Marcus Valdez's Blog
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Beautiful Golf Course Living!
- Uranium Mining Battle Escalates
- Mining Rules Get Overhaul
- Uranium Mining Firms Fail to Meet Many Standards of Restoring Groundwater
- Action Alert: 1872 Mining Act May Finally See Reform
- Foreign Ownership Issues Could Be Toxic to Uranium Companies' Mining Plans
- We need your financial support to hire these expert witnesses.
- Please donate what you can. Donations can now be tax-deductible.
- You can donate through our website: www.nunnglow.com
- Or mail a check to our fiscal agent Information Network for Responsible Mining (INFORM) PO Box 349, Lyons, CO 80540. Donations to INFORM are tax deductible.
- Everyone in the State of Colorado has a say on whether uranium mining is permitted here. Let your voice be heard! - Continue writing letters to the editor and to your elected officials telling them you are against in situ leach uranium mining.
- When the mining companies apply for a mining permit later this year you can appear and state your objections to uranium mining at the public hearings. Sign up for our electronic newsletter at www.nunnglow.com so we can notify you when and where to appear.
Marcus Valdez | Keller Williams | 970-231-0890
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Posted: Oct 7, 2009, 11:22am PDT |
Westchase home for sale. Fort Collins
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Credit Guidelines Changing Fort Collins Real Estate.
September 1, 2009-(MCT)-Even the most responsible borrowers slip up sometimes. Maybe a utility bill went unpaid after you moved and the missed payment went into collections. Or, perhaps there are unpaid library fines or parking tickets in collections that are hanging onto your credit history and affecting your FICO credit score, which is widely used by lenders to evaluate your ability to repay a debt. With the newest version of the FICO credit-scoring system, however, minor delinquencies are now overlooked in calculating creditworthiness. Under the updated scoring model, called FICO 08, small, missed payments lingering in collections with original amounts of $100 or less will no longer do damage to your credit score. Consumers also are less likely to be penalized for any single delinquency if it occurred two or more years ago-and if their credit history is otherwise unblemished, says FICO, formerly Fair Isaac Corp., which developed the FICO scoring system.
"There's more flexibility with missing a payment," said Careen Foster, director of global scoring product management for FICO. "If you have a more habitual pattern of paying accounts late, you're more likely to get penalized for that." If a consumer's credit usage is high, that will be more likely to hurt his or her score with FICO 08. But getting close to your credit-card limits-even if you always pay on time-is penalized in some way in every FICO score, not only the recent edition, Foster said.
The new system has been available at all three credit bureaus-Experian, TransUnion and Equifax-since last month. The changes were made to provide lenders with a better risk assessment of borrowers, said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for Credit.com, a consumer education and advocacy site. FICO decided that one small library fine didn't really predict whether a consumer was likely to default, for example.
With the changes, individuals who pose a low credit risk will probably see their scores rise a bit, and those who are high risk could see their scores drop, he adds.
FICO 08 also addresses "piggybacking," a practice used by credit-repair companies to help people improve their scores, Ulzheimer said. In piggybacking, an individual pays to become an authorized user on a stranger's account. The account holder gets paid for allowing the person to be associated with the account, and the new authorized user is able to improve his or her credit score.
"It was a practice to misrepresent what your credit looks like to your bank," Foster said. FICO 08 aims to single out individuals who are named as authorized sources through deceptive means, Ulzheimer said. Those people won't see their credit scores rise as a result. But the scores of legitimate authorized users will be treated as they always have been.
Borrowers shouldn't expect their credit to be graded by this new scale on every loan they now apply for. Not all lenders have adopted the new model, though more than 400 lenders are using or testing FICO 08, the company said. In a statement, Equifax said, "Currently, many lenders and businesses are validating the new score within their systems, and adoption will vary by financial institution based on business requirements and market need."
Many credit-card companies, auto lenders, regional banks and credit unions may have already adopted FICO 08, Ulzheimer said. But for mortgages, lenders doing traditional conforming loans backed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae likely haven't made the move yet, he said. That's because they're waiting for Freddie and Fannie to approve its use. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae "are essentially the lender, they're the ones that set the underwriting criteria," he said. Ulzheimer said he expects Freddie and Fannie to adopt FICO 08 by the end of the year. Fannie declined to comment on FICO 08; Freddie wasn't able to provide a comment prior to publication.
While FICO 08 will help consumers' credit scores in some cases, people still should take steps to improve their credit. Granted, it's impossible for consumers to calculate their FICO scores themselves, said Rodney Anderson, of Rodney Anderson Lending Services in Plano, Texas. "It's almost like the Coca-Cola formula. No one has access to the Coca-Cola formula, no one has access to the FICO formula," he said. But by being proactive, you can start to work toward a higher score, something that will serve you well every time you apply for a loan.
