Every homeowner needs to get their yard ready in the spring to prepare for the rest of the year! There are a few things that you can do to help your yard be happy and healthy, and defend itself against weeds and drought:

Prepare your sprinkler system for the summer. This is especially important here in Colorado where the summers can be dry and hot and grass needs more water to thrive. You should prepare your sprinkler system near the end of April or beginning of May to avoid the freezing season and be ready for the dry Colorado summers.

Aerate and fertilize your lawn early in the season. You’ll give your lawn the best opportunity to grow and make fertilizer and watering more effective by allowing access to the roots. In Northern Colorado, hard ground and condensed soil is very common, which makes aeration even more of a priority.

Power rake your lawn to remove leaves and thatch. Dead grass thatch, leaves, and debris can block water and nutrients from reaching the soil, starving the grass of what it needs to survive.  Effective power raking can also remove dead clumps of grass that could harbor snow mold from the Colorado winters.

Overseed bare or thin patches to encourage new growth. This will ensure that you don’t get dirt patches that form in your lawn throughout the year. In general, you shouldn’t have to fill in your entire lawn as in Colorado, spot-seeding with fertilizer is usually enough to kick start growth.
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Check drainage to make sure water doesn’t pool near your home. Standing pools of water can attract bugs like mosquitoes and encourage the growth of mold or mildew on nearby structures. Ensure that your gutters and drainage are working properly to protect your home.

855 Pioneer Dr. Milliken, CO - $339K
This beautiful ranch home in Milliken, CO is located in the Settlers Village ranch. There are upgrades throughout this home! The kitchen and living area are open-concept and spacious with upgraded finishes such as stainless steel appliances, farm sink, and over-sided cabinets. Beautiful landscaped backyard with plenty of space and large rounded patio – perfect for patio furniture and a grill or fire pit!
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The neighborhood is centrally located near schools, shopping centers, and the community recreation center. This home is move-in ready and has everything you would want in a new home!

​205 Muscovey Lane, Johnstown, CO - $410K
stunning home near Pioneer Ridge School. New roof, AC, and furnace! Upgrades include granite countertops, HIVE thermostat, concrete backyard patio, newer paint, and RING security. Meticulously clean, OPEN floorplan, fenced in yard, and MAMMOTH 5-piece Master bedroom area WITH your own gas fireplace. This 2 story home has a private fenced in backyard with large shed, an exterior door that communicates with the garage (a RARE find!), and is located less than 2 blocks to Pioneer Ridge school.

​909 Depot Dr. Milliken CO - $387K
Located on a premium lot backing up to open space this 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom home has been professionally designed to be bright and inviting. The gourmet kitchen features 42" white cabinets, upgraded quartz countertops and stainless appliances. The open concept design is enhanced with hard surface flooring throughout the main level. A tasteful powder room has been added to the main level as well. Additional room for storage and expansion in the unfinished basement. Topping things off is the massive three car tandem garage, which measures in at 875sqft!

123 A Street Ault, CO - $328K
This 3,000 square foot hidden gem of a house was located in Ault, Colorado, about a 20 to 30-minute drive from the epicenter of the nearby booming city of Fort Collins. This house stood out with its incredible price point when it hit the market.
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According to the Fort Collins Board of Realtors, a property with this type of square footage (8,000 square foot lot; 3,000 square foot house floorplan) in the city of Fort Collins would cost a small fortune, while purchasing it in the smaller town of Ault a short distance outside of Fort Collins brings the asking price well below what is considered average for the Northern Colorado real estate market.

​7515 Homestretch Dr. Wellington, CO - $322K
Great 3 bedroom and 3 bathroom home in Wellington Downs. This home is better than new, with unfinished basement space and a kitchen that overlooks the main living area and open plan. The home has a 3-car garage and has quick access to the main Wellington thoroughfare and I-25 for shopping and transportation. This house will make a great next home for you!

1832 36th Ave. Ct. Greeley, CO - Mid $300's
Prime location in Greeley! Has a secluded garage that is oversized – room for up to vehicles plus storage. The upgrades on this property simply can’t be matched. New SS appliances, new windows, solid wood doors, granite, tile, paint, carpet, wood flooring, wood fireplace, built-in grill and more. The house is already prepared for web bar or hot tub installation.

1625 W. Elizabeth Unit L1, Fort Collins, CO - Low $200's
2 bed 1 bath condo centrally located near campus.  This condo is in the middle of all the action and is ready for its next adventure.

2025 & 2027 Abilene Ct. Fort Collins, CO 80525 - Low $500's
This large duplex is close to all of the amenities that one could want in a large Fort Collins home! Located near the intersection of Drake and Timberline, there is grocery shopping less than a mile away with access to food and shopping as well. Only about 10 minute drive from Old Town Fort Collins and the Foothills Shopping Mall.
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10194 W. Dartmouth, Lakewood, CO 80227 - Low $300's
This is a highly sought after townhome in the Pheasant Creek subdivision, priced to sell quickly. The townhome features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathroom, finished basement, energy-efficient double-pane windows and AC. Upgrades include granite countertops tile backsplash and counter seating in the kitchen. Backyard has a fenced patio that opens to a community greenbelt. There is one reserved parking space for the unit, as well as plenty of public parking for additional vehicles. All exterior maintenance, trash, water, and snow removal is covered by the HOA. Amazing property priced to sell, inquire today!

The COVID-19 quarantine has been tough for a lot of small businesses, but it also means that a lot more business is simply being done online. A lot of small businesses aren’t prepared to take leads online the way that they should be, or simply might not have a website that ever gets found by potential customers.

This is where Schure Consulting LLC comes in. A local Fort Collins business, Schure Consulting LLC helps small businesses position their online presence to attract more customers and revenue without the overhead of a large digital agency. Schure Consulting has over 40 local clients across Northern Colorado. Schure Consulting is also involved with local causes in Fort Collins to contribute back to the community.

