Fall is almost here, and with it comes the fall issue of the Fort Collins community recreation magazine, the Recreator.  The new issue has just come out, and if you will be relocating to Fort Collins, the Recreator is a one stop shop for a diverse collection of community opportunities for all ages and abilities. Whether you are new to Fort Collins, or have lived in the Fort Collins area all your life, the Recreator is a wonderful resource about all the city wide programs, events, recreation, clubs and activities.

Read the rest of this entry

Fort Collins Back To School Information

If you area relocating to Fort Collins, you may be feeling a little pressure to get your children ready for the start of school. Don’t worry though, Fort Collins is an amazing place to raise a family, and the award wining Fort Collins school district, the Poudre School District, will be right there with you to ensure your children have a smooth adjustment to their new Fort Collins neighborhood and settle into a great routine.

Read the rest of this entry

Camping in Fort Collins Colorado

One of my favorite summer activities is camping. The Northern Colorado area communities are nestled in the perfect location for some great family camping memories. The best part of camping? You get an amazing vacation for very little money and without a lot of travel. If you live in Fort Collins, Berthoud, Firestone, Frederick, Greeley, Johstown, Longmont, Loveland, Platteville, Wellington, or Windsor, you have numerous great camping options all around-which allows you to also choose just how far from home you want to go, and when kids are involved, that freedom to be close to home is wonderful.

Read the rest of this entry

Fort Collins has wonderful summer weather. While most cities are enduring sticky, crazy hot summers, Fort Collins has enjoyable weather. It is warm enough to enjoy swimming and camping, but not so hot that your shoes melt on the sidewalks. Overall, Fort Collins is the perfect summer destination-which times up well for all the children that are now out of school.

Fort Collins Area Summer Camps

Fort Collins is a wonderful place to raise a family. Not only do we have year around family activities and wonderful weather that encourages outdoor activity through all seasons, but we also have numerous programs in our many Northern Colorado communities that cater to family needs and entertainment.

Right now you can see a list of summer camps for all ages at www.coloradokids.com There is are multiple camping/hiking/wilderness training camps, and fun performing arts, academics, and sport camps as well. Some of the programs even offer a little bit of everything.

Do you have children that need a little bit of help catching up on school work? The outstanding Fort Collins school system has summer tutorial programs to support your family. You contact your local school to sign up, and if you will be relocating to Fort Collins this summer, you can still take part. Just simply search by Fort Collins real estate area to see what schools your children will attend and contact that school for the summer academic weekly camps information.

Learn About Fort Collins Colorado Events

I always try to keep the Northern Colorado Real Estate Blog up to date with the most current area events, but if there is ever anything in particular you want to learn about, from the Fort Collins schools to finding the perfect Fort Collins homes for sale, then simply contact me, your Northern Colorado real estate expert.

Enjoy the summer!

Until next time,
Jason

Windsor, Colorado Area

The Windsor, Colorado community is charming, yet modern with many of its own businesses, activities, shopping and fine dining establishments right in the community area. Residents can enjoy many of the larger city luxuries without having the hustle or bustle a city like Denver has. Windsor is truly one of the most desirable locations outside of Fort Collins, CO.

Charming Downtown

The Downtown area of Windsor is the heart of the fashionable boutiques, fine dining, and coffee houses. Important, historic landmarks have been renovated to support growing businesses, but still retain their original look and feel.

Windsor, CO Real Estate

Windsor Colorado real estate is experiencing rapid growth right now; and there are many modern styles available for sale varying from single family homes, historic homes and estates, lots and acreage, condos and luxury homes. You can browse the Northern Colorado Multiple Listing Service Home Search to see all Fort Collins area Homes for sale, or simply contact me to search for you.

Until next time,
Jason

Huge congratulations are due to some very special young adults getting ready to graduate in a few weeks from our outstanding Poudre School District.

This year, the Northern Colorado area schools were able to honor a large number of outstanding youth with the Cesar Chavez awards-given in recognition to outstanding high school students who have worked toward meeting the need to empower others, achieve nonviolent justice, support programs that help the needy, show respect for life, and genuine acceptance of others.

Our every own Fort Collins High School Seniors Monica Lopez and Abigail Miller, along with fellow Poudre School District seniors Breanna Hernandez Andrea Blasini, and the Poudre High School’s student run group HYPE, whose members are Abe Ornelas, Miguel Ontiveros, Ryan Beethe, Sayde Camacho, Nic Lujan, Paige Cookman, Jeanette Yanez, Karen Perez, Olga Larrea-Rodriguez, Evelyn Martinez, Nancy Ortiz, Lizbeth Gonzales, sofia Ruiz, Adriana Delgado, Ariana Delgado, Yovana Molina, Nuvia Molina, Nara Alvez, Sandra Ornelas, Perla Borunda and Susana Ruvalcaba were recently honored with Cesar Chavez awards.

Fort Collins Schools

Part of what makes the Fort Collins area such a great place to raise a family is our wonderful school systems. We offer suburb public schools, as well as numerous private school choices to fit your family’s needs and wants.

Deadlines are coming up to get your children enrolled in the Poudre School System Summer Programs. Registration is going on now for Secondary summer school, which offers students a chance to catch up or get ahead -and graduate early or start earning college credits early, so talk to your current school principal if your student needs or wants to get some summer credits.