Some suggestions for improving your credit score:
Call your local Lender. (www.realestatesuperheroes.com for info)
-Monitor your credit reports and correct errors. Look not only for negative events on your record, but also examine the credit limits to make sure they're accurate. If the credit limits appear lower on the report than they actually are, that has the potential to hurt your score.
-Pay bills on time and keep card balances low. Your payment history, and the amount you owe on your accounts as a ratio of the amount of credit you have access to, are important components of your score. FICO 08 is more sensitive to high credit usage, and consumers may see a lower score if their reported balance on one or more cards is near the account's limit.
-Take on new credit only when you need it. Some credit cards come with great offers, including a percentage off your bill if you sign up for one at the cash register. If you accept, make sure you're getting a big enough benefit to make it worthwhile-taking on additional credit could end up dinging your score
Stess Test in your market? (Fort Collins Colorado)
It has been an interesting real estate market as of late. Although i have been investing and working in Real Estate for 12 years. (my whole adult life if you call me an adult) I have never been through a period of time like this. Many times in the deals i have been working there have been reasons for the Buyers to feel stressed. Rates are going up. Prices are too high based on affordability. There have also been times for sellers to feel stress. The builders are over supplying the market. Rates are going up making homes less affordable. Whatever the reason was there was a lot of situations where one side had a pretty good reason to be stressed. However i think this might be the first time i can say both sides have good reasons in most deals. In our market of Fort Collins Colorado we have the tale of two markets. if you are a first time home buyer looking for the 8k tax credit and want to buy under 220k be ready for a wild ride. 42% of those homes are currently under contract. With the average amount of supply in the 3 month range and the days on market under 45 days. What does this gobbledygook mean to you? It means if you are this buyer expect to compete with a few offers and pay over full price. (what if it doesn't appraise?) However if your a buyer in the over 300 range be ready to feel the dream. You can write and offer on a huge supply of wonderful homes where the sellers might offer to give you a back rub just for stopping by! Real Estate is dynamic! It is fun and a great way to make a living. I feel very lucky to have great markets to work in and great issues to solve. After all they aren't going to pay much for you to solve easy issues! Don't forget your value!
Uranium Mining in Northern CO Nunn Glow
Petition Status96%
Newsflash
Latest NewsSubscribe to Newsfeed
Powertech's proposed Centennial Project would take place within the the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer. This aquifer covers most of the Denver Basin area, approximately 7,000 square miles along the Front Range from Wyoming to Colorado Springs and east to Limon. Commercial, municipal, agricultural and residential wells use the Laramie Fox Hills aquifer extensively. In February of 2001 there were 33,700 recorded wells. With the population and commercial growth in northern Colorado since 2001, it can be safe to assume the number of wells using this aquifer has increased significantly. There is concern the Dakota-Cheyenne aquifer may also be affected. The Dakota-Cheyenne aquifer is Colorado's largest water yielding aquifer east of the Rockies and spreads beneath the most populated areas of Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Morgan and Logan counties. The Dakota-Cheyenne aquifer is much older (deeper) than the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer and is in a geological layer known to have uranium deposits. Powertech?s proposed mining would take place above of the Dakota-Cheyenne aquifer.
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The Centennial Project in Northern Colorado |
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Powertech Uranium Corporation has obtained the mineral rights and mining leases to 6,880 acres in northern Colorado's Weld County where they intend to use both open-pit and in-situ leaching (ISL) to mine uranium. This Weld County site has been named the Centennial Project.
Map Showing the Location of Proposed Uranium Mining in Northern Colorado
New Listing Fort Collins CO
Wonderful 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home in Central Fort Collins! For 24 hour info call 1-800-873-9070 ex 3010.
For more info go to facebook and friend me www.facebook/marcus.valdez
Search property at www.realestatesuperheroes.com
Loveland Colorado Sales May 2009
Great news in Loveland Colorado Real Estate. Homes Under 300k are moving very fast and the inventory in those price ranges are getting lower. This trend if it continues will help values.
Below are the stats in the 200-250k price bands. This price brand represents the median price of homes in Loveland.
For more infomation about homes in Northern Coloardo Please conact me at 970-231-0890 or by email at valdez@kw.com
Search homes at www.realestatesuperheroes.com
Greeley Colorado bank Owned Property sales Dominate Market
The Greeley market is a tale of two cities, Greeley Real Estate vs UNC Real Estate. It is nice to see the market picking up in Greeley. The months of Supply and Day on market are both dropping in the lower end of the market. The story missing from this slide is that half the current sales in Greeley are Distressed Sales. With 51 % of the sales coming from Short Sales and REO property.
