​Are you familiar with Generation Wild? It is the Colorado movement to reconnect kids to the outdoor world.

"The average kid spends less than seven minutes a day playing outside. How did that happen?

Remember running around outside when you were a kid? We do too. But then something happened.
Today, the average kid spends less than seven minutes a day outside in unstructured play. That’s dramatically less than any generation before. What’s worse, the time they spend in front of a screen has ballooned to more than seven hours a day.

It’s an eye-opening problem that most people can rally against. Because it’s pretty well documented that spending time outdoors is critical to the health of kids and their mental, physical, and emotional development. It’s also important that we raise the next generation of stewards to watch over and take care of our outdoor places.

That’s why Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) set the ambitious goal of changing an entire generation of kids by connecting them to the outdoor world. This led to the launch of Generation Wild, a research-led, multiyear campaign designed to spark a movement that would reconnect kids to the outdoor world.

In its first year, the campaign reached out to Colorado moms and introduced a bucket list of outdoor activities for kids called 100 Things to Do Before You’re 12.
And amazingly enough, kids started to do them."
​
The list is back again this year and you can access it here!

See and download your list by following this link:
www.generationwild.com/the-list

Check out the rest of the website while you're there too and bring your kids to meet Wilder!
https://www.generationwild.com/
​

​Experience original Berkeley and the Berkeley lifestyle in this sun soaked, lake side cottage, full of charm, character, possibilities, and potential. "Heron House", named for the weathervane perched on the highest peak of the gabled roof, is perfectly situated just 3 doors from Berkeley Park (lake, indoor/outdoor pool, rec center, library, walking path, dog park, and tennis courts), 3 blocks from the shops and restaurants of bustling Tennyson Street, and just blocks from historic Lakeside Amusement Park and Willis Case golf course. The story and a half home packs tons of space and storage and offers 1st floor modern living with hardwood floors, a kitchen open to a family room with fireplace, half bath, living room, and dining room. 

On the 2nd floor, you’ll find 3 bedrooms and a full bath. The attic - once the hideaway envy of neighborhood children - offers varied ceiling heights, paneling, carpet, electricity, and a venting skylight. The basement includes a laundry room, tons of storage, a 3/4 bath, and a separate entrance. Newly painted and new stain resistant carpeting throughout (Feb 2022).

The large 6250 square foot landscaped lot has ample play and entertaining space, mature trees, and is zoned for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The detached garage has an attached 200 square foot “flex space” room with 220 electrical that could be used as the start of your income generating ADU, workshop, yoga studio, workout space, or whatever you can envision. A free-standing shed offers additional storage.

This cozy home, large lot, and amazing location can meet your needs and your dreams. 1965 finished square feet.
Agent Owner.

For more information and to see additional photos, please click here: www.redfin.com/CO/Denver/4576-Winona-Ct-80212/home/34059476

A new survey of real estate agents conducted by trees.com found that: 

• 78% of real estate agents say poor landscaping and hardscaping negatively affects property values
• 59% of real estate agents say trees are the landscaping element that adds the most value to a home
• Adding one healthy tree can increase property values by 30% or more, according to 1 in 5 real estate agents

Other landscaping elements that can help increase your property value include grass (64%), trees (59%), and flowers (52%).
​
To read more about the survey and other elements that can help increase your property values, read the full trees.com article by clicking here.
(Content courtesy of trees.com)

​Kristin Kleimann was recently interviewed and featured on VoyageDenver online magazine. VoyageDenver's mission is  "to promote mom and pops, artists, creatives, makers and small businesses by providing a platform for these hidden gems to tell their stories in their own words." Kristin was thrilled to be included.

Click here for the link to the full interview on VoyageDenver.

From the VoyageDenver website:

"Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Kleimann.

