Mellow Yellow

The unanimously elected paint color of 2009 is (drum roll, please)... Yellow!

Experts across the board—from interior designers to paint supply giants—all agree that the warm freshness of yellow is just what our walls need this year.

Expects say that this nurturing, reassuring color will appear in both interior and fashion accessories to spark innovation and inspire optimism during a new time of political and social beginnings. It plays nicely with neutrals to energize any living space.

Use the color sparingly, such as in hallways, stairwells and connector spaces as a transitional color, or on one wall in a room to make a bold statement on a budget.

Changing wall color can feel like a scary commitment, but you can still enjoy the trend when you incorporate the cheer into your decor. Use accent pieces like the ones shown here with this happy hue.

For more information about real estate in your area contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit www.roglianorealestategroup.com.

Sales In the West on the Rise

The latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates that existing homes sales have risen, due to a jump in sales in the Western region of the United States.

Despite this jump, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said the market is underperforming and hurting the broader economy. “We’ve added 25 million people to our population over the past decade and housing affordability conditions are the best we’ve seen since 1973, but household formation is much lower than expected. Consequently, there is a pent-up demand which could be unleashed with the right stimulus, including a non-repayable home buyer tax credit. The Obama administration and Congress need to move fast to stimulate a spring sales upturn which will help to stabilize home prices and set the foundation for a sustainable economic recovery.”

Regionally, all areas except the Northeast saw substantial gains.

The Northeast dropped 1.4 percent from November; the median home price is still 7.8 percent lower than a year ago. While sales may not be recovering as quickly as other areas, this price shows is the smallest drop from last year when compared to each other region.

The Midwest is down 11.4 percent, the South is down 8 percent, and the West is down a staggering 31.5 percent from last year.


For more information on real estate in Colorado contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit www.roglianorealestategroup.com.

37% of Homeowners Did NOT Make a Mortgage Payment On Time Last Month

What? How can that be? Well, it’s all in the numbers.

This is a headline similar to nearly all of the news stories we read throughout 2008 regarding our mortgage crisis.

So how in the world can 37% of the nation’s homeowners NOT make an on-time mortgage payment last month? Well, it’s simple. What I haven’t mentioned yet is that according to the US Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey released September of last year, approximately 34% of American Homeowners own their home “free and clear” with no mortgage payment due…

The rest of the puzzle? According to Transunion, the percentage of mortgage payments that were ‘late’ last month was around 4% (which equates to about 3% of homeowners). So there you have it; 34% who made NO mortgage payment (thus the statement is true regarding NOT making an on time mortgage payment… or ANY mortgage payment) plus the other 3% equals 37%.

For years, again according to Transunion, the delinquency rate on mortgages has been about 2%, it just recently increased to 4% in the third quarter of last year. What did we hear? We heard that the delinquency rate DOUBLED. We didn’t hear that 96% of mortgages are being paid on time.

Skewed reporting of exactly how ‘bad’ the news really was last year struck fear into all homeowners, and to the detriment of the nation’s real estate industry, all potential home buyers. They reported, people reacted, they reported the reaction, people reacted again. Etc…

For more information contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit http://www.roglianorealestategroup.com/, www.wildflowergroup.net.

Move Along Little Doggie

Moving into your new home is very exciting, for your entire family!!

But did you know that introducing your dog into a new home can be incredibly stressful for them? Fortunately, there are a lot of things that we can do to make this transition easier on them, which in the end makes it easier on us!

There are a lot of things that you can do to make the move less stressful on your pet. When moving, if possible, it would be a good idea to leave the dog with a friend they know. This will keep the dog out of your way when you are moving furniture, and decrease the chance that any accidents may happen. You can also leave the dog in the backyard while you move, as long as it is fully fenced and they cannot escape!

Can’t do either? Well then, the ‘least worst’ scenario is to crate your dog while moving the furniture into the home. Make sure the crate is large enough that they can stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably, and be sure to give them access to water and let them outside to ‘do their business’ every few hours. Doors will be left open, items will be dropped, there will be a lot of commotion, and the best way to keep your pet safe during this time is to keep them out of the way!

During the packing process, you can actually plan ahead to make this as smooth a transition as possible for your four legged friend. Instead of trying to cram the packing into one or two days, planning to pack over a longer period of time can reduce the stress on your dog (and probably yourself as well!). Make sure that you pack their water and food bowls, toys, and blankets/beds in a separate box that will be easily accessible once you are at your new home. Dogs do not like change, so the more familiar the setting, the better!

