Saturday Reporter-Herald September 10, 2011 E www.reporterherald.com Saturday, September 10, 2011 Reporter-Herald Real Estate Matters • • ILYCE GLINK TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES Q uestion: As an involved resident, I have been try- ing to help my community tackle the issue of blight. I have brought articles to my home- owner association’s board explain- ing how liens can be placed on properties that fail to comply with rules. Placing a lien can make a homeowner, lender or investor take care of issues that cause blight or otherwise affect a com- munity. I frequently make calls my asso- ciation when its rules are violated and to municipal officials about properties that don’t comply with codes. The association or munici- pality then fines the owner and/or places a lien on the property. The lien prevents the homeowner from refinancing or selling the property until compliance has been achieved. Some town officials seem unaware that they have this right. I believe that enforcing compli- ance before a sale helps preserve property values. I have also found that offering assistance to a neigh- bor with a problem property goes a long way toward helping the community. But if the assistance isn’t accepted, then you have to call in code compliance authori- ties. When you call a government code compliance officer, they don’t disclose the source of the call. That anonymity helps gets things done. I think this is one of the best ways to keep our home values up. The trick is to work with others in the neighborhood to put pres- sure on those who are not caring for their properties. Once neigh- bors are motivated, there is mo- mentum in the community to get things cleaned up. Answer: It’s always nice to hear that someone is getting involved for the greater good of the com- munity. I commend your attempts to keep your community looking good and to help maintain every- body’s property values. You are correct that some municipalities have made greater attempts to force property owners and their lenders to keep up their proper- ties. Unfortunately, it’s an uphill bat- tle. Yes, you may succeed in get- ting some lenders to have to pay penalties for property violations. However, the problem for property values in general is that foreclosed properties are still likely to be sold for far less than if they had been maintained and lived in by the homeowners. Homeowners sometimes aban- don their properties even before the banks take control. Some mu- nicipalities have gone after the Homeowner association has an uphill battle ahead ■ See GLINK/Page E4 Don’t believe all you hear about mortgage modifications GARY M. SINGER MCCLATCHY -TRIBUN Q uestion: My cousin got a loan modifica- tion in two weeks. Can I? My neighbor told me that if you send your bank a short sale application on legal-size paper, it gets done in half the time. And I read on the Internet that if the bank loses my mortgage note, I will get the house for free. Is this true? Answer: Your cousin’s loan mod probably took six weeks or longer. A short sale appli- cation on legal-size paper has no bearing on how fast the bank may approve it. And if your lender loses the note, you do not get your house for free. The bank just has to go through a simple legal pro- cess of having a copy of it recognized by the court so that the bank can move for- ward with the foreclosure. I hear so many of these sto- ries at my office that I have adopted a name for it: The Neighbor Syndrome. It’s a se- rious issue that has affected all of us since childhood. We all remember the guy in high school who stayed home ev- ery Friday night but had a beautiful girlfriend “from Canada” or the uncle who caught the 5-foot fish, “but the camera broke.” Remem- ber the Rule of Threes — friends and neighbors tend to exaggerate things by three. People want to believe that there is some magic trick or secret sauce that will make all of their problems go away with minimal effort. If you hear the stories often enough, you may actually start believing them and make bad decisions that greatly affect your life. I have spoken to dozens of people who have stopped making their mortgage pay- ments in order to get loan modifications when a little research from widely avail- able sources would have quickly shown them that they earn way too much money to ever qualify for the modifications. Now they are in foreclosure, they have to pay attorneys to clean up the mess, they’ve ruined their credit scores and they have to pay large penalties to the banks to get caught up. Do the research yourself from official or direct sources. Do not talk to a neighbor about the Making Homes Affordable govern- ment loan modification plan. Go to the actual government website — www.making homeaffordable.gov — and read it yourself. By getting the information yourself through direct research, you will be able to make sound decisions that lead to good results. Question: My rental home has pests and needs to be tented and fumigated. My landlord has offered to pro- rate my rent for the few days I can’t stay in the house. But I also want him to pay for my hotel and food expenses while I am out of the house. Do I have a case? Answer: Probably not. If you and your landlord ad- dressed this issue in the lease, then that will take precedence. If the lease is silent on the matter — and most are — then state law rules. Five ways to boost home value when selling METRO CREATIVE SERVICES T hough the housing market might not be booming, there are still buyers out there looking for a place to call their own. Some potential sellers might prefer a patient approach to selling their homes, choosing to do so when the market re- bounds and homes regain some of their lost value. Other sellers might not have a choice and must make due with selling in a lackluster market. Regardless of which category you’re in, there are easy ways to boost your home’s value. Making minor changes to a home can add to your asking price, whether you’re putting your home on the market this week or waiting for the market to re- bound. The following tasks might not take much effort, but they pay dividends. • Work on the yard. An appealing lawn is still a great way to catch a prospective buy- er’s eye. When a home boasts a lush lawn and well-manicured trees, it’s hard to ig- nore that for-sale sign out front. If land- scaping has proven an Achilles’ heel in the past, make an effort to take better care of your property in the months ahead. It doesn’t take long for even the most ne- glected lawn to rebound from disrepair. By the time you feel confident to put that for sale sign out front, you might just be putting it up in a lush lawn no buyer can re- sist. • Upgrade appliances. Prospective buyers won’t be thrilled if they walk into a home and see outdated appliances. Some might even feel older appliances indicate a home- owner who cared little about appearances and might begin to wonder if there are any additional areas that might have been ne- glected around the house. Stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and even new fix- tures in the bathroom are aesthetically ap- pealing and tend to excite buyers. Home- owners who aren’t immediately putting their property up for sale can gradually up- grade their appliances to lessen some of the financial toll such purchases take. • Replace the carpet. A clean carpet might make a world of difference to a home’s inhabitants, but a new carpet will be more appealing to prospective buyers. Choose a neutral-toned carpet that will boast a more universal appeal. • Paint the home. A fresh coat of paint or new siding is always attractive to prospec- tive buyers. If your home hasn’t had a new coat of paint in awhile that might make buyers feel the home is musty or old. Many buyers judge a book by its cover, and sellers want their home’s exterior to be as attrac- tive as possible. Homeowners can also paint rooms inside the home to give it a fresh and welcoming feel. • Clean up around the house. A cluttered house will almost certainly repel buyers. Buyers want a home that’s roomy and well kept, but clutter creates the opposite im- pression. Organize the closets to make them appear more roomy and clean up any areas that have become cluttered — con- sider temporarily renting a storage unit to house excess stuff from closets. Basements or utility closets might be handy for stor- age, but they should be open and clean be- fore hosting an open house. The less clutter a home has, the more spacious it will ap- pear and the more money sellers can likely demand for the home. ANGIE HICKS MCCLATCHY -TRIBUNE D ear Angie: We are selling our house and want to know what kinds of questions we should ask prospec- tive real estate agents. We’ve never sold a house be- fore, and had a less than stellar experience when we pur- chased six years ago. We want to be informed about what to expect before, during and after the sale. — Marisa D., Stow, Ohio Dear Marisa: If you’re selling or buying a home, it’s ex- tremely important to think ahead when you’re hiring a real estate agent. After all, buying a home is likely the biggest in- vestment you’ll ever make. Find someone with a good track record; one who has the history and references that show they are going to work to get you the best return on your home. Interview prospective agents as you would interview any candidate for a big job with plenty of questions. Ask how long they’ve been in the business. Are they full time or part time? How many hours per week do they dedicate to their real estate business? How many homes did they sell last year? What is the average number days on the market for houses they sell? What is the average difference from their initial asking price and the final selling price? How does their selling prices in your neighborhood compare to the av- erage selling price per square foot in your neighborhood? Do they have references in your neighborhood? Do they have any professional designations? Do they have a website? How will they market your home? Will they be there to answer all of your questions along the way? A good agent should have a marketing plan tailored for you. He or she should be able to advise you about whether you need to update and how to properly stage your home for online photos and in-person showings. Your agent should contact you about your home’s status at least once a week if not more to update you, not only about your house, but also about similar houses in your area that have sold or gone up for sale. You have to know your competition to beat it. If the agent is part of a team, insist on meeting the other players, so that you feel comfortable should your agent be unavailable In this tough housing market, good agents are pulling out all the stops for their clients. If you feel like your agent isn’t working hard enough for you, find one who will. Ask prospective Realtors the right types of questions A fresh coat of paint or new siding is always attractive to prospective buyers. www.HomeStateBank.com (970) 203-6100 An FHA 203(k) mortgage allows you to finance both your home purchase and renovation with a single loan. Call now to learn more. Loans and rates subject to credit approval. FHA conditions and restrictions apply. Vivian DeVoe, VP Mortgage Banker, 970-227-4702 Buying a home that needs work? Call the experts in FHA 203(k) renovation financing. Think big Bank small
Transcript
Saturday Reporter-Herald S eptember 10, 2011 E
www.reporterherald.com Saturday, September 10, 2011 Reporter-Herald
Real EstateMatters
• •
ILY C E GLINKTRIBUNE MEDIA SE RV I C E S
Question: As an involvedresident, I have been try-ing to help my communitytackle the issue of blight. I
have brought articles to my home-owner association’s board explain-ing how liens can be placed onproperties that fail to comply withrules. Placing a lien can make ahomeowner, lender or investortake care of issues that causeblight or otherwise affect a com-m u n i t y.