Whether you need to build a new website or already have a website, Schure Consulting can help your business. Their services include website design and development, online lead generation, search engine optimization, Google AdWords, social media management, and reputation management. The focus of Schure Consulting is on driving online leads through elegant website design and search engine optimization.

For more information or to get a free website consultation, use the contact information below:
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Phone: (970) 305-5940
Email: colan@schureconsulting.com
Website: https://www.schureconsulting.com

Here at Colorado Real Estate Pros, we understand that this is a very difficult time for everyone. We wanted to let everyone know that in addition to being your trusted real estate advisor in Northern Colorado, we are also here to be your friend.

That is the subject of this blog, to help you with ways to stay active and safe during this time, and things that you can do as an individual or small business owner to find financial help.

We all need to make sure that we are keeping ourselves, our families, and others safe during this strange and challenging stretch of social distancing.

Small Business Stimulus FundingWith everything that is going on, we know that the outlook for many small business owners is scary. The recent stimulus bill that was passed is aimed at helping small businesses through this tough time, and if you haven’t applied, it may be worth looking into.

You can find out more information or apply online with the U.S. Small Business Administration here.

The funding could be enough to help your small business actually stay in business, but most of all, allow you to look out for your employees as well.

*Please make sure to perform your due diligence when applying for these loans. The best thing to do is speak to a banker. Bankers are going to be the ones funding the Payment Protection Program loans, and they know the brass tax, as well as the paperwork needed to apply for these loans.

**Please also be on the lookout for scams. Some consider what is going on with the stimulus package to be like the ‘Wild West’ of funding. Everyone wants to make sure to get their part, and as such, there are a lot of scams going on currently.

Use this time for improving yourself and your familyWith the mandates set in place of staying at home and limiting social contact, many of us can feel disconnected and isolated from the world around us. However, we’d like to see it another way: there’s time now – more than ever – to do things that we may not otherwise have time for in the day. There is a massive potential for personal and professional growth!

We may have a bit more free time on our hands with stay-at-home orders, working from home, and no commuting. Use this time to spend more time with your family! One of my good personal friends has made a goal to do something with his family every day that they haven’t done in months (or even years!).

If you are a parent of a school-aged child, you are no doubt trying to home school, while perhaps attempting to work a full or part-time job. This can seem overwhelming, but if you put a good routine into place, it may seem less daunting with some practice.

Play board games, do puzzles, go in the back yard to play catch, or go fishing. Many of these activities we struggle to make the time for, and the little bits of extra time that we have with our families can be used to build lifelong memories.

Personal ImprovementIn addition, it’s a good time to work on yourself personally as well. Been putting off that workout routine that you’ve been planning since New Year’s? Have a hobby or creative project that you haven’t had time for? Do you have long-distance friends or family members you haven’t talked to in a while? Have you wanted to try meditation or yoga to relieve stress and just haven’t found the time?

Taking time for yourself is one of the common tips from successful people on how to improve yourself. This can’t be overstated enough. Using these extra bits of time to focus on projects you’ve been working on or writing down steps to achieve your goals should be a priority right now.

All of these are great ways to use some of the extra time that you have on your hands while also keeping everyone safe.

Please reach out if you need anything. We want to be here for you, and to help you through these challenging times!

Marie Kondo is one of the leading organizing consultants in the world and has set about to help people declutter their lives in every different culture and from a variety of different lifestyles. Here are 5 tips from Ms. Kondo to help get your financial life in order:
 
1. Start by discarding
Many people keep paper copies of all of their account statements, utility bills, and expense receipts. If this is you, there’s a better way to keep all of this in order while also decluttering the area where you keep these documents: the cloud! There are a great amount of cloud storage solutions and apps available to transform your piles of papers into digital files that are easy to organize, making it simple to find the exact document you are looking for in seconds instead of spending great lengths of time sorting through all of the loose papers you have.
 
In addition to moving all of your paper documents online, almost all companies and services offer digital delivery of account statements, prospectuses, trade confirmations, and receipts. Set up all of your different accounts to send you these documents in a paperless format.
 
2. Organize by category
 Spring is when most people try to hunt down and find all of the documents they need to file their taxes, and undoubtedly, we’ve all been in the situation before where we spend an immense amount of time searching for that one last W-2 or tax exemption form that we know is hiding somewhere. Your taxes are a great starting point for organizing by category. Mark a folder for 2020 tax forms and receipts. Throughout the course of the next year, every time you get a tax-related document, you can put it in this folder. When tax time in 2021 comes about, everything will be in one place and easy to find, leaving you in a situation where you aren’t scrambling to find specific forms or documents while brushing up against the tax-filing deadline.
 
Next, we suggest organizing your spending. Examine past bank statements and credit card statements to then organize expenses into categories. If you are tech-savvy, there are a number of online apps that can track your spending by categories (if your bank or credit union does not already offer budgeting software). This will help you determine whether or not your money is being spent on the things that matter most to you and your family.
 
3. Empty your bag or briefcase every day
 This one sounds silly, but doing so can be quite cathartic. This will allow you to begin every day anew by discarding any unneeded papers, immediately uploading any expense receipts to the cloud, or filing any necessary paperwork into your organized folders or bins (for documents that you cannot obtain digital documents). Emptying your bag or briefcase daily (or weekly at the most!) can remove the burden of things piling up or getting lost or forgotten about. Employ this same practice with your daily mail. Recycle junk mail and shred any credit card offers or mail that you don’t intend to keep that might have personal information in it. Place any bills that need to be paid into a folder where they are easily accessible when you have a moment to handle them all at once. If there are any other types of mail that you get that are specific to your needs, create a new folder for that as well and place mail in it appropriately.
 