One easy trick is to make sure that they have belongings that smell like you, their people! Having a familiar scent in a strange place can make the transition easier. All you would need to do is put their toys in your laundry hamper for a few days, and they will smell just like you!! And don’t feel embarrassed, this is like the sweet smell of roses for your dog. These are as important to your dog as your child’s teddy bear is to them.

Some other great links for advice on moving with your pet include:
petswelcome.com –find pet friendly hotels
http://www.airanimal.com/ – pet movers for the long distance moves

For more information about moving contact joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit www.wildflowergroup.net, www.roglianorealestategroup.com.

Congress Limits Gain Exclusion on the Sale of Some Primary Residences

When Congress passed the Housing Assistance Act of 2008 a few months ago, their goal was to help those people who were losing their homes in foreclosure. One of the side affects of the bill, however, was a change that could effect taxation on the gain from the sale of your personal residence.

IRS law excludes $250,000 of the gain from taxation if you're single, and $500,000 if you're married, when you sell a primary residence you've lived in for at least two years of the last five years. This is so even if a portion of the gain was rolled over into the property in a 1031 exchange transaction.

The new law modifies that rule and penalizes you for time that your property is not your primary residence; you have to prorate the gain between the periods the property was not your primary residence, and the periods that it was. (Your primary residence is the place you live; the address you use on your drivers license; where you're registered to vote, etc.)
The new law only covers those situations where the period when the property was a rental or vacation home falls before it becomes your primary residence. It does not cover situations where it was your residence first, and then became a rental property – this was done so that homeowners who were forced to rent their former residence while they tried to sell it would not be penalized.

As time goes on, we'll have lots of questions about this new law that will have to be answered by court cases or IRS rulings (such as what happens if you build a house on a piece of bare land that you've owned for years?), but my advice is that if you are planning to move into your current rental or vacation property at some point in the future, you should do so as soon possible.

For more information contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit http://www.roglianorealestategroup.com/ or http://www.wildflowergroup.net/

Colorado's Population Still on the Rise

Colorado is Ranked #4 in Population Growth

2008 Population: 4,939,456
2007 Population: 4,842,770
Year-over-year Increase: 2%

With Colorado having seen 2% growth over the last year and 15% growth over the last eight years, it puts this state fourth on the list for population growth.

In 1950, Colorado's population was just over 1.3 million. By 1980, numbers were approaching 3 million. During the 1990s, the state added over one million inhabitants or about 275 people each day.

In 2000, Colorado had ballooned to 4.3 million residents. Thus, over the past 50 years, Colorado's population has more than tripled in size. There are now more people living along the Front Range than there were living in the entire state ten years ago.

What accounts for this growth? Populations grow or shrink as a result of shifts in three demographic variables: fertility, migration, and mortality. Changes in population size are dependent on net migration (people moving into the state minus people moving out of the state) and natural factors (births minus deaths). Natural increase accounted for 38 percent of all growth during that period, over half came from migration from other states, and the remainder was due to migration from other countries.

The Census Bureau's new projections indicate that immigration will account for two-thirds of all growth nationwide over the next century. In Colorado, most population growth comes from domestic interstate migration (people moving in from other states). Yet this is often caused by what is known as secondary migration. Secondary migration occurs when people leave crowded areas in search of more space. This is happening around the U.S., as massive immigration drives the native population to move to less crowded areas.

Colorado has been a magnet for such migrants - notably, Californians trying to escape the effects of the states record population growth - growth that has been driven by high immigration levels. A full quarter of migration into Colorado in the past decade has come from California.

For more information about the Colorado real estate market contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit www.roglianorealestategroup.com, www.wildflowergroup.com.

Kids Inauguration Party in Littleton

Hail to the Chief!

This Saturday, January 17, 2009, at 2:00 PM, the Borders in Littleton will be hosting a special event for children and their families.

Celebrate America, democracy, and new beginnings at Borders with a very special Inauguration Party for kids! Bring the whole family for art activities, games, a scavenger hunt,and an official oath ceremony.

The Borders is located at 8501 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO 80123. For more information call (303) 933-6787.

Why Savvy Consumers Know More Than Just Their Credit Score

Are your personal files favorable? Your credit report and FICO tell only part of the story.

Do you pay your mortgage or rent on time? Are you in good health? It's unlikely you will be asked these questions directly when you apply for a job, loan or insurance. But those in a position to give you credit, health insurance or even a job are asking these questions and more, and answers come from a host of specialty consumer reporting bureaus that know a lot more about you than just your FICO score.

If you don't know what's in your files, it's time to find out. Some simple sleuthing can help you confirm the accuracy of your reports, and put you in the driver's seat when it comes to shopping for personal and financial services.