For more info about the market check www.realestatesuperheroes.com or find your homes values at www.oldtownhousevalues.com
Fort Collins Colorado Sale Stats.
Search Properties and Home Values at
or call me (970) 231-0890
Northern Colorado Bank Owned Sales
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REO/HUD Fort Collins |
Short-Sale | Non-Distressed | Total | |
| 144 | 58 | 798 | 1000 | |
| 20.2% | ||||
| REO/HUD Loveland | Short-Sale | Non-Distressed | Total | |
| 123 | 58 | 338 | 519 | |
| 34.9% | ||||
| REO/HUD Greeley | Short-Sale | Non-Distressed | Total | |
| 561 | 109 | 650 | 1320 | |
| 50.8% |
Interesting stats for buyers in Northern Colorado. This Chart shows the percentage of Sales in the local markets that was Dispressed vs. Non Distress sales. Amazing!
Search Properties and Home Values at
or call me (970) 231-0890
Fort Collins Bank Owned Property
Great new listing today.
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2437 Cheviot Drive Fort Collins Colorado. This home is bank owned and a super deal. Located in Browns Farm i would call this the deal of the week. 1712 SQ with a price of 159,900.00 (list price) may need to pay more to get this one. Under $95.00 a foot in Fort Collins is a great deal. Don't buy that check your homes Value. Great 3 bedroom 2 bath home.
Search Properties and Home Values at
or call me (970) 231-0890
Greeley 17th Fastest Growing.
Study: Weld to lead state in growth pace, an article from TheTribune.com, reports that Weld County's projected population growth for the next 15 years ranks as the 17th fastest in the nation. The Greeley metro area, which encompasses all of Weld County, is expected to grow more than 60% by 2025. Greeley is the fastest growing metro area in Colorado, followed by: Denver - 78th nationally, Fort Collins - 106th, Colorado Springs - 122nd and Boulder - 172nd.
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090604/NEWS/906049994/1001
As i have been working hard for a few years on a city block in Greeley for redevelopment i am really glad to have Cheeba Hut and UNC right across the street from my assemblage. We have been working to fill our last available space. If your in Greeley stop by 17th st and 8th ave.
Search Properties and Home Values at
or call me (970) 231-0890
Debt Elimination
I was answering Q and A the other day and found a question i felt was worth sharing in my blog. The question was Should i pay off all debt to acquire better finanacing?
I personally feel that this question is a lot bigger then it sounds with issues ranging from debt to income ratios new lending guidelines and how would this payoff possibly affect the persons ability to bring a downpayment to the purchase of the new home? Then i decided to just make the answer simple.
If you can make more money with your cash then your debt interest rate keep your cash in not then pay off the debt. For example. if you have a credit card and you owe $5000.00 Your minum payment is $130 a month and it would take you 15 or more years to pay it off. Lets assume the interest rate on this card is 15%. Unless you are making more then 15% on your cash you would be better to pay this debt off. If you have a few debts i would recommend putting your debt into an database like xcel so you can rank your debt. You should pay off the smallest debt first. Lets go back to the original $5000.00 credit card example and add a car payment on $7500.00 to the mix. And a payment of the Car loan of $350 a month. By paying off the credit card first you can then add that savings of not having credit card debt to your car payment. (almost paying half that bill monthly with your saved cost)
Amount Min
Visa $5000.00 $130
Car $7500.00 $350
Total $13500.00 $480
Visa 0 0 Paid off
Car $7500 $480 (paying an extra $130 to principle monthly)
As you can see this can quickly become a snowball gaining speed in paying your debts off. I have been working this plan for a while now and it has helped me out in so many ways. I hope this is helpful to those who might have this same question. 
Search your homes value at www.oldtownhomevalues.com
Search for homes at www.realestatesuperheroes.com
Invest in Real Estate
Rates are low and Rents are high! Now is a great time to invest in Real Estate. I have not seen as many great deals in my whole career as i am seeing now. Why is it a great time to Invest in Real Estate?
1) Rates are extremely low. It might be harder to borrow money not but for the well qualified buyer rates have never been lower.
2) Foreclosures are up. There is a lot of inventory for a cash investor to choose from and because not many can pay cash for a house those who can are more valuable then ever.
