HOME and REAL ESTATE News, Homes for Sale, Rentals, Home Improvement, Lawn and Garden
GREEN GIFTS for warmer weather
Quick Guide and Featured Open Homes Looking for a home? View comprehensive listings of local open houses taking place this weekend from all across the area. December 11, 2021
Part 2 - Gift of a Lifetime for First-Time Home Buyers An interest rate or mortgage buydown is a way to gift a first time home buyer with long-term monthly savings. At Home Northern Colorado
How to Brighten Up Your Home’s Lighting When the sun starts disappearing earlier, you may start looking for ways to keep your interiors feeling bright and cozy. ATHOMECOLORADO.COM
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REAL ESTATE MATTERS COLORADO HOME AND REAL ESTATE
Heir considers using online tools to determine valuation of inherited property
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Adam Goldsteirn Jeff Ostrowski lyce Glink Samuel J. Tamkin Cathy Hobbs Duane Duggan Paul F. P. Pogue
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
Thais Hafer Toni McNeill
EDITOR/FEATURES COORDINATOR Misty Kaiser
At Home is an Advertising Feature published by the Loveland Reporter-Herald and Greeley Tribune. ©2020 Prairie Mountain Media.
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At Home welcomes news from the local community on real estate/home tips, events, hirings, advancements, awards, community involvement and other information of interest to the Boulder County and Northern Colorado areas. Submitted items should be non-promotional in tone. Visit AtHomeColorado.com/ Submit-Your-News.
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To advertise in At Home contact Thais Hafer at 303.473.1456, Toni McNeil at 303.684.5329, or visit AtHomeColorado.com/Advertise To submit a virtual home listing, visit openhomes.athomecolorado.com
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Ilyce Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin, Tribune Content Agency Q : My dad purchased an investment property in 2006 for $150,000. He put my name as joint owner with him. His intent was for me to become the sole owner of the property after his death. He died late last year. Prior to his death, he managed the property and did everything that had to do with the property. He took all the tax benefits and tax deductions having to do with it. When he bought the property, he and I took out a mortgage, but the lender used his credit only to approve the loan. I have never reported anything in my tax return having to do with the property. With his death, I inherited his share of the property and am now the sole owner. Do I need to get an appraisal for the home, or can I use online tools to figure out what it’s worth? Many online websites show the home’s value at around $130,000. Can I use that value to set the value of the home when I sell it down the line? Do I only get 50% of step-up value? I’d appreciate any information you can provide on this issue that can give me some insight into the tax issues involved. A : First, please accept our condolences on the loss of your father. If you’ve read some of our past columns, you know that we are not fans of how your father set up his financial affairs with regard to this property. As a general rule, we don’t think parents should put real estate in their children’s names (even if they share ownership) solely for estate planning purposes. Let’s dive into specifics: You and your dad purchased the property for $150,000. Even though your dad took all the tax benefits on the property, his share of the property when he purchased it was worth $75,000. Your share was worth the same. Your dad used the property as an investment property and received rents from the tenants, spent
money on repairs and depreciated the property on his income tax returns. When your dad depreciated the property, his basis for income tax purposes went down. If you and he had sold the property, he would owe tax on the depreciation he took over the years. When he died, you inherited his 50% share of the property at its stepped-up basis. What does that mean? You inherit his share of the property at its value at the time your dad died. That’s generally a good thing, especially if the property in question has risen in value. If you inherit the property at a higher value, you only owe taxes on the increase in value from the date your dad died. If you sell your dad’s property within a year or so of his death, the sale price will set the value for the property, so you wouldn’t pay tax on the sale of his share. However, if you sold at a price point higher than the purchase price you might owe tax on your share of the profits. What happens if, as you suspect, the property is worth less than the purchase price? If your share is worth $75,000 and you inherited your dad’s share at around the same amount, and if you sell it within a year of your dad’s passing, you’re likely not going to have to pay the federal government any taxes on that sale. (Neither income taxes nor capital gains taxes should be due.) On the other hand, if the value of the property has decreased, you won’t get the benefit of a stepped-up basis but, rather, a stepped-down basis. In other words, you would inherit your dad’s half of the property at a lower valuation. If you keep the property for another 10 years and the value suddenly skyrockets, you might pay more in tax (because you’ll pay the difference between the inherited value -- the steppeddown value -- and the current sales price, whenever that is). For this reason, if you are not selling the property anytime soon, you’d want to get somebody to tell you that the property’s value is as high
