George Nettles Real Estate

First Time in History; An Important Event Taking Place in Golden, CO!

luxuryhomesindenver — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:04:17 +0000

What if the Galloping Goose was your way to get to Telluride?

Well it does sound important! If you are a historical railroad aficionado it is! This post is not about Luxury Homes In Denver, Horse Properties or Historical Homes, but the Galloping Geese! Say What?? Imagine its 1931 in Southern Colorado and the Rio Grande Southern RR (narrow gauge) is broke, but they just got the U S Mail contract to service from Durango to Ridgeway, via Ophir Loop, Lizard Head Pass, Mancos, Rico, Dolores, Telluride and other stops along the way. The RGS couldn’t afford to run the steam locomotives, as most of the time there was not much business. Someone got the bright idea of making a car into a vehicle to run on the narrow gauge rails to deliver freight, mail and passengers. In Ridgeway, CO, the first Rail Car or ‘Motor’ was built out of a 1926 Buick Touring car. The idea was so successful that ‘Motor #1′ was dismantled to build ‘Motor’ or Goose #2 and #3. Geese #4, 5, 6, and 7 used Buick and Pierce-Arrow Cars in bigger and better designs.

The ‘Geese” seemed to have gotten their name from the way they looked as they ‘waddled’ on the poorly laid uneven narrow gauge track of the day, and their horns sounded like a goose. When the RGS closed in 1952, the Geese were disposed of . The town of Telluride acquired one, #4, and it has just been restored to operating condition. Goose #5 resides in Dolores and it is not only operational, it runs for several days every year on the Durango & Silvertion and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroads. My wife and I rode on #5 all day in June of 2005 on the Cumbres & Toltec. Goose #3 was sold to Knotts Berry Farm in CA and it is restored and runs regularly. In fact, it is used for the same purpose as it originally did. When the park has low traffic, like during the week, Goose #4 serves instead of the steam engine, #41, an original C-19 RGS locomotive! Geese #2, 6 and 7 are restored and at the Colorado Rail Museum in Golden. Remember Golden……..our story?

On June 16 and 17, all of the Galloping Geese will be together at the Colorado RR Museum for the Goose Fest! Knotts Berry Farm is sending their Goose #3, Delores is sending Goose #5 and Telluride, Goose #4, we have Geese #2, 6, and 7; ……um……..let me see here…..did I leave one out?………ah, number 1!

The 'New" RGS Motor #1, made from all original old parts, and it is beautiful!

Did I forget Goose #1? Since Goose #1 (actually Motor #1) was dismantled to build another Goose, it was gone! Karl Schaeffer of the Ridgeway RR Museum had a dream to recreate Motor#1 as authentically as possible. He gathered every photo and the drawing – yes one – and begin to gather the parts, like a 1926 Buick Touring car from a field in Montana, build the running gear, especially as goose #2 had some of #1′s underpinnings. After years of careful work, Motor # 1 was finished and it will be at the Goose Fest as well. This will be the first time all seven Galloping Geese have been together at once, 60+ years after the Rio Grande Southern Railroad shut down!….See you there.

Now back to our regularly scheduled real estate related posts!

Note: I took the photos here and used large files so they can be enlarged by clicking on them.

Historic Real Estate: King of the Castle Edition

luxuryhomesindenver — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:18:38 +0000

Posted April 20, 2012 by David Garber, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Ever dreamed of living in your own castle? With this Tudor Revival home on the market in Denver, that dream could become reality. That is, if you can cough up the $3,750,000 asking price. The home — more formally known as The Richthofen Castle — was completed in 1887 by the uncle and godfather of the WWI Prussian flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen (AKA The Red Baron).

A native of Prussia, original owner Baron Walter Von Richthofen modeled the castle after his ancestral home. He purchased 320 rural acres which he named “Montclair” (now home to the Denver neighborhood of Montclair), and had plans to develop his land into a health and recreational resort — but ended up parceling it out for development.

