With a new year comes new optimism as the Denver Broncos try to get back to their winning ways. Make sure to tune in and support our home team!

GO BRONCOS!

Helpful Home Care Tips...

One of the biggest challenge people face when they become homeowners is how to maintain and care for their home. With costs of services and goods exploding over the past few years more and more people are taking care of this themselves.

We wanted to share a very helpful Maintenance Guide that we received from Residential Warranty Services. Click the links below to explore each category further:

• The Basics
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• HVAC
• Appliances
• Miscellaneous

You will find helpful videos that will help you tackle all those home projects you may need to address. 

Are you thinking of selling the near future and need some advice on getting your home ready to list? Contact us today so we can schedule a time to meet with you and formulate a plan that will get your home ready to to be sold! 

Parker, CO Welcomes Colorado's Newest Trader Joe's

Construction is well underway for Colorado's newest Trader Joe's grocery store! The store is located at 18374 Cottonwood Drive Suite #150 Parker right next to the Costco warehouse. 

Trader Joe's currently has six locations across Colorado. They are known for specialty foods and of course their famous "2 Buck Chuck" wine. Unfortunately the Parker location will only be selling Colorado and regional beer but not their famous wine due to their proximity to area liquor stores. 

The exterior is now complete pluse the Town of Parker recently approved the beer license. There are two more big steps closer to their Grand Opening.

The current timeline has the store finishing up and opening in Spring 2022.

September 2021
Real Estate News
Brought to you by Scott Beard

Winter is coming... Again

As Ben Franklin once said: “In this world, nothing is certain but death and cleaning your gutters before winter to prevent ice dams”. With that, here are five fall home maintenance activities to start thinking about in the coming weeks.

Check your chimney
Make sure everything is in order before the first fire of the season. "Creosote buildup causes chimney fires," says Family Handyman. "You should have your chimney professionally inspected or cleaned after every 70 fires. Don't remember the last time you had it cleaned by a pro? A quick way to tell if your chimney needs cleaning is to run the point of your fireplace poker along the inside of your chimney liner. If you find a 1/8” layer (or more) of buildup, call a chimney sweep."

Check your roof
Storms, wind, and other weather conditions over the past year could have done damage that you're not aware of. Don’t wait until the first heavy snow to find out you have a leak. If you're not comfortable on a ladder or just want a professional eye, a pro roofer will typically charge you less than $100 to check it out.

Seasonal Slowdown But Still a Strong Market...

With another school year upon us, the Denver Metro Area Real Estate Market has experienced the typical seasonal slowdown we see this time of year.

Even with the slowdown the market remained very strong and active.  Although the numbers year over year have showed a slight decline, strong buyer activity led to the highest level of closed homes on record.  

You can keep your home in top shape with simple tasks throughout the year. This month, be sure to:

1.   Make sure your gutters stay clean and clog free. It's best to do this before leaves get wet from rain or snow.

2.   Check caulking and weather strips around doors and windows.

3.   Trim back tree branches that are too close to your house or other building structures.

4.   Check for peeling paint and scrub any mildewed areas you find on your siding.

5.   Service your kitchen disposal by grinding several cups of ice cubes.

6.   Examine, repair and replace caulk and grout around your bathtubs and showers.

7.   Pour one gallon of water down unused drains.

8.   Check your fire extinguisher. Refill or replace as needed.

 As always, we appreciate referrals from my friends and past clients. If you know of anyone who is looking to buy or sell real estate, please send them our way!

When you think about your dream home, are you seeing the house, or the neighborhood it's in? It's easy to get caught up in bedroom and bathroom counts when you're shopping for a new home, but the biggest choice you're going to make in the process is of course the ‘where’ question. So how do you find the home that's going to be the perfect fit for your whole lifestyle?

Strong Buyer Demand Continues to Drive the Market.

Strong Buyer activity continues to push the Denver Real Estate Market to record levels of closed homes in 2021. July did show a bit of a shift as Buyers paused to enjoy the summer and 4th of July holiday weekend. Lack of inventory continues to be a problem as we saw closed homes drop by a whopping 17% compared to July of 2020. 

New listings were down by 6% from July 2020 which led to a decline in Pending Home Sales which were down by 10% year over year. 

Home inventory dropped by 1 week compared to July 2020. They few new listings that did come to market sold very quickly. Homes sold 16 days faster than they did this time last year. The average days on market dropped to only 9 days further proof that this STRONG Sellers Market is going to continue for the foreseeable future.

The lack of inventory has pushed the average closed sales price for a single family home to $622,092 up 16% from this time last year. 

More Market Stats 

Relief may be on the horizon for weary Buyers as typical slowdowns happen with the upcoming school year. Stay tuned to Denver Realty Pro for the latest on what is happening in the Denver Metro Area Real Estate Market.

Curious about what’s happening in your neighborhood? 
You can create a custom market report to see what’s active, under contract, and sold in your neighborhood! 

Considering selling or refinancing your home? Get an INSTANT property valuation now!

Contact us today to find out how we can be of assistance to you!

August  2021
Real Estate News
Brought to you by Scott Beard

What's the deal with the "We Buy Houses For Cash" companies?

