by neil kearney | Mar 30, 2009 | Boulder County Housing Trends, Colorado Lifestyle
So far this year (at the tone it will be March 30th 4:13 pm) there have been 520 sales in Boulder County listed through the MLS. Currently there are 472 properties with contracts in place. So far 1,984 buyers or sellers have gotten the good news that they are moving forward on their goal. While we may not be setting any records so far this year, there is activity and when you get caught up in the statistics you can lose site that each time a property closes it allows one owner to move on and another to start a new life in a new home. This business is about putting the two together. Actually, we are seeing more activity in the market, buyers are out buying and sellers are listing their homes. In order for either to be successful they must be realistic, flexible and go into negotiation with a win-win attitude.
By the end of the week I will be able to report on the first quarter sales activity. I have a feeling that we will be down both in volume and price. Not that values are falling so much, it’s that lower priced homes are selling. Below is a rare scene this winter – sledding at Scott Carpenter Park.
by neil kearney | Oct 23, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle, Photos, Uncategorized
Today I went to get new tires installed on my car around noon. I was greeted at the door by a sign that said “We are no longer taking any new customers today, please come back tomorrow we open at 8 am.” Just like the squirrels collecting nuts and the bears feasting before their hibernation; humans in Boulder were changing from summer tires to winter tires in order to prepare for the coming change in weather. These are the smart ones, the ones who will make it through the winter. Others get used to the beautiful weather and don’t prepare until it is too late. I took the photo below a few years ago shows what can happen if instead of preparing for the cold, you try to get that last bit of pollen.
by neil kearney | Oct 21, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle, Photos
Fall in Colorado
What a beautiful fall we have been having. The weather has been warm and the leaves have reached their full splendor unchecked by snow or wind. This is one of my favorite times of the year and a great time to look back upon the beautiful summer and be grateful for all of the wonderful memories. Below is a tree I pass each day as I go to work. Most of the year I don’t notice it but this past weekend it turned a beautiful vibrant gold. The light didn’t quite cooperate when I had my camera in hand but you get the picture. I’m lucky to live and help people find a place to live in such a beautiful place.
by neil kearney | Sep 11, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle
Last Saturday, my son Ben and I hiked in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area to the Arapahoe Glacier overlook. We originally were aiming to hike to the top of S. Arapahoe Peak, but the wind was incredibly strong and getting to the overlook was the perfect adventure for us on that day. We were hiking for five hours and enjoyed great views, good company, some well deserved snacks and some “blow me over” winds.
Arapahoe Glacier is at the far west end of the watershed owned by the City of Boulder. Access to this area of pristine wilderness is prohibited so to preserve the quality of the water. I believe that Boulder is the only city to own a glacier but I haven’t yet checked with Sarah Palin. I would guess that some towns in Alaska might have a chance to share this distinction.
What a great place to be able to be hiking in an entirely different ecosystem within 1 hour of town. Below are some photos from the hike.
by neil kearney | Sep 5, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle, Uncategorized
Single Stream Recycling or “What is that smell?”
Recently Boulder’s City Council changed the trash ordinance to require
trash haulers to provide at a minimum a 32 gallon container for compost. Western Disposal, the largest local trash hauler made this change in conjunction with changing the existing recycling program to “single stream”. You may ask “what does this all mean?”. The city had in mind to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.
Here is what it has meant for me and my family:
- I can now throw the recyclable cans and papers into one large bin which is convenient.
- It has launched us into the composting world – and it has been a change for us. We have been catching each other throwing items in the trash that should go in the compost bin. During the first two weeks we filled 32 gallons full and felt pretty good about ourselves until it was emptied and the residual liquid in the bottom of the bin was unbelievably smelly. Someone must have composted a dead animal without our knowledge. I have now cleaned out bin and we are back on track.
- We have been able to reduce the size of our regular trash can and reduce our bill by about 1/2.
I think it is a great program but I’m very curious where my smelly compost goes. This is another example of how Boulder is just a little different than your run of the mill city. Just a few years ahead of the times – Just the way we like it.
by neil kearney | Mar 5, 2008 | Colorado Lifestyle
Boulder Area Hikes
Royal Arch
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
The hike to Royal Arch is a Boulder classic. The trailhead for the hike is Chautauqua Park, located at 9th and Baseline. The hike is scenic, convenient and moderately challenging (although ice in the winter makes it more so). Royal Arch is hidden from view and is located in a notch to the South of the Third Flatiron.
From the Chautauqua parking area continue up the old paved road toward the Bluebell Shelter. Just past the shelter is the sign marking the trail toward Royal Arch. The trail is approximately 1.5 miles each way. The first part of the hike is through an attractive side canyon shaded from the sun. After awhile, you will come to a large rock formation and a sign pointing your way down into a new valley. At this point you have a birds-eye-view of NCAR and the plains toward Denver. After a bit of downhill you will begin to wind uphill to the arch. The view from the arch is unique and the hidden nature of the arch makes me feel like I found a secret spot. Give it a try, I’d recommend it!
