Whether you are new to the University Park Denver area, or are a seasoned resident looking for a bite to eat for dinner, the area has plenty to offer. Check out these five highly rated restaurants based on reviewers in the area.

1. The Garlic Knot: This New York pizza and pasta restaurant will hit the spot if you are looking for great Italian food. Guests enjoy their generations-old recipes that have been perfected. And the garlic knots? To die for. You know they have to be good when the restaurant is named after them. They have over 10 locations in the Denver area, so no matter what side of town you are, you are guaranteed to find a spot. Stop in for cheesy pizza or pasta, or place an online order for takeout.
2. Ali Baba Grill: For some of the finest Lebanese and Persian cuisine, Ali Baba Grill is a great family-ran restaurant to visit. Customers love the excellent service and affordable prices. They have traditional Mediterranean décor for a genuine dining experience. Favorite menu items include Gyro Meat and Chicken Shawarma or a Falafel Plate. Prior to opening their two Colorado locations, one of the two owners spend 10 years working as a chef at a large Saudi Arabian restaurant—so you are guaranteed an authentic experience at either of their two locations.    
3. Ginza Sushi Grill: For a premier sushi and Japanese cuisine experience, stop in at Ginza Sushi Grill. This restaurant prides themselves on bringing in the freshest fish in the city, as well as fresh ingredients. Plus, if there is something you are interested in that isn’t on the menu, you can share it with their chefs and they will try to create it for you. Hibachi dinners are also available for a great Japanese experience. You can drop in for a teriyaki, tempura, noodle, fried rice or hibachi dinner. Pop in or make it a takeout night with this restaurant. You get free delivery too if you live within three miles of their location.
4. Yolanda’s Tacos: If you are looking for great Mexican food in University Park, Observatory Park, this restaurant has it! Locals enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and friendly service. Many describe the food as something unlike any other local restaurant.  Kick off your meal with chips and one of their seven fresh-made salsas, queso, or guacamole. They have such a diverse selection of tacos with sauce recipes that are over 300 years old. Stop in any of their three locations and taste for yourself.
5. Fat Shack: Sometimes nothing beats a good late night burger. And with a slogan “late night done right,” this local hotspot is a must-try. Known to have some of the best burgers around, Fat Shack has a large selection of burgers, wings, sandwiches and desserts.  Open since 2010, this local hotspot has all essentials for your late night food needs at any of their several locations.

University Park in Denver is a great place to buy a home. With these and many more restaurants and activities, you will always have great new places to try. Ready to move to the area? Let our Elevation Realty experts help! Search our properties and reach out to us at 303-579-3566 to get started.

Many first-time homebuyers and sellers are surprised to find out that the closing process is not as simple as it may seem. From the paperwork to the payments, what exactly goes on during an Observatory Park closing? Here’s everything you need to know:
 
What Happens Before the Closing?
Prior to closing, the seller should allow you to walk through the property to ensure that nothing has changed since you last saw the home. This is especially important for buyers who have asked the sellers to make simple repairs on the home before closing. Now is the time to check that these repairs have been made and there are no further issues that need to be addressed.

Your real estate agent should provide you with a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement before the actual closing as well. This is given to you ahead of time so that you can thoroughly review it before agreeing to legally purchase the home. For first-time homebuyers, these statements can be quite confusing. It’s always best to sit with your real estate agent and go through the statement line by line to clear up any questions you may have.

What Happens on Closing Day?
Congratulations, you’ve made it to closing day! Only one more step until you officially become an Observatory Park homeowner. When you plan the date and time for your closing, be sure to set aside a few hours. Some homebuyers mistakenly believe that a closing takes a few minutes, however it can actually last hours. Plan to bring along your driver’s license, settlement statement to compare to the final document, a cashier’s check or proof of wire transfer, and a trusted friend for moral support or advice.