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as possible so that when you do sell down the road, you will pay taxes on the difference between the stepped up value and the sales price of the home. While several online websites show values, we caution readers to take those values with a grain of salt. We’ve seen values fluctuate wildly at times and we’ve seen firsthand how off base some of those valuations can be. Your best bet is to talk to some good real estate professionals in your area to get a sense of what the property is worth. There are several other tax issues and questions that could play a part in any decision you make about the property. So talk to your accountant, tax preparer or real estate attorney to go over your inheritance, the stepped-up or stepped-down basis and how to handle the property from a tax perspective, given that even though you owned the property since it was purchased you didn’t take any deductions or depreciation. In terms of valuation, talk to several real estate agents or brokers who are active in the area where the property is located and ask them to provide a written comparative market analysis for the property. The valuation you receive plus advice from your tax preparer or attorney will help determine your next steps. (Ilyce Glink is the author of “100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask” (4th Edition). She is also the CEO of Best Money Moves, an app that employers provide to employees to measure and dial down financial stress. Samuel J. Tamkin is a Chicago-based real estate attorney. Contact Ilyce and Sam through their website, bestmoneymoves. com.) (C)2021 Ilyce R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. December 11, 2021
REAL ESTATE
Part 2 - Gift of a lifetime for first-time home buyers
The holiday season is upon us and you may be thinking BY DUANE about finding DUGGAN a special or Realtor and Author unique gift your RE/MAX of Boulder family member or loved one could use for years to come. In my previous article entitled, “Part 1 – Gift of a Lifetime for First-Time Home Buyers,” I discussed gifting down payment funds or First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account (FHSA) contributions to first-time buyers to help purchase their new home. In this article, I will discuss another way you can help a home buyer. Even though the interest rates on home mortgages are historically low and very attractive, they are rising. As interest rates rise, a homebuyer’s
purchasing power is reduced. An exceptional gift idea is helping your relative or loved one with an interest rate or mortgage buydown. Buying down an interest rate means buying points, which then lowers the interest rate, resulting in a lower monthly mortgage payment. This can make the difference between whether a buyer can afford a home or not -- and in the case of a permanent mortgage buydown, it can mean savings in monthly mortgage payments for years. The longer the new homeowner is planning on staying in the home, the more the longterm mortgage savings there will be. There are a variety of mortgage buydowns, but I want to touch on the 3-2-1 temporary buydown as well as the permanent mortgage buydown. Market forces do apply here, so be sure to consult your
BUYING * SELLING * INVESTING
mortgage lender for availability and pricing. A 3-2-1 temporary buydown is simply that. You pay more at the closing to reduce the mortgage rate over the first three years of the repayment term. The rate will be reduced by 3% under the locked-in rate the first year, 2% lower the second year, and 1% lower the third year. For example, if the market interest rate is 6%, the rate would be 3% the first year, 4% the second year, 5% the third year, and 6% for the remaining 27 years. This can really help someone get into a home who is anticipating pay raises as they advance in their career. The pricing for a mortgage buydown like this is usually just the difference from what the payment should be and what the amount of the payment actually being made is. The permanent mortgage buydown could be very beneficial to a homebuyer that is planning on staying in their home for several years. This type of buydown entails buying points for the entire life of the loan. Mortgage buy-down pricing is market driven so a mortgage lender needs to be consulted for today’s pricing. However, buy-down pricing might look something like this: • Interest rate of 6.25% – 0 par rate • 6.125% – 0.25% of loan amount to buy the rate to 6.125% • 6% – 0.50% of loan amount
to buy the rate to 6% • 5.875% – 1% of loan amount to buy the rate to 5.875% • 5.75% – 1.75% of loan amount to buy the rate to 5.75% On a $400,000 mortgage, the numbers would be as follows: • $400,000 loan, 6.25% interest, monthly payment is $2,462.87 • Pay 1.75% of the $400,000 to buy the rate to 5.75%, creating a monthly payment of $2,334.29 and a monthly savings of $128.58. • 1.75% = $7,000 divided by monthly savings of $128.58= 54 months to stay in the house to break even. In this example, a gift of $7,000 would lower the monthly payment by $128.58, but the true long-term savings every month will accrue once the buyer stays in the home beyond 54 months. Be sure to consult your financial planner, accountant, mortgage loan officer, and Realtor to create a plan that is just right for your situation! Duane has been a Realtor for RE/MAX of Boulder since 1982. Living the life of a Realtor and being immersed in real estate led to the inception of his book, Realtor for Life. For questions, e-mail DuaneDuggan@ boulderco.com, call 303.441.5611 or visit boulderco.com.
There is no place like
For All Of Your Real Estate Needs!
ALICIA STEWART
HOME
For the holidays Here’s to a holiday season filled with warmth, comfort & good cheer!
