www.reporterherald.com Saturday, November 26, 2011 Reporter-Herald

Real EstateMatters

• •

ILYCEGLINKTRIBUNEMEDIA SERVICES

Question: I'm in the processof purchasing a condo, andthere's a wooden deck near

the porch with drainage under it.The homeowners association saysthat the wooden deck is the condoowner's responsibility, while thedrainage is its responsibility.Therefore, if repairs are needed

to the drainage, the deck will haveto be removed for access. Do youthink I should try to negotiatesomething with the seller now topay me for the deck for the deckremoval/replacement? If so, whatis the foolproof way of includingthis in an agreement?Answer:Owning a home has its

costs, duties and responsibilities.You can't have your seller guaran-tee that you will never have expens-es relating to repairs to your con-dominium. You need to deal withthe facts as they exist now, notwith a situation as it may developin the future.If the deck is in good shape and

the drainage is working properly,the seller is not responsible forwear and tear or maintenance is-sues that may arise in the future.You have to factor the possibility ofhaving these expenses into thecost of owning the condominiumfor the many years you may livethere.If the deck has a problem now or

if there is an issue with thedrainage, you can address that inthe purchase process, by havingthe seller repair or replace thedeck after the association fixes thedrainage.If you are in the process of buy-

ing the home, and inspection hasrevealed problems with the deckand drainage, it would be prudentto negotiate a repair of those is-sues now, before you close on thehome.You want to make sure the re-

pairs get done prior to your closingand settlement. If the work can'tget done by closing, you have sev-eral options to protect yourself.One of those choices is to get a fewestimates as to what it will cost tomake the repairs and have thosefunds plus a bit extra held backfrom the seller at closing to insurethat the work gets done and thecost is covered. Those funds shouldbe held by an unbiased third partyto make sure they don't get paid tothe seller without the work havingbeen completed.Once the work has been com-

pleted, the third party holding therepair funds can use those funds topay for the work and return any re-maining funds to the seller.All of this should be documented

in the contract. Your real estate at-torney can provide some languagethat will acceptable to the seller.

Seller notresponsiblefor condorepairs

Mortgage

MARCIEGEFFNERBANKRATE.COM

Selling a home as is can save re-pair dollars, but the sales tac-tic has risks and other consid-

erations sellers should keep in mind.The main danger of selling a home

as is comes from the possibility itwill fetch a rock-bottom price.Sometimes, but not all the time,it’s more cost-effective to pay for re-pairs to merit a higher purchaseprice.Sellers can advertise their home

any way they choose, whether thatmeans as is, willing to make repairsor no comment on the subject, saidPatti Ketcham, owner of KetchamRealty Group in Tallahassee, Fla.Some sellers don’t want to make

repairs because they have lived inthe house themselves for a long timeand don’t see the need for improve-ments, Ketcham said.“The house is held together with

duct tape,” she said, “and it’s

worked fine for them for 45 years, so(they’re thinking), ’Why in the worldwould I need to put in granite coun-tertops?’”Other sellers are upside-down or

underwater — they owe more on themortgage than the home is worth,said Jan Baron, a Realtor at HomeS-mart Real Estate in Temecula, Calif.These sellers need the lender’s per-mission to close a short sale, and be-cause they expect to lose money onthe deal, they’re in no mood to payfor repairs.Virtually all bank-owned homes

are sold as is, though in those cases,the stipulation is more about re-sponsibility than the repairs them-selves.“Banks are more worried about

the liability,” Baron said, “thoughthey don’t want to make any repairsthey don’t have to. The short sellersare thinking more about that theydon’t want to pay out of pocket be-cause they don’t have the money.”An as-is sale doesn’t mean buyers

won’t try to negotiate repairs be-

cause the home’s condition, like thesale price, is subject to bargainingregardless of how the property is ad-vertised. In fact, Ketcham said sheadvises buyers to make an offer onterms they prefer rather than whatthe seller wants.Many states require sellers to

make disclosures about a home’scondition to prospective buyers, saidJoanne Fanizza, a real estate attor-ney in Farmingdale, N.Y. An as-is salegenerally doesn’t erase such obliga-tions as much as sellers might wishit did.Nor does as is mean the buyer will

waive a home inspection. Ketchamsaid sellers can try to head off buy-ers’ demands by getting an inspec-tion before they put their home onthe market and using that to pricethe property and inform prospectivebuyers of what will and will not berepaired.“It puts your house in a category

way above all the other houses buy-ers have to look at if you’ve alreadyhad the inspection done,” she said.

The biggest risk of an as-is sale is alower sale price. For sellers who haveno equity, this trade-off is irrelevant.But for those who expect a profit, itshould be a real consideration.“As is” carries a stigma, said David

Tamny, owner of Professional Proper-ty Inspection in Columbus, Ohio,since the term suggests the house isin poor condition.“Most houses that are sold as is

are sold as is for a reason,” he said.“Something is wrong with it usually,and the sellers know they can’t dealwith it.”The bottom line is that today’s

housing markets are competitive,and buyers will choose anotherhome if they’re suspicious of theseller’s motivations, or they believe ahome isn’t a good deal based on itslocation, price and condition.“If you’re selling,” Ketcham said,

“your house has to be priced a littlebetter than the other four housesthe buyer will look at that sameday.”

