Roundabout Boulder - A Tutorial

I drive to work almost every day down Pine Street in downtown Boulder between Folsom and Broadway, and each day I realize how lucky I am to live and work in such a wonderful community. However, I think I might need to find a different route because almost every day I arrive at work irritated by drivers on Pine Street who don't know how to negotiate the traffic circles! After stewing about this for some time I thought ... why not take this opportunity to use our blog to educate and inform Boulder drivers on exactly how to drive through these little roundabouts. Then we'll all be safer AND in a better mood!

In some cities, small traffic circles have been constructed in the middle of residential intersections to calm neighborhood traffic. Occasionally, these small circles are called roundabouts or mini-roundabouts. Circles of this type are common in Seattle, WA and Boulder, CO. Definitions of traffic calming vary, but they all share the goal of reducing vehicle speeds, improving safety, and enhancing quality of life. What we have on Pine Street are known as traffic circles, not roundabouts. Per http://www.trafficcalming.org/ traffic circles are raised islands, placed in intersections, around which traffic circulates. They are good for calming intersections, especially within neighborhoods, where large vehicle traffic is not a major concern but speeds, volumes, and safety are problems. B efore the installation of these roundabouts on Pine Street one could observe cars blazing down the street in this otherwise quiet residential neighborhood.

The towns of Erie and Superior also have traffic circles, mini-roundabouts, or roundabouts, so if you drive anywhere in Boulder County it might be a good idea to be familiar with how to negotiate these traffic calming road features.

Okay, so now for the HOW TO portion of this post. The city of Overland Park, KS has a nice little .pdf on their website with a diagram that illustrates how to drive a roundabout. Click on the link to see for yourself or just read on ...

1. Slow down as you approach, be prepared to YIELD, and check the crosswalk for pedestrians and cyclists.


2. Look to your left and check for vehicles already in the traffic circle - vehicles already in the circle have the right of way. Wait for them to flow through and then when there is a gap in the circulation it is your turn, so go ahead and pull into the circle!
   
3. Once you are in the traffic circle YOU have the right of way. Herein lies my big pet peeve - if you are already IN the traffic circle, don't stop! Keep on moving (with caution of course). If you stop you cause a bottleneck for everyone. You don't have to stop and let new cars in the circle - why? Because YOU have the right of way - you were there first! Of course if there is an irresponsible driver who you think clearly intends to disregard traffic circle protocal then by all means slow down or stop to avoid an accident. Otherwise, keep on truckin'!


4. As you approach your exit put on your right turn signal, and then exit the traffic circle.

Now, what if you and another driver arrive at the traffic circle at the exact same time, but at difference entry points? According to SafeMotorist.com the driver on the left should always yield to the driver on the right. The same rules apply for traffic circles as for regular intersections. For instance, if you reach an uncontrolled intersection (i.e. traffic circle) at close to the same time, the vehicle who actually reached the intersection last is the driver who must yield the right of way. If you reach the intersection at the same time, the driver on the left should always yield the right of way.

Congratulations - You survived Traffic Circles 101. Happy driving Boulder!

Disclaimer - I am NOT an expert on traffic circles, or traffic laws in Colorado or anywhere else. For information specific to Colorado please consult the State of Colorado, Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles Colorado Driver Handbook. Page 16 has information on Right of Way. Content in this blog post was obtained via research on the websites mentioned or is my opinion only.

Pam Metzger
Director of Relocation and Business Development
Colorado Landmark, Realtors
pam@coloradolandmark.com
twitter = pmcolorado

Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Home

Fall is officially here in Boulder, with our first true chill in the air! October in Boulder is beautiful and there is always something going on - school events, sports activities, CU Buffs games, and Halloween to name a few things. Don't get so busy with the fall fun that you forget stay on top of a few important home maintenance "to do's". Whether you are staying put for the time being or you are sellling your home and trying to keep it comfortable and in great showing condition be sure to make time for the following:

