Real Estate Investing Tips

Real Estate Investing Tips

Real estate investment is perhaps the most important yet risky venture. The initial investment that is made to purchase a house is something that many people cannot even afford in lifetime. Only the people with healthy financial record and a good credit score can take a chance to invest in the real estate. Therefore, it is necessary to follow correct strategies to ensure that the venture is in the right path. However, here is some real estate investing tips that will lead to a successful investing.

#1 Real estate investing tip

To invest in real estate you need to take help of experts and financial institutions for knowledge and wealth. The proper guidance is the first step towards sound investing. Therefore, the first tip is to build up a powerful team, members who can lend their good credit rating, money, expertise and professionalism.

#2 Real estate investing tip

Real estate investing tip is incomplete without proper planning. Before investing a large amount, there should be meticulous and detailed planning as how to set up the venture or choose the property, developing it, and which is the perfect area of real estate that can prove to be profitable.

#3 Real estate investing tip

While buying the house, it will be wise to go for a fixer-upper. This will basically increase the resale value of the house. Therefore, buying properties that need repairing for resale is a great way to add wealth. The only fact is that it requires significant amount of investment and time initially.

#4 Real estate investing tip

A great way to be successful in real estate investment is to rent out the property that is bought. This is a good method to make a steady income. But in this case there should be a legal agreement that no damage should be done to the property by the tenants. However, in case of any kind of repairs, the landlord should do it.

#5 Real estate investing tip

The fifth real estate investing tip focuses on the elements of running the business. The real estate investing entrepreneurs should take care of the factors like taxation, accounting, marketing, etc. These infact are the parts that have direct impact on the business.

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Investing in Colorado Springs new homes is probably teh best real estate investment that one can do. Considering the popularity of Colorado Springs real estate the value of your property is sure to hike up in the future ensuring that you get a good return on your investment. There are a wide range of homes for sale in Colorado Springs. It is just a matter of find the right Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you find the one that suits you best. And if you want to invest in Colorado Springs commercial real estate, Mike Stuard will help you get the best deal.

Condos in Colorado Springs

Condos in Colorado Springs

Condos are fast gaining popularity in the United States. The Colorado Springs real estate market has some great options for people looking for condos. Owning a condo has its own advantage that cannot be equaled by owning a traditional single family home. And there are various reasons why condos are becoming so popular and have taken up a large share of the real estate market.

One of the major reasons why condos are so popular is because of the price. Condos are much cheaper compared to the traditional homes that offer similar space and amenities. People who do not wish to invest in expensive traditional homes opt for condos. Colorado Springs real estate is a good option to consider while buying condos or luxury estate.

Another reason for their popularity is the location of condos. Today most condo complexes are located within the urban area of a city. That makes it convenient for people living here to commute to work, go for shopping or other leisure and recreational activities that are just a stones throw away. It is what most people looking for when they come looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs.

Condos also offer an advantage of great amenities like gym, swimming pool, spa or games room, something that you will not find in an average family home. Another important factor is the low cost of maintenance since most of the maintenance is carried out by professionals. You do not have to worry about mowing the lawn or clearing the drive way during winter. Most condo complexes have secure entry that restricts unauthorized entry into the complex. Security these days is a prime concern.

With all these reasons it is easy to see why condos are so popular. So if you are looking for condos, ask a Colorado Springs REALTOR to show you one that will fit your budget and style.

If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

How To Buy Foreclosured Property

How To Buy Foreclosured Property

Steps

1. Read local newspapers for announcements of "foreclosures", usually in the "public notice" section.
   
2. Research online information through search engines. Take advantage of any "free trials" from the super-hype companies.
   
3. Phone any government information phone numbers, like the "211" systems available in most towns. Tell the operators what you are looking for and ask how to find out more. Follow up with their recommendations.
   
4. Locate several properties, find out how they will be resold: auction, bids, and the procedure for inspection/ bidding. ie money orders or cash only.
   
5. Look for Government auctions online.

Tips

To locate property, drive around and look for clues of neglect, like overgrown lawns, windows open or closed all the time. Mail piling up may or may not be a sign since it may be owner-occupied.

Be aware of houses listed for sale for a long period of time.

There may or may not be signs on the property about action being taken, after any "for sale" signs are removed.


Warnings

Pre purchase inspections are not always allowed. Some are "buyer beware". Remember that the previous owner(s) may have trashed the property, knowing it was going into foreclosure.

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Colorado Springs is one of the best places to live in the United States. Colorado Springs real estate is a booming market with a wide range of Colorado Springs new homes or foreclosed home to choose from. People all over the country come looking for some great homes for sale in Colorado Springs. A little help form a reputer Colorado Springs REALTOR can go a long way while searching for homes and if you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Real estate owned

Real estate owned

Real estate owned or REO is a class of property owned by a lender, typically a bank, after an unsuccessful sale at a foreclosure auction. A bank will typically set the opening bid at a foreclosure auction for at least the outstanding loan amount. If there are no bidders that are interested, then the bank will legally repossess the property. As soon as the bank repossess the property, it is listed on their books as REO – Real Estate Owned – and is categorized as an asset (non-performing).

As soon as a property goes into a distressed status (the borrower/home owner misses mortgage payments) the bank will want to determine the amount of equity that the property has. A popular method to determine the equity is to obtain a Broker Price Opinion BPO or order an appraisal. Based on the amount of equity that is determined from the BPO, the bank will decide to try for a short sale or to allow it to go through the foreclosure process. If the bank is able to sell the property through a short sale or at a foreclosure auction, then the property will not become a REO property.

After repossession and the property becomes classified as REO, the bank will go through the process of trying to sell the property on its own. It will remove some of the liens and other expenses on the home and try to resell it to the public, either through future auctions or direct marketing through a real estate broker (REALTOR). Generally speaking, bank REO properties are in poor shape in terms of repairs and maintenance; however, real estate investors will often go after these properties as banks are not in the business of owning homes and so, in some cases, the low price can more than compensate for the condition of the property.

Once a property is REO, the bank or lender will try to get rid of the property by either selling it directly themselves or through an established broker. Many larger banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo have REO/asset management departments that will field bids and offers, oversee upkeep and handle sales. The majority of REO properties that are on the open market are listed in MLS by the broker/REALTOR that performed the BPO.

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Colorado Springs real estate is a great place to call home. With over a hundred of options to choose from finding a perfect Colorado Springs real estate property can be a difficult task. But to help you out with your pursuit of a dream home you can seek help of a reputed and a well-established Colorado Springs REALTOR who will make the process of buying a home easier for you. A lagre number of people come to Colorado Springs in search of homes for sale in Colorado Springs. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

One Day or Less Easy Home Improvement Projects

One Day or Less Easy Home Improvement Projects

Remember that a home is the most expensive thing that most people ever buy. It is your home where much of your time is spent. Many people enjoy spending their free time fixing up their home. While weekends may not offer a lot of time for major projects they do allow plenty of time for the easy home improvement projects.