Know the risks of selling a house 'as is'

ILYCEGLINK AND SAMUEL J.TAMKINTRIBUNEMEDIA SERVICES

According to a recentstudy by business in-formation company

Fiserv, the typical mortgagecosts 40 percent less thanit did in 2006. That justabout mirrors the drop inhome prices over the sameperiod.But there’s more to this

than a drop in home prices.Mortgage interest rates havefallen to the lowest levels inmore than 60 years. Thisweek, the average interestrate for a 30-year mortgagewas 3.8 percent, down 0.1percent, according to Zillow.A 15-year loan can be had

for about 3.16 percent,which is a new record. Andwhile the 10-year wasn’tquoted, one can only assumeyou could find it for less than3 percent, plus an average ofabout 0.6 percent in closingcosts.Five years ago, it would

have been difficult even toimagine how you could lockin a mortgage for 10 or 15years at around 3 percent.

And yet, here we are.“Continued instability in

Europe, in addition to theuncertainty caused by the(Congressional) supercom-mittee’s failure to reach anagreement on a deficit re-duction plan, has pushed theaverage 30-year fixed mort-gage rate down this week,”said Erin Lantz, director ofZillow Mortgage Market-place. “Mortgage rates willcontinue to stay historicallylow through Thanksgivingweek.”Unfortunately, while many

homeowners are still payingaround 6 percent interest ontheir mortgage, apparentlythey can’t refinance. Onereason they can’t is thathome prices keep falling, in-creasing the number ofhomeowners who are under-water (with home pricesworth less than the amountowed on the mortgage).Starting in December, the

Obama administration’s re-vamped Home Affordable Re-finance Program (HARP) willgo into effect, hopefully al-lowing underwater home-owners to refinance. Like allof the Making Home Afford-able programs, HARP 2.0 isvoluntary, meaning lenderswill not be required to offerthese loans to their borrow-ers.According to CoreLogic,

which provides informationand analytics on the housingindustry, HARP 2.0 includessome key changes that

should make it more attrac-tive to lenders, including:• The 125 percent loan-to-

value (LTV) ceiling will be re-moved, so that borrowerswith significant levels of neg-ative equity will now poten-tially be eligible.• Risk-based fees, also

known as loan-level pricingadjustments, will be reduced,although the reduction de-pends on the term of thenewly refinanced loan amongother factors.• There will be representa-

tion and warranty relief forthe lenders committing loansto the program (likely ex-cluding fraud and misrepre-sentation).• The use of reliable alter-

native valuation models toestablish eligibility of theLTV ratio will be allowed.• Existing second liens will

be able to be subordinated,which will remove a signifi-cant impediment to refinanc-ing under HARP.In addition, the program

has been extended throughthe end of 2013.HARP doesn’t have a great

track record up to this point.Fewer than 100,000 under-water borrowers have been

able to refinance their prop-erties. While the Obama ad-ministration hopes that moreborrowers will be able to takeadvantage, it’s hard to imag-ine these numbers will growsubstantially.Nevertheless, the need is

huge. On Ilyce’s radio showthis week, she spoke with awoman who has a 6.5 percentinterest rate on her loan. Sheoriginally put down 20 per-cent on the property, but herhouse is worth only about$110,000 instead of the$175,000 she paid eightyears ago. Her 20 percentdown payment has evaporat-ed, and she is far underwater.So far, she’s current on the

loan, but the future is indoubt — her husband losthis job some time ago, andthey are starting to struggle

with their monthly debt obli-gations because his new jobpays so much less.The biggest problem is

that their mortgage, a con-ventional 30-year loan, isn’towned by Fannie Mae orFreddie Mac. Their loan ser-vicer refuses to tell her whoowns the loan, and only con-firms that the company isnot participating in HARP2.0. This is another familythat might well end up inforeclosure, and not for lackof trying.We keep hearing from the

major lenders, and from theOffice of the Comptroller ofthe Currency, that everyoneis interested in keeping fami-lies in their homes. If that’strue, then the numbers ofHARP 2.0 loan refinancingsmust rise dramatically.

outlook:Best of times,worst of times

Mortgage ratesexpected toremain low forthe foreseeablefuture

For more information, callGlink’s radio show at800-972-8255 on Sundaysfrom 9 to 10 a.m., write to RealEstate Matters Syndicate, P.O.Box 366, Glencoe, IL 60022 orvisit www.thinkglink.com.

Real Estate Matters

www.HomeStateBank.com970-203-6100

Check the license status of yourmortgage loan originator at

http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm

An FHA 203(k) mortgage allows you to finance both your homepurchase and renovation with a single loan. Call now to learn more.