Start with Your FICO
The “Big Three” national credit bureaus are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. These bureaus track your credit history and report a snapshot summary of it in a three-digit score known as your FICO. Higher scores earn you faster loan approval and better interest rates, among other perks.

It's a good idea to request your report at least once a year and check it for accuracy. Contact the credit bureaus immediately with any disputes. If your score is low, consider working with a financial expert to learn what steps you can take to bring the number up.

Access your credit file by contacting:
Equifax: (800) 685-1111
Experian: (888) 397-3742
Trans Union: (800) 916-8800

Beyond the Big Three
Specialty consumer reporting agencies operate much like the credit bureaus, and collect information about you from a variety of sources. Reports can offer detailed descriptions of your medical conditions, check writing history, homeowner and auto insurance claims, tenant history, criminal records and more.

Unfortunately there is no centralized place where you can access every available report, and not everyone has a file in every category. Still, it's good to check, especially if you plan to apply for credit, private insurance, or if you've been the victim of identity theft.

The following are some bureaus that issue reports:

Insurance Claim History:
ChoicePoint CLUE Reports: (866) 312-8076
A-Plus Reports: (800) 627-3487

Medical History:
Medical Information Bureau for Medical History: (866) 692-6901

Resident History:
SafeRent: (888) 333-2413

Checking and Savings Account Reports:
ChexSystems: (800) 428-9623
Shared Check Authorization Network (SCAN): (800) 262-7771

Many consumers are in the dark about information in their credit file and other specialty reports. Don't wait until you've been denied a job, insurance or credit application. Do your homework now because when it comes to background and credit checks, knowledge really is power.

For more information feel free to contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit http://www.roglianorealestategroup.com/.

Swap 'Til You Drop!

The Wildflower Group is excited to have the creators of the Rocky Mountain News Column, Style Matters, attending the groups first meeting of 2009. Judie Schwartz and Evelinda Urman will be available for book signing as well as fashion advice for those that seek it.

This month's meeting will be held January 22nd from 6:00 - 8:30 in Littleton. The theme will be an accessory swap in which our guests will bring a few unwanted accessories and then have the opportunity to 'shop' the room for 'new' items. This is a great idea to liven up your wardrobe without spending any money. The evening is sure to be filled with fun and friendship.

If you would like more information about The Wildflower Group or would like to attend the event feel free to email Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com.

Joan Rogliano created the Wildflower Group, an organization that strives to empower women with practical information about real estate investing and home ownership. www.wildflowergroup.net.

Fair Housing for All – Including Women

The 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Housing Act is punctuated by President Elect Obama and the “first family” moving into the White House this month. Whether one considers the imagery from the Presidential campaigns, the real estate industries commitment to equal professional service, or the profound and clear economic realities of our nations changing real estate demographics, as fair housing stakeholders we have much to celebrate, but much more to do.

Every community has an interest in promoting fair housing. Fair housing builds strong and healthy communities and a strong economy. It is a common belief that the strengthening of the real estate markets will lead our economy out of recession.
We have 40 years of experience to learn from and that in many instances celebrate our accomplishments. However, we must also admit that the current enforcement system does not work. One only needs to examine the prevalence of predatory lending targeted at African American and Latino families and the related community impact on housing values, schools, and the tax base to graphically illustrate this point.

One group often overlooked in these statistics are women. The Consumer Federation of America released a study in December of 2006 showing that women were more likely than men to be put into higher-cost subprime mortgages, regardless of their credit and income when compared to men in the same market.

As the new Administration's begins it's transition work, we must acknowledge that discrimination persists in our country despite laws prohibiting such conduct. Now is the time to act in partnership to affirm equal housing opportunity and invest in strong communities that celebrate homeownership.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition has recommended the establishment of a new cabinet-level agency focused on civil rights enforcement. This agency would report directly to the President of the United States and would be responsible for measuring, monitoring, and eliminating all forms of discrimination from our society once and for all. And, given the importance of housing to accessing opportunities for social and economic advancement, housing related laws would be among the new agency's highest priorities.

This new cabinet-level agency would not supplant the civil rights responsibilities of other federal agencies. It would develop a strategic plan to coordinate the activities of all agencies.
Finally, this agency would develop and support public service campaigns to help educate the public on this important issue. It would participate in affirmative marketing and related efforts to promote a more integrated and inclusive society.

Joan Rogliano created the Wildflower Group, an organization that strives to empower women with practical information about real estate investing and home ownership. For more information email Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit www.wildflowergroup.net.

Mosaic Tile Artwork Latest Trend in Home Decor

Using tile in a home for artwork can enhance homeowners' surroundings while adding value and bringing home a museum-quality artwork look.