You can do quick projects involving just the living room. It doesn't matter if you have a very formal living room or it is a casual area, there are many easy things in the way of home improvement that you can do to spruce up your living room. While some may not consider painting to be a quick and easy project, it can be if you just add one color and do not paint the entire room.

If you paint just one wall or add wall paper it will not cost very much nor will it take very much time. If the room is not square you can make the project even quicker by sprucing up just the smallest wall. It might be just a small wall at the end of a hallway, but fresh paint or a new look can brighten up the whole area.

Another easy to do but often overlooked improvement is to update a lighting fixture. It only takes one new fixture a few tools and a little bit of time. It is easy to ignore light fixtures but it is just as easy to update them. They can dramatically improve and modernize the look and feel of a room. You can also use this as an opportunity to save some future money by purchasing a highly energy efficient light.

Surely you can find time to get your wrenches out for a few hours. You may have leaky or corroded water fixtures. They are not difficult to replace and there are many how to websites or books that will provide easy to follow steps to do just that. Shiny new faucets will make a big improvement to your kitchen or bathroom and you may end up conserving more water through this project.

Don't forget to do your home improvements outside as well. You may not consider hours of digging in the dirt as a great way to spend your weekend. However, improving your yard is not as hard as it may seem.

Your local hardware store or plant nursery always has a good supply of inexpensive plant options to brighten up your yard. Planting a few bright annuals in the spring is a home improvement project that brings instant curb appeal.

It is possible to buy whatever is in season, plant it and end up spending perhaps as little as ten dollars. These lower cost plants may not last more than one season but they are a quick and easy way to brighten up your home and yard.

In order to make longer term improvements to your yard you should consider planting trees. This will take a little longer than planting annuals as it involves more location planning and more digging. If digging large holes is not for you, the nursery can do this for you for a fee. Regardless, once the tree is planted properly it can provide home improvements for years to come.

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Buying a Colorado Springs real estate is a great decision that one can take today. Whether it is for living in a great neighborhood or for investment purpose, people coming in search of homes for sale in Colorado Springs are seldom disappointed. Get in touch with a well-established Colorado Springs REALTOR, one who will help you in all your real estate needs. Or contact Mike Stuard for your Colorado Springs commercial real estate requirements.

On a Apartment Hunt?

On a Apartment Hunt?

When you give your dream home a thought, you may end up thinking about the extra bathrooms or bathrooms of the size of you current bedroom, more storage space, larger kitchen, more living space and probably a huge playroom for your children. When you think of your dream home, you may be thinking about your own home or becoming a home owner. But then, dream homes need not be owned; they can also be rented or leased.

Due to the spiraling costs of home ownership, many people are looking towards their dream homes the rental way. The rented properties available today have come a long way in offering more than the four walls with a roof. Many a resources are available today on the internet for apartment finding. The following tips can keep you in good stead while you start finding your own apartment.

(1) Put yourself in the tenacious mood and get your sunny side up. You may need to make a number of phone calls and leave numerous messages across secretaries. Use tact and make sure that your calls are answered quickly, at least in the next 24 hours or so. Make sure to leave your local phone number with every call you make.

(2) Always carry your check book while apartment hunting. Once you see an apartment that suits your tastes and looks like your dream, co not let it go by letting someone beat you to it. Good apartments are hard to find in the first place and have a very short shelf life in the market. Be decisive, no point repenting later.

(3) Always collect all local rental information before you commence your first apartment sighting. You may need to fill out a few applications. They are simple and comprehensive and most home-owners accept them.

(4) Keep your credit report handy, it will come in use to ward off competition and will give you an edge over the others. It also impresses home-owners because of your honesty and preparedness. You will also save money by not getting into needless mailing of credit report to every home-owner you come across.

(5) Make sure you are well dressed for the sighting as though you are going to a job interview. After all it is an interview and in most respects, the conversation is more or less the same. Home-owners tend to shortlist and select from it, so make sure the first impression counts.

Home-owners generally look for:

A renter who is able and responsible enough to pay rent at a stipulated time every month.

A renter or tenant who will treat the home-owner and the home with proper care and respect.

A tenant who is quiet and does not disturb other tenants or neighbors.

(6) Be punctual and try not to cancel any appointments with the home-owners. No-show is not taken kindly by home-owners.

(7) Never get de-motivated, finding your dream apartment is not easy, but is worth the effort. Always keep your chin up, use the phone to your advantage and always sound happy and cheerful!

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Colorado Springs is a great place to call home. With some great Colorado Springs real estate options available, it is only a matter of hiring the right Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you find the perfect home from among hundred homes for sale in Colorado Springs. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Home Owner Insurance Is A Necessary Buy

Home Owner Insurance Is A Necessary Buy

There's little doubt that home owner insurance can be pricey, but going without it can cost a home owner a lot more than a thousand or several thousand a year in premiums. It should be considered as vital a purchase for a home as electric, furniture and a new roof when it's needed.

Why is this? The reasons to make sure your house insurance is current and stays that way are, in fact, quite many. They include:

• Mortgage agreement: Most mortgage companies will not finance a home loan unless there is insurance on the property. Going without home insurance can result in a default of the loan terms. This means the home owner can find themselves without a home. The expense might be an "extra" you don't want to pay for, but avoiding it just should not be considered an option.
  
  

• Property protection: A good policy covers your home in the event of some major emergencies. Consider the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast area and the importance of insurance should be more than evident. Covering such things as fire, storms, earthquakes and more, a good home owner insurance policy simply protects your investment in your home. In essence, this means it protects your life, too. Remember, most policies don't cover floods though, so if you need this type of home owner insurance, you'll need to check into a separate policy.

• Personal liability protection: A home owners insurance policy can also protect you if someone becomes injured while visiting your property. A slip and fall, a trip, a dog bite, a falling roof shingle and so on can all result in litigation. When an insurance policy is present, these things are covered. This takes the headache and nightmare off of you while the insurance company handles the issue.

• A place to stay: Most include clauses that give you a place to stay if major damage is being repaired on your home. In the event of a fire, tornado or so on, you might have to move out while repairs are made. Rather than having to pay a mortgage and rent, too, a home owners insurance policy frees up your bank account to simply handle the mortgage.

• Replacement of personal items: When major emergencies happen, oftentimes a lot of personal items are lost. Most home owner policies will pay for such things as furniture, electronics, clothing and so on. The replacement costs can be outrageous, but a good home owner insurance policy will handle them for you.

Going without home owner insurance is like getting a glass of water without the glass. It doesn't make sense. Even though the expense can be high, especially in risky coastal areas, the price of the policy will be worth every penny if something bad does happen.

Whether you own your home outright or a bank is involved, making sure home owner insurance is current is a very smart thing to do. You never know when tragedy will strike and having coverage is like having money in the bank.