Loans and rates subject to credit approval. Owner-occupied residences only. FHA conditions and restrictions apply.

Vivian DeVoe, VP Mortgage Banker, NMLS#269876, 970-227-4702

Buying a home that needs work?Call the experts in FHA 203(k)renovation financing.

Think big Bank small

E2 Saturday Reporter-Herald November 26, 2011

Mortgage rate update

30-year fixed

15-year fixed

5/1 ARM

This week Last week Trend

4.02%

3.37%

2.97%

4.03%

3.38%

2.96%

Home & Real Estate is producedevery Saturday by the

Loveland Reporter-Herald.

Regional Snapshot for Loveland/Berthoud Residential

August September October

Active Listings 860 842 807Previous Year Active Listings 1054 1027 969

Sold Listings 154 115 117Previous Year Sold Listings 102 114 105

Median Sales Price $223,700 $209,275 $215,000Previous Year Median $192,000 $196,000 $211,000

Average Days on the Market 107 136 109Previous Year ADOM 121 122 121

Year to Date Listings Sold 964 1079 1196Previous Year YTD Listing Sold 941 1055 1160

News and Press Releases: TheReporter-Herald welcomes news onhirings, advancements, awards,classes and other information ofinterest to the real estate and homecommunity. Submit information tojcody@reporter-herald.com.

Advertising: For advertisinginformation, call Dan Grassmeyer.Office: 970-635-3615Cell: 970-214-6297E-mail:

dgrassmeyer@reporter-herald.com

Real Estate Transactionsare supplied by ProspectsUnlimited Inc., 1151 EagleDrive No. 467, Loveland,CO 80537, 667-1537.

Loveland• Michael & Jessica

Apostle from Kent Camp-bell, 3268 County Road 3,Loveland, $190,000,home• William Murray from

Thomas Dunn, 4485 SCounty Road 23, Love-land, $625,000, home• David & Tammy Ja-

coway from Farmers Bank,6342 Venado Ct, Love-land, $90,000, home• John & Paula Prebish

from Michael Jansma,1040 S Railroad Ave,Loveland, $350,000,home• Dora Reece from

Lakes Point ConstructionIi Ll, 1538 Landsman HillDr, Loveland, $268,800,home• Devin Austin from

David Meyer, 4230 Jules-berg Dr, Loveland,$210,000, home• Rene Macias from

Nancy J Hipp Trust, 4541Keota Pl, Loveland,$198,000, home• Jeremy & Britni Gi-

rard from Jennifer Olbeda,1152 S Tyler Ave, Love-land, $173,000, home• Rhonda Sharp from

Quality Service GroupLLC, 719 S Edinburgh Dr,

Loveland, $254,900,home• Charles & Joleen Za-

czek from Edwin Shinn,3234 Sedgwick Cir, Love-land, $279,000, home• Susan Schmickle from

Caroline Stevens, 2007Empire Ave, Loveland,$177,000, home• Charles Thomas from

Walter Ballinger, 730 W10th St, Loveland,$203,000, home• Travis Massey from

Korina Brim, 3843 Jeffer-son Dr, Loveland,$190,000, home• David & Lisa Downer

from Alison Buckle, 3257Crowley Cir, Loveland,$350,000, home• Francisco Ramospina

from Lyle Fenderson, 109S Saint Louis Ave, Love-land, $137,000, home• Darcy & Elizabeth

Speer from Mark Hatcher,267 Snow Goose Ave,Loveland, $217,000,home• Eve Kutchman from

Gary Lindquist, 883Garfield Ave, Loveland,$157,300, home• Marilou Willcoxen

from Loveland MidtownDevelopment I, 1149Caelum Ct, Loveland,$210,600, home• Andrew &Mary Mac-

donald from MeredithSearcy, 466 W 5th St,Loveland, $165,900,home• Kelly Murphy from

Darcy Speer, 3930 Boul-der Dr, Loveland,$172,000, home• Sharon Ward from

Trafton Family Trust, 108Carina Cir, Loveland,$239,900, home• Dean Grundman from

Warren Williams, 4950Clearwater Dr, Loveland,$255,000, home• Richard & Kate

Smartt from Richard Wil-son, 4481 Ribbon Ct,Loveland, $332,000,home

Estes Park• Dane & Lori Spillers

from Donald Debey, 2625Marys Lake Rd Unit 40b,Estes Park, $258,000,condo• Tristan & Gabriella

Coriell from PawneeMeadows LLC, 1790 GrayHawk Ct, Estes Park,$223,000, home• Jack & Linda Tucker

from Lorrine A Tooley Re-vocable Trust, 1375 RavenCir, Estes Park, $277,500,home• Saybrook LLC from

