Denver scavenger hunt gives homebuyers a chance to win $10,000 for down payment

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Melissa Hedman Denver scavenger hunt gives homebuyers a chance to win $10,000 for down payment Denver, CO (3/22/12) LIVE Urban Real Estate, a locally-owned boutique residential real estate brokerage, is proud to present the first annual Race to Your Next Place a thrilling citywide scavenger hunt with 250 teams vying for a $10,000 CASH grand prize toward a down payment on their dream home. The timed event will send teams around the city May 19, 2012, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to solve houseand neighborhood-related mysteries and puzzles, answer trivia questions and successfully complete surprise challenges across the Race landscape. Teams will race through open houses, Habitat for Humanity projects and other home-related locations of supporting sponsors including Denver area Ace Hardware stores. The winning team will receive a $10,000 cash prize toward a down payment on a house. Registration is now open and 100% of race registration fees up to $25,000 will be awarded to charity partner Habitat for Humanity of Colorado. Registration is open to Greater Denver first-time or move-up home buyers and sellers. The $100 per team entry fee is a direct donation to Habitat for Humanity of Colorado. Race details, rules and registration are available at Race day kicks off at the Tailgate Roadhouse (formerly Braun s, adjacent to the Pepsi Center) with a party, sponsor booths, music and entertainment. Then waves of teams in colored t-shirts will spread across the city to perform challenges and rack up the highest number of points. The event will culminate at the Tailgate Roadhouse with a post-race party featuring food, music, door prizes including a new front door! and finally the announcement of the winning team. The registration deadline is May 6, 2012 at midnight MST. A lottery will determine which teams from all those who registered will race. Only those will be required to pay the $100 entry fee. 1

2 Media interested in covering the event, including being paired with teams for an inside look at the race, should contact Melissa Hedman by phone at or via at for full details. The attached Race to Your Next Place Fact Sheet includes contact information, links, Race details and other key information. About LIVE Urban Real Estate LIVE Urban Real Estate ( is a locally-owned residential real estate brokerage focused on the urban neighborhoods of Denver. In 2011, LIVE was named a finalist as one of the nation s Most Innovative Real Estate Brokerages ( About Guild Mortgage Company The $10,000 grand prize is sponsored by Guild Mortgage Company s Lakewood office ( 1960, Guild Mortgage has provided loans, service, and expertise to homebuyers while upholding an enduring presence in the lending community. By strategically meeting the ups and downs of the real estate and financial markets, Guild Mortgage has remained steadfast in its mission to provide affordable home financing, unsurpassed service, and a dedicated workforce to meet our customers' needs. About Habitat for Humanity of Colorado Habitat for Humanity of Colorado ( is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry that envisions a world where everyone has a place to call home. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. # # # 2

3 Habitat for Humanity of Colorado Mission and History: Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry that envisions a world where everyone has a place to call home. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans, and monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. There are 29 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Colorado who together have built more than 1400 homes and served more than 5,000 people. Habitat for Humanity of Colorado (HFHC) was founded in November 1992 by affiliate offices to support their mission through collaborative fundraising, statewide advocacy, and training and technical assistance. Key Facts: Approximately 282,762 Coloradans are living in unsafe or unaffordable housing conditions. Habitat provides families with a stable and growing base of financial security. Twenty-nine Habitat for Humanity affiliates operate across 34 counties throughout Colorado. Collectively, Habitat for Humanity homeowners in Colorado pay $1,600,000 annually in property taxes. All Habitat homes in Colorado are built to Energy Star standards or higher, and all strive for reduced energy costs for sustainable homeownership. Habitat for Humanity partners with prisons in Colorado to build cabinets and trusses while developing a vocational skill for inmates and a meaningful way for them to engage with the community in a positive way. Habitat proves that change is possible. Every 45 minutes, Habitat for Humanity builds a house with and for a family living in substandard housing. Habitat for Humanity is a movement of people who build more than houses. By bringing homeowners together with volunteers, donors, community leaders, foundations, churches, and hundreds of other supporters, Habitat builds stable families, safe neighborhoods, caring communities and a spirit of renewal. 3

4 Race to Your Next Place Fact Sheet What: A citywide race to win a $10,000 cash prize toward a down payment on a home. 250 teams of two will hunt through open houses and other home-related locales to solve challenges, answer questions and attempt to garner the highest number of points to win the grand prize. Three waves of teams will fan out for a total of 4 hours of racing time. The day includes pre- and post-race celebrations, featuring sponsor booths, music, entertainment and door prizes. The winner will be announced at approximately 3:30 p.m. after points have been certified and tallied. Who: Where: When: Sponsors: Registration is open to first-time and move-up homebuyers in the Denver area. Registration is $100 per team of two. Only teams selected from a lottery are required to pay the entry fee. 100% of entry fees up to $25,000 will be donated directly to Habitat for Humanity of Colorado. Race kicks off at the Tailgate Roadhouse (formerly Braun s, adjacent to the Pepsi Center, 1055 Auraria Parkway). Racers will remain within the city limits of Denver, gathering points in open houses, Habitat for Humanity projects, and home-related stores and sponsors. Registration is now open at The event takes place on May 19, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Race will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with three waves of teams starting at 10 a.m. and starting every 20 minutes. The winner will be announced at approximately 3:30 p.m. The race was created and is presented by LIVE Urban Real Estate ( a locally-owned residential real estate brokerage focused on the urban neighborhoods of Denver. In 2011, LIVE was named a finalist as one of the nation s Most Innovative Real Estate Brokerages. The $10,000 prize is sponsored by Guild Mortgage Company s Lakewood office ( is the leading privately-held direct 4

5 lender servicing the Western United States. The winner is not required to work with either LIVE Urban or Guild Mortgage in finding or financing their home. Other major sponsors include The Denver Post Community, Ace Hardware, and more than 25 local businesses lending support to the event. Photo Opps: Media interested in following a team through the event or pre- or post-race interviews should contact Melissa Hedman by phone ( ) or (Melissa@LiveUrbanDenver.com). Race Logistics: Teams will compete on points earned, not speed. Teams can get a head start and earn bonus points by completing Pre-Race activities. Teams will have many decision points along the way; how they decide to spend their time may make the difference in whether they win or not. Points earned along the race will be documented in a Race Day Passport turned in at the end of the race and used to determine the winning team. Race Rules: Social Media: The two person teams must stay together during the entire race. Teams must check in at the finish line within their allotted time. Teams must provide their own transportation and cannot hire a driver. In the event of a tie, a special tie-breaker activity will determine the winner. Like the Race at Follow the Race at # # # 5