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| July 2010 |
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 With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start getting your back yard in summer-worthy condition! Whether you plan to entertain, relax, or play in the back yard, here’s some great tips for working with what you have, and tips for how to improve the look and feel of your back yard.
From the DIY network, the first step is to define a style for your back yard. Your back yard should be about you—not some cookie cutter defined lifestyle. Think about the styles and themes that you already use in your home, and implement them into you back yard. Your home will also have a more fluid feel to it when the back yard compliments the interior of your home.
Secondly, start dividing your space into sections. For general entertaining purposes, DIY’s Scott Cohen says that when people socialize, they tend to split off into groups of four. So don’t cram everything into one giant entertaining space, but instead create many smaller spaces for a better design.
To help set off each of these areas, design one main focal point in each section, says Cohen. Each area should have functionality, whether it’s for eating, cooking, swimming, relaxing, etc., and using a focal point along each space will help tie up loose ends in those areas.
Once you’ve decided how to split up the yard into your sections, now you have to decide what to fill them with. Cohen recommends a couple of hot design tips, starting with making your back yard a vacation area. He calls this, “Vacation at Home” and theorizes that if you spruce up your outdoor living to make it more luxurious and leisurely, it can mimic the feel of vacation. |
That way, if you’re strapped for cash this summer and can’t take a real vacation, you can at least enjoy the benefits of relaxation right at home. Another hot design must is mixing fire and water elements. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to build an entire fire place and swimming pool in your back yard, but just simply adding a small water feature or portable fire pit can help bring about some great summer combinations.
However, if adding a pool is what you’re aiming for, Cohen also has some great tips for what kinds of pools are in right now. The typical kidney-shaped pool is out, he says, and now the hottest pool trend is the spa-pool experience. Think of adding features to the pool such as water shoulder massage or vanishing edge pools.
Using your outdoor living space for cooking in another fun and summer must-have, says Cohen. However, remember that cooking takes space. It’s just like your kitchen, so be sure to include room for all your outdoor cooking appliances and make sure everything’s not shoved together in a corner.
Adding color and texture will also help boost your back yard’s “backside curb appeal”. Cohen says, don’t be afraid to add in some more vibrant colors than you would normally use indoors, and he definitely recommends spending the extra money for quality patio furniture. You want to be comfortable when you’re outside enjoying all your hard work.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to use unique materials. Or better yet—the back yard could be the perfect place for that eyesore of a vase that your mother-in-law gave you for Christmas last year. Remember, you want your back yard to reflect your tastes, but it is one area where you can expand and branch out from your typical décor. |
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“They made me feel comfortable from day one and that I was dealing with not only very professional individuals, but very caring & trustworthy individuals. I honestly feel I have gained two new friends.”
Would you use us again with another real estate project? “Absolutely. I have bought and sold 13 homes in my years of home ownership. This transaction was truly the very easiest due to your completeness, accurary and your ability to always respond to any and all questions and concerns I put forward. ”
-Derrald Houston |
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Water Quality Matters!
One of the most valuable resources in Colorado is water. Water is a key to substaining our way of living and our unique blend of urban areas, agricultural lands, and vast natural areas. Protection of water quality is paramount to ensuring that we don't degrade one of our most greatest assets.
We need your help!
Larimer County needs your help to protect our limited, but valuable water resources and teach others to do the same. What you do affects everyone, particularly those downstream.
Did you know?
Stormwater runoff occurs
after rain or snowmelt flows over the ground.
Stormwater can pick up
trash, oil, dirt, and other pollutants as it travels.
Most stormwater flows untreated to streams, lakes, and reservoirs.
Larimer county has a Stormwater Quality Ordinance that prohibits the discharge of pollutants into stormwater systems. |
Lawn and Garden
When it rains, fertilizer runs off your lawn into storm drains and streams. To help: 1. Don't overwater your lawn, consider using a soaker hose or drip irrigation instead of a sprinkler. 2. Use pesticides and fertilizer sparingly. Consider using natural fertilizers such as compost. 3. Select pest-resistant plants or try companion planting to reduce the need for garden chemicals. 4. Do not store landscaping materials or soil in the street. Prevent soil from washing into storm drains.
Home Construction and Maintenance
Dirt from construction sites can cause sediment and debris to be carried into storm drains. To help: 1. Sweep up litter and dirt from sidewalks and driveways. 2. Prevent dirt from leaving the construction site. Seed and mulch bare areas as soon as possible. 3. Dispose of paint and cleaning materials properly. Call the Hazardous Waste Disposal Hotline at 970-498-5771.
Auto Care
Washing your car and degreasing auto parts at home can send detergents and other contaminants through the storm sewer system. To help: 1. Use a commercial car wash that treats or recycles its
wastewater. 2. If a spill occurs, use cat litter or saw dust to soak up fluid. 3. Poar soapy water down a sink, not on the street. Call Hazardous Waste Disposal Hotline for information on materials accepted.
Septic Systems
Leaking or poorly maintained septic systems release nutrients and pathogens (that can cause public health problems and environmental concerns) that can be picked up by storm water and discharged into nearby bodies of water. To help: 1. Inspect your system every 3 years and pump your tank as necessary (every 3 to 5 years). 2. Don't dispose of any household hazardous waste in sinks or toilets. Call the Household Hazardous Waste Hotline at 970-498-6771. 3.Visit Larimer.org/engineering for more information.
Pet Waste
Pet waste contains bacteria that can end up in local waterways. To Help: When walking your pet, remember to pick up the waste and wrap it securely before putting it in the trash. |
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This month's trivia: How many people signed the Declaration of Indepence on July 4th, 1776?
For the answer, check out our Facebook Fan Page!
