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MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN DMAREALTORS.COM
DENVERMETROREALTOR®Official Publication of the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®
Moving Into a New Chapter!
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
the
Photo Credit:Virtuance
Chairman Greg Geller | Vision Real Estate303-302-3622 [email protected]
Chair-elect Laura Ruch | Keller Williams Preferred 303-452-3300 [email protected]
Secretary Maria Vitale | RE/MAX Alliance303-420-5352 [email protected]
Past Chairman Eric Mott | Innovative Real Estate720-530-5000 [email protected]
Director Milford Adams | Lyon Realty LLC303-369-0529 [email protected]
Director Tammy Deitz | RE/MAX 100 303-232-4444 [email protected]
Director Karen Frisone | K.O. Real Estate303-422-3888 [email protected]
Director Euan Graham | Madison & Company Properties Ltd303-771-3850 [email protected]
Director Scott Grossman RE/MAX Southeast, Inc.303-941-9426 [email protected]
Director Libby Levinson | Kentwood Real Estate303-331-1400 [email protected]
Director Michael Miller | Realty Plus Mortgage720-308-4922 [email protected]
Director Scott Nordby | Innovative Real Estate Group303-289-7009 [email protected]
Director Jason Peck | Keller Williams Realty Downtown720-588-3110 [email protected]
Director Shannel Ryan | Fuller Sotheby’s International303-893-3200 [email protected]
Director Phil Shell | RE/MAX Alliance303-420-5352 [email protected]
Director Gil Vazquez | Keller Williams Realty Colorado Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals303-539-5700 [email protected]
Gary Bauer | Garold D. Bauer 303-909-3001 [email protected]
Justin Knoll | The Knoll Team Madison and Company Properties 303-550-0096 [email protected]
Ted Bryant | Metro Brokers Bryant Inc.303-988-0900 [email protected]
Janet Scavo | Brokers Guild Cherry Creek 303-988-0123 [email protected]
Greg Zadel | Zadel and Associates Realty Inc.303-833-3012 [email protected]
Piper Bruner | The Knoll Team Madison and Company Properties 720-935-0895 [email protected]
Derek Camunez | RE/MAX Avenues 303-477-1000 [email protected]
Chris Djorup | Metro Brokers Djorup & Associates 303-740-8100 [email protected]
Karen Levine | RE/MAX Alliance303-420-5352 [email protected]
Chad Ochsner | Re/Max Alliance303-420-5352 [email protected]
Gerry Fitzpatrick | RE/MAX Southeast 303-743-9306 [email protected]
Justin Knoll | The Knoll Team Madison and Company Properties 303-550-0096 [email protected]
Jon Larrance | Perry and Company 303-399-7777 [email protected]
Mark Trenka | Trenka Real Estate 303-629-1000 [email protected]
Mike Welk | Innovative Real Estate CAR Metro District VP/Metrolist® Director303-263-3217 [email protected]
Chairman Michael Miller | Realty Plus Mortgage720-308-4922 [email protected]
Peace of MindALL IN ONE PIECE
BRINGINGYOU
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2014 - 2015 Board of Directors
NAR Directors CAR Directors
Metrolist Directors
Affiliate Council
WE MOVED! 4NAR INFOGRAPHICS 6HOMEBUYER DEMAND REMAINS STRONG; MILLENNIALS ENTERING MARKET AT RAPID PACE 8IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAMS, RATINGS, AND SYSTEMS 10REAL TRENDS ANNUAL RANKINGS OPEN FOR SUBMISSION 13
GLOBAL UPDATE FROM NAR | FEBRUARY & EARLY MARCH 14FEATURED LEADER FOCUS ON| MATT WIDDOWS 16NOW YOU KNOW 18HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR TECHNOLOGY 192015 CLOSING DOCUMENTS UPDATE: PART 1 20
2015 CLOSING DOCUMENTS UPDATE: PART 2 22GORGEOUS IDEAS TO MAKE HOME MAINTENANCE LESS OF A PAIN 24
ContentsIn This Issue
Advertiser DirectoryBank of America 17Blue Ribbon Home Warranty 26Bridge Capital Resources 12Brookfield Homes 15Caliber Home Loans 15
Colorado’s Best Home Inspection 26Eagle Home Mortgage 9Exodus Moving & Storage 2First Integrity Title 9GJ Gardner Homes 26
IRES 12North American Title 11Nova Home Loans 28Peoples Bank 7Pillar to Post 5
Director of Member Services and OperationsCindy GoinsDirector of Events and EducationChantel BabbGovernment Affairs LaisonPeter Wall
Membership ManagerJo Ann Lujan Marketing Communications Manager Diana Barsan Member Services RepresentativeIngrid Martinez
Education & Events CoordinatorStephanie FavroSocial Media & Content CoordinatorMeghan Callahan Finance and Membership AssistantKeisha Datuin
Central ReceptionistKaren HendersonEducation and Event AssistantJoyce FledderjohnMember Services & Operations AssistantTracy Garippo
Staff
Three Convenient Locations! REALTOR® Store | Classes | Pay Dues | Wi-FiVisit us online at www.dmarealtors.com.Contact any location by phone at 303-756-0553
Central4300 E. Warren Ave, DenverMonday - Friday 8-5
West950 Wadsworth Blvd, LakewoodMonday - Friday 9-2
North13648 Orchard Pkwy #900, WestminsterMonday - Friday 9-2
MA
PM
AP
MA
P
Chief Executive OfficerAnn TurnerDirector of Finance and MembershipAmy Davies
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE THREE
Dear Members,
This year marks the 4-year anniver-sary of the DMAR merger, and we have made great strides in investing in our future over the past year alone. We successfully launched our new brand identity. The desire to connect, thrive and innovate was the driving force behind developing our new, colorful look. We reaffirmed that we are part of a united community, defined by our powerful connections, and our passion to thrive as individuals.
