On a recent trip on I-70 to evaluate some land for a client, I was confronted with sad but beautiful image of red forests stretching for miles across the hills. The image of a red "evergreen" contrasting against the green scenery is mesmerizing at first until you take a closer look at red death destroying millions of trees in Colorado. Beetle epidemics across the western United States are becoming more obvious every season with entire landscapes turning red and brown as trees die. In northwest Colorado the beetle epidemics, triggered by extended drought in aging forests, are intensifying at an alarming rate, and there is little that can be done to stop them. Actions can be taken to protect high value areas such as ski areas, developed campgrounds and trees in people’s yards. Hastening Death: Pine beetles carry a fungus on their body and legs. Once they enter the tree, the fungus multiplies and spreads. This blue stain fungus blocks the transport of water up the tree’s trunk ...
The Willow Creek picnic was a hit. Some of the neighbors were there early and most helped with the set up and the pickup after the party. The storm gave us a scare for a while, but overall it was not bad; it rained for about 15 minutes, but we had plenty of shelter and tents. Thank to all that helped monitor the kids and with the cleanup. and we hope to see all next summer. The Official Volleyball Team :) Games, Games, Games... The Picnic was sponsored by Sarah Beezley with US Bank, and Saber Amine with HomesAndPeople.com The Castle Bouncer Slide Combo provided hours of entertainment and great shelter during the 15 min rain session. The Balloonist The Bubble Pool was a hit with the younger crowd Rachel did a fantastic job with the face paint The Burlap Potato Sack Race
A major tax advantage for the real estate industry may be one of the casualties in a sweeping federal tax reform expected this year. Some lawmakers are eyeing the 1031 exchange provision to get the tax-rate cut they seek. The provision allows sellers of real estate and other assets to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting any profit in “like-kind” properties. The 1031 exchange applies to a range of assets, but real estate accounts for the largest portion of exchanges at 36 percent. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated in 2014 that repealing like-kind exchanges could raise $40.6 billion in extra tax revenue over one decade. Several lawmakers consider the provision to be loophole that has limited economic benefit and, therefore, some are looking to put it on the chopping block in order to pay for lower tax rates. Any threat to 1031 exchanges would cause a lot of transactions not to occur, and investors who purchase real estate through 1031 exchanges are more likely to invest ...
Denver Water to Reduce rebates on March 16 Beginning March 16, 2011, Denver Water will change its residential rebates for high-efficiency toilets and clothes washers. The utility will reduce the amount offered for toilet and clothes washer rebates by $50 each. The new rebate amounts will be $75 for qualifying toilets and $100 for qualifying clothes washers. "It was time for a change because the cost of these high-efficiency products has come down in recent years," said Melissa Elliott, manager of conservation. "As a result, Denver Water's rebates will cover a similar percentage of new product purchases. We want to give our customers a heads-up so they can make those purchases before March 16, 2011, if they want the current rebate amount." Customers should check details before making purchases. Not all toilets or clothes washers qualify for a rebate, but all " WaterSense " labeled toilets are covered. Visit www.denverwater.org ...
Nearly 99 percent of homes in metro Denver have regained or surpassed the prices from their pre-recession peak, according to an analysis by Trulia that shows only a third of homes nationwide reaching the same mark. The report, “The Housing Recovery That Wasn’t,” said the metro area’s recovery from a decade ago is the best among the 100 housing markets it examined. Counties to the north, south and even east of Denver are showing strong recovery rates, while the rebound on the Western Slope is spottier, with median prices in most areas still below their old highs. In metro Denver, home prices have shot up 50.5 percent from the pre-recession high of $237,071, the highest percentage gain of any of the 100 metros. That has allowed individual homes over time to regain their old highs. But incomes in metro Denver are up only 20 percent since the end of the recession, making it harder for buyers to find affordable homes and pushing them further out in their search. Colorado Springs w...