Owner/Broker 970-599-4661 • kwalicia7@gmail.com
www.REAlicia.com
December 11, 2021
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ROB PROCTOR
Broker/Owner, GRI, SRES®, e-PRO, Realtor At Home Real Estate Company
(970) 481-2133 • www.AtHomeRealEstateCo.com ATHOMECOLORADO.COM
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REAL ESTATE
As home prices soar, FHFA conforming loan limits to rise record 18% for 2022 2022 will rise by the largest percentage ever. For much of the United States, the divide between conforming loans and jumbo mortgages will be $647,200. Since the coronavirus recession began last spring, the housThat’s an 18% ing market has been on fire — inventories are tight, buyer increase from demand is strong and mortgage rates have fallen to record lows. (Chris Delmas/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) this year’s limit of $548,250. In pricey Jeff Ostrowski housing markets — including Bankrate.com(TNS) much of California, all of As home prices continue their record-breaking climb, the Federal New York City, the District of Columbia and the entire states Housing Finance Agency said of Alaska and Hawaii — the this week that loan limits for new limit is $970,800, up from mortgages that can be bought by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in $822,375 in 2021.
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And some markets fall in between. In Colorado’s Boulder County, the new limit for conforming loans is $747,500. In Florida’s Monroe County, home to the Keys, the limit is $710,700. In the Nashville metro area, it’s $694,600. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, said the increase was based on its House Price Index for the third quarter. Since the coronavirus recession began this spring, the housing market has been on fire — inventories are tight, buyer demand is strong and mortgage rates have fallen to record lows. The agency said Tuesday that U.S. house prices rose 18.5% from the third quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021, the fastest appreciation on record. Idaho led the way with a 35.8%
Fun Facts
• Hobbies: I thoroughly enjoy going for a run and training for the occasional half marathon. During the summer my husband and our twins pack up and head to the mountains to spend time hiking and riding dirt bikes. • Favorite Restaurant: I’m a sucker for good Mexican food. • Favorite Quote: “I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from experience that the greater part of our misery depends upon our dispositions and not upon our circumstances.” – Martha Washington • What is something on your bucket list? I have had a dream since I was in High School to go and travel Europe. • Why C3? I knew I wanted C3 Real Estate Solutions to be my home the second I walked in the doors. The owners, agents, and staff at C3 radiate an energy and mindset that focuses on character and community. • Anything else you would like to add: I am excited to work with C3 Real Estate Solutions to provide the best services to you through honesty, enthusiasm, and commitment.
LD
SO
Brick 2-Bedroom Home in Morning Star Village Gas-Log Fireplace and one-floor living Covered Redwood Deck with Pergola
www.1766Park.com
LD
What is the best way to sell your home? Do you want to understand your options? These folks started as a For Sale by Owner. Start Here: www.SecretHomeSellers.com
(Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com.)
C3 Real Estate Solutions Agent Spotlight
301 Shupe In Loveland
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jump in prices, followed by Utah’s 30.3% spike. Rising loan limits let a wider group of borrowers qualify for the loans backed by Fannie and Freddie. Because the market for jumbo loans is smaller than the market for conforming loans, jumbo borrowers might need to shop around a bit more to find a mortgage. “The existing loan limits have made it hard for people in certain parts of the country to take advantage of historicallylow interest rates as prices have risen and both prospective and existing home owners have been able to afford more,” says Jodi Hall, president of Nationwide Mortgage Bankers in Melville, New York.
Natalie Pierson | Realtor® 970.988.8186 | npierson@c3-re.com Bio
Originally a Southern California native, I moved to CO in 2004 after I graduated H.S. My parents and siblings had already made the move to Fort Collins the previous year and I missed my family. Little did I know I would fall in love with the laid-back lifestyle that Colorado offered. I met my husband shortly after I arrived in Fort Collins and we now have boy/girl twins and 2 dogs (Bolivar and Hollie). In my spare time I enjoy running, riding bikes with my kiddos and spending time in the mountains riding dirt bikes as a family. My husband is a Fort Collins native and has successfully taken over owning and operating his family concrete construction business. After working there for the last 8 years doing HR, Safety, DOT, Project Management, and a little Accounting I realized that I truly enjoyed working with and building relationships with our employees and with the general contractors we worked with. I wanted to ensure that no matter what I was doing, I was there to make sure the project was completed successfully and that any help our employees and their families needed I could provide them. I understand the value of hard work and pursuing one’s goals and dreams, whatever that may be. I am excited to work with C3 Real Estate Solutions to provide the best services to you through honesty, enthusiasm, and commitment.
970.225.5152 • C3 Real Estate Solution, LLC.
www.MyColoHome.com 4
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At Home Northern Colorado
December 11, 2021
Weld, Larimer and Boulder Rural Property Specialists for 35 years
14025 N 87 St th
$1,500,000
9 acres with 2-bed, 1-bath home. Upgraded kitchen and bathroom, new paint and roof. Highland Ditch and old-growth trees. Convenient location just minutes from Hygiene, Longmont, hiking, biking and McIntosh Lake.
