How To Celebrate Oktoberfest in Colorado 2016

Vail Oktoberfest – Vail, Co – September 16-18, 2016Traditional food and Paulaner beer, bavarian music, dancing, yodeling, bratwurst eating contest, keg bowling, stein lifting, Oktoberfest costume contest and more over two full weekends in Vail. Free concerts on Saturday night. Family zone during the day for kids with crafts, entertainers and kids 1K fun run. Named by USA Today one of the ten greatest Oktoberfests in the US in 2010. No cost for admission.

Photo Courtesy of ©Vail Oktoberfest

8TH ANNUAL STEAMBOAT OKTOBERWEST®

Celebrate the season at a Steamboat-style Oktoberfest including Rocky Mountain beer, local food specialties and festivities unique to Steamboat Springs.  We’re taking an Oktoberfest and stamping it with Steamboat’s western brand. No German beer here, just good ol’ Colorado Rocky Mountain beer, food and festivities.

Photograph courtesy of ©OktoberWest

Pueblo Oktoberfest – Pueblo, CO – September 16-17, 2016 

26th Annual Oktoberfest German food, music and beer. Keg tapping at 6 PM on Friday night. Saturday is family day with the Denver Kickers German Dancers at 1 PM and German costume contest at 5 PM. Stein hosting contest at 8 PM both evenings. Admission is $5 at the door but free if wearing costume. Seniors and kids 12 and under are free.
Location: 132 W. “B” Street, Pueblo, CO 81003

Photo Courtesy of ©Pueblo Union Depot

Loveland Oktoberfest – Sept 16-17, 2016
Loveland Oktoberfest will be celebrated on Friday from 3:00 – 9:00 PM and Saturday from 12:00 – 9:00 PM at 623 Denver Ave. Loveland, CO 80537. The event is free to attend and all ages are welcome.

Photo Courtesy of ©@gowesttshirtco

Parker Oktoberfest – Parker, CO – September 16-18, 2016
11th annual family friendly German-themed festival in the O’Brien Park parking lot from 11 AM to 9 PM on Saturday and 9 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Location: 10795 Victorian Drive, Parker, Colorado

Photo Courtesy of  ©Parker Oktoberfest

FORToberfest – Fort Collins, CO – September 17, 2016.
A celebration of Fort Collins with live music, seasonal beer from 6+ Fort Collins breweries and bicycle booths. Music lineup ranges from funk to bluegrass to rock and indie. Costumes are encouraged. Free admission. Thousands are expected to participate. Location: Downtown Fort Collins (Walnut St. and Old Town Square.

Photo Courtesy of Downtown  ©Fort Collins Business Association

Schuhplattlers Denver Kickers Oktoberfest – Golden, CO – September 17, 2016 Location: 16676 W. 50th, Golden, CO 80403

Photo Courtesy of ©Denver Kickers Sport Club Inc 

Highlands Ranch Oktoberfest and 5K – Highlands Ranch, CO – September 17, 2016
Location: 9288 Dorchester St, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Photo Courtesy of ©Highlands Ranch Community Association 

Oktoberfest in Woodland Park – Woodland Park, CO – September 17-18, 20162016 marks the 19TH Annual Oktoberfest in Woodland Park, CO. You’ll find fun for the whole family including live music, plenty of authentic German food and drinks, arts & crafts and children activities. Don’t miss the ceremonial keg tapping on Saturday at 11 AM right after the national anthem. The two-day Oktoberfest in Woodland Park is a great way to enjoy this beautiful mountain town. 

 Photo Courtesy of ©The Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce

Autumn Gold Brats & Beer – Estes Park, CO – September 17-18, 2016
24th Annual festival with bratwurst, beer and live music. It is a family friendly event with face painting, corn bag toss, bouncing room, soap bubbles and rides in antique cars and a fire engine. Raffle tickets are $25 each with a grand prize of $5000. Festival happens in Bond Park. Sunrise Rotary has been organizing this event since 1995.

