About Housing and Homeless

This page contains an archive of the last 100 entries posted to ProgressNow.org Daily News Digest in the Housing and Homeless category. They are listed from newest to oldest. You can find older entries using the search box below.

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Housing and Homeless Archives

February 29, 2008

State revokes agent's license, citing fraud : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/29/state-revokes-agents-license-c...
The Colorado Division of Real Estate on Thursday said it permanently revoked the license of Greeley real estate agent Tracy T. Todd and issued a 90-day suspension against Greeley agent Steve G. Boye for alleged mortgage fraud schemes in Greeley. The division contends that Todd offered to purchase a home in Greeley at $425,000 which has been on the market for nine months for $300,000. In exchange for the higher price, Todd executed a separate agreement requiring the seller to pay $135,000 in a "consulting fee" to his company, Medicine Creek Consulting. The buyer of the home was Grace Todd, a relative. In another home, listed by Boyer, Todd executed a contract to buy a Greeley home that included a $72,250 consulting fee to Medicine Creek. The buyer was Todd's mother-in-law.
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Aspen Times News - Housing woes take toll on Aspen schools

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080229/NEWS/998112296...
Aspen school officials have concluded that a majority of their employees are in rental housing, and, unless they are somehow able to buy their homes, many might end up leaving the district soon. A recent employee survey also shows that a third of the district’s employees are unhappy with their current housing, would like to own their homes and can afford a fairly hefty mortgage if given the chance to buy. The survey, which drew 153 responses from the district’s 229 employees, was designed to give the district administration an idea of how many teachers, bus drivers, office workers and other employees might want an opportunity to buy into government-subsidized housing.
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Colorado Daily News - Better together

http://coloradodaily.com/articles/2008/02/28/news/c_u_and_boulder/news2.txt...
In order to better serve the homeless and working poor in Boulder County, two nonprofit organizations will merge at the end of March to strengthen fundraising and provide better services to those in need. The Carriage House Homeless Community Center and Community Table have both been serving Boulder County's homeless for about 10 years. Though each organization currently has its own way of providing for the community, they believe that joining forces will help offer the community the best level of service possible. “We both serve similar clientele and guests, and we think it's a much better use of resources,” said Lee Strongwater, president of Community Table. “The merger is about common vision, more exposure and delivery of our services to our clientele in the best possible way.”
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Brokers hit for alleged scheme - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8400334...
The Colorado Division of Real Estate said Thursday that it has revoked the license of Greeley-area real estate broker Tracy Todd and suspended that of Steve G. Boyer for 90 days over an alleged mortgage fraud scheme. Todd made a $425,000 offer on a home that hadn't sold for nine months at a $300,000 listing price. His offer, made on behalf of a relative, included a separate commission agreement to pay a $135,000 "consulting fee" to Medicine Creek Consulting, a company owned by a business partner of Todd's. In another case, Todd executed a contract to buy a Greeley home for $425,000 with a $72,250 consulting fee to Medicine Creek Consulting. The buyer was Todd's mother-in-law. Steve Boyer was the listing agent, and his participation in the transaction resulted in his suspension.
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Vail Daily - Eagle County wants to form housing authority

http://vaildaily.com/article/20080228/NEWS/31082612...
To get more affordable housing built in the valley, the county wants to form a “housing authority,” an approach that has been taken in both Summit and Pitkin counties. The county commissioners would preside over the housing authority, whose main goal would be to build affordable homes and buy free market homes to resell at affordable prices in the county. Initially, it would not be funded by a tax, unlike those in other counties. Forming the authority would give the county greater flexibility in investing money, selling or buying land, making bylaws or rules pertaining to housing, and managing any affordable homes the county owns, said County Commissioner Arn Menconi. “I think it should be apparent that the county is trying to take leadership in listening to residents and producing affordable housing. This is one tool to do that,” Menconi said.
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Vail Daily - Edwards residents question commissioners on land deal

http://vaildaily.com/article/20080228/NEWS/607810078...
A stalled Edwards land deal was the was the source of contention between residents and county officials Wednesday night. About 50 residents gathered at the Homestead Court Club to question County Commissioners Sara Fisher and Peter Runyon about a potential $12 million land purchase that may be a future site for affordable housing. Negotiations for buying the 105-acre B&B Excavating property just west of the Eagle River Preserve in Edwards are stalled, commissioners said.
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Glenwood Springs Post Independent - Silt mayor works on housing

