Lovers, zombies, a hurricane… what more could you expect from a Wicked Bayou?
Wonderbound Opens Season with Wicked Bayau
If we’ve ever met (or you read my ol’ Huffington Post blog), you’re well aware how much I love Denver’s favorite dance troupe, Wonderbound. Known for the brilliant choreography of Garrett Ammon, artistic collaboration, and live music, Wonderbound is kinetic storytelling of the highest order. The season opens with another fantastic mash up. Ammon is joined by Clay Rose on “Wicked Bayou”, inspired by a song “Old Bayou” by the Zombie death polka band, The Widow’s Bane, who play live during the show. This tale of young lovers fighting for their lives against a hurricane, a zombie puppeteer, and an alligator who feeds on children’s hearts, will haunt your dreams as the stunning images of Ammon’s work and The Widow’s Bane melodies linger. One of a few remaining chances to catch the band before they say farewell. I’ll skip the haunted house and experience All Hallows’ Eve the way it was meant to be! Tickets for this hauntingly beautiful show show are selling fast, as always, so get your October calendar out and grab a seat on the bayou while you can.
I work in a highly competitive field. Always have. When I was working as a professional actress, the process was- Understand the play, fall in love with the role, create the character, audition, and hope that they picked me to do what I do well. When my career shifted to real estate, I found the process for building a business very familiar- Understand the market, fall in love with my clients, create the marketing plan, do the listing appointment/audition, and hope that they pick me to do what I do well.
Fortunately, for the last seventeen years I’ve been blessed to be picked. In June I was lucky to help my clients move forward with their real estate goals, and landed in the Top Ten in my company. Not bad, considering the Rock Stars I work with! If I can move you… I’m grateful to be of service.
I got the call that they were relocating to Denver from Indiana in a month, coming in for a long weekend to buy a house. I knew it was much more than finding a house, we needed to find them their home. “Power shopping” in 90 degree heat, we toured ten properties. With their wonderful parents and a great son in tow, these buyers were champs! At day’s end we went for tacos at North County and discussed the top contenders over delicious margaritas. The next day, loaded up with snacks and water, we set out to see another ten. End of the day, our last showing was in Castle Rock. And it was PERFECT! Our offer was accepted and yesterday our new Colorado residents (and my new friends) moved into their gorgeous home. Congratulations, Nick, Katie, and Jake!
https://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Just-Sold-0-1.png10801080Tracy Shafferhttps://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TRACYSHAFFER-LOGO-2-e1660596988947.pngTracy Shaffer2023-08-24 19:28:022023-08-24 19:28:02Sold in Castle Rock
New Price!
Want an urban lifestyle without the LoHi density? Take a look at this 2 bed/2 bath condo in Denver's beautiful West Washington Park neighborhood. One of the things that Denver's best neighborhoods have in common is what's known as a micro-embedded commercial district, which often grew up along the old trolley line stops. These walking streets bring a unique flavor to the area with small businesses, boutiques, and dining. One of these lovely walking streets is on Pennsylvania Avenue, where you'll find this new mixed-use building called Wrigley on Penn. This urban beauty is the best in the building- an end unit on the top floor with peak-to-peak views from your own 660 square foot rooftop deck. Right outside your door are the delightful shops and restaurants, including Uncle, an upscale ramen restaurant, the elegant Au Feu Brasserie, Studio 9 Salon, and FitWall. Wander across the street to Rise & Shine for coffee and biscuits, or make yourself at home in the legendary Carmine's on Penn for an amazing Italian feast. The surrounding neighborhood is pure Denver charm, with tree-lined streets, the beloved brick homes so full of character. This location provides an easy commute to downtown or down south, and it's a quick walk or roll to beautiful Wash Park!
If you're looking for the best of both- charming old neighborhood + urban sophisticate living- Let's schedule your private tour today!
https://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/28-Deck.jpg8001200Tracy Shafferhttps://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TRACYSHAFFER-LOGO-2-e1660596988947.pngTracy Shaffer2022-08-10 18:54:262022-08-12 12:21:05Urban Retreat in West Wash Park Price Improved!
The numbers are in and it’s been a wild ride! The year started with an insane first quarter, with buyers offering more than $100k over asking price, waiving inspections, covering appraisal gaps. And then, interest rates went up, showings dropped off, prices came down, and the market got… quiet.