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Get your Home Owner Insurance if you are buying a Colorado Springs real estate property. A well established Colorado Springs REALTOR should be able to help you with the process of getting an insurance. Many people come looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. Now is the right time to invest in some great real estate properties and if you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Beginning Your Seasonal Home Décor in Summer is a Brilliant Idea

Beginning Your Seasonal Home Décor in Summer is a Brilliant Idea

Start your summer right, by adding seasonal home décor to your to-do list

Utilizing seasonal home décor is a great way to add spice to your surroundings and a surefire way to garnish compliments from your regular houseguests. In fact, one of the most popular home decorating trends currently is seasonal decorating, as it takes a dedicated creative person to come up with enough home decorating ideas four times a year on an average of every three months.

If you are considering seasonal decorating, the summer is a wonderful time to start brainstorming home decorating ideas
as summer signifies a break for your children who old or young can help you create perfect summer home decoration ambience within your house. Summer is bright, cheerful and a time for guilty free pleasure, so have some fun with your home as well!

Summer colors that will brighten your house to match the summer sun

The sun always seems to glow brighter during summer, and your house should also. Therefore, you need to look at your current interior decoration and use it develop summer home decoration ideas. Bright colors are easy to come by, so when trying to create color scheme ideas for your home think bright and natural.

Baby colors are a great place to start as they are traditionally light airy colors, but not so obnoxiously bright as too clash with your current furniture and home accessories as well as your current interior decoration. Summer lightness has no bounds, so you just need to pick colors that do not clash with each, and from there go wild with the colors you choose to use.

Adding your summer attitude to the interior decoration of your home

Of course, you probably cannot afford to replace your furniture and home accessories every three months as the seasons change, but in keeping with the attitude of seasonal home décor, it may be possible to add a few pieces to your home’s interior decoration.

As the season changes, you can take these simple changes and store them for next summer either in your attic or if you are lucky enough to have one, your storage closet. For example, if your living room is white, you may consider replacing the traditional wooden mirror with a mirror encircled by the sun. This way you can bring the sun of summer right into your summer home decoration.

Another easy way to spruce up the place is by adding summer flowers into all the flower vases around the home. Take out the fake plants, and add flowers picked from your home’s landscaping such as daisies, lilacs, and roses. Although it will require more maintenance to keep up with real flowers than the fake ones, this is a great touch to add to your seasonal decorating efforts because you bring the pleasant smells of summer inside creating a wonderful ambiance to your home.

Seasonal decorating should spark your house’s physical needs

As you change your seasonal home décor each season, this should remind you another three months have passed and that it may be time to address a few of your house’s maintenance needs. Beginning your summer home decoration should remind you that it is time to have window treatments completed on your windows, as they are an energy saving technique.

With the bright, shiny colors and sunshine of your seasonal decorating, the real sun and hot temperatures is going to come meaning your air conditioner is going to start. Seal your windows and make sure you are locking not only the bright cheery summer in, but the cool air you are producing as well.

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Colorado Springs real estate market offers a wide variety of homes. Many people come looking for the perfect homes for sale in Colorado Springs. So if you are ready to put your home up for sale, or looking to buy one, get in touch with a well established Colorado Springs REALTOR who will give you tips for home staging and would also offer critical information through a buyers point of view. Whether its about home decorations or wall color or just about anything that matters to the buyer, a little advice from the realtor might just make a big difference. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Things To Ask Your Realtor

Things To Ask Your Realtor

Trust me on this, you need a real good Colorado Springs REALTOR to represent you home when you put it up in the Colorado Springs real estate market. There are hundreds of people looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs and you need to be sure that the realtor will go the extra mile to sell your home. There are a few things that you can consider asking the realtor.

1. Do you work alone or in a team? Both these methods of working can have their advantages and disadvantages. A realtor who works alone with fewer listings will be able to dedicate more time on your home and provide you personalized service. A team of realtor can provide more professional and diversified service. The important point to consider in these cases is how well you connect with the agent of the team.
   
2. Are you always available? A good realtor is always available when an offer comes in. He / she is always there to answer your queries to your satisfaction.
   
3. What will be the marketing strategy for my home? Be sure to ask for the strategies that your realtor plans to adopt to market your home. In today’s competitive real estate market your realtor must have access to all the latest technology and marketing tools that can be used to market your home. Find out if the realtor’s website is attractive and useful? Whether the realtor plans to put up a full page ad in the local newspaper? All these elements play an important role in letting people know that your house is for sale and attract potential buyers.
   
4. How many homes have you sold? A realtor’s track record speaks a lot about his / her abilities and reputation in the market. Find out about their past experience, try and get references. A realtor who hesitates to give references is not worth considering.
   
5. What kind of web presence do you have? Internet today plays an important role in the real estate market. There are millions of real estate websites out there on the net. Does your realtor have a good website? Is the website user-friendly for people to find homes for sale? Will you home be listed on the website? People today use internet extensively to buy and sell homes.

Finding the right realtor is the difference between a quick sale and a delayed sale of your property. Talking about real estate, if you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Home Decorating Pictures – a Great Resource for Innovative Home Decorating Tips

Home Decorating Pictures – a Great Resource for Innovative Home Decorating Tips

The quote, “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true for many, many situations. This famous quote even applies to home decorating. Many people draw their inspiration for their decorating projects from home decorating pictures. It’s difficult to visualize a room decorated using various design themes. You many think the French Country style is perfect for your kitchen but when you actually see the style used in home decorating pictures, you may change your mind.

Contemporary style is hot nowadays with its trendy accessories, fabric and furniture, but is it for your home? Browsing home decorating pictures of contemporary design will help you decides whether it’s for your home or not. Tuscan design sounds beautiful when you read about it in magazines and books but until you see those home decorating pictures using Tuscan design, you can’t be sure if it would work in your home.

Home decorating pictures are very beneficial when making plans to decorate both the interior and exterior of your home. Pictures either confirm your visions or provide a totally different reality. Home decorating pictures offer you an opportunity to browse and pick a design that best suits you and your home. There are so many designs to choose from, some you’ve probably never heard of. Current home decorating pictures offer you a chance to view all of the latest trends in home decorating for each and every room in your home.

Home decorating pictures portray homes and spaces that often seem out of the realm of possibility for you and your home. Because these spaces are so elegantly decorated and look so perfect and professional, you may assume it cannot be achieved in your space. This is not true. Home decorating pictures give you the finished product, the end result of much planning and work. Home decorating is a process and you too can work through this process to create rooms similar to those in the home decorating pictures. With the thousands of resources available to homeowners today, there is no reason why you cannot have an elegant dining room just like the one you saw in home decorating pictures.