James Burke, 185 VirginiaLn, Estes Park, $500,000,home• Guinevere Crabtree

from Julie Garner, 507Birch Ave, Estes Park,$120,000, home• David Denning from

Robin Parker, 1861 RavenAve Unit A6, Estes Park,$216,500, condo

Johnstown• Jason & Amanda

Biesecker from OakwoodHomes LLC, 3611Pinewood Ct, Johnstown,$255,000, home• James & Crystal Gert-

son from Oakwood HomesLLC, 5260 RavenswoodLn, Johnstown, $209,800,home• Sharon & Pete Fuller

from Oakwood HomesLLC, 5300 RavenswoodLn, Johnstown, $210,000,home• Hector Herrera from

Herbies Homes LLC, 1203Sw 1st St, Johnstown,$131,000, home• Chessica Devereaux

from JJ Constr NorthernColo LLC, 257 Alder Ave,Johnstown, $179,400,home

Windsor• Ridgeway Services

from Highland MeadowsDevelopment I, 6001 BayMeadows Dr, Windsor,$55,500, home• Randy & Charlotte

Jones from AnthonyPecone, 8221 Nautical Ct,Windsor, $330,000, home• Roy & Kelley

Hekowczyk from Green-ridge Road Land HoldingCo, 7352 Greenridge RdUnit B15, Windsor,$43,700, condo• James & Denise

Scheller fromWestmarkHomes LLC, 6715 Bandon

Dunes Dr, Windsor,$385,000, home• John Hensley from

Fannie Mae, 1132 GrandAve, Windsor, $194,000,home• William & Amber

Slade from Ken Ketels Re-vocable Trust, 160 KittyHawk Dr, Windsor,$267,500, home• Becky Meyer from

Prestige Homes LLC, 556Arrow Ct, Windsor,$208,400, home• Elizabeth Sullivan

from Prestige Homes LLC,570 Arrow Ct, Windsor,$206,900, home• Terry Sawicki from

Sharps 3 Invest LLC, 1991Seadrift Dr, Windsor,$160,000, home• Saint LLC fromWin-

ter FarmWindsor LLC,518 Trout Creek Ct, Wind-sor, $35,000, home

Foreclosures• Borrower: John Keller,

Lender: Wells Fargo BankNa, Amount: $199,957,Property: 215 Becker Cir,Johnstown, Filed:11/16/11• Borrower: Brian Mur-

ry, Lender: Suntrust Mort-gage Inc, Amount:$205,000, Property: 155Becker Cir, Johnstown,Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Ah & Bren-

da Khanzada, Lender: Citi-mortgage Inc, Amount:$318,681, Property: 5529

Jordan Dr, Loveland,Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Shirley

Choury, Lender: Jpmor-gan Chase Bank NationalAssoc, Amount: $215,775,Property: 833 Wisteria Dr,Loveland, Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Jeffrey Dor-

rell, Lender: JpmorganChase Bank National As-soc, Amount: $267,911,Property: 3605 Carrie Ln,Loveland, Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Colin &

Mary Fisher, Lender: TheBank Of New York Mellon,Amount: $283,302, Prop-erty: 4417 14th St Sw,Loveland, Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Norlarco

Credit Union, Lender: TheBank Of New York Mellon,Amount: $228,005, Prop-erty: 649 Johnson Ave,Loveland, Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Norma

Lodge, Lender: Citifinan-cial Inc, Amount:$210,980, Property: 1491Chickadee St, Loveland,Filed: 11/10/11• Borrower: Edna Mag-

gard, Lender: Federal Na-tional Mortgage Assoc,Amount: $246,500, Prop-erty: 2248 SteamboatSprings St, Loveland,Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Tommy &

Beverly Barrow, Lender:The Bank Of New YorkMellon, Amount:$126,326, Property: 341 EIlex St, Milliken, Filed:11/16/11

• Borrower: Hal & MartiKintigh, Lender: Us BankNational Association,Amount: $427,454, Prop-erty: 4785 Haystack Dr,Windsor, Filed: 11/16/11• Borrower: Douglas &

Beth Edelfelt, Lender: PhhMortgage Corp, Amount:$141,076, Property: 5051st St, Windsor, Filed:11/10/11• Borrower: Michael &

Jennifer Ikenouye,Lender: Bank Of AmericaNational Association,Amount: $417,000, Prop-erty: 2013 Vineyard Dr,Windsor, Filed: 11/14/11• Borrower: Robert &

Rebekah Schmit, Lender:Bank Of America Na Suc-cessor, Amount:$146,420, Property: 617Hemlock Dr, Windsor,Filed: 11/14/11• Borrower: Paulino

Vazquez-Najera, Lender:Gmac Mortgage LLC,Amount: $106,957, Prop-erty: 507 14th St, Wind-sor, Filed: 11/14/11• Borrower: Liane &

John Anderson, Lender:Wells Fargo Bank NationalAssoc, Amount: $170,662,Property: 310 Granite Ct,Windsor, Filed: 11/15/11• Borrower: Richard &

Becky Wagner, Lender:Bank Of America Na Suc-cessor, Amount:$480,339, Property:37039 Soaring Eagle Cir,Windsor, Filed: 11/15/11

H& Real Estate TransactionsRE

saturday sunday

Well kept 2-story in Blackbird Knolls oncorner lot. Huge Mstr bdr with sitting roomand fireplace. 4 bdrs, 3 baths, full unfinishedbasement, abundance of trees, and 5 piecemstr bath with jetted tub.

