Source: Denver Business Journal

According to a report released Thursday, unemployment and federal homebuyer tax credits pushed vacancies of Denver-area rental homes to a three-year-high of 5.5 percent in the 4^th quarter of 2009’s fourth quarter.

But despite vacancy increases, average rent for such properties also increased to the highest fourth-quarter rate since the report was started in 2003, at more than $1,000 a month.

The report was released by the Colorado Division of Housing, and includes data on for-rent houses, condominiums, townhomes, fourplexes and other smaller rental homes. Apartment data is provided in a separate report.

The fourth quarter’s rental-home vacancy rate increased from 4.9 percent in 2008’s final period. The last time metro Denver’s rental-home vacancy rate hit 5.5 percent was in the fourth quarter of 2006.

“The main reason the vacancy rate for rental housing went up in the fourth quarter is that vacancies increased for townhomes, condos and duplexes,” said Gordon Von Stroh, business professor at the University of Denver and researcher/author of the housing department report.

That increase was caused by an influx of such properties that were on the market for sale, but didn’t sell, and so were converted to rental properties.

Rental houses, on the other hand, continued to be in demand late last year, particularly by families that have lost the houses they once owned to foreclosure.

“If you’re renting a house, you can double and triple up families, and we continue to see that,” said Bob Alldredge, principal at rental housing management company Jericho Properties Realty LLC in Lakewood. “With smaller condos and townhomes, it’s more difficult to do that.”

“Most people who have lost a home to foreclosure want a rental house,” said Susan Melton, broker owner at Lakewood-based residential property manager Assured Management Inc.

Average rents for rental homes rose to $1,016.77 per month in last year’s fourth period from $995.24 year over year. Rental rate per square foot, though, stayed relatively flat at about 80 cents per square foot.

Ryan McMaken, the housing division’s spokesman, attributes the increase in average rent in a relatively soft rental market with poor job growth to solid demand by renters who want houses or condos rather than apartments.

Specific rental-home data for the fourth quarter of 2009 includes:

• Adams County — Vacancies averaged 4.1 percent, while the average monthly rent was $1,024.79.

• Arapahoe County — This area had one of the metro area’s highest vacancy rates, at 5.7 percent on average, with an average rent of $995.23 a month.

• Boulder/Broomfield counties — These counties had one of the metro area’s lowest rental home vacancy rates, at 3.8 percent, but the area’s highest average rent, $1,631.30.

• Denver County — This county reported the area’s highest vacancy rate, at 6.8 percent, but also a wide range of vacancies by neighborhood — from zero in downtown Denver to more than 11 percent in the north central and southeastern parts of the city. The county had the lowest average rent metrowide, at $952.27 per month.

• Douglas County — Reported the area’s lowest vacancy rate, at 3 percent vacancy rate, and one of its highest average rents, at $1,372.91.

• Jefferson County — Vacancies averaged 4.7 percent, with average rent of $974.90.

The quarterly rental-housing report is co-sponsored by the Denver chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers.

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My Take:

Other Resources: With average rents for a tiny condo at $1,000 and up in Denver, I’d be inclined to hire a good Denver criminal attorney to find out why it costs so much to rent a place to live in the Mile High city. In Los Angeles, I can see the demand as realistic. But not in Denver, where even the monthly pay for a good criminal lawyer Denver CO style could be challenged by rental prices. I’m not surprised homes for rent are on the rise, and I think the federal government ought to help foreclosed upon owners stay in their homes on a rental agreement that gives them the option to re-purchase once they’ve paid enough money toward the rent.

Speaking of homes. In California, where even the best construction estimating software in the world couldn’t have predicted the beating new home developers would take as the real estate market out here hit the skids, we have a shortage of good quality homes for rent at decent prices too. In fact, it’s getting to the point where buying a home puts you on a cheaper monthly payment than a rental agreement and in the end you’ve got something to show for it.

I wouldn’t put mortgage lenders in California on the top of my list of favorite people. I watched first hand what they did to unsuspecting borrowers and it was despicable. They promised borrowers trying to get into their first homes everything they wanted to hear just to get their signatures on no-doc loans, adjustable loans and so-called hybrid loans with no interest set-up plans that are now set to expire and will most certainly result in new waves of foreclosures. The cycle will continue to roll until all of those buyers either lose their homes to foreclosure or are approved for some sort of modification on their loans.

Maybe you think of the modification plan as a federal handout. I don’t. A lot of these people may as well have been sold stock in some erroneous construction software company or told they were going to make a fortune in wall mats. Some didn’t even speak enough English to understand what they were buying or agreeing to. The mortgage lending criminals that do get held accountable for their greedy behavior ought to be put into cells with no wall padding or heat. See what it’s like to live almost like a homeless person lives. Maybe then they will think about who they try to make a quick buck off of next time they attempt to sell a mortgage.