4. Identify what is truly precious
Take some time to identify what is truly important to you and your family (e.g., life goals). Make sure that each financial decision, from spending to saving and investing, is going to support these important long-term goals. Once again, monitor spending habits and reduce unnecessary expenses in favor of putting money away to make your life goals a reality.
 
5. Designate a place for everything
When decluttering your home or cleaning up on a weekly basis, most people have a designated area for their belongings. Your investments deserve the same type of treatment! Are you taking on the appropriate amount of risk, or are you taking on too much? Does your time horizontally align with your investment allocations? Are the beneficiaries listed on each of your accounts up-to-date? How about your estate plan? Do you have all of the right documents in place (a will, trust, durable power of attorney, medical powers of attorney, etc.)? When was the last time you reviewed these documents with an attorney? Reviewing them regularly will help to make sure your house is in order, and your finances are properly allocated.
 
These 5 Spring Tip from Marie Kondo are a great starting place, but if you’re ready to continue to conversation for how you can get the financial aspect of your life in order, consider meeting with a financial advisor to develop a more detailed and customized plan for your particular lifestyle and long-term goals.

Mortgage Rates Still Very Good!
 
Despite the current state of the stock market and slowing economy due to nationwide health concerns, now remains an excellent time to either buy or sell a home.

According to bankrate.com, one year ago, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate on a home was 4.5%, compared to a 3.7% average mortgage rate just a couple of weeks ago, meaning March of 2020 has been a much better time than March of 2019 for buying or selling a home. In terms of a hard number, this essentially equates to $464.25 in payment each month for every $100,000 you borrow on a national scale. Though some of these numbers may vary slightly depending on your specific home and where you are located in Northern Colorado, if you are in the market to either buy or sell a home, the market remains extremely friendly.
 
Bankrate.com offers a free monthly mortgage rate calculator whose monthly payment estimates are broken down by principal and interest, property taxes, and homeowners insurance. To get as accurate of a calculated monthly mortgage rate as possible, their calculator factors in your credit rating, zip code, and HOA fees. You can also experiment with their mortgage rate calculator, inputting different home prices, down payments, loan terms, and interest rates to see how your monthly payment would change.
 
To experiment with their user-friendly mortgage rate calculator, visit:
https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/mortgages/mortgage-calculator.aspx

As a part of our customer-friendly service, we strongly encourage all of our clients to accompany our expert team during the inspection of a property. You should always feel free to ask the inspector(s) any questions that you may have during the process so that a professional can best educate you on what they are seeing and what you should know. During an inspection, the team at House Call will show you both the good points of a home as well as any concerning elements that the property may have. On top of this, you will be provided with on the spot suggestions for what may require routine maintenance to keep the home in top condition. Once the inspection is complete, you will get a detailed and comprehensive report in the form of a written document for your own records. With the information contained in the report, you can be sure to make a decision on the property with confidence.

Regardless of whether you choose the courteous and detail-oriented people at House Call Home Inspections or not, you should always have a professional home inspection performed to know exactly what you are getting (or not getting) in any particular property. If you are at the point in the home buying process of making a formal offer and a professional inspection hasn’t been completed, you will want to make sure the contract you are getting ready to sign has an inspection contingency in it. This will ensure that either the seller or yourself will employ the services of a reputable home inspection service. If you aren’t satisfied with what an inspection finds, the inspection contingency will allow you to go back to the bargaining table and negotiate a lower price point or agree on repairs prior to officially closing on the property.

House Call Home Inspections is proud to service the pre-purchase home inspection needs of Larimer County, Colorado, which includes the Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, Estes Park, Johnstown, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor, and other smaller communities in the surrounding area.

For more information about House Call Inspections or how to employ their expert services, please use the contact information below:

Phone: (970) 290-9900
Email: kevin@housecallinspections.com
Website:  https://www.housecallinspections.com/

Colorado Real Estate Pros Holiday Party 
The Colorado Real Estate Holiday Party will take place on Sunday, February 16, from 5 – 10 p.m. at Choice City Butcher in Old Town, Fort Collins. One of the focuses at the party will be to raise funds to benefit the Choice City Baseball Drive & Clinic. This will be Choice City Baseball Drive & Clinic’s 4th year of raising funds to help children in the Fort Collins community. The ultimate goal is to raise at least $5,000 to purchase 100 baseball gloves and 100 baseballs to give away to the kids at Realities For Children who are in need. This will enable low-income and needy children the ability to escape some of life’s stressors and simply go outside to play catch as the weather warms up. To donate, please bring cash or checks to the party on February 16. Checks can be made out to our non-profit partner, Be Kind Foco. Thank you in advance!

Coming Soon Properties 
123 A Street, Ault, CO 80610
 
This 3,000 square foot hidden gem of a house is located in Ault, Colorado, about a 20 to 30-minute drive from the epicenter of the nearby booming city of Fort Collins. While this may be a slight drawback to some potential homebuyers who are looking to break into the Northern Colorado real estate market, what should stand out is the incredible price point that this particular property will be hitting the market at. According to the Fort Collins Board of Realtors, a property with this type of square footage (8,000 square foot lot; 3,000 square foot house floorplan) in the city of Fort Collins would cost a small fortune, while purchasing it in the smaller town of Ault a short distance outside of Fort Collins brings the asking price well below what is considered average for the Northern Colorado real estate market. This property is serviced by the Weld RE9 School District, which has received very good marks and is noted as one of the school district’s that has experienced the most growth in Colorado over the past 5 years. However, if the homebuyer doesn’t mind the small commute, their children can opt to attend the region’s notable Poudre School District instead.
 
