The Retriever Rescue of Colorado is the organization that Dan and I got Playa from as a puppy. They are an amazing organization that does great work. Without them we wouldn’t have our girl. They were able to rescue Playa’s mom and get the puppies to loving and caring homes.
Their mission statement: Believing that all Retrievers deserve a safe, loving home, the mission of Retriever Rescue of Colorado is to rescue abandoned, abused, neglected and unwanted retrievers and to promote public education on animal-related issues.
Dan and I are volunteers that do home visits for any Summit County potential adoptions. Again we can not recommend this rescue enough. Please consider them tomorrow, Tuesday December 8th on Colorado Gives Day!
Realtor.com is at it again. Maureen Dempsey explores 9 ways to stay warm this winter without relying simply on the heat. One of my personal favorites is the heated towel rack.
9 Ways to Stay Warm This Winter Without Turning Up the Heat
The chill will be here before you know it—or, depending on where you’re reading this, it’s already arrived with a scary vengeance. Now you have three options: Crank up the thermostat, up your layering game (and risk looking like the Michelin man), or search for other types of home heating products to keep you and the family toasty.
Here’s the good news: There’s a slew of products that can warm your home in an array of astonishing ways, from heated rugs to countertops to driveways (no more shoveling snow!). Here’s a sampling of the innovative options.
Heating panels
Radiators and vented systems work perfectly well throughout the house, but add a few radiant heating panels to your room of choice to fire up the cozy factor. Starting at $600; warmlyyours.com.
Heated driveway
You might love a fresh snowfall a little more (instead of cursing it) if you don’t have to shovel it. You can increase safety and eliminate snow and ice by installing a heated driveway. Around $2,500 plus installation; heatizon.com.
Heated rug pads
A heated rug sounds pretty appealing, no? The plug-in pad slips under a standard area rug. We have a feeling the kids (and pets) will be flocking to this one. Starting at $150;cozywinters.com.
Heated countertops
The cool touch of granite is fabulous in the summer, but it’s not so great when you’re trying to make coffee on a chilly winter morning. The solution: heated countertops. Installable and stick-on are available. Starting at $750; feelswarm.com.
Heated towel rack
You can banish après-shower cold shocks with this toasty towel rack, one of the products that helped kick off the whole heated gear trend a few years back. $160;wayfair.com.
Heated mattress cover
Ten heat settings and dual control means everyone will be snug on this sherpa mattress cover. Starting at $65; target.com.
Boot heater
Can’t bear the thought of slipping your little piggies into wet, cold boots for another schlep outside? Avoid the torture with a space-saving boot dryer. $35; cozywinters.com.
Heated slippers
These heated indoor-outdoor slippers work as shoes, too, depending on your definition of footwear and, um, style. $125; brookstone.com.
Heated toilet seat
Let’s be honest: This heated toilet seat (with night light!) is quietly appealing. We’ll leave it at that. $122; homedepot.com.
Let’s be honest though, all of these sound amazing. Here in Summit County these little improvements could help make the long winter a little bit warmer.
Did you know it is cheaper to own than to rent in more than three-quarters of the counties in the United States? Realtor.com’sJonathan Smokeexplains why now is the time to buy if you can, and how in doing so you can not only get the best deal, but also save money in the long run.
Now that the U.S. has regained its job-creation mojo, as the October employment report showed, the demand for housing is only going to grow.
After all, when people have jobs they can break off and form new households—ditching the roommates behind or finally moving out of Mom and Dad’s basement—and that’s what fundamentally drives home purchases.
Most of the households created over the past two years have been renting households, but based on U.S. Census data for the third quarter of this year, it appears that homeownership has started to recover.
This especially makes sense now that it is cheaper to own than rent in more than three-quarters of the counties in the U.S. And it’s not getting better— rents are rising year over year at twice the pace of listing prices. Meanwhile, mortgage rates remain at near record lows but appear poised to increase over the next year. And home prices are rising, too.
So if you qualify for a mortgage and have the funds for a down payment and closing costs—and if you intend to live in a home long enough to cover the transaction costs of buying and selling—you will be better off financially if you buy as soon as you can. After all, if you are tired of your current home now, you won’t feel better about it in six months.
The top factors driving home shoppers this summer were pent-up demand and recognition of favorable mortgage rates and home prices. These drivers will likely remain well into next year.
Yet demand for housing is extremely seasonal. In most markets in the country, we are conditioned to believe that we should buy homes in the spring and summer. So come each October, plans to purchase shift to the spring. While the school calendar and weather do influence the ideal time to move, many buyers would benefit from buying this fall and winter rather than waiting until next spring.
In October, the percentage of would-be buyers on realtor.com® saying that they intend to buy in seven to 12 months was the highest it has been all year and represented the largest time frame for purchase. Likewise, October produced the lowest percentage of would-be buyers saying they intend to buy in the next three months.