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Legal Trouble?
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Air cargo and freight is one of the fastest ways to ship products anywhere in the world today. It makes no difference whether they are personal products, gifts or purchase items airfreight has become a reliable and timesaving way of transportation.

People usually use something like FedEx or UPS for personal shipping. For larger shipments of air cargo, you can still use FedEx, UPS or any number of other companies. Many shipping companies offer businesses a combination of air cargo and land as well as sea services to save money.

Airfreight is extremely important when shipping time sensitive products such as perishable food, flowers and living products. With international freight, air cargo security is extremely important to avoid terrorism acts as cargo handling changes hands from one country to another.

Airfreight is time efficient as well as being more expensive than shipping by sea. Every niche usually is used for smaller, high value shipments. Shipping by sea, is usually reserved for large items such as cars. Airfreight is also part of the roller coaster ride that air transport takes year-round.

As the price of fuel increases, the costs of air cargo will also increase. Environmental concerns may also increase the price of airfreight as time passes. However, even though the price increases the demand is also increasing. With an increase in demand, there is an increase in profit and as long as there is profit, there will be airfreight.

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Home Security Cameras Systems

When using home security cameras in a residential environment, some of the first decisions that should be made are the locations where a camera would be best installed and how many devices would provide total and proper visual support of an area. One of the first steps to designing a home security system is determining what the most likely points of entry for an intruder might be and whether those areas are vulnerable in being hidden or being easily accessible by a potential burglar. When the locations have been determined, a homeowner should decide whether a wireless or hard-wired security system is more appropriate.

Everybody has seen a walk through metal detector if they have had to go to a court or taken a flight on an airplane. These are commonly referred to as security metal detectors. Their purpose is to screen people for any metal object in a security zone. This does not mean they are looking for your car keys, nail clippers or money clips. They are looking for weapons such as a gun or a knife.

Security metal detectors use a very low frequency or VLF technology to detect metal. There are even more advanced metal detectors that do use low radiation x-rays for screening. Metal detectors are used in a variety of places such as airports, prisons, courthouses, government buildings and even schools. Some are used in public places, special events and conferences.

There are basically two different types of metal detectors. One is a walk through or drive through and the other is handheld metal detectors. Many security and law enforcement professionals use a handheld super scanner. The super scanner is used to detect pistols, knives and razor blades. It has a reduction switch that minimizes interference from other non-dangerous metal items.

There is also a tactical handheld detector that is little more advanced and needs no adjustments. This will detect stainless steel ferrous and nonferrous weapons. This tactical handheld metal detector is also waterproof, has a slip free handle and is made of high impact plastic.

You will usually see a handheld detector used after somebody has gone through a walk-through metal detector and the alarm has gone off. They can also be used to check baggage and fabric for both magnetic and non-magnetic items. With a long battery life, they are reliable as well as sensitive.

Walk-through and drive through security metal detectors are both based on different technologies than hand-held detectors. These detectors use digital technology that enhances the targeted action coverage. These are widely used in airports for both passengers and cargo inspection. Because of the microprocessor-based technology, these detectors can eliminate electrical interference with x-ray devices automatically.

Walk-through metal detectors come in two types, multi-zone and single zone. Multi-zone walk through metal detectors are usually seen in a high-security area because they are sensitive devices that can detect conventional weapons such as pistols and knives. The single zone detectors are usually found in places such as schools and public events. Their sensitivity is more in the mid range and used in places such as cruise ships. These also utilize waterproof electronics that protect against humidity and water spray.

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A Little Security History

The term “watchman” has been commonly applied to the function of a security guard since the Middle Ages. This term was carried over to North America where it was interchangeable with night watchman until both terms were replaced with the modern security-based titles as Sacramento CA armed security guards. At one time, vigils were soldiers assigned to guard the city of Rome, often credited as the origin of both security personnel and police, although their principal duty was as a fire brigade. Walled cities of ancient times also had watchmen who even had a special chair called the watchman’s chair. This unupholstered wooden chair had a forward slanting seat to prevent the watchman from dozing off during his watch.

Tools of the Trade

Tumbler and wafer pick sets, torsion wrench, half diamond pick, hook pick, rake picks, Slagel picks, warded picks, and pick guns are just some of the tools a locksmith utilizes. Lock picking is the skill of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock without the key. Although lock picking and lock picks are associated with criminal activity, it is an essential skill for a locksmith. Lock picking is the ideal way to open a lock without the key, while not damaging the lock. It allows the lock to be rekeyed for later use, which is especially important with antique locks that would be impossible to replace if the lock is damaged.

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