Fall Lawn Care: 4 Ways to Say G’Night For The Winter

So the evenings are finally starting to get a bit cold. I actually have to think about taking a jacket with me. My lawn is still green & the irrigation system is still on. However, I know that autumn is here & soon I will have to be concerned about getting the lawn ready for winter. I thought this was a good article to help with the task.

Fall Lawn Care: 4 Ways to Say G’Night For The Winter
Read more: http://members.houselogic.com/articles/fall-lawn-care-tips/preview/#ixzz3FIaMzGwa
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Natural Disasters and Your Home

Natural disasters are in the news lately, with recent forest fires and earthquakes in Oregon and California, and a general increase in severe weather. What can you do to prepare your home for natural disasters? What are the biggest concerns in your area?

House Logic has a useful overview, from tips for securing your home to the costs of disaster insurance: Infographic: Preparing Your Home for a Natural Disaster

Predicting the Future of Housing Markets

Is there any local market that predicts national trends? It turns out that Minneapolis-St. Paul does the best at indicating where the housing market is probably going - or at least it did for the overall trends from 1980-2014. Other markets did better for other time periods.

Click through to read this article and find out which markets are furthest off from the trends, and which others were close: Can Any Local Market Predict National Home-Price Trends?

Preparing to Buy a Home

There's lots to think about when you're planning to buy a home. How can you help yourself feel more confident about finding the right home for you? It starts with doing a little homework in advance: make lists of your must-haves for the home and your top neighborhoods or particular criteria, like "good schools" or "15 minute commute to work." Financially, you'll want to save for your down payment and work on your credit score if it's on the low side - most lenders require a minimum score of 620.

This HouseLogic article and video have more ideas for your preparations: 7 Steps To Take Before You Buy A Home.

When you're ready, bring your lists and other homework to your Realtor and start looking! You'll know what you need and what you can afford, and your Realtor will try to find you the closest match. If you're in the Grand Junction area, contact me so I can work with you to get you into your next home.

Multi-generational Homes Are Coming Back

You may have heard of "boomerang" kids, adult children who move back in with their parents after college. According to a Pew Research report, 57 million Americans (18.1% of the population) lived in multi-generational homes in 2012. That's a big increase from the 28 million Americans (12.1% of the population) who lived in multi-generational homes in 1980. However, looking further back this trend toward multi-generational living is actually a trend back to multi-generational living: in 1940, 24.7% of the American population lived in multi-generational homes.

Multi-generational homes don't just help young people facing a recession - they also help retirees spend less of their retirement savings and create homes where young parents may have built-in babysitters or aging relatives have assistance available.

Read more about this trend here The Sensible Resurgence of the Multigenerational Home. Would you share a home with your parents or your adult children? Or, depending on your age, maybe both?

Making an Offer

When you're buying a house, it's important to be prepared for all the steps involved, from looking at what's on the market to making an offer. And when it comes to making an offer, there are a few things you can do to make the process easier and that "yes" answer from the sellers more likely, without hurting yourself.

Check out these tips from US News Money: 4 Rules to Live By When Making an Offer on a House

If you're in the Grand Junction area, contact me - I'll help you with all the steps of buying!

How Your Kids Affect Your VA Loan

If you're a parent and a veteran, this article will help you understand three ways that your kids affect your ability to get a VA loan for your new home. The cost of daycare, regular expenses and child support (whether paid or received) need to be taken into account when calculating your debt-to-income ratio.

Read on for more: http://www.veteransunited.com/futurehomeowners/how-the-cost-of-children-could-help-or-harm-your-va-loan/

Color and Interior Design

Color is an important part of a home, setting the tone for a room. The National Home Design and Color Survey by Sherwin-Williams, a survey of 1,450 home owners, found that 75% of the home owners surveyed say they believe a room or area needs paint to bring color to it. One in five home owners say they prefer a colorful paint palette, such as rich and dark or bold and bright. About 32% of homeowners say they prefer color palettes featuring warm neutrals with hints of red, yellow, or brown. And 25% prefer cool neutrals with hints of blues or greens.