Providing our community with a space that encourages collaboration and genuine networking was the driving force behind the decision to relocate our headquarters to a Class A facility, to better serve our wide membership. The address of the new DMAR corporate headquarters is 4601 DTC Blvd., Denver, CO 80237.
• Our New Headquarters On March 1, we completed our
move into a 10 story, 245,000 square foot Class A building in the heart of the Denver Tech Center. Our space is situated on the lobby level and is 6,700 square feet with floor-to-ceiling windows and advanced high tech capabilities that will allow us to be even more accessible to members through remote training. The new location is optimal as it is adjacent to major arteries such as I-25 and I-225 for easy access from all directions.
DMAR is one of the first REALTOR® Associations in the nation to offer membership an interactive co-working space of this caliber. Our facility can serve as a mini-office from which members can conduct business, as well as a central hub of activity to help connect, learn and grow.
• North and West OfficesThis vision for DMAR isn’t limited
to the headquarters alone. We have formed a task force with representa-tives to assess needed upgrades to our North and West Offices.
We have an opportunity to terminate our North office lease in the next six months, and we are considering relo-cating to an office space with a larger classroom, as our current location can only accommodate 36 students. The West Office in Lakewood is owned by DMAR, and it is an income-producing property that is fully leased. This office includes classroom seating for 75, a conference room with seating for 25, a staff office and a REALTOR® store. We are making capital improvements at the West Office, including refiguring the parking space to accommodate the widening of Wadsworth Boulevard.
As always, what DMAR does is defined by our members’ needs and desires, so we will be inviting members to attend upcoming meetings to share ideas as we move forward with these renovations.
We are happy to usher in this new chapter of the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS® with you, and we are proud to take on the challenging projects that establish us industry trailblazers. Together we will continue working to shape and protect the real estate industry and build a better, thriving community for everyone.
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE FOUR
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You promised your clients one thing and your vendors told them the exact opposite. Sound familiar?
At Peoples Bank Mortgage in Denver, we understand quality coordinated communication.
As one of Colorado’s largest, most respected lenders for almost 40 years, our focus is simple: Know mortgages, do them in-house and treat people right.
So if your vendor can’t get the facts straight, move to Peoples.
An out-of-this-world mortgage experience, right here in Denver.
they told your clients what?
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D E N V E R
PBColo-mortgage14-final.indd 2 4/11/14 10:20 AM
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE SIX
Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission.
You promised your clients one thing and your vendors told them the exact opposite. Sound familiar?
At Peoples Bank Mortgage in Denver, we understand quality coordinated communication.
As one of Colorado’s largest, most respected lenders for almost 40 years, our focus is simple: Know mortgages, do them in-house and treat people right.
So if your vendor can’t get the facts straight, move to Peoples.
An out-of-this-world mortgage experience, right here in Denver.
they told your clients what?
time to move to peoples.
epeoples.com | 303-721-1120
D E N V E R
PBColo-mortgage14-final.indd 2 4/11/14 10:20 AM
Homebuyer Demand Remains Strong; Millennials Entering Market at Rapid Pace
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE EIGHT
Market conditions raising entry point for first-time homebuyers with housing inventory at unprecedented low & home prices increasing
Denver inventory remains low, which continues to drive up home prices. Year over year, home prices have increased 19 percent and 18 percent in the average and median sales price respectively. According to Anthony Rael, Chair of the DMAR Market Trends Committee: “Scarcity of inventory and increasing home prices, coupled with the possibility mortgage interest rates will rise when the Federal Reserve meets in June, has millennials entering the real estate market at a rapid pace. ”
The number of active listings inched its way to an unprecedented low. However, February did usher in a healthy dose of new residential listings that represented a 13 percent increase from the month prior. The frigid cold temperatures – which surpassed a 103-year-old record– did not deter buyers from writing offers as evidenced by the 16 percent spike in properties that went under contract.
According to the report, the inven-tory of available homes (single fam-ily and condos) for sale was 4,079 at February month end. Notably, 4,240 homes came onto the market, 4,077 homes were placed under contract, and 2,667 homes closed at a median sold price of $295,000 and an average sold price of $348,127; resulting in a closed dollar volume of $928.45 mil-lion.
Mortgage interest rates increased in February and ended the month with a 30-year conventional rate around 3.625 percent and a 15-year conventional rate at 2.875 percent. Said Rael: “As year over year housing prices continue to increase, home affordability is going to become a greater issue as the entry point for first-time homebuyers grows higher and higher. The continuation
of a strong job market in Colorado will hopefully offset the drag from an expected increase in mortgage rates this summer.”
DMAR’s monthly report also includes statistics and analyses in its supplemental “Luxury Market Report” (properties sold for $1 million or greater), “Signature Market Report” (properties sold between $750,000 and $999,999) and “Premier Market Report” (properties sold between $500,000 and $749,999). Notably, 52 homes closed in February for $1 million or greater – which is a 41 percent increase from the month prior – with an average sold price of $1,547,264. Closed dollar volume in February was $80.5 million, up 59 percent from January 2015 that had reported $50.7 million.