0 Peak to Peak Highway $100,000 Mountain get away on nearly an acre. No HOA. Easily accessible.
8181 N 41st St Just Sold Custom home with Flatirons views, outbuildings, and irrigation.
8127 Hygiene Rd $995,000 Cute and private ranch house with attached greenhouse, detached garage, trees and water rights on 1.6 acres. December 11, 2021
7852 Scenic Dr $1,625,000 Lovely, remodeled home in coveted Paul Nor Estates, on nearly an acre. Private, shaded, fully fenced yard. At Home Northern Colorado
303.444.3177 klrealty.net team@klrealty.net ATHOMECOLORADO.COM
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COVERPROFILE
GREEN GIFTS for warmer weather Give your favorite homeowner a gift they’ll appreciate long after the holidays are over. By Adam Goldstein for At Home Northern Colorado
The Cub Cadet Mower requires no engine mows up to two acres on a single charge. (Courtesy PVREA) 6
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The holiday season is a perfect time to stock up on powerful, efficient and effective power equipment for anyone on your gift list. That equipment doesn’t have to leave a massive carbon footprint, and it doesn’t have to solely accommodate cold weather. It may be winter, but that doesn’t rule out electric, environmentally friendly machines designed for the summer months as options for the gearhead on your list. Indeed, in addition to the electric snowblowers, heating systems and other tools that are designed for Colorado’s
At Home Northern Colorado
snowiest months, it’s easy to find appliances that will make spring and summer easier and more ecologically sound. The days of lawnmowers, trimmers and even powered bikes that rely on fossil fuels are over; electric, environmentally friendly versions of all these summer machines are often cheaper than their gas-powered counterparts, and they’re sure to make for successful holiday gifts. According to Sam Taggart, spokesman for the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, these machines aren’t only ideal options for their more efficient operations and sleeker designs. They can also save PVRE customers significant money over the long run. December 11, 2021
The Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike gives riders a boost when they need it. (Courtesy PVREA)
The EGO string trimmer features push-button operation. (Courtesy PVREA) “As we tap into more renewable energy resources in the future, your electric appliance has the potential to become even greener. For members looking for environmentally friendly ways to power their lives, choosing electric is an easy solution,” Taggart said. “Whether through electric lawn mowers or electric water heaters, it’s a means to reducing our overall energy costs while helping our environment.” According to Taggart, PVREA and other energy companies across Colorado are finding more and more ways to make energy more cost-efficient and renewable, even as the price of fossil fuels continues to rise. This could translate into direct savings for consumers who opt to plug in their favorite machines, instead of filling them up with gasoline. In terms of machines designed for operation during Colorado’s warmest months, this can also translate into better air quality for residents across the Centennial State. As the risk of fire extends across the year, and as the number of smoggy, hazy days have the chance to increase, December 11, 2021
weaning ourselves off of as many gas-powered appliances as possible could make a real difference. “With the costs of energy dropping for Poudre Valley REA members, made possible after a recent rate decrease, and the costs of combustion fuels rising it makes sense to switch from gas-powered to all-electric,” Taggart said. “Charging your appliances or power equipment during offpeak times can decrease your energy costs even more.” Poudre Valley REA members can explore different rate options through the “My Co-op, My Plan” tool at pvrea.coop/service, Taggart said. No matter which energy company provides the power, electric appliances are great options from a financial and an ecological standpoint. No longer does the renewable, battery-powered mower, blower and trimmer mean less power. Whether you’re shopping for someone who cuts lawns, trims trees or manicures hedges, these machines are an ideal option. Check out some of the best bets for summer-themed electric appliances to the right.
GIFTS to Last the Seasons Cub Cadet Electric ZT 42 Mower $5,499
Cub Cadet’s battery-operated lawn mower is powerful enough to handle large-acre properties and sleek enough to look good on a residential lawn. This four-wheel mower combines sheer force with flexibility, drivability and maneuverability. The ZT mower operates quietly and requires no engine maintenance, no oil changes and no gas, thanks to its 56-volt, 3,000-watt-hour lithium ion battery. The mower can cut up to two acres per charge, and all rides will be comfortable, thanks to a 20-inch, high-backed adjustable seat. What’s more, even the longest, toughest day of mowing and cutting will release no carbon monoxide or hydrocarbons into the atmosphere.
EGO Power Battery String Trimmer $150
Trimming the edges is just as important as mowing the lawn when it comes to keeping your property looking neat in the summer. Thanks to the EGO Power battery trimmer, cutting the edges of your lawn, cleaning up the fence line and keeping the bushes in check no longer means filling up a gas tank. The 15-inch string trimmer includes an easily replaceable string line that feeds into the head of the machine. Operation is as easy as pushing a button, and the trimmer is compatible with all EGO ARC Lithium batteries.
Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0 Step-Through Bike $3,249.99
Specialized’s Turbo Vado Step-Through Bike offers a solution to those looking for a healthy, fun way to get around town without polluting the environment. This rechargeable, battery-powered bicycle offers a bit more kick than your standard two-wheeler, thanks to its specialized 1.2 E motor. The belt-driven motor works with the pedal system to provide a mode of transportation that’s both human-powered and batterypowered. The bike also includes a top-of-the-line display that offers data about distance, motor operation and other stats about any given ride.
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OPEN HOUSES // VIRTUAL TOURS
QUICK GUIDE
LIST YOUR OPEN HOUSE OR VIRTUAL TOUR: VISIT OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM OR CALL 303.473.1456, 303.684.5329
Boulder
Longmont
5468 White Place
1437 Beatrice Ct.
$750,000
$399,000
Sunday 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Saturday 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
Bill Allen
David Wagner CRS, GRI,
RE/MAX of Boulder
Equity Colorado - Front Range
(303) 441-5690
(720) 244-0980
7215 Lookout Rd $760,000 Saturday 11:00 AM-2:00 PM Natasha Hubbard RE/MAX Alliance (303) 909-3810 8
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At Home Northern Colorado
December 11, 2021
DESIGN RECIPES
Creative ways to use the color white Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service (TNS) How do you incorporate white into your home? Can you mix different shades of white in the same space? While to some the color white may seem boring or bland, white can be used creatively and purposefully in a number of ways to make a big impact. From allowing the eye to visually rest to being used to help create a sense of contrast, here are some do’s and don’ts of using the color white.
DO’S
1. Do consider using a monochromatic color scheme using tints, tones and shades of white. 2. Do incorporate pops of white
White on white artwork is paired with a white sofa and white on white textiles. (Scott Gabriel Morris/TNS)
through accessories and accents. 3. Do consider white for anchoring elements such as rugs, sofas and artwork. 4. Do consider white for architectural features such as cabinetry and countertops. 5. Do pair white with darker colors to add a sense of contrast.
White cabinetry and countertops add a sense of timelessness in this modern kitchen. (Handout/TNS)
tones while warm whites have yellower ones. 2. Don’t place white elements in situations in which they may get overly soiled. 3. Don’t blend too many different shades of white in the same space. 4. Don’t be afraid to pair white with deep bold colors such as black, brown and indigo for a sense of contrast. 5. Don’t overlook opportunities
DON’T’S
1. Don’t pair bright white and warm white in the same space. Bright whites tend to have bluer
to use white as an opportunity to bring negative space into a room, which can allow the eye to visually breathe. (Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Awardwinning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs. com.)
OPEN HOUSES OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM OPEN SATURDAY 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM 909 Thornhill Place Fort Collins $415,000 • MLS #955774 3 Beds • 2 Baths • 1116 SF
This charmer has had the same owners since day one and will make an amazing home or investment property. The recent updates are too many to count! With new carpet, paint, lighting, kitchen hardware, LVP, an updated roof, pre-inspection with loads of fixes and as clean as a whistle, you will be able to move in and enjoy all of the cozy and comfortable spaces this home has to offer. Sarah Shiver 970-213-072 sarahs@c3-re.com
OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 1PM-2:30PM 618 Kenosha Ct., Windsor $460,000 • MLS# 956019
Immaculate with loads of updates & thoughtful details! Majority of structure rebuilt in 2008/9: windows, siding, kitchen tile/backsplash/countertops, light fixtures, window blinds, and basement finish. New HW floors, solid wood doors, baseboards, & casing (2021), AC condenser (2020), gas burning fp/ stove (2019), custom pergola (2018), RV parking and gate w/custom flip-up bottom for ease of opening (2020), register covers (2021), high efficiency furnace (2014), stone sink and faucet in kitchen (2018). Won’t last long! Office: 970-330-7700 www.SearsRealEstate.com
LIST YOUR OPEN HOUSE December 11, 2021
Listed by Cathy Cowles 970-302-6623
Hosted by Will Warren 970-581-3211
OPEN SATURDAY 12-3PM 326 Fossil Creek Pkwy, Ft. Collins $775,000 4 Beds • 5 Baths • 5,505 SF Incredible Opportunity to live in popular SE Fort Collins. Near shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreation. 5505 total sq. ft. w/ 5095 finished. NEW Carpet & Paint. Fronts to open space w/ a theater room, main floor primary bed & so much more. John Simmons jsimmons@c3-re.com 970-481-1250
VISIT OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM OR CALL 303.473.1456, 303.684.5329 At Home Northern Colorado
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ASK ANGI
How to brighten up your home’s lighting
A variety of light sources in a room can improve the atmosphere. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Whether you live in a temperate zone, or the sun sets at 4 p.m. come winter, your home’s indoor lighting plays a vital role in your daily comfort and happiness. Here are some tips for lighting your interior for bright, cheery season year-round.
room adds variation and creates a more pleasant ambiance. One primary overhead light will do the trick, though some homeowners find it to be monotonous, and it sometimes overilluminates a space. A good fix? Layering lights. Floor and table lamps are excellent ways to add lighting to a room and enhance your favorite activity, whether it’s gaming or reading.