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080229/VALLEYNEWS/933520269...
Mayor Dave Moore has announced plans to develop about 34 affordable housing units in Silt. “I believe that we can lead the parade on affordable housing in Garfield County,” Moore said in an interview Thursday. “And I’m looking forward to some great things happening in the town of Silt.” Moore, his family members, and a few business partners purchased three acres of land in the eastern part of Silt in August. The area sits on the north side of Main Street, across from the Intermountain Transfer and Storage business. He said he grew frustrated hearing lots of talk about affordable housing. “We all talk about affordable housing, but nobody does anything about it,” Moore said.
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February 28, 2008

The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Salazar, Allard differ over housing slump

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1204213176/1...
Colorado Sens. Wayne Allard and Ken Salazar find themselves on opposite sides in the Senate this week as lawmakers wrestle over how to shore up the slumping housing market, even as Colorado moved up to fifth place nationally in the number of homes in foreclosure. Allard, a Republican who serves on the Senate Banking Committee, said he urged President Bush to issue a veto threat this week over any mortgage legislation that would allow homeowners in default to rewrite their mortgages in bankruptcy court. "Obviously we want to do what we can (to help) but to force the problem into bankruptcy court where a judge could change the conditions of the mortgage will only increase the risk to lenders and make it more difficult to get mortgages," Allard said in a telephone press conference Wednesday. "That has the potential to increase the cost of loans to everyone."
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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Butcher wants homestead exemption to move with seniors

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1204213176/13...
Rep. Dorothy Butcher wants to help seniors who are forced to move for whatever reason to keep their homestead exemptions. She and Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose, have introduced a proposed ballot question that would allow them to take that exemption on their property taxes if they need to downsize their living accommodations. "(Sometimes) they can't take care of that huge yard and house anymore, they can't climb up the stairs, they don't have anyone to assist them," Butcher said. "But they still want to keep their independence, and they ought to be able to keep their independence." Under a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2000, Colorado taxpayers who are more than 65 years old and have lived in the same home for 10 years or more can have half of their property taxes exempted.
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Allard, Salazar split on foreclosure help - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_8385477...
With the Senate headed toward a vote on legislation aimed at reducing home foreclosures, Colorado's two U.S. senators split Wednesday on whether it would help or hurt the economy. Lawmakers will consider a bill that rewrites part of bankruptcy law, allowing judges to cut interest rates on some mortgages. People able to make revised payments could keep their homes. The Senate could take up the bill as soon as today, but President Bush already has threatened to veto the legislation. Sen. Ken Salazar, a Democrat, believes the changes are needed both for those facing foreclosure and a large chunk of homeowners in the state. Republican Wayne Allard said the legislation would increase costs for banks and other lenders and potentially hurt the economy. Allard aides were among those encouraging the Bush administration to threaten a veto of the bill. "Interest rates will go up, fees will go up and it will probably be more difficult to get loans for future mortgages for future homeowners," Allard said. Salazar said the pain caused by foreclosures would hurt many in Colorado.
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Aspen Times News - Decision looms for Basalt on trailer park

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080228/NEWS/591981407...
The Basalt town government’s proposal to boost property taxes to buy a flood-imperiled trailer park for $5 million has failed to attract a champion of the issue. While the election is only about a month away, April 1, no citizens’ committee has emerged to promote the purchase of the Pan and Fork Mobile Home Park. The bonding company the town is working with on the deal eventually will try to build awareness of the proposed purchase. The town government is in a sticky spot on the issue. Colorado law prevents local governments from spending public funds to promote a specific outcome. “The town can’t really do a lot,” Town Manager Bill Efting said. “We can’t spend town money.”
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February 27, 2008