530 Cherry Ridge Drive, Windsor, CO 80550
 
The Northern Colorado corridor has quickly become one of the most desired places to live in the United States, and more specifically, Fort Collins. Inevitably, however, when homebuyers come looking to secure a house in the Fort Collins area, they are taken aback by the skyrocketing real estate costs associated with some of the properties in the city and have to look to real estate opportunities in neighboring cities across the Front Range. One such city that has a lot to offer is Windsor, a short five to ten-minute drive away from the outskirts of Fort Collins. Because of the close proximity to Fort Collins, homebuyers have the option of sending their children to either Weld RE-4 or Poudre School District programs for education, both of which are lauded for their excellent funding and quality of instruction. By being in the town of Windsor, the potential homebuyer of this property would not only reap the benefits of a lower upfront price tag for the home itself, but they would also enjoy more peace and quiet away from the big city in their personal life.
 
Under Contract Properties 
630 S. Mountain Ave., Eaton, CO 80615
 
This stunning Aspen Meadows Ranch home is located in the small town of Eaton, which rests ten to fifteen minutes outside of the booming city of Fort Collins. This affords the buyer the peace and quiet away from bustling city life while not compromising their ease in accessing the amenities of a nearby big city. This large, 2,700 square foot house was sold at what would be considered a low price point when comparing it to other properties sold in the Northern Colorado region, meaning the buyer received an excellent deal. In addition to the house itself, the buyer received professional landscaping and irrigation detail as well as access to both the Eaton School District RE-2 and the more prestigious Poudre School District in Fort Collins. According to the Fort Collins Board of Realtors, the average property in this area is listed for close to 80 days before being purchased, and because of the excellent deal that the buyer was able to receive, this particular property was on the market for a shorter time than that.
 
1921 Mackinac St., Fort Collins, CO 80524
 
This amazing Dry Creek home is conveniently located in the heart of Fort Collins and went under contract at what would be considered a low to average price point compared to other homes in the Fort Collins area. According to the Fort Collins Board of Realtors, the average sale price for an equivalent home (3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom) in Fort Collins for the month of January was hovering right around $465,000. This particular 1,700 square foot house went under contract slightly below that number, saving the buyer some money. In addition to its highly desired location in the city of Fort Collins, this home is serviced by the award-winning Poudre School District, and is located not far from the historic Old Town of the city, an attraction that many patrons travel long distances to experience. This property is also surrounded by numerous well-maintained and beautiful parks and nature trails.
 
Closed Properties 
4740 S. Tabor St., Morrison, CO 80465
 
This charming 1,800 square foot (with a total lot size close to 5,400 square feet) house sold for just under what the Fort Collins Board of Realtors considers to be “average” for this region when looking at all of the sales data for the area from 2019, meaning the buyer/investor closed on a very good deal. This particular property is located in the foothills/mountain town of Morrison, which is a short ten to fifteen-minute drive outside of the Denver area suburbs. The property itself features a lovely living room area, an island-filled kitchen, 3 Bedrooms, and 1.75 Bathrooms with a 2-car garage and a service door. It’s Morrison location will allow its new tenants ease of access to Red Rocks Amphitheater, Bandimere Speedway, gorgeous hiking trails, multiple golf courses, and endless breathtaking views of the beautiful surrounding Rocky Mountains. The property is serviced by Jefferson County School District.

Featured Business – Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory originally opened its doors in 1981 in the small and charming Colorado town of Durango. Since then, the company has opened over 350 stores across the United States, making it the largest chocolate store chain in the nation, as well as being rated the number one candy franchise by Entrepreneur’s publication, “Franchise 500”, several years in a row. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has become well-known for their wide selection of gourmet chocolates, caramel apples, and a variety of fudge, which are all made in-house every day with only the freshest and finest ingredients to be found.
 
When you visit one of our many locations, you’ll also find plenty of freshly packaged candies and chocolates in upscale boxes or bags, making them perfect for gift giving, holidays, and other special occasions. If there are any products that you find in-store during your visit (like our world-famous caramel apples) that you would like to give as a gift, we would be more than happy to package them for you to your liking.
 
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is also committed to making the lives of those in our many communities better. One of the many mays that we do this is with chocolate donations to philanthropic organizations and to community events. Because our local Durango, Colorado community helped us to grow when we just started so many years ago, we’ve always believed in returning the favor in every community that a new franchise is opened. To seek a chocolate donation for your organization or community event, please contact your local Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. As we like to say, our franchises are your friends, neighbors, and small business owners in your community!

Replace filters in your furnace
This is a must-do every month to keep your home from accumulating dust and other microscopic debris as quickly. This will also help to keep your carpets, curtains, and other fabrics looking cleaner and more presentable.
 
Give Your Home a Safety Inspection
Spring cleaning is the perfect opportunity to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you don’t own a fire extinguisher, this is a good time to make the investment, learn how to use it, and install it in the kitchen or mudroom.
 
Bathroom Maintenance
Go through your medicine cabinets and safely discard any outdated products. This is a good time to also replace any worn bath mats, shower curtains/liners, or wash and dry current shower curtains/liners.
 
Kitchen Maintenance
Take time to clear out your pantry, kitchen cabinets, and drawers. During this process, wipe them down and install fresh shelf or drawer paper. Store or donate all of the equipment that you haven’t used in the past year, discard stale spices or dated items such as baking powder. This is also a good time to clean out the refrigerator and freezer, making sure to vacuum the cooling coils under or behind your refrigerator unit.
 
Wash Your Windows
A lot of people don’t know this, but you will want to wash your windows on a cloudy day as sunlight causes cleaning solution to dry too quickly, creating streaks that are not desirable for presentation.
 
Bedroom Maintenance
Many never do this, but once per year, you will want to rotate and flip the mattresses in your bedrooms so they don’t begin to sag and look old or worn. Take this time to also wash the comforters, mattress pads, bed skirts, and pillows. If you opt to wash these items yourself, the best way to dry them is via hanging them outside in the fresh air.
 
