Everyone loves Steamboat, Ski Town USA



September 30, 2010An avid skier, and great friend of mine visits Steamboat every year with her family. It is their favorite place to ski in the country.  I visited them over New Years a few years ago, and had an incredible time. The snow was great, the views were great, the food was great…even the party was great.  I was completely charmed by the town and understand why it is lovingly called Ski Town USA: it...

Home Shopping without an buyer’s agent is like Reading your Own X-Ray



September 27, 2010We just recently had a house guest who is a very dear friend of the family, who is in his fourth year of medical school.  We were talking about the term “gestalt.” According to Wikipedia is the concept that “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”  It is the idea that a few lines and curves can be recognized as a figure.   For example, a few lines and a circle could be...

Establishing Your Home Budget is a Delicate Balance.



September 25, 2010Recently, we talked about an important home buyers tip: carefully planning for your future so that you find the perfect home to fit your needs. Let’s revisit the subject by taking a look at why people chose to move, and what the potential downside is to moving to early. The three most common reasons to move are: “moving up”, family, and work. According to the Current Population Survey,...

Manage your home buying fears: Three things every home buyer should know.



September 22, 2010People fear responsibilities of all types.  Getting married and having a baby are classic examples.  What about buying a house?  It is a large, life changing responsibility too.  And, people can be afraid of taking this step. Home Buyers biggest fear is being unable to afford their mortgage payment. Unlike changes like having a child or getting married, people are afraid of the financial...

Why work with an buyer’s agent?



September 20, 2010I had such a great experience working with our exclusive buyers' agent that I take for granted that anyone buying a home would make the same decision and work with an agent. But I forget that there was a time that I considered, even temporarily, that I might want to just “save money” by buying a house without an agent.   It makes me smile and laugh at myself to think about that.  After...

Forbes Names Denver and Colorado Springs as Best Housing Markets



September 17, 2010Investors are focusing on buying real estate in Denver and Colorado Springs, which are the top 10 housing markets according to Forbes.   Forbes suggests that following the investors may be a good idea for home buyers.  These cities are predicted to be among the best in the country for a dramatic turnaround in home prices. Our exclusive buyers' agents have a similar analysis.  They show...

Home Owners: Careful, Savvy and Happy



September 15, 201090 percent of new home owners are happy with their home purchase, according to a poll by Bankrate.com.  It is refreshing, to hear that the overwhelming majority of people are still happy to be home owners. According to the "Social Benefits of Stable Housing” paper released by the National Association of Realtors, there are many reasons that home owners are happy about their recent home...