While the forests and grasslands of Boulder County are very beautiful places to live, they are also the locations with the greatest menace of wildfire. (Photo: Marcus Kauffman, Unsplash). Living with the wildfire is something Colorado residents have dealt with for years. Since the 1950s we have been mindful of Smokey the Bear’s message […]
Duane's Timely Topics
Duane's compilation of the most relevant topics to real estate today in Boulder.
Coronavirus and Refinancing Your Home
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed the mortgage rate to historic lows due to investors fleeing to the safety of government securities.. (Photo: Bigstock). The coronavirus pandemic has pushed the mortgage rate to historic lows due to investors fleeing to the safety of government securities. Fixed mortgage rates tend to follow the ups and downs […]
Open houses and Viewing Homes During the Pandemic
How we look at homes has changed a great deal since COVID-19 started to impact our communities. As of June 30, the Safer-at-Home and in the Vast, Great Outdoors public health order was issued by the State of Colorado. This is the eighth amendment to the original Stay-At-Home order. Yes, that means we’ve had eight […]
Coronavirus and College Student Housing
2020 will be a year we all remember for a variety of reasons COVID-19 most of all but for college students, this school year will start out like no other. Boulder, Greeley and Fort Collins are college towns, and thousands of students are ready to come to the region to start or continue their college […]
Home Equity Management in a COVID-19 World
In world of uncertainty, many people are asking, “What can I do to prepare myself for the next crisis? Should I pay off my mortgage or borrow against the house and invest the cash?” (Photo: Bigstock). The COVID-19 crisis has caused significant job losses and many Americans have realized they can only pay their bills […]
Coronavirus and Mortgage Relief: Forbearance Options
The coronavirus has led to an unprecedented spike in unemployment in across the nation. During the Great Recession from 2008 to 2012, the highest number of people without jobs reached 15.3 million. Now, over 26 million workers have filed jobless claims in a five-week period, according the U.S. Department of Labor. Combine that with the […]
Coronavirus Financial Relief with a Reverse Mortgage – Part 2
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a global toll on the markets and the retirement accounts of many seniors. Seniors who are homeowners, however, can access to cash for living expenses through a reverse mortgage. The reverse mortgage is a financial tool that has helped many seniors who are over 62 years old. In my previous […]
Coronavirus Financial Relief With a Reverse Mortgage – Part 1
If you are over 62 years of age, you could be a candidate for a reverse mortgage. (Photo: Joe Hepburn, Unsplash). The economic effect of the coronavirus pandemic been global. Retirees have seen their retirement nest eggs shrink over the last couple of months. Yet, as we have seen in the past, markets usually […]
Coronavirus, Senior Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an extra living space or secondary dwelling, which can help to house multi-generational families and enables seniors to “age-in-place” with their family. (Photo: Kara Eads, Unsplash). Across the nation, senior housing facilities, from independent living to memory care, have been hit hard by the coronavirus. As a result, many […]
Alternatives to Foreclosure in a Coronavirus World
Even in good markets, unexpected events or circumstances happen. People lose jobs, suffer health issues, and for a variety of reasons, are unable to make their mortgage payments. The coronavirus crisis has created a level of job loss never before seen in history. When a homeowner gets behind in their payments, they usually don’t know […]