Jill Schafer, member of the DMAR Market Trends Committee, stated: “No winter weather blues on the high end of the market. February’s 22 inches of snow in the Denver-area did not bury the high-end market last month. In fact, it heated up.”
The highest priced home sale in February was $3,522,000 representing five bedrooms, six bathrooms and 4,345 above ground square-feet in Cherry Creek. Both the listing and selling agents for the transaction are
DMAR members. Additionally, both the listing and selling agents from the highest priced condominium sale, also in Cherry Creek, are DMAR members. The condo was $1,425,000 represent-ing four bedrooms, five bathrooms and 3,193 above ground square-feet.
To view the Denver Metro Market Report, please click here.
Follow the latest updates from the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS® on Twitter , Facebook and Google+, + Join the conversa-tion at #DMARSTATS.
The DMAR Market Trends Committee releases reports monthly, highlighting important trends and market activity emerging across the Denver Metro area. Reports include data for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson and Park counties. Data for the report was sourced from REcolorado® (December 2, 2014) and interpreted by DMAR.
Universal American Mortgage Company, LLC dba Eagle Home Mortgage. Company NMLS# 1058, 720-836-4879; Supervised Lender License #987996, regulated by the Division of Real Estate. Certain restriction apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Applicants must qualify.
Pinnacle Mortgage Group is proud to announce our name change on February 1, 2015 to Eagle Home Mortgage, one of the fastest growing mortgage companies in the country. In the Spring of last year we were are acquired by Eagle Home Mortgage, a full-service mortgage banker that shares our commitment to customer satisfaction and our approach to home financing.
Founded in 1984 in the Pacific Northwest, Eagle Home Mortgage is a member of the Lennar Family of Companies, a Fortune 500 real estate and financial services leader. Our experienced loan officers now have access to an even wider array of loan programs while retaining our unique ability to offer in-house services from initial pre-approval through to a successful closing.
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DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TEN
It’s All About Teams, Ratings, and Systems
Written By Steve Murray,REAL Trends publisher What’s trending in the real estate industry
In our quest to keep our finger on the pulse of real estate and brokerage busi-ness, we regularly reach out to brokers, real estate professionals, coaches and tech companies about their challenges and successes, as well as observations about the industry. Here are some of the recent trends we uncovered. Some aren’t new but may be picking up steam; others are morphing into a new trend. Here’s the list:
• Increased share for top producers. While obviously not new to real estate, research indicates that top-producing agents and teams are picking up more share of the business, more so than ever before. On the listing side of transactions, examination of MLS data shows that indeed the top 20 percent of agents have or are nearing an 80 percent market share. While this is not true on the buy side yet, the trend is clear that the most productive agents are garnering larger shares year after year.
• Consumers use ratings and reviews. Research also shows that all age groups of buyers and sellers are using rating and review sites to check agent perfor-mance data, even when agents have been referred to them. While Millennials use ratings more than any other age group, all age groups are using such resources and are being influenced by what they find. Anecdotal research from agent interviews confirms that consum-ers enjoy having access to ratings on agents and are influenced by those who have the most robust information from past customers and clients.
• Data mining helps recruiting. Several national and large regional firms are adding new agents to their ranks through comprehensive data mining and outreach programs. For example, while NAR reported that their member-ship grew approximately 4 to 5 percent in 2014, two of the national networks grew by more than 20,000 agents last year. Like top agents, they are getting
smarter about using online tools, data analytics and focused efforts to grow their shares of the business in the United States.
• Brokers still aren’t using systems. Historically, only a fraction of agents, teams, brokerage firms and national networks use a systematic approach to the core functions of attracting and retaining new clients, customers and/or sales agents. Most of these activities are informal and did not rely on data analytics or systematic approaches. For the most part, when the market grew, then the business of agents and broker-age firms grew. For example, we know that most of the brokerage firms ranked on the REAL Trends 500 and Up-and-Comers grew only slightly above the national growth rates.
• Gain more market share through technology systems. Much has been written and said about consumer facing technology and transaction processing in the industry. Much less has been said about the advent of data analytics and emerging evidence that those agents, teams, brokerage firms and national
networks that apply rigorous systems in recruiting customers and/or agents will gain more share, consistently, than those that don’t.
This is not to imply that personal relationships and culture don’t top the list of the attributes of the most successful realty firms and sales professionals. It is that those who develop both strong systematic approaches to growth and a strong culture are likely to have a brighter future than those who lack one or the other.
This article originally appears in the March 2015 issue of the REAL Trends Newsletter and is reprinted with permission of REAL Trends Inc. Copyright 2015
BUYERS, SELLERS AND BORROWERS NOW RECEIVE
A N OT H E R H AC K . A N OT H E R DATA B R E AC H. A N OT H E R P H I S H.
12 MONTHS12 MONTHSOF FREE IDENTITY THEFT REPAIR COVERAGE
North American Title Company offers additional peace of mind to your clients
CBS News recently reported 368 data breaches hit the United States in just the first six months of 2014 – with more than 10 million personal records exposed. And identity theft is on the rise, with the Bureau of Justice reporting 16.6 million American adults experienced their personal data being used for fraudulent reasons in 2012 alone.
We change our passwords. We shred our financial documents. What more can we do? Of course, North American Title takes protecting our customers’ private information very seriously and we provide a number of measures to safeguard it.
However, purchasing a home is probably the largest single investment most of us will ever make. So North American Title is now providing an additional layer of security for its valued customers. Buyers, sellers and refinance customers who close with North American Title will now enjoy 12 months of identity theft repair coverage with the AllClear Guarantee – at no cost to them.