1620 Persian Ave, Loveland

OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN 1-4

John MatheyPremier Lifestyle Realty

(970) 481-5512johnm368@msn.com

OPEN Saturday 1-3 2+Acre Lake front& horselots starting $225,000 water tap included.Surface rights,walk paths, parks, boat docks,fishing and peace garden.

Warberg Farm at Chapman Reservoir

OPEN SATURDAY 1-3 PM

Kurt AlbersCentury 21 Humpal, Inc.970-231-1224kurtd57@msn.comwww.warbergfarmatchapmanreservoir.com

Peakview Meadows, prices starting at$195,000.5models tochoosefrom.Showroomopen weekdays and 1- 4 pm weekends. 663-2400 for an appointment

319 E 27th Street, Loveland

SHOWROOM OPEN

Kurt AlbersCentury21 Humpal, Inc(970)231-1224kurt.albers@century21.comwww.berthoud.org

Spectacular ranch style home on 2+ acreswith mountain views. Almost 8,000 sq ft ofliving space, 5 car garage. Come view thisgorgeous home!

3341 Landmark Dr., Berthoud

OPEN SATURDAY 1-3 PM

Kurt AlbersCentury21 Humpal, Inc(970)231-1224kurt.albers@century21.com

UP TO $199,999UP TO $199,999 $200,000 - $299,999 $500,000 - $599,999$500,000 - $599,999$ $$ $

Featured Properties

Energy Star - Built Green/Built Better! SAVE$35,000 this weekend! 3 BR, 3 BA, large 24’deep 2-car garage, sprinkler system, fullbasement, A/C, backs to greenbelt. Pastbuilders showhome. $219,900

4478 Hayler Avenue, Loveland

OPEN HOUSE SAT & SUN 1-4 PM

Kevin CookCottage Realty970-532-5900www.lovelandcorealestate.com

Price: Location: Address: Time: Office/Contact: Phone:

From the $140’s Loveland 43rd St & Wilson AveThe Cottages atEnchantment Ridge

12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515

$150,840 NE Loveland 4905 Hahns Peak #104 11 AM-3 PM RE/MAX Alliance-FTC Downtown,Jeremy Johnson

970-313-6166

$167,900 Loveland 4331 Filbert Drive 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Realty, NancyWalkowicz

970-461-7136

$169,900 Loveland 4403 Elliot Pl 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515

From $169,900 Loveland 1899 East 11th St. 10 AM-6 PM Midtown Homes, Boise Village North,Wayne Lewis

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Starting at $195,900 Berthoud Peakview Meadows 1-4 PM Century 21 Humpal, Inc., Kurt Albers 970-231-1224

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$207,315 Loveland 3441 Foster Pl 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515

$219,900 Loveland 4478 Hayler Ave 1-4 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900

Starting at $225,000 Berthoud Warberg Farm AtChapman Reservoir

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$225,000 West Loveland 4228 Foothills Dr. 1-3 PM RE/MAX Alliance-Loveland, FranciWunderlich

970-313-6166

$225,000 Loveland 4300 Harrison Avenue 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Realty, Cindy Kurtz 970-962-5832

$239,000 Loveland 4496 Hayler Ave 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900

$249,900 Berthoud 1621 Hollyberry St. 1-3 PM RE/MAX Alliance-Loveland, KathyBeadell

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$255,000 Loveland 3518 Akron Court 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Realty, Rich Gardiner 970-461-7126

$298,664 Loveland 4355 Ridgway Dr 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-227-3893

$299,000 Loveland 2892 Ariel Drive 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Realty, GeorgenaArnett

970-481-9801

$299,900 Loveland 1920 New Hampshire St 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-227-3893

$299,900 Loveland 4454 Stump Ave 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900

$329,900 Loveland 4613 Free Hold 12 Noon-5PM

The Group Inc., Realty, KristenSpecketer

970-290-8097

$335,000 Loveland 2890 Carina Drive 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Realty, GeorgenaArnett

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$500,000 (+) Berthoud 3341 Landmark Drive 1-3 PM Century 21 Humpal, Inc. Kurt Albers 970-231-1224.

