LoDo

Looking for Denver Real Estate? LoDo is Denver’s oldest neighborhood, which means it’s home to some of the city’s most prominent and beloved landmarks, some of which are what define the Denver experience. Denver has always had a variety of nicknames, but the first nickname to ever stick to the Mile High City is LoDo, which applies to the old warehouse area of lower downtown by Union Station, according to Westword Magazine. Now, LoDo is known as the mixed-use historic district, home to some of Denver’s most loved and recognized restaurants, bars, hotels, and entertainment. Take a look at the article below if you’d like to learn more about the wonders that LoDo has to offer. 

If you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest in LoDo and you’d like to learn more about the neighborhood market, then please contact us here. 

If you’re looking to explore LoDo during the day, don’t forget to start off by exploring the lovely boutiques. After you’ve grabbed your morning coffee from one of Denver’s most loved coffee shops, take a walk into some of Denver’s most loved boutiques. If you’re in Larimer Square, head over to Hailee Grace where you can find this season’s hottest clothes, swimwear, and accessories. Once you’ve finished up at Hailee Grace, head on over to Alchemy Works, a coastal California retail, gallery, and event space concept located at Free Market. Featured in Vogue, Conde Nast Traveler, and Style.com, Alchemy Works carries brands like Warby Parker, Sandoval, Casa Clara, and Mau Jewelry. Next time you’re taking a stroll through the city, don’t forget to stop into these boutiques to pick up your next favorite pieces. 

Once you’ve finished up your morning shopping, spend the rest of the day outside enjoying the beautiful weather that Colorado has to offer. Whether you’re looking to host a picnic at the park, or buy some tickets for the Rockies game, with 300 days of sunshine, nearly any day is perfect to spend time outside. If you’re looking to host a sweet picnic outside with your friends and family, find your perfect spot at Confluence Park or Commons Park, two of downtown Denver’s most popular parks right in the middle of the city. Confluence Park lies at the joining of Cherry Creek with the South Platte River. If you love biking or talking long walks along the South Platte River, then definitely take your time to take a scenic walk. Or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, consider renting a kayak from Confluence Kayaks and kayak down the river (yes you can actually do that!) If kayaking feels like too much, then you’re also able to bring down your tube and go tubing.

So you’ve officially done one of the coolest things ever; tubing in the middle of the city, what to do next? Nowhere better to relax than at the Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field with a delicious hot dog, refreshing drink, and ice cream on a sunny day. If you’ve ever explored Denver during the summer before or after a rockies game, then I’m sure you’re familiar with experiencing the spirit and excitement from the fans all across the city. You’ll be sure to see crowds with purple gear all over the city and outdoor patios around the stadium overflowing with fans, before, during, and after the game. If eating delicious snacks for three hours isn’t your thing, then walk on over to Union Station, one of Denver’s most loved and transformed landmarks. If you’ve visited friends in Denver, then I’m sure they’ve taken you to Union Station to either grab a special drink from Terminal Bar, grab some brunch from Snooze an A.M. Eatery, or maybe even to just pop in and grab some ice cream from Milkbox Ice Creamery and a cup of coffee from Pigtrain Coffee Co. Regardless of why you’re here, if you’re looking for the center of downtown Denver, then Union Station is the heart of it all.  

So far, you’ve had quite the long day, so where better to chill out for a couple of hours and take a sweet nap than in your fabulous airbnb or historic hotel room at The Oxford Hotel. Whether you’re visiting Denver from out of state, or a Denver native that’s looking to get to know the city from a tourist point of view, staying in an airbnb or a historic hotel in the middle of the city is the best way to get to know the culture of a city. If you’re looking for a unique stay experience, we recommend checking out the “Historic Carriage House”, LoDo’s coolest airbnb. This home originally sheltered horses in the late 1800s and has been featured in Architectural Digest online as Colorado’s most unique and beautiful Airbnb property. If you’d like to take an alternative route to your overnight stay, then there’s no better hotel in LoDo than The Oxford Hotel. With roots dating back to the 19th century, The Oxford offers 80 guest rooms and suites, a breathtaking collection of art through the halls, the Oxford Club Spa, and one of Denver’s most loved bars, The Cruise Room. Whether you’re looking for a rustic or luxurious stay, you’ll find it in LoDo. 

