Springtime in the Rocky Mountains!!!! The snow has all but melted off the Boulder Flatirons (for now) and in my yard at the Red Door Ranch the crocus are flowering, the leaf buds are pushing out and spring tunes from songbirds fill the morning air! And ahhhh, the sunsets most evenings are remarkable.
It’s March and spring has sprung, NOT! But some of us are celebrating the fantastic winter we've been so fortunate to receive the past month. The long cold spell we’ve had has come with snow too. And lots of it, especially in the high country. Remember last year when the ski resorts had to MAKE SNOW? Not so much this year. I read that Summit County has almost 8’ of snow this year already. BOOM! But I don’t ski much anymore, so why is this exciting? Because this snowmelt will fill our rivers and streams with water and deliver good trout fishing to anglers all spring, summer and fall. That makes me happy!
Dear neighbors and friends, this year marks the 13th anniversary of the very first edition of your On the Corner newsletter. I began publishing OtC in the early days of my real estate career as a way to bridge my professional photojournalism career and my real estate career. It’s kept me very engaged in this neighborhood, which has so many stories to tell. This spring also marks my 15th year in the real estate business. It’s awesome to have grown such a successful business. I’ve worked really hard to make it this far and I definitely recognize that a lot of my business comes from right here in the neighborhood.
On the opposite of this big card you’ll see homes that I sold here in 2019. Each of them are so different and they all have such interesting histories. Like many homes here, they also have been through different transformation over the years. The homes built in the LC have just as interesting stories to tell as the residents that call Lower Chautauqua home. “If these walls could talk,” right? Such rich history here, and that’s why I appreciate it so much. And I appreciate you. You’ve entrusted me to market and sell your homes and you’ve trusted me to help you buy the house here that you now call home. The many homes I’ve sold here dot the neighborhood from Bellevue Heights to Interurban Park and from the Cul-de-sacs off King Avenue to Baseline Road. Many of you have referred business to me over the years and for that I am grateful and truly appreciate your business and your referrals! I’d like to continue to earn your trust. Please contact me anytime to discuss selling or buying real estate. I’m happy to offer a market analysis of your home anytime, with no strings attached! Sincerely, HATCH
It's February and love has been buzzing in the air here in Boulder County. I picked a bad week to stop eating Ghirardelli chocolate and Dunkin’ Donuts, but I’ll be fine this Valentine's season. Read more…
Dear friends and family, I want to wish you a Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year. What a year it has been and 2018 will be my best year in the real estate business. I have so much to be grateful for and I’m glad so many of you were a part of my year. I have so much gratitude for you all for looking out for me and putting my name out to family and friends.
There are many things from 2018 that I will carry into 2019, and some things I will leave behind. It is the time for yearly projections of what's to come in our real estate market in 2019. As we transition into the new year I reflect on the year we've had. Pundits profess that the market may balance out next year, but we'll have to wait and see what really happens. I’m positive it will be a strong year and I already have many buyers and sellers preparing for a transition in 2019. Also, don't miss the fun housing design trend article with inspirational ideas for updating your home in the next year.
Now, please fly with me to my featured listing this month at 625 University Ave. in Boulder, a turn of the century cottage in west Boulder with awesome potential and an amazing lot.
I hope you enjoy your time with loved ones this holiday season. And try to reach out to those you know who may be alone to share good cheer. I appreciate your continued business and referrals. Warmly, HATCH
And here we are, the 2nd week of November already! The days are short and the early snow in Boulder County sticks to the shadows cast. As we look forward to time with family and friends, I'd like to share this month’s Buzz with you. News about a few key things happening with our real estate market. The articles this month discuss the complex situation in Boulder County with home prices going up, and the impact that has on our cities. This relates to the rental market here as well, and how the new construction in town has had an impact. The market is a little bit quieter right now but my business is still in a steady mode, mostly with buyers right now. 2018 will close out as the best prodiciton year in 14 years for me. If you have real estate plans for 2019 let’s connect today to discuss the best strategy for your success.
