Home Buying Basics: Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval



November 15, 2010What is pre-qualification? Pre-qualification is the first step towards securing a loan.  Typically, the pre-qualification process is a phone interview with a lender, but some lenders allow you to submit information online.  The lender is gathering information about your financial status to make a tentative decision about whether or not they will loan you money.  They will ask about your...

Boulder: A Premium College Town



November 15, 2010Boulder is the fourth most expensive college town to live in according to a report released by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC this week. The first three most expensive cities were Palo Alto, California with Stanford University, Honolulu Hawaii with University of Hawaii, and Los Angeles with University of California. The average home listing price in Boulder for 2010 was $791,877. What makes...

Equity, Appreciation and Tax Savings Anyone?



November 10, 2010One of the primary benefits of home ownership is financial.   Buying a house is an investment.  According to Wikipedia, “Investment is putting money into something with the hope of profit.”    I appreciate the honesty of this definition.  There is some hope involved.  Most investments are not a sure thing.  Let’s take a look at the basics of a real estate investment. Equity For a...

Colorado buyer’s agent Association Matches Home Buyers With Buyers Agents In Good Standing



November 8, 2010Take the time to research and find a good, knowledgeable, trustworthy buyers agent when you are looking to buy a house.  There is a saying that goes something like “If you don't have any friends who are real estate agents, you probably don't have any friends at all."  It’s kind of a weird way of saying- there are a lot of agents out there.  Just like with anything else, there are good...

The Sun is Always Shining in Wash Park



November 5, 2010I just joined a stroller class that meets in Wash Park.   Yes, another thing I never pictured myself doing – skipping and pushing a stroller, and loving it.  Say yes to adventure!  Yay, motherhood.  Anyway.  Our class meets in Wash Park, which was about 5 minutes from where my husband and I used to rent a home.  And let me tell you, I LOVE WASH PARK.  I think everyone loves Wash Park,...

Better to Rent or Buy?



November 3, 2010When deciding to buy a home, it is important to take a look at the finances between renting and buying.  There are many calculators available that can help you decide if it is a better financial decision to rent or to buy.  While writing rent checks often feels like throwing money away, and owning seems like an investment because of building equity, it is not always that simple. Factors like...

The Sun is Shining, Interest Rates are Dropping, Go Buy a House!



November 1, 2010It’s hard to believe that it is fall in Denver when it is sunny and 80 degrees, in October.  It couldn’t be any more beautiful, and I think everyone appreciates it more because it feels like we are on borrowed time.  Go out to the park today, because we might not get another day like this until May. But, anyone that has lived here through at least one fall and winter knows: winter will...