The popular Explore Enrichment Program registration deadline is April 20, 2010, and it is a place for elementary students to challenge themselves with creativity and new ideas. It is two, one week sessions for June 7-11 and Jun 14-18 and classes fill up quickly on a first come, first serve basis-so be sure to sign up quickly

Also offered is the Summer Music Program 2010, for 5th through 12th grad students at all levels of musical study. For any of your children involved in band, this will probably be a wonderful summer experience to strengthen and enrich their skills. Registration is also going on now, and your child does not have to be in the school band in order to participate-just bring a love of music and your own instrument (or school loaned instrument).

To learn about these wonderful activities, check out the school website: http://www.psdschools.org/curriculuminstruction/programs/summer_school.aspx

Until next time,
Jason

The number one question I get asked is “How is the Fort Collins real estate market doing?” My answer? It depends on what you are using as the definition of “good and great”.

Fort Collins, Colorado Real Estate Market Snapshot

Currently, the average price of Fort Collins homes for sale is $212,500-which is down 1.1% from last month, but up a small amount overall from the all time low 2 years ago, higher than the median sale price this time last year by almost .1%, just below the average sales price from 5 years ago and 50% higher than the average sales price 10 years ago.

But does that mean the market has turned around? That everything is better now? Not by a long shot. There are still quite a few foreclosures out there-and those in and of themselves cause a drop in market prices, sales, and value, sadly because many foreclosures get trashed-cabinets, kitchens and carpet getting ripped out is a prime example- before the bank takes over the real estate.

Currently there are 315 Foreclosed Fort Collins homes for sale, with a median price of $207,000. One good sign? The average foreclosure sales prices is up 10.9% from last month-meaning the majority of the ones on the market right now probably were not trashed-or at least are in good working order to hold onto a fair market price comparable to other homes in the area. That is an excellent sign the market is starting to pick back up.

Fort Collins Real Estate Mortgage Values

Another factor that can tell you a lot about how a local market is doing? The real estate mortgage rates. Right now, the Colorado Mortgage Rates are as follows:

• 15 year fixed today: 4.603% last week: 4.571%
• 30 year fixed today: 5.184% last week: 5.181%
• 1 Year ARM today3.348% last week: 3.322%
• 3/1 Year ARM today: 3.458% last week: 3.437%
• 5/1 Year ARM today: 3.433% last week: 3.417%

So while it is obvious the rates are going up, they have not had a dramatic spike in quite some time-and bear in mind that the rates can and do change daily, so always make sure you check with your lender on the best possible rate you can get.

Buying Fort Collins Real Estate

Wading through all of the mortgage information out there-and figuring out what type of mortgage and rates are the best fit for you, your finances, and your future can be a lot to take in and digest. After all, learning it, keeping up with it, and studying it is part of my full time job!

So if you ever have questions, need or want to know more, or would just like to discuss the market, feel free to contact me Jason Humpal, your Northern Colorado real estate agent, anytime.

Until next time,
Jason

All of us here at Century21 Humpal Northern Colorado real estate work hard to make your Fort Collins real estate search simple and easy. We are happy to share that we have even more interactive, one click features to make your Fort Collins home buying smooth and easy.

Northern Colorado Real Estate

Now, for all of the Northern Colorado areas we serve, Greeley, Windsor, Loveland, Fort Collins, Wellington, Johnstown, Longmount, Berthoud, Firestone, Frederick, and Platteville, you can use one click searches on our real estate price points to search homes in your budget range. For example, if your budget is in the $250K to $300K range, you don’t have to type those prices in over and over, simply click on the corresponding button to find all the homes or go back to that list:

Nice, eh? We thought so!

Northern Colorado Real Estate Services

If you would like to learn more about our areas or request our customized Northern Colorado relocation guide, then simply contact me, Jason Humpal, your expert Northern Colorado real estate agent.

Until next time,

Jason

Northern Colorado real estate has a lot to offer everyone. The Northern Colorado area is very family oriented, yet there are tons of activities and events to entertain young singles or empty nesters.

Northern Colorado Areas

If you are looking to relocate to Northern Colorado, but aren’t from around here, you may be at a loss on what the different areas are like and which will be the best fit for your needs. You can learn about all the neighborhoods here, and you can learn more about the area of Windsor, Colorado below.

Windsor Colorado: A Charmed Place To Live

Windsor, CO real estate offers small town elegance with quick access to the city of Fort Collins. Downtown Windsor is made up of fine dining, fashionable boutiques, and a cozy coffeehouse where you are sure to run into friends and neighbors.

Windsor Colorado Area Information

Located right on the breathtaking Windsor Lake, you can imagine that Windsor is huge on water sports and activities. Windsor has 130 acres of land dedicated to area parks and recreational facilities. For active families and singles, you are sure to appreciate the outdoor swimming pool, 2 outdoor hockey rinks, a skateboard facility, biking, a dog park, miles of walking trails and in-line skating paths.

Windsor Colorado Schools

Parents relocating to Windsor will be thrilled to learn about the award winning Northern Colorado school systems. Windsor offers amazing academic opportunities with high standards of success for the students.

You will also be happy to know there are 6 colleges right nearby, which which include Aims Community College, Colorado State University, Front Range Community College, Naropa University, University of Colorado-Boulder, and the University of Northern Colorado. With so many colleges and degree routes to choose from right in your back yard, there is a great opportunity to save on college costs by having your student commute and live at home.

Learn more about Windsor, Colorado

Want to learn more? Simply contact me, Jason Humpal, your Windsor Colorado expert real estate agent. In the meantime, feel free to browse homes for sale in Windsor.

Until next time,

Jason