This month I’m featuring another community non-profit program, Project Angel Heart, whose volunteers deliver medically tailored meals to Coloradans living with life-threatening illnesses. Please find time to give to Project Angel Heart this holiday season. We did!
Thank you so much for your continued business, and your constant referrals. With warmth and gratitude I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving! HATCH
Boo! The real estate Market in Boulder County is continuing to break records in terms of market value increases (especially in the $1Million + price range). Don't be too spooked by the market trends, they're actually quite favorable! And don't miss the article below about Boulder County being ranked as one of the nation's "Top 20 Luxury Markets."
Two nearby cities are getting national attention outside of Boulder County by making Time Magazine's "Top 50 Best Places to Live" list. Find out which cities those are, especially if you're considering investing in real estate along the Front Range.
3rd Quarter Stats are out, giving us insight into how our market has trended in 2018 so far. I'm curious to see how we'll finish out the year as we move into the 4th Quarter.
Now, please fly with me to my new featured listing this month at 265 30th Street in Boulder. This one is special for the buyer who wants a gorgeous newly renovated ranch-style home in Martin Acres.
And don’t forget to tune in to Part 28 From the Trail and meet my friend Dave Ensign and hear what he’s grateful for!
Thank you for your business and thank you for tuning in, HATCH
Hi friends and family. Well, the evenings are getting cooler and the kids are deep into school, which means September is upon us. This seasonal transition brings changes in our real estate market and we need to modify how we price homes for our sellers and make offers for our buyers. And will changing interest rates effect sales in our area? Read the featured articles below for more info.
It’s been a big year so far for Real Estate in Boulder County with median sales prices for single family homes up 7% over last year, and it will be exciting to see how this fall market and the fourth quarter will unfold. If you have any questions about the current market or anything regarding your Real Estate decisions or your home, I’m here to answer those questions.
Please fly with me to my new featured property this month at 625 University Ave. in Boulder. This one is special for the buyer who wants a cool project in a really awesome part of West Boulder.
In the meantime, for some fun, please tune into Part 27 From the Trail to get a first-hand glimpse of our ride aboard the Ride of Steel at Darien Lake Amusement Park in New York, last month.
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And speaking of fun rides — this month I’m featuring another community non-profit program, The Carousel of Happiness, in Nederland, CO. The Carousel is a piece of living folk art inspiring happiness and joy. With 56 whimsical, hand-carved animals atop a 1910 carousel, it attracts visitors of all ages and many people with disabilities. Your donation helps to keep The Carousel accessible and inspire happiness and connection among all who visit. Please see how important this program is and consider giving today!
Thank you for your business and thank you for tuning in, HATCH
Hi friends, real estate in Boulder County is still as active and busy as ever. Just when I thought the usual late summer doldrums were upon us, business never really slowed and I owe that to so many of you or looking out for me and my biz. But see the July Stats below for more details, too. The Buzz this month highlights a fun feature on the city of Boulder from the Washington Post. Check it out! It's great to see our local city and many of our favorite businesses getting so much attention. This will probably inspire more people to move here...which is great for sellers, but means more competition for buyers.
Another interesting trend that's affecting our local real estate market is the high number of seniors moving to Colorado. Did you know that this is one of the top places in the country to retire?
Also, it’s that time of year again for back to school...and the good news is, your kids can do their homework on Pearl Street now because Google has brought free WIFI to the pedestrian mall. Shya!
Thanks for being such awesome friends and clients and for all your support and trust. It’s been an awesome summer and now it’s time for go back to school and to go Phishin’! Don’t forget to give to your favorite charity this month! All the best you. Thank you, HATCH
Hello friends, I think we’ve passed the midway point through summer. Ugh! Have you done, or will you do all the things you said you were going to do? I hope so. I’m still working at mine. I still want plan another trail half-marathon, but that might have to wait till fall as I’m too busy chasing kids and trout and Phish.