Dust Light Fixtures
Use a microfiber or lint-free cloth to dust fixtures and bulbs that you can reach. For ceiling fans, skip using a ladder and invest in an extendable duster. To clean grimy bulbs, lightly dampen your washcloth with vinegar. Be sure that each bulb being cleaned is cool to the touch and your hands are dry.
 
Clean Under Furniture and Appliances
Move your couch(es) and chairs, roll up area rugs, then vacuum the floors. You will also want to move your kitchen appliances (such as your oven and refrigerator) away from there normal resting spots as far as you can. Sweep, scrub, and vacuum as needed before replacing them to their original locations.
 
Scrub Overlooked Surfaces
There are many surfaces that are overlooked on a daily basis, but are extremely important to the presentation of your home. Once per year, you should give your baseboards, doorframes, and even your walls a good washing. This can be done with a sponge and a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water.
 
Deep Clean Your Carpets
Many don’t know this, but in order to maintain your carpet’s warranty from when it was purchased, you must professionally clean it once every 12-18 months (depending on the vendor where you originally purchased it from). Springtime is an excellent time of year to have this done, but even if your warranty has voided, you will want to rent a deep cleaner and treat your carpet yourself as this has a greater impact on your home’s presentation than you think.

Just listed properties
1921 Mackinac St., Fort Collins, CO 80524
This amazing Dry Creek home is conveniently located in the heart of Fort Collins and hits the real estate market at what would be considered a low to average price compared to other homes in the Northern Colorado region. This particular house offers 3 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms to partially fill out the close to 1,700 square feet it has. The main floor is open and provides clean sight lines throughout the living area and the kitchen, allowing potential homebuyers to keep an eye on their family. All three bedrooms and the laundry area are located upstairs, and each room is quite comfortable and have plenty of windows to provide natural sunlight into the house. 

This property is serviced by the esteemed Poudre School District, which is known for being one of the country’s top public education providers. The schools closest to this property are Laurel Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, and Fort Collins High School, though Poudre School District is a “school-of-choice” program, so tenants can select another school if they desire.

Not far from this property is one of Fort Collins’ greatest attractions: their Historic Old Town. In Old Town, potential tenants would be able to enjoy countless unique dining experiences, many of the region’s most esteemed breweries, entertainment in the form of art galleries, theaters, street performers, fountain parks, and ice skating during the winter months. In addition to all of these desirable attractions, Fort Collins’ Historic Old Town provides shopping of all kinds and for all audiences.

630 S. Mountain Ave., Eaton, CO 80615
This stunning Aspen Meadows Ranch home is located in the small town of Eaton, which rests ten to fifteen minutes outside of the booming city of Fort Collins. Not only does this afford the potential homebuyer the peace and quiet away from bustling city life while not compromising one’s ease in accessing the amenities of a big city, it also allows the immense 2,700 square foot home to be listed in what would be considered the low price range for the Northern Colorado area. This particular home is elegantly built and offers the potential homebuyer 3 full Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms. The interior of the house has an open floor plan to provide plenty of space for its occupants, and the exterior of the house is crafted in stunning fashion. Surrounding the house, the sellers have employed professional landscaping, which includes backyard irrigation and finely built concrete edging.

This property is serviced by Eaton School District RE-2, which is known for its quality programs and smaller class sizes, ensuring more one-on-one instructional time for students and higher levels of success when measured by graduation rates. The schools nearest to this home are Benjamin Eaton Elementary School, Eaton Elementary School, Eaton Middle School, Highland Middle School, and Eaton High School. If the potential homebuyer would like to sign their children up for the more popular Poudre School District in Fort Collins, they have this option available to them as well.

A short ten to fifteen-minute drive to the west of this property, the potential homebuyer will find the city of Fort Collins, which offers all of the amenities in terms of eating, shopping, and entertainment that one could desire. Though if one wanted to stay in the area, the city of Eaton does feature several restaurants, coffeeshops, a grocery store, and a few shopping destinations.

Just sold properties
35 Winnebago Ct., Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
The Red Feather Lakes area of Northern Colorado sits twenty to thirty minutes north of the city of Fort Collins. It is a highly desired destination for homebuyers because of its ease of access to outdoor activities such as fishing and hiking, as well as its relative closeness to downtown Fort Collins. This particular 1,600 square foot property came with a 10-acre lot and was originally built in 1994. The home sold for what would be considered a low to mid-price point for the Northern Colorado market, meaning the buyer received a fantastic deal. The property is serviced by the nearby, and highly-touted Poudre School District, with Red Feather Lakes Elementary School, Cache la Poudre Middle School, and Poudre High School being the primary institutions for attendance.

Show Shine is a fantastic vehicle detail shop located in Windsor, but regularly services customers located in the Fort Collins area as well.
 
At Show Shine, they truly understand how much of an investment your vehicle is to you, be it a car, truck, boat, or RV, and take a great deal of pride in the work they do. They provide services such as ceramic coating, window tinting, auto detailing, and RV & boat service. With over 30 years of experience and work in the auto industry, their team of friendly technicians and mechanics possess the knowledge and skills to take care of whatever needs you may have for your vehicle.
 
Though the people at Show Shine provide a wide variety of services for your vehicle, one of the areas that they specialize in and remain one of Northern Colorado’s premiere experts at is ceramic coating. When they first hear about it, a lot of customers wonder: ‘What is ceramic coating?’ and ‘Why do I need it?’ Simply put, ceramic coating protects your vehicle from damage such as rock chips, door dings, and other types of scratches or deficiencies. Show Shine experts have spent several years testing, trying, and perfecting their coating products and have partnered with the Duraslic company to provide the highest quality product that is available on the market today. Where traditional ceramic coatings usually consist of one primary coat, the people at Show Shine want to make sure their customers leave satisfied and opt to go the extra effort to apply three layers of protection without compromising the exterior aesthetic appeal of your vehicle.
 