1. Add diverse lighting The classic solution! Placing two different light sources in a
2. Consider your window treatments Your choice of curtains or
Paul F. P. Pogue Ask Angi (TNS)
window treatments plays a significant role in your home’s feel, even when they’re wide open. Sheer, light-colored curtains can let in more light, block glare and give an airy atmosphere to the room. On the flip side, heavy light-blocking shades will block out nearly all natural light. But even open curtains can curtail your room’s light. If you want blackout options for sleeping, consider shades that you can push all the way up.
3. Install a mirror Sometimes the best lighting tricks don’t even involve lights. For example, adding a mirror to a room will open it up and reflect more light. If you position it across from another mirror, it creates the effect of another window in the room. Hanging one next to an existing light source will kick your room’s light up another notch. Just take care not to place it directly across from a light fixture. Doing say may bounce light around, and your room can feel more like a carnival fun house — and not in a good way. 4. Wash your windows You might be surprised at how much even light seasonal grime will dull your windows and block incoming sunlight. If you wash your windows thoroughly inside and out, you’ll get a boost to sunlight right away. If your house is taller than one story, or your windows are particularly dirty, consider hiring a pro whose expertise can do the job safely and effectively. 5. Add a coat of paint Paint a room with warm colors like yellow, orange, red or white. Avoid bright white walls, which could look dull without natural light. Think about your finishes, too. Satin tends to be best to brighten up a room. Glossy surfaces can cause too much glare, while a matte finish can seem flat and dull. Tweet your home care questions with #AskAngi and we’ll try to answer them in a future column.
Merry Christmas
Loni L. Ferrier
FOR SALE
Realtor®
970-689-1192
loniferrier@comcast.net www.loniferrier.homesandland.com
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At Home Northern Colorado
December 11, 2021
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
The following northern Colorado home sales were supplied by Colorado Weekly Homebuyers List Inc., 303-744-2020. Listed are the buyer, the property address, the seller and the amount.
Ault • Randall Hatfield -- 631 Cimarron Trail, Mark Haverland, $446,000. Berthoud • Justin and Amber Hall -- 114 Indiana Ave., Eldred and Marian Maggi, $320,000. • Chue Vue -- 741 Country Road Trail, Sean Cory Babbs, $367,000. • Jonathan Timms -- 567 Ranchhand Drive, Douglas and Sabrina Owens, $475,000. • Kelly and Erika Sheff -- 326 Lemonade Drive, Sage Homes LLC, $515,100. • Jonathan Chavez -- 225 Ole Bessie Drive, Cb Signature Homes LLC, $552,200. • Tyler and Michaella Bergamo -- 1210 Phipps Lane, David and Kristin Bertsch, $581,000. • Quang Lien -- 261 Capitol Reef St., Artesia Lot Holdings LLC, $615,700. • Dustin and Ashley Hecker -- 1085 Rubinette Lane, Richmond Am Homes Colo Inc, $716,200. • Scott Banzhaf -- 17920 Highlands Court, Cody and Krystal Lehl, $1,475,000. Eaton • Andrew and Katherine Dickinson -425 Apple Court, Farmhouse Properties LLC, $370,000. • Kevin and Caren Blackstone -- 455 Laurel Ave., Juan Ramon Felix, $387,000. • Timothy and Pamela Fetzer -- 242 Settlers Drive, Shaunia Ross, $450,000. • Heather Martin -- 423 S Maple Ave., Miller and Roxanne Olson, $459,000. • Jennifer Hartman -- 14423 County Road 76, Steven and April Frederick, $624,000. • Derrick and Amber Arens -- 1530 Prairie Hawk Road, Eaton Cc Homes LLC, $653,000. Evans • Krystal Yamada -- 3914 Maverick Lane, Off Track 2 LLC, $286,000. • Brenda Gomez -- 4304 Monte Cimone St., Whitney A Shupe, $330,000. • Preston and Sherrie Sowl -- 4216 Paintbrush Drive, Emisael Acosta, $340,000. • Lauriano Ramirez -- 3113 Shady Oaks Drive, Jfr North Point LLC, $352,000. • Ana Guerrero -- 3306 Cody Ave., Adam D Jones, $380,000. • Jesenia Garcia -- 2436 Heather Lane, Lisa A Javernick, $386,100. Greeley • Sarah Lutz -- 1609 12th St., Karen and Trav Hardesty, $274,000.
