Category: Home Search Strategies

Local Knowledge May Help You Find Your Dream Home



August 27, 2010Yesterday I was going for a stroll, when I met another one of my neighbors.  We had the typical new neighbor conversation; covering names, family members, abridged employment history and date moved to the neighborhood.   She has been here about 25 years.  I’ve been here about 2 months.  I told her that I was previously renting in the Denver University area, about a mile away from Wash...

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...

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...

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...