The AllClear Guarantee is simple. If a covered individual’s identity is stolen, AllClear ID will repair it. They will work
with the creditors to help recover the loss and restore the individual’s credit report. No matter where or how the theft occurs, the individual is covered. AllClear ID is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
Why is North American Title teaming up with AllClear ID to offer this unique service to its customers? Because in addition to providing accurate, smooth closings, we know something about protection – protecting the ownership rights in homes via our title insurance policies. So it’s only natural that we decided to offer a new kind of protection to your clients.
Contact your North American Title representative to find out how the AllClear Guarantee can work for your buyers and sellers. Call us today and we’ll look forward to seeing you with a contract tomorrow.
The AllClear ID Guarantee does not include credit or identity theft monitoring. It is only available to individual customers of North American Title Company who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and are citizens or legal residents of the United States with a valid U.S. Social Security number. While AllClear ID will help recover the loss, the AllClear Guarantee is not an insurance policy covering any potential financial losses.
A+AllClear ID is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. www.nat.com
In partnership with AllClear ID | www.AllClearID.com
©2014 North American Title Group and its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. North American Title Group and its subsidiaries are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. | CORP 14-5447 R 10-31-14
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For the past ten years, REAL Trends has been searching the country to locate the most produc-tive sales agents and sales teams in their two rank-ing divisions, “America’s Best Agents” and “The Thousand.” Last year alone, over 9,500 agents and teams applied to be ranked among America’s Best Agents. The best of the best were ranked on REAL Trends’ The Thousand, as advertised in The Wall Street Journal.
What’s the difference between these two rankings?
REAL Trends The Thousand, as advertised in The Wall Street Journal, is a list of the top produc-ing sales associates broken down by top individuals by sides, top individu-als by volume, top teams by sides and top teams by volume and now top individuals by average sales price and top teams by average sales price. All information is independently verified for the most accurate listing of top real estate professionals around the country.
REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents lists the top-producing sales associates (culled from entries to The Thousand) broken down by state and metropolitan areas (over 250 met-ropolitan statistical areas, including nearly 600 cities).
For individual agents to qualify, they must have at least 50 closed transac-tions sides or $20 million in closed sales volume for the 2014 calendar year. For sales teams to qualify, they must have 75 closed transactions
sides or $30 million in closed sales volume for the 2014 calendar year. This includes residential sales only, and does not include leases or rentals.
If you are interested in learning more about REAL Trends’ America’s Best Real Estate Agents or The Thousand, or interested in applying, click here. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2015
Implications:The Upstream ProjectWhat are the implications of a national database of listing and sales data?
The Upstream Project is an endeavor by a consortium of national and regional brokerage firms to build and operate a national database of listing and sales data and prospectively much more.
The development is underway and, while the achievement of the objective is a ways off, progress is being made.
Much of the focus of this develop-ment has been on how it may give brokerage firms a stronger position vis-à-vis the MLS and listing portals. One overlooked development is the strengthened position it will give to national real estate firms.
They will have far better data for their consumer websites, and they will
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Announcement | REAL Trends Annual Rankings Open for Submission
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE THIRTEEN
FLEXIBLE FINANCING FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS
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Call today at 303-475-5873 or visit www.BridgeLending.com to start the loan process.
continued on page 18
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE FOURTEEN
Global Update from NAR | February & Early March
Here are the important updates from Joe Schneider, Manager of Global Business Development and Outreach Commercial and Global Services at NAR:
US Senate Finance Committee Unanimously Approves FIRPTA Reforms
The Senate Finance Committee approved a bill that would make significant changes to the Foreign Investment Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA), encouraging investment in US real estate in several ways, but increasing FIRPTA withholding tax and changing other requirements with respect to foreign investment in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) and Regulated Investment Companies (RICs).
Bullish on Brooklyn: Real Estate Executives Expect Technology to Boom in the Borough, Think Its Office Space Market Will Grow
Looking at a corporate upsurge including JP Morgan’s planned move of 2000 employees to Brooklyn, they agreed that “Brooklyn will be a serious contender for New York City office space in the coming years.” But a sizable number (16 percent) don’t feel that way. They think growth will soon stagnate, agreeing that “Brooklyn won’t be able to expand its market for Class A office space.”
Global real estate fund sector facing widespread ‘disruption’ as demand, funding and administration all evolve
The global real estate sector, riding a broad wave of growth and demand, is going through one of its most tumultuous periods in recent history, according to EY’s Global market out-look 2015: trends in real estate private equity report. As changes in economic and social patterns fundamentally alter demand throughout the real estate markets, investors are clamoring for new deals and sending prices higher.
American Real Estate Buyers Take Advantage of the Falling Euro
The quickly dropping Euro is benefit-ing Americans purchasing property in Europe. Currency conversion and fluc-tuation can often make or break a deal. Lisa Suydam went into contract on a Paris pied-à-terre in November, but the deal still hasn’t closed, because the seller needs more time. Ms. Suydam couldn’t be happier. “Every point that the Euro drops, I’m saving money. Not closing has saved me lot,” said the 62-year-old retired international flight attendant.
Selling International Developments: Possible profit center for Realtors?
The recovering U.S. Real estate market, strengthening dollar, and continued baby boomer retirement has brought an old niche international market segment back into focus: inter-national developments.