Affordable-rentals vacancy rate falls to 5.9 percent in Q4 : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/27/affordable-rentals-vacancy-rat...
The vacancy rate for affordable rental housing in Colorado fell to 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, down from 6.4 percent in the third quarter, as demand increased for subsidized housing, according to a report released by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and Colorado Division of Housing. The increased demand resulted in higher rents for Coloradans in affordable rental housing. The statewide median rent during the fourth quarter was $682, a 3.5 percent increase over the third quarter. CHFA Chief Operating Officer Cris White noted that the increased housing costs were coming at a particularly difficult time for renters who are already juggling to balance rising rents with increases in the cost of energy, food and medical care.
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Two reports, two conclusions : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/27/denver-home-prices-beat-us-ave...
Two closely watched national housing reports released Tuesday draw vastly different conclusions about Denver-area home values in 2007. The government's Office of Federal Housing Enterprises Oversight report shows only a 0.49 percent decline in prices for the Denver-Aurora market from 2006 to 2007, while the private S&P/Case Shiller report shows prices dropping by 4.5 percent. The Case Shiller report shows a 9.1 percent decline for 20 U.S. cities last year. The OFHEO report tracks 291 metropolitan areas across the country. The Case Shiller report tracks only sales while the OFHEO report also tracks Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinances. Lou Barnes, principal of Boulder West Financial Services, said the OFHEO report brings more "stability" to the numbers. "In a market as tough as this one, you don't sell your home unless you have to," Barnes said. "You simply live in the house until the market improves. So a lot of the homes being sold are distressed homes, which distorts the market data." Also, the Case Shiller report gives more weight to expensive homes, while the OFHEO doesn't, he said.
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Demand is up for affordable housing - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8371315...
Demand for affordable rental housing in Colorado increased during the fourth quarter, resulting in higher rents and fewer incentives, according to a report released Tuesday. Vacancy rates dropped to 5.9 percent, compared with 6.4 percent during the third quarter, according to the report released by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the Colorado Division of Housing. The statewide median rent increased 3.5 percent to $682. During the fourth quarter of 2006, the vacancy rate was 5.2 percent and median rent was $680. "The affordable-housing industry is getting healthier as vacancies drop, rates go up and concessions decline," said Steve Wessler of Red Stone Agency Lending. "The ability of owners to increase profits is getting better. Hopefully, it will allow for the underwriting of some new projects to ease the crunch for lower-income households."
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Durango Herald Online - City eyes affordable-housing price caps

http://durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&articl...
The city of Durango is closer than ever to putting an affordable-housing ordinance on the books, but unfortunately for those waiting to take advantage of such a policy, closer doesn't necessarily mean close. On Tuesday, city councilors held their fifth study session about affordable housing since June 12. Peter Werwath, who was hired last year as a consultant to the Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County, summarized the results of a need study - the annual demand in Durango for the next five years is 57 affordable rentals less than $750 per month, and 65 affordable homes priced from $94,600 to $260,000 - and recommended a combination of price caps and shared appreciation to meet that demand. "The fewer hurdles there are and the more formulaic it is, the smoother it will run," Werwath said of a future formal city policy.
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February 26, 2008

The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Bill gives homeowners energy say in covenants

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1204039012/12...
Homeowner associations can't adopt rules barring people in their neighborhoods from making energy-saving changes to their homes under a bill that won preliminary approval in the Colorado House on Monday. The bill allows homeowners to add such things as shutters, awnings and other shade structures to the outside of their home, and attic fans and evaporative coolers on the inside. The measure also allows them to install retractable clothes lines, energy-efficient outdoor lighting and wind-electric generators. "This bill is about giving power to the citizens of Colorado to be energy efficient and to produce their own energy," said Andrew Kerr, D-Denver, who introduced HB1270. "We heard in committee person after person coming in testifying how they tried to do some energy-efficient measure to their home only to be blocked at every turn." Since 1978, HOAs have been prohibited from adopting covenants or deed restrictions limiting the use of solar energy devices on homes.
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Metro home building dives : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/26/metro-home-building-dives/...
New home construction in the Denver area last year fell to its lowest level in 16 years, as builders cranked down on construction because of a sluggish and overbuilt market. Permits for single-family homes dropped 34 percent to 10,986 in 2007, down from 16,263 in 2006, the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver said. A record 20,420 permits were pulled in 2005. "Certainly, that is a major cause of concern when you are going to be down (billions of dollars in construction) over the next year or two in any industry," said Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. The report includes attached and detached homes. Detached homes make up about 65 percent of the permits pulled in Denver and its surrounding communities. The home building industry in Denver and across the nation is quickly shedding jobs because fewer homes are being built.
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Aspen Times News - Iraq vet could lose Aspen housing

