Slowing Down or Taking a Breather? I wish I knew the answer. The real estate market always slows down around end of summer. Everyone is settling into a new routine whether they're in school or not. It's just how we think--a hard habit to break. I propose we celebrate the New Year in September. It makes more sense to me. The Crystal Ball Saga Continues However, I have seen a substantial amount of price reductions, especially of vacant homes. What does this portend? Once again, I dug through the …
Home Buying
When Home is Home
Jessica was a vet student with enough money to buy a half-duplex with a small yard for her dog. That was twenty-years ago. When she called a real estate agency about that duplex, I answered the phone. Jessica was my first client. She had inherited the down payment and was able to afford the $900 a month mortgage with a roommate and somehow, she qualified for the loan. She turned the beaten-up old rental into her first home. And it was beautiful. But she moved on with a marriage then babies …
Why Everyone Should Own a Rental Property
Confession time--I didn't buy a rental because I thought as a single mom with young kids, 3 dogs and a burgeoning real estate career, I didn't know enough or had the energy to learn about being a landlord. It's one of my top 5 regrets. It competes for #1 with a major regret I'm not going to reveal in this post. Come to one of my storytelling events and you'll probably hear it there. Of course, you say, back then prices were more affordable even if interest rates were higher. Back then, it was …
Good time to Sell–or Buy?
Is this the best time to sell your home? Maybe. Common belief says that May and June are the best months to sell your home, but July is still pretty good. Buyers are looking despite vacations, hot weather and music festivals. I’ve noticed quite a bit of homes with price reductions recently, especially Fort Collins and Loveland. Old Town Fort Collins also has 15 listings below $350k still on the market and have been for a couple of weeks. My buyers are primarily looking for larger family …
Time to Protest Property Taxes is Almost Over
Runnin’ Out of Time, People! Are you still going to protest your property tax valuation in Larimer County? You better hurry up. Deadline is Monday June 3. I just finished 22 of them for friends and clients. Half of them may win. Some of the valuations had a 50% increase; others less than 20% and they are the ones who may lose. Some of my clients had homes who lost value. No one is asking why. Maybe there was a sale in the neighborhood on a house that teetered on “fix it or tear it down.” Maybe …
Time to Plan is Now
I'm not a party bus kind of gal. But I saw the bus tour of the Parade of Homes on Facebook, sponsored by the northern Colorado Women's Council of Realtors and I thought, why not? I signed up and hopped on board at noon on a very hot day last week and headed off to Berthoud, CO. The bus was loud and I was definitely the oldest real estate agent on board but the A/C was working and there was plenty of water along with other offerings. But day drinking is not a skill I possess. Regardless, …
