There is a reason for the growth in population in Larimer County and Fort Collins Colorado. Offering a wonderful semi-arid climate, abundant sunshine, mild daytime winter temperatures coupled with a location at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins continues to draw new residents relocating from around the country. Anchored by Colorado State University (CSU) and major employers such as the Poudre Valley Health System, the Poudre School District, Budweiser/Anheuser Busch, HP, and many new clean energy technology companies, the city should continue to be an attractor for new residents. Over the years, the real estate market has remained fairly strong, buoyed by the addition of new residents to Colorado. With one of the best park systems, wonderful shopping, solid primary and secondary education, and great recreation opportunities, it’s hard to beat Ft Collins!
To find out more about relocation to the Northern Colorado area, contact your relocation expert Matt Evans at Keller Williams Realty in Downtown Fort Collins. Call 970-215-9221 today or email mattevansrealestate@gmail.com

National Trust names Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010 and Fort Collins is in the list and by the current vote, in the top 5.
What is the Distinctive Destination award mean? It is described as destinations, highlighting “cultural and recreational experiences different from those found at the typical vacation destination.”
Yes, Fort Collins is that for sure. With the all the local flair, it is very different. We are embarking on our beer triangle, which will place three of the regions (and nations) top micro-brewers witin a block of each other, which also happen to be located in the downtown district.

We also have the bike library, Cache la Poudre river and so many great ways to spend your time here.

While you are in town, here be sure to check visit our office at 1220 S College ave, and learn more about the Fort Collins Real Estate market, relocating to Fort collins and what make Fort Collins a home.

This designation was published in yesterdays USA Today. To see the entire article and check out the other great destinations go to.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2010-02-03-national-trust-dozen-distinctive-destinations_N.htm

So what does this mean from for the Fort Collins Real Estate market? Well that is to be determined with time. But to us it seems that there are some good opportunities here in Fort Collins and most likely a continued interest in individuals and businesses relocating to Fort Collins.

Here are the specifics:

December 2nd, 2009 The Miliken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners recently released their 2009 Best-Performing Cities Index and the Fort Collins-Loveland area came in at #22. The ranking is based on the institutes evaluation of 200 large metro areas around the country. Each area was evaluated in the following categories: job, wage, salary and technology growth.

One of the major forces driving Fort Collins-Loveland area’s success is the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation (NCEDC), which took shape in 2001. The NCEDC is a 501(C)(6) non-for-profit corporation driven by their mission to create primary jobs and promote economic growth in Larimer County. The corporation has been involved in creating over 3,163 primary jobs in the area since 2004, injecting the economy with $215.17 million in wages. To learn more, you can visit the NCEDC website at: http://www.ncedc.com.

Fort Collins-Loveland was not the only Colorado area to make the list. Greeley came in ahead at #20 and Boulder at #44. You can see the complete list at: http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2009.taf.

In November 2009 compared to Novemeber 2008, the median homes prices in all of the Northern Colorado Real Estate market were up and the current inventories are down. The Fort Collins Real Estate market was up 2.3% with the median home price beint $222,000 compared to $217,000.00 last year.
The NCBR staff did a full write up at http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=103434

From our perspective, much of this had to do with the first time home buyers tax credit. This really kept the market moving in the right direction. There were several times this summer when our local Fort Collins Real Estate agents were having to write competing offers on properties within the first couple days of being on the market.
The good houses, that are priced right, in good condition and good location, don’t last long. That is why it is so important when you are considering a purchase in Fort Collins real estate market to use a local experienced Keller Williams agent. They have the tools to help you watch the market allowing you to educate yourself and know when to jump on a certain property. This part of the process is extremely important as you consider a relocation to Fort Collins.
To sign up for a automated property search call us at 970-212-2435.
Happy Holidays from Keller Willams Real Estate in Fort Collins Colorado.

Fort Collins recently was ranked as one of the ‘hottest’ (meaning cool) places to live in the recent adventurous places to live. It shares the “411 on the housing market, job market and local lifestyle of 18 adventure towns that could inspire new direction and a change in ZIP code,” the magazine wrote in a news release promoting the issue.
This article cites the city’s tidy streets lined by shops and gingerbread Victorian homes in Old Town (priced at $251,000 on average), the 44 manicured city parks, the 1.5 million acres of nearby national forest, and whitewater on the Poudre River. Not to mention the lack of violent crime.
Fort Collins continues to be aknowledged as a wonderful place to live by most. I am sure many ‘natives’ are going to feel the pinch of being overcrowded soon if not all ready. However, the lifestyle and living opportunities here are wonderful. Living the dream.