I frequently make calls my asso-ciation when its rules are violatedand to municipal officials aboutproperties that don’t comply withcodes. The association or munici-pality then fines the owner and/orplaces a lien on the property. Thelien prevents the homeowner fromrefinancing or selling the propertyuntil compliance has beenachieved. Some town officialsseem unaware that they have thisright.
I believe that enforcing compli-ance before a sale helps preserveproperty values. I have also foundthat offering assistance to a neigh-bor with a problem property goesa long way toward helping thecommunity. But if the assistanceisn’t accepted, then you have tocall in code compliance authori-ties.
When you call a governmentcode compliance officer, theydon’t disclose the source of thecall. That anonymity helps getsthings done. I think this is one ofthe best ways to keep our homevalues up.
The trick is to work with othersin the neighborhood to put pres-sure on those who are not caringfor their properties. Once neigh-bors are motivated, there is mo-mentum in the community to getthings cleaned up.
Answer: It’s always nice to hearthat someone is getting involvedfor the greater good of the com-munity. I commend your attemptsto keep your community lookinggood and to help maintain every-body’s property values. You arecorrect that some municipalitieshave made greater attempts toforce property owners and theirlenders to keep up their proper-ties.
Unfortunately, it’s an uphill bat-tle. Yes, you may succeed in get-ting some lenders to have to paypenalties for property violations.However, the problem for propertyvalues in general is that foreclosedproperties are still likely to be soldfor far less than if they had beenmaintained and lived in by thehomeowners.
Homeowners sometimes aban-don their properties even beforethe banks take control. Some mu-nicipalities have gone after the
H o m e ow n e rassociationhas an uphillbattle ahead
� See GLINK/Page E4
Don’t believe all youhear about mortgagemodificationsGA RY M. SINGERMCCL AT C H Y-TRIBUN
Question: My cousingot a loan modifica-tion in two weeks.Can I? My neighbor
told me that if you send yourbank a short sale applicationon legal-size paper, it getsdone in half the time. And Iread on the Internet that ifthe bank loses my mortgagenote, I will get the house forfree. Is this true?
Answer: Your cousin’s loanmod probably took six weeksor longer. A short sale appli-cation on legal-size paper hasno bearing on how fast thebank may approve it. And ifyour lender loses the note,you do not get your house forfree. The bank just has to gothrough a simple legal pro-cess of having a copy of itrecognized by the court sothat the bank can move for-ward with the foreclosure.
I hear so many of these sto-
ries at my office that I haveadopted a name for it: TheNeighbor Syndrome. It’s a se-rious issue that has affectedall of us since childhood. Weall remember the guy in highschool who stayed home ev-ery Friday night but had abeautiful girlfriend “f ro mCanada” or the uncle whocaught the 5-foot fish, “butthe camera broke.” Remem -ber the Rule of Threes —friends and neighbors tend toexaggerate things by three.
People want to believe thatthere is some magic trick orsecret sauce that will makeall of their problems go awaywith minimal effort. If youhear the stories oftenenough, you may actuallystart believing them andmake bad decisions thatgreatly affect your life.
I have spoken to dozens ofpeople who have stoppedmaking their mortgage pay-ments in order to get loanmodifications when a little
research from widely avail-able sources would havequickly shown them thatthey earn way too muchmoney to ever qualify for themodifications. Now they arein foreclosure, they have topay attorneys to clean up themess, they’ve ruined theircredit scores and they haveto pay large penalties to thebanks to get caught up.
Do the research yourselffrom official or directsources. Do not talk to a
neighbor about the MakingHomes Affordable govern-ment loan modification plan.Go to the actual governmentwebsite — w w w. m a k i n ghomeaffordable.gov — andread it yourself. By gettingthe information yourselfthrough direct research, youwill be able to make sounddecisions that lead to goodresults.
Question: My rental homehas pests and needs to betented and fumigated. My
landlord has offered to pro-rate my rent for the few daysI can’t stay in the house. ButI also want him to pay for myhotel and food expenseswhile I am out of the house.Do I have a case?
Answer: Probably not. Ifyou and your landlord ad-dressed this issue in thelease, then that will takeprecedence. If the lease issilent on the matter — andmost are — then state lawrules.
Five ways to boost homevalue when sellingMETRO CR E AT I V E SE RV I C E S
Though the housing market might notbe booming, there are still buyers outthere looking for a place to call their
own. Some potential sellers might prefer apatient approach to selling their homes,choosing to do so when the market re-bounds and homes regain some of theirlost value. Other sellers might not have achoice and must make due with selling in alackluster market.
Regardless of which category you’re in,there are easy ways to boost your home’svalue. Making minor changes to a homecan add to your asking price, whetheryou’re putting your home on the marketthis week or waiting for the market to re-bound. The following tasks might not takemuch effort, but they pay dividends.
• Work on the yard. An appealing lawn isstill a great way to catch a prospective buy-er’s eye. When a home boasts a lush lawnand well-manicured trees, it’s hard to ig-nore that for-sale sign out front. If land-scaping has proven an Achilles’ heel in thepast, make an effort to take better care ofyour property in the months ahead.
It doesn’t take long for even the most ne-glected lawn to rebound from disrepair. Bythe time you feel confident to put that forsale sign out front, you might just beputting it up in a lush lawn no buyer can re-sist.
• Upgrade appliances. Prospective buyerswon’t be thrilled if they walk into a homeand see outdated appliances. Some mighteven feel older appliances indicate a home-owner who cared little about appearancesand might begin to wonder if there are any
additional areas that might have been ne-glected around the house. Stainless steelappliances in the kitchen and even new fix-tures in the bathroom are aesthetically ap-pealing and tend to excite buyers. Home-owners who aren’t immediately puttingtheir property up for sale can gradually up-grade their appliances to lessen some ofthe financial toll such purchases take.