Some details to note are the coat of arms on the tower above the main entrance, and the sandstone bust of former German King Frederick Barbarossa on the northeast corner of the home.

The house consists of 35 rooms, including a drawing room, library, music alcove, servant’s quarters, butler’s pantry, billiards room, “Red Baron” bar (previously the coal room), eight bedrooms, and seven bathrooms, all fitted out with details like handcrafted woodwork, leaded glass, and hand-tooled leather wallpaper with gold inlays.

But no blog post on the Richthofen Castle would be complete without also acknowledging the home’s less-than-tidy history. In 1911, it was the scene of one of Denver’s most storied domestic killings. Mrs. Gertrude Patterson, the victim of an elaborate marriage hoax, shot her abusive husband twice in the back. The all-male jury accepted her plea of self-defense, noting the lack of chivalry her husband had displayed.

But regardless of its more unsavory history, this is a great opportunity to snatch up the home that the National Register called “the most remarkable residence in Denver.”

Note: As of 5/2/2012, this historic home is under contract.

Photos are copyright National Trust for Historic Preservation – Used with permission.

Original National Trust for Historic Preservation blog link

Original Listing Page link

There are many more treasured historic home listings at our historic, vintage home pages in LuxuryHomesInDenver.com.

For a Few Dollars More (Or Less) – Here’s how – a CMA for Free!

luxuryhomesindenver — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 05:04:55 +0000

No matter how you say it – Money, greenbacks, dollars, dinero, soldi, l’argent, geld, dinheiro, деньги, お金, penge, Χρήματος – we all want to pay less and sell for more!…. Agreed?

Home Buyers say: “What is this home worth? How much do you think the Sellers will take?” Sellers say: “How much can we sell our home for? How much money will my home bring me at closing? Will it appraise for that?”

All of these questions will show the need for a CMA, which is a Comparative Market Analysis. (A buyer once called me and asked for a Collaborative Market Analysis and I told him that was not what he wanted – should I ask the seller for his help? ). The CMA will give you an idea of what the property is valued at in terms of similar homes in the area that have sold in the last 6 months and what the unsold and the under contract homes on the market are priced at. This information plus the days on market (DOM) will enable you to develop your selling or buying strategy. If you would like a CMA calculated on your property for selling, just complete this simple form (below) and Denver’s Luxury Home Team will prepare a customized report showing what similar homes have sold for, which homes are under contract and homes currently listed for sale in your neighborhood. we’ll send you this complimentary report within 48 hours after you submit your request! Our team always does a CMA with sellers as a matter of course, but also with every buyer prior to an offer being made, to help them get the best possible deal on the home they desire to buy.

Review of Colorado’s First ‘Secure’ Luxury Condo Community

luxuryhomesindenver — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:09:30 +0000

In any discussion of Denver luxury homes, condos and townhomes we discuss things like the square footage, rooms, floor plan, great views, security and of course prices. About two years ago, my wife and I spent some time in the oldest Colorado luxury condominium development extent. First off, the views were just jaw dropping incredible, so that may have been part of their success. Energy efficient? Oh yeah – correct orientation for no direct sun in the summer and full sun in the winter. Secure, perhaps gated is not the correct word, but impregnable seems to fit, very safe. We felt the living and bedrooms were a bit small and in some of them, one had to climb up to a window to go down in the house, but the counters and floors were nice pinkish sandstone. The community spaces were superb and had round heated enclosures for men that were set in the ground for hanging out and talking politics and religion (just kidding). The marketing was very good with catchy names like Spruce Tree House, Balcony House, Cliff Palace, Square Tower House and Long House, all done in what is called “Puebloan” style. I asked about buying one, but they are so popular, that none ever comes on the market.

Geared to the Young Professionals!

