I am a realtor and real estate investor based in Centennial, Colorado, With over 15 years of experience, I aim to help homebuyers make smart, strategic purchases. I advises first-time and “experienced” buyers alike to build a team of experts, scrutinize their finances, and remain in control throughout the process. Buying a home or investing in real estate is one of the most expensive and life-altering decisions most people make. Since it's not a topic that's heavily touched upon in school, most people end up "winging it" and learning on the fly. Sure, that's one way to approach it. A better way is to get familiar with important concepts and practices that can help you make sound buying decisions and avoid costly mistakes. As a real estate agent, investor, and coach, I've been through countless transactions with clients. My goal is always to provide a framework for buyers to make smart, strategic purchases. Here are my eight best pieces of advice for ...
Colorado’s system of real property taxation can leave homeowners confused and frustrated. This may be especially true if a homeowner receives a Notice of Valuation reflecting an unexpected increase in the value of his or her home which results in an increase in taxes owed. This article will provide an overview of the process by which property values are determined for the purposes of taxation and the options for homeowners who believe their properties have been incorrectly valued. Colorado has a two year cycle for valuing real property for the purposes of assessing property taxes. In odd years, properties are revalued; even years are considered “intervening years” and properties are generally considered to have the same value as in the prior year. In intervening years, notice of the value of property is often contained in a short form along with the property tax statement issued in January. However, in odd years assessors are required to mail a Notice of Valuation, or NOV, to taxp...
During these winter months, when you cannot go outside and work on your home’s exterior or plant in the garden, you can nevertheless make use of your time inside, especially in the kitchen. Perhaps your faded kitchen needs a new and creative touch. Many homeowners don’t even like to spend time in the kitchen because it’s so gloomy, but they have limited time and finances to make improvements. Fortunately, kitchen renovations do not have to drain your budget, take a lot of time, or create a total upheaval in your kitchen. Try one or all of the following tips for a quick kitchen renewal. 1. Try Painting Paint works wonders on everything. A dull room can be transformed into a vibrant, clean atmosphere with just a few strokes of a brush and a gallon of paint. If your old wood-tone cabinets fail to catch your eye, try spray-painting them with a very glossy white or hand-painting them with an oil-based paint in creamy white. For only a few dollars, you can paint your cabinetry, creating...
On a recent trip on I-70 to evaluate some land for a client, I was confronted with sad but beautiful image of red forests stretching for miles across the hills. The image of a red "evergreen" contrasting against the green scenery is mesmerizing at first until you take a closer look at red death destroying millions of trees in Colorado. Beetle epidemics across the western United States are becoming more obvious every season with entire landscapes turning red and brown as trees die. In northwest Colorado the beetle epidemics, triggered by extended drought in aging forests, are intensifying at an alarming rate, and there is little that can be done to stop them. Actions can be taken to protect high value areas such as ski areas, developed campgrounds and trees in people’s yards. Hastening Death: Pine beetles carry a fungus on their body and legs. Once they enter the tree, the fungus multiplies and spreads. This blue stain fungus blocks the transport of water up the tree’s trunk ...
"Option Arm" What You Need To Know Seems like we all want the latest and hottest "thing" these days, and even some mortgage loans are no exception. The lending industry seems intent on seeing everyone in America become a homeowner by introducing new adjustable rate loan products that give a false impression that home ownership is both cheap and affordable despite soaring home prices. Contrary to the good advice of many financial experts, more and more would-be and current homeowners are being lured into loans that can backfire and possibly even render you homeless in a few years if your income cannot keep pace with increasing monthly mortgage payments and a rising interest rate environment. One of these adjustable loan products introduced to the average consumer is the "Option ARM" home loan, also known by several names like "Pick-A-Pay Loan", the "Flex Pay Loan", "Flex Option ARM", and "Pay Option ARM", among others...
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