Read on to see profiles on the effects of white, gray, red, brown, blue, orange, green, purple, yellow, and black color schemes. Of these rooms, I think I like the green one best; which one do you prefer?

Paint Colours that Homeowners Favour and the Psychology Behind It

Average Homebuyers

Curious about who the "average homebuyer" is in each region of the US? The National Association of Home Builders has some answers:

• In the Northeast, 64% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 46. Of 222,177 closings recorded year-to-date in 2014, 7,977 are new-home sales.
• In the West, 63% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 42.6. This year so far there have been 569,900 closings and 39,693 new-home closings.
• In the Midwest, 67% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 42.2. This year so far 15,134 new homes have been sold with a total of 421,745 closings.
• In the South, 56% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 40.2. This year so far a total of 963,189 homes have been sold, 87,833 of which were new homes.

There are more details, like median home prices, in the article here: Running the Region: Who Is the Average Home Buyer in Each Corner of the U.S.?

Green Remodeling

"Green" remodeling is a growing trend, and the number of remodels that involve at least 60% green features is expected to double in the next five years. What are the most popular features? This article has the top choices from early 2014: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2014/05/01/most-popular-features-green-remodels

If you're thinking about a green remodel and you live in Colorado, remember that Colorado sellers can complete a "green disclosure" form and share their energy- and environment-friendly choices with buyers. I did a series of blog posts on the green disclosure form here: http://grandjunctionbroker.blogspot.com/search/label/green%20disclosure

The State of the Smart Home Industry

What is the state of the smart home industry today? What features are people looking for, and how realistic are they? If you've dreamed of a house that turns the lights on for you when you're almost home, or automatically detects and reports a fire, or lets you check on your pet while you're at work, you're not alone! What features would you pick for your smart home?

Read on to see where smart home technology is going: http://www.icontrol.com/insights/2014-state-smart-home/

5 Risks: Agents Invaluable at Uncovering Value

As a buyer you might be overwhelmed by all the showings, online data, and finding your 'must haves.' Check out this article I found that helps you identify overlooked real estate value determinants. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABRR), I can help you navigate the homebuying process. I am always available to answer questions so please do not hesitate to ask.

5 Risks: Agents Invaluable at Uncovering Value by PJ Wade.

Ask the Right People the Right Questions

When you find the exact home you've been looking for, take the opportunity to talk to the neighbors. Your potential neighbors may be able to give insight into neighborhood and house, before deciding to buy. I came across a few ideas that can help jump start your conversation with these neighbors. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABRR), I like my buyers to be 100% prepared, and that means making sure they are as satisfied with the neighborhood as they are with the house.

4 Questions to Ask Neighbors Before Buying a Home by Patricia-Anne Tom.

How would you cut housing costs, if you needed to?

If you needed to cut your housing costs, what would you do? I would choose to move to a smaller place with a smaller housing payment (which could be mortgage or rent).

This article from HousingWire explores what many people would do in times of financial hardship: http://www.housingwire.com/articles/30754

What would you choose?

Sick House Syndrome

Have you heard of "Sick House Syndrome?" Homes that don't have adequate ventilation can't "breathe," and their air quality decreases. Indoor pollutants and moisture build-up can cause problems, especially for young children, elderly residents, and people with some kinds of chronic illness.

Read on for more information, including some basic tips for addressing Sick House Syndrome: http://rismedia.com/2014-06-21/what-is-sick-house-syndrome-and-what-causes-it/

Reasons to Work with a Real Estate Agent

Wondering whether you need a real estate agent? RIS Media has seven reasons for clients to choose to work with an agent. http://rismedia.com/2014-06-21/for-your-client-7-reasons-to-use-a-real-estate-agent/

And if you're looking for a real estate agent in the Grand Junction area, let me know! I'm here to help you buy or sell a home.

