Passionately Urban

Saturday, August 29th
Rain or Shine, 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Location: Wynkoop St. between 15th St. and the Cherry Creek

9:00 am - 1:00 pm NO GARAGE GARAGE SALE: Thirty plus tents and tables selling "recycled relics" and "urban treasures" from downtown lofts and condos. Unique items and great buys!Breakfast food and coffee for sale from ORGANIXX. Bloody Marys and Mimosas, too.

1:00 pm - approx. 8:00 pm BLOCK PARTY: Food for sale from LoDo restaurants - Blake Street Vault, 8 Rivers Caribbean, India House, Kuulture Frozen Yogurt, Marakesh, & Wazee Lounge & Supper Club...beer & mixed drinks in the Libations Tent

Live entertainment - TWO BANDS
about 2:00 - Jazz Quartet from the Denver Municipal Band
about 5:00 - dance to The Zydecomatics

A possible extension of the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit is all over the news. There is also discussion that it might be expanded to include second homes and investment properties. Be cautious in believing an extension might happen. The tax credit is set to expire on November 30, 2009. Under the current IRS rules, if the closing is after that date, then the buyer does not get the credit.

Congress might extend the credit, but they might not. They might expand it to include second homes and investment properties, but they might not. There was a lot of discussion last year and the year before about these tax credits. The tax credit that came into affect each year was much different than the several proposals. If there is one piece of advice that I can pass on to anyone, it is this: it is extremely foolish to assume that something will happen in the housing or mortgage industries just because we all want it to happen.

At the moment, it is best to assume that the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers will end on November 30, 2009. If it doesn't, that's great, but assuming that it will be extended, might leave you missing out on an opportunity now.

This is a question I receive frequently. Zillow came up with two videos that explains their process to the general public and real estate professionals. The general public has the ability to contribute to Zillow and make their zestimate more accurate. Check out the videos to learn more >

Unless you've been living under a rock, you already know that Denver's zoning is messed up. For the past 4 years or so, the city has formed focus groups, employed city planning experts, and asked for community input on Denver's zoning challenges. Finally, the Denver's DRAFT Zoning Code Maps are Available Online!

There are many ways to provide input. The best place to start is to visit the website, NewCodeDenver.org, where you can:
1.) Learn about public meetings in your neighborhood scheduled for August 2009 and other meetings that will be held throughout the adoption process.
2.) View the latest draft of New Code language.
3.) View draft maps of the proposed zoning for your neighborhood. See how the new zoning
may apply to your property.
4.) Submit your feedback directly to the city on both the draft language and maps.

The following City Council District Workshops have been created for presentation of new zoning code maps and to collect public input.

If you have any questions about the new code, rezoning maps, or how it impacts your property and interests please contact Sean Maley at (303) 570-3069.

This means that interest rates will probably be rising soon. A gain from a further drop in housing prices could easily be lost by a rise in interest rates.

In response to the troubled housing market, the Federal Reserve has moved aggressively to push down mortgage rates by buying as much as $1.75 trillion of housing debt and Treasuries this year. This policy has been successful. Rates on 15-year and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are hovering at historic lows.

Homebuyers often fail to consider the savings that come with low interest rates, particularly over the life of the loan, or even the partial life of the loan. For example, on a 30-year fixed-rate loan amount of $200,000 at 5%, the interest paid over the life of the loan is $186,512. That brings the total loan payments to $386,512. At 6%, the amount of interest paid rises to $231,676, a 24% increase. At 7%, it’s $279,018, a 49% increase.

Civic Center Park Free Concert (Greek Theatre, 14th & Broadway)
Saturday, August 8th at 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Gary Sinise and the Lt Dan Band
Opie Gone Bad
More info >

Sip, Sample, and Stroll - Tues, August 18th, 5 - 9 p.m.
Stroll through historic lower downtown (LoDo), stopping at participating restaurants for a sample of special fare. Participating restaurants will offer bite-sized samples in designated areas for ticket holders. Tickets are $25 for members and in advance for the general public and $30 at the door on the day of the event. View flyer >

Buy tickets and get more info >

WORLD OF WINE to Benefit Children of Denver
Time: Wed, August 26, 2009 - 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: The Wine Loft, 1527 Wazee, Lodo
Phone: (888) 576-4555

Guests will enjoy wines from around the world in this celebration featuring wines from Oregon to Australia that will please all palates. For one night, the Wine Loft LoDo will become a place for guests to travel, taste, and explore; customized passports will be your guide to every destination and become your voucher for a special gift at the end of the evening. Each wine will be paired with a cheese plate from the same region, and servers dressed in international costumes will distribute tasty bites. This exclusive affair and silent auction will benefit the Kempe Foundation.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect has been recognized as the world leader in child abuse treatment programs and, for more than 40 years, has been at the forefront in the fight against child abuse. $50 per person, buy tickets and get more info >

No-Garage Garage Sale & Block Party In LoDo, Saturday, August 29, 2009 - Rain or Shine
Wynkoop Street between 15th Street and the Cherry Creek, Sale 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
BLOCK PARTY 1:00 pm into the evening - No Cover Live entertainment by TWO bands - a Jazz Ensemble from Denver Municipal Band and a dance band. Music starts at 2:00 pm. Libations and food booths from LoDo restaurants. More info available at www.lodona.org and www.ddro.org . SPONSORS: Downtown Denver News; HW HOME; St. Charles Town Company - Property Management; Judy H. Montero, City Councilwoman District 9

Identity theft seems to be the crime of the decade. More than 15 million people are victims of identity theft. Try a Credit Freeze if you are concerned about this happening to you. By having a credit freeze in place, creditors aren't able to pull your credit report. And, since very few lenders will issue credit without first seeing a credit report, identity thieves can't open fraudulent accounts using your name. When you want to apply for credit, you can temporarily lift the freeze using a PIN, which will allow your legitimate application to be processed. The only real downside is that it will not be possible to open an instant credit card with a store.