Another service that the experts at Show Shine provide clientele is auto detailing. Whether you are looking for stain removal, dashboard revitalization, leather reconditioning, or interior shampoo and cleaning services, Show Shine will not let you leave until you are satisfied. In addition to all of the detailing that they can provide for the interior of your vehicle, they also regularly provide services such as scratch repair, paint correction, and washing for the exterior of your vehicle as well.
Though customers primarily come to Show Shine with their cars and trucks, few realize that they can also service boats and RVs as well.
 
Show Shine founder and owner, Ryan Kirkpatrick, has been living in Colorado for close to 30 years, and is proud to call the communities of Northern Colorado home. If you get the chance to meet him, you’ll discover just how passionate he is about not only servicing whatever vehicle needs you have, but also in providing quality customer service that rivals – if not beats – anybody else’s in the region. He truly understands that customer satisfaction is at the heart of what keeps Show Shine’s doors open.
 
So next time you are thinking of having any detail work done on your vehicle, give Show Shine a call at 970-324-0141; you won’t be disappointed.
 
To learn more about the people at Show Shine or the services that they provide, please visit their website at https://www.showshinedetailco.net/.

Just listed properties
 
1921 Mackinac St., Fort Collins, CO 80524
This amazing Dry Creek home is conveniently located in the heart of Fort Collins and hits the real estate market at what would be considered a low to average price compared to other homes in the Northern Colorado region. This particular house offers 3 Bedrooms and 3 Bathrooms to partially fill out the close to 1,700 square feet it has. The main floor is open and provides clean sight lines throughout the living area and the kitchen, allowing potential homebuyers to keep an eye on their family. All three bedrooms and the laundry area are located upstairs, and each room is quite comfortable and have plenty of windows to provide natural sunlight into the house.
 
This property is serviced by the esteemed Poudre School District, which is known for being one of the country’s top public education providers. The schools closest to this property are Laurel Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, and Fort Collins High School, though Poudre School District is a “school-of-choice” program, so tenants can select another school if they desire.
 
Not far from this property is one of Fort Collins’ greatest attractions: their Historic Old Town. In Old Town, potential tenants would be able to enjoy countless unique dining experiences, many of the region’s most esteemed breweries, entertainment in the form of art galleries, theaters, street performers, fountain parks, and ice skating during the winter months. In addition to all of these desirable attractions, Fort Collins’ Historic Old Town provides shopping of all kinds and for all audiences.
 
630 S. Mountain Ave., Eaton, CO 80615
This stunning Aspen Meadows Ranch home is located in the small town of Eaton, which rests ten to fifteen minutes outside of the booming city of Fort Collins. Not only does this afford the potential homebuyer the peace and quiet away from bustling city life while not compromising one’s ease in accessing the amenities of a big city, it also allows the immense 2,700 square foot home to be listed in what would be considered the low price range for the Northern Colorado area. This particular home is elegantly built and offers the potential homebuyer 3 full Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms. The interior of the house has an open floor plan to provide plenty of space for its occupants, and the exterior of the house is crafted in stunning fashion. Surrounding the house, the sellers have employed professional landscaping, which includes backyard irrigation and finely built concrete edging.
 
This property is serviced by Eaton School District RE-2, which is known for its quality programs and smaller class sizes, ensuring more one-on-one instructional time for students and higher levels of success when measured by graduation rates. The schools nearest to this home are Benjamin Eaton Elementary School, Eaton Elementary School, Eaton Middle School, Highland Middle School, and Eaton High School. If the potential homebuyer would like to sign their children up for the more popular Poudre School District in Fort Collins, they have this option available to them as well.
 
A short ten to fifteen-minute drive to the west of this property, the potential homebuyer will find the city of Fort Collins, which offers all of the amenities in terms of eating, shopping, and entertainment that one could desire. Though if one wanted to stay in the area, the city of Eaton does feature several restaurants, coffeeshops, a grocery store, and a few shopping destinations.
 
Just sold properties
 
35 Winnebago Ct., Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
The Red Feather Lakes area of Northern Colorado sits twenty to thirty minutes north of the city of Fort Collins. It is a highly desired destination for homebuyers because of its ease of access to outdoor activities such as fishing and hiking, as well as its relative closeness to downtown Fort Collins. This particular 1,600 square foot property came with a 10-acre lot and was originally built in 1994. The home sold for what would be considered a low to mid-price point for the Northern Colorado market, meaning the buyer received a fantastic deal. The property is serviced by the nearby, and highly-touted Poudre School District, with Red Feather Lakes Elementary School, Cache la Poudre Middle School, and Poudre High School being the primary institutions for attendance.

Gardens of Lights at The Gardens on Spring Creek
Garden of Lights is expanded and enhanced in 2019! As one of Northern Colorado's best holiday traditions, stroll through the whimsically decorated and twinkling Gardens lit by hundreds of thousands of LED lights at the Gardens on Spring Creek. With a route that has doubled in size, you will be able to see perennial flower beds, huge sculptural flowers, grapevines, butterflies, holiday village, and other favorite garden creatures—all constructed entirely from holiday lights. New and not to miss this year is an animated Color Blossom Show will light up the Great Lawn at The Gardens. 700 lighted blossoms will dance along the lawn, adding a new spectrum of vibrant colors and movement to the show. Opportunities to visit with Santa, listen to holiday music, enjoy holiday reindeer and magical dog troupes, along with other new discoveries are sure to bring the spirit of the holidays to your family.
Dates: December 13, 2019 - December 29, 2019
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Location: The Gardens at Spring Creek 2145 Centre Avenue
Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Price: Adults-$11; Seniors 65+/Military-$9; Child (2-17)-$8; Student w/ID-$8
 
Celebrations of Nativities and Light
Every other year Global Village Museum showcases narratives from around the world. This exhibit showcases different cultures interpretations and representations of Jesus Christ’s birth. Included in this exhibit is also a unique festival of lights from around the world.
 