Seattle-area real estate leaders turn attention to investors from India
For years, real estate companies have targeted Chinese buyers, hiring Mandarin speakers for their Seattle-area offices and hosting events for Chinese investors. Now, these same companies see another group that is increasingly interested in the region’s real estate- investors and buyers from India. A Seattle real estate company capitalized on this by hosting an event Sunday and Monday with real estate executives from India.
CIPS Global Programs Course:
As a reminder, this class is the start-ing point for anyone interested in establishing a Global Council at their association. This is also required for any staff interested in obtaining their CIPS designation. We are holding a class in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, May 12. To sign up or for more information, click here.
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Christi Cauley, Licensed Production Assistant720.439.3311
NMLS# 1009660 / LMB# 100043260
Brandon M. Reanick, Sr. Mortgage Professional970.671.0122
NMLS# 279447 / LMB# 100015628
Ann Dain,Home Mortgage Banker303.478.8591
NMLS# 768248 / LMB#100051090
Lori M. Graham,Sr. Mortgage Advisor303.289.2728
NMLS# 85037 / LMB#100031952
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In 2000, Matt Widdows, founder and CEO of HomeSmart International in Phoenix, believed that the real estate industry had been left behind in technology and systems to support real estate agents in their day-to-day business needs. Widdows combined traditional real estate concepts with innovation and a technology approach. This thought gave birth to the HomeSmart “low-fee, high-value” brokerage model.
Matt Widdows, via Real Trends
REAL Trends spoke to Widdows. Here’s what he had to say:
REAL Trends: Tell us about your path into real estate.
Widdows: I got licensed in 1992. I got into the business because I had a friend whose family was in real estate, and it seemed interesting. At first I worked part-time as I owned a company that did medical computer hardware and software for hospitals. When I sold that medical technology company in 1995, I went into real estate full-time.
I opened my brokerage in 1997, and then, in 2000 I launched HomeSmart. The company was born of my love
of real estate with my background in technology.
REAL Trends: What was the biggest professional challenge you faced when building your brokerage?
Widdows: The hardest thing for any small business is hiring your first employee. You are banking on that person to make you more profitable. You’re spending money upfront trying to expand your business. Now, I’m not risk averse. I don’t mind taking calculated risks and looking at the potential rewards. That’s a big part of what is growing the company today—calculated risks. Hiring employees for new areas or departments or ventures is still a risk.
REAL Trends: Tell me one lesson learned when building your brokerage.
Widdows: Honestly, the biggest lessons learned were through the toughest times a few years ago. The brokerage was reaching the $100 million mark, and a lot of things were changing. When you get that big, your company becomes less CEO-centric and more executive-team centric. It gets hard to build personal relation-ships with everyone in your firm; that’s a byproduct of growth. But, having those personal relationships with the people you work with is important. I’ve struggled with it, and it was a huge transition. Today, I’m relying on key management figures and stepping back from day-to-day relationships.
REAL Trends: Based on your experi-ence, what is the one thing you did with your brokerage that changed the trajectory of your business? What was the turning point from success to major success?
Widdows: The best thing I did was to invest in our technology and
automation. It made us more efficient and freed me up to do things to help the company grow. That carried us through the downturn in the market.
This article originally appears in the March 2015 issue of the REAL Trends Newsletter and is reprinted with permission of REAL Trends Inc. Copyright 2015
Featured Leader Focus On| Matt Widdows
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE SIXTEEN
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Founder and CEO, HomeSmart International, Phoenix
Exceptional real estate professionalsdeserve exceptional service.
Beth AndersonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 501302303.550.5924
Todd OlsonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514815303.663.8012
Glenna MaltbySr. Mortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514803303.667.4004
Peter RodriguezMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514816303.495.8824
Pam Martin-McGargillMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514802720.529.6315
Jo SchofieldMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501290303.916.9342
Ryan LovellMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 561458720.529.6337
Dorothy HolderMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501300720.529.6330
Ross BarrettSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514794720.529.6343
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.©2009 Bank of America Corporation. 00-62-0197D 02-2012 ARP632D5
With a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank ofAmerica can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.
Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financingthat’s right for them.
Exceptional real estate professionalsdeserve exceptional service.
Beth AndersonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 501302303.550.5924
Todd OlsonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514815303.663.8012
Glenna MaltbySr. Mortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514803303.667.4004
Peter RodriguezMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514816303.495.8824
Pam Martin-McGargillMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514802720.529.6315
Jo SchofieldMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501290303.916.9342
Ryan LovellMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 561458720.529.6337
Dorothy HolderMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501300720.529.6330
Ross BarrettSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514794720.529.6343
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.©2009 Bank of America Corporation. 00-62-0197D 02-2012 ARP632D5
With a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank ofAmerica can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.
Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financingthat’s right for them.
Exceptional real estate professionalsdeserve exceptional service.
Beth AndersonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 501302303.550.5924
Todd OlsonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514815303.663.8012
Glenna MaltbySr. Mortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514803303.667.4004
Peter RodriguezMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514816303.495.8824
Pam Martin-McGargillMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514802720.529.6315
Jo SchofieldMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501290303.916.9342
Ryan LovellMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 561458720.529.6337
Dorothy HolderMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501300720.529.6330
Ross BarrettSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514794720.529.6343
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.©2009 Bank of America Corporation. 00-62-0197D 02-2012 ARP632D5
With a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank ofAmerica can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.
Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financingthat’s right for them.
Exceptional real estate professionalsdeserve exceptional service.