In today's real estate market, homes stay on the market for about 25 days on average before going under contract. That's better than back in 2010, when homes were averaging 140 days to sell, but it's still not fast, and there's no guarantee that your home will sell in 25 days. Location, season, and many other factors affect how quickly you can sell a home. If you need to sell your home quickly, those "We Buy Houses for Cash" billboards may have caught your eye. Can you really sell your home as-is in just a few days?

Who are they?

"We buy houses for cash" buyers are not your typical buyer looking for a home to live in or rent out. They are real estate investors looking to make a quick profit.

As such, they are looking to purchase a home for the lowest price possible, fix it up as needed, and sell it on the open market a short time later. These types of investors can make a huge profit on a home in just a few months.

Who do they target?

These cash buyers are looking for motivated or desperate sellers. For example, let's say you listed your home, but the listing eventually expired without resulting in a sale. At this point, you would probably be contacted by a cash buyer. They're hoping you'll be discouraged by your failure on the open market and will be willing to sell your house for cash at a reduced price.

In the same vein, cash buyers go after people in situations that require a fast sale such as divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, and probate sales.

Are there benefits?

For many people in situations such as these, selling a home quickly might be the number one priority, despite the potential to maximize return. And selling to a cash buyer certainly is fast.

The typical financed purchase takes about 30 days to close. Appraisals, contracts, and other procedures take time, and they must be done before funds are released.

Cash buyers don't have to deal with that. They'll typically come to your home within a day or two of you contacting them and make an offer on the spot or soon after. They often process the sale in-house and have a title company at the ready to clear the title.

Cash buyers also eliminate the inspection and objection process by simply buying a home "as-is". In only a few days, your house will be sold and you'll be turning over the keys.

Sounds easy enough. What's the catch? 

Say goodbye to any profits and probably the equity that you've built up in your home. The offer that cash buyers make is often suspiciously just enough to pay off your mortgage. You will likely only receive 50-80% of market value.

80% of market value might seem like it's worth it to avoid the hassle of going the conventional route, but the average is more like 65% of market value.

Another reason to be extremely careful with these types of companies: scams. Phony investors have all sorts of tactics and tricks to extort money from desperate sellers. You don't want to lose money, or worse, your home, just in an effort to save time.

In short, if you are considering selling your house to a cash buyer, do your research first. Selling a home to get out from under it isn't the only alternative you have. There are other, more profitable options.

To save or to splurge... That is the question.

When decorating your home, saving money is great. Who doesn't love finding a deal on an item and then not-so-subtly bragging about it when guests come over? Bargain-hunting does, however, have its limits, and the impulse to save now might cost you in the long run. Here are a couple places to splurge, and a couple ways to save when decorating your home.

Furniture

Furniture is a mixed bag. You can get away with an inexpensive coffee table found at a vintage store, and you may be able to score a killer deal on a dining table that looks far more expensive than it is. But when it comes to upholstery, proceed with caution, especially with large pieces. Cheap textiles can pill, rip, wear out easily, and stain permanently. Plus, the material often gets scratchy and uncomfortable.

If you consider the amount of space a sofa occupies, and how often you're using it, it's best not to cut corners. Spring for something with quality construction and materials, and it could last 15 years or more. That being said, furniture manufacturers are facing the same supply chain and labor issues that are impacting the prices of many consumer goods right now. If you are considering splurging on a sofa this year, it might be best to sit tight and wait for things to cool off.

Art

While some designers will tell you that price is no object when it comes to art, the reality is that most of us aren't playing with Picasso money. Luckily, online marketplaces like Society6, Minted, and Etsy allow you to find unique pieces without breaking the bank, and, as a bonus, you'll be supporting emerging artists instead of buying stuff that's mass-produced.

Flooring

Skimp out on your flooring and you may find yourself needing to replace it prematurely—or live with the consequences of a poor choice. Everything from thin wood, to poor adhesive, to carpet that won't stand up to kids and pets, can cause problems sooner than you expect. Save yourself the time, money, and headache, and pay to get it done right the first time.

Rugs

Area rugs are one of the best items for bargain hunters because there are myriad options that are both durable and affordable. A natural sisal rug can hide the appearance of dirt and take a beating, but at a price point that won't make you cry when Fido has an accident. Flatweave wool rugs are another popular-yet-affordable option.

When in doubt, just consider the room your rug is going in. Is there a lot of foot traffic? Pet and kid access? Potential for food or drink spills? If the answer is yes to any of the above, save your money and go with something inexpensive and replaceable.

4 Insider Tips to Make the Most of Open Houses 

Have you visited any open houses in the neighborhoods you're interested in? Make sure you're maximizing your weekend trips with these four must dos.

1.   Open everything.
From doors to cabinet drawers, it's the only way to get an accurate sense of storage–and to make sure you don't miss a room!

2.   Take the takeaways.
That extra paper may seem like a waste, but once you've seen more than a few houses, you'll need something to help you keep them straight.

3.   Take pictures and notes.
Again, it's easy to forget what you saw where. The provided takeaways are a great start, but help yourself remember what you do–and don't–like about a place.

4.   Check out the neighborhood.
Spend some time walking around the house. Are there close neighbors? What's the traffic like? Remember, you don't just buy a house–it's the whole neighborhood.

Initially you may want to check out these places yourself, but it can be helpful to have a real estate professional like me along for the ride. Visiting open houses with you will help me get a better sense of what you're looking for, and I can get helpful insights from the seller's agent if you're interested.

Give me a call today to schedule a day of touring open houses together.