December 2018

One of the joys of living in Boulder is seeing our local wildlife in their natural environment. We catch glimpses of bears, mountain lions, coyotes, deer, elk and even moose. Yet as animals lose their fear of humans and venture into the city, there is danger for both humans and animals. Just a few simple rules make it easier to coexist.

The holiday season creates a unique issue with our beloved wildlife. If you have ever seen an elk or deer trying to get a string of holiday lights off its antlers, you realize how important it is to think about your decorations. If you live on the west side of Boulder or in the mountains, be sure to have your lights high and out of the way of known wildlife paths.

This time of year, it is even more important to

More than 650 Boulder County families with children who might have been overlooked can feel cheer this holiday season, thanks to the power of giving Share-A-Gift makes possible.  

Now in its 47th holiday season, each year Share-A-Gift helps connect community donations with hundreds of families, representing approximately 1,500 girls and boys from birth to age 14 years. The donations are collected with the help of businesses, citizens, and volunteers who give toys, money, and time to bring holiday magic to every family who lives in the Boulder County School District. Gifts include new and gently used bikes, toys, books, and clothing. 

RE/MAX of Boulder is one of the businesses, which has proudly supported Share-A-Gift for more than 20 years. The

Wildfire is fresh in our mind after seeing all the destruction in California. It seems impossible that an entire town, such as Paradise, California, could burn to the ground. That level of sweeping destruction seems as if it only happened in previous eras, such as the time of the Great Chicago Fire. The fires in recent months give us all a wake-up call, especially for those who live in the mountains and foothills where wildfire is an ongoing hazard. Boulder County has had its share of wildfire in recent years – and these recent fires are telling us to be prepared!

Wildfire tends to be a summer peril. Nevertheless, our winters have been no stranger to wildfire. When there’s no snow on the ground and there are dry conditions, the wildfire danger can

Boulder leads the nation for the most positive economic outlook, followed by two other Colorado cities in the top 10 -- No. 3 Fort Collins and No. 9 Denver. According to the recent survey by Indeed.com, a positive economic outlook is driven largely by where you live more than by a national or political view of a national economy.

Colorado is the only state with three cities in Indeed's top 10. Smaller mountain-state metro area residents performed well when surveyed about the economy and their personal outlook. Tech hubs also fared well, such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Austin, and Raleigh.   

The following 10 U.S. cities have the highest economic confidence, according to Indeed.com:

1.      Boulder, CO
2.      Provo-Orem, UT
3.      Fort

The holiday season is upon us and you may be thinking about finding a special or unique gift your family member or loved one could use for years to come. In my previous article entitled, “Part 1 – Holiday Gift Ideas 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 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

Even in Boulder County’s active real estate market, November through January presents heightened challenges for selling your home. But if you must sell your home this holiday season, take heart: holiday buyers are intent on completing a purchase. And with fewer homes on the market your home has less competition. 

You can embrace the unique advantages the holidays bring to the home selling season with these tips, first reported by hgtv.com.

Decorate lightly to get the best effect.
Light holiday decorations showcase the warmth of a home like no other. Use general winter decorations such as greenery and candles to accentuate your home’s best features and avoid personal items or specific themes. Less is more when it comes to decorating, but a few

Saving for a down payment on a home is the most difficult step in the process of buying a home for 25% of first-time buyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Of those buyers, 55% said student loan debt delayed them in saving for a home. Now couple those issues with the high price of real estate in the Boulder area, and it makes it very difficult for first-time buyers to get started. In fact, according to the same profile from NAR, the typical first-time buyer might delay a purchase for three years to save for a down payment. In an appreciating market such as in the Boulder area, purchasing the first home gets harder as time goes on. 

NAR also says that 25% of first-time buyers depended

University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business ranked No. 67 for its full-time MBA program, according to Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2018 rankings. The ranking is 13 points ahead of last year's 80th placement. 

When ranked only among public universities, Leeds rose to No. 29.

In the entrepreneurship category, the school ranked No. 10 overall, reflecting its Boulder and Front Range location’s access to a vibrant entrepreneurial business community with many venture capital and startup opportunities. Along with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, students have a strong network of connections and resources that enables them to excel.

Leeds attributes the significant rise in Bloomberg’s ranking to recent program enhancements, increased