• Replace the carpet. A clean carpetmight make a world of difference to ahome’s inhabitants, but a new carpet willbe more appealing to prospective buyers.Choose a neutral-toned carpet that willboast a more universal appeal.
• Paint the home. A fresh coat of paint ornew siding is always attractive to prospec-tive buyers. If your home hasn’t had a newcoat of paint in awhile that might makebuyers feel the home is musty or old. Manybuyers judge a book by its cover, and sellerswant their home’s exterior to be as attrac-tive as possible. Homeowners can also paintrooms inside the home to give it a freshand welcoming feel.
• Clean up around the house. A clutteredhouse will almost certainly repel buyers.Buyers want a home that’s roomy and wellkept, but clutter creates the opposite im-pression. Organize the closets to makethem appear more roomy and clean up anyareas that have become cluttered — con -sider temporarily renting a storage unit tohouse excess stuff from closets. Basementsor utility closets might be handy for stor-age, but they should be open and clean be-fore hosting an open house. The less cluttera home has, the more spacious it will ap-pear and the more money sellers can likelydemand for the home.
ANGIE HICKSMCCL AT C H Y-TRIBUNE
Dear Angie: We are selling our house and want toknow what kinds of questions we should ask prospec-tive real estate agents. We’ve never sold a house be-
fore, and had a less than stellar experience when we pur-chased six years ago. We want to be informed about what toexpect before, during and after the sale.
— Marisa D., Stow, OhioDear Marisa: If you’re selling or buying a home, it’s ex-
tremely important to think ahead when you’re hiring a realestate agent. After all, buying a home is likely the biggest in-vestment you’ll ever make.
Find someone with a good track record; one who has thehistory and references that show they are going to work toget you the best return on your home.
Interview prospective agents as you would interview anycandidate for a big job with plenty of questions. Ask howlong they’ve been in the business. Are they full time or parttime? How many hours per week do they dedicate to theirreal estate business? How many homes did they sell lastyear? What is the average number days on the market forhouses they sell? What is the average difference from theirinitial asking price and the final selling price? How doestheir selling prices in your neighborhood compare to the av-erage selling price per square foot in your neighborhood? Dothey have references in your neighborhood? Do they haveany professional designations? Do they have a website? Howwill they market your home? Will they be there to answer allof your questions along the way?
A good agent should have a marketing plan tailored foryou. He or she should be able to advise you about whetheryou need to update and how to properly stage your home foronline photos and in-person showings. Your agent shouldcontact you about your home’s status at least once a week ifnot more to update you, not only about your house, but alsoabout similar houses in your area that have sold or gone upfor sale. You have to know your competition to beat it.
If the agent is part of a team, insist on meeting the otherplayers, so that you feel comfortable should your agent beunavailable
In this tough housing market, good agents are pulling outall the stops for their clients. If you feel like your agent isn’tworking hard enough for you, find one who will.
Ask prospectiveRealtors the righttypes of questions
A fresh coat of paint or new siding isalways attractive to prospective buyers.
www.HomeStateBank.com(970) 203-6100
An FHA 203(k) mortgage allows you to finance both your homepurchase and renovation with a single loan. Call now to learn more.
Loans and rates subject to credit approval. FHA conditions and restrictions apply.
Vivian DeVoe, VP Mortgage Banker, 970-227-4702
Buying a home that needs work?Call the experts in FHA 203(k)renovation financing.
Think big Bank small
E2 Saturday Reporter-Herald S eptember 10, 2 0 1 1
To add a listing or speak to an advertising representative, call the Reporter-Herald at 669-5050
For details about these open houses, see the ads in this section. For additional open house listings, please check the “Real Estate Classifi eds” section of this publication. This guide is
brought to you by the Daily Reporter-Herald, local real estate agents and area builders.
WWW.HOMEANDREALTYGUIDE.COM•CLICK ON OPEN HOUSE MAPS
saturday sundayPrice Location Address Hours Offi ce Phone
From the 100’s Loveland 3930 Boulder Drive 12-2 PM RE/MAX Town & Country 970-290-0908
From the $140’s Loveland 43rd St & Wilson Ave., The Cottages at Enchantment Ridge
12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900
From the $150’s Milliken 110 Traders Lane 12-3 PM The Group Inc., Tracy Wilson 970-567-0907
$159,900 Loveland 205 North Taylor Ave. 1-3 PM Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors, Sarah Warnock
970-412-3421
Starting at $159,900
Loveland Boise Village, 1899 East 11th St. 10 AM-6 PM Midtown Homes 970-456-4600
$167,900 Loveland 4331 Filbert Drive 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Nancy Walkowicz
970-461-7136
$169,900 Loveland 4403 Elliot Pl. 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515
Starting at $195,000
Berthoud Peakview Meadows 12-4 PM Century 21, Humpal, Inc., Kurt Albers & Chris Rampone
970-231-1224
From the $200’s Windsor 292 Saratoga Drive 1-4 PM The Group Inc., Jim Watson 970-219-5219
From the $200’s Johnstown 406 Gypsum 1-3 PM Coldwell Banker, Sirmula Lansky
970-691-0468
$207,315 Loveland 3441 Foster Pl. 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515
$210,000 Loveland 1015 W 32nd St. 1:00 PM Sharp RE/MAX Alliance-Loveland, Nanci Garnand
$439,500 Loveland 2096 Vista Drive 1-4 PM The Group, Inc., Bob Skillman 970-631-2257
Starting in the mid $400’s
Loveland 288 Reservoir Drive 1-4 PM Premier Lifestyle Realty, John Mathey
970-481-5512
$499,995 Loveland 363 Meadowsweet Circle 12-2 PM The Group, Inc. Jack Tregenza 970-631-9101
$525,000 Loveland 2951 Culebra Peak Dr. 1-3 PM RE/MAX Alliance-Loveland, Don Riedel
970-679-8265
Low maintenance ranch in S Loveland on a5th of an acre with over 2000 sq ft of livingspace. New 50 gallon water heater. Dog runin back yard. Close to the proposed ACE site.MLS#657897 $184,000
Looking for Maintenance-FREE* lifestyle?Open floor plan, patio home w/2 bdrms/2baths, granite kitchen island, backs togreen belt with mountain views! Convenientlocation. MLS#622329. $323,400
3464 Peruvian Torch Drive, Loveland, CO
BUILDERS MODEL-DAKOTA GLENOPEN HOUSE 12 TO 4 THURS.-MON.
Introducing Pittington Ranch! Panoramicviews, open floor plans, room for your horses!90 plus acres of riding space. Model homeopen! 13 homesites to choose from, startingin mid $400’s.
Sarah Warnock, GRI, eCertifiedPrudential Rocky Mountain, REALTORS970-412-3421 [email protected]
New DowntownListing! Super Nice!4 beds, 3 baths,hrdwd floors,finished bsmt, lgkitchen, 2 patios,1 car garage, noHOA fees. Over1,600 sq ft for only$159,900! For moreinfo contact Sarah.
Awesome 2 bedroom, 2 bath ranchconveniently located in Thompson RiverRanch Subdivision. Tile back- splashes,Pergo floors, maple cabinets and stainlesssteel appliances. MLS#664262
3843 Kenwood Circle, Johnstown
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1:00-2:30 PM
Ryan AndreSears Real Estate970-381-1081 / 330-7700www.searsrealestate.com
Oversized 4 Car Garage. Great split styleranch w/ unobstructed mountain views& backs to open space. Granite island inkitchen, plus lots of custom features. Locatedin Matthew Farm. $339,900.