Summer hail storms have been damaging to homes and vehicles, but not to the real estate market — it’s still very dynamic. While the intensity of the early spring rush has waned, it’s still a market where we see more than one offer in the first few days. But things are little bit more balanced for buyers and sellers. Is it possible the average price of a home in the city of Boulder is almost $1,250,000.00? Have condos and townhomes really gone up 25%+ in the city of Boulder last year? Perhaps… perhaps not. We're halfway through 2018 already, and the Mid-Year Stats reveal information you don't want to miss!
The Buzz this month also features some tips on what you can do with your real estate equity, as well as an article from RE/MAX of Boulder’s owner discussing the average price of homes in the city of Boulder. What does that mean for the rest of the year? How will the fall market play out? I can’t wait to find out!
With all the fascinating events happening in our area, I hope you have a wonderful rest of your summer. And by next month, we’ll already think about getting our kiddos back to school. Ethan will be a junior and Phoebe with be a freshman at Boulder High School.
This month I’m featuring another community non-profit program, There With Care who, since 2005, has been providing support for families during the critical phase of a medical crisis, easing their daily stresses with compassion and care. Program for youth in Boulder. Please see how important this program is and consider giving today. I did!
Also don’t forget to tune in to Part 26 From the Trail and listen to what my mom and dad are so grateful for. They’re awesome! Thank you for coming along with me, HATCH
Happy Summer Solstice everyone! Well, between the extreme dry heat one day and the heavy hail storms the next, it’s no wonder we’re all amped up, here on the Front Range. Or maybe that’s just because it’s summer. And like last year at this time, the real estate market isn’t as dynamic as the previous few months. Buyers and sellers are seeing a difference in the market than even from a month ago and it’s important to help manage buyer and seller expectations in real time. My buyers are realizing they can take a little more time to decide on a home and they can make offers without necessarily removing conditions or offering above list price, while still having the winning offer. The number of properties under contract is down considerably and it may take a little longer for sellers to sell their home. It may be safe to say we’re in a buyer’s market in many cases. But not all markets within Boulder County, or even within the same town, behave the same — so please contact me if you want to learn more about what’s happening in your neck of the woods.
Check out this month’s Buzz: Boulder County is getting a lot of attention — with a local city, Superior, CO having scored slots on several “Best Places to Live” lists, and countless fun and creative events happening throughout the summer. Check out the article below from BizWest outlining the recent Boulder Economic Summit, and learn how our real estate market is impacted by both housing and transportation issues. May Stats are in: inventory is fluctuating, and prices are continuing to rise. The Buzz this month explores these topics and more!
Finally, and more importantly, is what’s happening with immigration reform where families being separated at our border. Attention is needed now for the people that are providing help for children who are being taken away from their detained parents. Today I’m featuring RAICES, The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, a Texas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immigrant families and refugees with affordable legal assistance. You can donate money to support its team of 130 attorneys and staff members Please consider giving today. We did! Thank you, HATCH
Spring has arrived and brought with it the 2018 first quarter stats, as well as some seasonal highlights: the Boulder Farmer’s Market, muddy running trails, burbling creeks and a spunky real estate market.
This month The Buzz includes articles on how to sell your home faster with important staging and photography tips, as well as a great checklist for first time buyers. Also, if you’re curious about which direction the median price of homes is going in the area, check out the quarterly stats as well as the last article about our local market. I’ve been very busy with buyers and sellers this spring. It’s been one of my busiest late winter, early spring seasons in recent memory. I am so grateful to be so busy. I finally hired a transaction coordinator in January and Nicole is so helpful and fun to work with. She has streamlined my business and made it so much better.
This month I’m featuring another community non-profit program, Attention Homes program for youth in Boulder. Attention Homes is a safe resource for youth in crisis providing shelter, structure, and access to crucial services so that homeless and displaced youth can become stable, independent members of our community and achieve their potential. Please see how important this program is and consider giving today.