In other words, people’s stated plans point to a very strong spring for home sales. Great, right? But here’s the problem: Inventory isn’t likely to be higher in March and April than it is now. And while inventory should grow in late spring and into summer, it won’t grow as fast as the seasonal demand.
So, if you are ready, consider getting in the market now instead of early spring. You will have more choices and less competition, and you can lock in today’s rates rather than risk rates being 25 to 50 basis points higher. (A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.)
A 50 basis-point increase in rates (for example, from 4.05% to 4.55%) would cause monthly payments to be 6% higher. And that increase would not only affect your monthly cash flow but could also affect your ability to qualify.
So if you are considering buying a home this spring, it’s worth exploring the inventory now and reaching out to a local Realtor®. A new home could be the best gift you give yourself and your family this holiday season.
Regular maintenance on your home is important to keep up with on a consistent basis. It not only protects your home, but also when it comes time to sell it, it shows potential buyers that your home has been well-maintained and makes a lasting impression.
Quick Bathroom Tip:
One of the simplest things you can do is re-caulk your bathroom vanities, sinks, showers, toilets and trim on a yearly to bi-yearly basis. The caulk in your bathroom is quick to wear out because of it’s daily use. It is important to help prevent water from penetrating the cracks in your shower and causing mold.
It is a simple project, all you need is a caulk gun, matching caulk and a razor blade or paint scraper. All of these can be picked up at your local home improvement store. To keep caulk looking good and working properly, its important to scrape the old caulk off first with a razor blade or paint scraper. This is time consuming, however, it is a very important step. Putting layer on top of layer not only makes it look bad, but also reduces the effectiveness. You can be pretty aggressive when you are scraping the old caulk off, don’t worry about removing a small amount of grout in the process.
Once you have removed the old caulking, make sure that the surface is clean and dry. The next step is to apply a bead of caulking to all of the seams. In the shower, you will want to make sure to apply caulking to the edges of the floor or tub, to all of the corners, to any glass doors you might have as well as to benches or shelves. You can use multiple colors of caulking to acheive the desired effect. For instance, if you have a glass or metal framed door, you may want to use clear caulking there and then colored caulking in the corner of the shower.
Once you have applied a bead of caulking, you can use your finger to smooth it down and push it into the cracks. It helps to have your finger slightly damp. You may need to run your finger over the seam multiple times to achieve the desired effect. Keep a damp rag handy so you can wipe your finger off. Once you have completed the job, try to allow the caulking to dry for 24-48 hours before using your shower again. It will make your bathroom look brand new!
Alpine Touring has become increasingly popular in the mountains in the last few years. It is a great way to get out and enjoy the snow without the crowds at the ski resort. It also allows you to access terrain that might otherwise be out of reach. Danny and I have been getting into the sport slowly but surely as we love to bring our dog, Playa, with us whenever we can. However, we are fully aware that there are inherent risks with skiing in the back country. CAIC has been a hugely important resource for us in understanding the avalanche danger. Not only do they put out daily avalanche danger reports which are vital to reading the terrain, but also they are a great resource in learning about avalanche safety. No backcountry excursion should be without CAIC’s forecast, Beacon, Probe, and Shovel.
The fundraiser this evening helps to provide funds for continuing the great work that they are already doing. The fundraiser begins at 5pmtonight at Breckenridge’s Riverwalk center. There will be dinner, drinks, silent auctions and tons of give aways. Buy your tickets now at www.avalanche.state.co.us/caic-benefit-bash/ as it always sells out. I hope to see you there! (And if it is sold out please still consider giving CAIC your support because again without them the Backcountry would be even harder to access).
More Avalanche Awareness Information
Colorado’s avalanche terrain is inherently more unstable because it is a continental snowpack:
Relatively shallow snowpack with settled mid-winter snow depths less than 5 feet (1.5 m)
Less frequent storms with lower-density snow than the maritime climate
Long periods of drought with very cold temperatures during winter
Temperatures variable throughout winter, leading to more varied layers within the snowpack
Both direct action avalanches and delayed-action avalanches are common and often involve layers deep within the snowpack; the pack can remain unstable and avalanches may be triggered even weeks after last significant storm
It is very important to have a basic knowledge of the snowpack before you enter the backcountry in Colorado because of this. The Rockies offer an endless playground of activities including snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and skinning, just to name a few, and with the right knowledge and acceptance of the risks involved the backcountry can be an amazing experience for everyone.
MetEd Avalanche Information
There are a ton of educational opportunities in the State of Colorado. I highly recommend an AIARE Avy Level 1 course. This level teaches you have to read the terrain, understand the avalanche forecasts, use and test your beacon, probe, and shovel, and gets you familiar with the mindset needed to make informed in the moment decisions.
CAIC is a great resource for finding the right course for you. Here is a Calendar of their education opportunities. These classes are not only informative, but also very fun!
There’s so much more out there than resort skiing, and Summit County has endless opportunities for backcountry exploration. Get out there, have fun, and most importantly be safe!