: Notice the compact designs and community areas in these loft homes

We both felt that coming home with an armload of groceries or a deer would be difficult for entering the homes but the living accommodations would be worth it. The whole complex had an attractive name, “Mesa Verde,” Spanish for ‘Green Table,’ which may be a bit euphemistic, as it was pretty dry and not much green except for the Pinon Pines, Rabbitbush and the Sagebrush.

Sometimes A Long Way Up or Down!

: “Honey, would you help me with the groceries? I got a lot on sale!”

Of course, I am pulling your leg with Mesa Verde and the two and half days we spent there was a wonderful and unforgettable get away. We learned so much about the Anasazi people, including the name, which is Navajo for “enemy of our ancestors” and is now more appropriate to call them Ancient Puebloans, as they are the ancestors of the Pueblo, Hopi and Zuni Native American Tribes. They started building these cliff dwellings about 1190 AD and suddenly left in about 1300 AD. Why they did is one of the great mysteries in archaeology! Drought, Famine, War, Subprime loans??

Eating your lunch (corn on the cob) at the job site? Just put it in the wall!

Ok, so a pair of 1000 year old corn cobs in the wall? Hey, we use EVERYTHING to build with!

Staying at Far View Lodge in the DARK

We stayed in one of the ‘cabinettes’ in Far View Village in the park and I want to tell you this place is so dark at night that can’t see your hands in front of you but can you see the Milky Way brilliantly. If you haven’t had a Navaho Taco before, made with Navajo Fry Bread, you are in for a taste delight, and it is a regular menu item at the Far View Terrace Restaurant, located just a quarter mile from Far View Lodge. We climbed up and down a bazillion ladders to the dwellings (crawled through one tunnel), walked miles over the canyon trails and ached all over, so the Navajo Tacos and a drink (or two) at the end of the day was most welcome!

All this to tell you that there is a contest going on right now (4/12/2012) at Mesa Verde that you may want to enter. Follow this Mesa Verde link Win or not, a Mesa Verde trip is such a wonderful experience, that you should go, a trip of a life time….and it is only about 50 miles SW from Durango, so you could visit there and ride the 110+ old Durango & Silverton Railroad as well!

Enter now - The Spring Free Mesa Verde Trip Contest

Lowry Redevelopment in Denver, Approves Expansion

luxuryhomesindenver — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:05:17 +0000

As reported by John Rebchook of Inside Real Estate News,

This is how the new Lowry Expansion fits in.

Lowry is about to grow by 80 acres and 800 residential units. The Lowry Redevelopment Authority board has approved an Economic Development Conveyance for the Buckley Annex property, bordered by Monaco Parkway, First Avenue, Quebec and Bayaud streets. The Air Force is expected to transfer the deed in the next few weeks.

The 80-acre Buckley Annex property is the last remaining parcel of land to be
transferred by the Department of Defense to the LRA.

The conceptual redevelopment plan calls for:

A vibrant, urban, mixed-use area that integrates with surrounding
neighborhoods.
Approximately 800 residential units, including apartments, townhomes and
both attached and detached homes, at a wide range of price points.
Up to 200,000 square feet of commercial space, approximately half office and
half neighborhood retail.
A 4.5-acre community park, several small pocket parks and preservation of
several hundred existing trees.

About: John Rebchook has more than 30 years of experience in writing and
communications and was the Real Estate Editor for the Rocky Mountain News for 26 years. Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com

Energy Efficient Denver Homes – HERS not HIS!

luxuryhomesindenver — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:38:07 +0000

Ok, a play on words, but HERS, Home Energy Rating System, will become important in the years ahead in selling and marketing Denver Metro homes! In the Metrolist listing report of a home, starting on new listings from 3/7/2012, you will see a property description that says “Green Certifications/Features” and next to that, you will see the following:

HERS Rating: Solar PV:
Energy Star® Qualified New Home: Solar Thermal:
LEED for Homes:
NAHB/ICC – 700:
Other Green/Energy Certification:

This post will discuss the one at the left top, the “HERS Rating. As stated by the US Dept. of Energy, “a 70 on the E-Scale, for example, indicates that a home is approximately 30% more energy efficient than a typical new home built to code. A 60 on the E-Scale would be 40% more energy efficient. The ultimate goal is to get to 0 – a Net-Zero Energy Home. The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home’s score, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home, saving the homeowner money.”

Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home and a home with a HERS Index of 80 is 20% more energy efficient. RESNET has pioneered this rating system, it is accepted industry wide, and by US government agencies, and unlike a Building Performance Audit or a weatherization assessment, a home energy rating is a recognized tool in the mortgage industry, enabling a homebuyer to compare homes ‘apples to apples’ so to speak. This could have an effect on your mortgage rate, due to the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio. See my post “New Metrolist Update – The Future Is Now!”

The RESNET “HERS” Chart

Study this to learn how to read the HERS chart and what it means

RESNET Builders may place the E-Scale on or near the home’s electric panel to show potential homeowners the energy performance achieved by that particular home or model. Participating builders and partner organizations can also:
•Place their logo on the E-Scale label with program or product names
•Augment the rating with estimates of annual energy cost savings – which may help homebuyers, get better mortgage terms
•Include estimates of the carbon footprint associated with the energy rating

In the past, it was only the upscale and the luxury homes in Denver that had these energy efficient features but now that the Green/Efficient Energy industry and the mortgage-lending folks in the Denver Metro area are all on the same page, many new Denver Green homes for sale will be built using RESNET’s HERS rating system!

Sources: RESNET and US Dept. of Energy.

Dave Killian – A man of great character, integrity and honesty!

luxuryhomesindenver — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:22:30 +0000

Dave Killian, the Broker Owner of my real estate company, Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd, passed away Friday evening, March 16, 2012 unexpectedly. Dave was an exceeding rare person in this day and time, as this man redefined what honesty, character and integrity is all about. These facts really showed in the people he surrounded himself with - I always knew and still know that whatever questions I had or opinions I asked him for would be competently, unselfishly and ethically answered. Since I joined his company in August, 2008, I have trusted his actions and those of his managing broker, Jack Faubion, implicitly; having no second thoughts and I can’t say that for many people. Dave has built this company up over the last 6 or so years into a large brokerage by hiring people like him and like minded real estate licensees. His widow has stated that the company will be continued on with his values and no change of ownership, but he will be sorely missed by all of us.

How the SAVE Act Would Save New Homeowners

luxuryhomesindenver — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:43:10 +0000

I came across this interesting article by Jim DiPeso, Policy Director, Republicans for Environmental Protection, about the SAVE legislation that has passed the Senate and moves to the House. Some interesting points are raised about knowing the ‘truer’ cost of a home purchase and calculating that into the mortgage and could work with the recent Green/Energy Metrolist fields for listing homes in Denver for sale.

Energy efficiency would be considered as part of many mortgages, under a bipartisan proposal.

October 24, 2011 at 9:07AM by JIm DiPeso

Who says Congress can’t generate good ideas and get good stuff done anymore?

Well, lots of well informed people do. Lest we get too jaded, however, another gem of an energy efficiency bill has been dropped into the hopper. It has bipartisan sponsorship, it will reward frugal homeowners, it will reduce pollution, and it won’t expand government. It won’t cure the common cold, but it will benefit the country.

The details…

Senators Johnny Isakson, Georgia Republican, and Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat, have introduced the SAVE Act, which would order the Department of Housing and Urban Development to account for home energy costs in underwriting and appraisal guidelines used by federal entities—e.g., Fannie, Freddie, and FHA—that back home loans. Those guidelines likely would set a standard for the private mortgage lending industry.

