appointment to visit the home and bring your tape measure, pen, paper and calculator. 

Courtesy of RealtyTimes.com

 

Boulder CO homes

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Top Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Boulder

November 3, 2013 by

 

Top Farm-to-Table Restaurants in Boulder

Farm to Table Restaurants in Boulder

One of the biggest trends in restaurants today is the farm-to-table concept in which restaurants source as much of their ingredients from local growers and farms, some even go as far as growing their own herbs and vegetables in house! Of course, the concept makes perfect sense in a town like Boulder, so there are numerous options to choose from. Here are the top farm-to-table restaurants in Boulder.

Black Cat Bistro

This restaurant is about as close as you can get to the farm since the chef, Eric Skokan, actually owns the farm he uses to produce the delicious dishes he produces for Black Cat Bistro in Downtown Boulder. Having their own farm lets the restaurant plan the menu from the ground up quite literally. The menu is constantly changing and is a great place to have an intimate, fresh and organic dinner.

Bramble & Hare

The sister restaurant to Black Cat Bistro, Bramble & Hare also gets theirfarm fresh menu from Black Cat Farms located just outside the city limits. This restaurant was designed with more of a casual pub feel to complement the intimate bistro next door. But make no mistake, while this might have the feel of a casual pub, lots of love goes into making these dishes.

The Kitchen/The Kitchen Next Door/The Kitchen Upstairs

This trio of restaurants on the west end of the Pearl Street mall has taken Boulder by storm. Together, they offer just about any kind of dining (or drinking) experience that one could ask for. For an upscale dinner with friends or fancy first date, try The Kitchen; for a few classy cocktails and apps with friends, visit The Kitchen Upstairs; and for those of you wanting a nice night out with friends, pop into The Kitchen Next Door. The trio was built upon the concept of community and takes into account sustainability and locally sourced ingredients.

Oak at Fourteenth

On a corner just off the Pearl Street Mall, Oak at Fourteenth doesn’t immediately jump out to passersby, but once you make it into the restaurant, you’re in for a real treat. Diners swear by the tomato braised meatballs and burrata and the shaved gala apple & kale salad (yes, their salad gets people excited). The kitchen at Oak uses locally sourced veggies and meats and makes their own pasta.

SALT Bistro

This restaurant designs “menus that honor the ingredients” and it shows in its popularity. During the week, you can get a farm-to-table lunch or dinner and on the weekends, indulge in an all-natural, gourmet brunch. SALT uses a variety of farms in the surrounding area to source their food, and even supply one of the farmers with their scraps to feed his pigs.

The next time you and your friends decide it’s time for a night dining out, use this list to pick from some of the best restaurants that Boulder has to offer and now that you’re not only supporting one local business, you’re supporting farmers and other small businesses that give these restaurants the fresh, local ingredients they need to create a wonderful dining experience and have you leaving with a full belly and a happy heart.

By  www.yourboulder.com

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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U.S. housing agency likely to tap Treasury funds: sources

October 5, 2013 by

U.S. housing agency likely to tap Treasury funds: sources

(Reuters) – The Federal Housing Administration will likely soon seek a cash infusion from the U.S. Treasury for the first time in its nearly 80-year history to help it cover losses from souring loans, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The agency, which offers private mortgage lenders guarantees against homeowner default, has nearly exhausted its reserves for the mortgages it backs. Housing officials have yet to determine how much money the FHA may need to draw, the sources said.

Losses on loans made from 2005-2008 as the market was heading south have eaten away at the agency’s cash reserves. While it is reaping profits from more recent mortgages, those profits are not expected to be large enough to make up the shortfall.

Many conservative Republicans have expressed concern that the FHA provided too much credit to unworthy borrowers during the housing crisis, and they cried foul on Wednesday.

“The FHA has been going down an irresponsible path for years,” said Senator David Vitter, a Republican member of the Senate Banking Committee. “Instead of managing their funds responsibly, and making appropriate reforms, FHA prefers to lean on taxpayers to bail them out, and enough is enough.”

The White House projected in April that the FHA would face a shortfall of $943 million for the fiscal year that ends on Monday, but the agency said it would wait until the end of the budget year to make a decision on whether to draw Treasury aid.

At that time, the FHA said it would see whether or not steps it took to raise funds and the improvement in the housing market would close its funding gap.

By law, the FHA is able to automatically access Treasury funds if it depletes it reserves, but it has never had to. In the past few years, it has taken a number of actions, including raising insurance premiums and tightening underwriting standards, to stay solvent.

The government mortgage insurer plays a key role in helping those with low and modest incomes obtain credit to purchase a home. Consumer advocates maintain the support it has given to low-income borrowers and the housing market as a whole has been worthwhile.

The FHA insures about $1.1 trillion in mortgages and supports 15 percent of all U.S. mortgages, up from about 5 percent in 2006.

It is legally required to keep a 2 percent capital ratio, which is a measure of the fund’s ability to withstand losses. It has failed to meet that threshold for a number of years.

A representative for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees the FHA, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

(Editing by Christopher Wilson, James Dalgleish, Matthew Lewis and Andrew Hay)

 

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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The Mapleton Elk – Cop Strikes Plea Deal

September 5, 2013 by

The Mapleton Elk – Cop Strikes Plea Deal

boulder mapleton elk

We all remember earlier this year when the iconic Mapleton Elk was shot for trophy in the middle of one of Boulder’s neighborhoods. Shenanigan after shenanigan ensued, photos of cops posing with the dead elk emerged, and all hell broke loose.