Beth AndersonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 501302303.550.5924
Todd OlsonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514815303.663.8012
Glenna MaltbySr. Mortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514803303.667.4004
Peter RodriguezMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514816303.495.8824
Pam Martin-McGargillMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514802720.529.6315
Jo SchofieldMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501290303.916.9342
Ryan LovellMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 561458720.529.6337
Dorothy HolderMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501300720.529.6330
Ross BarrettSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514794720.529.6343
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.©2009 Bank of America Corporation. 00-62-0197D 02-2012 ARP632D5
With a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank ofAmerica can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.
Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financingthat’s right for them.
Exceptional real estate professionalsdeserve exceptional service.
Beth AndersonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 501302303.550.5924
Todd OlsonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514815303.663.8012
Glenna MaltbySr. Mortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514803303.667.4004
Peter RodriguezMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514816303.495.8824
Pam Martin-McGargillMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514802720.529.6315
Jo SchofieldMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501290303.916.9342
Ryan LovellMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 561458720.529.6337
Dorothy HolderMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 501300720.529.6330
Ross BarrettSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514794720.529.6343
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED OR AUTHORIZED FOR CONSUMER DISTRIBUTION. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.©2009 Bank of America Corporation. 00-62-0197D 02-2012 ARP632D5
With a wide range of home loan programs and a commitment to customer service, Bank ofAmerica can help you reach out to more potential homebuyers.
Contact us today to find out how we can help more of your clients get the home financingthat’s right for them.
Beth AndersonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 501302303.550.5924
Peter RodriguezMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514816303.495.8824
Todd OlsonSales ManagerNMLS ID: 514815303.663.8012
Ryan LovellMortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 561458720.529.6337
Glenna MaltbySr. Mortgage Loan OfficerNMLS ID: 514803303.667.4004
NOW YOU KNOW
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE EIGHTEEN
Do you have a sales prioritization plan? If you want to close more leads, you must prioritize the things you do each workday and set a specific follow-up protocol. A simple plan might look like this:
Priority 1: Leads on Property (currently with you or in person)
Priority 2: Inbound calls (not emails)
Priority 3: New Web Inquiries
Priority 4: Late Stage Follow-up Calls (Sales Stages Nos. 5 through 9 for example)
Priority 5: Early Stage Follow-up Calls (Sales Stages Nos. 2 through 4 for example)
Priority 6: Inbound Email Follow Up
Source: “Why Real Estate Leads Don’t Close,” a REAL Trends whitepaper.
Image: via Real Tends
Announcement | REAL Trends Annual Rankings Open for Submission continued from page 13 DENVER METRO
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
have access to market share and other performance metrics for virtually every market in the country. This is hugely useful to them, not only to get a better handle on how metro areas are per-forming; but also, how well they, their affiliate firms and their competitors are performing.
There are infinite ways they can use the data to help their affiliates in tar-geting growth opportunities, such as
in recruiting and mergers. They could match such data with other consumer data to create targeted marketing, such as the tools provided by firms like SmartZip and others. The numbers of new opportunities for data mining are far beyond these few examples.
Those who consider the long-term implications of changes in the founda-tions of the industry should factor this development into their forecasts. We
expect the use and importance of data analytics to have a significant influence on national and regional realty perfor-mance in the years ahead.
This article originally appears in the March 2015 issue of the REAL Trends Newsletter and is reprinted with permission of REAL Trends Inc. Copyright 2015
Getting agents excited about your tech offering is no easy feat. How you promote your technology to your agents, consumers and potential recruits is as important as the technol-ogy you offer. The perception of your technology prowess can be instrumen-tal in creating buzz in your market and can give you a leg up in recruiting.
The REAL Trends technology team recently worked with a brokerage that is getting pressure from their agents to one up another local company that is supposedly outdoing them in the technology area. But, the agents had it wrong. They perceived that this other brokerage was outdoing them in tech; however, it was all perception. The brokerage had technology that was just as good as that of their competi-tor. The problem? They weren’t selling it enough to their agents.
You must have a complete technol-ogy solution. Having a complete pack-age will set up your firm for the future. Remember, a solid tech package can create a buzz when it comes to getting agents in the door. When looking at the return on investment (ROI) on technol-ogy, you’ll notice that it is not a simple, straight ROI conversation anymore. You will lose or gain agents based on your technology offerings, and this will only intensify as time goes on.
There is an industry adage that the best customer relationship manager (CRM) is the one your agents use. The best CRM is the one your agents believe to be the best! Your agents must not think your competitors have better solutions. Here are a few strate-gies that you can employ to promote your technology:
1. Website, mobile website and mobile App. It’s time you
promote your technology in your listing presentations. Pick the two to three things at which you excel. A good example might be your property search or individual property websites. Perhaps you have a mobile app experience that is unparalleled in your market, whatever the case, let people know about it.
2. Marketing and technology solutions. Here is an often-
overlooked opportunity.
Many brokers regularly bill agents for the routine stuff, such as desk and technology fees. Often forgotten are the services that agents are getting for those fees. A simple way to remind them is to itemize their monthly bills then credit them back to zero it out. For instance, if you offer the following: mobile app, CRM and transaction man-agement system, and you do SEO, SEM and listing portal marketing, then list
those on their monthly bill. Reinforce your value proposition. Don’t forget to include marketing and transaction coordinators, as well.
