Are You Ready for Home Ownership?



August 25, 2010I have read many articles that help people decide if they are ready to become a home owner.  They tend to focus only on the financial obligation of home ownership.   Can you afford the monthly payments?  Do you have good credit and manage your credit?  Can you afford the maintenance of a home?  Especially now, these questions are on everyone’s mind when thinking about home...

Location, Location, Location: Live by the Light Rail



August 23, 2010Looking for a good investment in Colorado?  You may want to consider buying a home near the light rail.  In a study done in 2008 by Your Castle Real Estate home values increased about 4% while the majority of Denver home values dropped by at least 7%.  The study focused on home values along the South East line over the 2 years after the line opened. Plus, as the light rail becomes...

Relocate to Colorado: We Love Parks



August 20, 2010Parks add Value to Property…and Life Parks don’t just add to your quality of life, they can also add the value of your home.  According to a paper written by John L. Crompton from Texas A&M University in 2005, a property that is neighbors with a park can have an increased value of as much as 20%.* That’s why on a home for sale by a park will tell you on their MLS listing.  For...

Colorado Home Loans Have Gone On Sale, Part Two



August 19, 2010One of our exclusive buyer agent's also created another interesting chart showing a different perspective on what dropping interest rates mean for home owners’.  How much of a loan can you get for $2,000 per month?  In other words, for $2,000 a month, for 30 years, what can you buy? Your monthly mortgage payment is made up of principal and interest.  If the interest portion goes way down,...

Interest Rates Reach Record Lows



August 18, 2010What does this mean for home buyers? It is easy when shopping to look only at the price tag: it is right there, in front of your face.  But, if you use a credit card, there is that hidden price tag that nobody wants to think about: interest.  I dislike interest so much that I don’t even have a credit card, and I never have. (Yes, I know that using a card responsibly can help establish...

Relocate to Colorado: The Mountain Condo Fantasy



August 13, 2010One discussion my husband and I enjoy having is the “If we were rich where would we own a condo?”  It will be years before this is anything but a fantasy, but when the day comes, we are prepared.  If you are looking for the perfect place for your condo, I’d like to make my argument for the Colorado Rockies. A mountain condo can be used year round. On my way to spend the weekend in Copper...

3 Things Home Buyer’s should know about Open Houses



August 11, 2010Looking for a way to get in some homes and get a feel for what is on the market?   Open houses avoid the step of contacting the listing agent to schedule a showing.  The open house is an opportunity for buyer’s to have less pressure.  Or is it? 1)      Listing agents also use open houses to find buyers.  Most home viewers that go to open houses are unrepresented, meaning they are not...