In keeping with past seasonal trends, the Denver Metro Area housing market saw fewer home sales in September 2018. Home prices continue their steady rise, with average sold price in September 7% higher than this time last year. During the fall and winter months, home buyers and sellers can take advantage of a slower pace or make preparations for next year. Seasonal Cooling in the Colorado Housing Market As the weather cools, we often see a seasonal slowing in the Colorado housing market. Fewer homeowners are interested in moving into a new home during this time of year. This time is often spent preparing for winter, knowing the holiday season will soon be upon us. In September, 4,229 homes sold across the Denver Metro area, 25% lower than last month. There was also a decrease in the number of homes under contract, 5% fewer than last month. However, year-to-date sales are only 3% lower than this time last year. If you want to buy or sell a home now… Home buy...
Curb appeal can be the most important aspect when trying to attract buyers. As temperatures rise and spring begins to waltz in, take advantage of the warmth and set yourself and your family to work in the yard to improve your home’s curb appeal. Some ideas: 1. Create an immaculate space – During the winter, things can get out of hand in your yard. Plants and trees can look overgrown or decrepit, so cut them back and prune them to perfection. This will allow your plants and trees to grow beautifully during the warm spring season. Rake up or blow away dead leaves throughout your lawn and flowerbeds, since they can create a cluttered look. Be diligent about general upkeep in your yard. Mow the lawn and put down some fresh pine straw or mulch to clearly mark spaces in your yard, creating a clean and manicured look. 2. Introduce some color – Visit your local nursery to purchase some colorful, healthy looking flowers, trees, or shrubs. This is where you get to have fun and be cre...
"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...
Colorado’s hot, dry summer’s weather may mean another round of water shortages. With water restrictions in place, keeping your family’s backyard flower and vegetable gardens moist and viable could be a serious challenge. Consider purchasing a rain barrel. These heavy-duty plastic or wood barrels catch rainwater and store it until you need it. A rain barrel allows for the practical reuse of water that otherwise would run down your driveway into a street drain, form puddles in your yard or feed into area streams. Reusing rainwater doesn’t just help the environment; it can lower your water bill and teach your kids about the importance of water preservation. The federal Environmental Protection Agency estimates that lawn and garden watering comprise nearly 40 percent of household water use during the summer, and that a rain barrel can save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months. Because it’s naturally soft and doesn’t contain minerals, chlorine, fluoride or...
Colorado often experiences severe hailstorms that can cause devastating property damage. The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association reports that Colorado’s Front Range and Wyoming’s eastern plains, commonly referred to as “hail alley,” receive the highest frequency of large hailstones in North America. Over the past 10 years, hailstorms have caused nearly $1.7 billion in damage to roofs and automobiles in hail alley. The damaging hailstorms generally occur mid-May through late July. Damages incurred to roofs during hailstorms can, however, be reduced with proper roof design and roofing product selection. A properly designed roof structure can substantially reduce hail damage. Several testing agencies have developed the following recommendations for the roof designer: Shingles made with polymer-modified (SBS) asphalt have better resistance to hail damage than shingles made from oxidized asphalt. Reroofing over an existing shingle system greatly increases the ...
Comments