Yesterday, the first cop in the case — not the one actually charged with shooting the elk — struck a plea deal. The penalty he’ll have to live with? One year of probation and 60 days of house arrest.

Having known people charged with DUIs and DWAIs in Colorado, I’m failing to see how this guy’s penalty for his involvment in this crime are fitting. Especialy given that he plead out to one felony and four misdemeanor charges. You seek help from professionals nearby or check out Leppard Law anytime to opt with your concerns.

Here’s the direct skinny from The Daily Camera this morning:

He received a two-year deferred sentence for the felony charge, tampering with evidence. If he abides by the terms of the deferred sentence for two years, the felony would be wiped from his record.

The misdemeanor charges are illegal possession of a trophy elk with a Samson Law surcharge, conspiracy to commit illegal possession of wildlife, unlawful taking of a big game animal out of season, and unlawful use of an electronic communication device to unlawfully take wildlife.

Three other felonies and a misdemeanor were dropped in exchange for the plea.

Now — let me get this straight. Someone who has a few beers or cocktails and gets caught and charged with a DUI or DWAI in Colorado faces a zero tolerance threshold and that offense will never be wiped from his or her record. It will follow them to and from every job application and criminal background check for a lifetime. And no, I’m not saying that it’s AOK to drink and drive — it’s anything but.

But a guy who goes out and conspires to shoot another living being — unlawfully — and to the effect of four felony charges and five misdemeanors gets to have his felony wiped from his record after he “behaves” for two years?

I’m not on board with this. But frankly, it doesn’t matter what I’m on board with. It’s the District Attorney’s office in Boulder that carries the burden here. Boulder’s a community that lives and breathes the outdoors. We practice Leave No Trace and report dog owners for not sporting a pup’s off-leash tag on the Mt. Sanitas trail. We provide the training ground for world-class athletes and are graced to ake up each morning to deer wandering through residential yards.

We are the idyllic watercolor painting.

And when crap like this happens in our community — the conspired death of wildlife — by those who have sworn to protect and serve our community, I fail to see how a plea deal as slick and self-serving as the one handed down serves anyone except Brent Curnow. We certainly can’t get the elk back, the one that was shot for trophy by a Boulder Police Officer.

But does anyone feel that this is justice served?

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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Sales soar, inventory rises in June

July 6, 2013 by

Sales soar, inventory rises in June

Ryan Carter listing

 

Home sales soared in the Denver in June, while close to 1,000 homes were added to the inventory, according to reports released today.

Last month, there were 7,420 homes placed under contract, a record for any June, while 973 homes were added to the inventory from May, according to a report released by independent broker Gary Bauer.Metrolist also released its own report.

The inventory of homes listed by Realtors in the metro area rose 11.8 percent to 9,187, compared with 8,214 in May.

The number of unsold homes on the market was still down 15.9 percent from June 2012, when buyers could choose from 10,925 homes.

“The big things is that we have almost another 1,000 homes on the market,” Bauer said.

“That is really good news,” said Bauer, who bases his report on Metrolist data.

“The Denver housing market is finally seeing some relief from our long-term undersupplied conditions,” said Kirby Slunaker, the CEO and president of Metrolist.

Peter Niederman, CEO  of Kentwood Real Estate, said the increase in inventory may slow the number of bidding wars for some homes in some neighborhoods.

The average price of a single-family home sold in June was $349,339, compared with $335,776 and $324,497 in May and June 2012, respectively.

“Buyer demand continues to be strong and pricing is up a little bit,” Bauer said.

Slunaker agreed.June.sold and inventory

“We’re still seeing strong sales figures, which were coupled with another jump in sales prices—it’s clear buyer and seller confidence remains high,” Slunaker said.

Niederman said the 38.5 percent increase in under contracts from June 2012, “is pretty staggering.” Most of those homes will close in the next 30 to 60 days, he said.

Homes also are selling at a faster clip.

“The speed of the market also continues to pick up, with average days on market at 43,” Bauer said a 40 percent drop from the 72 average days on market in June 2012.

The monthly supply of inventory is at 2.18 months.

“Despite only a 2-month supply, our inventory level is much closer to where it was a year ago, compared to where we were earlier this year,” when the supply on unsold homes hit an all-time low.

“We are much closer to being a balanced market,” Bauer said.

Niederman agreed.

“A balanced market is a typically thought of with one with a four-to-six month supply,” Niederman said. “With only two months of a supply, it is still a pretty brisk market. We can use more homes, but is moving in the right direction.”

In the first half of the year, buyers paid $6.8 billion for single-family detached homes and $7.8 billion for all homes, both records for the first six months of a year.

The 20,970 single-family homes sold and 26,198 closed in the first half of the year, also were records.

The year-to-date average and median prices for the first half of the year also were records.

There were 5,566 home closings in June, 13.5 percent higher than the 4,904 in June 2012, but down 1.7 percent from the 5,665 in May. Closings reflect homes that many homes that were placed under contract in prior months.

Read the entire article here

 

 

John Marcotte

720-771-9401

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