3. Listing presentations. You must get your agents talking about
your technology more often and dur-ing the listing presentation is a good place to start. I knew a brokerage (competitor to our client) that used the program, Salesforce. In their listing presentations, they highlighted the fact that they used the world’s No. 1 CRM
to monitor activity and contacts. If you get your agents talking about it, it will have an impact on adoption, recruitment, and retention.
If you and your agents are not talking about and promoting your technology, then you’re missing out on an opportunity to mold the reputation you want in your area. Sometimes, the perception is reality.
This article originally appears in the March 2015 issue of the REAL Trends Newsletter and is reprinted with permission of REAL Trends Inc. Copyright 2015
How to Promote Your Technology
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Tips for getting agents excited about your tech offerings.
Written by Travis Saxton,vice president of technology
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE NINETEEN
CFPB|2015 Closing Documents Update: Part 1
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TWENTY
As of August 1, 2015, a new Loan Estimate Form and Closing Disclosure form will be implemented to replace the current disclosure forms that are required to be provided for consumers applying for a mortgage. How will this change affect closings going forward?
What is different in the current forms? These answers and more will be revealed in Land Title’s two-part technical bulletin on the new disclo-sures created by the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau). Part Two will be available in February’s technical bulletin.
BackgroundFor more than 30 years, federal law
has required that lenders provide two different disclosure forms when a consumer applies for a mortgage. Generally, these forms needed to be done at or shortly before the closing
of the loan. Two different federal agen-cies created these forms separately, under two federal statutes: the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). It was found that the information on these forms overlapped, the language was inconsistent and that lenders and settlement agents often found them hard to explain and burdensome to provide.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) was signed into law in July of 2010. The law was created to protect consumers from many of the question-able practices used by members of the financial industry that led to the financial crisis in 2008.
As part of the Dodd-Frank Act, an independent agency was created to enforce and set clear, consistent rules for the financial services marketplaces. This agency was named the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB was directed to revamp the current forms used during real estate transactions to provide forms that help consumers understand the key features, costs and risks associated with the mortgage for which they were applying. Consumers, lenders, mortgage brokers and settlement agents were asked to give input on how to combine and improve these forms. The new disclosures were issued November 30, 2013 in a final rule that provided a detailed explanation of how the forms will need to be filled out and used.
The New DisclosuresTwo new forms were created for
most closed-ended consumer mort-gage loans applied for as of
August 1, 2015. The CFPB worked to develop forms that reconciled the dif-ferences of the current forms and com-
bined several of the other mandated disclosures such as the appraisal notice and servicing application disclosure.
The first form is the Loan Estimate. It replaces the Truth in Lending state-ment (TIL) and the Good Faith Estimate (GFE). This form provides a summary of the key loan terms and estimated loan and closing costs. It needs to be delivered to consumers within three business days after they submit a mortgage loan application. This form is a useful tool for consumers since it allows them to compare the costs and features of different loans.
The second form is the Closing Disclosure. It replaces the Truth in Lending Statement and the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. It provides a detailed accounting of the real estate transaction. It must be provided to consumers three business days before they close on the mortgage.
Benefits of the new formsHow will these new forms benefit
the overall real estate transaction and the consumer? Here are just a few of the items that the CFPB found were beneficial with the changes:
1) Consumers understand the key information of their loan better including the risk factors, short-term and long-term costs of the loan, and what their monthly pay-ment will be.
2) Allows for consumers to comparison shop on loan offers and closing costs. The new forms break down all the costs of the loan and costs of completing the mortgage transac-tion so the would-be-homebuyer or those refinancing are better able to comparison shop between different offers.
3) Avoiding costly surprises at the closing table. By providing three days for the consumer to review the
loan terms and costs, it gives the consumers time to ask questions and negotiate over changes that have occurred.
For more information on the new forms, visit http://www.consumerfinance.gov/knowbe-foreyouowe/
Part two of this bulletin will discuss the three –day rule further and explain more details of the new rule and what is involved with the change.
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TWENTY-ONE
Special thanks to DMAR Affiliate Members Jesse Hamilton & Megan Aller at LTGC for sharing this article
2015 Closing Documents Update: Part 2 Preparing for the Closing Table
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TWENTY-TWO
In Part One, we discussed the new Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure forms that will be utilized as of August 1st, 2015. In Part Two, we will discuss the three day rule and other items involved with the new forms imple-mented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The Loan Estimate FormThe creditor or mortgage broker
must provide the Loan Estimate form no later than three days after the con-sumer applies for the mortgage loan. An application is defined as acquiring the consumer’s name, consumer’s income, social security number to obtain a credit report, the property address, an estimate of the value of the property, and the mortgage loan amount needed.
Three-Day Closing Disclosure RuleAccording to the new regulations,
the creditor must deliver the Closing Disclosure form to the consumer at least three days prior to closing. The three-day period is measured by days and not by hours. Creditors may use settlement agents to provide the Closing Disclosure as long as they conform with the rules.
How are the three days defined?The three-day period starts on the
day of consummation which is the day that the consumer becomes contractu-ally obligated to the loan (i.e. the day the consumer signs the note). This is typically the same day as the closing on a residential re-sale transaction. Once that date is determined, you count backwards three days. The
three days are all business days except Sunday and legal public holidays.
The chart gives perspective on when the closing disclosure needs to be delivered to the consumer. You would start with the closing date and go backwards. This information is important to communicate to the buyer or seller in terms of deadlines for receiving their documents for review and having everything ready for the closing date.
How must the Closing Disclosure be Delivered?
To ensure the closing disclosure is received on time by the consumer, the form can be delivered either in person or by mailing or other delivery methods including email. If not hand delivered, there is potential for a need of an extra three days for delivery via mail.
