good "meat and potato" article for sellers from marketwatch.com
Sellers in hot real-estate markets — where there’s not enough for-sale inventory for the number of people who want to buy — may not feel compelled to spend money to stage their whole house. And they may not need to, given the reduced competition.
But they still should do the minimum: Keep the house free of common issues that send prospective buyers running for the doors, said Brendon DeSimone, a real-estate agent licensed in New York and California. In his book, Next Generation Real
Estate, he lists some of the most common buyer turnoffs—and how to handle them, which often takes daily discipline.
“Bidding wars happen for perfectly-located homes that show like museums,” he said. “When your house is on the market, you have to be living on egg shells—you have a month or two of being tidy.”
The payoff of an always-neat home: You’re more likely to get a higher price, he said.
Decluttering, depersonalizing and painting rooms in neutral colors are always smart moves when prepping a house for sale. But if you do nothing else, steer clear of the following buyer turnoffs before allowing a prospective buyer to walk through your home.
Pets and their things
Nobody wants to see a dirty kitty litter box or a dog bone on the sofa, DeSimone said. And as best you can, get rid of lingering pet smells. (Cat urine on the carpet, DeSimone said, is one of the hardest smells to remove. Even worse, sometimes it can seep into the hardwood floors below.)
“The most offensive odor is animals, and you can plug in, light up and spray all you want,” but it won’t completely cover up the smell, said real-estate agent Heather Lamp, based in Fort Mill, S.C. She recently wrote a blog post about issues that most annoy buyers when walking through homes.
Pets should be out of the house during showings. If possible, it’s easier to have a friend or relative watch your dog or cat during the entire time your home is on the market, Lamp said.
Bright walls
You don’t have to paint the whole house, but rooms with bright or unique colors or wallpaper should be covered with something more neutral.
In searching for a home recently, Catherine Gacad couldn’t see beyond the bright colors and outdated wallpaper in a home she saw in San Francisco’s Miraloma Park neighborhood. “If the sellers had just unpeeled the wallpaper and repainted everything white, it would have been fine,” she said. She lost patience and walked out.
Toys and baby supplies
Other parents will understand how difficult it is to keep a home tidy with kids in the house. But not all potential buyers will be parents. Make sure all toys have a home in a toy chest or closet.
If you have a newborn, dirty diapers need to be taken out and breast pumps should
be out of sight. Dirty bottles and breast milk shouldn’t be left out; buyers may get the impression that the home isn’t sanitary, DeSimone said. In fact, store the clean bottles, too, and don’t leave them on a drying rack near the sink. Give yourself a good 20 minutes to pack up baby items before a showing, he said.
Cooking smells
The second most offensive smell, in Lamp’s book: Cooking smells.
Strong spices, bacon, onions—they all tend to linger long after the meal is over, she said. To diffuse them, leave a window slightly cracked while cooking. After you’re done with the meal, boil some cinnamon in water to freshen up the house. Plug-ins and sprays can make the problem even worse for people who are sensitive to smells—or allergic to the fresheners, she said.
One buyer Lamp was working with didn’t get two feet in the door before she turned around, due to the smell of strong spices. Another time, the buyer left after smelling incense burning.
Cigarette smoke
For many, the smell of cigarette smoke throughout a home is a deal breaker, and a reason to hasten a walk through, DeSimone said. “If you’re a smoker, seriously, get the whole house painted,” he said.
Dirty dishes, cluttered counters
No buyer will want to see last night’s spaghetti stuck to plates in the sink. That’s a given. But clutter on the counters, from the coffee maker to the toaster oven, also will be a distraction, making counter space look smaller and your kitchen, in general, looking messy.
DeSimone’s advice: Create a special drawer or cabinet for things that you use on a regular basis, but need to be stashed away. That will help you quickly find a place for them each day.
Messy bathrooms
Women, in particular, clutter bathrooms with makeup, perfumes and other grooming items, Lamp said. Store everything under the counter. And make sure the hair is out of the tub and the toothpaste smears are wiped out of the sink, Lamp said.
