Denver I Q

Like everything else these days home costs are skyrocketing. Construction costs of new homes are being effected from the materials to the shipping. When considering these factors it makes sense to look around and see what we can use to build a home, using what is existing.

When someone suggested using shipping containers for a home, I thought they were joking! My experience with a shipping container was pleasant, but then of course I was only shipping home my bike from Singapore, I wasn’t eating, drinking, sleeping and relaxing in it!

So much for my creativity. I googled “containers as houses” and was amazed at what I found.

Yes containers can be used plain and unmarked for student housing, emergency relief shelters and industrial parks. But I also learned containers can fit into the chi chi neighborhoods in places where the HOA will frown on anything not stick built and pricey!

I challenge you to do some googling yourself. Share with us what you come up with. Maybe a builder will log on here and tell us what it would cost to convert a past it’s prime shipping container into a gracious recycled home.

It is worth it, or not?

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Selling Denver real estate, I run into small lots all the time. Often I wonder why or rather what anyone could ever build on this tiny, little lots. Well just by chance I came across a blog post about Cramped City Living: 10 of the Narrowest Houses in the World.

There is a house in London, England that is just 5 feet at it’s narrowest and 10 feet at its widest. If that’s not hard enough to believe, get this, it sold for nearly $1,000,000!

I looked at the house Helenita in Brazil designed. It’s 9 feet wide and 30 feet tall. I chuckled thinking it looks like a slice off of a real building! No not even a slice, more like a “sliver.”

The last house in the post, the one located in Osaka looks quite normal from the broad view. Then seeing it’s frontage, I wonder how people manage walk about inside. They must sleep on a shelf like a Murphy bed and tuck it away when awake.

Denver has some small places, but to my knowledge I don’t think we can compete with any of the top Narrowest Houses in the World.

Let me know if that’s not true…ok?

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The main topic at the Cherry Creek Leads Group meeting last Tuesday was presented by Cathy Barry of Mortgage Solutions. She discussed mortgage insurance and how it affects buyers in this market. Since days of 100% financing are gone, and getting a second mortgage is a slim option, most buyers in today’s market must pay for mortgage insurance.

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While other cities are scrambling to put together a successful public transportation plan, Denver has become their resource. Referred to by NBC as the Poster Child of public transportation, Metro Denver is a leader and a mentor to cities needing to solve their transportation crisis.

Back in November of 2004 Colorado voters approved a sixth-tenths of a cent sales tax increase to generate $4.7 billion for rail transit improvements. These improvements are still in the making and when done we in Denver will enjoy an additional 119 miles of rail transportation.

This past weekend Denver was highlighted on NBC. Enjoy the video cast:

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Becoming a homeowner may be old hat for some who have owned a home for years and are familiar with the expenses of homeownership. Then there are those who are first time buyers and not familiar with what owning a home entails.

The most basic expenses are the mortgage, taxes and insurance. Then come utilities, gas, electric, water and sewer. Typically these expenses are billed on a monthly basis. Sometimes the present homeowner is willing to share (and show) their monthly bills. Seeing the hard copy is very helpful in assuring the future buyer what to expect.

However, if the seller is long gone or has not kept their utility bills there is another way to find out what these costs might be!

Call Xcel. In Denver metro most homes are serviced by one company, Xcel Energy. It makes investigating utility costs quite simple. One call and a few minutes on the telephone you can determine what the average bills, high and low are for a home.

Of course previous usage may not be the same as for the new homeowner. Everyone uses power in a different way, some like to be cooler in winter than others so that will effect the bill. In any event having a benchmark for possible consumption is a good way to eliminate unexpected surprises.

You can reach Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999

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