OktoBREWfest – Greeley, CO -September 23-24, 2016
Location: Lincoln Park (8th Street & 9th Avenue), Greeley CO
The Greeley Oktoberfest has changed its name for 2013 to reflect the focus on specialty brews, VIP tasting tent and expanded musical entertainment. But the same German traditions will still take place. Event kicks off Friday evening with brats, beer, games and a free concert. Huge children’s area on Saturday along with more music, food and specialty beer. Stein lifting, pie eating, volleyball and life size beer pong contests.

OKTOBEERFEST 2016 @ LCHope – Broomfield, CO – Sept. 23-24, 2016
Craft Beer, German Food, Kids’ Games, 50/50 Raffle and Polka Dancing to The Rocky Mountain Dutch Hop Boys! Fundraiser to support community outreach ministries. Dates: September 23 5:00-10:00 pm, September 24 3:00-9:00 pm
Location: 1305 W. 10th Avenue, Broomfield, CO

Brush Oktoberfest & Car/Motorcycle Show – Brush, CO – September 23-24, 2016
34th annual event with Friday night Cruise In, car show, beer garden, live polka band and dog show/contest. Location: Main Street (Clayton) in Brush

Photo Courtesy of ©Brush Area Chamber of Commerce

Colorado Springs Oktoberfest – Colorado Springs, CO – September 23-25, 2016
Keg tapping ceremony on Friday evening at 6:30 PM. 5K, Dachshund Dash, brat eating contest, German costume and stein hoisting contests. Sunday is family day and there is also a tuba competition. Live music, authentic German food and Paulaner beer.
Location: Security Service Field (Sky Sox Stadium), 4385 Tutt Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO

Photo Courtesy of CSOktoberfest

Lamar Oktoberfest – Lamar, CO – September 24, 2016
This festival is hosted by the Lamar Chamber of Commerce. There is usually a beer garden, inflatable games for kids, Car & Motorcycle Show, charity 5K Relay Race, horse shoe tournament and local musical acts.

Denver Oktoberfest – Denver, CO – September 23-25 and September 30 – Oct 2, 2016.
Larimer Street in Denver’s Historic Ballpark Neighborhood is transformed for two weekends in September for this celebration of German culture. Over 250,000 people attend Oktoberfest Denver annually. Entertainment includes stein hoisting, long dog derby, keg bowling, Dashustlehoff 5K, bratwurst eating contest, costume contest and live music. Location: 20th and Larimer, Denver CO

Photo Courtesy of @DenverOktoberfest

Oktoberfest Niwot – Niwot, CO – October 1, 2016
The 8th Annual Oktoberfest hosted by The Rotary Club of Niwot serves as a fundraiser for local and international projects. They will have bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzels and cold beer. Live entertainment featuring The Prime Time Band and the Chalet Dancers . For kids, there will be pumpkin painting, face painting and inflatable bouncy castle. Free admission. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday,Location: Cottonwood Square, 7980 N. 79th Street, Niwot, CO

Photo Courtesy of Niwot Rotary Club

Montrose Oktoberfest – Montrose, CO – October 1, 2016
Live music, Oktoberfest fare from local restaurants and beer tasting from 20
Colorado breweries! It raises money for All Points Transit. Location: Centennial Plaza in Downtown Montrose.

Photo Courtesy of @MontroseOktoberfest

Berthoud Oktoberfest – Berthoud, Colorado – October 1, 2016
Fifth annual authentic German festival with beer from City Star Brewing, Berthoud Brewing, food, music, dancing, kid’s activities, arts & crafts. Scarecrow contest and Berthoud Fall Bicycle Classic are also usually on that date.
Location: Fickel Park, N 7th St, Berthoud, Colorado 80513

Photo Courtesy of @BerthodOktoberfest

La Veta Oktoberfest – La Veta, CO – October 1, 2016.  30th annual Colorado Oktoberfest held the first Saturday in October. Twin Peak Rodder’s Car show, dancing, bier garden, and arts & crafts.