It is common for the Denver real estate market to expect a seasonal slow down after July 4th, but this year’s cooling happened early. With the rise in inflation, the Feds pushed hard on rates and buyers pulled back. Many were exhausted by the Q1 rush, some felt the effects of the stock market, while others feared the increased interest rates. When rates rise 1 point, that’s a 10% reduction in buying power. A reduction in the loan amount often moves a buyer into a lower, more competitive, price point. Home prices have adjusted to these changes, leveling off a bit and shifting toward more balance, between home buyers and sellers.
“Every indicator points to the market shifting closer to a buyer’s market. The month-end active listing increased 21.53 percent last month, pending and closed deals decreased and days in the MLS increased by 30 percent. We are still a long way from what many experts would consider a buyer’s market.” -Andrew Abrams, DMAR Trends Committee Chair
With the number of residential homes on the rise, buyers have more options, but sellers see themselves with more competition than they did earlier in the year. The average close price saw a minor dip from the prior month but year over year, there was a 11.04% increase. As for days on market, there was both an increase from last month and from the same time in 2021.
With all the changes in the economy, we are not surprised to see movement in the real estate market too. However, don’t let the numbers keep you from your end goal. Whether that’s buying, selling, or investing one thing I know is that its your life that moves you, not the market. NOW is always the right time if it fits your personal situation.
I move through the house and feel a deep ache for those who’ve fled theirs.
I see my own world differently; small and privileged and somewhat back to normal.
The pillows and chairs provide comfort as I scroll through the headlines. Images of conflagration, and miles of refugees with no soft place to land. They carry dogs and cats and children.
The knickknacks on the shelves articulate moments, reminding me of all that is broken. I light a candle for the future.
I make dinner silently, praying that Ukrainians may gather around their tables again soon. I peel the onion and welcome the tears’ release.
I hug my son, tell him that I love him, and pray for the families separating at the border. I crawl into my soft, warm bed and think of those who spent their night on a cold cement floor.
My childhood years were Cold War years when Russia was the cold, hard enemy; an idea that softened as the decades passed.
That was before the rules of engagement were broken, before the agreements of humanity were left by the roadside. There have been other atrocities, too countless to mention, each as devastating for the victims and the world.
This… caught between the terror of the unthinkable and the horror of standing by… changes everything.
I head out, grateful for the work and peaceful streets, with a vow deep in my heart. Be kind, we’re only human. Be present, it’s all we have.
https://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rsz_sunflowers.jpg1008756Tracy Shafferhttps://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TRACYSHAFFER-LOGO-2-e1660596988947.pngTracy Shaffer2022-03-07 14:36:032022-07-01 15:15:45I Stand With Ukraine.
If you’re new to the home buying process, just starting to think about it, or haven’t done it in awhile, here’s help. Though there are many variables that exist within each transaction, these basic steps are the same. My job is to make sure it runs smoothly, from our first consultation to beyond the closing. Just like every home is unique, so is every home buyer. Knowing how much house you can afford is an important first step and getting pre-approved is critical. ( I work with some stellar lenders, I’d be happy to introduce you). Having an idea of the numbers makes your home shopping more efficient, and you’ll be ready to write an offer quickly. That’s a must in this competitive market.
There is no such thing as “the perfect house”. Finding one you can fall in love with takes market savvy, intuition and teamwork. I love the first meeting with buyers when they tell me what they want in a home and I follow up with questions about things they hadn’t though of. And I love the moment when we find the home and the whole energy changes. So cool.
Any questions? Want to talk? Is now a good time? I’d love to hear what moves you and help you have a stress-free home buying experience you will enjoy.
In the long, long ago life— before marriage, before children, before the star-studded Hollywood-excess of a movie and well before COVID— I had the privilege of performing in the National Tour of Steel Magnolias. We played elegant theatres coast-to-coast, explored beautiful American cities in our month-long stays, garnered solid reviews, even an invitation from First Lady Barbara Bush to a private luncheon at the White House. The year held many amazing experiences, not the least of which was sharing the stage with five extraordinary actresses.
Audiences had not seen this intimate, comedic gem. They experienced it right alongside us, came to know and love each of the characters, making this story of love and friendship a hit. I loved coming out for curtain call after the gut-wrenching last scene to hear the applause amplify slightly, not for me in particular, I think they were just glad I was alive.
Now life, if we let it, has a way of circling back in the sweetest ways. This go ‘round, it’s bringing me home to Chinquapin Parish, to Truvy’s beauty salon, and back to the theatre where I’ll be playing my all-time favorite grump, Ouiser Boudreaux. Not only do I get to play alongside another stellar group of women, I have the honor of working with the fabulous Tara Falk at the helm!