Price: Location: Address: Time: Office/Contact: Phone:

$130,000 Loveland 4805 Hahns Peak Drive#202

1:30-3:30 PM The Group Inc., Realty, John Simmons 970-481-1250

From the $140’s Loveland 43rd St & Wilson AveThe Cottages atEnchantment Ridge

12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515

$150,840 NE Loveland 4905 Hahns Peak #104 11 AM-3 PM RE/MAX Alliance-FTC Downtown,Jeremy Johnson

970-313-6166

$169,900 Loveland 4403 Elliot Pl 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515

From $169,900 Loveland 1899 East 11th St. 10 AM-6 PM Midtown Homes, Boise Village North,Wayne Lewis

970-456-4600

$200,000 (+) Loveland 1620 Persian Ave. 1-4 PM Premier LIfestyle Realty, John Mathey 970-481-5512

$207,315 Loveland 3441 Foster Pl 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-215-0515

$219,900 Loveland 4478 Hayler Ave 1-4 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900

$220,000 Loveland 340 Cardinal Avenue 11 AM-1 PM The Group Inc., Realty, Emily Waller 720-231-7183

$239,000 Loveland 4496 Hayler Ave 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900

$249,900 Berthoud 1621 Hollyberry St. 1-3 PM RE/MAX Alliance-Loveland, KathyBeadell

970-290-1798

$255,000 Loveland 3518 Akron Court 1-3 PM The Group Inc., Realty, Rich Gardiner 970-461-7126

$298,664 Loveland 4355 Ridgway Dr 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-227-3893

$299,900 Loveland 1920 New Hampshire St 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-227-3893

$299,900 Loveland 4454 Stump Ave 12-5 PM Cottage Realty 970-532-5900

$329,900 Loveland 4613 Free Hold 12 Noon-5PM

The Group Inc., Realty, KristenSpecketer

970-290-8097

Saturday Reporter-Herald November 26, 2011 E3

H& Featured Home PlanRE

ASSOCIATED DESIGNS

A bright tile roof caps thesmooth stucco of the South-western-style Santa Rosa. De-

signed for construction on a slope,this home has three levels. Gather-ing spaces are on the main floor,and bedrooms are above. A roomytwo-car garage and two large stor-age areas are below, and some ofthose spaces are windowed.An inviting arched opening leads

from the garage on the right to thehandsome railed staircase thatclimbs gently to the main floor. Awider arch, opening onto the entryporch, frames the front door, alongwith a windowed bench to thedoor's left. Inside, art niches onboth sides of the door flank theshort passageway into the foyer.After entering, you have three

choices. To the right is a den orhome office. Straight ahead, anarch marks the passageway thatleads to a spacious dining room,

windowed on three sides. That hall-way also runs past a large utilityroom, which, in turn, accesses acovered patio with skylights. Slidingglass doors in the dining room opento the patio as well.To the left of the foyer is an

arched opening that leads into afoyer extension outfitted with a coatcloset and a bench for shoe re-moval. The next arch opens into thewelcoming living room, which has acorner fireplace and recessed homeentertainment center. This space isopen to the gourmet kitchen, andalso offers access to a side deck.Upstairs, owners' suite amenities

include a railed balcony, a largewalk-in closet, and a bathroom with

a shower, spa tub, dual vanity andprivate toilet. Each of the SantaRosa's other two bedrooms hasdirect access to a private basin,then on to a shared toilet andshower.Visit AssociatedDesigns.com for

more information or to search ourhome plans. A review plan of theSanta Rosa 30-800, including floorplans, elevations, section, andartist's conception, can be pur-chased for $25. The home plan cat-alog, featuring more than 550home plans, costs $15. Both areavailable online, by mail or phone.Add $5 s/h. Associated Designs,1100 Jacobs Dr., Eugene, OR97402, (800) 634-0123.

Santa RosaStucco tri-levelhome hassouthwesternappeal

The must-do list: homeprojects for DecemberCLINT BRISCOEMCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

The end of the year is almosthere, and there are some im-portant projects that should

be done before the start of 2012.Complete these Must-Do projects

before ringing in the New Year, andyou will be ready for the start of win-ter and to sing “Auld Lang Syne“.

TEST FIRE EXTINGUISHERSAND CARBON MONOXIDEDETECTORSFire extinguishers and carbon

monoxide detectors save lives, butthey are worthless if they are mal-functioning or are broken. These im-portant safety devices should be reg-ularly inspected to ensure they areoperating properly, and the start ofwinter is a great time to give them athorough examination. Carbonmonoxide detectors should havefresh batteries, be hardwired orplugged into a dedicated wall outlet.Fire extinguishers should be nearlyfull and have an easy-to-pull triggerwith a functioning nozzle. If thesedevices are not already in the home,get them. It could be a matter of lifeor death.

RAKE YOUR LEAVESGet some exercise and do the yard

a favor by raking the leaves that haveaccumulated this fall. Leaves thatare left on the lawn can cause anumber of problems. For instance, athick accumulation of leaves cansmother the turf, or if the leaves arecovered in snow it can lead to moldgrowth. Once the leaves have beengathered, there are a variety of dis-posal options. If discarding theleaves, place them in large paperbags so they can be disposed of prop-erly. Also, consider composting orshredding the leaves so they can beused as mulch instead.