3) $8000.00 Tax Credit. In the Northern Colorado Market homes under $220,000.00 are selling extremely fast and for top dollar as buyers take advantage of the tax credit. if you are flipping a home in this price range the market is absorbing these homes very fast.
4) Real Estate is a very stable investment in out market. While i would be scared to invest in a bubble market in Fort Collins we have typically seen a stable 2-3% appreciation every year. Investing by definition is not risky. Speculation is Risky. While no one can predict the future, if you're buying a home for a 20% discount and the corrects 2% over a year your are still ahead.
5) Real Estate offers you other investment incentives. TAX BREAKS.
For more infomation about the great deals i am finding contact me anytime. I love to talk Real Estate!
Search homes at www.realestatesuperheroes.com
Find your homes value at www.oldtownhousevalues.com
Nunn Glow Newsletter (uranium mining northern CO)
C.A.R.D. NEWSLETTER - May 21st, 2009
CARD, PO Box 143, Wellington, CO 80549
970-372-0029 (leave message) www.nunnglow.com
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction - CARD - just passed the Two-year mark opposing uranium mining in Colorado.
Thank you to all who have supported our efforts to stop uranium mining in Colorado by donating money, volunteering, signing petitions and business resolutions and getting the word out to everyone you know.
We need your help now more than ever.
If you don't want uranium mining by Canadian company, Powertech Uranium Corp.10 miles from Fort Collins, please stay involved and help us stop the mining.
On May 20, 2008, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed House Bill 08-1161, the most comprehensive state legislation in the U.S. on in situ leach uranium mining and ground water protection. State legislators Steve Johnson, John Kefalas, and Randy Fischer -- all from Fort Collins -- sponsored the bill.
Some people thought that we had "won" the battle against uranium mining when the law passed. - NOT TRUE.
Laws by themselves cannot stop anything. Laws must be enforced, and that starts with writing rules that say exactly what a law means.
The rulemaking process has already started. The uranium mining companies, the Colorado Mining Association, and their allies will attempt to weaken the rules.
Rulemaking includes public hearings, and we all need to be ready. Letting state rule-makers know that thousands of Colorado residents want strong protection (and over 11,000 have already signed petitions) is one way we can insure that the will of the people is incorporated into these rules.
As you might expect, the mining companies are pressuring to weaken the regulation language to their favor. They have deep pockets and will likely hire a number of pro-uranium mining consultants to testify at the upcoming rulemaking hearings. They will argue how "benign" ISL mining is.
The truth is - in situ leach mining has never restored the water back to previous condition. The mining industry argues this is possible, but when ISL mines have been declared "restored" it is only by lowering the restoration standards. Those are the facts. We can find no records of any ISL mine in the US that has "restored" groundwater without relaxed standards. This means the water wasn't actually restored, it remained contaminated because total restoration is virtually impossible.
Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction (CARD) does not have a financial sponsor. We must rely on donations and grants to raise money to fight uranium mining.
We need approximately $10,000 to hire expert witnesses to testify how important it is to keep the regulations strong and hold the mining companies accountable for restoring the water back to previous conditions. We need your financial support to make this happen!
If the mining companies are successful in getting the rules of HB 08-1161 relaxed to their favor, and our water is contaminated, it could have serious economic and negative health effects to humans, livestock and agriculture - forever - or after 4.5 billion years (the half-life of uranium), whichever comes first.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Powertech Mining Update
Powertech Uranium Corp. is currently "prospecting" for uranium by drilling test holes at the mine site. This is also not as "benign" as it sounds when you realize that the water within the ore zone contains uranium and other heavy metals and is pumped to the surface.
Powertech was originally going to store the contaminated water it uses for drilling test wells in unlined ponds on the surface of the ground. Because of pressure from Coloradoans Against Resource Destruction, they have since decided to re-inject it back into the aquifer and filed a Request for Modification to Notice of Intent (NOI) File No. P-2008-043 with the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, DRMS.
Attorneys from Western Mining Action Project have petitioned to the DRMS that Powertech is proposing to conduct a trial run of the groundwater pumping process which is not "prospecting", but "development" and is in violation of HB 08-1161. It remains to be seen if this action will stop Powertech from doing pump tests in the aquifer prior to getting a permit to mine.
In Goliad, Texas, residents living near ISL test wells have found their wells contaminated and undrinkable. The local county is currently suing the uranium mining company. We do not want this to happen here.
Our next hurdle will be later this year when we anticipate Powertech Uranium Corp. will file its first permit application(s) to mine uranium just northeast of Fort Collins. Watch our website, our newsletter, and your local media for information. We will need to take action.