Okay, so you’ve had your nap in your luxurious bed and facial at the Oxford Club Spa, now it’s time to get your most favorite night-out outfit and head on over to dinner before your late night fun. LoDo is one of Denver’s most loved neighborhoods for nightlife; whether you’re looking for a 1920s speakeasy, romantic dinner for two, or wanna have a laugh or two at a comedy club, you can find everything you need in LoDo. 

If you’re looking for a romantic dinner for two, or celebrating a special occasion, make a reservation at Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, one of Denver’s most loved steakhouses. Fogo de Chao takes the experience of a steakhouse to a whole new level, bringing the churrasco grilling tradition to Denver. If you’re looking for a more casual occasion for your night out, look no further than Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Union Station, blocks away from Coors Field. If you’re in need of a delicious burger with Hot Honey & Sage Sweet Potato Fries and a boozy vanilla milkshake, then head on over to Hopdoddy immediately to fulfil your late night cravings. Maybe you're in search of dinner and a show? If so, make a reservation at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox to indulge in the ‘70s swank and vintage soft-core art at this adult-themed fun house. At Ophelia's, you can enjoy their small-plate menu of eclectic offerings, while overlooking their sunken stage and dance floor with live music. If a loud, wild scene isn’t your thing and you’re looking to just have a good laugh, then buy some tickets for Comedy Works where you can experience world-class laughs from comedians known locally, nationally, and internationally.

For any information on Denver’s real estate market, check out Denver’s Flat Fee Realtor!

What Factors Affect A Credit Score?

From opening new accounts to making a late payment, there are a lot of things that can affect your credit scores. Learn which factors are generally most important, and which may only have a minor impact on your scores.

If you have a goal to reach a particular score or just want to learn more about credit scores in general, it’s important to know what affects your credit scores and how your actions could improve or hurt your creditworthiness.

Although there are many credit scoring models, all the scores are trying to figure out the same thing — the likelihood of you paying your bill on time, or even at all. And whether you’re looking at a FICO® or VantageScore® credit score, your scores are based on the same information: the data in your credit reports.

While various credit scoring models may weigh each factor differently, the leading ones, FICO® and VantageScore®, place similar relative importance on the following five categories of information. We’ve ranked them by which ones are often most important to the average consumer.

1. Most important: Payment history

Your payment history is one of the most important credit scoring factors.

Having a long history of on-time payments is best for your credit scores, while missing a payment could hurt them. The effects of missing payments can also increase the longer a bill goes unpaid. So a 30-day late payment might have a lesser effect than a 60- or 90-day late payment.

How much a late payment affects your credit can also vary depending on how much you owe. Don’t worry though, if you start making on-time payments and actively reduce the amount owed, then the impact on your scores can diminish over time.

If you’re having trouble making payments at all, you could also wind up with a public record, such as a foreclosure or tax lien, that ends up on your credit reports and can hurt your scores. Sometimes a single derogatory mark on your credit, such as a bankruptcy, could have a major impact.

2. Very important: Credit usage

Credit usage is also an important factor, and it’s one of the few that you may be able to quickly change to improve(or hurt) your credit health.

The amount you owe on installment loans — such as a personal loan, mortgage, auto loan or student loan — is part of the equation. However, even more important is your current credit utilization rate.

Your utilization rate is the ratio between the total balance you owe and your total credit limit on all your revolving accounts (credit cards and lines of credit). A lower utilization rate is better for your credit scores. Maxing out your credit cards or leaving part of your balance unpaid can hurt your scores by increasing your utilization rate.

Sarah Davies, senior vice president of analytics, research and product management at VantageScore®, says that for VantageScore® credit scores, your overall utilization rate is more important than the utilization rate on an individual account.