“I don’t know how people live like this,” or “I thought I was a mess, and now I feel like I have obsessive compulsive disorder,” are a couple of comments Lamp has heard clients utter when walking through messy bathrooms. Sometimes, through body language with their significant others, such as a nod or a raise of the eyebrows, she can sense their disapproval.
Dirty toilets
Keep a clean (and flushed!) toilet and always keep the lid down. Enough said.
The flip side of all of the above: If you’re a buyer and can overlook some of these seller faux pas in a home, you might get a better deal, DeSimone said. So while some buyers will be disgusted enough to cross a problematic home off their list, others will see the opportunity of a diamond in the rough.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Exceptional renovated medieval fortress for sale
fun property to look at for almost $24,000,000 us dollars....
from en.forteresse.biz/
Exceptional renovated medieval fortress
- exterior classed as, interior listed as «historic monument» -,
surrounded by moat, 3000 m² habitable surface area with 40 rooms.
The castle enjoys all comforts: lift, Jacuzzi, computer infrastructure etc.
500 acres of land with woods, pasture and lake.
The castle was built along the lines of the great feudal castles that dotted the border between Aquitaine and the Kingdom of France: an impregnable medieval fortress, which has remained intact across the centuries. It is a prototype of military architecture from the 10th to the 14th & 15th centuries and appears in reference books on architecture of the period.
In the middle of its 500 acres of woods and pastureland, this majestic monument has survived the many conflicts that took place in the much fought-over region. It even witnessed the death of one of history’s greatest figures, Richard the Lionheart!
The interior has been entirely renovated with rare care and splendor. It is a labyrinth of some 3000 m² / 40 rooms, some vast, some more intimate. The layout is perfectly functional for every day living with some more modern elements such as Jacuzzi, computer room, giant TV screen, lift etc. Most importantly, the original character of this spellbinding place has been preserved with spiral staircases, gothic windows, and monumental fireplaces. Other elements have been added throughout the castles colorful history with beams, solid oak paneling and doors from all periods. The castle is sold furnished.
The castle is situated on the border of the Dordogne region. 5 minutes from a small town with all shops.
30 minutes from seat of Prefecture with 100,000 inhabitants, 2 h 30 from Toulouse, Bordeaux, Orleans (int. airports).
At 10 minutes from several airports and airfields, this unique castle and its immense land offer various possibilities of worthwhile investments: Middle Ages golf place, riding club, medieval restaurant, private village, luxury hotel with private runway etc.
With an helicopter 20 minutes from the aviators' village Green Airpark - we will advise you to move in there !
Price: 21,200,000 €
from en.forteresse.biz/
Exceptional renovated medieval fortress
- exterior classed as, interior listed as «historic monument» -,
surrounded by moat, 3000 m² habitable surface area with 40 rooms.
The castle enjoys all comforts: lift, Jacuzzi, computer infrastructure etc.
500 acres of land with woods, pasture and lake.
The castle was built along the lines of the great feudal castles that dotted the border between Aquitaine and the Kingdom of France: an impregnable medieval fortress, which has remained intact across the centuries. It is a prototype of military architecture from the 10th to the 14th & 15th centuries and appears in reference books on architecture of the period.
In the middle of its 500 acres of woods and pastureland, this majestic monument has survived the many conflicts that took place in the much fought-over region. It even witnessed the death of one of history’s greatest figures, Richard the Lionheart!
The interior has been entirely renovated with rare care and splendor. It is a labyrinth of some 3000 m² / 40 rooms, some vast, some more intimate. The layout is perfectly functional for every day living with some more modern elements such as Jacuzzi, computer room, giant TV screen, lift etc. Most importantly, the original character of this spellbinding place has been preserved with spiral staircases, gothic windows, and monumental fireplaces. Other elements have been added throughout the castles colorful history with beams, solid oak paneling and doors from all periods. The castle is sold furnished.
The castle is situated on the border of the Dordogne region. 5 minutes from a small town with all shops.
30 minutes from seat of Prefecture with 100,000 inhabitants, 2 h 30 from Toulouse, Bordeaux, Orleans (int. airports).
