Looking for that one of a kind property? Dirk Freeman of MB Freeman & Associates can help you find the right location for your lifestyle. Contact Dirk at 303-268-6006.

Interviewer: Today in our studio we have Dirk Freeman of MB Freeman & Associates, Welcome Dirk.

Dirk Freeman: Thank you for having me.

Interviewer: So how long have you been doing real estate?

Dirk Freeman: I think I got my license back in 2005 and I have been practicing ever since.

Interviewer: Great. And what areas of town do you focus on?

Dirk Freeman: You know, Denver is such a great town because I get to work all over town, so I could be showing horse property out around say Saddle Rock or I might be up showing a condo or a single family home up in Arvada, I work really all over! Like, my neighborhood here in Platt Park, but I have recently rediscovered Downtown.

Interviewer: Downtown, so tell me a little bit about that.

Dirk Freeman: Oh there's so many exiting projects going on downtown, from the SPIRE which a lot of people have talked about and of course the lofts in Lodo. One of the things that I've just discovered is the Ritz-Carlton Hotel; they have the Elway's restaurant, they have that fantastic health and fitness club but they also have something called Residence XXV which are just spectacular units! You walk in through a private entrance, you go through a private elevator, you have a lounge area which is just spectacular and then these units that just you walk-in and your jaw hits the floor. They are just spectacular with Wolf ranges... and high-end treatments. Of course it has its own underground parking. It's, by far, one of the most beautiful buildings that I have seen in a long time.

Interviewer: Wow, they sound beautiful. Now are these listed by you?

Dirk Freeman: No they are not listed by me, I just recently discovered them for a client, we're actually closing on a unit right now but I mentioned to the listing agent that I was going to talk about them because it just - when I walked in I said, 'wow, I'm home' and it takes a lot to really wow me and these units truly do wow you when you walk in. There are only twenty five of these residences inside the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Denver and they truly are just remarkable, astounding, fabulous properties.

Interviewer: They sound amazing.

Dirk Freeman: They truly are.

Interviewer: So now how can clients get a hold of you?

Dirk Freeman: Well you know the internet, we are out there at DirkFreeman.com and there you can find my phone number and email address or just email Dirk@DirkFreeman.com.

Interviewer: Great. Well Dirk, thank you so much for joining me today, it was great talking to you.

Dirk Freeman: Well thanks for having me in.

Posted in Denver Colorado Real Estate, Luxury Home Market

The number of residential luxury homes for sale in Denver dropped to 566 in December of last year, down from 650 available homes in November 2011.  Year over year, the inventory level dropped 35% from 875 available homes, according to Dennis Huspeni of the Denver Business Journal.

The average sale price was $1.51 million in December, up from November's average sales price of $1.44 million These numbers were from the 11 county area surrounding Denver where most of the homes sold were in Douglas County. "There's a very limited inventory out there." said Gary Bauer a Littleton broker, who compiled the results from Metrolist data. "But I think in 2012, we'll see improvements in the number of transactions and the average sales price."

Statistics reported include:

• 502 luxury homes sold last year, compared to 505 in 2010.
• Sales Volume is down 1 percent from $773 million in 2010 to $763 million in 2011.
• The average sales price stayed the same, at $1.5 million, year over year.

Read the full story at Denver Business Journal

photo credit: wagneriteam

Posted in Real Estate Market Conditions, Real Estate Industry, Luxury Home Market

Did you know? Colorado has 7 zip codes listed in the Forbes Top 10 Most Expensive Zip Codes list.  The criterion is based on the median price of homes sold in the area.  Each of these 7 areas have a median home price over $1 million. Five of the zip codes are at or near our ski resorts.

A luxury listing takes special consideration when deciding where to list.  These are homes usually not placed in the MLS. 

So where is the best place to list a home over $1 million?  Luxury Magazine online has great information and features luxury home listings all over the world. One of the categories listed is Colorado.

In spite of the market, luxury homes are still selling, according to data from George Harvey of the Harvey Team in Telluride.  Telluride placed 28^th in the Top 100 most expensive zip codes with a median home price of $2,395,000.  Harvey predicts that luxury home sales for 2011 in Telluride will stay the same or be a little higher than 2010.

How do you showcase a luxury property, especially if the owners are concerned about privacy? If you can't take interior pictures, use 3-D Open House to virtually show and stage the house using dimensions from the floor plan.  Obeo's V-Stager takes a vacant property and decorates it online with whatever style furniture and colors the buyers want.  This helps a buyer visualize what the property would be like with their furniture. 

Use these tools to help you sell that luxury listing.

Get a special deal on 3-D Open House sponsored by Bernice Ross, Real Estate Coach.

photo credit: wagneriteam

Posted in Real Estate Market Conditions, Real Estate Industry, Luxury Home Market

The Denver Business Journal reports that seven zip codes in Colorado rank in the nation's top 100 Most Expensive Zip Codes on the Forbes annual list.  The rankings are based on the median price of homes in the zip code.

Five of the zip codes are at or near our ski areas.  Here are the top 7 most expensive Colorado Zip Code and their rankings in Forbes top 100 list, including the median home price:

#13: Snowmass- $2,995,000

#20: Aspen- $2,647,239

#28: Telluride - $2,395,000

#37: Cherry Hills - $2,195,000

#59: Snowmass Village - $1,773,523

#77: Vail - $1,615,516

#92: Greenwood Village - $1,495,000

Read the full story at Denver Business Journal.

Posted in Denver Colorado Real Estate, Real Estate Market Conditions, Real Estate Industry, Lead Generation, Luxury Home Market

"When a seller asks you to lower your commission, that usually means that you haven't demonstrated your value." counsels Bernice Ross, Real Estate Coach.

Luxury Home sales are no exception.  Real estate agents in all markets are facing this dilemma.

Create a Premium Marketing Plan, suggests Ross, that includes a list of Premium Services that set you apart from the competition.  Ross has these suggestions:

• 3D Open House: This online tool offers the potential buyer a chance to engage with the floor plan and see if it fits their lifestyle and furnishings. Ross offers a link to try 3D Open House at a huge discount for first time users.
• Create a Property website for their listing only. This is especially important for luxury properties.
• Translate your listing in many different languages. A luxury listing might be of interest to foreign buyers.

"If, after reviewing your Premium Marketing Plan, the sellers still ask you to discount, (especially on a luxury listing)," Ross suggests using the strategy of Allen Bernardi, a Broker in California and devoted reader of Ross's blog, who responds to discount inquiries with this answer:  

"Well, perhaps I can refer you to a junior associate in our office who might be willing to work for that rate." 

"Nobody ever wants to get referred to the junior associate in any profession!" writes Ross.  "According to Bernardi the key is to be willing to walk away from the client. If you can't walk away, then they have you." 

Another key point is to counteract the term "discount" and to use the term "limited service".  Just as no one wants a "junior associate," most people don't want "limited service."  says Ross.

Show the value of your services and defend your commission with these key points.

Read more from Bernice Ross at LuxuryClues.com.

photo credit: Yaletown Business Improvement Association

Posted in Headlines, Luxury Home Market