There are so many magazines, catalogues, books and websites related to interior home decorating. These resources provide many useful tools and offer great advice for decorating your home
. When you begin your planning, you can’t imagine your space will resemble those in the home decorating pictures. The great news is – it certainly can. Using home decorating pictures as guides for your planning, you can choose colours, furnishings and accessories to improve your space and make it picture perfect. In home decorating, almost anything is achievable if you are willing to be open-minded and accept advice.

Many home decorating pictures display rooms in bold colours that you just can’t imagine using in your home. This is when you have to relax and go out on a limb. In order to get that picture perfect room, you may need to compromise your normal methods of decorating. However if you definitely want the bathroom in the home decorating pictures, you’ll need to put away those normal habits and adopt brand new ones.

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Buying a new Colorado Springs real estate has never been so easy. With a wide variety of real estate properties available in the market, it is only a matter of finding the right Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you look through the different homes for sale in Colorado Springs. For those of you looking for Colorado Springs commercial real estate, Mike Stuard can help you with all your commercial real estate needs.

Home interior tips for comfort and elegance

Home interior tips for comfort and elegance

Home interior decoration is one activity that is very frequently undertaken by households, but little attention is given to the functional value as compared to the aesthetic value while redecorating a house. Everyone wants to make their high traffic areas, like the living rooms, guest rooms, look exceptionally beautiful by using carpets, rugs, wood flooring, etc and in the process they neglect the most important areas like the bedroom, the bathroom and the Kitchen.

Bedroom is like a sanctuary for an individual, and it is of vital importance that the furniture and mattresses in the bedroom provides maximum comfort, along with a beautiful finish to the room. Flooring is an essential element of a bedroom. Beautiful and durable flooring can completely change the landscape of any bedroom. Wood flooring is a good option for a bedroom. It would match perfectly with the wooden beds and other furniture in the bedroom, but proper care and maintenance has to be taken of the flooring to maintain that finish and durability. Other options are laminate flooring and marble flooring. The mattress should be such that it provides maximum rest to the body and ensures a good night sleep.

Kitchen is an essential component of a good home interior décor plan. The color and theme of a kitchen should match with the rest of the house. However there should be a limit to the number of accessories put in a kitchen as they could cause hindrance to the individual working there.

The furniture of a living room should be unique as well as comfortable. The sofa sets, chairs, table etc should match your taste. A bed can also be put in the living room, along with a comfortable mattress to give a more relaxed look to the room. The curtains and the paint on the walls should provide a soothing effect to the eye.

It should be remembered that while looks and aesthetics are important, the main aim of a home interior redecoration program should be to strike a perfect balance between aesthetics and comfort. After all, unless a house offers comfortable living conditions, it would get quite difficult to enjoy the beauty. The maintenance part should also be remembered as well. The furniture, paints, accessories etc used should be durable and easy to maintain. The use of laminate flooring offers an elegant and classy finish, but it requires a lot of maintenance to enhance its durability. Hence other alternatives like laminate or bamboo flooring could be considered.

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Buying a Colorado Springs real estate property is the best investment that you can make. Colorado Springs is a great place to call home. As one of the major tourist attraction in the country, it is also a popular destination for people looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. You will be able to find a well established and reputed Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you in your pursuit of finding a new home here in Colorado Springs. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Watch out for the Mold when buying a house

Watch out for the Mold when buying a house

Mold is a hot topic and a point of major concern in the real estate market. Molds are also linked to aliments of the respiratory system and allergies. Molds are often commonly mistaken as mildew. There are different varieties of molds with different health issues and it requires a trained professional to detect molds in homes. Some home inspectors are also trained to detect molds, so if you are buying a home and arranging a home inspection, find out an inspector who know about molds and ensure that they look for it during the inspection.

Molds are difficult to detect because they grow in dark moist hidden corners and recesses in the walls. Molds are often found growing on wood and wooden products. Water leaking from the home exterior may leak on to the wood where the mould starts to grow. If not take care of at the first sight, molds can grow larger and quicker.

Removing molds can be a difficult process. The best way to get rid of it is by removing the affected area and replacing it with new material. This also ensures sealing off the crevices that cause the leak. It is important to ensure that the mold is removed completely, even if a little is left behind, it can again grow over the newly installed material. It you are purchasing a Colorado Springs real estate property that is affected by molds, getting it removed completely must be your priority number one, before you move in. You may ask your Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you find a home inspector who will be able to detect molds. People looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs often miss out on this important aspect of home inspection that can cause health problems to them and their family members.

If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Winter Sale? What you need to take care of.

Winter Sale? What you need to take care of.

The home sale market is highly volatile and competitive. To add to it, the weather can make a home sale even more difficult. Weather plays an important role, especially when you are trying to showcase your home. In some parts of the country one needs to deal with a lot of snow and rain during the winter. The rules of home staging do not change much during winter, but there are certain concerns that must be taken care of mostly dealing with the exterior of your home.

The safety of the people, who come to see your home during the winters, must be of prime importance when you are selling your home in adverse weather conditions. The snow that accumulates on the driveway can make it difficult for people to come up to your door. Ensure that the driveway is clean and clear of snow and ice. It is a good practice to spread some rock salt or de-icer along the walk throughout the day to keep the snow off. Another important point is to make sure that there is no show overhanging from the roof. It could slip off and land on prospective buyer. If you want buyers to come and look at your home during bad weather, it is important to make the exterior of your home as welcoming as possible.

Light up the fireplace much before the guest come in to look at your home. A warm and welcoming atmosphere will make the buyer feel comfortable and would make them want to stay for as long as possible. A warm and pleasant home will give the buyer a feel of what it would be on cold days if they decide to buy the home. The little things matter a lot when it comes to home staging, so make your best effort at it.

Buying a Colorado Springs real estate property during winter can be exciting as well as a daunting process. But if you are seriously looking at homes for sale in Colorado Springs a little help form a reputed and well established Colorado Springs REALTOR can go a long way, especially in such adverse climatic conditions.

If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate you can always contact Mike Stuard for all you commercial real estate needs.

Do you *really* need a Feng Shui designer to sell your home?

Do you *really* need a Feng Shui designer to sell your home?

Feng Shui (pronounced “fong shway”) principles for staging homes and offices is growing ever-more popular. The overall goal of Feng Shui is for one to live in harmony with one’s environment and encourage “positive energy”. The way to this nirvana is apparently to arrange one’s living situation and entire life to fall in with the vagaries of “chi”.

Some of the advice that Feng Shui gives the home seller makes sense. It’s a good idea to clear out your clutter and air out the home to provide clean, fresh air. “Green” or “eco-friendly” cleaning products can be another positive step – they often smell better and are better for you and the environment. Balancing the colors in the home can also be useful if you find a room is too “one color”.

However, what Feng Shui devotees attribute to positive energy may just be the result of clearing out clutter, cleaning your home until it sparkles and putting some touch of greenery here and there – things that most home stagers would advise be done anyway. It doesn’t take an esoteric expert to surmise that a home that is easy to move around in and that is clean will be more attractive to buyers.