In a purchase transaction, it is the settlement agent’s responsibility to provide the seller with the Closing Disclosure. This must be provided no later than the day of consummation.
When does a new Closing Disclosure Need to Be Issued?
If changes occur between the time in which the Closing Disclosure form is given and the closing, then the con-sumer must be provided with a new form. The cycle begins again where the consumer is given another three days to review the new form before the closing. Instances of having to provide a new form should happen frequently.
Changes that would require a new Closing Disclosure to be issued and an additional three-day waiting period include:
• changes to the APR about 1/8 percent for most loans (and a 1/4 percent for loans with irregular pay-
DENVER METROASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TWENTY-THREE
ments or periods)
• changes to the loan product
• addition of a prepayment penalty to the loan
Less significant changes can be provided on the revised Closing Disclosure form before or at the closing without causing delays to the closing.
A consumer may waive or modify the three-day business day waiting period when the extension of credit is needed to meet a bona fide personal financial emergency. One example of a financial emergency would be the foreclosure of a buyer’s home.
Potential ImpactsAs with any change, there are some
potential impacts that may occur which could affect the real estate transaction.
Here are a few that may occur with the new forms:• Potential for longer closings
• Back-to-Back closing delays
• Delay in scheduled closing date
• Seller could back out of contract and go with another buyer and/or not agree to extension on contract
• Possible loss of earnest money
For more information on the specifics of the loan estimate and the closing disclosure form, please visit http://www.consumerfinance.gov/regulatory-implementation/tila-respa/.
Disclaimer: This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal or accounting advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.
© Copyright, 2015, by Land Title Guarantee Company
Gorgeous Ideas to Make Home Maintenance Less of a Pain
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TWENTY-FOUR
1. Front Yard Patio
Image: Westover Landscape Design, Inc.
Lawns are classic suburbia; they’re also classic maintenance time-sucks. Good-looking patios, on the other hand, don’t need mowing, watering, or fertilizing. Ever. Be a trend-setter and put one in your front yard for you to enjoy and your neighbors to envy. A professionally installed brick or flag-stone patio runs $15 to $18 per square foot.
2. Vinyl Shake Siding
Image: Essex Home Improvements, Inc.
Vinyl shakes look as beautiful as real wood but they won’t crack, rot, fade, or need periodic staining and sealing. Even better: At $2 to $7 per square foot, installed, they’re about half the price of real wood shakes. Lots of colors available. Did we say that bugs don’t like them, either? Well, they don’t!
3. Quartz Countertop
Image: Bellingham from Cambria’s Waterstone Collection
Everyone seems to love granite — until it’s time to reseal it. You can get a look that’s just as gorgeous with engineered quartz countertops. Made with 95% quartz (one of the hard-est known materials), a quartz countertop shrugs off stains, scratches, and germs (it’s antimicrobial). Cost is $40 to $100 per square foot, installed, about the same as granite. But — unlike granite — a quartz countertop is non-porous and never needs to be resealed. For that reason, quartz counter-tops are starting to rival granite as the preferred choice.
4. Fiberglass Entry Door
Image: Heckard’s Door
What looks like and feels as beautiful as wood, stains like wood, but never chips, warps, or cracks? Answer: fiberglass.
All of which makes fiberglass an ideal material for high-style, low-fuss entry doors that mimic oak, mahogany, walnut, fir, and other woods. Average installed cost for this cool curb appeal upgrade: about $3,000.
5. Shaker-Style Cabinets
Image: Dwelling Studio / All Around Joe Construction
Can style be low-maintenance and gorgeous, too? Of course! These Shaker-style kitchen cabinets, with their simple lines and absence of frills and trills, make cleanup a snap. They also fit with most any design, from traditional to modern. Order them with a tough factory finish that resists stains.
6. Turf Grasses
Image: Takao Nursery
If you love a lawn but hate the upkeep, go alternative. Lush, green turf grasses are beautiful and specially formulated so they’ll grow well in various climates. Once DENVER METRO
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
DENVER METRO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
continued on page 27MARCH | TWO THOUSAND-FIFTEEN PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
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established, turf grasses, like the buffalo grass shown here, require very little watering or mowing, and virtually no fertil-izers or pesticides.
7. Direct-Vent Gas Fireplace
Image: Spark Modern Fires
OK, you’re not Grizzly Adams. You don’t care for chopping firewood, cleaning a sooty hearth, or paying somebody to sweep the chimney every year. But you still like to curl up in front of a blazing fire. Solution: A gorgeous direct-vent gas fireplace ($2,000 to $5,000) burns clean, is energy-efficient, and throws off tons of ambiance.
8. Manufactured Stone Veneer
Image: Eldorado Stone
One of our favorite faux finishes, gorgeous manufactured stone veneer won’t split, crack, or fade. At about $18 per square foot installed, it isn’t cheap, but “Remodeling” maga-zine’s “Cost vs. Value Report” says you’ll recoup about 92% of your investment at resale — one of the highest returns in the report.
9. Drought-Resistant LandscapePlants
Image: Abby Farson Pratt
Azaleas like these are in the genus Rhododendron, a group of woody shrubs that grow in many different climates and have showy spring blossoms. Beautiful azaleas are tough and hardy once rooted into well-drained soil, making upkeep easy and reducing the need for water.
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
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Gorgeous Ideas to Make Home Maintenance Less of a Pain continued from page 25 DENVER METRO
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