Widespread Violations Discovered in Denver Affordable Homes Program
Source: Jon Murray and Aldo Svaldi of the Denver Post
When Denver launched it’s affordable housing program in the early 2000’s, the city took on the responsibility of keeping up with everything involved in the transaction and making sure program rules were being implemented. In other words, Denver officials took on a big role that required a team to manage. But the Great Recession happened and between 2009-2012, budget cuts resulted in over 30 Denver officials being let go. This left the affordable housing program with one staff member. With inadequate staffing to run Denver’s affordable housing initiatives, there has been a lack of oversight from the city. The result? Some homeowners of affordable housing may be forced to sell.
Is Denver’s Housing Market Failing? New Report Says It’s Very Close.
Source: Aldo Svaldi of The Denver Post
$80,000. That’s the estimated amount that potential buyers need to make if they want to buy the median priced home in Denver. And that price in Denver is now at $425k ($395K for attached homes and $455K for detached), which corresponds to a 20% down payment of $79-91K. For now, Denver’s median family income is right above $80k. Can incomes keep pace with soaring real estate prices?
Denver-Area Growth-Control Measure Gets Go-Ahead from Colorado Supreme Court
Source: Ed Sealover of Denver Business Journal
We desperately need more housing to make things more affordable around here and you would think that everyone would agree. To our surprise, there is a group that is actually fighting for more restrictions on residential growth for 10 Colorado counties, including Denver. Initiative 66 is attempting to regulate new housing by limiting the number of housing permits that can be issued.
How Much Would Amazon HQ2 Affect Denver Real Estate
Source: Sydney Bennet of Apartment List
Denver is officially one of 20 finalists for Amazon’s second headquarters. Some news sources, like the New York Times, even believe Denver is a likely pick. HQ2 would bring an additional 50,000 high-wage workers immediately, and 66,250 additional workers over a ten year period. That’s enough people to fill Mile High Stadium 1 1/2 times.
So what will happen in our already crunched housing market? Apartment List projected the rent growth for Denver would be between 0.8% and 1.1% per year. That’s an additional $7,700-11,500 more in renters will pay over a ten year period.
Even without Amazon’s HQ2, Denver will still experience significant job and rent increases as it becomes a thriving tech hub.
Read more of Apartment List’s full analysis on the impact of the proposed headquarters here:
It’s Tough to Buy a Home in Denver if Your’e Single
Source: Ben Miller of Denver Business Journal
If you’ve already felt the financial pinch as a single home buyer in Denver, there’s now a report to confirm it. When you’re ready to buy a place to call home, plan on it taking an extra three years to save for the down payment over the national average. Another reason couples have it easier? 79% of homes in Denver are considered affordable for married couples versus a mere 17% being affordable for singles. The good news? It takes less than half the time to save for a down payment in Denver as it does in San Jose.
Uncertainty around Denver’s Green Roof Requirements, Strictest in Nation
Source: Jon Murray at The Denver Post
The Denver Green Roof Initiative passed on November 7th by 54.3% of voters, and became effective on Jan. 1st. Here’s a breakdown of what this means:
Goal
Reduce Denver’s urban heat island effect from heat radiating issues. This happens when human activity causes urban or metro areas to become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas.
Requirements
Rooftop gardens on all buildings with at least 25,000 square feet and residential buildings over 4 stories. Depending on building size, 20-60% of available roof space have to have green-roof coverage (industrial buildings only have to have 10%). –
Issues
- Cost for developers.
- Fees that will be charged for buildings that get variances.
- Watering requirements in Denver’s already dry climate.
- The major structural alterations that will be required to replace roofs on buildings that weren’t built for green roofs.
* This replacement clause is one of the biggest reasons that this initiative faces so much opposition and it makes Denver’s green-roof initiative the strictest in the nation. Toronto and San Francisco are considered “green-roof pioneers” but they do not require existing buildings to replace their roofs, only new ones.
So what’s next?
The city is implementing the initiative but changes are to be expected. In May, the city will re-evaluate what changes need to be made and as of right now, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment is putting together a task force to review the initiative.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – What it Means for Homeowners
Source: National Association of Realtors
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was finalized on December 20, 2017 and went into effect after December 31, 2017. So what does this mean for you, as a current or potential homeowner? We give a breakdown on important numbers for current and potential homeowners here:
- $750k = limit on mortgage interest deduction (for mortgages issued after Dec. 15th, 2017)
- $10k = state and local deduction for income, sales, & property taxes
- $12k = standard deduction for single filers
- $24k = standard deduction for married filing jointly
- $0.00 = personal exemptions
- 2 out of 5 years = how long you have to live in a primary residence to qualify for capital gains exclusion
- 15% = max rate on capital gains (generally speaking)
Funders invest $25 million to create 700 affordable homes in metro Denver
Source: Kelcey McClung at the Denver Business Journal
Affordable housing options in Denver are scarce but there is a group that is doing something about it! A group of 8 funders have partnered to invest around $25 million to create over 700 affordable homes for low-income housing in the Denver area, within the next five years. Not only are they providing housing, the trust is also going to assist families in accessing early childhood education, workforce training and placement, healthcare, and wealth-building opportunities. This won’t completely solve the affordable housing problem but this is an AWESOME start!
Colorado Rockies to redevelop a ‘critical connection point’ in LoDo
Source: Caitlin Hendee at the Denver Business Journal
Real estate development is seeing a parking lot and turning it into a district, which is exactly what The Rockies are doing. The west parking lot at 19th and Wazee will be transformed into what will be known as “the Stadium District,” an impressive and dynamic mixed-used development that will connect LoDo to Union Station and RiNo. This block will have an outdoor plaza, the Rockies Hall of Fame facility, a hotel, retail, entertainment, residential, offices, and food and beverage spaces.
Denver Housing Market, One of Many That Is Overvalued
Source: Diana Olick at CNBC
48 percent of the nation’s top 50 housing markets are now considered overvalued… and, Denver is one of them.