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080225/NEWS/300854270...
An Iraq war veteran’s employee housing is in jeopardy because his government disability income is more than what the rules allow. Casey Owens, a 26-year-old former Marine and a double amputee, was informed by the Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority earlier this month that he would have to move out of his apartment on Lone Pine Road because his income exceeds $32,000, which is the maximum a person can earn annually and still qualify to live in a deed-restricted category 1 unit. Through a routine check by the housing authority, which requires all employees living in deed-restricted units to submit tax returns and qualify under the program’s guidelines, it was determined that Owens doesn’t meet the qualifications for the apartment he lives in.
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The Coloradoan - Judge could rule this week on three-unrelated challenge

http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/NEWS01/802260332/1002/...
The city's occupancy code, dubbed the "three-unrelated" rule, makes it illegal for at least four unrelated people to live in the same house. Violations are punishable by a $500 fine on the first offense. Oates owns a Fort Collins home that the city has cited for housing more than three unrelated people. Oates' attorney, Erik Johnson, has argued the citation was illegal. "This law denies homeowners Tim Oates and his wife the full use of their property," Johnson argued. "This (law) describes who can live in a house, not how many people." Assistant City Attorney Teresa Ablao disagreed with Johnson, saying the city's stance that the three-unrelated law is legal and that it doesn't take away from homeowners' property rights.
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February 25, 2008

The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Salazar supports foreclosure bill

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1203956688/11...
Sen. Ken Salazar on Friday announced his support for a bill relating to the nation's housing crisis. At the Denver press conference, Salazar said the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 recently introduced in the Senate helps keep families facing foreclosure in their homes, helps communities already harmed by foreclosures to recover and helps families avoid foreclosures in the future. The measure is to be considered on the Senate floor this week. Salazar said the housing situation is critical. "The housing crisis in our nation is putting the American dream of home ownership in jeopardy." Salazar said the foreclosure problems have hit Colorado especially hard, lowering home values and hurting the home construction business.
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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Local housing market still growing in value

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1203956688/2...
A veteran local real estate broker, Greg Hahn, co-owner and co-founder of ReMax of Pueblo, says the Pueblo foreclosure filing rate doesn't actually reflect the local real estate market. That's true during difficult economic times as well as the good runs, he says. While it's true that loan standards have tightened making it more difficult for people to get loans, Hahn says the 2.4 percent appreciation of home values last year points to "the strength of the economy" and Pueblo's unique situation. "The market is so localized, not like the region or the state (markets)," he said last week. He says Pueblo's 1,504 foreclosures in 2007, and the 1 in 39 households foreclosure filing rate as cited by the Colorado Division of Housing, are numbers he finds concerning.
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The Pueblo Chieftain Online - State's foreclosure rate jumps in 2007