Final Walk-Through: What to Remember

Perhaps the most important moments for you as a buyer are during the final walkthrough. The walkthrough will give you an opportunity to check out all the little and big things you might have missed while getting caught up in the excitement of homeownership. I came across this checklist that you should keep with you as you go through your house for the last time. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABRR), my job is to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your purchase. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Your Final Walk-Through: Things to Keep in Mind. Copyright C 2013. Realty Times(R). All Rights Reserved.

Home Theaters: Two Examples

As technology gets better and better, and a regular trip to the movies gets more expensive, more families are building home theaters. Read on to see what these families did, and why: http://rismedia.com/2014-06-22/home-theaters-are-growing-in-popularity/

It's a Great Time to Buy!

As a buyer, it is good to know what the market is saying about buying property. Right now, the market is indicating that now is a great time to buy. I came across this article that offers some insight as to why. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABRR), I like my buyers to be informed with the best and most current information out there about real estate. I am always here to answer any questions you have about the market, so please do not hesitate to ask. I look forward to working with you!

4 Reasons Why Buyers Should Be Happy. Copyright C 2014. The National Association of REALTORS(R). All Rights Reserved.

Buy an Existing Home, or Build a New One?

When in the market for a new home, are most people looking to buy an existing home or build a new one? While many people have no strong preference, more than a third would prefer a new home while a fifth would prefer an existing home.

 New homes have the advantages of modern features and, in the case of custom builds, those features may be exactly as designed by the family that will live there. A newer home also needs less maintenance and doesn't bear the marks of previous residents.

On the other hand, an existing home often costs less, offers traditional features, and is located in an established neighborhood. And if handyman chores are part of what you enjoy about homeownership, an existing home will give you the chance to fix things up with fun projects.

Trends in home showings and sales

Foot traffic in the form of home showings, as tracked by use of SentriLock lock boxes, has a high correlation with home sales. After a dip in the winter, you can see by the trend that this summer is going to be a good time for buying and selling homes!

The trend in foot traffic matches what the real estate site Trulia.com reports: the site had a record number of unique visitors in April, nearly 50 million. For more about that, read on: http://www.housingwire.com/articles/30026-trulias-traffic-spikes-in-april

Deciding How to Sell Your Home

When it's time to sell your home, it's usually worth investing in professional help. A real estate broker has experience and knows the local market. And a broker increases the chance that you'll get the best price for your house!

For more, see this article from FannieMae: http://knowyouroptions.com/news/selling-your-home?sf2824381=1

Millennials and Homebuying

When will we see Millennials getting an opportunity to purchase homes? Sooner than you might think, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Read more to find out what the factors are. And if you're a Millennial who's ready now, contact me to get started!

Financially Responsible Millennials and Homeownership

First-Time Homebuyers: Time for a Comeback

First-time homebuyers will return to the market in greater numbers, soon, according to a report from Barclay's last month. Click through to see why, and what the one big hold-up will continue to be. And if you're a first-time homebuyer, contact me! I'll work with you every step of the way.

Barclays: 3 reasons the first-time homebuyer will return

Approaches to Selling a Home and Asking Prices

Want more detail about how sellers are putting their homes on the market and how their asking prices are working out? These tables have current data from the National Association of Realtors. Whether you're looking for a home to buy and wondering about the seller's perspective or looking for ideas about how to sell your home, or just curious, these numbers are interesting and worth a look! And remember: a Realtor is a great resource. If you're buying or selling in Grand Junction, give me a call.

Smart Home Tech

Our homes are getting "smarter" as new products come out that let us adjust thermostats with our smart phones or set lights to turn on only when an area is in use. As a bonus, many of these products make our homes greener, saving electricity and other resources! Curious to see what's out there? Check out this slideshow: Smart Home Tech at Realtor Magazine.

Home Choices: New Home or Fixer-Upper?

When it comes to home buying, there are usually two paths you can take: buying a brand new home or purchasing a fixer-upper. Of course, there are advantages to both. Check out this article that’ll give you an excellent overview of both options. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), I am really excited to help you find the exact home you are looking for. Please contact me with any questions!