PLACE WEATHER STRIPPINGAROUNDWINDOWS ANDDOORSDuring the winter, it is important

to keep hot air in and cold air out.Unfortunately this is easier said thandone. Small cracks in the home’s ex-terior can allow heated air to escapefrom the home and cool outside airto infiltrate the living space. As a re-sult, the furnace may have to worklonger and harder, causing utilitybills to go through the roof. To pre-vent this, caulk, seal and weather-strip cracks around windows anddoors and along the home’s exterior.Taking this step is relatively easy andinexpensive, and it will help keepthe home warmer and heating billslower.

CHECK THE WOOD PILE ANDENSURE IT WILL LAST THROUGHTHE WINTER

It is difficult to have a fire withoutany wood, so check the wood pile tosee if there is enough to make itthrough the winter. How much isneeded will vary from one homeown-er to the next and will depend heavi-ly on how often a fire is made. If inthe market to buy some wood, makesure it is seasoned, having beendried for at least one year. Also, al-ways buy wood in cords or in per-centages of cords. The size of truck-loads, bundles and other often-usedterms of measurement vary fromone seller to the next. However, acord is 128 cubic feet of wood and isthe only standard measurement forpurchasing wood.

DRAIN THE WATER HEATERBelieve it or not, but water is car-

rying more than hydrogen, oxygenand a little fluoride. It also oftencontains sediment and minerals.These tiny impurities can accumu-late in a water heater and negativelyimpact its performance. How oftenthe water heater needs to be drainedwill fluctuate and be more frequentin areas with high mineral content.As a general rule of thumb, flush thewater heater at least once a year. Besure to read the owner’s manual be-fore beginning because draining thewater heater incorrectly can lead topersonal injury or damage to thetank.

Open Houses This Weekend - www.thegroupinc.com

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 1:00-3:002892 Ariel Drive, Loveland Colorado Craftsman style homequality built by Oak Valley Homes. Kitchen features a largeisland and shaker style alder cabinetry. Ranch style home withopen floor plan backs to open space. Beautiful finishes includehardwood floors, designer tile & slab granite. Full, unfinishedbasement. Fully landscaped yard.

$299,000MLS# 662114

Call Georgena Arnett481-9801

NEW CONSTRUCTION

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12:00-5:004613 Free Hold Drive, Windsor Must see ranch plan with walk-out on oversized, elevated lot. Very upgraded! Trex patio, 3-cargarage, slab granite and stainless kitchen, full basement andmuch more! Stucco with stone exterior. See our model at 4613Pompano Drive for more information. Other completed homesavailable.

$329,900MLS# 647804

Call Kristen Specketer290-8097

NEW CONSTRUCTION

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 1:00-3:002890 Carina Circle, Loveland Colorado Craftsman style home.Finishes include hardwood floors, designer tile, slab granite,alder trim & doors and shaker style alder cabinetry. 12’ ceilingsin great room w/wood beams. SS appliances, gas fireplace andcustom built-ins. Fully landscaped. Close to I-25, Centerra andthe Medical Center of the Rockies.

$335,000MLS# 662119

Call Georgena Arnett481-9801

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Northern Colorado

Real Estate Sourcew w w . t h e g r o u p i n c . c o m

Online version of publicationat www.thegroupinc.comcontaining links to detail pagesfor most listings.

NEW NORTHERN COLORADO HOMES

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4297 Golf Vista Dr, LovelandAmazing Setting! On POND & GOLFCOURSE. Dramatic home has all the right el-ements: GREAT KITCHEN (stunning granite,dbl ovens, views) GORGEOUSMASTER (large

soaking tub & HIS/HERSWALK-IN CLOSETS).$449,000| MLS #667770Call Maria McLain970-217-8500mariamclain@remax.net

OPEN SATURDAY 12 2 P.M.321W. 4th St., Loveland

Super cute old town bungalow on theWest side. 3 Bed/1 bath/1 car-garage.Original wood floors, great trim, newerwindows, high ceilings, 95% eff. furnace,

deep lot with nice deck,shed, & playhouse.$169,000 | MLS #667898Call Jill Leichliter970-443-7789www.JillSellsHomesInColorado.com

OPEN SATURDAY 1 3 P.M.369W. 9th Street, Loveland

Absolutely charming 4 bdrm, 2 ba home!Spectacular kitchen remodel. Lots ofupdating, care & character. Corner lot.Updated baths. Must see! Hwy 34, S on

Garfield, W on 8th, N onGrant,W on 9th.$199,750 | MLS #667941Call Amber Huber217-2939amberhuber@remax.net

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www.7032Ruidoso.comCheck out website updates! The foundationhas been poured on this ranch style withwalk-out basement, granite counters, 4-cartandem garage & more! Backs to open space

