Shawn

Buyers Category

PCS to Colorado Springs?

Homebuying FAQ's 1. Isn't it just easier to rent than to buy? I get this question a lot. Colorado Springs is very different from other duty stations you may have lived at. The area is large but really still small. That won't make sense to you now but when you arrive you'll get what I mean. We have really one county in our area (excluding the mountain communities). Finding a home takes (with a good Realtor of course) no more than a...Continue Reading!

Colorado Springs One of the Best Housing Markets for 2012

The local newspaper, The Gazette just published an article saying that Colorado Springs has been chosen as the #7 best housing market for 2012 by Builder Magazine.  What does this mean? It means that our real estate market is healthy and is projected to stay that way in 2012.  The fact we have several major military installations here keeps our market strong. This always a need for housing for people moving into out area! Personnell making a PCS move to Fort...Continue Reading!

Walkout Basements and Radon

I just closed on a sale for one of my military buyers. It was a wonderful home in Broadmoor Glen at the base of Cheyenne Mountain. Typically, this area will have high radon readings when testing is done. When it came time to do the home inspection, the buyer was deciding whether or not to do the radon testing.  Radon testing costs around $110 extra on top of the regular home inspection fees according to Scott Whitbeck of HomeTeam inspections. ...Continue Reading!

FHA Loan Limits Are Going Down Soon!

Buy or Re-Fi now! As of September 30,2011 the new FHA loan limits will be going down. Please remember though that this means the loan limit and not the sales price. FHA requires at least a 3.5% down payment on every loan. For a single family home in El Paso county, the new FHA loan limit will be $271,050 instead of the current $325000. I personally do not see this as a problem in the Colorado Springs area. (more...)Continue Reading!

“Do’s” and “Don’ts” Make Getting a Mortgage Easier

Waiting for your closing day? During the processing of your loan there are certain things to keep in mind that may impact your loan transaction. During the loan approval process, your credit history, income and assets are verified for the initial approval and oftentimes just before your loan closing.  (more...)Continue Reading!

Are You Ready To Buy Now?

Is It Time to Buy a House? By Guest Blogger Rose Kelly  If you are in a place where you want to buy a home, now may be the right time to start thinking about it. The banks and government are simply overwhelmed with homes that have been repossessed, and it looks like there might be as many as 2 million more homes to come onto the market. Prices in many areas are going to continue to fall, and if you can...Continue Reading!

Ten Steps to Home Ownership

It's easy to buy a home with these simple steps! For a more detailed view of everything you need to do, click here for the pdf checklist from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. 1. Consult with a Realtor to talk about the process Call or email me to talk about the home buying process. From there we will make a plan to decide where you want to live, how much you want to spend and when you want to move into your new...Continue Reading!

Benefits of an FHA Home Loan are many!

FHA loans have increased in popularity in the past few years and for good reason. I'll list a few in this post. First, the FHA loan requires a down payment of only 3.5%. This helps first time buyers get into a home with little investment. Next, closing costs of up to 3% can be paid by the seller of the home. This is another great benefit that helps buyers with little cash buy a home. (more...)Continue Reading!

Should you use your VA Home Loan Benefit to buy in Colorado Springs?

YES!!! The VA loan benefit for military service members is one of the best benefits available! Many people hesitate to use their VA loan benefit thinking that it is difficult or can only be used once in a lifetime. Not true on both accounts! Read on below for details on buying a home with a VA loan. (more...)Continue Reading!

Do MLS Photos Tell The Truth?

Maybe and Maybe Not! The benefit of today's technology allows buyers to preview homes online. When I started in real estate in 1990, we used the old MLS books that were published every two weeks. If a buyer was relocating into Colorado Springs, I had to cut out the individual listings and place a bunch on the copy machine, make a copy and then mail the sheet to a buyer. (more...)Continue Reading!