Beautiful mountain home with panoramic views! This home has it’s own well, whole house water filtration system, reverse osmosis system for drinking water and energy efficient electric thermal storage heat. Large master bedroom on main floor that opens onto deck with walk-in closet and 5 piece master bath with in-floor radiant heat. Main floor laundry and oversized 2 car garage. Close to National Forest trailheads and an easy commute to Estes Park, Boulder, Longmont, Denver and the airport.
Want to see how the market is trending in Longmont? Just watch this video. Let me know if you have any questions.
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at 970-313-6706. For additional articles see Sean’s blog or to search for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or
selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me
a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
It’s that time again. All homeowners are receiving the notice of valuation from our respective counties that we reside in. Does yours seem a little high? While our housing market has been appreciating in recent years, sometimes the county appraiser makes a mistake and values homes too high, thus causing your property tax that you will owe to go up significantly. If you would like to protest, let’s set up a time to get together and review comparable sales to see if you have a good case to make. Also, below is a link for the local county websites to help you get started with the process and give you more information about how it works.
How does the county come up with the valuation of your home?
The county assessor looks at past sales in your area to come
up with the valuation of your home.
Every odd-numbered year they send out a notice that tells you what their
valuation of your home is and what your new property tax amount will be. However, unlike in real estate, where we pull
comparable sales from the last six months, they go back further in time. For example, for our 2019 valuations, the
county assessor reviewed sales from June 30, 2018 and went back twenty-four
months to June 30, 2016. Bear in mind,
the county assessor looks at data from public records, they don’t go out to
each home and compare them according to their specific location, views, amenities,
finishes and other aspects that have an important impact on a home’s value. As such, there is the potential for error in
their calculations. Your local county
gives you the opportunity to protest their valuation of your home. They also give you a time limit in which to
do so, usually giving you until June 1st or 3rd, depending
on your county. In addition to
information related to your property, they will want supporting evidence to
establish why you think your property’s valuation is lower than what they
assessed. This is where I can help
you. I can pull comparable sales and
look at the finer details to see which homes are good comps and then we can see
if they justify you protesting the county’s valuation.
If you would like to protest, let’s talk and we can review
your case. You can reach me at 970-313-6706 or send me an email at seangilliam@remax.net.
About the author:
Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at
970-313-6706. For additional articles
see Sean’s blog or to search
for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
We all want
to get the most money for our home and sell it in a short amount of time. Statistically, when is the best time to put
your home on the market? Spring is the
prevailing opinion. Looking at the data
from the Multiple Listing Service, Average Sales Price goes up, the Sale Price
vs. List Price percentage goes up and the Days on Market figures go down
between March and June typically.
If you have
the option to time the sale of your home, Spring is the best time to do
it. As an agent I would look at the
hyper local data (i.e. local neighborhood) to see when homes start selling in
your specific area. However, not
everyone has this luxury. There are many
other factors involved that don’t allow you to “time the market”. Job transfers happen at all times of the
year, family changes occur unexpectedly and sometimes you’re just not ready to
make a move in the Spring. Not to worry,
most markets have another spike in home sales in the Fall. Along the Front Range of Colorado that is
typically in September and October.
It is
important to note that we are in a shifting, or normalizing market here in
Colorado. This is evidenced in flatter
price appreciation of homes, more days on the market before going under
contract and more price reductions.
While the market here has greatly appreciated in recent years, buyers
are pushing back on what they are willing to spend. If they have to spend $500,000 on a home,
they want nice amenities such as backing to open space, nicely remodeled, a
great yard, etc. In other words, they
will pay the price for the best homes in the neighborhood but not so much for
the average home on the block. As a
seller, this is important to know so that you’re expectations of the market are
on target. You may need to price your
home more conservatively depending on the circumstances.
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at 970-313-6706. For additional articles see Sean’s blog or to search for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or
selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me
a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
Want to see how the market is trending so far this year? Check out this video. Let me know if you have questions. Sean Gilliam, RE/MAX Alliance
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX
Alliance in Northern Colorado. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at
970-313-6706. For additional articles
see Sean’s blog or to search
for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or
selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me
a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
As we are starting out the new year, we can reflect on the
progress and stability of Northern Colorado.
There has been continued progress and growth in the real estate market,
the economy, and the population, even more so than anticipated (see 2018
Forecast). For instance, the
median home price in Northern Colorado has appreciated by about 6 % in the last
year, according to data from IRES MLS®.
Many are predicting that the real estate market is starting to move
toward a more balanced market with homes taking longer to sell, more inventory
on the market and slowing home price appreciation. Some are wondering if the market is taking a
deep breath before it takes another jump up in home values while still some are
concerned that we are in a bubble and it is likely to burst soon.
Looking at the data below, the strong fundamentals in our
economy rule out the bursting bubble scenario.
That leaves the former two options.
While no one can say for sure, let’s take a look at the numbers to get a
better idea of how things will likely turn out for 2019. Some of the research compiled in this
report, put out annually by the Leeds School of Business at University of
Colorado in Boulder, shows that there are many contributing factors to our
current real estate market. Below are a few of the highlights from their
research.
Colorado’s Economy:
Employment –
Colorado saw an increase in job growth in 2018.
According to the 2019
Colorado Business Economic Outlook, the state saw 65,000 new jobs in
2018, higher than the forecasted number of 47,100. For 2019 it is forecasted that there will be 53,200
new jobs in Colorado.
The unemployment rate is estimated at 3 % for 2018, versus
2.8% in 2017. The modest gain in
unemployment is representative of a growing labor force and participation rate
rather than a declining employment environment.
It is believed that 2019 will see an overall 3.1% unemployment
rate. The Labor Force Participation Rate is at 69%, the third
highest in the nation.