The Zillow Blog discusses the all to common question homeowners eventually get to: To Upgrade or To Renovate?
TIPS & ADVICE / STORY / BY BRENDON DESIMONE ON 2 NOV 2015
Go Bigger or Go to a New Home?
You’ve got two options when it comes to a home you’ve outgrown: add on or trade up. Which is right for you?
Many homeowners today face a serious housing dilemma. They love their home, its location, and even their neighbors. But they’ve outgrown the space. Do they trade up to a bigger or better house, thus entering a busy real estate market, or stay put and renovate?
Most homeowners have never sold and bought at the same time, nor have they lived through a renovation. Both experiences are incredibly stressful, and many people don’t know what to expect. Here are some tips for making an informed decision.
Know what you’re getting into
It’s helpful to know that it is cheaper to stay in your current home and renovate than it is to sell your home and buy a bigger one. And renovating isn’t as big a deal as one may think.
If you go into it with an open mind and full awareness, it’s not so bad. However, some people are just not cut out for living with dust, disruption, and a little bit of chaos.
Living through a renovation means a constant stress is hanging over you. If you can’t take that in your life, don’t fool yourself.
Check your finances
The most important thing you need to do is understand your home financial situation. Do you have equity in your home? If so, how much, and would you need those funds to either renovate or purchase the new home?
Is a home equity line of credit available to you? Using that money provides the mortgage tax benefit for the interest, which makes an equity line a no-brainer.
What would you need to spend on a new home in your desired location? Just like when you first got pre-approved to purchase the original home, you need to get pre-approved and run the numbers. You may find that the house you can get isn’t much bigger than where you are, or that you have to change areas to get more space.
Define your renovation requirements
What exactly is it that you need? An extra bedroom or bath, more family or community space, a larger kitchen or a master bath? Put it all out there and prioritize.
Can these changes be made within the envelope of your current home, or would you have to expand outside your walls? Renovating inside might mean that you need to leave the home for some time, while an expansion might allow you to stay in the home during the renovation.
Research zoning and building codes
Learn how building and zoning laws will affect your plan to renovate. Find out if expansion is even a possibility.
Many people think that finishing the basement is as easy as putting up some walls and carpet and moving the TV downstairs. But did you know that you likely need two forms of egress or certain height and insulation to make a finished basement meet code? A few hours of an architect’s time can help get you the information you need.
If you want to add on, make sure that your lot is big enough. Town zoning laws only allow a certain percentage of the lot to be covered. If you’re at your max, you’re out of luck.
Set-back laws might mean that you can only expand in the front or on one side of the property. You may find out immediately that what you want to do simply isn’t possible, and the decision is made for you.
Don’t over-improve for the neighborhood
You need a master bathroom and family room or some extra square footage, but will the neighborhood support it? You don’t want to be the biggest or best house on the block when you go to sell. A big master suite or designer kitchen may be just what you want, but will future buyers pay for it?
Do some research, talk to a real estate agent and attend open houses in your neighborhood. If you don’t know, ask. But do not embark on a large renovation project if you can’t get your money back when it’s time to sell.
Get ready for a different kind of stress if you move
Purchasing a new home and selling your existing one simultaneously means instant stress that is intense and compacted in a short period. The stress may come in the form of carrying two mortgages, getting a bridge loan or waiting for your home to get an offer.
Remember how you felt when you purchased your first home? Now double or even triple that.
Expect the expenses
When you sell your home, you need to pay the real estate commission and transfer tax on the sale, and you may be taxed on any gain. When you get a mortgage for the new home, expect more loan and title fees upfront.
While many closing costs and transfer fees are tax deductible, you don’t realize anything from these expenses. The $10,000 in fees might be better spent toward a new bathroom. Before you decide to explore this path, gather some information about costs.
Deciding whether to trade up or sell and buy is incredibly personal. The most obvious thing to do is to check your finances, and see what is out there on the purchase market. Learn what’s happening and understand how you would fare. And even if it’s intimidating, seriously consider renovating. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to make your home even more custom to you.
“Tavern West features new American dishes crafted from all-natural meats and seafood, sourced locally whenever possible. With a wood-burning grill, a smoker and a rotisserie in his arsenal of culinary tools, Chef Ryan Worthen creates layers of flavor reminiscent of family favorites, but not easily found at home.”
Anne Skinner, Best Summit County Realtor, Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge, Vail, Summit County, Events, Calendar, Real Estate, CO Mountain Real Estate, Silverthorne, Keystone, Copper Mountain,
“Tavern West features new American dishes crafted from all-natural meats and seafood, sourced locally whenever possible. With a wood-burning grill, a smoker and a rotisserie in his arsenal of culinary tools, Chef Ryan Worthen creates layers of flavor reminiscent of family favorites, but not easily found at home.”
Anne Skinner, Best Summit County Realtor, Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge, Vail, Summit County, Events, Calendar, Real Estate, CO Mountain Real Estate, Silverthorne, Keystone, Copper Mountain,