However, utilization rates on individual accounts can also affect your credit scores. This means you should pay attention to not just your overall credit utilization, but also the utilization on individual credit cards. Having a lot of accounts with balances might indicate that you’re a riskier bet for a lender.

Keep in mind that you can pay your bill in full each month and still appear to have a high utilization rate. The calculation uses the balance that your credit card issuers report to the bureaus, often around the time it sends you your monthly statement. You may have to make early payments throughout your billing cycle if you want to use a lot of credit and maintain a low utilization rate.

3.  Length of credit history

A variety of factors related to the length of your credit history can affect your credit, including the following:

• The age of your oldest account

• The age of your newest account

• The average age of your accounts

• Whether you’ve used an account recently

Opening new accounts could lower your average age of accounts, which may hurt your scores. However, the hit to your scores could also be more than offset by lowering your utilization rate and by increasing your total credit limit, making sure to make on-time payments to the new card and adding to your credit mix.

Closed accounts can stay on your credit reports for up to 10 years and increase the average age of your accounts during that time. But once the account drops off your credit reports, it could lower this factor, and hurt your scores. The impact could be more significant if the account was also your oldest account.

4. Credit mix and types

Having experience with different types of credit, like revolving credit card accounts and installment student loans, may help improve your credit health.

Since your credit mix is a minor factor, you probably shouldn’t take out a loan and pay interest just to add to your credit mix. But if you’ve only ever had installment loans, you may want to open a credit card and use it for minor expenses that you can afford to pay off each month.

5.  Recent credit

Creditors may review your credit reports and scores when you apply to open a new line of credit. A record of this, known as an inquiry, can stay on your credit reports for up to two years.

Soft inquiries, like those that come from checking your own scores and some loan or credit card prequalifications, don’t hurt your scores.

Hard inquiries, when a creditor checks your credit before making a lending decision, can hurt your scores even if you don’t get approved for the credit card or loan. But often a single hard inquiry will have a minor effect. Unless there are other negatives marks, your scores could recover, or even rise, within a few months.

The impact of a hard inquiry may be more significant if you’re new to credit. It can also be greater if you have many hard inquiries during a short period.

Don’t be afraid to shop for loans, though. Credit scoring models recognize that consumers want to compare their options. So multiple inquiries for mortgages, auto loans and student loans from a single 14- to 45-day period (depending on the loan and credit scoring model) may be treated as a single inquiry when calculating your scores.

Bottom line

There are many credit scores, and you may not know which one a lender is going to use when considering your application. However, consumer credit scores, which are determined based on the information in your consumer credit reports, weigh factors in a similar manner. If you focus on improving these factors, you could improve your credit health across the board.

Friday Night In Denver

We’ve all been there where the weekend is quickly approaching and we want to experience the city life and do something incredible, yet have trouble thinking of something new and interesting to do. The most enjoyable aspect of living in Denver is that you can almost get any particular experience that you’re looking for. We’ve got sports all year round, winter festivals, art districts, a flood of entertainment and international cuisine. And although staying home, getting cozy and turning on our favorite Netflix series sounds as riveting as it is, I’d like to recommend a few alternative options to the typical weekend night.  

Below are five activities to do on any given Friday night in Denver, whether that be with friends or a love interest that are a bit out of the ordinary routine. 

1. Comedy Works

Comedy Works first opened in 1981 and is ranked among the best as one of the Top 5 stand up-comedy clubs in the country. Frequent acts include, but are not limited to: Rob Schneider, Dave Chapelle, Tom Segura, and many more familiar faces. Not only does Comedy Works host nationally renowned comedians, but also has opportunities for local comedians to give their acts a go. Thick Skin and New Talent Night are two weekly opportunities for locally recognized, and nationally recognized, stand up-comedians to show off their comedic skills. 

Tickets range from $12 to $50, depending on who’s performing. There is a requirement to purchase two items (food and beverage) with your ticket once you’re at the show; something to keep in mind before attending. Nonetheless, this is an excellent option to attend with a group of friends or significant other if you’re looking to have a spontaneous night of laughter and fun.  

