Pitfalls of Making a Low Offer on a House



April 13, 2012Your Buyers Agent Can Help You Get the Best Deal While Avoiding Pitfalls of a Low Ball Offer We have been talking alot about negotiations, seller patterns and what to expect during negotiations.  A common misconception is that during a down economy, sellers will accept really low offers.  With the help of your buyer's agent, you can make the lowest reasonable offer, get a great deal on your...

Colorado Buyers Agent vs Zillow & Trulia (Part Two)



April 11, 2012Here are the 2 most important steps in buying a home where these great websites fall short...very short. 1.  Choosing an agent: You found a house you like on Zillow or Trulia, and now you want to see it.  Luckily these websites provide you with the contact information agents that work in the area.  But here are some (scary) things you should know before you make that call: * Calling an...

A Close Look at Zillow & Trulia



April 9, 2012Zillow and Trulia can be fun free resources beginning your home search...its easy and exciting to begin your search from the comfort of your own home, without making a commitment to an agent or brokerage, and just seeing “whats out there”.  Filled with pictures of homes, different search options and other tools, it is easy to spend hours on these websites. How are Zillow and Trulia Useful?...

Assessed Value: How Accurate Is It?



April 5, 2012Every odd year in Colorado, an assessor for the state assesses the value of homes to determine taxes due on your home.*  Last year, our assessed value was about $5,000 less than the amount we paid for our house earlier that year.  Not a fun little bit of information to get in the mail!  Does this mean that our home had lost value over the last year, or, possibly, that the assessed value is a...

“Fix and Flip”: What Are Accurate Expectations?



March 23, 2012Here are some important tips for beginner investors interested in fix and flips.  Determine if you have what it takes to become a serious fix and flip investor and set realistic expectations about your potential profits in this type of investment in the current market conditions. What is a fix and flip? In short, a “fix and flip” scenario means that an investor buys low and sells high....

What Affects Negotiating Real Estate?



March 21, 2012Do things like how long the home has been on the market and the economy affect how much a homeowner is willing to drop? How long a home has been on the market? If a home seller has had a difficult time selling, does this mean that they will accept lower offers?  In general, our buyers agent’s study of about 10,000 home sales in the Boulder and Northern Denver shows that most home...

What You Need to Know About Home Sellers During Home Sale Negotiations



March 19, 2012To understand why most homes sell for so close to the listing price, we can take a look at the home seller’s point of view. A home seller is trying to get the highest amount possible during the home sale negotiations.  They made an investment in purchasing the home, and of course, would like to see the greatest returns possible.  Or, in a less happy tale, they are in a situation where they...