The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) continues to be an industry leader in fair housing. Last year set the stage for a progressive movement in the fair housing world to support equal opportunity and ensure that people are not discriminated against with regard to housing. In fact, the leadership of the National Association of Realtors […]
Why is there such a shortage of homes to buy?, Part 1
According to RE/MAX of Boulder Managing Broker Todd Gullette, 2021 is starting off with a record-low number of homes available to buy. As of January 2021, there are only a total of 334 single family homes showing as available in the IRES Multiple Listing System (MLS) in all of Boulder County. For many home buyers, […]
Investing in real estate using retirement plan funds, Part 2
Anyone can use their retirement plan to invest in real estate you just need to have the proper plan in place. (Photo: Pexels). Retirement plans such as IRAs, SEPs, and 401ks are often thought of as limited to investments in stocks or mutual funds. However, if you open a self-directed IRA account (SDIRA), your […]
Home appreciation outpacing capital gains exclusion
It is very tough to “outsave” an appreciating real estate market. The 1997 Taxpay Relief Act allowed for a $250,000 capital gains exclusion for a single person and $500,000 for a married couple when a personal residence was sold. The caveat was that the homeowner needed to live in the home for the last two […]
Round up of the 2020 local housing market: What happened?
The economy here in Colorado and the Front Range were no exception, but we have fared better than many other areas of the country. (Photo: David McBee, Pexels). The global economy was hit very hard in 2020 with the pandemic. The economy here in Colorado and the Front Range were no exception, but we […]
Second home and retirement home market booming since coronavirus
In the mountain towns of nearby Summit County, home sales surged in 2020. (Photo: Shutterstock). 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. Many also want to […]
Buying or selling a home? Consider using a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Only two percent of Realtors nationwide take their profession to the next level by becoming a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), the highest credential in the industry. To earn a real estate license in Colorado, an applicant must complete a total of 168 hours of coursework covering real estate law and practice, Colorado contracts, trust […]
Keep your home safe! January is Radon Action Month
Preparatory stage for the construction of a ventilated crawl space in a brick building. (Photo: Francesco Scatena, Shutterstock). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. According to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon gas is emitted from decaying uranium naturally occurring […]