1723 Wales Dr., Berthoud
OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN 12-3 PM
Lisa Moore or Connie GliottRE/MAX Alliance970-566-4629 or 970-566-4627
Welcome home! This home features acomfortable family room w/ wood burningfireplace, newly updated kitchen, 4 BD/2BA, large privacy fenced backyard with niceshade.
3930 Boulder Drive, Loveland
OPEN HOUSE (SAT. SEPT. 10TH) 12PM-2PM
Marian MaggiRE/MAX Town & County970-290-0908marian@berthoudrealestate.comwww.berthoudrealestate.com
Well maintained 3 bedroom ranch home inthe Rocksbury Ridge Subdivision. Open floorplan, two sided fireplace and luxury masterbathroom. 2 ca garage, fenced yard andconvenient location makes this home a mustsee.
Great 1 acre property in Indianhead Estateson corner lot with 3 car attached garage PLUSseparate 2 car/shop! Room for your RV’s &room to expand for additional garages! Likenew home. $379,000.
27847 Arikaree Rd, Loveland
OPEN SUNDAY 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Maurine GarretsonColdwell Banker Plains Real Estate, Inc.970-396-9597 [email protected]/local/plains
Peakview Meadows Sales office open Sat12-4 and Sunday 11-3 Prices starting at$195,900. 5 Models to choose from.
Peakview Meadows, Berthoud
OPEN SAT. 12-4 PM & SUN. 11-3 PM
Kurt Albers & Chris RamponeCentury 21 Humpal, Inc970-231-1224 Kurt970-430-0845 Chriswww.berthoud.org
OPEN Saturday 1-3 PM 2+Acre Lake front& horse lots starting $225,000 water tapincluded. Surface rights, walk paths, parks,boat docks, fishing and peace garden.
BUILDERS MODEL - DAKOTA GLENOPEN HOUSE 12 TO 4 THURS.-MON.
Venna HillmanERA Herman GroupGlen Marketing970-663-4522 [email protected]
A spacious new ranch w/a WALKOUT bsmt.Inviting open kit/dng/great room area, mainlvl laundry. Blt for energy savings, 2x6const, UPGRADES thru out. Quality built byWeinland Homes in Quail Run.
New carpeting, a fully finished basement,first- floor master suite, with separatevanities, many upgrades throughout homeusing the best of everything. NOW $699,000!
• Daniel & BrendaHoover from OakwoodHomes LLC, 3801Blackwood Ln, John-stown, $214,900,home
• Joey & MeaganSterkel from Errol Un-verzagt, 1810 Chesa-peake Cir, Johnstown,$215,000, home
M i l l i ke n• Caleb & Pepper
Makepeace from BKNew York Mellon, 811S Norma Ave, Milliken,$119,900, home
Windsor• Stanley Lampe
from Susan Lindholm,1372 Sunset Bay Dr,Windsor, $205,000,home
• John & LynetteSzantho from James
Mccambridge, 312 NShore Cir, Windsor,$489,000, home
• James Cotter fromPamela Tannehill, 401Elm St, Windsor,$215,000, home
• Brennen & Cas-sidee Ames from BrianWarren, 388 BluegrassCt, Windsor,$221,000, home
• Ronald Thomasfrom Hartford HomesInc, 6136 Bay Mead-ows Dr, Windsor,$471,100, home
• Lance Pfeiff fromJason Heward, 75Lodgepole Dr, Wind-sor, $214,500, home
• Jennifer & JackKooienga fromRichard Johnson,1025 Pinyon Dr, Wind-sor, $170,400, home
• Phillip Tarhinifrom Michael Mcclure,190 Kitty Hawk Ct,Windsor, $385,000,home
• Jeannette & KentMercer from WilliamRoberts, 222 N 6th St,Windsor, $194,000,home
• Sandra & TerryLitchfield fromRichard Trant, 615Hemlock Dr, Windsor,$215,000, home
H& Real Estate TransactionsRE
RI TA CO L O R I TOBA N K R AT E .COM
Aforeclosure on your block can do morethan spoil the view from your window. Aforeclosed eyesore can ruin the financial
health of your household and neighborhood.But you can help keep a blighted property fromdestroying your home equity.
Prevention makes the biggest difference, saidErynn Crowley, deputy director of the PhoenixNeighborhood Services Department. If youknow a neighbor is headed toward foreclosure,find out what you can do to help maintain theproperty should they move away. Like Phoenix,many municipalities have developed resourcesto help neighborhoods deal with the foreclo-sure crisis.
“We always encourage neighbors to talk toeach other, because that’s the fastest way go-ing,” Crowley said. “Sometimes they aren’taware or they thought they had a tenant whowas taking care of it.”
To keep one blighted property from turninginto two or more, maintain your own property.“Don’t get too discouraged just because youhave one or two abandoned properties on theblock,” said Chris Smith, director for Neighbor-hood Housing Services of Chicago in the city’sRoseland office. “If every other property on theblock is in pretty good shape, chances are the(foreclosed) property won’t stay vacant for toolong.”
Form a neighborhood watch to head off po-tential problems, said John Anderson, co-ownerof Twin Oaks Realty Inc. in Crystal, Minn.
“Once the pipes get stolen or (a property)becomes vandalized, it becomes harder to selland it becomes a bigger detriment to theneighborhood,” said Anderson. And always in-form police of criminal activity.
“If (neighbors) see code violations — a bro-ken window; tall, dry weeds; trash in the yard— we recommend they report them as soon asthey see them,” Crowley said. “You don’t wantit to sit and get worse.”
Sometimes an eyesore can turn into a healthor safety hazard, with vacant properties attract-
ing squatters or becoming hot spots for illegalactivity, such as drug dealing. If you suspectsuch a risk, notify authorities immediately.
“Everyone on that block needs to call (theauthorities) on the same day, within the samehour. And if nothing happens, do the samething again the next day,” Smith said. He saidwith this tactic, at least in Chicago, it usuallytakes fewer than three days for police to boardup and secure an abandoned property.
If your city doesn’t fix the problem foreclo-sure, Smith suggests calling a nonprofit thatwill work on your behalf to take care of prob-lem properties in your neighborhood.
To speed up a foreclosure sale, help find a po-tential buyer. Talk up the property, and yourneighborhood, to anyone who is looking to buy.
“The best salespersons for an abandonedproperty ... are the people that live on thatblock,” Smith said.
If your area is particularly hard-hit by foreclo-sures, the eyesore on your block may
already be part of a federally funded Neigh-borhood Stabilization Program, under whichmunicipalities buy, fix up and resell blightedproperties. Crowley said some Phoenix neigh-borhood groups help market NSP properties. InMinneapolis, Anderson has seen neighborsbanding together to buy foreclosed or NSPproperties, fixing them up and reselling them.
Don’t waste your time trying to figure outwho owns the foreclosure nightmare on yourblock in an effort to make the owner take re-s p o n s i b i l i t y.
Foreclosures can take months or more than ayear. It’s often difficult to pinpoint who cur-rently holds the deed, Anderson said.
Ask your building-code department, or a sim-ilar agency, what you can do legally to helpmaintain the property, said Anderson. In mostcases, they’ll give the go-ahead to pick up trashoutside the property or mow the lawn. Be sureto get permission first.
Avoid the temptation to sneak onto the prop-erty and try to fix it up yourself. “Don’t try todo anything on your own,” Smith said. “( Yo u )could actually be held liable for anything thatgoes wrong on that property. You have to gothrough the proper channels.”
Keep foreclosures inyour neighborhood frombecoming an eyesore
NEWNEWNORTHERNNORTHERNCOLORADOCOLORADO
HOMESHOMESMegan Wachtman
8z Real EstateBroker/Owner
970-217-7977www.MeganWachtman.8z.com
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E4 Saturday Reporter-Herald S eptember 10, 2 0 1 1
lenders to maintain the properties in thissituation, but lenders counter that theydon’t have a legal right to take control ofthe homes and make repairs or keep themup.