At 10 minutes from several airports and airfields, this unique castle and its immense land offer various possibilities of worthwhile investments: Middle Ages golf place, riding club, medieval restaurant, private village, luxury hotel with private runway etc.
With an helicopter 20 minutes from the aviators' village Green Airpark - we will advise you to move in there !
Price: 21,200,000 €
Wheel Estate: Bike Paths Lift Home Values
interesting article from RISMedia.com
Bicycle-friendly amenities are contributing to a surge in property values in communities across the globe, marshaled by developments in urban centers and suburban outposts that accommodate “active” transportation.
“Today, bike trails, bike lanes, bike-share systems, and other forms of active transportation infrastructure are
helping spur a new generation of ‘trail-oriented development,’” states a recently released report by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) that profiles 10 such developments.
The report, “Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier,” cites a considerable statistic: on a national scale, the values of homes in areas with “above-average” access to active transportation are higher than those of comparable properties by as much as $34,000.
Homes in proximity to the bike-able Indianapolis Cultural Trail, for instance, have seen an astronomical rise in value since the trail’s opening six years ago—148 percent, the report states. In Radnor Township, Pa., the Radnor Trail has raised the values of properties within a quarter-mile by an average approaching $70,000. Similar trends have also emerged in Atlanta and Dallas.
The draw to these trails, or networks, is primarily enhanced well-being, with the increased sense of safety—made possible by features like graded paths, protective posts and “bicycle boulevards” —especially appealing to bicycle commuters, who contend with motorists daily. The opportunity for outdoor physical activity has also markedly peaked interest.
Learn More: Millennials Favor Walkable Communities, Study Shows
Beyond those benefits, bicycle networks can lead to a reduction in air pollution and vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Transportation claims half of all trips taken in the U.S. are less than three miles long—a 20-minute ride by bicycle, according to the report.
Big-picture implications arise, as well. The report points to significant increases in rents and retail sales, and a decrease (by the millions) in medical costs, all as a result of trail-oriented development.
Many communities, however, lack access to facilities that fit the bicycle-friendly criteria. Nearly half of participants (48 percent) in a previous ULI study reported inadequate infrastructure to support cycling, though over half (52 percent) would prefer to live in an area without the need for a car.
The cause of this imbalance is unclear. The funds needed to install a bicycle network are relatively modest: the report references Portland, Ore., which constructed a 300-mile bike trail for approximately the same cost as one mile of a four-lane freeway. Builders have begun to cater to the mounting demand for accessible development, but key members of the industry have yet to take action.
“At its core, the bicycle boom is about people choosing a lifestyle that gives them more options and requires less dependence on motor vehicles,” the report states. “Through supporting bike infrastructure, real estate professionals who influence the built environment [buildings, neighborhoods and streets] can play a significant role in creating healthier, more sustainable communities.”
Bicycle-friendly amenities are contributing to a surge in property values in communities across the globe, marshaled by developments in urban centers and suburban outposts that accommodate “active” transportation.
“Today, bike trails, bike lanes, bike-share systems, and other forms of active transportation infrastructure are
helping spur a new generation of ‘trail-oriented development,’” states a recently released report by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) that profiles 10 such developments.
The report, “Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier,” cites a considerable statistic: on a national scale, the values of homes in areas with “above-average” access to active transportation are higher than those of comparable properties by as much as $34,000.
Homes in proximity to the bike-able Indianapolis Cultural Trail, for instance, have seen an astronomical rise in value since the trail’s opening six years ago—148 percent, the report states. In Radnor Township, Pa., the Radnor Trail has raised the values of properties within a quarter-mile by an average approaching $70,000. Similar trends have also emerged in Atlanta and Dallas.
The draw to these trails, or networks, is primarily enhanced well-being, with the increased sense of safety—made possible by features like graded paths, protective posts and “bicycle boulevards” —especially appealing to bicycle commuters, who contend with motorists daily. The opportunity for outdoor physical activity has also markedly peaked interest.
Learn More: Millennials Favor Walkable Communities, Study Shows
Beyond those benefits, bicycle networks can lead to a reduction in air pollution and vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Transportation claims half of all trips taken in the U.S. are less than three miles long—a 20-minute ride by bicycle, according to the report.