2. Speakeasy 

It’s no secret that Denver is a hidden gem that not only has a bursting and growing city scene, but also has hidden features that often must come from word of mouth in order to know of these secret hot spots. Speakeasy’s have easily become more of a go-to hot spot rather than the traditional bar scene; and with a growing population, it’s often more exciting to find a hidden bar that most tourists aren’t aware to avoid the crowds. If you’re looking for a night out where you can mingle with friends or a new date, sip on a few prohibition era curated drinks, and find yourself in a space inspired by alternative themes and eras, then I would highly suggest seeking out a speakeasy. Here are a few speakeasy’s that have historically been raved about by Denver Natives: 

1. Williams and Graham

Located in LoHi, this particular speakeasy is among the most popular to Denver Natives and tourists alike, hidden behind a bookshelf, Williams and Graham have over sixty cocktails that have stood the test of time and a delicious menu of hors d'oeuvres, small plates, entrees and desserts. A must see in Denver. 

1. Green Russel

Although the Green Russel is located on one of the most popular and beautifully lit streets in downtown Denver, it is hidden in plain sight where your eye won’t necessarily spot it immediately. Located on Larimer Street within an alley of restaurants, you must first walk down a flight of stairs to then be greeted by a host that will then either send you to the restaurant, or have you walk through another pair of doors to enter the cave like, green lit speakeasy. 

1. Retrograde

Among the three speakeasy’s that are listed, this one has to be the most creatively hidden among the three. In order to get to Retrograde, you must first enter through Frozen Matter Uptown, an ice cream shop with an abundance of creatively handcrafted ice cream, ice pops and soda. A few of the unique flavors of ice cream being: Apple Cider Sorbet (Vegan), Great Pumpkin, Peppermint, and Milk + Cookies. In order to get to Retrograde, you must simply bypass the ice cream counter and head toward the freezer door. Then turn on the light switch and wait for a member of the staff to greet you. 

3. Wine and Painting

What’s a Friday night without a little artistic energy? If you’re looking to get a little craftsy, or let loose with some paint and wine and create a masterpiece, then you should look no further than to attend a class at Canvas and Cocktails, Painting with a Twist, or any other sip business that you prefer. What you may ask is exactly a sip business? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s an opportunity to gather your closest friends, family or even coworkers and be guided through painting the night’s featured painting while sipping on beer, wine, cocktails, or champagne. 

4. Attend a Concert 

There is an infinite amount of local concert halls that host a variety of music that is bound to suit any music lovers taste. Locally located in vivacious neighborhoods and spread all across Denver; small or large venue, local or internationally known artists, alternative or rock, Denver has it all. With the diversity of music and music venues means that tickets are largely available, even with short notice. In that case, if you’re looking to explore new music or local artist over your weekend, then it’s recommended to do a bit of research to see what venues around Denver are hosting music artists that please your interests.   

5. Restaurant Tours

If you’re wanting to explore a new city, the best recommendation is to check out their food scene. With Denver’s explosive migration over the last six years, this not only brought people from all over the country, but it also brought a new generation of foodies, which includes a wave of award winning chefs. With that, use one of your weekends to become a food critic and try out a new restaurant. With that being said, it’s not necessary to make a reservation at an ultra expensive restaurant; it’s only encouraged to try a new cuisine or a new restaurant that you have an interest in. 

Easy Home Improvement Projects To Boost Your Resale Value

When you’re ready to put your home on the market, you always want to get as much as possible for the house. Negotiations are part and parcel of the selling process, but the nicer your home is, the easier it will be to reduce the impact those negotiations have on your selling price. The right improvements can make your Denver home for sale fly off the market quickly. You just have to choose improvements that offer a significant return on investment. 

Renovations That Can Get your Home Ready for Sale

Here are a few of the best ways to add value and increase the curb appeal of your house without blowing your budget out of the water.