Feng Shui has a darker side as well, with people claiming to be “Feng Shui experts” charging hundreds to thousands of dollars for consultations that end up costing more money as they recommend people get rid of “bad feng shui” by doing expensive renovations or walking away from a home sale because the “chi” is all wrong. This can end up costing people major amounts of cash for something that is as simple as “clean and de-clutter”.

Some websites that encourage or inform people about becoming Feng Shui consultants suggest prices ranging from $500 for a single consultation to $300/hr. They suggest that Feng Shui consultants can earn $20,000 to $250,000. While this may be competitive in the arena of home design and staging, to hand this to someone who has studied a book on Feng Shui seems ludicrous. But people do it every day.

The important thing to remember about Feng Shui and any other home staging practice that claims to have a key to “energy”, “chi” or anything else that cannot be quantified is that if you wouldn’t spend the same amount of money for a conventional home stager, don’t spend it for someone who promises you good luck out of the ether. Many Feng Shui principles are good ideas, but it doesn’t make them worth more than principles marketed as just good common sense.

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Colorado Springs is the best place to buy a real estate property. A perfect blend of natural beauty and the buzz of a commercial district, Colorado Springs real estate offers some of the finest homes for sale. Colorado Springs has always bee a popular tourist destination. The splendid weather and the natural beauty are more often the reasons why people come in search of homes for sale in Colorado Springs. The Colorado Springs real estate market has seen some great activity in the recent times. You can hire a reputed and well established Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you with your real estate needs. And if you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Top 7 Things to Leave in Your Home While Its For Sale

Top 7 Things to Leave in Your Home While Its For Sale

There are hundreds of ideas floating around about what you should not have in your house when you re trying to sell it but what about what you should keep? Believe it or not, stripping your house down to its bare walls will actually hurt your chances of selling. Here are seven things you shouldn't take out of your house when you re trying to sell it:

Keep all major furniture pieces. Taking away furniture that defines a room s purpose is the worst way to sell your home. Keep the dining set in place so potential buyers don t have to think about how each room should be used.

Leave your car in the garage. Unless you have just one car, leave your second car in the garage during showings. Sure it ll take up a lot of space in the garage but that s a good thing. Just as furniture gives buyers perspective on a home s layout, a garage with car will let buyers see how they could utilize the space.

Continue using your kitchen counters. One misconception home sellers often make is that less is more when your home is for sale. While that is true when dealing with cluttered spaces you still need to show how capable your kitchen is. A coffee maker and a few storage pots make great kitchen eye candy when selling your home.

Fully stock each bathroom with towels and essentials. Often forgotten when homes have been vacated for a while, basic toiletries and towels should remain even if you no longer live in the home. After a long day of showings its possible that buyers will need to use the bathroom while viewing your property. What better way to showcase the value of your home than to fulfill an urgent need of the buyers?

Before and after pictures of home renovations. Family photos are the taboo of home selling because they can detract from a home sale but renovation photos are their good stuff counterpart. Show buyers the amazing amount of work you went through to build out that sunroom or expand the master suite and watch their eyes light up with value. This technique will also keep buyers in your home longer, increasing the chances of a second look!

Seasonal landscape photos. Just as home renovations can prove the value of your home, landscape photos can offer a glimpse of your home s year round beauty. If a buyer can see the stunning flowers and plants that come to life during the Spring in the middle of November then they have something to look forward to if they buy your home.

List of utilities and costs for one year. It s not common knowledge for first time home buyers to know how much it costs to use the utilities in a home. This rings true even more so for renters who have their utilities included in their rent and aren t used to paying for utilities. You may worry that this will scare them away but just remember every home requires utilities to be lived in. Answer their questions upfront and they ll trust you more than other homes for sale.

Home buyers are looking for the best deals possible in today s market but they also want to understand what kind of home they re buying. By defining the spaces and using the tips outlined in this guide you ll be more than a few steps ahead of the competition.

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There is a wide array of Colorado Springs real estate available if you are looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. Investing in Colorado Springs real estate property is the best option if you seek the combination of a busy city life and a more relaxed neighborhood. Be sure to consult a reputed Colorado Springs REALTOR for your specific needs.

If you are specifically looking for a commercial real estate in Colorado Springs, please contact Mike Stuard for some of the best Colorado Springs commercial real estate options available.

Top 7 Things to Remove From Your Home Before Selling

Top 7 Things to Remove From Your Home Before Selling

Before you sell your home you have to go through a process known as getting your home in showing condition . Showing condition means keeping the floors clean and the house in top shape for prospective home buyers so they can view the home at its best. Here are seven things you should remove from your home before putting it on the market:

Family photos When you live in your home it becomes your private sanctuary. Putting your home on the market is much like opening those doors to the public for all to see. Remove any family/vacation photos from your home to ensure buyers don t get ensnared by their curiosity of who you are and stop paying attention to the house itself.

Jewelry and other valuables Not every potential buyer is the real deal. Sometimes thieves will pose as a home buyer in order to see what kind of luxuries you have in your home. This is especially true in the for sale by owner market where thieves will try to work their way into a home based on a seller s lack of experience dealing with showing protocols. If you have expensive items and valuables like jewelry, collectibles and rare art you should take it out of the house before sticking the for sale sign in the ground.

Unneeded or leftover prescription drugs Another prime target for theft, high value prescription drugs like painkillers are sought after in properties with easy access because the homeowners are trying to sell it. Keep these in a safe place or remove them from the home entirely before showing.

Boats and other outdoor eyesores If there s ever been a time to pull up the stilts on a novelty pink flamingo, this would be it. De clutter the exterior of your home by storing large possessions like boats, RVs and trailers at an off site storage facility. Any ornamental lawn pieces should also be packed ahead of time so as to not deter buyers.

Out of season items stored in the home Spring has always been the best time to sell your home. You ve got the perfect storm of school ending, summer coming and lots of houses coming on the market to draw out home buyers. Showcase every square foot of your home by removing out of season items like snowblowers and winter tires from the garage.

Desk and workstation clutter. Every home has a pass through station where mail, car keys and other assorted goods tend to accumulate. These are exceptionally useful spaces except most of them are within lose proximity of the front door and are a huge eyesore to home buyers walking in the front door. Clean up these areas to put your home s best foot forward.

Major signs of pets in the home. There are different extremes everyone is willing to go when selling their home. Some will keep their pets in the garage during a showing or leave them with parents/family while their house is on the market. While I don t endorse leaving your pooch at Mom & Dad s while your house is on the market I do recommend keeping major pet signs in the house to a minimum. This includes oversized dog bowl stations and kitty litter boxes that don t get cleaned. Pets leave odors behind that you grow used to but will seem pungent to a first time visitor (very true for litter boxes!).

Selling your home can be a fun and brief experience. Use the guide above to give you a general overview on how to minimize your number of days on the market while still keeping your sanity during each showing.