The real problem is the employmentsituation. If it doesn’t improve significantly,the housing market will continue to suffer.Individual and community efforts to keepup neighborhoods can make a difference.But what is needed is a system that helpshomeowners avoid foreclosure or helpsthem through with the short sale if theycan’t afford their homes at all.
If the employment numbers improve andthe housing market becomes more stable,the government may find a way to assisthomeowners who are underwater — i.e.,who owe more than their homes are worth— with a refinance program based on theircreditworthiness rather than on the value oftheir home.
Being underwater is, for many homeown-ers, the only issue preventing them from re-financing. These homeowners can afford thepayments but don’t have the cash to paydown their debt to a level where a new mort-gage is possible.
The homes you reference in your lettertend to be those whose owners either havewalked away in a strategic default, have losta job and with it the ability to make mort-gage payments, or are somewhere in theforeclosure process.
None of these scenarios is good for the re-maining homeowners. And every home thatgoes into default just makes it harder for ev-eryone else.
While it is a great goal to getcommunities and municipalities to pressurehomeowners or lenders to maintain thesehomes, it seems that market forces will ulti-mately determine whether neighborhoodsimprove or deteriorate in the comingmonths and years.
I’m not saying you’re wasting your time,but what your efforts need to succeed is animproving economy.
Question: I’m in the process of gettingmy primary house ready to sell in order todownsize. Its value is around$400,000. I owe about $150,000 onit and have no other debts.
I won’t be finished with preppingmy house for sale until next sum-mer. I found a house in South Car-olina that is an estate sale thatmeets my needs with a price around$150,000.
Should I forget about this housein South Carolina and work on sell-
ing my primary house first? Or should Iconsider doing a cash-out refinance andusing those funds to buy the secondhouse?
I’m still employed with stable income,and I plan to retire when I sell my primaryhouse.
Answer: The real issue is how much mon-ey you have and how much you’re preparedto spend to secure the house of your futurein South Carolina.
If you are prepared to own two homesfor an extended period of time, you couldbuy the new house in South Carolina andsimply wait until you sell your primary resi-dence.
But if you’re just waiting to find the righthouse so that you can retire, owning twohomes could be a substantial setback toyour plan. If you can’t afford to own the twohomes simultaneously, you might be betteroff making sure you have a buyer for yourcurrent home before trying to buy a homein South Carolina.
The risk is that you could end up owningboth homes for some time to come. Tounderstand the liability you face, you needto do an in-depth study of homes in yourarea that have recently sold and those thatare on the market. You can do this by look-ing up the prices of homes that have closed.If you are unsure of real estate market con-ditions in your area, talk to a couple of localreal estate agents and get their thoughts onthe market and on how to position yourhome for sale.
You say you won’t have your home ready tosell for almost a year; the real estate marketnext summer could be very different fromthe market today. If you think the market inyour area is better now, you might want toconsider selling soon. If the market is poornow, it may or may not get better next sum-m e r.
Your decision to buy hinges on where youbelieve the real estate market will be in thefuture. Unfortunately, I don’t have a crystalball. But I do know that owning two homesand having all the associated expenses is abig burden to bear, particularly when youare trying to retire and scale down yourhome and style of life.
GLINKFrom Page E1
For more information, callGlink’s radio show at800-972-8255 on Sundaysfrom 9 to 10 a.m., write to RealEstate Matters Syndicate, P.O.Box 366, Glencoe, IL 60022 orvisit www.thinkglink.com.
Real Estate Matters
Share your news!Share your news!In the “Together” section of the
GENE AUSTINMCCL AT C H Y-TRIBUNE
Question: I recentlymoved into a housewith wall-to-wall car-
peting in most rooms. Thecarpets are very dirty. I can'tafford a pro cleaner right nowand wondered if do-it-yourselfcleaning is feasible. Can youhelp?
Answer: There are severalDIY methods of cleaning car-pets, and some work well.
The method many peopleuse is water injection orsteam cleaning, which uses amachine that injects hot wa-ter mixed with cleaner intothe carpet, then vacuums outmuch of the water and re-moves dirt at the same time.This is the same method thatis used by some professionalcarpet cleaners. You can rentthe machines at tool-rentalagencies or home centers. Ihave used this method myselfand was amazed at the dirtywater that was removed fromthe carpets.
You need to attach the toolto a source of hot water andmake sure the appropriatecleaner is supplied. You canalso buy carpet-cleaning ma-
chines that use this system. Adrawback is that some mois-ture might be left in the car-pet and pad and, if it doesnot dry out properly, mightbe a source of mold. Anothermethod, sometimes calleddry cleaning, uses a powderthat is spread on the carpetand sometimes forced into itby a machine. The powder isallowed to stay in place for agiven amount of time to ab-sorb dirt and is vacuumed up,leaving the carpet cleanerand brighter. Thick foam issometimes used instead ofpowder. A downside here isthat the powder or foam is achemical and the cleaningresults might not be as thor-ough as with water extrac-tion. You can also rent dry-cleaning equipment at sometool-rental agencies.
Question: We got water inour basement during recentheavy rains and the drywallpanels covering the walls gotsoaked about 12 inches upfrom the floor. I am afraidmold will develop. Do I haveto remove all the drywall?
Answer: You shouldn't haveto remove all the drywall. Iwould trim off the bottoms ofthe panels to a couple ofinches above the water line.
Use a straightedge and asharp utility knife or hand-held power tool to cut off thebottoms in a straight line. Ifyou cut all the panels at thesame height, the repair willbe easier. There is probablyinsulation behind the dry-wall, and you should checkthat for water damage also. Ifthe insulation is wet at thebottom, it should also be re-moved. Let the cavities dryout thoroughly.
Replace the insulationfirst, using tape, staples orwhatever fasteners are need-ed to keep it in place. Thenreplace the drywall, using so-called paperless drywall ofthe same thickness as thematerial already on the wall.
This type of drywall is moreresistant to moisture andmold than regular drywall.Tape and spackle the jointsand repaint. I would also con-sider taking steps to preventfuture basement flooding.Check your rain-gutter sys-tem first to make sure it is ingood condition and capableof carrying rain away fromthe foundation. You might al-so consider a sump pump topump water out of the base-ment before it can accumu-late.