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A vacant home can show well—especially if the homeowner has taken the time to handle certain details. Following are recommendations from Moving Right Along…Home Staging Services to prepare a vacant home that will impress Buyers.
- Curb appeal…extremely important! The first thing Buyers will note is the condition of your yard. Pruning shrubs and adding fresh mulch (if applicable) are two great ways to pump up your curb appeal.
- Be sure the porch is free of cobwebs and dust. If your door does not have a fresh and inviting look, the door may need to be painted, and/or the hardware may need to be replaced. Also remove any No Soliciting signs.
- In addition to looking for lots of space, Buyers are looking for a home that has been well maintained—a home where all necessary repairs have been made. Because furniture and other household items may have been covering flaws in the walls, it is important that all wall nicks and marks be removed, and nail holes be filled and repainted. Polishing the woodwork also shows Buyers that the home has been well maintained.
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- Buyers are also looking for a clean home.
- It’s always a good idea to have the carpet professionally cleaned.
- Windows, screens and tracks should also be cleaned.
- Bathrooms should sparkle; clean all appliances, cupboards (inside and out), and don’t forget about the vents and light fixtures.
- Lighting is a very important factor. Before your move, check the light bulbs to make sure they have the highest wattage bulbs safely possible, especially in inside rooms where lighting can be low. Again, be sure to note the safest wattage on each fixture.
In addition to the above, having the home Professionally Staged can be very beneficial. Moving Right Along…Home Staging Services has been accessorizing vacant homes (without the use of furniture) since 2002.
If you have any questions on any of the above, please call Kathy Lanning at 970-225-2284.
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Existing-home sales remained at elevated levels in May on buyer response to the tax credit, characterized by stabilizing home prices and historically low mortgage interest rates, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Gains in the West and South were offset by a decline in the Northeast; the Midwest was steady.
Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.66 million units in May, down 2.2 percent from an upwardly revised surge of 5.79 million units in April. May closings are 19.2 percent above the 4.75 million-unit level in May 2009; April sales were revised to show an 8.0 percent monthly gain.
Buyers Face Purchasing Delays
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said he expects one more month of elevated home sales. “We are witnessing the ongoing effects of the home buyer tax credit, which we’ll also see in June real estate closings,” he said. “However, approximately 180,000 home buyers who signed a contract in good faith to receive the tax credit may not be able to finalize by the end of June due to delays in the mortgage process, particularly for short sales.
“In addition, many potential sales are being delayed by an interruption in the National Flood Insurance Program. Florida and Louisiana, also impacted by the oil spill, have the highest percentage of homes that require flood insurance.”
As the leading advocate for homeownership issues, NAR is supporting Senate amendments to extend the home buyer tax credit closing deadline through September 30 for contracts written by April 30, and to renew the flood insurance program. “Sales and related local economic activity would have been higher without delays in the closing process or flood insurance issues,” Yun noted.
Housing Still Affordable
According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.89 percent in May from 5.10 percent in April; the rate was 4.86 percent in May 2009.
The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $179,600 in May, up 2.7 percent from May 2009. Distressed homes slipped to 31 percent of sales last month, compared with 33 percent in April; it was also 33 percent in May 2009.
NAR President Vicki Cox Golder said home prices have been stabilizing all year. “With distressed sales at roughly the same level as a year ago, the gain in home prices is a hopeful sign that the market is in a good position to stand on its own without further government stimulus,” she said.
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“Very affordable mortgage interest rates and stabilizing home prices are encouraging home buyers who were on the sidelines during most of the boom and bust cycle.”
Pending home sales are expected to decline notably in May and June from the spring surge, but Yun added that job growth and a manageable level
of foreclosures are keys to sales and price performance during the second half of the year.
Inventory Falling
A parallel NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 46 percent of homes in May, down from 49 percent in April. Investors accounted for 14 percent of transactions in May compared with 15 percent in April; the remaining sales were to repeat buyers. All-cash sales were at 25 percent in May, edging down from a 26 percent share in April.
Total housing inventory at the end of May fell 3.4 percent to 3.89 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 8.3-month supply at the current sales pace, compared with an 8.4-month supply in April. Raw unsold inventory is 1.1 percent above a year ago, but is still 14.9 percent below the record of 4.58 million in July 2008.
Single-family home sales declined 1.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.98 million in May from a pace of 5.06 million in April, but are 17.5 percent above the 4.24 million level in May 2009. The median existing single-family home price was $179,400 in May, which is 2.7 percent above a year ago.
Single-family median existing-home prices were higher in 16 out of 20 metropolitan statistical areas reported in May from a year ago. In addition, existing single-family home sales rose in 18 of the 20 areas from May 2009.
Existing condominium and co-op sales fell 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 680,000 in May from 730,000 in April, but are 32.6 percent above the 513,000-unit pace in May 2009. The median existing condo price was $181,300 in May, up 3.4 percent from a year ago.
By Region
- Existing-home sales in the Northeast fell 18.3 percent to an annual level of 890,000 in May from a surge in April, but are 12.7 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $240,200, down 2.2 percent from May 2009.
- In the Midwest, existing-home sales were unchanged in May at a pace of 1.33 million and are 22.0 percent above May 2009. The median price in the Midwest was $150,700, up 2.2 percent from a year ago.
- In the South, sales increased 0.5 percent to an annual level of 2.15 million in May and are 22.9 percent above a year ago. The median price in the South was $159,000, up 1.0 percent from May 2009.
- Existing-home sales in the West rose 4.9 percent to an annual rate of 1.29 million in May and are 15.2 percent higher than May 2009. The median price in the West was $221,300, up 7.4 percent from a year ago.
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