Buying a Home – Brand New Vs. Fixer Upper. Copyright © 2009-2104. PropertyCluster.com. All Rights Reserved.

The Steps of Home Buying

The steps to buying a home rarely change. In almost every real estate purchase, buyers tend to follow the same road map. I found an article that includes an actual homebuyer’s road map! Take a look at what the homebuying process looks like and please contact me with any additional questions. I am excited to join you on this journey and will be with you every step of the way.

The Home Buying Process by Karen Highland. Copyright © 2014. Frederick Real Estate Online. All Rights Reserved.

Homeownership for Millennials at Historic Low

Homeownership for Millennials (people aged 35 and younger) is at its lowest level in more than twenty years. This may not be good news, but it is realistic news. And no surprise for those in this age range. Read this article for some possible reasons, and hopeful signs that the trend is changing.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/30/homeownership-for-millennials-declines-to-historic-lows

Single and Looking to Buy?

There are many benefits to owning real estate, and no matter what the relationship status is - single, in a relationship, or married - the benefits still remain. I came across an article that I thought had some helpful information in it for singles looking to own real estate. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABRR), I have a wealth of information and resources that will help you every step of the way. Please take a look at this information and let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to working with you!

House Buying Tips for Singles by Tara-Nicholle Nelson. Copyright C2014. Singular Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Thinking About Buying? Check Your Credit

The status of your credit can affect many parts of a real estate transaction. That's why it is extremely important for you to have it checked before you start the home buying search. As an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABRR), I always want to make sure my buyers are informed and prepared for every step of the transaction process. If you have any questions, I am always available. I look forward to working with you.

First Time Home Buyers Should Check Their Credit Early. Copyright C 2013. Shamrock Financial Corp. All Rights Reserved.

The Spectrum of Real Estate

This week the real estate market has had activity at both ends of the spectrum, from very high to very low.

Copper Beech Farm, a 51 acre estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, sold for $120 million. You can read more about the sale on CNBC. It's the most expensive residential transaction in Greenwich history, and the most expensive single-family home ever sold.

On the other end, vacant single-family homes in Detroit will be auctioned off, starting at $1000 each, in May. CNN Money has the full story. Buyers will have six months to fix the home up and have someone living in it, or they lose the property. The city is recognizing the importance of getting empty homes reoccupied by owners and renters. Homes will be auctioned off neighborhood by neighborhood, so new residents will have others working with them to re-establish each area.

The real estate market is incredibly diverse this year, as you can see when the range goes from $1000 to $120 million for a single-family home. Most people will be looking somewhere in the middle, but no matter what your price range is, work with a Realtor!

Home Appraisals: Myths and Facts

The home appraisal process can be confusing, or just full of common misunderstandings, whether you're a lender, a borrower, a real estate broker, or a homebuilder. This article from The Appraisal Foundation gives you the myths and the facts from all those perspectives.

Common Myths about Appraisals in the Home-Buying Process

Approaches to Searching for a Home

Want more detail about how home buyers are approaching their searches and where they're finding success? These tables have current data from the National Association of Realtors. Whether you're selling your home and wondering how buyers might find you, or looking for ideas about how to find the home you want to buy, or just curious, these numbers are interesting and worth a look! And remember: a Realtor is a great resource. If you're buying or selling in Grand Junction, give me a call. 

How do buyers find homes?

Wondering how buyers find their homes? This pie chart has the break down. An overwhelming proportion of people are looking online for their homes and using a Realtor: 89%.

Contact me for your home search in the Grand Junction area - don't miss out on the best home for you. Work with a Realtor!

What Home Buyers Need to Know About FHA Loans

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are mortgages insured by the FHA. The insurance protects the lender from a loss if the borrower defaults, and this means that lenders can offer FHA loans  with better interest rates and more flexible qualification requirements.

