Buying Real Estate
Why use a Realtor?
The typical home buyer or home seller often asks, “What’s the difference between a licensed agent and a Realtor?” That’s a good question. So, what is the difference?
Now is the time to buy college housing Part 2
Purchasing a college home is a significant decision. Consulting the appropriate professionals can help create a plan for a housing situation that could provide many short- and long-term benefits for your student and your family.
Buyers gain newfound advantages in Boulder County
May sales are up in Boulder-area markets, but unlike the usual seller-driven market, buyers are beginning to gain advantage.
Now is the time to buy college housing – Part 1
Every August, in college towns across America, college students start to return for the fall semester. This always creates a frenzy of real estate activity. The rental market is usually pretty tight in any college town. Because of that, many families consider...
15 best questions to ask when buying a house
Finding the right home involves research, so you’ll need to ask the right questions. Here are 15 questions to ask when buying a house.
Four tips for millennials and first-time buyers considering purchasing a home
63 percent of millennial home buyers have regrets, mainly because they underestimated the hidden costs associated with buying and owning a home.
New Closing Instructions form for real estate transactions as of July 1, 2019
Due to the passage of Colorado House Bill 19-1098 known as “the deeds bill,” changes have been made to the Colorado Division of Real Estate’s standard form, Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate (Residential). In addition to the changes to this contract, House Bill 19-1098 also necessitated changes to the Closing Instructions form used in Colorado real estate transactions.
Real Estate Matters: Many buyers underestimate the true costs of homeownership
You are absolutely correct that there are a fair number of buyers (first-time in particular) who underestimate the true costs of homeownership. It’s so much more than simply making that monthly mortgage payment, even if the taxes are included through a real estate property tax escrow.
What to consider before buying a condo
Denver Realtor John Stegner, of New Era Group at Your Castle Real Estate, lists the top three questions to ask before buying a condo.
Buying a home? Make sure your Real Property Transfer Declaration is correct
The Colorado Real Property Transfer Declaration helps county assessors collect essential information to ensure that property assessments are accurate.
The top 10 qualities buyers look for in a rural property
Although most all home buyers prefer purchasing updated, well-maintained homes, what people prioritize in a rural property is vastly different than what they do in city ones.
What’s so special about Special Tax Districts (and Metro Districts)?
First of all, what is a special tax district or metro district? It’s a tool which has been around for years to finance the infrastructure of new subdivisions for urban services such as streets, water/sewer lines, fire protection, etc.
The annual migration of the snowbirds
A “snowbird” is defined as a Northerner who has two homes. Snowbirds move to a warmer southern state in the winter. Then when things heat up down south in the summer, the snowbirds migrate back to northern climes.
FHA Loan 101
There are many types of mortgages, and one that may be a fit for your situation is a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan.
Why lenders won’t allow undeposited cash to be used as a down payment
While a steady stream of income is a must for purchasing a home, lenders will not accept funds that haven’t been deposited into a bank. Here, we share why this is the case, and offer solutions for those in the marijuana industry.
Get a CLUE when buying a home
If you don’t have a CLUE, don’t be embarrassed! Most Americans don’t have a CLUE and have never heard of the CLUE database, but if you are a home buyer or home seller, it’s probably a good idea to get a CLUE!
Are you too old to buy a home?
Many baby boomers never bought a home in their younger years and some baby boomers lost their home in the 2007 to 2012 recession. Baby boomers were born between 1944 and 1964, making them between 55 and 75 years old this year. Those baby boomers are now in their retirement years and are asking, “Am I too old to buy a home?”
Seniors and property tax: Deferral, discount and work program
Did you know there are three different opportunities in Colorado and Boulder County available for seniors to ease the burden of property tax payments on real estate?
More inventory, lower mortgage rates as 2019 home buying season tilts toward buyers
Spring is here, which means peak home buying season is right around the corner. Although it varies from place to place, generally most people start shopping for homes at the end of March and the peak season chugs on through summer until school starts up again. For...
“Coming soon” home listings
Usually a real estate “For Sale” sign is pretty straightforward and announces that a house is for sale. However, with recent market conditions, there has been a trend across the country of “For Sale” signs having a sign rider attached that says, “Coming Soon”.
March Madness: It’s not just for basketball
March Madness is here – and with Boulder’s red-hot real estate market, it’s not just for college basketball fans.
Megan’s Law and buying a home
Megan’s Law requires identified sex offenders to register with local law enforcement officials and the federal law requires states to establish a list of convicted sex offenders.
Relocating? Check the Housing Affordability Index
If you are mulling over the idea of moving and need to compare to a variety of different places you are interested in relocating to, you will no doubt want to assess the cost of housing. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) makes it easy to make comparisons. NAR has been keeping track of the housing affordability index nationally for many years, which enables you to see how the index has changed over time. The index is published on a monthly basis from NAR.
Minimum service requirements for real estate brokers
Homebuyers and home sellers hire real estate brokers to assist them with what is commonly the largest financial transaction in most people’s lives. In today’s real estate world, there is a copious variety of business models seeking to serve the needs of homebuyers and sellers. As markets change, types of real estate business models change and evolve with the market. When the market heated up prior to the recession, a business model evolved called limited service companies. The fees charged and services rendered varied greatly. The fees, commissions, and services are 100 percent negotiated between a broker and their principal. The Division of Real Estate does not regulate commissions or services offered. However, the level of services dropped so low, in some cases, that both brokers and their clients were contacting the Division of Real Estate for clarity regarding the minimum amount of service required was to serve the home buying and selling public.
5 Dangers of Buying at Foreclosure Auctions
Foreclosure auctions sound appealing to buyers given the prospect of getting a discounted price on a home. However, the term “foreclosure” is often mistaken for “bank-owned.” Buying a true foreclosure means buying a home at auction. This process is not ideal for first time buyers and here are a few reasons why.
Gen Z: 5 not-so-easy but worthwhile steps to homeownership
Gen Z is poised to be the largest source of homebuyers in the United States. The post-millennial generation, or those born after 1996, make up about 32 percent of the population. And, according to a recent report by Realtor.com, 80 percent of them want to own a home before they turn 30.
Buying or selling a home? Consider using a CRS
Buying or selling your home is one of the biggest and most important decisions you will make in your lifetime – and the process can be complicated with many financial and legal considerations — so it makes sense to rely on a real estate agent who has been around the block, so to speak.
Measuring square footage in single-family homes, condos and townhomes
If you have three different professionals measure a home, you will likely be presented with three slightly different results. Why is that? Different standards, rounding differences, and local customs are just a few of the reasons.
Tips for simultaneously buying and selling a home
Buying or selling a home can be stressful. Buying and selling at the same time is even more challenging, but there are some things that you can do to make it a bit easier. Here are a few tips on buying and selling a home at the same time.
What new 2019 loan limits mean for you
Sabrina Lee Elevations Credit Union The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) raised the baseline conforming loan limit for 2019, and this will have an impact on borrowers for the year ahead. The “conforming loan limit” is the amount that a single-family mortgage...
