The Fourmile Fire has left devastation in its wake…and we’re glad to see local businesses and organizations pull together in the spirit of life and home to help victims.  This just came in from the Boulder Area Realtors Association:

BARA Members,

I felt it was important for you to know the actions your association is taking to assist the many families, including fellow REALTORS®, who are victims of the Fourmile Fire.

Today, we requested and have been granted $25,000 from the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Housing Opportunity Foundation (CARHOF).  BARA members have contributed to CARHOF significantly over the last 20 years and we are grateful for the support CARHOF and our state association is lending our community at this most distressing time.

We are partnering with Elevations Credit Union’s Foundation, which will match publically donated funds up to $10,000.  Dennis Paul of Elevations Credit Union is an affiliate member of our association who made this partnership possible.

In addition, BARA has posted ways in which you may further provide relief on our Face Book page and on our web site – www.BARAonLine.com .  Please give as you can.

Mike Moger, President

Boulder Area REALTOR® Association

Kudos to BARA and to everyone who’s been so supportive after the fire.

Here at Boulder Creek Life + Home, we talk a lot about “low-maintenance living.”  But what does that really mean?

• It means no weeding.  Ever. No more stooping down to get that nasty weed that likes to grow…and grow again.  Your landscape is taken care of by our professionals!
• It means no snow shoveling.  Ever. Count on your sidewalks to be well-maintained all the year round.
• It means sturdy, reliable construction…that’s eco-friendly. Forget constant repairs and unsound structures.  Our green building practices build houses to last.
• It means more time to live, work, and play. So get out there and hike, bike, run, and indulge in all the recreation our communities have to offer!  At your Boulder Creek home, you’ll have plenty of time to devote to the things that matter.

Ready to leave your lawnmower, gardening gloves, and snow shovel behind?  Visit our website to find out more about our green, low-maintenance homes.

This week has been rife with news on green building techniques finally, finally! hitting the mainstream.  The New York Times reports that several significant commercial real estate investors have decided to “green” their portfolios, green building expos are on the rise, and some of the country’s largest builders are finally jumping on the green bandwagon.  Of course this news makes us smile…because at Boulder Creek Life and Home, green building practices have been a part of our business as long as we’ve been in business.

So what does green building mean here at Boulder Creek?  Are we bowing to popular trends when we tell our homebuyers about our energy-efficient techniques and Earth-friendly building materials and construction practices?  No way.  Here’s a quick rundown on our green commitment…one that, like our commitment to building quality homes that combine the best in life and home, has never wavered.

• Green building techniques save money:  There’s a common misconception that a green home is an expensive one.  But we find that using green building practices and installing eco-friendly components actually saves money, increasing a building’s longevity and efficiency without a backbreaking up-front cost.  And once a homebuyer moves into their new green home, the costs of living are significantly smaller than the costs associated with inefficient, poorly insulated and energy-wasting structures of a similar size.
• Green building techniques create homes for the long haul:  Not many people realize that many of the very techniques that make a home eco-friendly also increase its durability and “shelf life.”  Properly sealed homes resist degradation from air and water; tough, energy-efficient exteriors require less maintenance and last longer; quality roofing and outdoor components will endure for decades.  This long-haul approach means that your Boulder Creek home is a good investment…not a cheaply-built liability.
• Green building techniques add life to home:  When a home is efficiently lit, properly heated and cooled, well-sealed and decorated with safe, eco-friendly materials, it just feels better.  So you can focus on the things that count.

Learn more about Boulder Creek Life and Home’s commitment to green building techniques (and learn more about the eco-friendly features of our unique communities) by clicking this link.

Ever since the federal government extended the first-time homebuyer credit and added a $6500 credit for other buyers, there’s been lots of confusion.  Luckily, there is an abundance of great information, including that provided by Boulder Realtor Jennifer Egbert of Walnut Realty.  In her recent “awesome breakdown” of the tax credit, she reminds us that now may just be the time:

Listen, home prices are stabilizing.  Interest rates are at historic lows.  If you have given ANY THOUGHT to purchasing your dream home, now is a KILLER time to be doing so.

Former homeownership record (you must have owned and lived in your home for at least five out of the last eight years), income (no more than $125,000 single/$225,000 joint), and contract dates (under contract by April 30, closed by June 30) are key to this credit, which covers domiciles from condos to townhomes to single-family homes.

Ready to take the plunge?  Our sales staff can help!  Click here to view our hot homes and contact Boulder Creek Life and Home for information on your new home!

At Boulder Creek Life and Home, we know that home isn’t home without lifestyle…and life isn’t life without home. As we look forward to the new year, what will be the biggest trends in life and home? We venture to make some predictions:

Green: not just a buzzword any more It seems like everyone has been jumping on the environmentally friendly bandwagon, but in 2010 we predict that this trend will gain some staying power. Adopting eco-friendly lifestyle choices like hybrid vehicles, renewable power, and energy-efficiency doesn’t just sound cool…it saves money, which means it fits perfectly into the more financially-conscious decade we’re entering. And maybe we’re biased, but we think our energy-efficient, green building techniques will withstand the test of time.

Kitchen as home So much of the life of a home is in the kitchen, and these cost-conscious times mean the kitchen will be a more important gathering place than ever. Look for increased emphasis on in-kitchen dining and functional, fun kitchens like the ones offered in our patio and townhomes.

Inside/outside We’re lucky enough to live surounded by some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. While interiors become more comfortable than ever, we predict a renewed emphasis on outdoor recreation in 2010. That means hiking, biking, and taking advantage of everything Boulder County has to offer.

Ready to invest in life and home in the new year? Click here to view our hot homes!

Great news:  the first-time homebuyer credit has been extended! Here’s what you need to know about taking advantage of this credit to purchase your new home:

• Deadlines:  In order to take advantage of the credit, your home must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and must be closed upon by June 30, 2010.
• Restrictions:  The home must be used as the purchaser’s primary residence and is fully refundable.  Income limits are $125,000 for single persons, $225,000 for couples.  The credit is only valid on residences purchased for less than $800,000.  Primary residences including condos, townhomes, and single-family homes are eligible for the tax credit.
• First-time buyers:  Under the rules, “first-time buyer” is defined as a person who has not owned a home in the last three years.
• Repayment:  Beneficiaries of the credit need not repay itif they live in their new home for three years or more.

What this means for you:  Now is the time to buy!  Boulder Creek Life and Home has plenty of great options for an energy-efficient first home.  Visit our web site for more information our our low-maintenance communities.