Today, home appraisals typically do not take into account a home’s energy efficiency, which can be quantified by rating protocols such as the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). When a house is sealed up, well insulated, and has a high-efficiency heating and cooling system, it will have lower energy costs. The SAVE Act would require adding the present value of energy savings to the home’s appraised value for purposes of determining loan-to-value numbers that banks use to figure out how much cash to loan you for a house. If the value is higher, the amount you can borrow against is higher.

In addition, accounting for a home’s lower energy costs would work in the borrower’s favor when lenders make debt-to-income calculations. In short, lower energy bills mean a greater ability to afford your PITI payment (that’s pronounced “pity”) – Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance. The SAVE Act would require accounting for energy costs in making the debt-to-income calculation. The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that a house using 30 percent less energy than average would cut the borrower’s costs $700 per year.

A couple of other bipartisan energy bills worth noting:

S. 1000, by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), which would establish a loan program for industrial energy efficiency;
S. 398, by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), which would update efficiency standards for air conditioners and furnaces;
S. 1029, by Senators Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts) and Mark Udall (D-Colorado), which would ensure that consumers have access to electricity consumption information generated by smart meters, which in turn could spotlight opportunities for upgrading a home’s energy efficiency.

Small bore stuff? Sure, but these days, it’s worth taking any quarter loaves that are on offer.

What Do Americans Want Most Once Finances Improve?

luxuryhomesindenver — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:52:25 +0000

A encouraging article by Melissa Dittmann Tracey for REALTOR Magazine Daily News. I think this bodes well for Denver Metro home sales in the near future!

Fifty-one percent of Americans in a recent poll say that if their financial situation were to improve, they’d buy a home. Coming in second on the list of wishes, they’d make repairs or improvements to the home they already have, according to the poll of more than 1,400 Americans conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling Web site, www.DebtAdvice.org.

Meanwhile, 17 percent of Americans polled said they’d upgrade their car and 9 percent said they’d take a vacation.

“Home ownership has traditionally been a part of sound financial planning,” says Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC, a nonprofit credit counseling organization. “With a combined total of 74 percent of respondents selecting a home-oriented option, the poll results strongly suggests that people continue to place value in owning a home, and are anxious to buy a house or improve their existing one.”

New Metrolist Update – The Future Is Now!

luxuryhomesindenver — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 18:20:03 +0000

On March 7, 2012, Denver Metrolist released a new Energy/Green Features Addendum that will add a huge number of fields for one to search home listings for all aspects of green, solar, environmental certifications and energy efficiency construction. In January 2011, Governor Hickenlooper took over the responsibility of the The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) and its charter. His goal is to continue to shape it into an organization that will effectively, readily and elegantly advance energy efficiency and renewable clean energy resources, while also focusing on increasing business and job creation in Colorado. Hickenlooper and the GEO bought together businesses involved with this field such as vendors, designers, builders, Realtors, and engineers to share their ideas and construct a way forward.

Metrolist’s new green-field initiative is the result of work the company began with the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) in 2010. “We identified two major reasons why we should move forward with searchable green fields,” said James T. Wanzeck, Metrolist Board Chairman. “The first is social responsibility. Buildings, after all, consume 39 percent of the nation’s energy use.” “Adding searchable green fields to Metrolist is very exciting,” said Pete Rusin, a GEO residential program associate. “This effort will not only increase the coverage of energy efficiency fields in Colorado, it will help home owners and buyers find homes that can save them money on their utility costs.” Consistent with the Appraisal Committee’s recommendations, Metrolist’s searchable fields are split into two categories, “Certifications” and “Features.” Sellers can also showcase additional common features of an energy-efficient/”green” home.” Many listings of mid priced and luxury homes in Denver Metro have a lot of green features that can be highlighted in the new addendum. Look at the Metrolist new Energy/Green Features Addendum here. In the past, home buyers could only search on a few items like solar and solar hot water heater. This new form is active now, and will greatly change the home buying considerations and values as we move forward. Hats off to Metrolist, the GEO, and Governor Hickenlooper!