• Trim trees and remove dead branches. Bad weather and the high winds we sometimes experience here in the Boulder area can cause weak limbs to break, damaging property or causing injury. Consult a professional tree service for large jobs.
• Reduce energy costs by lowering the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees F.
• Make sure caulking around windows and doors is adequate to reduce heat loss.
• Replace the filter on your furnace and schedule routine maintenance with a qualified heating contractor.
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors - time this to correspond with switching your clocks back in the fall, and then forward in the spring so you won't forget!
• Clear out gutters and downspouts on the exterior of your home to prevent the build-up of leaves and debris that can impede the flow of rainwater and cause water damage.
• Check your chimney for birds nests or other debris especially if you have a wood burning fireplace, and make sure the chimney cap is in place. Call a chimney sweep to perform maintenance.
• Be aware that mice will try to start coming in from the cold, especially if you live in or near a rural area, field, park or open space. There are numerous ways to trap mice, humane or otherwise. You will find many choices and expert assistance at McGuckin Hardware, Boulder's go-to place for pretty much everything since 1955.
• Consider repainting or staining and sealing your exterior doors to protect them from rain, snow, ice and wind. A $10 can of paint or sealant could go a long way to prevent damage to an expensive door.
• Cover your patio furniture, outdoor grill, portable firepit, etc... or move into storage.
• Drain and store your garden hoses, and have your sprinkler system blown out to prevent damage to pipes in freezing weather.
• Pull your refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum the condensor coils to prevent damage to the motor.
• Check your dryer exhaust tube and vent for built up lint, debris, birds nests, etc...
• Clean out your whole house humidifier and replace filters before heating season starts.
• Be prepared for weather related emergencies such as high winds, tornados, blizzards, or flooding. Organize survival kits and review an emergency escape or protection plan with your household.
  

Have a wonderful fall and enjoy everything our beautiful area has to offer this season!

Pam Metzger
Director of Business Development and Relocation
Colorado Landmark, Realtors
pam@coloradolandmark.com
303-443-3377

Not Too Late - $8000 Free $ for your First Home!

69 Days and Counting! It is not too late to take advantage of the government $8000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The Boulder market continues to stay strong, and well priced homes in Louisville and Superior are going under contract in a matter of days. Interest rates have never been better, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has announced that his findings indicate that the recession is "very likely over".

RealTrends reports that nearly 40% of first-time homebuyers said they would not have bought a home if the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers was not offered, according to the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) "2009 First-time Home Buyers Tax Credit Survey." Supporting that theory, the IRS recently released a report indicating that approximately 1.4 million taxpayers have filed (or amended) their 2008 income tax returns claiming the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit. This is basically in line with NAR's projections that about 1.8 million taxpayers will ultimately claim the credit during this first round.

Buyers have to close their home purchase transaction prior to December 1, 2009 but there is still time left if you can act quickly and have a knowledgeable real estate professional and a reputable lender. Associates at Colorado Landmark, Realtors can help you identify a suitable home quickly, help you find the right lender, and we will do everything we can to get the transaction to close before the December 1st deadline.

The National Association of Homebuilders has a great Frequently Asked Questions web link regarding this landmark government program. Check this out and then call me here at Colorado Landmark, Realtors and I will be happy to connect you with a real estate professional who can help you in the neighborhoods you are interested in. Good luck! 69 Days and Counting!

Pam Metzger

Director of Relocation

Colorado Landmark, Realtors

pam@coloradolandmark.com

303-443-3377

Colorado Buffaloes 2009 Football Schedule

What better way to spend a fall afternoon or evening in beautiful Boulder, Colorado than catching a CU Buffs football game at Folsom Field?

We have some big CU fans here at Colorado Landmark, Realtors, and our owner/managing broker Joel Ripmaster was even a varsity letterman back in the day.

Here's the schedule:

Sunday, September 6: vs. CSU at BOULDER

Friday, September 11: vs. Toledo at OH

Saturday, September 19: vs. Wyoming at BOULDER

Thursday, October 1: vs. West Virginia at W. Va

Saturday, October 10: vs. Texas at TX

Saturday, October 17: vs. Kansas at BOULDER

Saturday, October 24: vs. Kansas State at KS

Saturday, October 31: vs. Missouri at BOULDER

Saturday, November 7: vs. Texas A&M at BOULDER

Saturday, November 14: vs. Iowa State at IA

Thursday, November 19: vs. Oklahoma State at OK

Friday, November 27: vs. Nebraska at BOULDER

See you at the game! GO BUFFS!

Jennifer Fly, Broker Associate

Colorado Landmark, Realtors

(303) 443-3377

jenniferfly@coloradolandmark.com

Twitter: jenflycolorado

Boulder, CO #1 Strongest Housing Market in the US, Few Foreclosures

Boulder has received LOTS of great press lately, and for that we are always thankful. If any of you read my blog entries you know that I love it when Boulder or any of our surrounding communities makes it into a ranking or national survey. But I just read a local competitor's blog that stated "What recession? Move to Boulder! Living here is simply the best!" Not to be a "negative Nellie" here, but the recession IS still alive and well here in Boulder. Enough propoganda! Although we have definitely fared better than many other parts of the country, our economy does seem to have lagged behind the rest of the country by 12-24 months, going into the downturn, and it will be in the recovery too.

