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 […]
Duane's Timely Topics
Duane's compilation of the most relevant topics to real estate today in Boulder.
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 […]
Stay at home and plan your next or first-time home purchase
Shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders have had an immense impact on our lives. Owning a home and having a place where you feel safe has never been so crucial in recent history. While we are all staying home, it is a great time to get organized to ensure your next home or first-time home purchase goes […]
Selling or Buying a Home with Solar
Today, most of the solar panels you see are Photo Voltaic (PV), which produce electricity for the home or to provide power back to the grid. In the 1980s, there was a substantial 70 percent federal tax credit available if you installed a solar power system on your home. During that period, we saw solar […]
Coronavirus and Mortgage Rates… To Lock or Not? That is the Question!
The odds that mortgage interest rates might go down because of the coronavirus crisis are pretty high. The odds that mortgage interest rates might go down because of the coronavirus crisis are pretty high. Yet rates are already at an historic low, so how low can they go? Over the last several years we have enjoyed […]
Coping with the high price of real estate: Should I find a co-signer?
One option for first-time home buyers is to look for a co-signer. There are many ramifications of being a co-signer and this makes a close relative or loved one the best choice. Prices of homes have been steadily increasing in Boulder County for years. As these prices have risen, it has been more difficult for […]
Realtor for Life: The Low Down on Low Down Payments
Most first-time homebuyers have the challenge of coming up with a down payment to make their first purchase. In the city of Boulder, loan limits are challenging due higher home values and the large down payment required. However, in the rest of Boulder County – and into Weld and Larimer counties – home values, loan […]
Interest Rates Are At a Three-Year Low. Should I Refinance?
It’s time to consider refinancing your mortgage again! According to Freddie Mac, the average interest rate on a 30-year mortgage on February 6, 2020 was 3.45%. The last time rates were in this category was on July 7, 2016 when Freddie Mac reported an average interest rate of 3.41%. Rates this low don’t tend to […]