Kristin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Before entering the real estate industry officially, I spent more than 15 years as a communication consultant helping government agencies make complex information clear and usable. As part of my communication consultant work, I worked with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on the “Know Before You Owe” project to design new mortgage disclosures –the Loan Estimate (formerly the Good Faith Estimate) and the Closing Disclosure (formerly the HUD-1).
These mandatory disclosures were implemented in October 2015 and help consumers choose a mortgage that is right for them and then help consumers understand what, if anything, changed between the loan estimate and closing. They are also help consumers better use, compare, and understand complex mortgage information and terms. The disclosures have been called “understandable,” “transparent,” and “fair.” After working on these forms, I decided to get my real estate license, in part, because I knew I could help my clients better navigate the complex real estate buying and selling process by making it simple, transparent, and personalized. For me, getting my clients into the right house with the right mortgage is a core value.
Has it been a smooth road?
The real estate industry, market, and even the forms we use, are constantly changing and evolving. This is part of what makes being in the industry both exciting and challenging. That said, it requires constantly educating yourself on national, state, and local changes, so you can best serve your clients. I read — a lot.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a lover of Colorado and Denver, especially when it comes to art, design, food, nature, entertaining, family, and travel. In both my work and home life, my focus is often research and education. I enjoy learning and then sharing useful, usable, and relevant information, with my clients and friends.
I give my clients my full attention and love working hard for them. My clients appreciate my knowledge, expertise, and quick response. It makes me happy to make my clients happy.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The real estate industry is ever evolving and changing.
For instance, in a hot real estate market like Denver, it can sometimes be challenging if a client needs to sell a home before they can buy another. The emergence of i-Buyers (like Zillow Instant Offers, OpenDoor, etc.) can help streamline the selling process by giving sellers the cash they need to purchase a new home quickly. While many of the i-Buying companies have some initial requirements with homes, (some want homes less than 25 years old, or won’t purchase any over a certain amount, etc.) it can be a good option for some clients. Someone thinking of using this model will definitely need to compare cash offers and the costs associated (some charge a “service fee” that is greater than a full-commission;), along with other pros and cons, against the net proceeds they would come away with if they had used a full-commission real estate agent/broker.
The real estate industry will continue to evolve quickly as technology improves and disruption occurs. The client experience will be paramount. A smart agent will need to know how to adapt, or risk obsolescence."
Contact Info:

• Website: www.homesimpledenver.com
• Phone: 720.352.0565
• Email: kristin.kleimann@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesimpledenver/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kikikleimann/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kikikleimann
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/universityobservatorypark/

​Photos and Article by Kristin Kleimann-Duggan
 
We made it to see the Ice Castles this weekend and it was well worth it! The Ice Castles are located in Dillon, Colorado and are open until the weather becomes too warm. Teams work to grow more than 5,000 icicles each day so they can build the castles by hand. 
 
We bought our tickets in advance (highly recommended, as they sell out quickly, especially on weekends) and chose the 4:00 pm entry time because we were hoping to experience the Ice Castles in both daylight and at night. This was a decent choice as it was still light at 4:00 and then the castles are lit up at night with LED lights. (5:30 is about when it is getting dark now.) Last year, we went at 5:00pm and this was a better time to go to see the castles in both daylight and lit up. (We spent about an hour there.) Dressing for winter was important and waterproof pants and gloves (especially for the kids) are a must if you plan to crawl around in the caves or go on the ice slides. Warm socks and shoes are a must for everyone. My Mother-in-Law would have done better with her cane as the terrain is not flat. Do not bother with a stroller, it won’t make it.
 
Currently, hours are 4-9pm Monday and Thursday. On Fridays: hours are 4-10pm; Saturdays:  12pm-10pm; and Sundays: 12pm-8pm. The ice castles are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
 
Ticket prices vary by the day and whether you purchase standby tickets or not. Adult prices range from $16.99 to $20. 99. Children (4-11) are $11.99-$15.99. Children under 3 are free. Standby tickets are $20-$25 for adults and $15-$20 for children.
 
Get there soon to see the Ice Castles before the weather warms. If the Ice Castles return next year, I encourage you to see them. It’s winter magic.
 
Please visit, www.icecastles.com for more information.

Denver Parks and Recreation is planning to make improvements to McWilliams (Dinosaur) Park. 

From the Denver.gov website 

"Update as of January 2020:Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) held the first public meeting for this project on Dec.3 with nearly 40 people in attendance. The project schedule and scope were reviewed, which includes making improvements to the playground, picnic area, basketball courts, and stormwater aspects of the Harvard Gulch basin.

