Posts Tagged ‘Rewards’

Tips on Buying and Selling Colorado Springs Houses

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Buying and selling real estate is a difficult job. It’s a fast paced industry with many rewards if you know what you’re doing. A good case scenario is when a house is sold in minutes, hours, days or weeks. The worst case scenario is when it sits on the market for months or even years. This is why having up to date information is vital to “win” in this industry. I will offer some helpful tips to make the house buying and selling process in Colorado Springs a little more manageable.

Tips on buying Colorado Springs Houses

1. Acquire as much background information as possible before you decide to work with a bank, mortgage banker, credit union or any kind of institutional lender. In addition, make sure that you know beforehand all of the fees associated with a loan.

2. Do not put yourself in a position where you are over-obligated where certain things are concerned. Some areas are best to be left up to the seller to take care of. This is where good negotiating skills come into play.

3. Never make a purchase that is far beyond your financial reach or just about there. Even though Colorado Springs houses make great investments, you want to take into account the fact that anything can happen in this economy pertaining to your financial status. Therefore, the ideal house should be 25% to 30% lower than your present income so you can still afford it.

4. Whether or not you have decided to use a real estate agent, you should make a list beforehand of what you are looking for. You should determine what areas are crucial like a good school district or being close to work and what you are willing to sacrifice such as granite countertops or a whirlpool tub.

Tips on Selling Colorado Springs Houses

1. They always say spring is the best time to put houses on the market. But besides the season, the best time to make sales is when interest rates are at their lowest. Low interest rates are beneficial to buyers and sellers and if you are both then there is no better time than the present.

2. When selling a house, you should ensure it is showcased in its best light. Basic home improvements can make a big difference in the real estate world. The exterior of the house should have curb appeal. Potential buyers should see your house from the outside and be excited to see what’s inside. Also, if the inside needs painting then take the opportunity to choose a paint color that will appeal to most buyers. Even simple things like fixing cracks, and giving the house a really good cleaning so it smells and looks good can have a great impact on house hunters.

3. If you want to sell your house on your own as opposed to hiring an agent, it may take longer. This is especially true in a buyer’s market where there are more sellers than buyers. In this case a real estate agent will have the upper hand because they have more contacts in the real estate community.

4. It’s best to sell your house at market value. Going higher can discourage a lot of potential buyers. Also, it’s better to appeal to a wider market than take the chance of hoping that one person will want to pay it. In addition, you may end up getting more money anyway if you have a hot property as there may be competition with multiple bids.

Renting Homes in Colorado Springs – Advice for Renters

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Colorado Springs is one of the best places to live in the country for a variety of reasons. So, it’s no wonder you have decided to be one of the many people who move there each year. If you have decided against purchasing one of the beautiful Colorado Springs homes for fear of the real estate market then you are not alone. Even though Colorado Springs has done much better than some other areas of the country, it still leaves a lot to be worried about. Especially if you may not end up living there long enough to reap the rewards of future appreciation in home values. In that case, renting is an option that offers the freedom of not being tied down to a mortgage.

Colorado Springs has homes to suit a range of tastes. There are apartments, single family homes, condominiums, town houses and even farms. In any case, you should know what to expect from a legal stand point when going through a rental agreement.

A Colorado home rental agreement is pretty much standard. However, as the tenant, you have to ensure that there are particular areas adequately covered in the rental agreement. Issues such as term of lease, rental amount as well as the mode and schedule of payment, responsibilities as it relates to the payments of utility, repair responsibilities and maintenance costs, pets, contractual responsibilities of tenant and landlord and the subtenant policy.

Keen attention should be made to the section of the agreement detailing the security deposit. Colorado state law does not specify a lower or upper limit so keep this in mind in order not to get scammed. Additionally, the deposit can be used by the landlord specifically for cleaning and repairs resulting from damages made by the inhabitants, separate and apart from regular wear and tear. The law stipulates that the landlord has to return a portion or the whole deposit within a thirty day period following the end of the lease agreement. If you have any questions relating to any areas of the contract, do not hesitate to seek advice from a local real estate lawyer.

One area of the Colorado rental law that is very specific is the matter regarding peaceful property enjoyment. It states that the landlord is prohibited from entering the property without given permission from the tenant while the lease is still in effect. The two exceptions are if the landlord has emergency repairs to be made or if the landlord is put in the position where he/she has to demand rent.

Another key area to note is the eviction law. Eviction is only possible for three reasons including termination of the lease agreement, nonpayment of rent and breach of contract on the part of the tenant. The landlord is obligated to get a court order for eviction without which, he is not able to coerce the tenant to leave. The landlord is also legally required to give the tenant written notice advising them about the filing of the eviction case. The notice enables both parties the opportunity to resolve any issues or for the tenant to make preparations for leaving.

Understanding Colorado Springs homes rental law is crucial if you want to avoid scams and make the most out of your tenancy. It’s in your best interest to do some research before and after signing a lease.