Fee simple. In these transactions the ownership of the land changes hands. Often any residential building will be subdivided under rules applicable only to the County and sold off, or leased out. Restrictive. No ownership change is involved but the conservation easement is held by the County (or other recognized entity) in exchange for real […]
Blog
Buying a property with a Conservation Easement
Understand that if you are buying a property with a Conservation Easement, a previous owner has taken a drawdown in some monetary form, and the parcel is theoretically now of diminished value. A governing document will set out the allowed and disallowed uses. These may include a restriction on buildings, a clause tying the water […]
Conservation Easements: What are they?
What are they? A voluntary agreement between a landowner and another entity, normally one with funding sufficient to close and support the deal. The landowner gives up some of the value in exchange for money, tax credits or development rights on a portion of the land. Alternatively, the agreement could be one of fee simple […]
How Long is the Colorado Growing Season?
Not particularly long and not the same every year! I love heirloom tomatoes and hubbard squash, but need to move to the tropics to guarantee them coming to maturity before the frost—and to get away from the bears who have similar tastes. Then, too, the early season can be plagued by a late freeze and […]
Conservation Easements Explained
Conservation Easements Explained County policy is frequently to curb residential sprawl and a tool to do so is to offer landowners an incentive to forego development rights (that is, residential building rights). In the past, two methods were employed: a financial reward or a concession allowing a division of the land with some development rights […]
Year-end Musings
Year-End Musings By: John Dabbs A year of turmoil, for sure. Wars and weather across the globe have disrupted so many lives that we who are fortunate enough to be legally living under shelter in Colorado should be thankful, and mindful of those who seek new beginnings here but careful not to compromise our own […]
Like Columbus Leaving Port
Like Columbus Leaving Port Last year was predictable once it got underway—a Seller’s market and bidding wars were the norm. Then came the mad hatter from Moscow, inflation and interest rate hikes and we are all at sea. What we know is that, like the surf, things will keep on rolling but our compasses need […]
2022 and Beyond: Market Analysis and Marshall Fire
2022 and Beyond: Market Analysis and Marshall Fire By Karen Libin, John Dabbs, and Lou Barnes Photo Credit: Wildfire Today We are long-time Colorado real estate and mortgage people, cumulative experience among the three of us 94 years, and we write to you with the long view. Some years, even whole decades (as 2010-2019) […]
Rural Housing Help
Rural Housing Help We note the call for assistance with refugees from Afghanistan. It tears at our heart strings that the situation deteriorated so quickly to what it has become. Many of us will be in a position to assist with donations of material goods, but if we cannot even house our own struggling employees […]
Englitch
Englitch Reading or listening to the media can sometimes give cold shivers like a fingernail scratching on a blackboard. Why are we compelled to render simple English into complicated words and redundant phrases? “Arrearages”, “return back”? What was wrong with “arrears” and “return”, respectively? Then there is the commonly misconstrued use of the possessive “your” […]