Home Buying Tips

Investing in real estate using retirement plan funds, Part 2
In my previous article, I introduced an overview of a SDIRA and its requirements. In this article, I will explain more details and the process for purchasing real estate in your SDIRA.

Investing in real estate using retirement plan funds, Part 1
Anyone can use their retirement plan to invest in real estate – you just need to have the proper plan in place.

Millennials are changing the luxury real estate market
In sharp contrast to the “slacker” stereotype that has defined their generation, millennials aren’t living in parents’ basements. They’re buying multimillion-dollar homes.
Affordability surprises first-time homebuyers while parental assistance, savings and compromises prove common, survey finds
For first-time homebuyers looking to buy in 2021, a new survey from Realtor.com® indicates that getting finances in order is a critical place to start.

Denver suburbs top luxury home sales charts
According to Realtor.com’s recent luxury market report, wealthy buyers are exiting metropolises in favor of suburban and more remote living.

Second home and retirement home market booming since coronavirus
The ability to work from home has changed the behavior of homebuyers. Not only are they searching for floor plans that offer home office and homeschooling spaces, they are no longer tied to a specific location.

Colorado’s top cities to live in 2021
The secret has long been out: Colorado is a beautiful place to live, especially if you enjoy outdoor living.
Lingo, fees & contracts: Explaining real estate concepts
The real estate industry has its own lingo, fee structure and contracts packed with lengthy clauses, confusing concepts, and plenty of legalese.

The complex nature of valuing rural properties
First-time rural property buyers are often unaware of the complexities that determine a property’s value. Unlike city properties, there is an abundance of variables to be considered, and “comps” are difficult to find.

Real Estate Q&A: We want to buy a house but can’t afford to do any major repairs for a few years. What should we do?
We are buying our first home and will need to use most of our savings for the down payment and furniture. We cannot afford to make any major repairs for the first couple of years. How can we protect ourselves?

Owner financing in real estate
Owner financing is an alternative to a using a mortgage lender or bank. Also known as seller financing, owner financing is when a real estate owner has enough equity to loan all or part of the money for a buyer’s purchase of their property. Carrying the financing on a...

Second home purchases: The rise of co-primary living
As the boundary line between work life and home life becomes increasingly blurry, there’s an interesting real estate trend that’s popping up across the country: an increase of second-home purchases.

A special holiday gift for first-time home buyers
If you’re searching for an enduring gift for your loved ones, which will be treasured for a lifetime, during an especially challenging year, you can consider giving up to $15,000 in cash or assets to another person without having to worry about the federal gift...
Rural Boulder County: Why every year there are fewer properties
Folks wanting to buy in rural Boulder County are often frustrated by the lack of properties on the market and wonder why there are so few. As a Boulder County rural property broker for more than 30 years, I have seen the changes that have led to this situation....
Beyond brokers, real estate data sharing benefits homebuyers and sellers too
To ensure Colorado’s industry tools are more effective for consumers along the Front Range, Information and Real Estate Services (IRES) and REcolorado recently launched a data-sharing partnership that integrates listing data into each organization’s system.

Decoding a home inspection report: What’s included and what to look for
If you’re in the process of buying a home, here’s what you can expect to find on the home inspection report, and what to watch for.
Directional living: Understanding a home’s unique placement
We’ve all heard the old real estate adage about “location, location, location”. And while location is definitely important, we could also add that real estate is just as much about “direction, direction, direction”.

Fixer Uppers to Live In
Fix-and-flips are all the rage, but have you ever considered a fix-up to live in?

Colorado Second-Home Sales Heat Up
Colorado is among the states seeing the biggest vacation home boost in the U.S. as the ongoing real estate boom thrives despite the pandemic.

Realtor for Life: What It Takes To Fix-and-Flip – Part 2
Fix-and-flips are beloved home show staples, and they make these ventures look easy and highly profitable – but are they? In my previous article, “What It takes To Fix-and-Flip – Part 1,” I discussed building a team of experts, which you will need as you move forward...

Study Shows Millennials Pursue Home Ownership, Undeterred by Pandemic
The pandemic-forced lifestyle and economic changes are showing up in contrarian ways for the millennial generation. Rather than these challenges causing a delay in home purchasing, new survey data shows millennials are speeding up their home purchase and are...

What It Takes to Fix-and-Flip – Part 1
With the innumerable “fix-and-flip” shows that make home renovations look so easy, many people think purchasing a run-down property and fixing it up can produce significant profits. In reality, each project needs to be analyzed carefully to ensure there is room...

Tips for buying real estate in Boulder
Boulder consistently ranks among the best cities in the U.S. In addition to our robust luxury market, the quality of life is excellent here. We’re home to world-class dining, shopping, cultural experiences and natural beauty, so it’s no wonder that our market...

Home Buyer Preferences Since COVID-19: Different But Not
Home has always been “where the heart is,” but the pandemic has placed our homes even more front and center, and now it plays a broader role in our daily activities.

Make your move: Walk, bike and transit scores for homes
Over the past few months with the impact of COVID-19, homebuyers have been trending away from living in downtown areas and have been relocating to the suburbs. In the past, downtown areas have been attractive because people could get by without a car and could...

The Evolution of Home Office Space
With the rise of COVID-19 many architects and home builders are offering pocket offices and home offices in a variety of sizes and designs, stationed in any number of locations in a floor plan.

Protect Yourself from Wire Fraud
According to the National Association for Realtors® (NAR) website, “One of the fastest growing cybercrimes in the U.S. is wire fraud in real estate.

Coronavirus and Buying a College Condo – Part 2
As you evaluate this decision of Buying a College Condo, here’s a guide to help you.

Coronavirus and buying a college condo – Part 1
Buying a college condo can prove to be a worthwhile investment financially as well as an excellent learning experience for the student.

How COVID-19 has influenced what home buyers want
The global pandemic we’re living through has had an unprecedented impact on many facets of life. The real estate market is not immune to the changes.