7 factors that determine your interest rate
April 10, 2019 by RE/MAX of Cherry Creek It’s a common question: What are today’s interest rates? Alas, the question is easier posed than answered, as interest rates vary significantly according to many factors. What goes into the interest rate you will receive on your mortgage? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) cites these 7 elements: Your credit score: Generally, the better your score, the lower your interest rate, as lenders know high scorers are reliable in paying off their debts. The location of your home: Interest rates...
read moreConsidering downsizing? You’ll have to deal with your emotions first
April 4, 2019 by RE/MAX of Cherry Creek You’ve lived in your house for decades, raising your children while celebrating joyous milestones along the way. Now your children are grown: Is it time to downsize? Downsizing may make rational sense, but emotional landmines can make the decision difficult. “To save yourself from staying stuck in a home that’s not right for you, try to understand why you feel emotional about selling your home,” notes Chris Hogan, author of Retire Inspired: It’s Not an Age; It’s a Financial Number. Hogan lists four...
read moreThink you can’t afford a home? Here are 4 reasons you might be wrong
April 26, 2019 by RE/MAX of Cherry Creek Buying a home is a big commitment, so it’s understandable if you’ve been postponing this purchase. Like many, you might believe that a home is out of your financial reach. But this thought may also be based on incorrect information. Keeping Current Matters recently disputed 4 commonly held misconceptions you might be harboring about your ability to buy a home. Consider these myths: I need to make a 20% down payment to buy a house: Actually, the average down payment for first-time buyers is only 6%....
read more6 no-fail ways to create a pollinator-friendly garden
April 29, 2019 by RE/MAX of Cherry Creek Now is the time to start thinking about your garden. What big things can you do this year to create a beautiful outdoor setting? Surprisingly, the answer is to focus on something small: Start by thinking of pollinators, those tiny creatures that flit from plant to plant, making possible the glorious blooms we all enjoy. Pollinators, particularly bees, have been in decline in recent years, so it’s important to find ways to help them thrive. To create an environment friendly to pollinators, here...
read moreOlder homes are bursting with charm…but beware of structural issues
Some like buying brand new homes, filled with the latest amenities. Others prefer the charm of an older home, with its unique nooks and crannies and old-world craftsmanship. If you fall into the latter category, keep in mind that charm can come with unexpected landmines. While you are tempted to focus on the design elements that make an older home appealing, it’s important to consider structural issues as well. No matter how much you love those quaint arches and unique built-ins, a cracked foundation or leaky roof can douse your enthusiasm...
read more3 Important Tips For First-time Homebuyers
Are you getting ready to look for your first home? There’s more to the task than checking out bedrooms and back yards. First, you need to consider important financial issues. Here are 3 key tips, from the real estate website Keeping Current Matters: Get pre-qualified: In a competitive home market like Denver, you need to be able to act immediately if you see a house you’d like to buy. If you are already pre-qualified for a loan, sellers will take your offer more seriously. In addition, you will know exactly how much you can afford before...
read more5 sure-fire ways to fail when investing in real estate
Investing in real estate can be risky, and the uncertainty raises many questions: Is success based on “timing the market? Is it found in getting only great deals? Or are there more pieces to the puzzle?” These are questions Forbes contributor David Greene, raises in a recent article. He may not have foolproof ways to hit it big, but after nearly a decade of investing in real estate and speaking with other investors, he clearly knows what can lead to “things going horribly wrong.” Here are some sure-fire ways to fail: Keep a negative...
read moreColor us coral: it’s the hottest color of 2019
Want to find the most up-to-date color for your home decor? This year, think coral. Living Coral has been designated the Color of the Year by Pantone – and the company is waxing poetic about it. “Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of …Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, … Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.” And that’s not all. The color is also “a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time,...
read moreGot the remodeling bug? Watch for common side effects of the affliction
Whether you want to update your longtime home or reconfigure your newly purchased residence, remodeling is a seductive thought. After all, who doesn’t love to imagine that their dream home is just a contractor away? But remodeling comes with its own set of challenges. From budget woes to daily dust and disorder, a home project can seem like a virus – something you just endure until it’s over. What are the symptoms of the ailment? Houzz article recently listed a few: “Scope Creep”: It’s a common occurrence: A homeowner starts with plans...
read moreRE/MAX National Housing Report for December 2018
2018 Home Sales Cool Off, While Inventory Recovers and Price Increases Moderate January 17, 2019 DENVER – December’s declining home sales and growing inventory solidified 2018 as the year the red-hot seller’s market moved toward a balanced market. Price growth also moderated, though December was the 33rd consecutive month of year-over-year increases in home prices, according to the RE/MAX National Housing Report, which includes 53 metro areas.December’s year-over-year decline in home sales of 12.1% set a December record in the 10-year history...
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