Pondering the thought of moving? You will undoubtedly want to compare housing affordability in the area you would like to relocate to. (Photo: Sabel Blanco/Pexels). Pondering the thought of moving? You will undoubtedly want to compare housing affordability in the area you would like to relocate to. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has a […]
Property assessments are coming
On May 1, every property owner in Boulder County can expect to receive a notice for the newly assessed value of their property. (Photo: Pexels). On May 1, every property owner in Boulder County can expect to receive a notice for the newly assessed value of their property. State statute requires that every property in […]
Get a CLUE when buying a home
Most Americans have never heard of the CLUE database, but if you are a home buyer or home seller, it’s probably a good idea to get a CLUE! If you don’t have a CLUE, don’t be embarrassed! Most Americans are CLUE-less and have never heard of the CLUE database, but if you are a home […]
Rising mortgage rates: Lock or not?
To lock or not to lock, that is the home buyer’s choice. Over the last several years we have enjoyed record-low mortgage rates that have, for the most part, been stable. The most recent peak in interest rates was November 2018 with an average reported rate of 4.81% for 30-year loans. Afterwards, the trend moved […]
Last year set the stage for April’s Fair Housing Month
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 […]