Spring 2015 Newsletter

Dear Brixton Friends,

Are you loving the warmer weather and sunshine this spring? We sure are! Business picks up and so do our spirits with a little more vitamin D. It’s hard to say if it really slowed much this winter for Brixton, but we can definitely attest to our client’s frustrations with the lack of inventory out there. We are all hearing that more homes are preparing to list and are working hard to help our buyers compete in this crazy market.

Brian is building away with TK Morrison too, helping improve the inventory problem and getting people into high quality homes at a great value. The TK Morrison team has moved into multi-family completing and selling their first 4-Plex in Jefferson Park this winter. They are now exploring projects in Sloan’s Lake and Golden for multi-unit living. More infill for the places people want to live!

And last, but not least, the little ladies have kept us on our toes as busy 4.5 year olds! Eva is our little ballerina with grace and focus. Her personality is shining as a caring and sweet little girl. Ellie is loving her gymnastics and is full of energy and a strong spirit. They can’t wait to turn 5 and grow up. We keep taking photos and holding onto memories as it is moving so fast! Both are in Taekwondo and loving that too. They are learning self-discipline, loyalty and respect, while also building a foundation for self defense (which Dad loves, “no dating until they have their black belt!)

Since spring has sprung, we are getting outside as much as we can (around the spring snow showers) and are planning for many camping adventures this summer. You will likely see the girls and us out at the park flying kites, on the run through Golden, or licking ice cream at the farmer’s market very soon!

We hope you are enjoying the sunshine too! It is a time of year where more people get serious about their home plans to buy, sell or build. If you want to discuss your options and our careful strategies, please let us know by sending a note to jennifer@brixtonmail.com. We would love to hear how your spring is going and wish you the best out there!

Warm regards,

Brian and Jenn Morrison

By Conan Bliss
The word is out: Denver tops the charts of major US cities in real estate appreciation in the last year.
For those who know the Denver real estate market and have watched it climb in the last few years, this may not come as a surprise. For others, or newcomers to Denver and the Denver real estate market, it may seem surreal that Denver has surpassed the likes of Seattle, San Francisco, and even New York in the past year’s appreciation.

Click here to read more about why Denver is #1.

Our Team has had quite the Spring, from welcoming a new baby to hiking the Himalayas!

Top Row: Conan and Gesine on their hike to Everest Base Camp and both are safe and sound.
Ryan and his wife, Wendy, recently welcomed little Emma to the world.

Middle Row: Christa’s daughter, Tylee, loves to be outside and helps with the family garden.

Bottom Row: Brian and Jenn love to get out and hike all over Colorado with Eva and Ellie.

By Christa Smith
Not a day goes by that I don’t hear “this market is crazy!” We keep seeing in articles and on the news that Denver is #1 for rising home prices/sales and the hottest market in the US. With Denver being at an all time low for inventory and our population rapidly increasing it has created a battlefield for buyers shopping for a home under $400K.

Don’t panic! Although being a buyer can be difficult right now we have some tips that can help you win a contract even if you aren’t the highest bidder. More times than not, sellers are looking for the buyer that is most likely to close, not the buyer that offered 20K over asking price to beat out competition.

1. Having a reputable lender– Listing brokers want to work with a buyer who has a strong, local lender that has come through for the buyer broker 100% of the time.

2. Save your money– The probability of an FHA loan getting accepted these days is slim to none. Obviously a full price cash offer will win 9 times out of 10 but the more you can put down with a conventional loan the better your chances are.

3. Flexibility on weekdays– Having time during the week to get out and look at a house the day it goes on the market can be a huge advantage for buyers. With over 50% of homes in Denver only lasting a day or two on the market this is crucial.

4. Writing a letter to the seller- I’m indifferent to this approach because personally if I was a seller a “love letter” would mean nothing to me. With that being said, there are plenty of sellers out there with so much pride in their home that it actually works to express your love for the home and could potentially beat out a higher offer.

5. Have a good agent!- I’m saying this because it can make or break a deal. No matter how good you look on paper if your agent doesn’t build good rapport with the listing agent they might not be as willing to fight for your offer. Building a good relationship with the listing broker has won the deal for us on several occasions!

By Jenn Morrison
Improving life at home is where we can make significant moves in our quality of life. One area we’ve found makes a big impact in our family relationships is putting down the phone during family time. This can be hard to do when you have a deadline for a project or a client need, but delaying the need to respond can make huge strides with the people in our lives. You can do this by simply making a few hours a night phone free. It takes a conscious decision and awareness for an extra few hours of quality time distraction free. Creating more space for those we share our lives with can make everything seem a little bit easier. The email/message/text will always be there when you are ready to get back to the phone, but the time shared distraction free is invaluable.