Mosaic tile designs have been decorating architecture since the beginning of recorded history. Tile designs can be patterns with repeating designs like the ones used in the Roman Empire to floor their great structures or figural, telling a story just as a stained glass window might. Designs done in mosaic sometimes include animals, people, and scenes of nature, but are not limited to these. Designs in pools and fountains give timelessness to classy construction.

So how are homeowners using the tiles to decorate? They're making murals that create custom-made views. They're using tile to brighten a dark or out-of-the-way corner. Homeowners are using their own unique designs to create family heirlooms by turning an inexpensive piece of furniture such as a hutch or bookcase into a one-of-a-kind item by applying customized tile to it. Many are using tile to create a themed-room.

All sorts of things have been used for mosaics. People have employed objects as irregular as pebbles and as uniform as square glass mosaic tiles with outstanding results. The designs on floors are usually done with ceramic tiles and natural stones that are smooth to the touch and nice to walk on. Designs on walls can have texture and roughness not compatible with floor installations. Some wall mounted mosaics are done on boards and others are actually the wall, with mortar and grout holding it together.

Imagination and inspiration make for the most unique designs and simple checks can accent already interesting architecture. Creating mosaic tile designs using ancient techniques is a perfect way to make a lasting impression on those who will enjoy them. Creating lasting images through tile helps sustain value in your home while bringing unique decor that sets your home apart from the rest.

For more information about what adds value to your home contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com or visit www.roglianorealestategroup.com.

Today's Mexico Offers More Than Ever to an Investor

The people, the proximity, the Peso. These are three reasons why our neighbor to the south, Mexico, is increasingly becoming a choice for foreign investors around the globe.

In particular, US Citizens have become a major force in Mexico’s booming real estate market. Baby boomers are a growing middle class in Mexico. With the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement and numerous other factors, Mexico is realizing its full potential as a major player in world politics and economics. The Peso is trading at 13.22 to 1 against the dollar. The bottom line is today’s Mexico is a lot different than the country of the past century.

Banking has become easier in Mexico. Bancomer USA now has a retail business unit. Its basic goal addresses the financial service needs of foreigners. They provide retail services like credit cards, debit cards, checking accounts in dollars, in pesos, and even car loans. Several lenders including BBVA Compass Bank and Bancomer also offer mortgage loans for Americans who are buying in Mexico and can finance up to 80% of the value of the property.

Mexico has laws that are a little bit different than ours but mostly parallel our economy. The biggest upside for an American when they buy property in Mexico is that the taxes, home maintenance and cost of living are all less expensive than in the U.S. If you want less risk, buy property that already has title and has been sold several times already to other people. Get the title and the property correctly registered before you go ahead and disburse the remainder of the purchase price.

Take advantage of the “fly and buy” and “play and stay” offerings. For about $300 you and a companion can travel to certain resorts in selected areas. They will wine and dine you, and of course do a hard sell. There is no commitment to purchasing. It’s a great way to do research [for more information, complete the form at www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com/112608].

If you would like more information about how to find a real estate professional in Mexico contact Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com.

2008 Cost vs. Value Report: Still Many Happy Returns for Home Rehabs

Many people are wondering where their money will be safest during these uncertain economic times. What a recent report conducted by the National Association of Realtors has shown are that some things never change: Investing in their home still pays off.

Today’s buyers have much more to choose from in the way of inventory, any home for sale must make a positive first impression. This year’s Cost vs. Value report underscore the importance of curb appeal in the buyer’s eye.

Once again, exterior remodeling projects lead the way for recovery on dollars spent in this year’s Cost vs. Value survey. When you compare the national averages, replacement projects that boost curb appeal such as siding, windows, and decks, give you the greatest chance of recouping your money. Inside, only kitchen remodels can compare, at least on a national level.

According to the 2008 survey the top ten projects were:
1. Upscale fiber cement siding (86.7%)
2. Midrange wood deck (81.8%)
3. Midrange vinyl siding (80.7%)
4. Upscale foam-backed vinyl (80.4%)
5. Midrange minor kitchen remodel (79.5%)
6. Upscale vinyl window replacement (79.2%)
7. Midrange wood window replacement (77.7%)
8. Midrange vinyl window replacement (77.2%)
9. Upscale wood window replacement (76.5%
10. Midrange major kitchen remodel (76.0%)

Also, don’t forget about landscaping. Landscaping puts the finishing touch on any property for minimal investment and boosts the curb appeal of properties in any price range.

If you would like to receive a 10% discount coupon from Lowes just email: Joan@roglianorealestategroup.com and one will be mailed to you at no charge. The discount is good on purchases of anything from landscaping to lumber up to $10,000 which adds up to a big savings as you consider those home improvement projects.