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Colorado Springs offers a wide range of residential and commercial real estate properties. The Colorado Springs real estate market has witnessed some activities with more and more people coming and looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. A well established Colorado Springs REALTOR can be of great help for people willing to buy the Colorado Springs real estate.

And of course if you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate, please contact Mike Stuard.

How to Save Money for Your First Home

How to Save Money for Your First Home

Saving money does not have to be difficult as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Steps

1. Create a budget: write down how much money you bring home each month; write down the payment amounts for each of your monthly bills; subtract your expenses from your income to determine how much extra money you have each month.
   
2. Save as much of your extra money as possible in an interest-earning savings account.
   
3. Curb your spending. When you go shopping, ask yourself if you really need the item you are thinking of buying. If you don't need it, don't buy it. Put the money into your savings account instead. Remember that small amounts of money add up to large amounts of money!
   
4. Find ways to cut costs: bring your lunch to work instead of buying it; bargain shop at the grocery store; rent a movie instead of going to the theater, etc.
   
5. Each time you are tempted to spend money on something other than a necessity, remind yourself that you are prolonging your goal of buying your first home by doing so. If it is not worth it, don't do it.

Tips

Post your budget in a visable place where you will have to look at it every day - it will help you remember your goal.

Tell your friends and family that you are trying to cut back on spending to save for a home and ask them not to tempt you by inviting you to spend money with them.

If you are married or in a relationship, make sure to agree on a plan with your partner. If you work together it will be easier to reach the goal.

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Colorado Springs is a great place to call home. With the booming real estate market, now is the right time to invest in some great Colorado Springs real estate properties. Millions of people all over the world visit Colorado Springs for its splendid beauty and a host of recreational activities. Many also come looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. If you are among the second lot, you may need a good Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you out with your hunt. On the other hand if you need help with Colorado Springs commercial real estate, you may contact Mike Stuard.

How to Build Your Own Home (US)

How to Build Your Own Home (US)

The reason building a new home can initially seem so complicated is because there are so many details that you have to put together. Here are the things you will need.

Steps

1. Buy land if you don't already own some. You will need to either pay cash for the land, get a land loan from a bank, buy land from the seller with owner financing, or find a seller willing to wait for you to get house plans a building permit and a realtor willing to wait months for their commission (highly unlikely). Buying the land with a land loan first allows you to take the land off the market so others cannot buy it before you do. It also allows you plenty of time to pick out house plans, submit the plans to the county for approval and obtain a building permit all while obtaining the best construction loan. Construction loans can include the land into the construction loan only if you already own the land with a land balance to add into the construction loan.
   
2. Select a Home Building Project Plan to determine the necessary steps to complete the building process. Though it may need to be customized to your particular state or county, this should assist you greatly.
   
3. Pick out a house plan or hire an architect. There are some great house plan resources on the internet. Just go to Google and type in "house plans" or "architect" for your local area and you will have more sources than you can handle. Once you pick out a house plan that fits your needs and expected budget, simply buy a few sets and start getting estimated bids from builders.
   
4. There are many builders that offer pre-engineered floor plans and house elevations for their neighborhoods ready to build. If you are looking to build in a development, check with the development's sales office for details.
   
5. Decide whether to hire a builder or be an owner-builder. The goal of being an owner builder is mainly to save money. Some people can save quite a bit of money if done correctly. However, some people are not meant to be owner-builders, as it takes a strong personality to manage contractors. Possible problems when acting as owner builder:
   
   • Construction cost overruns
   
   • The best banks with the best rates require a builder or supervisor
   
   • Managing contractors to finish on time or to show up for work
   
   • Depleting your personal savings
   
   • The need to borrow more money
   
   • Loan extension penalties
   
   • Being taken by unscrupulous contractors
   
   • The need to refinance your construction loan
   
   • Foreclosure
   
   
   
6. If you have never built a home before and absolutely need to act as owner-builder, hire a reputable builder to supervise you and the building of your new home, for a much smaller fee than their normal fee. The builder/supervisor will help you with the cost breakdown and manage the subcontracting on and as needed basis. If one of your contractors gets out of hand or you need help of any kind, you can call the supervisor for assistance.
   
7. If you decide on hiring a builder to do everything, make sure you hire a reputable builder or supervisor with a good reputation and plenty of references. Ask your friends if they know of good builders, and when you start to hear the same name over and over you know you've found a good one. Ask the building inspector for a list of reputable builders. The most important point is shop around until you find a builder with the most reputable and honest background.
   
8. Know what goes into the Estimated Cost Breakdown of your home. This is the breakdown of each particular cost of construction of the home. The foundation, lumber, framing, plumbing, heating, electrical, painting, and builder's profit, etc. The builder usually completes this form to show you exactly what it will cost to build your new home. The most important thing to remember here is that you do not want to underbid any line item and you do not want to overbid any line item. You want accurate numbers from real bids (not guesses) and a 5% contingency for cost overruns
   
   • Good builders will send out the house plans to their contractors for specific bidding on each main item or can estimate the home themselves. The builder will send one set of plans to the foundation contractor, one set of plans to the framer, one set of plans to the plumber, etc, etc. When all the numbers come in, the builder will fill out the cost breakdown and come up with a total cost to build your new home.
   
9. Some builders offer Turn-Key pricing that give you all of the building costs up front with a guaranteed delivery date. Be certain to check in on the progress of these builders to be sure you are getting quality work with few corner-cutting measures.
   
   • Bad builders will use the WAG method of estimating the cost of building your new home. The WAG method stands for "Wild Ass Guesses". This method is the most dangerous since it can lead to under and over bidding.
   
   • The last method of bidding is simply to over inflate every single line item on the cost breakdown. This is the most profitable method for the builder and the most expensive to the customer. This is why you want to find an honest, reputable builder with a good reputation in your community. Once the cost breakdown is completed and you plan on hiring this builder to build you new home you will need to type up a contract. The contract needs to equal the added total of the cost breakdown.
   
10. 10. Read the contract carefully.' There are two types of contracts:
    
    • Fixed Contract: This contract is simple and straightforward. Take the total of the cost breakdown and put that fixed number into the contract. The builder will provide a list of responsibilities.
    
    • Cost plus Contract. This type of contract is usually for large construction loan projects. The customer wants to make a lot of changes to their home as it's being built. The construction loan period to build the home is 18 months so construction costs can change drastically. The builder prefers this contract to protect the costs and profits.
    
11. Know how your builder gets paid. There are two methods that banks use to make sure your builder gets paid while building your home.
    
    • The Voucher Reimbursement system has been around for quite a while. As usual, you'll have some builders that are very familiar with this method of payment and do not like change. Most banks find that the voucher system is simply too much paperwork to deal with anymore. The builder is given a big book of vouchers that looks like a checkbook and when they want to get paid or need to pay a contractor they need to fill out a voucher form. This voucher form is a request for payment and as long as the contractor has signed the lien release, the bank will pay the amount requested. The bank will also request an inspection throughout the construction loan to make sure that the work is completed.
    