http://pueblochieftain.com/metro/1203956688/1...
Colorado foreclosure filings jumped 40 percent in 2007 compared with 2006, according to a report released recently by the Colorado Division of Housing. Pueblo County was among those singled out for having one of the highest number of foreclosures, according to the state housing division. A total of 39,915 foreclosure filings statewide were made in 2007, up from 28,509 in 2006, according to the state. Meanwhile, foreclosure sales - in which the property is sold to the lender or a third party - rose 45 percent during 2007, to 25,320. In the report, an effort is made to distinguish between foreclosure filings and foreclosure sales. Once a borrower is about three months late with payments, the pubic trustee at the request of lenders will send the borrower a notice that indicates the property is officially in foreclosure.
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'No end in sight' to crisis : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/23/no-end-in-sight-to-crisis/...
U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., urged Congress on Friday to take action on a bill that would earmark more than $14 billion to combat the foreclosure crisis sweeping Colorado and the rest of the nation. Speaking at the Edgewater headquarters of the nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment Inc., where he later listened to housing counselors with the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline, Salazar said that the nation is suffering from the worst housing market since the Great Depression. He said home prices could fall 15 percent to 16 percent before the slump is over and noted that housing starts are down 60 percent. "The reality is there is no end in sight," he said. "The new-home construction business could essentially shut down," which would have huge economic ramifications. The Colorado Division of Housing recently reported that foreclosure filings shot up 40 percent last year to 39,915 from the previous record of 28,435 in 2006. "This affects every homeowner in the state of Colorado, whether your home is in foreclosure or not," Salazar said. "It's the painful part of the American dream of homeownership."
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The Longmont Times-Call - City wants to help save homes

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=6768...
Once the bank-allotted 90 days come and go, there’s not much anyone can do to keep a family out of foreclosure and in their home. That’s why city leaders want to do more to educate current and future homeowners to prevent as many foreclosures as possible. Longmont continues to lead Boulder County’s foreclosures, said Kathy Fedler, the city’s affordable housing programs coordinator. “It’s a factor of construction that’s gone on here,” she said of Longmont’s foreclosures. “When you have the bulk of construction and the bulk of home sales here, it just makes sense the bulk of foreclosures would be here.” The vast majority of people who find themselves facing foreclosure are in that position because of predatory lending practices or because “they just didn’t understand what they were getting into,” Fedler added.
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Denver building on new ideas for helping homeless - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8347763...
Armed with data showing there's a hidden cost to leaving the unemployed, mentally ill and alcoholics alone on the streets, Denver officials are pushing forward with a $20 million plan to build 200 new housing units for the homeless. The plan is in keeping with Mayor John Hickenlooper's homelessness initiative, which holds that the past patchwork system of shelters wasn't the best way to tackle the issue. The proposal is still being finalized and then, depending on financial terms, could go before the City Council this spring. The council has emphasized the need to spread the housing instead of clustering it in strongholds of poverty. While support seems strong among most council members, some reservations persist over that issue, which could raise the ire of some neighborhood activists. "I can't emphasize enough the importance of this project moving away from the traditional islands of poverty that just warehouse folks," Councilman Paul Lopez said during a recent council committee meeting on the subject.
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GJ housing project gets $1M boost from state

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/02/22/022308_1a_Arbor_V...
A Grand Junction housing provider on the verge of breaking ground on a much-needed work force housing project has received a financial boost from the state of Colorado. The Colorado Housing Board earlier this month recommended giving $1 million to the Grand Junction Housing Authority for the 72-unit Arbor Vista apartment complex on Elm Avenue east of 28 Road. Gov. Bill Ritter listed the project in a $3 million budget he is seeking for the Colorado Affordable Housing Construction Grants and Loans program. “This development is used as an illustration of the strong need for more work force housing in western Colorado,” Housing Authority Executive Director Jody Kole said Friday.
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Countrywide treats bankers at Ritz in Avon : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/23/countrywide-hosts-bankers-at-r...
The U.S. home-mortgage industry is in the dumps. That doesn't mean the party is over for mortgage bankers. Countrywide Financial Corp., the nation's largest mortgage lender by loan volume, will host about 30 representatives of smaller mortgage banks for three nights next week at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch ski resort in Avon. At one of the country's most-glamorous skiing spots, a regular room on a weekday starts at $750.
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Countrywide cancels Avon trip : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/25/countrywide-cancels-avon-trip/...
Countrywide Financial Corp., reacting to negative publicity, canceled plans to host a posh ski trip for about 30 mortgage bankers at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch ski resort in Avon, a spokesman said. The New York Times first reported the cancellation of the trip earlier today. Plans for the trip were first reported by The Wall Street Journal last week.
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February 22, 2008