& Highland Meadows GolfCourse.$459,900 | MLS #665604Call Nanci Garnand622-1846 | 227-1327www.LivingInWindsor.com

www.3627Maplewood.comDesigned with lots of open living anduniqueness. Gourmet kitchen with largelaundry/pantry. Storage abounds with walk-in closets in ALL bedrooms! Community

pool, walking trails, frisbeegolf course.$301,750 | MLS #666187Call Nanci Garnand622-1846 | 227-1327www.LivingInJohnstown.com

3377 Crowley Circle, LovelandStunning home backing to open space!Wonderful views of the foothills withgreenbelt, walking/biking trails and pri-vacy. This lovely 4 bed/4 bath home has

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LOCAL NEWSAND INFORMATION

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TO FITYOUR LIFESTYLE

Gifts for GardenersGive gardenerswhat they reallywant this holidayseason

BUYING OR SELLING?Ron McCrimmon IsYourLocal Real Estate Expert.view more listings at…

RonMcCrimmon.com970.214.2763

Saddle Notch Road - LovelandOffered at $10,000,000

Indian Creek Ranch - LovelandOffered at $2,000,000

155 Acres - Estes ParkOffered at $2,750,000

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SEVERAL MODELS!

CAROLO'MEARACSU EXTENSION

Despite the old-fashionedidea that each seasonshould move along at

its own pace, unhurried by theforces of marketing, my mail-box gets filled with garden cat-alogs earlier and earlier eachyear. Following tradition, I rantabout how the world is surelydoomed, and rave that the tiltof the earth’s axis is thrown off,all because the catalogs arrivedin November, instead of Jan-uary.But there’s method in their

madness and a quick glance atthe slick, glossy pages had mewhipping up my Christmaswish list in a hurry. If you’reshopping for a gardener thisseason, here are a few sugges-tions for filling them with joy.

MUSHROOM GARDENFROM BACK TO THE ROOTSWhy it’s cool: Turning used

coffee grounds from local cof-fee shops into a kit for savory,delicious oyster mushrooms,this kit is for the gardener whowants to stay green year-round.“They’re fun kits, and it onlytakes 10 days to grow them, soit’s instant gratification al-most,” said Nikhil Arora who,with Alex Velez, co-founded theOakland, California company.“You don’t need a greenthumb, and it’s perfect forgrowing with kids.” The kitlasts in the box for months un-til the gardener is ready togrow them, and they’ll produceseveral crops of fungi.Cost: $19.95Get it: Locally at Whole

Foods, or receive a 10-percentdiscount by ordering online at

backtotheroots.com. Use codeColoradomushrooms10 whenordering.

TOMATO STRAINERWhy they’re cool: If you’re

growing vegetables, chancesare you’ll understand why akitchen gadget is on a garden-er’s wish list. For sauces, soups,and pureed perfection, thisstrainer pushes vegetablesthrough a stainless steelscreen, separating juice andpulp from seeds, skins, andstems. A must have for thosewho spend as much time in thekitchen as in the garden.Cost: $56.95Get it: Cook’s Garden,

cooksgarden.com.

FELCO FRUIT ANDVEGETABLE HARVESTINGSHEAR (F310)Why they’re cool: Italian-

made Felco pruners are a topquality tool for serious garden-ers, even when the task issmall: harvesting tender herbsor fruit. These lightweightsnips are small enough to ma-neuver around snarledgrapevines to get at the clus-ters, and fit comfortably in thehand.Cost: $19.75Get it: felcostore.com.

MANURE MEDLEYWhy it’s cool: If you truly

love your gardener, give them abig bucket of poo. Disturbingas it sounds, a gardener willtreasure this collection of batguano, wormcastings, and fos-silized sea bird droppings. Thethoughtful touch of a bar ofsoap rounds out this unusualassortment, which comes in aone-and-a-half gallon-sized can-vas bucket. Doubles as a greatgift for bosses, too.Cost: $22.95Get it: Pinetree Garden

Seeds,

superseeds.com.

GIFT CERTIFICATESWhy it’s cool: Supporting lo-

cal garden centers by givingyour gardener a shopping spreeis always a classic call.

QUICK CONNECT BRASSHOSE FITTINGWhy it’s cool: This small gift

will delight anyone who strug-gles with hoses and sprayers.Attach it to the faucet andhooking up hoses is a snap, putit on the outlet end and swap-ping nozzles for sprinklerheads is a breeze.Cost: $6.99 for set of male

and female.Get it: Hardware stores and

garden centers.

WEST COUNTY LANDSCAPEGLOVESWhy they’re cool: These

earth-friendly, breathablegloves are a composite of terrycloth and spandex made, inpart, from recycled plastic wa-

ter bottles. Every pair of glovescontains two large plastic wa-ter bottles, recycled into adurable fabric. Kevlar rein-forced, sure-grip fingers andpads make these gloves a per-fect fit for gardeners tacklingtough jobs.Cost: $32Get it: Visit the store locator

at westcountygardener.com/ tofind the store nearest you thatcarries these gloves.Carol O’Meara is with CSU

Extension in Boulder County.Contact her at 303-678-6238 orcomeara@co.boulder.co.us.