Boulder - one of the best places to live in 2010

This week, RelocateAmerica released their 2010 Breakout Lists for the Best Places to Live in 2010. It's no suprise to us that Boulder made not one, but FOUR of the lists including:

• Top 10 Overall Cities
• Top 10 Earth-Friendly Cities
• Top 10 Recovery Cities
• Top 10 Recreation Cities - #1 on this list!

According to RelocateAmerica's website, Boulder was chosen because of the "unique quality of life" that Boulder residents enjoy. This includes the stunning natural beauty of the Colorado front range, access to parks and mountain trails, performing arts, fantastic restaurants, the University of Colorado and innovative economic and technological development. Of course our beautiful climate with close to 300 days of sunshine a year doesn't hurt either.

We are lucky to live and work in such an amazing place. If you are thinking of relocating to the Boulder/Broomfield area and would like to receive some relocation information, or if you have any questions about this wonderful place we live, please contact a Colorado Landmark Realtor or our relocation deparment at info@coloradolandmark.com.

Jennifer Fly

Colorado Landmark, Realtors

(303) 443-3377

jenniferfly@coloradolandmark.com

Twitter: @jenflycolorado

10 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring

Spring has sprung in Boulder! The sun is shining and the flowers are blooming. Is your home ready for the heat of the summer?

After months of freezing temperatures, bitter wind, and snow that hung around a lot longer than we are all used to, chances are that your home could use a little attention.

Here are some tips to keep your home in top shape as we move in to the warm, beautiful Colorado months.

1. Replace the filters in your furnace, humidifier, and air purifiers

2. Clean gutters and downspouts and make sure they are draining properly away from the house

3. Have your fireplace cleaned and chimney swept and inspected by a licensed professional

4. Consider having your ducts cleaned, this will improve the air quality in your home and make your furnace and A/C run more efficiently

5. Check your roof for any damage that may have occurred over the winter and repair/replace any shingles as needed

6. Have a qualified heating and cooling professional service your air conditioner or evaporative cooler

7. Inspect and seal cracks in your concrete or asphalt driveways

8. Check and clean the clothes dryer vent and stove hood

9. Check all windows and doors, make sure they open and close properly and well-sealed.

10. Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Taking these steps now will ensure that your home is ready for the coming summer months, and will eliminate the need for costly repairs and maintenance in the future.

If you have any questions, real estate related or otherwise, please feel free to contact a Colorado Landmark, Realtors professional. We are here to help!

Jennifer Fly

Colorado Landmark, Realtors

(303) 443-3377

http://www.coloradolandmark.com/

jenniferfly@coloradolandmark.com

Twitter: @jenflycolorado

Colorado Landmark, Realtors is "Leading the Revolution"

Last week, Colorado Landmark, Realtors sent four of our top agent/managers to "Leading the Revolution" - the 2010 Annual Leading Real Estate Companies of the World convention in Las Vegas. The convention was a wealth of information and education about everything pertaining to the real estate industry today. This included topics like new technology, social media, luxury marketing, risk management, short sales, and relocation, to name just a few.

I participated on a panel regarding Luxury Portfolio, the Luxury property marketing division of LeadingRE (stay tuned for a post about that later this week) and the Director of Business Development and Relocation at Colorado Landmark, Pam Metzger, contributed to a panel about social media.

Colorado Landmark was one of four brokerages in the whole network who hosted a booth on "networking night", and we shared some fabulous "Taste of Boulder" products including Justin's Nut Butter, Bobo's Oat Bars, Madhava Honey & Agave, and Pangea Organics. (Thank you to all those wonderful companies for their contributions!).

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® is a global network of over 600 premier real estate firms with 5,000 offices and 150,000 sales associates in 35 countries around the world.
Collectively, this group has sold over 1 million homes worth $300 billion in 2008, more than any national real estate brand.

LeadingRE member companies dominate the United States' list of top 500 real estate firms, with more of the Number One market leaders in the top 90 markets than any national brand. All member companies are independently owned, and are the top one or two firms in their marketplace.

Colorado Landmark, Realtors could not be more proud of our affiliation with LeadingRE. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, or simply have a question about Boulder or the surrounding areas, please give us a call.

Jennifer Fly

Broker Associate

(303) 443-3377

jenniferfly@coloradolandmark.com

Twitter: @jenflycolorado

Credit Information EVERYONE Needs to Know

If you are thinking about buying a or re-financing now, or anytime in the future, one of the main factors determining your ability to qualify for a loan is your credit score. Understanding what credit scores mean, how they are calculated, and how to improve your score can make the difference in your ability to qualify for a loan and get the best possible terms and interest rates.

Credit scores range from 300-850. Here is how those scores are broken down:

780 and Above: Outstanding

740-780: Excellent

690-740: Good

620-690: Fair

62o and Below: Poor

Typically, the higher your credit score, the better loan terms you will be offered. People with scores below 620 will generally not be able to qualify for a loan.

Credit scores are determined by a number of factors including:

• Amounts owed
• Payment history
• Types of credit in use
• New Credit
• Length of Credit History

There are three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These agencies may all have slightly different information, and they each use a different method to calculate credit scores, so your score will be slightly different from each one. Most lenders will pull credit reports from all three agencies when processing a loan. It is important that everyone checks their credit report at least once a year to ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date. You can pull a free copy of your credit report once a year through the website http://www.annualcreditreport.com/. This website also offers credit scores, for a fee.

If your credit score has seen better days, there are things you can start doing right away to improve your score:

• Pay all your bills on time
• Work to get credit card balances below 25% of their limits
• Open new accounts only if absolutely necessary
• Lengthen your credit history
• Seek credit counseling through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling http://www.nfcc.org/
• Opt-out to stop receiving new credit card offers through http://www.optoutprescreen.com/ or call 1-888-567-8688

In Boulder County, we have a fantastic resource for anyone who is thinking about buying a home and has questions about credit or related items. The Boulder County Housing Counseling Program offers free housing counseling and classes http://www.bouldercounty.org/hhs/housingcounseling.htm. These services are available to residents of Boulder, Broomfield, and western Weld Counties.

Brought to you by:

Jennifer Fly

Broker Associate

Colorado Landmark, Realtors

(303) 443-3377

jenniferfly@coloradolandmark.com

Twitter: jenflycolorado

Important New Carbon Monoxide Detector Law

Effective July 1, 2009, the State of Colorado is requiring carbon monoxide detectors in many homes due to the passing of House Bill 1091 which was signed into law in March by Governor Bill Ritter.

The new law requires that sellers/landlords of homes or apartments provide carbon monoxide alarms near bedrooms, if the home has the following:

• a fuel-burning heater or appliance;
• fireplace; and/or
• attached garage.

Mobile and manufactured homes also are covered by the law. Landlords are required to install these devices any time there is a new tenant occupying a rental. The new law also applies to the construction of a new home or upgrades to an existing home. Alarm installation costs approximately $30.00.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is very toxic and kills hundreds of people every year. Protect your family and make sure you have a properly working detector in your home!

For more information, feel free to contact your Colorado Landmark Realtor.

Posted by:

Jennifer Fly

303-443-3377

jenniferfly@coloradolandmark.com

Twitter: @jenflycolorado