    • The Draw Reimbursement system is becoming the standard for construction loan funding for most banks. The main difference is that the bank puts the accounting responsibility on you or your contractor. The bank uses your cost breakdown as the guide for the draws. Some banks use specific schedules of 4 to 7 draws based on completed construction milestones, such as foundation or framing. The draw systems also allow the choice of taking draws on a monthly basis, collecting partial payment for work and material items that have been completed.
    
12. Get construction insurance. There are three types of insurance needed to build. All banks require the first two insurances, course of construction and general liability. Workman's compensation is only required if your builder has employees.
    
    • Course of Construction Insurance. This policy is an all risk policy to include, fire, extended coverage, builder's risk, replacement cost, vandalism and malicious mischief insurance coverage.
    
    • General Liability Insurance. You or your builder can provide this policy. This policy is a comprehensive general policy or a broad form liability endorsement. The minimum amount of $300,000 for each occurrence is required. If the builder provides the insurance a general policy of $1,000,000 or a broad form liability endorsement is required.
    
    • Workman's Compensation Insurance. If your builder owns his own company and has employees that are helping to build your home, workman's compensation is required. If the builder simply subcontracts out the work and does not have employees per se, they will need to write a letter acknowledging that they do not have employees and are not required to have WCI.
    
    • If your builder tells you he is not required to provide any insurance whatsoever, he is most likely correct because it is not a law to have insurance to build a house. This requirement is set forth by the bank. So make sure you hire a reputable builder with insurance, it will help your construction loan close much faster. Ask your builder upfront if they have general liability insurance. If they do not ask if they have a problem providing the insurance. Some builder's cannot afford or simply do not want to pay for the insurance and then guess who has to provide it, yes, you do. You can save yourself a lot of headaches and money if you work with a builder that has insurance.

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Well, now that you know the entire gamut of constructing a new home, you may want to consider buying a already constructed home; in Colorado Springs that can be quite easy. Just get in touch with a reputed and well established Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you find homes for sale in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs real estate market has some has some great real estate properties that can suit every budget. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

Between Real Estate and Reality or Between Realty and Reality

Between Real Estate and Reality or Between Realty and Reality

You hit the ground running hoping to sprint your way to the finish line. You may have gotten winded with the realization that real estate investing is a marathon and not a 50 yard dash. Or you may have tripped over the start line coming out of the gate. Either way, your investing career is going nowhere fast. You've got a full time job that's getting in the way of your big plans. Being a full time real estate investor is closer than you think. Here's how to work around your full time job and build towards a better tomorrow – today.


First, change the way you look at your 9 to 5 job. Think of the paycheck you earn as a consulting fee – income
for your real estate investing business. It covers your basic needs while providing you with some of the cash you need to keep the doors of You, Inc. open for business. When your consulting day is over you simply move into the next phase of your day: prospecting for new business opportunities.


Every day I want you to do something to drive your investing career forward. So set aside a block of time for these activities. If all you can spare is 90 minutes per day, make the best use you can of the time you have available. Look through some of your on-line resources to quickly locate properties that meet your investing criteria and then follow through. Don't make a list and call it a day.


If you systematically do small things that move you in the direction of making a property purchase, you will succeed. You can and will make that first – or fiftieth – property purchase, regardless of your employment situation. It will take some planning on your part to make it happen. But, you also need to find a good way of motivating yourself to take action.


When you pulled the trigger and fired on a new real estate investing career, your eyes were glazed over with child-like wonder at the possibilities that real estate investing gives you. Don't be afraid to admit it. You had a target in mind when you pulled the trigger. You had a tangible goal of some kind or you never would have taken that first step.


Every one of us had – and probably still does have – a dream we're working towards. It might be to donate $1 million to fight AIDS in Africa, to build a Little League ballpark with your name on it, or even something less altruistic: A desire to get very rich. Real estate investing is still the best vehicle for achieving your dreams. Whatever they are, I want you to capture the essence of those dreams; a photograph or something that symbolizes what you can do with the fruits of your labor to create a vivid daily reminder of your goal.


Place that reminder in a conspicuous place – on a bathroom mirror or a counter top – as a daily reminder of what you want to do with some of your real estate investing proceeds. If it's too large for a mirror, take a picture of it. This is an important step because it will help to motivate and reinvigorate you when you begin losing your focus. Look at it several times a day beginning first thing in the morning.


Your dreams – whatever they are – provide the fuel you need to take action on those days you'd rather just be a channel-surfing couch potato. You will achieve your dreams, but you may need additional ammunition in your arsenal to make it happen. In addition to having a dream you should:

Set specific goals for yourself – These goals should be specific, quantifiable and attainable. Instead of having a goal that says, “I want to be rich within five years.” you should put a firm number on it. “Within five years I'm going to own 15 properties with a monthly cash flow of $15,000 (or whatever figure you set).

Create a vision – On a daily basis look at the symbol of your dream. If it's a picture, carefully look at it – really LOOK at it – and declare your commitment to achieving your dreams.

Believe in yourself and your abilities – It's sometimes easy to listen to naysayers and negative people. Avoid these people like the plague. They're like a cancer that will eat away at your dreams if you let them. Don't allow it to happen. You can achieve your dreams and your goals if you believe it can happen and you take action.


One final point: If you're waiting for a telegram from destiny telling you that it's time to step up and make it happen, this is it. Your success is waiting for you. No day will be absolutely perfect. Today is better than yesterday because yesterday is dead and gone. Tomorrow hasn't yet been born. By living in the magic of the moment you can seize your real estate investing destiny, lay claim to your future, and begin the process of consigning your 9 to 5 job to the annals of history.


Real estate investing is kind of like the lottery. You've got to get in it to win it and you can't really get into it sitting on your couch thinking about how you're going to spend the money when you finally get up and get started.


So go ahead.


Put the remote on the coffee table and take the first step.

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People come to Colorado Springs in search for some great homes for sale in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is a great place to call home and the Colorado Springs real estate offers some of the best options available in the market. Get in touch with a well established Colorado Springs REALTOR to help you with your house hunt and if you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

First Time Home Buying in Colorado Springs

First Time Home Buying in Colorado Springs

Many people come looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is a great place to call home. It offers a vide variety of choices to choose from. If you are a first time home buyers, there are certain aspects of buying a home that you must be aware of. One of the biggest and primary concerns of buying a real estate property is that of the down payment. People who have bought homes earlier know the importance of a down payment and how it makes the process of buying a home a lot easier.