Here are seven more things that all home buyers should know about FHA loans:

7 Crucial Facts About FHA Loans

Finding the Best Mortgage For You

Perhaps the biggest component of making sure you are comfortable with your home purchase is securing the right mortgage. I found some great information on how to get the best mortgage you can by making sure you are 100% prepared. As an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®), I have professionals in my network that can help you every step of the way. Please contact me if you have any questions. I am excited to begin working with you!

10 Mortgage Tips for 2014. Copyright © 2014. Bankrate, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Things To Do Before The Home Search Begins

My goal as an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) is to make sure my buyers know exactly what to expect throughout the buying process. I came across this brief breakdown of what you should be doing before we begin looking for homes. I have an extensive network of professionals that can help you with any questions/concerns, so please contact me with any questions. I look forward to working with you!

5 Tips for First Time Homebuyers by Peter Rawski. Copyright © 2014. MTL Real Estate Coach. All Rights Reserved.

Millennial Home Buyers' Top 5 Must-Haves

It's no surprise that younger generations are the largest segments of home buyers. Millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, are the second-biggest segment, right behind Gen X (1965-1979). Whether or not you believe in generational profiles, there are some things that Millennial buyers generally have in common, like preferences for certain updated parts of the home and kinds of layouts. Read this article to learn more!


5 Must-Haves of Millennial Buyers: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2014/02/12/5-must-haves-millennial-buyers

Men and Women React to Houses Differently

I understand that both men and women want a great place to live. However they actually treated the house-hunting process differently. I thought that it was interesting that both men and women liked "outdoor living spaces" and "open floor plans", although in different percentages. Also it was interesting how they "crush" on houses in or out of their price range, and how easily they fall in and out of love with their current "crush." This article definitely confirms that, although they want to behave logically when it comes to a house purchase, most people react emotionally to houses and have "real estate love." This is why I view my job as being a matchmaker between sellers and buyers OR buyers and homes.

Realtor.com® Survey: Men, Women Dig on Digs Differently: http://www.realtor.com/news/men-women-dig-on-digs-differently/#.UvlGiI3n91u

VA Loans and the New Qualified Mortgage Regulations

We have a VA loan for our home & I am a big fan of VA loans for those who qualify for them. There are questions about how the new Qualified Mortgage requirements will affect VA loans. Here's a great article that addresses those concerns.

What the New Qualified Mortgage (QM) Regulations Mean for VA Borrowers: http://www.veteransunited.com/valoans/va-qualified-mortgage/

Sleep Before You Buy?

As Realtors, we have requests from the buyer about checking out a house before buying. However, I must admit that this is a new concept to me. I personally don't know any buyers or sellers who had the buyer want to "test drive" the house first. We have a contract that is a post-occupancy agreement. This covers when the house ownership has changed to the new owner, but the sellers take several days before they move out. No matter what, it is important to have a contractual agreement when someone else is trying out your home!!

http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2014/02/03/homebuyers-stay-overnight-home/

What do you think? Would you spend the night in a house you were thinking of buying? Would you let potential buyers stay in a house you were selling?

Beware of this phone scam

During the Super Bowl on a couple weeks ago, my phone rang & I saw that the area code was (268). Since I didn't recognize the area code & since it was during the Super Bowl, I did not answer it. When I googled the area code, I saw that it was from Antigua. I am grateful that I didn't answer it OR return the call after I saw this article.

Don't Return Calls From These Area Codes -- It's A Scam!

Have you read about this already? Did you receive any suspicious calls?

Drones in Real Estate

Since I already have listings with property views using drones through Synergy Marketing Consultants, it was interesting to see this article: Drones in Real Estate: Soon, But Not Yet.

There's a lot of work to be done, figuring out how drones can be used effectively and safely in real estate: FAA regulations, training for operators, privacy concerns. In the linked article you can watch a video from REALTOR mag, in which they sat down with the regulatory analyst from the National Association of Realtors and talked about how things are developing.