Big-picture implications arise, as well. The report points to significant increases in rents and retail sales, and a decrease (by the millions) in medical costs, all as a result of trail-oriented development.
Many communities, however, lack access to facilities that fit the bicycle-friendly criteria. Nearly half of participants (48 percent) in a previous ULI study reported inadequate infrastructure to support cycling, though over half (52 percent) would prefer to live in an area without the need for a car.
The cause of this imbalance is unclear. The funds needed to install a bicycle network are relatively modest: the report references Portland, Ore., which constructed a 300-mile bike trail for approximately the same cost as one mile of a four-lane freeway. Builders have begun to cater to the mounting demand for accessible development, but key members of the industry have yet to take action.
“At its core, the bicycle boom is about people choosing a lifestyle that gives them more options and requires less dependence on motor vehicles,” the report states. “Through supporting bike infrastructure, real estate professionals who influence the built environment [buildings, neighborhoods and streets] can play a significant role in creating healthier, more sustainable communities.”
Mortgage rates hit lows not seen in nearly three years
good news from WashingtonPost.com
Mortgage rates continued to fall this week, pushed down by jitters over the global economy and oil prices.
Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund became the latest organization to express concern about the global economy, joining the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. These worries have led many observers to predict that home loan rates will remain low for the near term.
Although low mortgage rates would help affordability in the housing market, reservations about where the economy is headed seem to be having an effect on home buyers. Last week, Fannie Mae released its latest home purchase sentiment index, which fell to its lowest level in the past year and a half.
“Growing pessimism over the last three months about the direction of the economy seems to be spilling over into home purchase sentiment,” Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae, said in a statement.
According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average slipped to 3.58 percent with an average 0.5 point, its lowest level since May 2013. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) It was 3.59 percent a week ago and 3.67 percent a year ago. The 30-year fixed-rate has dropped 43 basis points since the start of the year.
The 15-year fixed-rate average slid to 2.86 percent with an average 0.5 point. It was 2.88 percent a week ago and 2.94 percent a year ago. The last time the 15-year fixed rate fell this far down was also in May 2013.
The five-year adjustable rate average dropped to 2.84 percent with an average 0.4 point. It was 2.82 percent a week ago and 2.88 percent a year ago.
“Demand for Treasuries remained high this week, driving yields to their lowest point since February,” Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac chief economist, said in a statement. “In response, the 30-year mortgage rate fell 1 basis point to 3.58 percent. This rate represents yet another low for 2016 and the lowest mark since May 2013.”
Fueled by low rates, mortgage applications soared, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The market composite index — a measure of total loan application volume – jumped 10 percent from the previous week. The refinance index climbed 11 percent, while the purchase index grew 8 percent, its highest level since October.
The refinance share of mortgage activity accounted for 54.9 percent of all applications.
“Helped by a persistently strong job market and low rates, applications for both conventional and government home purchase loans increased last week,” Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, said in a statement. “The purchase index was at its second-highest level since May 2010.”
Mortgage rates continued to fall this week, pushed down by jitters over the global economy and oil prices.
Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund became the latest organization to express concern about the global economy, joining the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank. These worries have led many observers to predict that home loan rates will remain low for the near term.
Although low mortgage rates would help affordability in the housing market, reservations about where the economy is headed seem to be having an effect on home buyers. Last week, Fannie Mae released its latest home purchase sentiment index, which fell to its lowest level in the past year and a half.
“Growing pessimism over the last three months about the direction of the economy seems to be spilling over into home purchase sentiment,” Doug Duncan, chief economist at Fannie Mae, said in a statement.
According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average slipped to 3.58 percent with an average 0.5 point, its lowest level since May 2013. (Points are fees paid to a lender equal to 1 percent of the loan amount.) It was 3.59 percent a week ago and 3.67 percent a year ago. The 30-year fixed-rate has dropped 43 basis points since the start of the year.