A down payment not only offers you some great mortgage options but can even help you lower the monthly payments, which can be a great advantage to first time home buyers. The experience of owning a home is completely different from that of a renting. When you own a home there are other costs and work that come into play. Things which were not your concern when you rented a home will suddenly be priority when you buy one. Often first timers fail to plan ahead for these unexpected costs which catch them by surprise. While looking for some Colorado Springs real estate properties, you may get help for a reputed and well established Colorado Springs REALTOR who will be able to guide you with the entire process of buying a home and are often more helpful to first time home seekers.

Considering the current economic situation, putting together 20% of the down payment can be a real challenge. And if you have other financial obligation like paying off a student debt, it becomes all the more difficult. On the other hand, financing 100% of a home can be a huge task. Before applying for a mortgage it is best to clear off all outstanding credits. Loans are granted based on the customer’s credit standing. A negative mark on the report can reduce the amount of loan than you are actually eligible for; and a serious remark can disqualify your application altogether. To avoid such a situation, it is best to pay off all your debts before applying for a loan.

Beware of mortgage companies that offer offers that sound too good to be true, more often they are not. Do a little research on the different options that are available in the market and find out one that suits you the best. Remember also to keep sufficient money for the unexpected costs that may arise. Be prepared to become a home owner and hopefully there won’t be too many surprises. If you are looking for some Colorado Springs commercial real estate properties, you may contact Mike Stuard.

Colorado Springs Home Buying Process Tips

Colorado Springs Home Buying Process Tips

Buying a new home in Colorado Springs can be a time consuming and emotionally stressful process. There are so many options available in the market that one gets baffled. You find asking yourself, how do I choose the right one? Well, here are a few things that you could consider to make the process of buying a new home a little easier.

The first and the most important aspect of purchasing a home are getting your finances in order. You must be aware of how much you are ready to spend on the new home. To begin with, you can do a little research on the Colorado Springs real estate and find out the lenders in your area that will suit your needs. Finding the right lender will be beneficial in the long run. Find out about the different mortgages available and how much you are willing to pay in terms of monthly repayments.

Your mortgage approval is another important factor that one needs to keep in mind. Having a full pre-approval allows you to shop freely for a home, confident that you have everything in order once you find the right home when you are looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs is a great place to live. Once you have your finances in order you can look around and study the area you want to move in. Colorado Springs has got some good schools you can consider putting your child into. A fantastic Colorado Springs neighborhood will be an added advantage.

Once you identify the real estate property discuss various options with a well established Colorado Springs REALTOR. The realtor will be able to give you a judgment of a fair price of the property. You may also discuss your “high point” in the bidding strategy, incase you are looking at a home that is more desirable.

If all goes well and your offer is accepted you will then have to get a proper home inspection done. Knowing the exact structural condition of the house is always beneficial. You may even include a subject into the contract such as “Subject to the home passing the home inspection”. If the home is not inspected, it could lead to real trouble for the buyer. A proper inspection will bring out some major flaws in the construction, water damage and other safety concerns. The best way to be sure it to personally go along with the inspector and ask as many questions as possible to get your doubts cleared. After all, its going to be your home and you ought to know what maintenance would be required and what needs to be replaced. These things do matter during price negotiations and can be used as bargaining points. Once done, you can shop for some good home insurance offers that are available in the market.

Finally, the final agreement and finalization. Congratulations! You just got yourself a new home! Go ahead and plan a housewarming party.
And if you or your friends are looking for some Colorado Springs commercial real estate, you may contact Mike Stuard.

Buy First or Sell First

Buy First or Sell First

Selling one home and buying another can be a tricky situation that one can get into. More often the changeover involves luck more than anything else. Often you ask yourself, do I list my house and risk selling it even before you get a new one to move into? Or do I buy a new home by paying a heavy down payment and then anxiously wait to sell your old house?

Well, there are steps you can take to get you through this dilemma.

1. Conditional Offer: While buying a new home first, a common strategy could be to have a contingency clause in the offer or the agreement which states that the purchase is conditional and would depend upon the sale of your current home within a specified time. Though not a fool proof, a conditional offer may end up being rejected by the seller. Or you may have to let go of some better offer that comes along while you wait for the specified period to lapse.
   
2. Be prepared: As soon as you decide that you are going to move, start preparing. Clean up the closet, the basement and the attic. Make a list of all the repair work and start sorting it out.
   
3. Enlist a realtor: Make appointments and do a little research on some real estate agents. Find out the one you are comfortable working with after all you need to trust this person to help you sell your home for the right price. You may also seek his help to find your dream home.
   
4. Call your bank manager: Contact your bank and explain your situations to them, chances are they may offer you a home equity loan or a bridge loan that will help you with the down payment for the new home.
   
5. Reduce the delay: Is your home a easy sell? If not, find out what is causing the delay. Find out if you are listing it at a realistic price. Or are there any repair works to be done that may be causing the delayed sale.
   
6. Selling first has its advantage: When you sell first you will know the exact price range of the new home that you can buy. Once you know that you will be able to place an unconditional offer, which will more likely be accepted that the one that has a contingency attached to it.
   
7. Look at some alternative housing: You may have to move out sooner that you expected and would have to make some alternative adjustments like moving with your in-laws. You may also look at some rental accommodation.

Buying and selling of homes can be a stressful and overwhelming process. If you are looking for some Colorado Springs real estate transaction, you may get help from a reputed Colorado Springs REALTOR who will guide you in this transition. Colorado Springs has a huge real estate market. With more and more people looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs, there’s something for everyone. If its business and trade that draws you to Colorado Springs, you may contact Mike Stuard for all your Colorado Springs commercial real estate needs.

Home Staging? Have a look at your wallpaper.

Home Staging? Have a look at your wallpaper.

In today's fast paced real estate market home sellers rely a lot on home staging tips and advice that will help them to prepare their home for selling. They put in a lot of effort to make their home as pleasing and welcoming as possible to potential buyers. Most of the time they overlook the wallpaper. Wallpapers are a highly personal expression of taste. What you may find “fantastic” the potential may find it “hideous”, and there is no point in arguing over it, you may only end up loosing the deal.

So if you are serious about selling your home then you need to look at it from the buyer’s point of view. Remember buyers want to buy a home ready for today and not yesterday, one must understand that wallpapers are trendy but they often make a home look older.

It is important to understand that when buyers see wallpaper that they do not like; they immediately relate it to the cost of the home which could result in them quoting less than your expectations. Buyers know that removing wallpaper is a tedious and expensive process, so chances are, if they do not like your home just because of the wallpaper, they will move on to the next home.

Colorado Springs real estate market offers a wide variety of homes. Many people come looking for the perfect homes for sale in Colorado Springs. so if you are ready to put your home up for sale, get in touch with a well established Colorado Springs REALTOR who will give you tips for home staging and would also offer critical information through a buyers point of view. Whether its about the wallpaper or wall color or just about anything that matters to the buyer, a little advice from the realtor might just make a big difference. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs commercial real estate please contact Mike Stuard.

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