Eviction turns into rescue mission - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_8330097...
An eviction turned into a suicide prevention in Greeley Tuesday, when a Weld County deputy found the tenant bleeding from his wrists. When Deputy Matt Moll went to the home in the 2400 block of 11th Street to serve the eviction notice, he found the man in a pool of blood on a mattress. The man was unconscious but alive. He was rushed by ambulance to North Colorado Medical Center. The sheriff's office didn't identify the man, and they aren't pinning the possible suicide attempt on the eviction, since the man had known for a week that he was to be kicked out.
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Summit Daily News - Finding a fix for the housing shortage

http://summitdaily.com/article/20080221/NEWS/627700981...
With money from a year-old sales tax and impact fee flowing into public coffers, each local town is taking a slightly different approach to tackling the affordable housing shortage. As of November, Silverthorne had collected $465,867, said town manager Kevin Batchelder. The town doesn’t have any specific plans to spend any of the money yet. But there are some projects in the works, Batchelder said. “In the next couple of months, we’ll have some definite plans,” Batchelder said, explaining that the town council will take look at a slew of affordable housing tools to decide where the town can maximize its investment. Among the options is putting some of the funds toward a buy-down program, to help keep existing homes within the affordable target range, as well as down-payment assistance, which also helps locals get into existing housing. A key part of Silverthorne’s housing strategy has been to look at potential annexations with eye toward affordable housing, Batchelder said. Several developers have recently approached the town with ideas about annexations that could incorporate an affordable housing element, although Batchelder said he couldn’t give details at this early stage.
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Aspen Times News - Carbondale trailer park under contract

http://aspentimes.com/article/20080222/NEWS/793481063...
The potential sale of a Carbondale trailer park has 32 working-class families wondering how much longer they will have a place to live. Garfield Court Park is under contract for sale to an undisclosed buyer, a co-owner confirmed Thursday. It was listed for sale last fall for $4.75 million. Word in the real estate community is that there are two backup contracts in case the first deal falls through.
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February 21, 2008

Foreclosures in state increased 40% in '07 - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8318024...
Forty percent more homes entered foreclosure in Colorado last year than in 2006, despite numerous efforts by state and local officials to stem the tide. Public trustees reported 39,915 new foreclosures last year, compared with 28,509 in 2006. Of that total, 25,320 homes were lost at foreclosure sales last year, compared with 17,451 in 2006, according to a tally compiled by the Colorado Division of Housing. Statewide, there was one foreclosure filing for every 45 households last year, versus one per 58 households the year before. Adams County was the hardest-hit area, with one foreclosure for every 23 households. Denver had the highest number of new foreclosures of any county at 7,909. "We are continuing as if we are looking at another increase this year. We are giving it the full-court press," said Kathy Williams, director of the Colorado Division of Housing. The division's efforts are four-pronged: Build up the capacity of the counseling network, make struggling homeowners aware of the resources available, work with lenders to boost their loss-mitigation programs and work with local governments to get vacant properties back on the market quickly. After stabilizing during the second and third quarters, foreclosure filings accelerated during the last quarter.
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The Coloradoan - Larimer County skirts foreclosure crisis

http://coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/NEWS01/802210356/1002/...
Nationally, the news about foreclosures is grim. And in Colorado, the news isn't much different - 39,915 home owners lost their homes to foreclosure, the Colorado Division of Housing reported Wednesday. That means in 2007, one in 45 households statewide filed for bankruptcy - up 40 percent from 2006 and 190 percent from 2003. But there's a glimmer of a bright spot in Larimer County where the foreclosure rate is 14.8 percent, and one in 68 homes go into foreclosure. During 2007, the highest foreclosure rates were logged in the metropolitan Denver counties of Adams, Denver and Arapahoe and in Weld and Pueblo counties. Adams County had the highest rate with one foreclosure for every 23 households. Weld had one for every 29; Denver, Arapahoe and Pueblo counties each had one for every 35. The mountain counties and western Colorado reported the lowest rates. La Plata County reported one foreclosure for every 234 households; Mesa County, one for every 136; and Eagle County, one for every 142. Statewide, foreclosure sales rose 45 percent to a record of 25,320 last year, the division said. In Larimer County, 1,588 homes were sold last year at foreclosure auction, according to the Division of Housing. But Colorado’s “skid isn’t as fast as the skid is in the rest of the nation,” said Kathi Williams, division director.
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Summit Daily News - Keystone-area land swap could mean more affordable housing