DPR and the consultant team are currently reviewing the condition of the 40+ year-old dinosaur structure to determine its structural integrity and compliance with safety standards. The project team is evaluating options to incorporate the feature into the design, or possibly replacing it with a similar feature that meets current playground safety and materials standards. 

Please join us for Public Meeting #2 on February 6, 2020.
Project Background:As part of the Elevate Denver Bond Program, DPR will be upgrading the playground, picnic area and basketball court. The redesigned park will be compliant with current safety standards and improve upon the well-known 'dinosaur' playground theme. With your input, these improvements will make the park more accessible and inclusive.

Public Meeting 1: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 | Slavens Elementary School
Join DPR for the first public meeting to discuss the neighborhood's priorities as improvements are planned. Find full meeting details.

Public Meeting 2: Thursday, February 6, 2020 | Slavens Elementary School
Join the ongoing conversation regarding the redesign of McWilliams park playground, basketball court and picnic area. Find full meeting details."
Slavens Elementary School Cafeteria, 3000 S Clayton St, Denver, CO 80210

Can't make it? Email christopher.schooler@denvergov.org with your comments.



​

Shakshuka or Shakshouka, is a dish of eggs poached in a tasty and spicy tomato based sauce and cooked in the oven. It's origin is Mediterranean.
I found this perfect and "foolproof" recipe from "Cookie + Kate." Here is the full link with some more of the origin and history of the dish...

https://cookieandkate.com/foolproof-shakshuka-recipe/

I made a few changes from the original recipe Since I am not a huge fan of red pepper, I omitted the red pepper and used an extra half an onion. (I love onions!) I also omitted the cilantro and instead used parsley and green onions for garnish (see, I really do love onions). It's a super easy recipe and would be wonderful for breakfast, brunch, or as I made it, for dinner. Definitely don't omit serving it with crusty bread. It's a perfect cozy, comfort food.

Come on Spring... :)

Here's the original recipe from Cookie + Kate:
INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, reduce or omit if sensitive to spice
• 1 large can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley, plus addition cilantro or parsley leaves for garnish
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 5 to 6 large eggs
• ½ cup crumbled feta
• Crusty bread or pita, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm the oil in a large, oven-safe skillet (preferably stainless steel) over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the onion, bell pepper, and salt. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are tender and turning translucent, about 4 to 6 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, tomato paste, cumin, paprika and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, until nice and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Pour in the crushed tomatoes with their juices and add the cilantro. Stir, and let the mixture come to a simmer. Reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer, and cook for 5 minutes to give the flavors time to meld.
4. Turn off the heat. Taste (careful, it’s hot), and add salt and pepper as necessary. Use the back of a spoon to make a well near the perimeter and crack the egg directly into it. Gently spoon a bit of the tomato mixture over the whites to help contain the egg. Repeat with the remaining 4 to 5 eggs, depending on how many you can fit. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the eggs.
5. Carefully transfer the skillet to the oven (it’s heavy) and bake for 8 to 12 minutes, checking often once you reach 8 minutes. They’re done when the egg whites are an opaque white and the yolks have risen a bit but are still soft. They should still jiggle in the centers when you shimmy the pan. (Keep in mind that they’ll continue cooking after you pull the dish out of the oven.)
6. Using oven mitts (both hands!), transfer the hot skillet to a heat-safe surface like the stove. Top with the crumbled feta, fresh cilantro leaves, and more red pepper flakes, if desired. Serve in bowls with crusty bread on the side.

#cookieandkate

Yesterday I received my latest issue of Denver Life magazine and tonight I laid down to read through it. To my surprise, I turned to a page and saw my parents' bathroom featured! Their bathroom was designed and remodeled by University Park resident and interior designer, Margarita Bravo. This bathroom is absolutely gorgeous. I'm so pleased for both my parents and Margarita! Congratulations!

If you are interested in reading the article I wrote about Margarita, you can access it by clicking HERE.

If you are interested in reading the full "Renovation Inspiration" artice in the Denver Life magazine, you can access it by clicking HERE.

