The statement at the center of the Karis, Inc. website hits the reader right between the eyes. Heath & Company has, for many years, tried to help our fellow man, some of whom are members of our homeless population. We’ve served on the board of HomewardBound, the Grand Junction Community Homeless Shelter, have donated to their cause, and have served meals to the organization’s nightly guests. We are also supporting a local non-profit, Karis, Inc., a group working to help homeless teens toward self-sufficiency, and toward financial and emotional health through guidance, encouragement toward spiritual activity and by connecting to our community.

Join us in supporting this local group trying to make a difference in our community – visit www.karisinc.org.

Originally from Minnesota, Jen and her husband have been Grand Valley Residents for ten years.  She enjoys the beauty of our area, and sharing her love of the outdoors with her husband and three little girls – four year-old twins and a 19 month old!

Jen’s Real Estate career began with Metro Brokers in 2005.  Jen ran her own Real Estate company for a few years before taking the opportunity to join the knowledgeable and energetic Heath Team in 2011.  In her past life, Jen worked for local a local builder and developer, and for a local title company; she feels the experiences with both groups broadens her understanding of real estate, the area market and the contract and closing progression and process.  Jen holds a BS in Sociology from South Dakota State University (Go Jacks!) with a MS in Industrial Management.

A self-proclaimed “techie,” Jen embraces technology and the changes new technology often brings to our lives and work.  She enjoys the opportunity to help people find a home or commercial property that works well for them, often-times thinking outside the box to find that hidden gem of a property!  She is also involved in the local realtor group, Colorado West Exchange Council – a group of realtors finding ways to make transactions happen for buyer and sellers, in sometimes unconventional or not-thought-of ways.

Find Jen on facebook at www.facebook.com/JenPedersenRealtor, or follow her on Twitter.  See you on the slopes!

Jen Pedersen

970.201.4468 (Cell/Text)

jenp@mbgj.com

www.Facebook.com/JenPedersenRealtor

www.Twitter.com/JenPedersenGJ

The greatest sales increase was in the single family residential sector.  However, this volume increase also reflected a continuing trend of decreasing median sales prices.  The median sale price of single family residential properties in Q4 2011 was $149,750, a nearly 4.5% decrease from the same period 2010 when the median sales price was $175,000.  Commercial properties and vacant land sales, reversely, experienced a decrease in sales volume in Q4 2011 compared to Q4 2010, but mirrored residential sales in the decrease in median sales price.  Residential construction permits remained basically unchanged year-over-year for Q4.

All but one of the Real Estate Areas in the Valley experienced a decline in median sales price, the greatest decrease occurring in the North Area.  The exception was Orchard Mesa where the median sales price in Q4 2011 increased 20%!  Sales volumes were high in Orchard Mesa, along with the Southeast with the North Area experiencing the greatest decrease in volume compared to Q4 2010.

Sales prices under $150,000 accounted for 50% of all of the Q4 2011 sales; sales prices between $150,000 and $250,000 accounted for 34% of the sales volume.

Mesa County is following the national trend – existing home sales increased again in December.  Locally, we are finding a decrease in inventory, a welcomed sight!  Residential inventory was down 16% in Q4 2011.  We expect the inventory decrease can be attributed to expired listings not being extended and to sellers taking their homes off the market during the winter and Holiday months.  There is speculation about pending foreclosure listings and the addition of new foreclosure listings to the market throughout 2012.

Sweeping generalizations can only serve as a guide in this sometimes volatile market!  But, what about your house?  Contact Hal, Janell, Joyce or Jen to discuss your home and to request a complimentary Market Evaluation.  We are familiar with the market and the many areas of our community; give us the opportunity to evaluate your home and discuss your options if selling is in your future.

Data courtesy of Real Data, LLC, 1/17/12

According to Real Data, LLC’s October 18, 2011 edition reporting the County’s Real Estate Trends for Q3 2011, as a whole, Mesa County’s Real Estate Market showed signs of stabilization during Q3 2011.  The Northeast Area experienced an increase in sales overall, but a decrease in median price.  The median price of sales in Q3 2011 was 6.5% lower than sales in Q3 2010 with the average price being $156,000.

• There is a wide variety of school choices in the Northeast Area.
• Elementary Schools include:  Nisley, Thunder Mountain, Clifton and Fruitvale Elementary Schools.
• Middle Schools include:  Bookcliff and Grand Mesa Middle.
• High School attendance areas within this boundary area include: Central High School.

• Some of the area’s shopping opportunities located in the Northeast Area include Walgreens, Safeway Strip Mall, Graff Dairy, Mesa Pointe Shopping Center and Coronado Plaza, specialty shops, and many restaurants and services.

• Major Subdivision located within the North Area include: The Arbors, Aspenwood Meadow, Centennial 76, Clifton Village, Cloverglen, Cody Subdivision, Cottage Meadows, Fruitvale, Indian Village, Irish Walk, Karen Lee, Monarch Glen, Orange Grove, Oxbow, Palace Estates, Pioneer Village, Silver Mountain and Village East.

It’s a great time to buy!  Rates are at historic lows and there is a healthy inventory of homes on the market!

Contact an energetic member of the Heath & Co Realty Team – 970-243-3376!

