September 2022 Newsletter

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The skyline in Denver, where the housing market remains more competitive than other pandemic boomtowns like Austin and Boise, Idaho. Source: Shelly Vincent, eXp Realty

Four decades ago, the Colorado capital was a city in decline, plagued with vacant buildings and a shrinking population. The Denver of 2022 is thriving - with no end in sight. As the easy money days of the pandemic inflated the bank accounts of the upwardly mobile,  it morphed into a magnet for newly-mobile high-paid workers and became one of the hottest housing markets in the country.

Denver was ripe for transformation. Many tie the start of the city’s ascent to the debut of its newly constructed airport, which opened 27 years ago and is the largest in the US by size — its land area is bigger than Manhattan. Over the next couple of decades, the region’s economy diversified away from oil fields and ranching to tourism and tech, and the population boomed.

The city got another boost after 2012, when Colorado became the first US state to sanction recreational marijuana use. By July 2021, Denver had more than 700,000 residents, up about 20% from the 2010 census. The greater metro area has close to 3 million people.Realtors report numerous clients from San Francisco or New York buying Denver homes sight unseen over the past two years, agog at the square footage their dollar commanded compared with bigger cities. Denver was the 10th-hottest real estate market in the country last year as gauged by factors including bidding wars and the jump in median sales price. Aurora, a traditionally working- and middle-class suburb to the east, was ranked second, due largely to buyers priced out of Denver.Today, Denver’s economy is on fire. Unemployment has more than halved in the past year, GDP is expected to grow 73% faster in 2022 than the national figure and inflation — even more so than in the rest of the country — is on a tear. Colorado's economy, unemployment, and weather make it a draw for future homeowners from all over. Read the full article from Bloomberg here

SHOULD YOU BUY A HOUSE NOW?

I don't particularly appreciate the general "doom and gloom" outlook that's all over the news right now with regard to how inflation, rising interest rates, and a recession may cause the housing market to crash. The reality is that Colorado has a significant housing shortage - one that will take 10 years or more of new construction to remedy. While Buyers have more leverage now (no need to waive the inspection objection or write a full appraisal gap), Sellers are still likely to receive 1-3 offers within 30 days of being on the market. That's not a Buyer's Market. That's a Seller's Market.  Frankly, I think we are all just adjusting to not having to write an insanely crazy offer within 4 hours of seeing a property (just once) to win. Seller's will have to reset their expectations, but they are still likely to go under contract on their home at or just under the list price (which is the still highest it's ever been) in plus or minus 30 days. And, while home prices haven't taken a tumble, interest rates have been holding steady between 5% and 5.5% since June. If you've just started shopping, the interest rates don't matter. You can afford what you can afford.Here are 3 questions you should ask if you're shopping for a home right now:

1. Do I love the house?
2. Do I have job stability?
3. Am I comfortable with the monthly payment?

If the answer to all three is "YES" you should absolutely buy. Right now. Do not wait another minute.

iBuyer Opendoor fined $62M by the FTC

In a recent settlement announcement, the FTC said Opendoor told customers that they could make more money selling their homes to the company than they would by selling homes traditionally. The FTC found that, in fact, most people who sold their homes to Opendoor made less money than they would have selling to regular buyers via a real-estate agent.

Opendoor, which bought 36,908 homes in 2021, is an instant buyer, or iBuyer, which buys homes directly from owners and then resells them, sometimes making small renovations to homes. The company is able to close on homes much more quickly than traditional buyers purchasing via a real-estate agent. Opendoor, which reported $28 million in net income in the first quarter of 2022, makes money by charging its own fee in the place of a traditional brokers' fee.

The FTC found that in many instances, Opendoor's fees amounted to more than what a Seller would pay if they had used a real estate agent. The standard commission on a real estate transaction in the State of Colorado is 6%, which is generally split between the Buyer's agent (2.8%) and the Listing agent (3.2%).

WHY IT MATTERS: iBuyers have been looking to displace the role of traditional real estate agents for several years. While their appeal is "fast and easy" the reality is that you may be leaving money on the table. Sometimes, when something sounds too good to be true, it is. If you're thinking about selling your home and using an iBuyer, do yourself a favor: interview the iBuyer company AND 1-3 experienced, competent real estate agents who will go to bat for you.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: KOREAN BEEF SESAME NOODLES

I am a BIG fan of any delicious meal that can be made in 20 minutes or less. So, voila! Tieghan Gerard from Half Baked Harvest does it again. Her recipes are delicious and come together quickly. This one is perfect for a busy weeknight meal.INGREDIENTS:
Sauce:

• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 TBSP chopped fresh giger
• 1/2 C tamari or soy sauce
• 1/4 C honey
• 2 TBSP Gochujang
• 1 TBSP toasted sesame oil

Stir Fry:

• 8 ounces brown rice noodles
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 3 cups mixed stir fry vegetables
• 3 shallots, sliced
• 1 pound flank steak or chicken breast, sliced thin
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup fresh basil

DIRECTIONS:

1. To make the sauce. Combe all ingredients in a glass jar. Shake or whisk to combine.
2. Cook the rice noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the vegetables and cook until wilted, 2-3 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the sauce. Cook until the sauce coats the veggies. Remove from the pan.
4. In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil. Then add the shallots and cook 2 minutes, until deeply softened. Add the beef and cook, undistributed, until seared, 2 minutes. Toss the meat, then pour in the sauce. Simmer 1 minute, then stir in the noodles and vegetables. Cook 2-3 minutes, until the sauce coats the noodles.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil and sesame seeds. Serve topped with fresh basil.

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FiveFour Real Estate is the one-stop shop for those who are ready to take their home or investment to the next level. Our name FiveFour derives from 5.4%: the average annual home appreciation rate in the US over the last 50 years. We know that your real estate investment is one of the largest and most important purchases of your life. With that in mind, our focus and strategy revolves around you. We hold our licenses at the brokerage Five Four Real Estate.  If you buy a home and put 20% down, you are leveraging your money 5X. A 5.4% increase in your home's value means a 27% ROI.

Thinking of Buying or Selling?  Know someone who is?We are NEVER too busy for your referrals!

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OUR PROMISE TO OUR CLIENTS

This could be one of the largest and most important financial decisions you will make in your lifetime, and you deserve an experienced partner that understands the intricacies of Colorado real estate.

We promise to always keep you informed about the rapidly changing market and educate you throughout the entire process. We promise to protect your best interests and treat your home or investment like it’s one of our own. We promise to work our hardest to find the perfect home for you and your family with as little stress as possible.  

We value your trust and hope to continue supporting you in your lifetime even after your sale or purchase is complete. This goes beyond real estate to us, it’s the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

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