Photo Courtesy of David Rinehart

Castle Rock Oktoberfest – Castle Rock, CO – October 1, 2016.
Beer, food, and live music to welcome fall. Kids will enjoy the bounce house, face painting, petting zoo, pony rides and fun zone rides. Location: Festival Park, Castle Rock, CO 80104

Photo Courtesy of Downtown Castlerock

Celtic Oktoberfest – Carbondale, CO – October 7-8, 2016
Celtic Fest on Friday night including Best Legs in a Kilt Contest. Full day of German bands, food, beer, brat eating contest, liter holding contest and the chicken dance on Saturday. Location: 4th Street Plaza.

Photo Courtesy of Carbondale Chamber Of Commerce

Ouray Oktoberfest – Ouray, CO – October 8, 2016
Beer, brats, polka fun, evening fireworks, and the Annual Jeep Raffle all make for a great day of fun.
Location: Box Canyon Lodge, 45 3rd Ave Ouray, Colorado 81432

Durango Oktoberfest – Durango, CO – October 8-9, 2016
Bere, food and music hosted by the San Juan Citizens Alliance. Pub crawl of local breweries and kids can enter the Children’s Museum air castle, get their face painted and enjoy kids crafts.
Location: Main St, Durango CO

Courtesy of Funtober.com

Why We Celebrate Labor Day and What To Do in Denver for the Holiday Weekend

Hard to believe September is already here it feels like we were just gearing up for a hot summer (and yet we are still having some of those hot summer days!). To start off the beginning of fall we know we start the month off celebrating Labor Day that always lands on the first weekend of September. When I was younger, I always knew my summer was over after we celebrated the holiday because it meant back to school but today, kids head back to school a few weeks before Labor Day, I guess we were lucky back in the day!

Labor Day is a public holiday celebrated in the United States, which honors the American labor movement and all the contributions workers have made to make our country great. This is a day we honor those workers who came before us and the workers of today who continue to build on the foundation of everything the United States stands for as a prosperous and strong country.

Many people try to get out of town for the holiday weekend, which we always recommend as a last hoo-rah to the end of summer. But if you are staying in Denver this weekend, here is a list of fun activities for you and the family to enjoy over the long weekend besides all the cookouts and pool times already scheduled.

Riot Fest & Rodeo – National Western Complex

If you are a music lover, Riot Fest is always one for the books with their incredible lineup that includes Jane’s Addiction, The Original Misfits, Nas, Fitz & The Tantrums and Death Cab For Cutie just to name a few. Because of the location they are rocking a rodeo theme this year plus a bbq cook-off. Might be hard to grab tickets but if you can get some this is not an event to be missed!

Taste of Colorado – Civic Center Park

If you like to eat a variety of food this is the place for you to be this weekend. Over 500,000 people make their way to Taste and it’s because they want to try some of the 50 area restaurants and food trucks that pop up at Civic Center Park.

Phish – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

I probably don’t even need to put this on here because Phish fanatics have had their tickets for a long time now. But if you have never experienced a Phish show, it is one for the books and they are here playing three nights over the holiday weekend.

First Friday Art Walk – Denver’s Art Districts

Denver has an ever-growing art community and they love to showcase local talent every first Friday of the month with art walks found on Santa Fe, RiNo and the Highlands. Enjoy food and drinks as you make your way up and down the streets and galleries all open for the public to enjoy the art of many Coloradians.

Colorado Rockies vs Arizona Diamondbacks – Coors Field

There is nothing quite like a baseball game for the holiday weekend is there? Gather up your family or a group of friends and head to Coors Field to cheer on the Colorado Rockies as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Colorado State Fair – Colorado State Fairgrounds

The Colorado State Fair is going on through September 5th so make sure to get the family and head on down to the fairgrounds. See animals, eat amazing food, ride carnival rides and enjoy art exhibitions.

There is so much to do over this holiday weekend and we encourage all of you to be safe. Have a great Labor Day weekend whatever your plans and here’s to a good start to the fall season!