Ask Angie: How to clean yourcarpets on a budget
CindyKurtz
970-613-0700office
970-679-1545office direct
970-962-6832mobile
Cindy’s Featured Listings
www.thegroupinc.com
3555 Capitol Peak Drive • Loveland $350,000Contract fell apart – now’s your 2nd opportunity to buy thisgorgeous ranch style home, with rich wood floors which adornthe entry, kitchen and eating areas. Alderwood cabinetry inthe spacious kitchen and butler pantry area. Private masterbedroom has large walk-in closet and luxurious 5 pc bath.The full unfinished basement is garden level which provideslots of light. Outdoor living includes large deck, new installedstamped concrete patio and gas line for BBQ. MLS# 659371
3375 Westerdoll Avenue • Loveland $330,000Bright and sunny ranch style home. Great pricefor desirable Seven Lakes neighborhood. Vaultedceilings, large kitchen, 3 bdrm and office. Cozyfireplace upstairs and gas stove frpl in basement.Basement is partially finished. Lovely lot thatbacks to greenbelt and has mountain views.Large patio with Pergola. MLS #662455
2989 SW 8th Street • Loveland $225,000NEW PRICE! Awesome and unique home. Tons of richfeeling woodwork throughout. Large master bedroomon the main level. Upper level bedrooms and study/loft are huge too. Cozy main level family and livingrooms. Vaulted ceilings and fireplace. Private yardwith relaxing deck and mature landscaping. Potentialfor RV/boat parking. New roof in 2011. MLS# 660250
2469 Indian Hills Drive • Loveland $315,000Sprawling ranch in lovely Windemere neighborhood!4 bdrm, 3 ba, formal living, dining, family roomand office on main level. Gorgeous Italian marblefloors, newer triple pane windows. 50 yearshingles, security system, 6 panel solid wooddoors, remodeled kitchen w/granite tile counters,new refrigerator, dual fuel gas range, wood beamaccents, xeriscaped yard with veggie garden. 20x22workshop in the basement. MLS# 654183
Open Houses This Weekend - www.thegroupinc.com
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:00-3:002217 Mandarin Court, Johnstown Colorado Craftsman StyleHome w/beautiful finishes. Quality built by Oak Valley Homes.Hardwood floors, designer tile and slab granite. Large kitchenisland, gas fireplace and shaker style alder cabinetry. Fullunfinished basement. Full yard landscape. Lot directly behindhouse can be purchased.
$279,000MLS# 662877
Call Georgena Arnett481-9801
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12:00-3:00110 Traders Lane, Milliken Pick your own fixtures, carpet &colors. Wonderful ranch style & 2-story home plans to choosefrom. Your choice of 3 great subdivision to live in – SettlersVillage – Colony Point or Centennial Farms. VALUE YOU CANSEE… QUALITY YOU CAN COUNT ON with a WINDMILLS HOME.Visit us at 110 Traders Lane in Settlers Village.
Prices starting in the $150’sMLS#
Call Tracy Wilson567-0907
NEW CONSTRUCTION
FRIDAY - SUNDAY 1:00-4:00292 Saratoga Drive, Windsor Greenspire at Windsor Lake. It’smore than just a home… IT’S A QUALITY OF LIFE! Milesof bike trails, open space & parks. Personalize your homefrom framing to finish! Extraordinary floor plans – Ranch &2-Story. Lots available on Windsor Lake! Visit our Sales Centeror call for a personalized showing today!
Homes Starting in the $200,000s!MLS# 643842
Call Jim Watson219-5219
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12:00-5:004607 Pompano Drive, Windsor 3 bedroom, 3 bath ranch with3-car garage. Loads of upgrades, backs to open space! Allof our homes are energy-efficient on oversized lots! Visit ourmodels for other plans available starting at $239,900.
$287,296MLS# 661199
Call Kristen Specketer290-8097
NEW CONSTRUCTION
NEW HOMES BUILT BY WINDMILLS, LLC
SUNDAY 1:00-3:002821 Logan Drive, Loveland Professionally remodeled 4bd+ study, 3ba, 3070 sf. home. The kitchen has travertine tile,stainless steel appliances. Wood floors throughout the mainfloor. Lots of special touches are found everywhere. It feelslike home the minute you enter.
$300,000MLS# 660462
Call Sally Lee227-7742
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:00-3:00920 Norway Maple, Loveland New custom home by TroendlyConstruction. Ranch w/2 bedrooms & den on main level. Bdrm,bath & family room finished in basement. Tandem 3 car garage.Nice finishes included granite, Alder cabinets & stainless steelappliances. Fully landscaped w/auto sprinklers. Move in ready -see this lovely home today.
$347,900MLS# 654230
Call Rich Gardiner227-0964
SATURDAY 1:00-3:001388 W 48th St., Loveland This 3BD 3BA 3,375 sf ranch ismove-in ready! Open w/ vaulted ceiling, large dining room,eat-in kitchen & popular split bedroom floorplan. Partiallyfinished basement. Huge storage room w/cedar closet.Mature landscaping, large deck w/seating.
$295,000MLS# 664599
Call Mary Ann Michels310-7944
CLOSE TO LAKE LOVELAND! NEW CONSTRUCTIONLOVELY HOME IN ASHFORD SQUARE!
SUNDAY 12:00-3:00103 Common Drive, Berthoud Elegant turn-of-the-centuryhome built with quality. Wrap-around covered front porch.Formal living and dining rooms. Huge family room w/fireplace.Kitchen features Tharp City Scape cabinets, granite countertops& pantry. Unfinished bsmt. Covered patio. 8’ doors in the 3-cargarage.
$365,000MLS# 622778
Call Tracy Wilson567-0907
SATURDAY 1:00-3:004331 Filbert Drive, Loveland 3bd, 2ba, 2car garage. Ranchstyle home tucked away for privacy. Xeriscaped front yard.Back deck offers incredible views of the front range, as well asmature trees & shrubs. Shed included. No HOA dues! Immediateoccupancy. New roof soon. Off Hwy 287 & 43rd Street West.Co-listed with Robert Walkowicz 377-4945.
$167,900MLS# 662086
Call Nancy Walkowicz461-7136
NEW CONSTRUCTION
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:00-3:003555 Capitol Peak Drive, Loveland Gorgeous ranch. Wood floorsin entry, kitchen & eating area. Alder cabinets. Butler pantry.Private master bedroom with walk-in closet & 5-piece bath.Unfinished garden level basement. Outdoor living includes largedeck, stamped concrete patio and gas line for BBQ.
$350,000MLS# 659371
Call Cindy Kurtz962-6832
FRIDAY - SUNDAY 1:00-3:00302 Lyra Place, Loveland Colorado Craftsman Style Home!Hardwood floors, designer tile, slab granite, alder trim & doors,mission style alder cabinets. Gourmet kitchen. Formal diningroom & breakfast nook. Deck overlooks open space w/accessfrom kitchen & master bdrm. 3-car tandem garage. Garden levelbsmt. Full yard landscape. Close to I-25.
$357,000MLS# 657756
Call Georgena Arnett481-9801
NEW CONSTRUCTION NEW CONSTRUCTION
SUNDAY 1:00-4:002096 Vista Drive, Loveland Located on the 10th Fairway ofthe Olde Course in Loveland. 2 Offices, formal living & diningrooms, large kitchen & great room. Slab granite counters & backsplash, wood floors. Mstr walk-in has custom built-ins. Jettedtub & huge shower. Mature yard. 3-car garage, workshop andheated driveway.
$439,500MLS# 644585
Call Bob Skillman631-2257
MAJOR PRICE REDUCTION
SUNDAY 12:00-2:00363 Meadowsweet Circle, Loveland Exclusive sanctuary w/private rec trail, ponds, mtn & lake views. Master w/Travertinebath. Kitchen w/chiseled granite countertops, knotty aldercabinetry & SS appliances. Guest bedroom, den w/see-thrufireplace & great room w/skylights on main. 2 add’l bedroomsoffer walk-ins. Front pergola courtyard & back deck.
$499,995MLS# 655955
Call Jack Tregenza631-9101
Saturday Reporter-Herald S eptember 10, 2011 E
H&Real Estate
News BriefsRE
Put your gardento sleep with a
cover crop
MICHELE JONES JOINS COLDWELL BANKERRESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE IN LOVELAND AS BROKERA S S O C I AT E
Michele Jones, a member of the Loveland-BerthoudAssociation of Realtors, has joined Coldwell BankerResidential Brokerage in Loveland as a broker associate.Jones is now serving the diverse real estate needs of clientsthroughout Northern Colorado.
Jones was in the food and beverage sales business for 20years prior to pursuing a career in real estate. She enjoyshiking, boating and spending time with family and friends.