Please visit my YouTube Channel for Part 25 From the Trail! And remember, if you have questions about any real estate decisions this year, please give me a buzz. But not this weekend, because I’m off to Wyoming with my peeps to meditate on the river and fool some trout. Thank you again for your business, HATCH
Days are longer, leaf buds emerge, song birds call, crocus whittle their way out of winter detritus and fish are rising up like birds! Ah, the music of spring. As life emerges around us, so does the spring real estate market here in Boulder County. Yes, it’s getting busier here and as green replaces brown, we are seeing a good surge in properties pop up for sale. My new listings this have sold or will close soon. It’s been good and steady and fun so far this year and I’m reminded that I made a really good choice 14 years ago to take this adventure.
The Buzz this month features articles that question what will happen with higher prices and fewer homes on the market. What does this mean for first time home buyers and affordability? And what will happen next year as Google ads a third building to their campus, bringing more employees to the area?
Don’t miss the 2018 RE/MAX of Boulder Real Estate Report where we take a closer look at what’s happening with the local market.
And be sure to check out this month’s featured property, coming in April. It’s near Chautauqua Park and sure to impress. I’m really excited to market this one.
I’m starting something new in The Buzz this month: I’ll be featuring a community non-profit program and this month’s charity for giving is Growing Gardens in Boulder. Please see how important this program is and give today. I did!
Remember, if you have questions about any real estate decisions this year, please give me a buzz. Thank you again for your continued support of my business. Happy Easter Holiday to you all, HATCH
And it happened on Valentine's Day. Another mass shooting, and it makes it hard to gather useful thoughts for a newsletter about real estate. I hope one day soon we can solve this problem. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
After a little reprieve, the market seems to be taking January’s momentum right into February. I sound like a broken record but here we go again with finite inventory and a glut of buyers driving this market. With, in many cases, multiple offers going over list price. It feels similar to last year at this time; the market came early and then peaked early, in May. Maybe this year will be the same. Maybe not. I’m ready for whatever happens. And let me know if I can help you be ready, too. Consider what your plans for the year are and how I can help you in executing them.
The Buzz this month highlights trends through RE/MAX of Boulder's monthly statistics. As we know, the market is often changing, and I am here to keep you informed with what is happening throughout the Boulder County area. Please holler if I can help you, your family or your friends on their real estate adventure in 2018.
In the meantime, try to be grateful for who you have and what you have. Please tune in to Part 24 From the Trail and see what my new friends from Louisiana are grateful for. Sincerely, HATCH
The New Year is here, and in front of me. The year 2017 is in the rear-view. Adios! My real estate business performed well and stayed upright. Fly fishing was just ok and Phish tour was shorter than usual. But my family remains my centerpiece. And we just closed out the year and began a new year on an epic journey around the world to Thailand on a family trip. It was, for lack of a better word, amazing. Friends keep asking, “What was the take-away?” All I can say is how special it was to be just the four of us Hatches, together, 24/7 for two weeks, in a foreign country. That never happens back home. Together we navigated the Thai culture, nibbled and slurped amazing Thai food. We figured out their currency pretty fast but the language barrier presented some challenges. We learned how to say, “thank you” and we said it a lot. We became public transit experts by the end. We even rode high atop elephants in the jungle. We scooted around the busy streets in motorized 3-wheeled Tuk Tuks and by way of long-tail boats we road the ocean and rivers. We explored the beaches and jungles and drank one kind of beer, Chang Beer, because that’s about all they had to offer. I highlight was out New Year's Eve celebration in Chiang Mai where we released sky lanterns into the night sky and waved goodbye to another good year, while welcoming a new one. At the end, we endured over 20 hours of fly time each way. It was worth it. And we did all together and did it well. We got along, just the four of us. I will never forget it.
