There are 83 Colorado public schools ranked in 2013 among the U.S. News Best High Schools, including 15 gold medal schools, 24 silver medal schools and 44 bronze medal schools.

One of Colorado's top-ranked secondary schools is Peak to Peak Charter School, located within the Boulder Valley School District.  Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® course work and exams. The AP® participation rate at Peak to Peak Charter School is 98 percent.  Fairview High School is ranked 7^th in Colorado and 294^th nationally. The AP participation rate at Fairview is 61 percent.

D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School has been ranked as the top Colorado High School in the Denver metro area.  D'Evelyn is part of the Jefferson County School district which has 32 high schools. D'Evelyn is ranked 175th nationally and 5^th in the state of Colorado.  The AP® participation rate at D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School is 75 percent. The Denver Center for International Studies came in second in the Denver area, followed by The Denver School of the Arts, which rank 6^th and 8^th in the state, respectively.

In Colorado Springs, The Vanguard School comes in on top ranking third on the list in Colorado. The AP® participation rate at The Vanguard School is 76 percent.  The Classical Academy High School placed second in Colorado Springs and 11^th in the state; followed closely by Cheyenne Mountain School, placing 12^th in the state.

Read more at US News.

Posted in Real Estate Trends

Baby Boomers will not be able to rely on Social Security and secured pensions like their parents' generation. And experts believe that most Boomers are about $500,000 short of what they will need to retire comfortably.

"The subprime meltdown of 2008 combined with the stock market crash that followed has left many boomers scrambling to piece together an adequate nest egg," writes Mark Cussen, a financial planner, "and many of them have subsequently turned to the equity in their homes as a solution. And while real estate prices are finally starting to rise again, those who cannot substantially profit from selling their current home in order to find a cheaper one will likely have to make some major adjustments in their lifestyles for the near future."

The World War II generation lived in the same home until they died or until they moved into a retirement home.  Boomers are different.  "A study done by the AARP showed that a large percentage of boomers indicated that they would like to move when they retire." says Cussen. "This trend was one of the major factors behind the housing boom of the previous decade." (Read: Seniors Valuable to Housing Recovery)

Many Boomers are also retiring later, whether due to financial constraints or the fact that the Boomer generation is healthier and likely to live 10 to 25 years longer than their parents. Unlike their parents, Boomers are more likely to change careers later in life and to work in areas that have always interested them or to work for causes that they believe in.  "Baby boomers are far less prepared for retirement than their parents, who learned to save money and avoid debt after living through a war and a depression." says Cussen.

Make sure you are ready to retire.  "The biggest question one asks before retiring is, 'Can I afford it?" says Angela Daidone, on Investopedia.com. "If you've planned well, your house is paid off and you have little or no outstanding debt. That's a great start, but will you have enough to live comfortably during your retirement years?"  Experts estimate that retirees will need well over 50% of their current annual income to live at the same or a similar level as when they were working.

"Most banks and financial institutions provide retirement calculators to help put money issues in perspective." says Daidone. "They take into consideration aspects such as your age (and at what age you'd like to retire), current savings and income (including expected rate of return for investments, pensions and Social Security benefits), current and anticipated expenses, and estimated inflation numbers."  Read: Estate Planning Tips

It may be time to start a new chapter in your life. "The boomers will be the first generation to truly blaze the trail through the landscape of retirement in the 21st century." says Cussen.

Find a Senior Real Estate Expert

Read more at Investopedia.com

photo credit: SalFalko

Posted in Real Estate Trends

In 2012, home owner equity grew by more than $1.64 trillion in the U.S. Rising home values have lifted 1.7 million home owners above water again, according to the latest Housing Scorecard put out by HUD.

"Despite the positive news, we have important work ahead since there are so many families and individuals still struggling," says Kurt Usowski, HUD deputy assistant secretary for economic affairs.

"Home prices and home sales have shown large gains in the past year." according to Realtor Magazine. "Existing-home sales in February were up 10 percent year-over-year, the highest since November 2009. New-home sales were up 12 percent year-over-year in February, which is the second highest level since April 2010."   