In most closings, the buyer and seller will be there along with their real estate agents. It is essential that these agents tag along in order to read over every document that you are asked to sign. So, what takes so long? Paperwork. Buyers will be asked to sign dozens of documents that deal with finances and ownership of their new home. During a closing, the buyer will settle any outstanding fees including escrow payments or closing costs that may be due. Remember, these fees were described in the settlement statement, so there shouldn’t be any surprises on the day of closing.

Once everything has been signed, you will walk out of the meeting with keys to your brand new Observatory Park home.
 
Now what?
Now that you’re the proud owner of an Observatory Park home, don’t forget to turn the lights on. Many new homeowners forget that they are in charge of transferring utilities into their name to ensure nothing gets turned off. Be sure to also update your mailing address with your bank, insurance company, employer, and DMV.  

Ready to search for the home of your dreams? Contact Elevation Realty to be connected to a team of experienced real estate experts ready to help you on your home buying or selling journey.

First time home buyers have many benefits at their disposal when buying a home in Observatory Park in Denver. Take advantage of every opportunity you can when making the switch from renting to homeownership.

1. Save, save, and save: When purchasing a home, you will need to have more in your savings aside from your down payment. You may have to pay for an appraisal of the home as well as the inspection. Next, you will also need to pay property taxes. Typically this amount is a percentage of your home’s value. You can learn more about property taxes and calculating for homes you are looking into on HGTV’s website. Last, check to see if the home is in an area with a homeowners association. If that is the case, you will have an additional fee. With the homeowners association, you will receive various benefits from community centers and parks to swimming pools and common area maintenance.  You will also need homeowners insurance and savings for any repairs that need made.
2. Credit and Debt-to Income: When preparing to buy your first home in Observatory Park, avoid making large purchases such as a car or items on credit. Why? These large purchases affect your debt-to-income ratio, which can affect how much money your mortgage company will consider to lend to you, or may change any of your stipulations. In general, having a good credit rating helps your chances of getting a mortgage, but it isn’t all based on that. Make an effort to have good active credit and improve your score with these tips from Experian.
3. FHA Loans: When buying your first home, you may qualify for an FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan. These mortgages have the ability for lower down payment percentages as low as 3.5 percent. This element depends on your credit score and history. FHA loans also lower or cover closing costs, and they are more open to your credit situation. When you purchase a home with an FHA loan, you will need to also get mortgage insurance in case you begin to miss payments. Last, if you need to make improvements to a home but are low on funds, an FHA loan may loan you additional money for those. This is part of an additional loan, called a 203k loan. This may give you $30,000 or more for repairs.
4. Make an Educated Purchase: When it comes to purchasing your first home, make sure you have thought ahead. Is the home something you can grow into based on your goals? At the same time, is it too big and will have wasted space which will be wasted money each month on heating, cooling and electricity? Also, do the area and neighborhood fit your lifestyle? What about curb appeal for the home and the neighbors? Consider this before making a purchase, as poor curb appeal throughout the neighborhood could make re-selling the home more difficult.

When it comes to purchasing your first home, let Elevation Realty help! We will provide you with the attention and dedication you deserve and are readily available to you throughout the home buying process. Give us a call at 303-579-3566 and review our Observatory Park listings.

During your home search, University Park in Denver is a great community to buy in. When working with your realty company, this area has many pros for you and your family when considering a new place to move. Learn the history of University Park on the Denver Library’s website, and learn about why it is a great area for you to choose.