http://summitdaily.com/article/20080220/NEWS/652808703...
Although the U.S. Forest Service just started a formal evaluation of the Snake River land exchange, one of the key federal parcels in the swap may figure into local affordable housing. About five acres of the 35-acre Claimjumper parcel near Airport Road in Breckenridge could be used to expand the existing Pinewood Village neighborhood. The town has pinned a $1.75 million price tag on the 5-acre portion of the Claimjumper parcel with development potential, according to town manager Tim Gagen. As part of the land trade, Breckenridge will offer some cash for the Claimjumper parcel. The town has asked the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) if they want to partner on the deal, according to county manager Gary Martinez. The county’s role could be to help with the acquisition, Gagen said.
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The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Housing decision on hold

http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/feb/21/housing_decision_hold/...
The possibility of relaxed design standards for affordable housing is a debate for another day, the Steamboat Springs City Council decided Tuesday. The council unanimously passed an ordinance adopting design standards and entry corridor concepts for commercial, mixed-use and multifamily developments outside the mountain base and downtown areas after little discussion Tuesday. At the ordinance’s first reading, council members Scott Myller and Cari Hermacinski discussed amending the standards to relax the requirements for affordable housing projects, but on Tuesday, the council decided to revisit the affordable component at a later date.
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Commission mixed on house-size limits : County News : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/feb/21/commission-mixed-on-house-size-limits/...
After more than a year of work, the eight members of Boulder County's Planning Commission sent a contentious plan for house-size limits onto county commissioners Wednesday -- but without any house-size limits. The Planning Commission unanimously agreed that the county should pursue a plan that would both restrict large houses and preserve small houses, but said they couldn't endorse the current draft of such a plan, called the "expanded transfer of development rights," or TDR, program.
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February 20, 2008

Grand Junction Sentinel - Renters have few rights when repairs aren't made

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/02/19/022008_1a_Tenant_...
Colorado renters who have a beef with their landlord have few remedies if their landlords refuse to make repairs or take other actions sought by their tenants. Some of the remedies that do exist would require tenants to seek legal advice, said Manuel Ramos, director of advocacy for Colorado Legal Services in Denver. “If you enter into a tenancy agreement and it says nothing of repairs, the tenant has a very difficult time enforcing” any repairs, Ramos said. Colorado law differs from the landlord-tenant law of 42 other states in that it lacks a requirement for a warranty of habitability, or a guarantee that rentals are suitable for living, Ramos said. Housing codes are generally of little use to tenants, Ramos said, and without some kind of protections, tenants can’t refuse to pay their rent for lack of work on their units. “That gets you evicted in this state,” Ramos said.
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February 19, 2008

Homeless helpers team up for better service : County News : Boulder Daily Camera

http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/feb/19/local-outreach-increases-efficiency-home...
Boulder's homeless and working poor will have more options for warm meals and better access to counseling for jobs, health care and housing when Carriage House and Community Table merge this spring. "We serve very, very similar groups of people," said Joy Eckstine, Carriage House's executive director. "I've been to the Community Table dinners, and almost everyone I see there also goes to the Carriage House."
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Summit Daily News - Towns, county take different housing paths