See the Housing Scorecard for March.

photo credit: elzoh

Posted in Real Estate Trends

As the economy improves, more homeowners are willing to start remodeling projects again.  Every year, Remodeling Magazine looks at the hottest home upgrades and renovations and calculates the return on dollars invested.

The magic phrase uttered by almost anyone who's ever looked into the cost of home remodeling is "We'll use our home equity and get it back when we sell." says Dana Dratch on BankRate.com.  "But unless you keep those projects practical, you might just be kidding yourself."

So, for the sake of practicality, let's examine the worst remodeling projects for the return. 

Home Office Remodel:  Gone are the days of the lavishly paneled home office.  "Want to get an idea what today's office-away-from-the-office looks like?" asks Dratch, "Walk into a Starbucks." Working at home today means being portable, you might find yourself, just as likely, working outside on the back porch!  In Denver, a completely remodeled office with built-in storage and high tech wiring could cost $26,000, but your return would be only 43% of those costs.  Dratch says you should go lower tech, something that can be easily converted back into a bedroom.

Sun Room Addition:  The clue here is "addition".  Sure, Coloradans love their sunshine but when adding a room to the footprint of the house, might sure it flows with the rest and can be used year-round.  "The national average for a sunroom addition is $75,224." says Dratch. "Denver averages around $72,000 and you would only recoup 46.5% of that when you sell.

Bathroom Addition:  Adding a nice new bathroom can cost upwards to $68,000, whereas spending money on remodeling and upgrading an existing bathroom is half that.  "In the buyer's mind, the additional bathroom isn't worth that additional cost," writes Dratch, you could only recoup 54% of your investment.  Reconfiguring your existing space is the wiser choice.

Master Suite Addition:  This was a trend that most buyers looked for in years past but with the high inventory of upscale homes available, they can buy a newer house with the same features.  That doesn't mean, you shouldn't upgrade, but the price tag for a super deluxe master suite addition that adds square footage can cost approximately $212,000 in Denver, of which you would see a 51% return.  "So while the next buyer may appreciate your luxury accommodations (which could even tip their decision in your home's favor), chances are they won't want to pay the full tab for your remodel." says Dratch.

Garage Addition:  You've dreamed of that super organized, spotless garage with everything in its place.... but the cost of an upscale garage addition could be around $77,000 in Denver and you can expect to see only 56% back on your investment.  "You've got a very small target audience out there that wants an upscale garage." writes Dratch.  Most people want a garage for one reason; to store their cars.

So, what are the best remodeling projects for the money? Upkeep is more popular than upgrades these days according to Remodeling Magazine.  Replacing your entry door with a steel one is the best return for the money.  A steel door will cost you $1100 and will bring an 85% return. The next best projects you can do is adding a deck, replacing the garage door and replacing your windows.

See the complete list of Remodeling Projects and the Return on Investment for Denver at Remodeling Magazine

photo credit: Stewf

Posted in Real Estate Trends

You are looking to downsize and have decided to put your home on the market. Most likely, the buyers will be younger- possibly a young family or young professional but you are concerned that your "older" home might not appeal to a younger buyer. 

What does the younger buyer want?  

Keep it neutral throughout your house.  Paint your walls a trendy neutral gray that works well with contemporary furnishings. 

Update the kitchen with white cabinetry and basic granite countertops.  Upgrade your appliances to stainless steel before putting it on the market.

Upgrade the Bathrooms:  "Young professionals love large, open glass showers. The garden-variety tub isn't where it's at anymore." writes Kristie Barnett, an interior designer.

Know your Buyer:  If your neighborhood is a great place for young families then make sure your home is ready for them to move in, says Barnett. "Make sure the home has no unfinished projects or red flags for young families."

If your area is great for young professionals, you might be able to sell it as a fixer-upper.  "There may be some appeal to the fixer-upper if the price is right." suggest Barnett. "These younger adults without children may have the time, energy and imagination for making over an older home. Even so, the price will have to be lower than if it were picture perfect."

Read: Prepare Your Home to Sell

Posted in Real Estate Trends