Dates: November 19, 2019 - February 22, 2020
Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Location: Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures 200 West Mountain Ave.
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: Adults $5, Seniors/Students $3, Youth $1
 
Game Changers
Come discover how innovation has shaped the video game industry in Game Changers, a special exhibition now open in the Woodward Special Exhibition Gallery at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Game Changers takes you on a fascinating journey, exploring the past and uncovering the future of gaming. In this exhibit, you’ll live the video game evolution, from memorable Pong to the photorealistic, immersive games of today. Try your hand at operating a supersized Nintendo controller, play Tetris on a giant Game Boy, test your knowledge of retro video game music, and so much more!
Dates: October 12, 2019 - January 12, 2020
Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Location: Fort Collins Museum of Discovery 408 Mason Court
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $6 GA/$4 for members
 
Old Town Square Skate Rink
Come enjoy the winter season by skating on a synthetic skating surface. Any pair of skates is acceptable, though hockey style skates are the best. The Old Town Square Skate Rink is open regardless of the temperature, although hours of operation are subject to change depending on the weather.
 
Dates: November 27, 2019 - February 1, 2020
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Location: Old Town Square
Price: Free
 
Paul Feris: The Art of Pinball
Faris is an illustrator with over forty years of experience working with arcade pinball and video games. A selection of his popular pinball games—including Evel Knievel, Lost World, Frankenstein, Centaur, and Phantom of the Opera—will be in the gallery along with examples of the artist’s process from sketch to finished game.
 
Dates: November 22, 2019 - January 11, 2020
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Location: Fort Collins Lincoln Center Art Gallery 417 W. Magnolia
Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: Free
 
Santa’s Workshop
Are you looking to capture an unforgettable family moment with Santa? A professional photographer will be available to take photos and a variety of affordable picture packages will be available.
 
Dates: November 27, 2019 - December 24, 2019
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Location: Old Town Square
Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Price: Free
 
Skate the Pond
Skate, gather, and celebrate at The Pond this winter! Bring your skates (or rent a pair at The Skate Shack) and hit the ice on Northern Colorado’s Largest outdoor rink.
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Dates: November 22, 2019 - February 14, 2020
Recurrence: Recurring daily
Location: Foothills 215 East Foothills Parkway

Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch Tour Center & Biergarten
Witness and experience the magic of thousands of lights during Brewery Lights. Come visit the brewery and see how it has been transformed to fit a holiday theme. This family-friendly tour includes a Kid’s Zone for youngsters to stay entertained while you sample some of our newest batches.
 
Dates: November 15, 2019 - December 29, 2019
Recurrence: Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday
Location: Anheuser-Busch Tour Center 2351 Busch Drive
Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Price: Free

If you’re looking to get a mortgage, rates right now are quite low and have been for a while. For those looking to purchase or refinance, you couldn’t be doing it in a better rate environment. The Federal Reserve has held interest rates at close to zero for a long time now. This is good for those that are looking to make big purchases because it means the cost of getting a loan is comparatively lower. In short, the policy of low short-term interest rates has helped keep mortgage rates low.
 
Although it is a perfect time to purchase or refinance a home, there’s always a flip side to the coin. If the cost of borrowing is lower, it means interest rates on investments aren’t as high. Investors don’t get as much back for what they put in. The point of this mini economics lesson is that soon, the Federal Reserve is expected to swing the pendulum back in favor of investment. When it does, interest rates (likely including those for mortgages) will go up. The Fed doesn’t tend to make very many proclamations on the future in advance of their decisions, so why do we think this is coming soon? There are a few reasons:
 
Words Have Power
The Federal Open Market Committee makes rate decisions. This committee meets eight times a year. After each meeting, they put out a press release. Investors have always parsed this release for any little clue it might bring as to what the Fed plans to do next. They’re usually stymied because the Fed doesn’t like to talk about what its members are thinking ahead of time. After all, the Fed is very dependent on economic data to determine the right time to make a move. It’s often impossible to predict what’s going to happen because economic reports can be very volatile. However, investors think they got a massive clue in the most recent press release when they said: “In determining whether it will be appropriate to raise the target range at its next meeting, the Committee will assess progress – both realized and expected – toward its objectives of maximum employment and two percent inflation.”
The words ‘at its next meeting’ are important because they tell us a January rate hike is under serious consideration. The Fed isn’t generally this explicit. When they are, economists sit up and pay attention.

Employment Report
On the first Friday of every month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the employment situation report (often referred to simply as the jobs report). This is among the most heavily watched economic reports because jobs are a crucial barometer for the health of the economy. December’s jobs report came back better than expected. In short, 271,000 jobs were added to the economy in October. For context, this is 31,000 higher than Econoday’s highest estimates. The unemployment rate also fell to 5.0%. This could be the thing that finally pushes the Fed to raise interest rates soon.
 
Lock It In
So what does all this mean for those in the market to purchase or refinance? Rates aren’t going get any better than they are right now and are likely to climb soon. If I saw a price I liked, I would jump on it and lock it in now while I had the chance.

There are several reasons to consider investing in Fort Collins real estate. Fort Collins real estate has a track record of being one of the best long-term investments in the nation. Is Fort Collins going to be one of the hottest real estate markets for investors in 2020? To answer this question, let’s take a look at some of the latest Fort Collins housing market trends and find out the prospects of investing in Fort Collins real estate in 2020.