Greetings!  The City Area includes properties located in Mesa County, Colorado between 23 Road on the West and 29 Road on the East, Patterson (F Road) Road on the North and the Colorado River on the South.  The area is roughly 18 square miles in size.

Mesa County Valley School District 51 Schools located within this area include:
-Elementary:  Chipeta, Nisley, Orchard Ave, Tope, Pomona and Appleton Elementaries.
-Middle:  Fruita Middle, Fruita 8/9, West Middle, East Middle and Bookcliff Middle Schools.
-High Schools:  Grand Junction High School and Central High School.
-Post-Secondary:  Colorado Mesa University

Medical Facilities:  The main campuses for both St Mary’s and for Community Hospital are located within this area, along with the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital.

Shopping:  The Downtown Core shopping district is located in this area (www.DowntownGJ.org), as well as Mesa Mall, numerous strip malls, and various grocery and speciality food and gift stores.

Better-Known Subdivisions:  Grand Junction City Subdivision, The Falls, Garden Grove, Keith’s Addition, Palace Estates, Mantey Heights, The Legends.

Government Services:  County and City Law Enforcement Agencies are based in this Area; Federal and State Services can be found here as well, ranging from the CO Department of Motor Vehicles to the Federal Court House.

Recent Real Estate Activity:  According to Real Data, LLC’s 10/18/11 issue, Quarter Three 2011 Sales in the City were 20% higher than in Q3 2010.  However, median sales prices fell 14% to $119,900 from the same period last year.  As evidenced by the median sale price, the majority (about 75%) of the sales were priced below $150,000.  County-wide, foreclosure filings were down in Q3 2011 and listed residential inventory dropped.

As always, contact one of the members of the Heath Realtor Team to learn more about the Grand Junction City Real Estate Area, about other Real Estate Areas or to assist you with your buying and selling questions and needs!

“The average rate on a 30-yar fixed mortgage has fallen below 4 percent for the first time in history.”

“On Thursday, Freddie Mac said the rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.94% from 4.01% last week, the previous low.  The average rate on a 15-year fixed loan, a popular refinancing option, dipped to 3.26%, also a record”

“Mortgage rates are now lower than they were in the early 1950s. The average rate reached 4.08% for a few months back then, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.”

All-in-all, if you’re in the search for a home, call our office and let us help you out!  If your rate is higher than 5%, might be a good time to call your banker to see if refinancing makes sense.

To review the full article, here is the link:  http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MORTGAGE_RATES?SITE=CACHI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

 Contact one of our experienced agents to help you through the home-buyer or selling process!  Learn more about us and “Like” us on facebook too!

One of the articles related to obtaining a Power Meter from the local library – a gadget that you plug your appliances in to and it gauges the energy usage in watts, amps and in cost.  I have picked up the meter (there were probably 10 of them available at our local library), just haven’t made the time to check our appliances yet.

If it is a way to save money while conserving energy, I’m all for it!  Let’s see how much energy and money our household can save by better preparing for the cold months ahead. 

On a related note, a home energy audit can be completed by Xcel Energy.  The audits range in cost from $60 to $120 and include the evaluation of your home and systems from visual checks to infrared readings.  If you think your home could be more efficient, maybe an energy audit through Xcel (or another local reputable company) is worth a try – based on the cost, the cost outlay for the audit may be recuperated rather quickly if quick, easy and low-cost fixes are found to make to your home more efficient.

Stay warm out there!  Do you have quick, simple or low-cost ideas for keeping your home energy efficient?  If so, please comment and share your ideas!

Learn more from Xcel at http://pages.xcelenergy-emailnews.com/page.aspx?qs=38dfbe491fab00eae81caddbb79eb43f50434fcb0d9931bf28d1722cef086aef8b9a088e74171cf52ea527f165dccc857acb5b38255c864a0090702d8484b0faa11e67a272613b0d430f3a937ec77ea177c700b6086c13149b35b2073aba91ad 

If a new roof is needed over your head to help you stay a little warmer, contact Heath & Co. Realtors – let’s talk about your needs for a new happy and warm home!  Feel free to contact Heath & Company Realtors for your buying and selling needs!  970.243.3376 or www.HeathRealtors.com.  Like us on Facebook too!

KJCT8.com

That is a great first question – how much can I afford?  Your best move is to talk to a reputable bank or mortgage company to discuss your financial situation and determine comfortable monthly payments.  If you’ve purchased a home in the past and received good service from your mortgage broker or banker, give them a call.  If not, talk to your friends to see if they have any suggestions.  Do you have a relationship with a bank?  The bank probably includes a mortgage office or they can suggestion a mortgage company to visit.

The person with whom you visit will request a number of items from you, which may include past tax returns, bank statements and pay stubs.  In return, they’ll provide you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE).  A GFE provides an estimate of your settlement charges and loan terms for the loan you’ve discussed.  The settlement statement you’ll receive at closing should include costs that are very similar to those quoted on the GFE. 

Of course, you’ll need a great real estate agent to help you find your home!  Let the Heath and Company Team of Realtors assist you!  We also know some good mortgage brokers who can provide sound advice.  Contact us at 970.243.3376 or www.HeathRealtors.com.