On the real estate front — the early buying and selling season is here. In several areas and price ranges we’re already seeing days to contract, with some over list price. But I will say, the market may be balancing somewhat with prices leveling out in some areas like Boulder. We saw modest appreciation last year at under 5%. More inventory should continue to the put market in balance. It will be interesting to see what happens this first quarter.
What plans do you have for your home in 2018? Are you considering selling your home? Purchasing an investment property? Or possibly remodeling that part of your home that you've always wanted to improve? The Buzz this month has insightful articles featuring some considerable reasons to sell in early 2018.
Also, don’t miss the year-end STATS and details about your property taxes. Let's connect soon about how I can help you buy, sell, or invest in our local market this year. It’s best to start early and plan ahead! And thank you again for your referrals. All the best, HATCH
Dear friends and family, I want to wish you a Happy Holiday season and a Happy New Year. What a year it’s been and I have so much to be grateful for. I’m glad so many of you were a part of my year. Be sure to visit the HATCH YouTube channel to see Part Twenty-Two From the Trail where you’ll find inspiration from my friend Kristin Gablehouse, who’s discovering, with her husband Josh, how long distance ultra-running and trail racing has become her way to manage life after a traumatic brain injury that she suffered on a cycling trip in 2015. Her story is captivating and it should remind us that good relationships, patience, not giving up, kicking ass and being grateful for what we have are important holiday messages.
I’ll need to think about what things from 2017 I will carry into 2018, and what things I will leave behind - I’ll be sure to let you know. I do know this; regarding real estate, the end of 2017 brings many projections about the 2018 market. Don’t miss the article this month that quotes RE/MAX of Boulder’s DB Wilson and what he foresees will happen to the market next year. Also, did you know that more people are moving out of Colorado than in recent years? Check it out, and more, in this month’s exciting Buzz.
I hope you enjoy your time with family and loved ones this holiday season. And try to reach out to those you know who may be alone. I appreciate your continued business and referrals. Warmly, HATCH
As one of my favorite holidays approaches, it’s with warmth that I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving. Autumn is the time to cozy up around the fireplace or gather around the table with family and friends. It’s a time to recall what you’re grateful for. I’m grateful for you. Thank you for being a friend and for looking out for my business. Read more...
by Chautauqua By Carol Taylor
One of Boulder’s Civilian Conservation Corp units bunked by Chautauqua By Carol Taylor Like the rest of the country, Boulder suffered in the Great Depression. Thankfully, programs from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration helped get people back on their feet. FDR established the Civilian Conservation Corp by executive order on April 5th of 1933, as part of his New Deal. The CCC pubic works programs helped ease the suffering of the Depression by putting able-bodied unmarried young men to work. The youngest (18-25 year olds) made $30 per month, while team leaders and assistants earned a little bit more. The majority of each worker’s paycheck was deducted and sent home to their needy families... READ THE NEWSLETTER
Mother Nature sure has an interesting way of reminding us that she’s in charge of the climate and weather that swirl all around us each day. After experiencing the 2013 flood here in Boulder, I feel compassion for those who have been impacted by these magnificent acts of nature; from the beautiful solar eclipse, to the heinous hurricanes battering our coastal and Caribbean communities and from the fires in the west to the sunsets painted for us each evening - Mother Nature’s in charge. And I give thanks as we’re reminded to band together and be resilient when she throws punches. The silver lining. Read more....
Oh my! It’s back to school for the kiddos this week? Yes, it is! And it’s back to business after a quick road trip for Phish tour for me and Kristin. But the market is definitely interesting right now. Inventory is up and homes are staying on the market longer. And I’m seeing more price reductions now. Demand has decreased as fewer buyers are searching for homes this time of year. But not to worry, this shift is normal, and I’m curious about what will happen over the next few months and even into early next spring. But I remain positive — it’s actually great news for buyers because things aren’t quite as competitive as they were this spring, and buyers have a greater chance of getting the home they want without the crazy competition.
jon.hatch@compass.com