​

Congratulations to our buyers and sellers in November! Lots of new homes for the Holidays...May your holidays be extra special :)








​

Welcome to Denver's desirable Boulevard One neighborhood. This stunning, high-tech Infinity home (Vue model) features 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths and a flexible open-concept floor plan that can be tailored to meet your individual needs. Built in late 2015, this modern, energy-efficient home is teeming with wonderful upgrades including hand troweled walls, home theatre surround sound on all three levels, a designer kitchen and a bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor. The indoor-outdoor connectivity of this home can't be beat, with a front porch that opens on to a linear park and a sliding glass door that connects the low-maintenance backyard to the main floor living area. Bike and walking paths connect this home in minutes to Crestmoor Park, Lowry Town Center and Hangar 2 with Lucky's Market and additional retail space coming soon. Listed at $1,190,000.
For more information, please click here...

We did it...My clients managed to both sell and buy a home on the same day in a little bit of a tougher real estate market than we've seen previously. As the Denver Metro Association of Realtors reports, "Overall in the Denver-area residential market, 6.19 percent fewer homes were sold in July compared to the month prior and there was a slight uptick in days on market and price reductions."

I am so pleased (and relieved) we were able to get this done, and I also appreciate the very considerate review I received:

"The most committed agent in Denver, period. 

We always felt like we had Kristin's full attention, and she jumped in to overdrive when we ran in to some hurdles. Our buyer dropped out late in the process, leaving our new dream home in jeopardy. Within hours, Kristin made numerous calls and landed us a new full price offer AND a backup offer. In spite of some market changes and curveballs, Kristin just made it happen.

This is an agent who truly understands the business and how to work with both buyers and sellers. She added significant value on both sides of the transaction, and got us in to our forever home. 110% recommend. -Nick"

Congratulations again on selling your first home and buying your forever home.

Hello friends, family, and neighbors!

It's auction season once again for University Park Elementary School (UPark).

If you have a business/goods/talent/service that you would be willing to donate or would be interested in a sponsorship, please consider supporting our school.

(Examples of goods or services donated in the past are bottles of wine, gift cards/certificates, merchandise, spa packages, tickets to cultural events, travel opportunities etc. If you would like more information about the sponsorship packages available, please contact me. There are three different investment levels, starting at $1,000 but also a la cart options that are less expensive.)

The goal this year is to raise $77,000, which goes directly to funding to keep classroom sizes small. This event is organized by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to raise money for the students of University Park Elementary School. 

UPark is located in Observatory Park in Southeast Denver, and serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is an ethnically and socio-economically diverse school whose success and growth depend on the support of its parents and the community. Like many schools in Denver and throughout the State of Colorado, UPark faces budgetary challenges that threaten its ability to meet the academic needs of all its students. Therefore, the PTA organizes an annual auction to help bridge the gap. It's one of UPark's most important fundraisers.

The deadline to make a donation or sponsor the event is Wednesday, March 6, 2019. I am happy to send you a donation form. The Auction will be held on April 6, 2019. 

Thank you so much for your support!

Kristin Kleimann (parent)

My contact information is: kristin.kleimann@gmail.com

This recent article from Consumer Reports provides consumers with information about how to save money on mortgage fees by: 

1. Obtaining several loan estimates
As the article states, "Your best tool to comparison-shop mortgage fees is a Loan Estimate—a free, standardized form that you can request from each lender." The company I used to work for, Kleimann Communication Group, Inc. and I, prior to entering real estate, helped the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) develop this consumer friendly tool. The Loan Estimate breaks down the total cost of a loan, "so you can compare loans, apples to apples."

Other ways to reduce your fees include: 
2. Avoiding or minimize junk fees
3. Shopping for or negotiating on fees you can control
4. Questioning fees that appear to be out of your control
5. Preparing for closing fees you can't avoid

To read the full article and get more detail about how to save money, please click the link below:

https://www.consumerreports.org/mortgages/how-to-save-money-on-mortgage-fees/

Article From HouseLogic.com
By: Leanne Potts
Published: December 21, 2018
​
Tax changes for 2019 change the landscape for homeowners.

Tax season is upon us once again, and to make it even more interesting this year, the tax code has changed -- along with the rules about tax deductions for homeowners. The biggest change? Many homeowners who used to write off their property taxes and the interest they pay their mortgage will no longer be able to.
Tax season is upon us once again, and to make it even more interesting this year, the tax code has changed -- along with the rules about tax deductions for homeowners. The biggest change? Many homeowners who used to write off their property taxes and the interest they pay their mortgage will no longer be able to.