The 15-year fixed-rate average slid to 2.86 percent with an average 0.5 point. It was 2.88 percent a week ago and 2.94 percent a year ago. The last time the 15-year fixed rate fell this far down was also in May 2013.
The five-year adjustable rate average dropped to 2.84 percent with an average 0.4 point. It was 2.82 percent a week ago and 2.88 percent a year ago.
“Demand for Treasuries remained high this week, driving yields to their lowest point since February,” Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac chief economist, said in a statement. “In response, the 30-year mortgage rate fell 1 basis point to 3.58 percent. This rate represents yet another low for 2016 and the lowest mark since May 2013.”
Fueled by low rates, mortgage applications soared, according to the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
The market composite index — a measure of total loan application volume – jumped 10 percent from the previous week. The refinance index climbed 11 percent, while the purchase index grew 8 percent, its highest level since October.
The refinance share of mortgage activity accounted for 54.9 percent of all applications.
“Helped by a persistently strong job market and low rates, applications for both conventional and government home purchase loans increased last week,” Mike Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, said in a statement. “The purchase index was at its second-highest level since May 2010.”
Colorado has more people on the move than any other state
Moving vans and cars with license plates from other states are everywhere, and that isn't a fluke. Colorado is full of people on the move.
More than one in 10 Colorado households that filed a tax return in 2014 lived in another county or state the year before. That's more than in any other state.
Nationally, 6.4 percent of 2014 tax returns listed an address in a different county or state the year before, according to tax return data from the Internal Revenue Service.
If Colorado is a migration destination, then Denver serves as its Ellis Island, claiming nearly one in five of the households making a major move within or to the state.
"Denver is a gateway. People know the name Denver. They don't know the name Aurora," state demographer Elizabeth Garner said.
Among other highlights gleaned from the returns:
• The entire metro area, including Boulder, claimed nearly two-thirds of households moving to or relocating across county lines within Colorado.
• About 54 percent of people on the move were Colorado residents who crossed county lines, while 46 percent were out-of-staters.
• Former Californians filed the most Colorado tax returns, followed by people from Texas, Florida, Illinois and Arizona.
• Migration is an ebb and flow. Texas was the top destination for those leaving Colorado, followed by California, Florida, Arizona and Washington.
• After netting things out, Illinois lost the most households to Colorado, followed by California and New York, according to the tax returns.
Meeting in the middle
Jeff and Lauren Griffith had lived the California dream, first in Los Angeles, where they went to college, and then in a San Diego condo, where they moved after their first child, Luke, arrived. A second child, Emma, set them on the hunt for more room.
"We wanted a house with a swing set in the backyard and a garden, and we weren't going to be able to afford that in San Diego," said Lauren, 37, who grew up north of Chicago.
Around Christmas in 2014, they moved to Erie, where they rented a house with a yard for less than what their San Diego condo cost.
"If we could have made it work, we would have," Lauren said. "It was hard, really hard."
Their migration story goes beyond a search for more affordable real estate. Lauren's brother Graham Haas moved to Colorado from Illinois in 1999, drawn by his love of skiing. He fell in love and settled down in Erie with his wife, Mandy, and their kids.
Lauren and Graham's parents, Sandy and Michael Haas, lived their whole lives near Chicago, as had three generations of the family before them. But the chance to watch their grandchildren grow up persuaded Sandy and Michael to make the move to Erie in summer 2012.
"We really never thought we would leave after generations and generations in Illinois," said Sandy, who lived in Antioch, Ill., a village surrounded by lakes 50 miles north of Chicago.
"We didn't hesitate," she said.
After a century in the same area, Erie was where one branch of the Haas family of Antioch, Ill., chose to reassemble itself.
Millennial magnet
As a group, households that moved to Colorado were smaller and had lower average adjusted gross income per return — $52,340 — than those who stay put — $76,481 per return.
The reason: Young adults are more migratory than other age groups, and because they are just starting their careers, they earn less.
"This age group moves a lot, especially 18- to 29-year-olds, and they move for all sorts of reasons," said Jeffrey Arnett, a research professor in the psychology department at Clark University in Massachusetts.