Paint the Exterior

Your home’s siding can make the house look pristine or run down. If your siding looks dingy or dirty, consider repainting it. This will let you make the siding look like-new and reduces the amount of maintenance the future owners will have to worry about.

If the siding can’t be painted, give it a good deep cleaning. Rent a pressure washer from your preferred hardware store or hire a professional to blast away the dirt and grime. Once it’s done, your home will look as good as new.

Replace Worn Out Appliances

If you’re going to be living in the house while it’s on the market, why not replace your worn out or outdated appliances? This way, the buyer won’t be able to use your old versions as leverage to lower the asking price.

Look for appliances that are energy efficient and will look great with different colors and features. This will help make the new appliances appeal to prospective buyers. Remember, you’ll want to choose appliances that are user-friendly. Very few people will want an old-school cast-iron stove, but a lot of buyers will love a new Energy Star rated stove with an induction cooktop.

Pay Attention To Your Landscaping

Landscaping may not seem like a priority, but the cleaner it is and the more developed it looks, the more value your property will have. Take the time to clean out those neglected garden beds and consider hiring a professional to add a few new plants to spruce them up.

A little goes a long way and by updating your landscaping, you’ll end up improving the way the house looks. Curb appeal matters when people search for a Denver home for sale.  The more you can attract buyers’ attention, the faster you’ll be able to sell your house. Remember, competition can help drive up your sale price, so the more interest you have, the more valuable your property will be.

Focus on Energy Efficiency

Every homeowner wants their maintenance and utility costs to be as small as possible. Focus on making your home as energy-efficient as possible. Replace burned out light bulbs with affordable LED bulbs as needed. Make sure the windows and doors are sealed properly to keep out drafts.

These simple improvements will go a long way towards making your house more appealing to buyers while also making it more valuable. Remember, the more money buyers can save in the long-run, the more tempting it will be. But most importantly, you’ll be able to enjoy those savings yourself while you’re living in the house.

Make Repairs That Benefit You

When deciding on the best improvements to make to your house, choose ones that you’ll be able to enjoy. For example, if you’re tired of looking at that tired old vanity in the bathroom, install a new one that you love. Just make sure it stays true to the style of your house, not just your sense of interior design. The best fixtures will appeal to different tastes.

Paint Your Kitchen

You don’t have to do a full kitchen remodel to make the space feel more open and inviting. Sometimes, all you have to do is paint the cabinets or swap out the hardware. Choose a neutral color that makes the space feel brighter in natural light. White is almost always a popular choice. Then, add new handles and drawer pulls that match your new paint color.

Get Rid of Dingy Carpets

Believe it or not, most homebuyers aren’t fans of carpet. They often prefer hardwood or vinyl floors that mimic the look of wood. You don’t have to remove all the carpets in your home, but you should get rid of the ones that look worn out.

Check the common areas like the living room, play rooms, and high-traffic places in your home. If the fibers are tamped down and no amount of cleaning can bring the carpets back, get rid of them. You’ll be able to install an easy-to-clean vinyl flooring for about the same price as new carpets and increase the return you’ll get on your home sale.

Upgrade Your Thermostat

When people look for a Denver home for sale, they look for state-of-the-art fixtures. Your thermostat should be one of them. The installation is affordable, but when you upgrade to a smart thermostat or a programmable model, you could end up getting more for your home.

Buyers love to move into properties that don’t need a lot of work. Though the installation of a new thermostat is simple and cheap, it’s one less task they’ll have to take care of.

Let Our Team Help

Our dedicated team is here to help. We understand that selling a house can be stressful and will work to simplify the process for you while we do the heavy lifting.. You’ll never have to feel like you’re doing it alone. Contact Us today to schedule a consultation and see how experience can make all the difference.

6 Simple Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Sale in Denver, Colorado

Deciding to sell your home is a big deal, but when the house you love no longer fits your needs, it’s time to move on. In order to reach people looking for homes for sale in Denver, Colorado, you’ll need to make your house as open and inviting as possible. That’s right…you’re going to have to prepare for open houses and home tours. But that process doesn’t have to be stressful. You just need to be prepared. Here are a few simple tips to help you get your home show-ready in no time.