Stay calm. This doesn't automatically mean your taxes are going up. Here's a roundup of the rules that will affect homeowners -- and how big of a change to expect.

Standard Deduction: Big Change
The standard deduction, that amount everyone gets, whether they have actual deductions or not, nearly doubled under the new law. It's now $24,000 for married, joint-filing couples (up from $13,000). It's $18,000 for heads of household (up from $9,550). And $12,000 for singles (up from $6,500).
Many more people will now get a better deal taking the standard than they would with their itemizable write-offs.
For perspective, the number of homeowners who will be able to deduct their mortgage interest under the new rules will fall from around 32 million to about 14 million, the federal government says. That's about a 56% drop.
"This doesn't necessarily mean they'll pay more taxes," says Evan Liddiard, a CPA and director of federal tax policy for the National Association of REALTORS? in Washington, D.C. "It just means that they'll no longer get a tax incentive for buying or owning a home."
So will you be able to itemize, or will you be in standard deduction land? This calculator can give you an estimate.
If the answer is standard deduction, you'll be pleased to know that tax forms are easier when you don't itemize, says Liddiard. Find instructions for IRS Form 1040 here.

Mortgage Interest Deduction: Incremental Change
The new law caps the mortgage interest you can write off at loan amounts of no more than $750,000. However, if your loan was in place by Dec. 14, 2017, the loan is grandfathered, and the old $1 million maximum amount still applies. Since most people don't have a mortgage larger than $750,000, they won't be affected by the cap.
But if you live in a pricey place (like San Francisco, where the median housing price is well over a million bucks), or you just have a seriously expensive house, the new federal tax laws mean you're not going to be able to write off interest paid on debt over the $750,000 cap.

State and Local Tax Deduction: Degree of Change Varies by Location
The state and local taxes you pay -- like income, sales, and property taxes -- are still itemizable write-offs. That's called the SALT deduction in CPA lingo. But. The tax changes for 2019 (that's tax year 2018) mean you can't deduct more than $10,000 for all your state and local taxes combined, whether you're single or married. (It's $5,000 per person if you're married but filing separately.)
The SALT cap is bad news for people in areas with high taxes. The majority of homeowners in around 20 states have been writing off more than $10,000 in SALT each year, so they'll lose some of this deduction. "This is going to hurt people in high-tax areas like New York and California," says Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and expert for TurboTax in California. New Yorkers, for example, were taking SALT deductions averaging $22,000 a household.

Rental Property Deduction: No Change
The news is happier if you're a landlord. There continue to be no limits on the amount of mortgage debt interest or state and local taxes you can write off on rental property. And you can keep writing off operating expenses like depreciation, insurance, lawn care, and utilities on Schedule E.

Home Equity Loans: Big Change
You can continue to write off the interest on a home equity or second mortgage loan (if you itemize), but only if you used the proceeds to substantially better your home and only if the total, combined with your first mortgage, doesn't go over the $750,000 cap ($1 million for loans in existence on Dec. 15, 2017). If you used the equity loan to pay medical expenses, take a cruise, or anything other than home improvements, that interest is no longer tax deductible.
Here's a big FYI: The new rules don't grandfather in old home equity loans if the proceeds were used for something other than substantial home improvement. If you took one out five years ago to, say, pay your child's college tuition, you have to stop writing off that interest.

4 Tips for Navigating the New Tax Law

1. Single people may get more tax benefits from buying a house, Liddiard says. "They can often reach [and potentially exceed] the standard deduction more quickly." You can check how much you're likely to owe or get back under the new law on this tax calculator.
2. Student loan debt is deductible, up to $2,500 if you're repaying, whether you itemize or not.
3. Charitable deductions and some medical expenses remain itemizable. If you're generous or have had a big year for medical bills, these, added to your mortgage interest, may be enough to bump you over the standard deduction hump and into the write-off zone.
4. If your mortgage is over the $750,000 cap, pay it down faster so you don't eat the interest. You can add a little to the principal each month, or make a 13th payment each year.

As always, please consult a professional tax accountant with more specific questions.