How has the Fort Collins Real Estate market remained so strong during this economic down turn? Well, here are five more reasons that the NRDC, (National Resource Defense Council) has awarded Fort Collins.
For Medium sized Cities, Fort Collins was ranked 2nd for Green building, 2nd for Environmental Standards and Participation, 3rd for Transportation, 2nd for Energy Production and Conservation (www.fortzed.com and www.univercityconnections.org) and 8th for Water Quality, (which I was a little shocked to see us that low, considering the Cache La Poudre is the only Wild & Scenic designated river in the great state of Colorado and New Belgium and Odell’s breweries have taken great strides to enhance the water quality here). Not to complain, because the other Cities are doing great things too. So the overall ranking was 3rd as a Smart City. That is awesome. We actually have the green award wining Merten home for sale right now in Old Town north. If you would like more information on this article go to http://smartercities.nrdc.org/cities/fort-collins-co
or call James Mitchell at 970-212-2435 or shot him an email at jwmitchell@fortcollinsre.com

Fort Collins home sales should benefit from yet another acknowledgement as a great place to live. To us this is a no brainer, but what can you say. Some people are just catching on.

Well, I found it very cool that Next Generation Consulting has selected Fort Collins as the best place to live for professionals among cities with pop 100,000 to 200,000. This organization, that I know nothing about, but they must be very smart, said, ” it used 45 measures to develop lists of cities in three population categories for its “Next Cities” lists of best places for people between the ages of 20 and 40 to live and work. The criteria included employment, education and social opportunities.

“The Next Generation is very savvy about choosing where they’ll live,”

said Rebecca Ryan, NGC’s founder. “They look carefully at quality-of-life factors like how much time they’re going to spend in traffic commuting, if they can live near a park or hike-and-bike trail and whether a city’s downtown stays awake after 5:00.”

You can follow them at, www.nextgenerationconsulting.com you can follow me at www.fortcollinsre.com and check out or blog there and search for Fort Collins property or refer your relocation client that way.

According to a study done by the Everitt Real Estate School at CSU, some neighborhoods continue to appreciate or hold their values in this tough economic time. Specifically the areas around CSU, Old town and Downtown Fort Collins, Real Estate continues to sell very well. This is a market that we have been specializing in for over 10 years and have a lot of expertise in. We own property in these neighborhoods and remodel property in these desierable Fort Collins neighborhoods.
We have investment properties in down town Fort Collins as well as CSU rental properties. For more information call JJ Hannah a veteran Fort Collins Real Estate agent who can assist you in your next real estate transaction.
You can also read more about this at the Coloradoan http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090505/UPDATES03/90505017/1002/rss

JJ Hannah
Keller Williams Downtown Fort Collins
970-212-2435
www.fortcollinsre.com

Transit prospects drive urban living
By Paige Ingram of the Northern Colorado Business Report on October 24th, 2008.

FORT COLLINS - The Mason Street Corridor is poised to bring not just a transit line to Fort Collins, but a new lifestyle. With new housing, retail and office developments planned, many see a new future for the growing downtown area.

“I think the Mason Corridor is a wonderful opportunity to really enhance downtown and continue the growth that we’ve been working on for years,” said J.J. Hannah, a commercial, residential and investment specialist with Keller Williams in downtown Fort Collins.

The Mason Corridor is a five-mile north-south byway extending from Cherry Street on the north to Harmony Road on the south. It runs alongside the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, just west of College Avenue.

The basis of the Corridor is a transportation line connecting downtown with Colorado State University, Foothills Mall and retail on South College Avenue. Aside from paths for bikers and pedestrians, which are already in place, a bus rapid transit system is set to start running in 2011.

While transit may have been the impetus, development is the action of today.

To read the full article, go to http://ncbr.com/article.asp?id=96780

JJ Hannah has one of the best deals in Old Town right now. 117 N McKinley, Fort Collins, CO 80521, is one of the most charming houses on the market in Old Town Fort Collins. JJ Hannah listed this property in May and recently had a price improvement that should allow somebody an opportunity of a lifetime. This is a classic bungalow with refinished wood floors, sky lights, new paint, a great back deck, a really cute front yard, a one car detached garage and CHARM. Call JJ Hannah with Keller Williams Realty of Northern Colorado located at the downtown office. 970-212-2435