Texas Hydrology Report confirms ISL mining contaminates groundwater
A hydrology report from Texas has now been completed and is available for review. It confirms that the ISL method of uranium mining routinely contaminates the ground water during the mining operation, making it impossible to be restored to pre-mining quality. You can find a link to it on www.powertechexposed.com
http://www.powertechexposed.com/BK_Darling%20Report_Complete_Sept_30.pdf
Hydrologist B.K. Darling, PhD, is the author of this comprehensive report of twenty seven ISL uranium mines in the state of Texas. He was commissioned by the Houston law firm of Blackburn and Carter to compile a report on the condition of these mines and their impact on ground water quality. Five of the mines in this report are mines that Powertech Uranium Company identifies on their web site as having successfully restored ground water.
Regional coalition of organizations fighting uranium mining
As you may know, northern Colorado isn't the only area of the US being threatened with a resurgence of uranium mining. CARD has been in contact with many groups in the region to discuss mining activities and strategy to protect communities and our water.
Powertech Uranium Corp is also proposing to mine uranium in South Dakota and are finding it an easier go there because the mine site is not as close to a populated area and state regulators have historically been more friendly to mining.
Other states opposing mining are Nebraska and Wyoming. Other areas in Colorado are Montrose, Grand Junction, Fremont, Park and Summit counties and eastern Colorado near Grover.
It is important to pay attention to the news in your area and watch for any unusual mining exploration activity. Many foreign companies have bought mineral rights under private property. It is called a "split estate", which means you may own the surface of the land, but others can own the mineral rights under it.
Ken Salazar endorses nuclear power
Quote from a recent blog from NEI Nuclear notes - http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2009/05/21st-century-energy-policymaking.html
"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the United States needs to move forward with a comprehensive energy plan that includes nuclear energy. Salazar noted that President Obama often speaks about the necessity of a diverse mix of energy sources. Nuclear is on that table, Salazar said."
Whatever you think of nuclear power and its "green-ness", more nuclear power plants means more uranium mining. Contact Mr. Salazar and inform him you are aware of the health and environmental dangers of uranium mining and for him to focus on renewable energy, not dirty energy. Every stage of the nuclear chain is toxic, even though it is claimed the actual "power generation" emits no greenhouse gasses. This claim is from the same pundits who embrace "clean coal". Neither is clean nor renewable.
Be sure to keep an eye out for bills in congress that have funding for the nuclear industry hidden in them. A good watchdog organization is NIRS - Nuclear Information and Resource Service - www.nirs.org. Sign up for alerts. They keep up on proposed bills and alert you when you should contact your legislators to vote against those bills.
Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste, Inc. make educational video about the uranium industry.
To watch this video called "Yellowcake" go to: www.downtheyellowcakeroad.org
Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste say the following about the reason for making this video.
"The full spectrum of the Uranium Industry and Nuclear Fuel Production has not been a part of the "Green" debate. We are addressing this lack of disclosure. Besides the Carbon Emissions, there is widespread toxic and radioactive contamination left behind. Water usage associated with nuclear power generation is exorbitant.
What is GREEN about the URANIUM Industry that produces the fuel for NUCLEAR Power Plants?The answer is NOT-A-THING.
Communities around the United States and the Globe are under siege from proposed operations by the Nuclear Energy Industry. Often their voices are not heard. Communities are left to respond to overwhelming lobbying forces from the Uranium Industry who have nearly unlimited funding, government subsidies, and long-entrenched lobbyists.
Our goal is to present the side of the story that goes untold, so that people will know when they flip the light switch, that this decision comes at a large cost to our land and to the American taxpayer."
Colorado Carbon Monoxide
What you need to know about RULE HB 1091.
By July 1 of 2009 The Real Estate commission will require each listing to disclose the requirements specific to HB-1091. The basic requirement here will be installing a Carbon Monoxide detector. This can be combined with a smoke detector. The alarm must be installed in all homes with a Fuel Fired Heater or Appliance, Fireplace or attacted garage. It also much be installed 15 feet from the entrance to each lawfully used room used for sleeping.
For more infomation about Northern Colorado Real Estate Check
www.realestatesuperheroes.com
Check your homes Value at
www.oldtownhousevalues.com
Fort Collins Skateparks
There are wonderful Skateparks in Fort Collins. The City of Fort Collins has been exellent in working with the park users to get what is needed. Imagine a baseball player designing a tennis court. I think that is what a lot of city's do when they hire a planned to design the park areas. He might not be a Skateboarder and since Skateparks are not your like other "fields" you have to really be a user to get a nice park built. Well Done City of Fort Collins with your park planning. (many of the people building this park are local skaters)