Even though drone use is still fairly limited, I do have two properties that include drone views in their virtual tours! You can see them on YouTube, at the links below:

428 1/2 Doris Road, Grand Junction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-BEj4InLw4

2059 Stagecoach Court, Grand Junction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M8uxbPNWUQ

Colors of the Year

Every winter, Pantone announces the Color of the Year. The Color of the Year is not necessarily "the hot fashion color." It's a color that the Pantone Color Institute team thinks will "resonate around the world … a reflection of what people are looking for, what they feel they need that color can help to answer." It's a color "crossing all areas of design which is an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers."

The color for 2014 is "radiant orchid," Pantone 18-3224. You can see the official page here: http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21129 to see what radiant orchid means as a color.

PantoneView has an interview with Leatrice Eiseman, who is the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. She says radiant orchid is a color to inspire innovation, because it comes from the purple family which is associated with magic. See the rest of the interview for yourself: http://www.pantoneview.com/pantone-color-of-the-year-2014

Past colors of the year have been "emerald" in 2013, for well-being, balance, and harmony; "tangerine tango" in 2012, for an energy boost; "honeysuckle" in 2011, which encouraged facing everyday challenges with vigor and boldness; "turquoise" in 2010, which combined the serenity of blue and the invigoration of green; and "mimosa" in 2009, which "embodies hopefulness and reassurance in a climate of change."

Do you think radiant orchid is a good choice for 2014?

Predictions for 2014: The Cost of Waiting

From the National Association of Realtors.

I think that 2014 is going to be a great year to buy a home. People sometimes wonder what the difference is if the interest rate goes up. If you are buying a home around $250,000, the principal and interest part of the loan will increase by around $150 if the interest rate goes from 4.3% to 5.3%. Either you can afford to make higher payments OR your payments will stay the same because you bought a cheaper home.

Trends To Date: How Buyers Find Homes

From the National Association of Realtors.

Whether you are selling or buying a home, it is good to know where most people do their research & get their initial information. I am guessing no one is surprised that people are using the internet more and more. However, I was glad to see that the yard sign still counts as an important marketing tool. I like to put a flyer box in front of my yard sign so that people can get some information immediately if they are driving by.

Predictions for 2014: Mortgage Rates

Table from the National Association of Realtors.
Projected rates provided by lenders.

Mortgage rates have been really low. Most of us recognize that the lower interest rates won't last forever. Today's interest rate for a 15-year mortgage is around 3.7% to 4%. The interest rate for an FHA loan with fixed payments for 30 years is around 4.5%. Here are the predictions from government institutions like Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, the mortgage banking community, and the National Association of Realtors.

Longer Window for Owner-Occupied Buyers

Here's some good news. Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac have extended the time period when a owner-occupied buyer can make an offer on a foreclosed property sold by them. Before, they only had 15 days between the time it was released on to the market and the closing day for buyers' bids. Now they have 20 days. (After the time period, investors can make offers for the property, competing with owner-occupied buyers. Investors have advantages over owner-occupied buyers who need loans, less-damaged housing, and more time to purchase the property.) With the extra days, the buyer has more time to see the property as well as get an inspection to see if the property is livable and can qualify for a loan. The extra days are definitely a positive sign that there is a push for more owner-occupied housing.

Here's the article about this I saw on REALTOR Mag: Buyers Get Extended Offer Period on REOs

To Stage or Not to Stage?

I have always wondered if staging a property was a good idea or not. Sometimes I have a house for sale and as the listing agent I want it to look good when buyers come see it. I try to take photos of the inside with furniture while the sellers are still living there. If there are good photos on the Internet, it increases the chance of a buyer wanting to see the inside of the house. However, sometimes the sellers have needed to move before the house is sold. Then I have wondered if it was better to keep the house vacant or to rent or borrow furniture to have it look "lived in." From this article, it sounds like the house won't sell for more money, but it didn't answer the question of whether the house would sell sooner. If I have some furniture or the seller has some furniture that can stay in the house, I like to have it there. However, I have yet to spend money to have someone professionally stage the house. I would rather spend my money on advertising!

Here's a REALTOR Mag article on this topic: Study: Staging Doesn't Influence Selling Price

What do you think?