1. Statistics:  There are almost 7500 residents in the University Park community with the average age being 44. It is a great place for families with great schools. In fact, the schools have a nine out of ten rating according to Great Schools. Plus, because of their wellness program, they are also known for being one of the healthiest schools.
2. Location: University Park is in the square space of neighborhood in the middle of I-25 and Iliff Avenue and University and Colorado Boulevard. It is located very close to Observatory Park in Denver, only home prices in University Park are typically less. It is also close to Denver University’s campus. This neighborhood is also 10 to 15 minutes away from downtown Denver, which is great for those who love the city but would prefer to live in a suburban area with an urban feel. Also, because it is so close to the city, it is the perfect area for those who prefer a walkable area. It is also roughly 40 minutes away from the Denver International Airport.
3. Types and Styles of Homes: Thanks to its historic roots, many of the homes in University Park are Victorian-style. Also, being close to a campus, you can find a wide variety of homes from small one-bedrooms to large multi-level single-family homes. This is also a great area for those who are looking to buy properties to rent.  Some residents are finding places to build in University Park in Denver, or are renovating older homes.
4. Entertainment and Shopping: The area has quite a few popular restaurants that are walking or driving distance from The Garlic Knot and Ali Baba Grill to Jazzman’s Café and Ginza Sushi and Grill. There are a variety of restaurants so you can find the place that fits what sounds good to you. Plus, being close to a college campus, there are also several great dessert and coffee spots. Another great thing to check out in University Park is the Chamberlin Observatory. Drop in weekly or even monthly for events held by the Denver Astronomical Society. It was renovated in 2008 but still has the historic charm and feel for a fun and educational experience.

If you are ready to move to the University Park area, Elevation Realty can help. We provide our clients with the personalized attention they deserve. With us, you will have the most reliable and up-to-date information to help you make the best decision on where to move. Learn the latest University Park market trends and give us a call at 303-579-3566 to get started!

Everyone who is finally ready to buy a home wants their ideal home. Few people consider what kind of flooring they would like. It is possible to renovate a home, but if you could find a home with the ideal flooring, it could save you a ton of money in renovations. We want to help you find the perfect home for you and yours, down to the perfect flooring, if possible. We show you the best homes based on your requirements in the Colorado real estate market.

So what kind of flooring would you like? There are a number of benefits to tile flooring, but you have to know a little bit about tile before you commit to a home with tiled floors.The great thing about tile is that there are nearly limitless possibilities with it, depending on the type you choose.

Ceramic and porcelain tiling look beautiful and are easy to clean - plus they come in a huge variety of colors. Perhaps you already have your furniture picked out, and you want a color that will enhance the look of your rooms. You can have bright, vibrantly colored tiles that will complement white or black furniture, or you can have dark tiles that will enhance the colors of your decor. Dark tiles look chic and hide dirt a bit more, but if you want a beautiful color, you should go for it! Just remember that it is a lot of work to re-tile a floor, so choose one that you will continue to love for the long haul. When buying a home in Denver, make sure you decide before you move in if you love the tile as is, or if you will need different flooring installed.

There are other options besides ceramic or porcelain that you can find in your dream home. Some homes have natural stone floors which tend to be more unique and have a more rustic look. Natural stones last longer, but it is difficult to say how much longer. Other flooring options look beautiful and are rated on a durability scale, but natural stones, like marble, cannot be rated in the same way. If you choose a home with natural stone, one thing to consider is the texture of the stones themselves. Smooth stones can be extremely slippery when wet. Many homeowners do not want to take that risk, particularly if they have children, but equally as many think the look it gives the room is worth the potential of danger.

Glass and metal tile is another consideration you may not have come across. These can cover the entire floor for a shiny, striking look, or be used in conjunction with other flooring to make the more natural tiles pop. Again, slipping is a strong risk with these tiles, and you should think carefully about your space overall before committing to one of these floors. Still, they are beautiful, and may be just what you are looking for!

Most people don’t think twice about the grout in their floor, but as a new homeowner, you may want to. If the home in your floor is beautiful when you buy it, remember that grout is more likely to become dirty than the tiles themselves. It is beneficial to have colored grout that either matches or contrasts the tiles, but lightly colored grouts can really hold in dirt and stains and make your floors look dingy. If you think the grout of the home you want most could use a reboot, ask a design expert about your options to keep it looking great before you move all your furniture in.

Before moving in, ascertain the specific type of tile you now own, which your Denver real estate agent can relay, and check the durability scale. Read this article “What Is Wear Rating?” to help you make informed decisions regarding whether to keep or ditch the floor, and determine the safest furniture for you to use.

Check out our Market Trends for the neighborhood of your dreams, and let us know how we can help you find the best home for your needs today!