http://summitdaily.com/article/20080218/NEWS/103640885...
Along with the four local towns, Summit County is also a player in the affordable housing game. Assistant county manager Steve Hill said the county’s role is to coordinate efforts among the various entities and to provide an overview of a countywide affordable housing strategy. “We’re trying to track what different folks are doing,” said assistant county manager Steve Hill. The idea is to make sure that the different entities aren’t shooting at the same target, Hill said. “We also want to try and factor in what the private market is doing. We’re just a few steps behind,” Hill said. The county’s research could help show exactly what types of units are needed and identify which should have priority when it comes to actually building them, Hill said.
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The Steamboat Pilot & Today: Council to consider relaxed standards for affordable projects

http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/feb/19/council_consider_relaxed_standards_af...
Affordable housing is just that for those who live in it, but some officials say the term is a misnomer for those who actually build it. At its meeting tonight, the Steamboat Springs City Council will consider the second reading of an ordinance adopting design standards and entry corridor concepts for commercial, mixed-use and multifamily developments outside the mountain base and downtown areas. When the ordinance was before the Steamboat Springs City Council, the biggest debate concerned whether to allow parking on the street-side of businesses.
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For home sales, a troubling start to ‘08 - Telluride, CO - The Daily Planet

http://www.telluridenews.com/news/x774164120...
Telluride real-estate sales racked up a record year in 2007, but the new year has opened on a darker note. This January, the dollar volume for all real-estate sales fell nearly 40 percent from last year, according to new data from Telluride Consulting. A total of $30 million in property changed hands last month, compared with $48.8 million in January 2007. Brokers say the local market is still strong, but it’s hard to dispute the conclusions of the new data: For Telluride real estate, last month was the worst January in four years — longer still, if you account for inflation. Last month’s $30 million total is the lowest since January 2004, which saw a total of $28.8 million in sales. A total of 29 sales were logged last month, the lowest number of January sales in six years.
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February 18, 2008

Timing's everything in refinancing home : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/16/timings-everything-refinancing...
Three weeks ago, rates for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage bottomed out at 5.175 percent. Then the window, open for no more than a day, slammed shut, and the rates have since shot up, briefly touching 6.25 percent on Thursday, according to Lou Barnes, principal of Boulder West Financial Services. Not only have rates been volatile, but it's not as easy for borrowers to qualify for low rates as it used to be. Since the end of December, the number of refinance applications nationwide has risen by more than 200 percent, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Eric Tupler got lucky. The vice chairman of CB Richard Ellis Capital Markets Denver office, refinanced his second home in Eagle County at the low rate. "I wouldn't tell you that everybody would have been able to get the loan I got," Tupler said.
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The Denver Post - Basement remodel a warm and wise idea

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8277955...
Highlands Ranch resident Andrea Corrales wasn't thinking about the real estate market when she decided to renovate her home's basement. Corrales merely wanted more room for her expanding family. But she admits her new, improved basement does enhance her home's appeal. And in today's flat housing market, that means plenty to homeowners.
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February 15, 2008

A house of cards: Existing sales fall : Real Estate : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/15/a-house-of-cards-existing-sale...
The Denver-area home market saw modest declines in prices and closings in the fourth quarter and for the entire year but was nowhere near as bad as many other markets across the country, independent broker Gary Bauer said Thursday. There were 49,789 closings in 2007, down slightly from 50,244 closings in 2006. In the fourth quarter, there were 10,549 closings in 2007, down from 10,802 in 2006 and 11,592 in 2005. The median price of a home sold in the Denver area last year fell to $229,500 from $240,000 in 2006, a 4.4 percent drop. Bauer said he expects a flat year in 2008 for prices and sales and predicts Denver will "be able to weather everything out there better than most parts of the country."
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The Longmont Times-Call - City gives HOPE

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=6572...
City leaders have charged a new group to reach out to Longmont’s homeless during frigid winter months. HOPE — or Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement — will receive $10,000 to search city streets and provide Longmont’s homeless with warm clothing, warm food and rides to warm shelters through the end of 2008. The amount is twice the $5,000 the city gave to Boulder County Cares in 2007 for the same services. Last year was the first year city leaders funded “search and save” efforts in Longmont. HOPE, which formed May 15, is a year-round street outreach program for the homeless. Volunteers, working in teams of two, search the commun