What Exactly You Pay For When You Hire A Realtor

One subject matter that can be hard to discuss between clients and agents in real estate is the matter of compensation. No one likes to talk about money that much, or what a buyer/seller is going to have to bring to the table with it comes time to pay the agents for their services. I find when I discuss my fees with clients I like to break it down into a few realities and truths that many people do not know about agents:

·      We receive no hourly salary – Time is our greatest commodity and when we are working for you we are investing countless hours taking you to see homes, having open houses, writing up contracts, getting on the phone with other agents, inspectors and other real estate people. We spend seven days a week working for our clients to make sure a transaction runs smoothly from the acceptance of the offer to the closing day. We are in a career where we spend hours upon hours helping clients and will only be paid if and when we close the deal. If we do not close, no matter how much time we spent on your real estate endeavor, we do not get paid. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

·      We split our commission with other people – A lot of clients see the commission rates anywhere from 3%-10% and sometimes question why the amount for the agent. Well the truth is, we have to split our commission with everyone involved in the real estate transaction. First, between the real estate companies involved in the transaction. The company with the closing agent will then pay out that agent and the rest will go to the real estate firm to help pay taxes and business overheads. They also use their portion to help market your home, media and other social platforms to help give your house the best chance to be sold. Remember, both agents get paid, the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent all comes out of one commission. When explained that way, it is easier to see why a percentage may appear high but actually is being divided when the real estate deal is done to cover everyone’s expenses that was involved in the transaction.

·      Our commissions = Our salaries – This last discussion is always tough because when it comes to my clients; I want to do my best for them as a real estate agent. And when it comes to my commission, there is a little room for negotiation but for the most part, I have set prices for a reason. It would be like if your boss came into your office tomorrow and said hey, I want you to do all the work you are doing and maybe a bit more, but I’m going to cut your salary by 20%. What would you do in that situation? You would be one unhappy camper and would probably start looking for another job. That’s the same for us agents, you may not see all the work we do behind the scenes but I have spent countless nights working well into the wee hours to make sure my clients buy or sell their homes in the best way possible. You are paying for experience, you are paying for my time, you are paying me because you know that I care immensely about each of my clients and will work ultra hard to make sure everything happens the way it should in any real estate transaction.

No one likes to talk about money and payment but I also want to educate my clients so that when the time comes they will know what to expect. Just remember, anyone can pay an agent, make sure you have a great agent working for you so you know your money is going towards everything you want in your real estate endeavors. Feel free to contact me today and let me help you with your next real estate purchase or sell. 

Why Denver is the Perfect Place for Young Entrepreneurs

If I were to tell you that Denver ranks pretty high in the country for places that young entrepreneurs are moving to, would that surprise you? Probably not because we all know that Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and with our outdoor playground in our backyard, the work/life balance here attracts hard workers from all areas. Recently, Denver was ranked 9th in the nation of best cities for young entrepreneurs based on the four criteria of young adult influence, educational attainment, population growth and tax environment by MoneyRates.com.

The rate at which this city is growing will not slow down anytime soon and the types of jobs that the city has to offer is bringing more and more talent to Colorado. Young entrepreneurs see Denver as a place to set up shop because they don’t have the excessive cost of living, a great pick of potential workers and they get to live in one of the most beautiful states in the country. Also the location of Denver is idea for work, it is not too long of a flight from California or the Midwest (New York is always a bit of a long flight but hey, for the view of the Rocky Mountains I think many people will take the three + hour flight).

When many of these young entrepreneurs come to Denver they are looking for a place to set up shop or even a place they can use as a live/work space. One thing I would recommend is to look into the extensive selection of lofts this city has to offer that are ideal as live/work spaces. Since 2005, I have been specializing in lofts, specifically those in the downtown area, and my website AllDenverLofts.com is a great place to start looking for any young entrepreneur looking to move to Denver. Not only will you have a spot to work and live, but you will also own property here in Denver that is always a great investment. I constantly tell my clients that the greatest investment anyone can make for themselves in Denver right now is in real estate and the facts and numbers that recent studies have shown continue to prove that point.

If you are an entrepreneur looking to move to the Denver area sometime soon or anytime in the future, give me a call or email today and let’s set up a time to chat about the choices you have when it comes to looking for the perfect life/work space for your business.

Live/work Loft At The Bolt Factory - Listed By: Phillip Svabodo, Blue Shift Real Estate  $5000/MO

8/26/16

July % Of Sold Properties By Financing Terms

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