The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office inLoveland is located at 100 West 29th Street and can bereached at 970-667-2707. Jones may be reached directly at970-556-1108 or via e-mail at [email protected].
COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGEANNOUNCES 2011 RIDE THE RANGE CYCLINGFUNDRAISER
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Colorado’s lead-ing real estate company, will host its annual “Ride theRange” charity bike ride September 11-14. The event willbenefit several local charities, in addition to Bike Denverand the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center throughthe Coldwell Banker Community Foundation.
A team of 20 core riders will ride their bicycles morethan 250 miles from Colorado Springs, to Denver and Ever-green, on to Boulder and Longmont and back to Denver toraise awareness and funds for local charities. Joining theriders this year will be Bruce Zipf, president and chief exec-utive officer of NRT, the parent company of Coldwell BankerResidential Brokerage, along with other NRT representa-tives.
The mission of the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Cen-ter is to protect and save the lives of abused and neglectedchildren through zealous legal advocacy, innovative pro-grams and public policy reform. Since 1981, the center hasprovided legal representation to more than 10,000 chil-dren.
BikeDenver was formed in the summer of 2001 to advo-cate for better policies and infrastructure to support in-creased bicycling in Denver. The organization operates pro-grams designed to engage and educate the public aboutthe benefits of safe bicycling while engaging hundreds ofvolunteers annually for events that promote bicycling.
For more information on sponsorships and participationin the fifth annual Ride the Range fundraiser, visitw w w. c b r i d e t h e r a n g e . c o m .
JOHN BYRD JOINS COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIALBROKERAGE IN LOVELAND AS BROKER ASSOCIATE
John Byrd, an outdoor enthusiast and former aerospaceprofessional, has joined Coldwell Banker Residential Bro-kerage in Loveland as a broker associate. Byrd is a memberof the Loveland-Berthoud Association of Realtors and isnow serving the diverse real estate needs of clients through-out Northern Colorado.
Byrd earned his bachelor’s degree from Montana StateUniversity and has completed numerous specialized andcomputer related training courses. He has been recognizedfor his support to the Consolidated Space Operations Cen-ter and actively supports the High Plains EnvironmentalCenter. In addition to the aerospace industry, Byrd’s profes-sional background includes public works and ethanol plantproject management. He enjoys fly fishing, camping, skiing,hiking and golf.
The Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office inLoveland is located at 100 West 29th Street and may bereached at 970-667-2707. Byrd may be reached directly at970-222-9616 or via e-mail at [email protected].
ANNE WUERSLINCSU EXTENSION
Right now, my raised bed garden is simply wornout. After wet spring rains and then beatinghail, it is tired. Weeds are bolder, and I am ex-
hausted at the thought of planting a second crop ofcool weather vegetables. I decided to let nature do thework and plant a blanket of winter rye, a cover crop ofwhat is also known as “green manure” once tilled intothe soil in spring. Mid-September is an ideal time toplant this crop for plant and soil nourishment nexty e a r.
Cover crops are plants grown not to be used as food,but as plant material which is used to improve soil con-ditions. Fall-planted crops can be cut down and dug in-to the soil in the spring. Cover crops improve soil byadding organic materials, replenishing soil nutrients,building soil integrity or tilth and reducing erosion.They also reduce the need for nitrogen fertilization.Best yet, these crops keep weeds down as well.
Cover crops are usually grass varieties of winterlegumes or grasses. Winter rye, buckwheat, annual ryeand oats are some of the most common grasses. Win-ter ryegrass is a good choice for Colorado gardens as ittolerates poor soils and does not need much rain. Win-ter legumes are great nitrogen recyclers, and includecrimson clover, winter peas and hairy vetch. The latterlegume has been especially bred for colder climates.Some gardeners combine grasses with legumes, i.e.winter rye with hairy vetch, to create diversity. Theroots of the grain protect the slower growing vetch.
Come spring, my winter rye will be cut down andtilled into the soil. I plan to let the residue sit for aboutthree to four weeks before planting my spring crops. Inthe meantime, I will read garden catalogues, plan fornext summer’s season, rest and let my cover crop grow.
For more information, visit the Colorado MasterGardener website and read Garden Notes #244 on“Cover Crops and Green Manure Crops” f ro mwww.cmg.colostate.edu. You can also visit the Planttalkwebsite and read publication #1616 on “Cover Crops”from www.planttalk.org.
Anne Wuerslin has received training through Col-orado State University Extension's Master Gardenerprogram and is a Master Gardener volunteer forLarimer County. For more information about CSU Ex-tension, Larimer County, call 970-498-6000 or visitw w w. l a r i m e r. o r g / e x t .
AS S O C I AT E D DESIGNS
Built in the right set-ting, the bright andspacious hexagonal
great room at the center ofthe Blue Creek serves up apanorama of stunning views.And the vistas from insidethis lodge are yours to enjoyfrom the moment you stepinside.
The main floor has aground level entrance, but isone story above the ground
at the rear. Hefty log postshighlight the entry. A kingpost and struts highlight itslofty vaulted porch. Doubledoors open into the expan-sive great room, which isrichly glassed in the threeback wall sections. Tall win-dows flank the fireplace cen-tered in the section to theright.
Across the room from theentry, twin sets of slidingglass doors open onto avaulted and covered deckthat is a near reflection of
the front porch. A loghandrail rims the wide deckthat wraps around the rear,creating an extensive out-door living area.
Wings extend out to theleft and right of the greatroom. On the left, a peninsu-lar eating bar bounds aroomy kitchen with plenty ofcupboard and counter space,including a central work is-land. The owners’ suite, withits twin lavs and large walk-in closet, is just down thehall. A second bedroom and
bathroom fill the oppositewing.
Outside, on the basementlevel at the rear of the BlueCreek, hefty posts supportthe main floor deck above,creating a covered colon-nade below. A hexagonaltwo-car garage with plenty ofextra work and storagespace sits below the greatroom. Basement rooms,which could initially be fin-ished or unfinished, extendoff of the hexagon in thesame configuration as above.
Visit AssociatedDesigns.com for more informationor to search home plans. Areview plan of the BlueCreek 10-564, includingfloor plans, elevations, sec-tion, and artist’s conception,can be purchased for $25.The Home Plan Collection,featuring more than 550home plans, costs $15. Bothare available online, by mailor phone. Add $5 shippingand handling. AssociatedDesigns, 1100 Jacobs Dr.,Eugene, OR 97402, (800)634-0123.
H& Featured Home PlanRE
Blue Creek offers stunning views
The vistasfrom insidethis lodgeare yours toenjoy from themoment youstep inside.
white glove perfect!www.RiedelGroup.com$425,000 | MLS #663870Call Don A. [email protected]
OPEN SATURDAY 1:30-3:302951 Culebra Peak Dr, LovelandHuge ranch with full finished bsmtwith 47x27 family room, formal &informal dining, 4/10ths acre lot, 5bdrm, 4 bath, awesome gazebo/deck,
stunning condition!!!$525,000 | MLS #663378Call Don A. [email protected]
OPEN SUNDAY 1-3 PM4230 Julesberg Dr, Loveland
Ranch w/ garden level bsmt, 4 Bd, 3Baths, new carpet, 5 pc bath, new roof,A/C, sprinklers, fenced yard, great condi-tion, ready to move in, close to schools,
E6 Saturday Reporter-Herald S eptember 10, 2 0 1 1
H& Front Range GardeningRE
Carol O’Meara is withCSU Extension inBoulder County.Contact her at303-678-6238 orcomeara@co. b o u l d e r. c o . u s .
