Today's Headlines Watch out!  I told you so a few months back.  City offices are considering adopting the 2009 Iternational Poroperty Maintenance Code as part of the SmartRegs overhaul.  The code provides regulations for ALL residential units within the city.  While they say it will be used MOSTLY to regulate rental properties it is clearly the first step at creating a tool to force everyone who owns a home to go green.  A fine and good goal but what if you can't afford the changes which could amount to $10,000 or more?   Find out more on My Blog.

RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK! The Boulder Cork http://www.bouldercork.com/ 303-443-9505 Providing quality food and excellent service since 1969, The Boulder Cork is one of Colorado's most renowned dining experiences. A casual, yet attentive atmosphere is the perfect place to spend a special evening, relaxing with friends or entertaining business associates. Try their pepper steak for a real treat.  Excellent place for lunch and top notch for dinner.  Moderately expensive but at least they include the side dishes in their price .  Price $$$.

Fun Stuff to Do 3rd Annual Boulder Festival of the Arts at 29th Street July 24th and 25th from 10 to 8 www.artfestival.com "Bands on the Bricks" - The weekly local music concerts are on the Pearl Street Mall between 13th and 14th Streets every Wednesday from 7pm to 9.  The beer garden opens at 5:30.  All ages welcome. Body Works: The Story of the Heart - Denver Museum of Nature and Science through August 15.  Call 303-370-6000 for more info or visit www.dmns.org.

What's New • 2nd quarter market statistics coming next week.  Come back for the facts and figures on Boulder's real estate market.  See how the market effects the value and salability of your home.  • Foreclosure, Short Sale, REO (bank owned) Investing.  How to make big money through distressed properties!  Under construction - check back in a week. • New EPA lead-based paint rules change the game for homeowners of pre-1978 homes.  It's not just about disclosure anymore.  You want to remodel?  As little as 6 square feet can cost you significantly.  Stay tuned for more next week. • New guidelines were released on June 1 to be implemented not later than August 1 for foreclosure relief.  The regulations are designed to standardize procedures for a short sale.  More info on my Blog.

Open Your Wallet!  FHA Bill Makes Loans Less and More Expensive at the Same Time! FHA Reform Bill passes the house 406-4 and now moves to the senate.  This bill DECREASES the upfront mortgage insurance to 1% of the purchase price from 1.75-2.25%.  It the INCREASES the monthly premium borrowers pay from .55% to .85%.  Believe it or not this is a good thing.  Read more about it and its effect upon you at My Blog. Home Loan Rates Lowest Since 1971! Going Lower? As economic unease simmers investors seek safe havens for their money in treasuries and mortgage backed securities.  The increase in demand raises the price and lowers the yield thus pushing down interest rates.  The 30 year fixed mortgage fell to a low of 4.69% down from 4.75% a week earlier and 5.24% last year. Analysts expect rates may go even lower.  Read more at My Blog.

Upcoming Events Things to Do in the Boulder Valley 3rd Annual Boulder Festival of the Arts at 29th Street Located at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall  July 24th and 25th 10am to 8pm These popular outdoor festivals are consistently ranked among the TOP ART SHOWS IN THE COUNTRY. Located along some of the most charming streets in the nation, Howard Alan Events BRINGS THE UNIQUE CREATIONS of hundreds of award-winning artists to thousands of art enthusiasts across America every weekend. www.artfestival.com 150 national artists   Flatirons Tour of Homes:  September 18, 19, 25, 26 10am-4pm The Flatirons Tour of Homes will showcase the finest new and remodeled homes in the North Metro area. The thousands of potential home buyers expected to attend will not only be dreaming about which home to buy, but how to furnish, decorate, remodel, landscape and secure their dream come true. For the first time in Tour history, all builders, developers and remodelers – regardless of membership with the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver – are eligible to enter homes in the Tour. So there’s no excuse for missing one of the HBA’s most action-packed events of the season.  Tune in for more info and links to the homes and builders when September comes.