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• Amanda and Valentin Martinez -- 212 16th Ave. Court, Robert and Angela Sommerfeld, $300,000. • Hilary Wagner -- 6607 W 3rd St. Unit 1020, John and Brissa Bartlett, $305,000. • Kalista Speicher -- 4355 24th St. Road Unit 1603, Tru Grit Noco LLC, $320,900. • Daniel and Richard Eget -- 1224 12th Ave., New Leaf Property Invest LLC, $325,000. • Iris Vega -- 1003 4th St., James Ethan Nesch, $325,000. • Mikial Oster -- 2416 W 14th St., Lesli A Howe, $330,000. • Lauren and Seymour Bucholz -- 1929 23rd Ave. Court, James Scott Anderson, $332,500. • Kenneth and Debbie Hughes -- 4355 24th St. Road Unit 1701, Tru Grit Noco LLC, $342,000. • Janet Salgado -- 2520 W 6th St., Jose Valencia, $350,000. • Garret Reinke -- 905 49th Ave. Court, Thomas W Giggy, $350,000. • Erik Larson -- 4355 24th St. Road Unit 1601, Tru Grit Noco LLC, $354,900. • Rogelio Ortega -- 418 29th Ave., Barbara and Richard Osgood, $355,000. • Rachel Bowen -- 3809 W 7th St., Joe and Dianne Trujillo, $370,000. • Adam Lienemann -- 4604 W 30th St. Road, Charles and Rosemary Butzine, $380,000. • Nathan and Samantha Heiny -- 831 51st Ave., Frank and Debra Schuurman, $398,000. • Debra Davison -- 615 39th Ave., Ronda and Kenneth Hood, $400,000. • Cameron Macarthur -- 2115 70th Ave., Ronald and Janet Welch, $410,000. • Jarrod Taylor -- 135 50th Ave., Michael L Kerr, $415,000. • Cody Pedraza -- 226 47th Ave. Court, Antonio Ramirez, $420,000. • Jason Yoder -- 7110 W 22nd St. Road, Laurie A Hughes, $425,000. • Oscar Mendez -- 205 N 66th Ave., Melody Homes Inc, $429,500. • Thomas and Frances Lujan -- 6231 B St. Road, Melody Homes Inc, $430,800. • Yein Gomez -- 1517 61st Ave., Sara L Hamlin, $438,000. • Hector and Patricia Perez -- 3151 52nd Ave., Jonas Cadenas, $439,000. • Michael and Laura Brandes -- 649 White Tail Ave., Travis Dent, $465,000. • Hans Breuer -- 1100 103rd Ave., David and Patricia Jones, $471,000. • James and Sharon Bailey -- 1309 63rd Ave., Michael R Prescott, $477,500. • Joshua and Tiffiany Powell -- 5015 W 3rd St. Road, Michael Brandes, $485,000. • Santosh Kharel -- 711 66th Ave., Hartford Constr LLC, $500,800. • Jacob Olin -- 209 N 66th Ave., Melody Homes Inc, $504,200. • Aaron and Megan Ruder -- 2302 73rd
Ave. Place, Michael and Kelsey Lynch, $520,000. • Rebecca Kirkpatrick -- 3117 56th Ave. Court, Debra and Billy Allen, $520,000. • Rebecca and James Grider -- 1405 102nd Ave., Opendoor Property Trust I, $522,000. • Brissa Nunez -- 101 N 66th Ave., Melody Homes Inc, $538,800. • Juan and Heidi Romero -- 1632 36th Ave. Court, Frank and Marsha Jones, $550,000. • Alan Detmer -- 903 54th Ave., Marjorie J Black, $670,000. • Troy Wilcox -- 2033 9th Ave., Tanager Invest LLC, $1,030,000. La Salle • Jose Martinez -- 23687 County Road 46, Debra L Nix, $550,000. • Jonas Cadenas -- 22252 County Road 49, Vincent Banowetz, $570,000. • David and Jenna Conover -- 17509 County Road 394, Juan and Heidi Romero, $650,000. Loveland • Andrew Remmo -- 1416 Fleta Court, Pitcher Living Trust, $202,500. • Andrew Remmo -- 1418 Fleta Court, Pitcher Living Trust, $202,500. • Tyler and Stephanie Lynch -- 1064 E 1st St., Sheryl Lynch, $280,000. • Jan Sullivan -- 845 19th St. Sw, 845 19th Street LLC, $365,000. • Robert Smith -- 1544 W 29th St., Emilie and Allison Anderson, $376,000. • Amy Yriondo -- 1951 Halfmoon Circle, Zillow Homes Property Trust, $381,900. • Sheila Ehasz -- 2426 Boise Ave., Charles and Jo