1. Put Away Those Personal Touches

You have a very defined personal style, but that style is yours alone. It may not be appealing to people looking at homes for sale in Denver, Colorado. If possible, make your space as neutral as possible. Take down family photos and any knick-knacks that draw attention. Remember, you want prospective buyers to picture themselves in your house. The fewer personal touches you leave out, the easier that will be.

2. Clean the House from Top to Bottom

A clean house is an inviting house and you want people touring your home to see the best it has to offer. Before your first showing, give your house a good deep cleaning. Vacuum or sweep each room, dust every surface you can, and get rid of any unwanted clutter. In fact, start decluttering now! The sooner you do, the less you’ll have to pack up and move. You’ll also want to clean your windows inside and out. This gives your home more natural light and brightens up the space without forcing you to leave extra lights on while you’re away. There are many other homes for sale in Denver, Colorado, so you need to make sure that your home is clean so that it looks just as nice, if not better, than all the others.

3. Put Valuables Away

Unfortunately, open houses are open to the general public and this means there’s no guarantee that people up to no good won’t step foot inside. The best thing you can do is put your valuables away. If you have priceless jewelry and heirlooms, consider moving them to a storage unit or a lockbox at your bank until you move. Remove all medication from your bathroom cabinets and put it in a safe place. For most people, hiding those medications in a dark corner of their closet or taking them out of the house during showings is the best option.

4. Reevaluate Your Furniture

Most buyers looking for homes for sale in Denver, Colorado are looking for somewhere they can move into with their family. For this reason, it’s important that your home exhibits a welcoming, inviting appearance when buyers see it for the first time, and your furniture is a big part of that. Walk around your house with a critical eye. Do the rooms feel cramped? Are there any pieces of furniture that look outdated or run down? If so, take those pieces out of the room. When there’s less furniture, rooms look larger, making the entire house look more spacious to prospective buyers. We’re not saying you have to get rid of that furniture permanently. Just find a new temporary home for it. Renting a storage unit or moving it to your new house is always worth considering.

5. Get in the Habit of Keeping It Clean

People look for homes for sale in Denver, Colorado at all different hours of the day and that means showings can happen even when you’re not expecting them. This means you may not have time to clean and declutter before buyers walk through the door. The best thing you can do is get in the habit of keeping your home clean. Do the dishes after every meal and put things back where they belong after you use them. This way, you’ll always be prepared for a showing, even if you don’t have one scheduled.

6. Don’t Neglect the Landscaping

It’s easy to focus on getting the inside of your house ready for showings and open houses. After all, it’s what most prospective buyers will look at in detail. But that doesn’t mean you can leave the exterior alone. Take a moment to inspect the outside of your home. If the landscaping is overgrown with weeds, put on some gloves and get weeding. Rake up any fallen leaves in the autumn and consider adding potted plants for added pops of color along your entryway. If you have any trees in the yard, now is the perfect time to get them trimmed and shaped. Remember, curb appeal matters and if your landscaping looks great, buyers will have more confidence in the interior of the home.

Ready to List Your House on the Market?

Selling your house with professionals that sell hundreds of homes per year. We are experienced and knowledgeable about the sales process when it comes to selling one of your most expensive assets you own. We will guide you through the process and make it as easy as possible for you while we do all of the heavy lifting. Schedule a consultation with our experienced Realtors. We’ll help you every step of the way in getting your home ready for sale in Denver, Colorado, from staging and showing your home to closing on the sale. Don’t wait. Contact us today to get started.303-910-2552

What Is Earnest Money?

Earnest money, is money the Buyer deposits with the title company once the Buyer’s offer is accepted by the Seller, and shows evidence of good faith from the Buyer. It is customary for the Buyer to give the Seller earnest money at the time a sales contract is signed. The earnest money generally is credited towards the Down Payment at Closing for the Buyer.