Millennials are waiting longer than previous generations to start careers, get married and settle down, said Arnett, who studies "emerging" adults. With fewer ties, they are freer to move.
Arnett was a consultant on the Mayflower Mover Insights study, which tried to peel back what is important to young adults when it comes to relocating.
Denver ranked third among the cities that Mayflower's millennial customers moved to last year after Dallas and Chicago. Other popular destinations for young adults were Seattle; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Washington, D.C.
Nearly half of the 18- to 35-year-olds that Mayflower surveyed said they would move either to be near a romantic partner or to find one. Love was second only to work as a draw. And nearly 60 percent cited a preference for living in a city center or inner suburb. More than half said good restaurants are a must.
Millennials like to live in areas where other millennials are flocking, and they use social media to share their experiences, which has helped create migration magnets, Arnett said.
"It takes on a certain momentum of its own," he said. "Once a lot of them are going to a city like Denver, it does gain a self-perpetua ting quality."
Arnett admits he doesn't fully understand the appeal of Denver compared with places like Boston and San Francisco. Ten or 20 years ago, young adults didn't list Denver as an exciting place to live — and now they do.
Migration patterns
Answer: Colorado
interesting article from Denverpost.com
Migrants to Colorado show wide variations in their income depending on where they come from. Transplants from New Hampshire and the District of Columbia, while fewer in number, earn $116,571 and $112,427, which is the highest adjusted gross incomes of any group migrating to Colorado.
At the other end of the scale are transplants from Nevada, who make $25,042 in adjusted gross income, less than half the average for all migrants moving into Colorado. The predominance of lower-paying jobs in hospitality and food service in Nevada might explain some of the gap, said Garner, the state demographer. Other states whose migrants have the lowest income included Maine, Mississippi, Vermont and South Dakota.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the National Association of Realtors, said that high living costs in California's Bay Area and Silicon Valley are pushing workers to other metros like Denver, and they are bringing a higher earning potential with them.
Although 2015 tax returns aren't available, estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the migration wave into Colorado has only accelerated. One question about all the newcomers is: How long will they stay put?
Sandy Haas said although she and her husband miss family and longtime friends, they have no regrets about moving to Erie and won't be returning to Illinois.
Calls on Skype and holiday visits can't compare to ferrying their grandchildren to practices and watching them grow up, she said. And views of the snowy mountains help when she feels nostalgic about the lakes she left behind.
Longish winters aside, Lauren Griffith said she and her family also don't regret the move to family-friend Erie. They plan to buy a house with a driveway facing south, not north.
Then there are the rainbows. Until he moved to Colorado, 7-year-old Luke had seen only one rainbow, Griffith said. Last summer, he counted 40.
More than one in 10 Colorado households that filed a tax return in 2014 lived in another county or state the year before. That's more than in any other state.
Nationally, 6.4 percent of 2014 tax returns listed an address in a different county or state the year before, according to tax return data from the Internal Revenue Service.
If Colorado is a migration destination, then Denver serves as its Ellis Island, claiming nearly one in five of the households making a major move within or to the state.
"Denver is a gateway. People know the name Denver. They don't know the name Aurora," state demographer Elizabeth Garner said.
Among other highlights gleaned from the returns:
• The entire metro area, including Boulder, claimed nearly two-thirds of households moving to or relocating across county lines within Colorado.
• About 54 percent of people on the move were Colorado residents who crossed county lines, while 46 percent were out-of-staters.
• Former Californians filed the most Colorado tax returns, followed by people from Texas, Florida, Illinois and Arizona.
• Migration is an ebb and flow. Texas was the top destination for those leaving Colorado, followed by California, Florida, Arizona and Washington.
• After netting things out, Illinois lost the most households to Colorado, followed by California and New York, according to the tax returns.
Meeting in the middle
Jeff and Lauren Griffith had lived the California dream, first in Los Angeles, where they went to college, and then in a San Diego condo, where they moved after their first child, Luke, arrived. A second child, Emma, set them on the hunt for more room.
"We wanted a house with a swing set in the backyard and a garden, and we weren't going to be able to afford that in San Diego," said Lauren, 37, who grew up north of Chicago.