Chase, $382,000. • Jared and Samantha Knigge -- 634 W 2nd St., Tyler and Michelle Hopkins, $400,000. • Thomas West -- 1237 Winona Drive, Carol J Hicks, $405,000. • Connor Griffin -- 1440 E 8th St., Robert and Wanda Keirns, $415,000. • Monty and Alison Dumler -- 691 Blue Azurite Ave., Felicia Marie Ross, $415,000. • Maricela and Ben Sr -- 421 Chestnut Drive, Kathy M Beadell, $430,000. • Rafael Vasquez -- 2559 Silverton St., Michael and Carole Perry, $440,500. • Melinda Johnston -- 4127 Georgetown Drive, Glenda S Nachtrieb, $450,000. • Matthew Schriber -- 494 Cholla Drive, Jeffrey P Perrotto, $465,000. • John Gardner -- 3449 Black Walnut Court, Stephen and Sabre Middlekauff, $465,800. • Shawn Stretch -- 1670 Persian Ave., Jonathan and Tiffany Pate, $484,000. • Bruce and Sue Allegar -- 4604 Filbert Drive, Michael and Sara Hawthorne, $485,000. • Michele Mailhot -- 2597 Glen Isle Drive, Piotr Mozdyniewicz, $527,000. • Tyler and Ashley Drake -- 5538 Segundo Drive, Bridgewater Homes LLC, $544,900. • Tania Milewskithomas -- 3476
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Ralston Creek Drive, William Lyon Homes Inc, $581,500. • Jessica Plaza -- 3337 New Castle Drive, Andrew J Svedlow, $592,000. • Brandon and Lauren Greenwell -- 4115 Lissa Drive, Kit and Debra Pepperd, $615,000. • Ann and Jussi Kurronen -- 3421 Atwood Court, Richard and Theresa Bremen, $687,000. • Donald and Barbara Perrault -- 2331 Frances Drive, Elaine M Freehling, $700,000. • Tanya Miller -- 4288 Bluffview Drive, Artesia Lot Holdings LLC, $740,800. • Thomas and Page Holler -- 4099 Golf Vista Drive, Keith and Diana Cordova, $801,000. • Lisa and Bradley Moore -- 3707 Valley Oak Drive, Donald and Donald Pomranka, $900,000. • Jonathan Trivisonno -- 437 Reservoir Drive, Vance Constr Inc, $1,077,700. • Kirsten Eades -- 2603 Lake Drive, Rick and Rick Tilton, $1,890,000. Platteville • Matthew Thompson -- 502 Planter Lane, Shane and Sara Zaruba, $445,000. Windsor • James Stewart -- 242 E Chestnut St. Apt 1, Chestnut Street Holdings LLC, $397,700. • Kaylee and Garrett Hurni -- 3 Cyprus Court, Mark and Kelly Herrick, $435,000. • Mark and Ann Kelley -- 1380 Keywood Court, Tracy L Snow, $465,000. • Michael Duncan -- 300 9th St., Mark Criswell, $469,000. • Gregory Kessler -- 5005 Hawtrey Drive, Aspen View Homes LLC, $534,600. • Chad Olms -- 1224 Fairfield Ave., Zillow Homes Property Trust, $538,000. • Kip and Kaylene Polly -- 2022 Orchard Bloom Drive, Bridgewater Homes LLC, $553,800. • Dante and Alyson Conti -- 2155 Gather Drive, Artesia Lot Holdings LLC, $581,200. • Beeravolu and Beeravolu Reddy -416 Vermilion Peak Drive, Clint and Adrienne Jacobs, $585,000. • Jennifer Yanez -- 1762 Covered Bridge Parkway, Aspen View Homes LLC, $616,200. • Linda Peterson -- 4908 Romney Lock Drive, Zachary and Samantha Beams, $625,000. • Anthony and M Bednaroski -- 8113 Northstar Drive, Jonathan and Jenna Coleman, $635,000. • Christopher and Kathryn Beran -- 1838 E Seadrift Drive, Paul and Jeannie Mitchell, $739,000. • Heather and Clifford French -- 37295 Northwest Drive, Bruce and Susan Loucks, $761,000. • Diana Mitchell -- 37054 Soaring Eagle Circle, Lukas and Cori Schmeeckle, $1,200,000.
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www.RealEstateInNorthernColorado.com Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. © 2017 C3 Real Estate Solution, LLC.
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At Home Northern Colorado
December 11, 2021