A very recent and much twittered and blogged about Business Week article touted Boulder for its strong housing market. Boulder is the #1 Strongest Housing Market in the US! 60% of the homes in our market have increased in value during the past year, and the city of Boulder's median home price rose 2.12%. Reasons? Big limits on development and growth within city limits (thus constriction of the housing supply), the University of Colorado providing a constant source of jobs and new energy to the town, and of course the area's incredible natural beauty.

What people aren't buzzing about on blogs, Twitter, etc... is mention in the same article that our local economy HAS slowed, and that while our housing marketing is STRONG, it isn't necessarily affordable. I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but I am trying to be honest. I am grateful every day that I live in the Boulder area, but I have lived here long enough (15+ years) to be congizant of its drawbacks as well as its attributes.

Two things have been tough to find in Boulder in the last 12-24 months - foreclosure properties, and jobs. I get referrals for out of the area buyers frequently, and everyone I speak to believes they can find a foreclosure property in Boulder and get a screaming deal. You certainly CAN in other parts of the country (Florida, Michigan, California, etc...) so why not Boulder? If you are looking in one of the outlying areas like Longmont, Lafayatte, Erie you may indeed be in luck. But if you are looking in Boulder proper ... think again. That cute single family Victorian style home, walking distance to downtown and nearby trails, with a gourmet kitchen and spacious yard simply doesn't exist in Boulder for even $450,000 in most areas, and certainly not for $250,000, which is the number buyers tend to throw out at me when I get their initial call. However the Daily Camera reported Friday that foreclosure filings are on the rise in Boulder County - 17% in the second quarter and foreclosure sales increased 33%. We still have the lowest foreclosure rate in the Denver metrol areas at 1 per 540 households, compared to 1 per 169 households in Denver County and 1 per 197 households in Douglas County. But that being said, the Boulder County public trustee's office figure's show that the county's foreclosure filings don't seem to be slowing down, so attention bargain hunters - don't give up yet!

As for jobs, as of June 2009 the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment was reporting an unemployment rate of 6.6% in Boulder County. While you might say "Well what's wrong with that? That's fantastic!" remember that a significant population living in Boulder works elsewhere. Unemployment rates in other surrounding counties aren't so good - 7.5% in Broomfield, 8.5% in Denver, 7.5% in Jefferson, 9.0% in Adams, 7.7% in Arapahoe counties and 7.8% statewide. And these figures are about 2-3% points above where they were 2 years ago.

So my answer to my competitors who blow sunshine all over the place and say "What recession?" - I answer with THIS recession - it is still affecting Boulder County and may continue to do so for the foreseeable near future. Is Boulder still a phenomenal place to live - DARN RIGHT! Is real estate in the Boulder area still a wise investment - ABSOLUTELY! As long as you aren't expecting to buy and flip over the short term, real estate in Boulder is as close to a "sure thing" as you can get, especially if you look at it from the perspective of housing, and not the source of a quick turnaround buck. No brainer alert!

So it's a great time to buy, but what does this mean for home sellers? Do not under any circumstances overprice your home - price it competitively and fairly, or even better than fairly, and don't think you will be able to squeeze every last dime out of it in this market, or it will sit, and sit, and sit on the market. When it finally sells it will sell for LESS than it would have if you have priced it correctly to begin with. We may not see full market recovery until 2012, so if you do not need to sell then wait. If you do need to sell, price it right to begin with. Consult a reputable real estate professional with experience and success listing and selling homes in YOUR neighborhood who can provide analysis (key word here) and recommendations for pricing. Price it to sell within 90 days - you don't want it to sit.

Do you want the propoganda, or do you want the facts? I never promised anyone that I would be "glass half full" all the time. But I have promised that I will always be honest and straightforward about our community and our market, and that I will try to provide our clients with the best information possible to assist in their decision making. And really, isn't that what you want in a real estate company?

Pam Metzger

Director of Relocation and Business Development

Colorado Landmark, Realtors

pam@coloradolandmark.com

www.twitter.com/pmcolorado

303-302-8839 (direct)