Around Christmas in 2014, they moved to Erie, where they rented a house with a yard for less than what their San Diego condo cost.
"If we could have made it work, we would have," Lauren said. "It was hard, really hard."
Their migration story goes beyond a search for more affordable real estate. Lauren's brother Graham Haas moved to Colorado from Illinois in 1999, drawn by his love of skiing. He fell in love and settled down in Erie with his wife, Mandy, and their kids.
Lauren and Graham's parents, Sandy and Michael Haas, lived their whole lives near Chicago, as had three generations of the family before them. But the chance to watch their grandchildren grow up persuaded Sandy and Michael to make the move to Erie in summer 2012.
"We really never thought we would leave after generations and generations in Illinois," said Sandy, who lived in Antioch, Ill., a village surrounded by lakes 50 miles north of Chicago.
"We didn't hesitate," she said.
After a century in the same area, Erie was where one branch of the Haas family of Antioch, Ill., chose to reassemble itself.
Millennial magnet
As a group, households that moved to Colorado were smaller and had lower average adjusted gross income per return — $52,340 — than those who stay put — $76,481 per return.
The reason: Young adults are more migratory than other age groups, and because they are just starting their careers, they earn less.
"This age group moves a lot, especially 18- to 29-year-olds, and they move for all sorts of reasons," said Jeffrey Arnett, a research professor in the psychology department at Clark University in Massachusetts.
Millennials are waiting longer than previous generations to start careers, get married and settle down, said Arnett, who studies "emerging" adults. With fewer ties, they are freer to move.
Arnett was a consultant on the Mayflower Mover Insights study, which tried to peel back what is important to young adults when it comes to relocating.
Denver ranked third among the cities that Mayflower's millennial customers moved to last year after Dallas and Chicago. Other popular destinations for young adults were Seattle; Atlanta; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Washington, D.C.
Nearly half of the 18- to 35-year-olds that Mayflower surveyed said they would move either to be near a romantic partner or to find one. Love was second only to work as a draw. And nearly 60 percent cited a preference for living in a city center or inner suburb. More than half said good restaurants are a must.
Millennials like to live in areas where other millennials are flocking, and they use social media to share their experiences, which has helped create migration magnets, Arnett said.
"It takes on a certain momentum of its own," he said. "Once a lot of them are going to a city like Denver, it does gain a self-perpetua ting quality."
Arnett admits he doesn't fully understand the appeal of Denver compared with places like Boston and San Francisco. Ten or 20 years ago, young adults didn't list Denver as an exciting place to live — and now they do.
Migration patterns
Answer: Colorado
interesting article from Denverpost.com
Migrants to Colorado show wide variations in their income depending on where they come from. Transplants from New Hampshire and the District of Columbia, while fewer in number, earn $116,571 and $112,427, which is the highest adjusted gross incomes of any group migrating to Colorado.
At the other end of the scale are transplants from Nevada, who make $25,042 in adjusted gross income, less than half the average for all migrants moving into Colorado. The predominance of lower-paying jobs in hospitality and food service in Nevada might explain some of the gap, said Garner, the state demographer. Other states whose migrants have the lowest income included Maine, Mississippi, Vermont and South Dakota.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the National Association of Realtors, said that high living costs in California's Bay Area and Silicon Valley are pushing workers to other metros like Denver, and they are bringing a higher earning potential with them.
Although 2015 tax returns aren't available, estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the migration wave into Colorado has only accelerated. One question about all the newcomers is: How long will they stay put?
Sandy Haas said although she and her husband miss family and longtime friends, they have no regrets about moving to Erie and won't be returning to Illinois.
Calls on Skype and holiday visits can't compare to ferrying their grandchildren to practices and watching them grow up, she said. And views of the snowy mountains help when she feels nostalgic about the lakes she left behind.
Longish winters aside, Lauren Griffith said she and her family also don't regret the move to family-friend Erie. They plan to buy a house with a driveway facing south, not north.
Then there are the rainbows. Until he moved to Colorado, 7-year-old Luke had seen only one rainbow, Griffith said. Last summer, he counted 40.
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