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by Osman Parvez



Boulder was ranked #1 in the nation for teleworking among small metro areas according to a study by Sperling's Best Places and the Intel Corporation. The study factored in typical commuting times, fuel prices, availability of broadband Internet access and percentage of the population in telework-friendly jobs. Denver was ranked #3 for large metro areas.

Frankly, I'm not surprised - we have a home office and even so I'm amazed at the number of people who are home at mid-day during the week. Many of our friends also have jobs that allow for varying degrees of telecommuting.
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There was an interesting piece about buying historic property in Boulder. By the number of building permits issued in the Mapleton Hill area, it doesn't appear as if owners are being prevented from taking on projects. The average project size for the permits issued between 2002 and 2005 was 3,000 SQFT.

But according to Sheila Horton, director of the Boulder Rental Housing association,
"The question is not whether things are allowed to happen. The question is, how much longer did it take to get permits to do those sorts of things, and what was the increased cost that was added because of all the external controls that were added to the project?"
Having met and spoken with a number of city officials involved, we've come to the conclusion that despite having a reputation to the contrary, the city is willing to work with owners on their projects to a very reasonable extent.
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Yesterday, driving towards Denver I noticed massive smoke clouds on the horizon. Turns out we had a 1,600 acre grass fire, driven by 50 mph+ wind.
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Office rents are rising and vacancies are decreasing in Denver. Absorption was positive for the eight consecutive quarter. Another sign of continued strengthening of our local economy.
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Finally, here's an interesting opinion piece on logging in Colorado's Forests, by columnist Jonathan Mohr, a student at Poudre High School. As an avid (rabid?) outdoor enthusiast and student of the environment, I'm not a fan of most logging practices. Some of the eco-certified programs are taking steps in the right direction, but we're still a long way from sustainability.




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The ideas and strategies described in this blog are the opinion of the writer and subject to business, economic, and competitive uncertainties.   We strongly recommend conducting rigorous due diligence and obtaining professional advice before buying or selling real estate. 

Please Note

This document contains forward-looking statements. You are strongly cautioned that investment results are subject to business, economic and other uncertainties. There are no guarantees associated with any forecast and the opinions stated here are subject to change at any time. Always consult your financial advisor before making an investment decision.