Fort Collins Real Estate Market Forecasts 2019 & 2020
The median home value in Fort Collins is $390,400 on Zillow. Fort Collins home values have gone up 3.6% over the past year, and Zillow’s Fort Collins real estate market prediction is that the prices will rise 2.0% in 2020. The median list price per square foot in Fort Collins is $250, which is higher than the Fort Collins Metro average of $246. The median price of homes currently listed in Fort Collins is $429,900 while the median price of homes that sold is $391,500. The median rent price in Fort Collins is $1,795, which is the same as the Fort Collins Metro median of $1,795.
According to LittleBigHomes.com, the Fort Collins real estate market forecast for the 12 months ending with the 3rd Quarter of 2019 is positive. Their accuracy of the Fort Collins real estate market trend prediction is 85%. Accordingly, they estimate that the probability of rising home prices in Fort Collins is 85% during this period. If this Housing Market Forecast is correct, home prices will be higher in the 3rd Quarter of 2020 than they were in the 3rd Quarter of 2019.

Fort Collins Housing Market Forecast 2019-2021
The Fort Collins housing market forecast for the three years ending with the 3rd Quarter of 2021 is also positive. The accuracy of the Fort Collins housing market trend prediction is 79%. Accordingly, we estimate that the probability of rising home prices in Fort Collins is 79% during this period. If this Housing Market Forecast is correct, home values will be higher in the 3rd Quarter of 2021 than they were in the 3rd Quarter of 2019.

Fort Collins Real Estate Market Trends
Fort Collins real estate market trends indicate an increase of $8,500 (2%) in median home sales and a -1% drop in median rent per month over the past year. The average price per square foot for this same period rose to $260, up from $247.
Data by Redfin shows that the Fort Collins housing market is very competitive. Homes in Fort Collins receive one offer on average and sell in around 35 days. The average sale price of a home in Fort Collins was $406K in November, up 4.7% since last year. The average sale price per square foot in Fort Collins is $190, down 1.0% since last year.
There are approximately 1,135 homes for sale in Fort Collins, ranging from $1 to $28.8M on Realtor.com. Additionally, there are 228 Fort Collins rental properties, with a range of $575 to $3.5K per month. In May of 2019, the housing market in Fort Collins was a seller’s market, which means there were roughly more buyers than there were active homes for sale.

Should You Invest In Fort Collins Real Estate In 2020?
Investing in Fort Collins real estate will fetch you good returns in the long run as the home prices in Fort Collins have been trending up 1.5% every year. Let’s take a look at the number of positive things going on in the Fort Collins real estate market, which can help investors who are keen to buy an investment property in this city.

1. It Has All the Advantages of Denver without the Problems
Fort Collins is a short distance north of Denver. When you’re sitting on the front range, there’s more flat land to build on; this explains why the Fort Collins real estate market doesn’t see the same insane bidding wars as Denver.
If you’re considering Fort Collins investment properties, know that it is like a small town but with all the urban amenities like nearby hospitals and excellent public schools.

2. Fort Collins Real Estate is More Affordable
The median rent in Denver is 2,200 dollars a month. The median rent in Fort Collins is around 1,900 dollars a month. This means Fort Collins real estate investment properties have a good return on the investment, and the ROI will likely increase along with demand in the Fort Collins real estate market.

3. It Is Growing at a Healthy Rate
The Fort Collins real estate market has seen steady appreciation because the population itself is growing slowly but steadily. The population has been growing at roughly two percent per year. This causes the Fort Collins real estate market to appreciate at a slightly faster rate, but the Fort Collins housing market isn’t so hot that locals are priced out.

4. The Job Market Is Strong
Fort Collins has more jobs than job-seekers. There is a modest skills gap between the high-tech jobs local employers need filled and the many lower-skilled graduates in the area. Ironically, this keeps the Fort Collins real estate market in check because salaries aren’t spiraling up like Silicon Valley or Silicon Prairie.

It’s not much of a secret that home prices in Fort Collins have been on the rise over the last couple of years. While finding affordable housing has become more difficult, it isn’t impossible. Fort Collins has assistance programs that can help buyers to get into a home and interest rates are still very low.

But an alternate strategy this time of year is to look outside of Fort Collins in the surrounding areas. The zones around the city of Fort Collins have been growing. With as much growth as Fort Collins has seen over the last five years, the city is beginning to develop “mini suburbs,” if you will.

This article posted by the Coloradoan shows how the median single-family home prices compare between Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Wellington, and Timnath. Homes in Fort Collins and Timnath top the charts at $375K and $425K respectively in 2016.

Let’s talk about the other choices.

Windsor is a great option for those looking around Fort Collins. It’s only about 15 to 20 minutes from either Old Town Fort Collins or the southeast tech corridor, which makes it a perfect place to look. Home prices in Windsor are slightly cheaper right now than those in Timnath and Fort Collins, coming in right around $360K. Not only is it slightly cheaper, but Windsor offers many of the same amenities of the city without feeling too crowded or congested, and homes were actually cheaper in 2016 than they were in 2015.

Another option is Wellington, which is not only growing, but it is growing FAST. The median home price for single-family homes is about $312K – which is up from $281K in 2015. However, there is a large influx of new condos and townhomes in Wellington that are as nice – if not nicer – than any you might find in Fort Collins. New townhomes in Wellington are comparable with existing townhomes in Fort Collins.

Finally, Loveland is also another go-to area for home buyers who are looking in Northern Colorado. The median single-family home prices are up 14% from 2015, but still around $50K less than Fort Collins and $35K cheaper than Windsor. Of course, it is a little bit longer of a commute if you are working in the Choice City, but the savings on your home price more than make up for it if you don’t mind a 20 minute drive.
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​To learn more about listing your home or your home buying options in Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Greeley, Windsor, and throughout Northern Colorado, call me at 970-342-3568 or visit www.coloradorepros.com today.

Colorado Real Estate Pros
6407 Compton Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-342-3568
 
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