Opens October 1st, 2021 and runs Friday-Sunday through October 24th. Season passes available now, single and group tickets for Steel Magnolias go on sale August 16, 2021 at Cherry Creek Theatre.
https://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Magnolia.jpg8001200Tracy Shafferhttps://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TRACYSHAFFER-LOGO-2-e1660596988947.pngTracy Shaffer2021-07-31 01:11:302021-08-03 11:16:11Coming Home to Steel Magnolias
I have been called many things in my life– strong, compassionate, wise- and the “B” word, as in bossy. I’ve spent hours at kitchen tables and RiNo coffee shops, dispensing advice and Kleenex, bringing clarity to the confused and donuts to the distraught. These caffeinated, altruistic moments can get messy. Dreams are shared along with struggles. Questions and voices and glasses are raised, ideas get thrown around, sentences get interrupted, and napkins are nervously shredded. In other words, magic happens. Nothing feels better than a problem-solving download with a very good friend, then saying goodbyes with a hug and a plan.
Danielle LaPorte- “We all just want to be seen and heard. No exceptions.”
This dynamic works best when it works both ways and within my trusted circle I am uplifted, held, and given a swift kick in the pants when I need it. Friendship, connection and community are as old as time and perhaps never as vital to our well-being as they are in today’s crazy swirl of a world where we are bombarded with information and disinformation. The time we spend together gives us the opportunity to listen to one another with our hearts, share our insights and practice empathy. It lifts us up, makes us more generous human beings. Why is it so much easier to fix another’s ills than it is to cure what ails you? Because blindside is never 20/20.
Dr. Seuss — “When you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”
The idea of being paid to help people get unstuck and on track with their thoughts, habits and desires sounds like a good thing for an empath, doesn’t it? People tell you where they think they want to go, you help them hone in and be specific, then craft a strategy on how to get there; like Google Maps for the soul. When we listen carefully to one another, when we talk freely, we share our goals, obstacles and frustrations. What we’re often missing is the awareness of what we already know, and because answers are inherent in the question, it sounds pretty simple. So simple, we slap our foreheads when the answer is right under our…knows.
A Life Coach is different than a therapist, mentor, shaman or babysitter. Each of these are useful, respectable professions (often sharing the same tasks) a life coach wields more than a riding crop and whistle. The coach’s superpower is accountability. Even the friends we check in with daily, accountability from a pro is altogether different. There is $kin in the game, a weekly Zoom meeting, and someone who is not only listening, but taking notes. Dreams and goals are chunked out, tasks are broken down into actionable items and timelines are integrated into strategy, and your Life Coach isn’t going to hijack your session talking about her latest Tinder disaster.
While great friendships evolve organically over time, finding a great coach requires its own investment. Surfing the Internet you’ll find great adjectives on their websites- passion, empowerment, confidence, transformation, tools– (and who doesn’t want more of those?) but it takes more than keywords to find the right fit. et’s take a look at what they do.
Identify true desire.
Identify any obstacles or objections to desire.
Align resources to achieve desire.
Search for where the manifestation of this desire lives.
Connect manifestation with recipient of desire.
Ensure manifestation, recipient and desire are in alignment.
Write offer, go under contract, schedule inspection… oh wait.
The next time someone tells me I should be a life coach, I’ll remind them I’m a Realtor. We make many choices, some make life better while others go wildly wrong. Choosing a friend, mentor, lover or life coach can enhance the quality of your days and nights. Choose wisely.
https://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/You-got-this-e1550849419776.jpg133200Tracy Shafferhttps://tracyshaffer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/TRACYSHAFFER-LOGO-2-e1660596988947.pngTracy Shaffer2019-02-19 23:36:522021-08-07 19:53:57Do You Need a Friend or a Life Coach?
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I wake up, make my coffee, and think of Ukraine.
In the long, long ago life— before marriage, before children, before the star-studded Hollywood-excess of a movie and well before COVID— I had the privilege of performing in the National Tour of Steel Magnolias. We played elegant theatres coast-to-coast, explored beautiful American cities in our month-long stays, garnered solid reviews, even an invitation from First Lady Barbara Bush to a private luncheon at the White House. The year held many amazing experiences, not the least of which was sharing the stage with five extraordinary actresses.
