Another tool to help buyers in an accelerating market is the interest-only mortgage. (Photo: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels). The 30-year fully amortized loan has been the mainstay of real estate financing in the U.S. for decades, yet market conditions often bring about different types of mortgages to help buyers get into a home. At one time, there […]
Protecting the structural integrity of your home’s foundation
In Colorado, it is pretty rare to have a 100% crack free foundation and concrete work, but a proper design for the specific lot, maintaining the grade and the drainage system, will ensure the least amount of problems due to expansive soils in our area. (Photo: Unsplash). A home is often the biggest single expense […]
Where’s the sun?
This Sun Seeker app has many uses for real estate, including homebuying, homeselling and homebuilding. When buying a home, many of our homebuyers will ask, “Where is the sun?” The immediate answer is “look up and see!” However, it is a bit more complicated than that. It’s essential to know where the sun is relative […]
Homeowner wealth vs. renter wealth
There are many times in life when it makes sense to rent the place you live in, such as for a temporary job assignment. However, over the years, owning real estate has proven to be the greatest wealth builder for most Americans. Advantages of renting • More mobile in the event of a job or […]
Grow your real estate wealth one owner-occupied home at a time
Most people start investing real estate by buying their personal residence. Yet the majority of Americans will stop there in terms of building their real estate portfolio. This is because when people are motivated to buy their first investment property, they are often told they will need a 20- or 25-percent down payment. Finding it […]
Should I buy my first home with a friend?
Rising home prices have made homeownership prohibitive for many across the county, and first-time buyers are turning to an alternative path to homeownership. That path is purchasing a property with a friend. (Photo: Gary Barnes/Pexels). In many housing markets, it is difficult to buy your first home. In Boulder County, this is certainly the […]
What’s so special about Special Tax Districts (and Metro Districts)?
Special tax districts and metro districts have been in the news again. As new subdivisions pop up along Colorado’s Front Range, it is prudent for today’s new home buyer to do some research. First of all, what is a special tax district or metro district? It is a tool that has been around for years […]
New home construction purchases
Owning a home is still a key facet of the American Dream. Owning a home, built specifically for you, with the opportunity to choose colors, floorplan, appliances, and every detail, is quite special! Real estate markets go through cycles – they always have, always will. Since I started selling real estate in 1978, I have […]
Living with the threat of wildfire
The fires in recent weeks in Routt County and western states bringing haze to the Front Range are a huge wake-up call to be prepared, especially for those who live in the mountains and foothills where wildfire is an ongoing hazard. (Photo: Pexels). Boulder County has seen its share of wildfires in recent years. […]
Appraisals and appraisal gaps on a home purchase
“Appraisal gap” is the current buzzy catchphrase in today’s hot housing market. An appraisal gap is the difference between what a home buyer is willing to offer and what the bank’s appraiser says the property is worth, based on the most recent sales of similar homes. Appraisers use sales that have closed in the past […]