Front Range Gardening
Prepare early forproper frost protectionCA RO L O'MEARACSU EXTENSION
Frost kissed the high country in a LaborDay weekend reminder that garden daysare numbered. The chill, 20-degree night
put an end to tomatoes and peppers beforethey really got started, and friends are postingphotos of the disaster on Facebook direly warn-ing, “soon this will be you.”
But seasoned gardeners relish the challengeSeptember weather brings; the month makesgamblers of all of us with its daily gyration oftemperatures. It’s the time when we turn intofashion divas, worrying over what to drape thegarden with when frost arrives. And whetheryou choose the floral print comforter or clearplastic, it pays to lay out protection strategiesbefore the chill sets in.
Here’s what you need for planning:• Sheets of plastic or cloth. The trick to suc-
cess is ensuring that the covering does nottouch the plant and extends completely to theground. The warmth of the soil will fill the cov-ering like a tent, keeping temperatures justabove freezing.
Now is the time to ready sheets, blankets orlarge towels, stacking them close to the gardenin the shed or garage for quick access when yourush home in a panic. Cloth coverings work forfrost, but not in freezing rain or snow; rapidlybecoming heavy with moisture and no longerprotecting the plant. Plastic is better under wetconditions, but because it conducts the cold besure it doesn’t touch the plant. Remove thecoverings each morning to allow the soil towarm again.
• Consider building a plastic tunnel from 4-inch wire fencing hooped over rows of vegeta-bles, or PVC pipe frames. With sturdy wire and6-millimeter thick, UV-resistant plastic tunnelscan extend the life of cool season vegetablessuch as lettuce or broccoli. Tunnels need to beopened during warm days and closed at night.Find this specialty plastic at local garden cen-ters.
• Fill plastic milk jugs with water, cap themand leave them in full sun. When a cold snap orhard frost is predicted, nestle them up aroundtender plants. In combination with a plasticcover, their warmth will release slowlyovernight, keeping damage from the plant.
Stack the jugs two or three high for tallerplants, taking care to brace the upper level toprevent it from falling and crushing the plant,defeating the purpose of protection. Tear downthe jugs during the day, and spread them apartto warm in the sun.
Personally, I’m dreading the inevitable wet,limb shattering snow. Frost will tuck insectsand disease away for the season, slowing thefrenzy of the season to a nice autumn mellow-ness. However, wet snow on branches still hold-
ing leaves spells disaster. There is little that canbe done to prepare for this, other than having asoothing herbal tea nearby, but once the whitestuff begins to bend branches down, get readyfor action.
Using a broom, gently sweep upward from be-low the branch to knock the snow upward andoff the plant. Sweeping down adds weight to thebranch — often breaking it — so be sure tosweep upward.
This works nicely on smaller shrubs and ever-greens, but if you have mature trees don’t tryit. Most trees are able to withstand the weightof snow, but take a look under the canopy toidentify power lines or obstacles in case of limbfailure. If a limb falls on a power line don’t tryto remove it. Contact your power company im-m e d i a t e l y.
Should the cold snap be predicted for severaldays, consider telling your plant goodbye andstart preparing your compost area to receivenew fodder.
Cooler temperaturesbeckon gardeners outdoors
ALIE RICHCSU EXTENSION
Soon you’ll be feeling the temperaturechanges that come with the month ofSeptember. You might think most of the
work in your garden is done, but in truth, itcan be a very busy month for gardeners in Col-orado. Cooler temperatures allow you to getback out into your yards in comfortable condi-tions. Here are some of the things that can bedone in September.
Lawn care:• Fall is a great time to aerate your lawn.
Schedule aeration sometime before mid-Octo-b e r.
• Apply fertilizer to the lawn — once in mid-September and another in late October. Youcan fertilize and aerate on the same day.
• Patch or reseed bare lawn spots while it’sstill warm enough for seeds to germinate andget established before winter.
• Lay down sod.Perennial planting and pruning:• Plant trees and shrubs. Keep well watered,
if there isn’t sufficient rain.• Plant bulbs for spring color. Separate and
replant crowded near the end of the month.• Divide and move perennials.• Deadhead annuals and perennials to main-
tain bloom. Don’t deadhead roses if you wantthe showy hips for winter color.
• This time of year you can get plantshighly discounted. Weather permitting,the next couple weeks are the last chancesto get perennials in the ground to enjoy in
next year’s garden.• Prune raspberries and other berries that
grow on canes after harvest.• Dig and store tender bulbs like dahlias,
caladiums and tuberous begonias.Vegetable Gardens:• Continue to harvest cucumbers, beans and
summer squash in their immature stages. Al-lowing them to ripen on the plant will causethe plant to stop producing new flowers andfruit.
• Be on the watch for early frost. If earlyfrost is imminent, harvest remaining vegeta-bles, including green tomatoes. Ripen greentomatoes by wrapping each in a sheet of news-paper and storing in a cool, dark area.
Miscellaneous:• Bring summer houseplants back indoors
while the windows are still open. Check care-fully for hitchhiking pests.
• Start fall clean-up in the flower beds, cut-ting back anything that has finished bloomingor is diseased.
• Give the compost last turns.Alie Rich has received training through
Colorado State University Extension'sMaster Gardener program and is a MasterGardener volunteer for Larimer County. Formore information about CSU Extension,Larimer County, call 970-498-6000 or visitw w w. l a r i m e r. o r g / e x t .
Grasshoppers pose a problem for the gardenKAT H I TAY L O RCSU EXTENSION
Question: Just whenI’m anticipating gor-geous fall flowers and
mounds of juicy tomatoes,grasshoppers are moving intomy yard, eating any green insight. What do I do now?
Answer: Sadly, not muchthis time of year. Attempt tokeep lawn areas surroundingthe gardens lush and well wa-tered to divert some of thefeeding activity from vegeta-bles and flowers. Floating rowcovers may be used to covervegetable crops; however,grasshoppers have beenknown to chew through plas-tic screens. How about poul-try? Research indicatesguineas or turkeys are goodpredators.
Question: A few grasshop-pers were seen earlier in thesummer, now we have hordesof chewing machines. Whatprompted the invasion?
Answer: Outbreaks maylast two to three years.Nymphs hatch from eggs laidthe previous late summer orfall. Egg laying occurs primar-ily in dry, undisturbed areas,not in irrigated lawns andgardens. Nymphs hatch inlate May or June, taking two
to three months to developinto adults. Adults feed on na-tive vegetation in dry areas,pasturelands, and along roadsides.
As vegetation becomes lessavailable, due to drought ordefoliation, hoppers moveright into yards and gardens.Northern Colorado was veryhot and dry in August, henceyour invasion.
Question: Can I do any-thing to prevent the problemnext year?
Answer: Next spring, asnew nymphs hatch, a mi-crosporidian, Nosema locus-tae, effective on younggrasshoppers, can be spreadin surrounding dry areas. It isslow acting and is not effec-tive on grasshoppers movinginto yards, but on breedingpopulations. Apply in early
May or June. Manufactured asa microbial insecticide, Nose-ma locustae may be found un-der various trade names. Baitis recommended to be opti-mally effective. On a sidenote, in an effort to managegrasshoppers this year, myhusband is attempting tosuck up adults with a leaf vac-uum. Our chickens are notmaking enough of an impacton the population. Bait willbe in my garden’s future in2012.
Kathi Taylor has receivedtraining through ColoradoState University Extension'sMaster Gardener programand is a Master Gardener vol-unteer for Larimer County.For more information aboutCSU Extension, LarimerCounty, call 970-498-6000 orvisit www.larimer.org/ext.
Seasoned gardeners relish thechallenge September weather brings;the month makes gamblers of all of uswith its daily gyration of temperatures.