Gross Domestic Product
– The real gross domestic product (GDP) or the monetary value of all goods
produced in Colorado, has grown by 2.9% in 2018 versus 2.2% in 2017. It is estimated that 2019 will see around
2.7% GDP. It is believed that while we
have a robust economy, especially compared to the rest of the nation, it is
slowing to a more sustainable rate.
Colorado’s Population
Growth:
Colorado has seen continued growth year after year, peaking
in 2015 with a net migration of 69,100.
Net migration is the number of people moving to Colorado minus the
number of people leaving Colorado.
Population growth is increasing but has slowed since 2016, dropping to
47,600 net migration in 2017. However,
2018 has seen an increase of 53,000 in the population. It is forecasted that 2019 will see an
increase of 50,000 new residents moving in to Colorado. When you consider natural increase, or the
difference between births and deaths of Colorado residents, we’re looking at a
projected increase in population of 76,200 in 2019. The majority of the population growth will
continue to be along the Front Range, particularly the North Front Range.
Colorado’s Real
Estate Market:
Home appreciation has been fairly steady in Northern
Colorado. We saw a 6% median
appreciation in home values and it is anticipated that a similar rate will
continue for 2019. As usual, the Spring
market saw multiple offers and/or homes being sold at or above list price. However, we saw a bit of a slowdown in the fall
market with properties staying on the market longer and prices being reduced. There were also fewer new homes on the market
in November, a decrease of .4%, compared to December of 2017. In the same time period, there was a decrease
of 3% in closed sales. Months’ supply of
inventory has gone up 5.3%, from 1.9 months to 2. This is still low as a more balanced market
would be indicated by 3-6 months supply of inventory.
So what will 2019 look like?
I think we will still see modest price appreciation throughout the
year. We can expect a strong Spring
market as inventory is still low and there is high demand for homes due to the
ever-increasing population in Northern Colorado. While we had a market slowdown in the fall,
some speculate it may have been due to the volatile mid-term elections. We’ll see how 2019 pans out to see if this
was the case or if we’re moving toward a more balanced market. Nonetheless, the driving forces of supply and
demand will continue to shape how the market moves in 2019. We have a strong economy that continues to
make the real estate market sustainable.
However, those shopping in the lower price range (below $300,000) will
struggle with affordability issues, especially if mortgage rates go higher.
Things to look for in
2019:
Trade
tensions with China. Will these be
resolved? How will it impact investor’s
confidence, cost of materials for building, etc.?
Stock
Market volatility. So far it has
been helpful as investors are retreating to the bond market. This has increased demand for bonds which
typically cause the mortgage interest rates to go down.
Affordability. Many
people cannot afford a home above $300,000. Unfortunately, most new
construction is geared toward higher income buyers. Residential resale
properties in this price range often have multiple buyers, many with cash, that
makes it difficult for buyers with limited cash reserves to compete. The
solution will come as the market balances due to greater inventory and months
supply (around 3-6 months is ideal). Further, if builders target lower
income buyers this will help many get into a home. The other option is to buy a home where they
are affordable and accept a longer commute.
New
Construction. Not much has changed here.
Homes are being built but not enough to keep up with demand. Labor shortage and higher cost of materials are
making it difficult to price homes affordably for many. See New
Construction: The Solution to Low Inventory
References:
IRES
MLS® Information and Real Estate Services LLC
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at 970-313-6706. For additional articles see Sean’s blog or to search for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or
selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me
a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
If you plan on owning or currently own a condo, it’s standard to insure the living space within your unit. The Home Owners Association (HOA) will have hazard insurance that covers the exterior of your unit and the common areas. However, do they have enough insurance or the funds in reserve to cover the insurance deductible or any other costs should there be a natural disaster or needed repairs? If not, they will send the bill along to all of the residents of the HOA community. This is a Special Assessment. That is, the HOA will assess the need for repairs and the associated costs that exceed their coverage or funds available and then require all owners in the association to pay the remainder. This could be to the tune of thousands of dollars per unit. Most people aren’t prepared to write that size of a check, or if they are, it takes away from savings or plans to remodel, go on vacation, etc. In any case it’s not a good thing.
So how can you protect yourself? Insurance companies provide a rider for special assessment insurance, also called loss assessment insurance. This endorsement will cover special assessment fees that are sent to members of an HOA. This way, if you are notified by your HOA of a fee that you will have to pay, you can make a claim with your insurance company to cover the fee rather than pay it out of pocket. The standard protection is $10,000 but some insurers may allow a higher amount. Best practice is to talk to your insurance agent or shop around to see who can give you the best coverage. This way, you are protected should your HOA notify you of a special assessment.
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado and is a Certified New Home Specialist™. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at 970-313-6706. For additional articles see Sean’s blog or to search for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
Ready to buy a home? As you shop for a home you are determining whether or not a property will meet your needs and making sure that you’re not paying too much for it. You should shop for a lender in the same way. Consumers want a good price AND good customer service. Regarding the price, that is easier to evaluate. Each lender will be able to give you an estimate of their costs for the loan. The customer service aspect might be more difficult to assess so ask your local real estate agent for referrals. I don’t/can’t take kickbacks from lenders so if I refer you to one it’s because I know they’ll get the job done in your best interest.
Let’s look at how to evaluate the cost of the loan. First, it is recommended that you get the opinion of three lenders to see how they stack up. With each prospective lender, get an itemized summary of their charges. Lenders will need some basic information such as your credit score income statements and any debt you may have incurred. By law, within 3 days they will give you basic information on the cost of the loan such as lender’s fees and an estimation of your monthly payments, also known as a Loan Disclosure (formerly HUD-1).
Once you get a summary of the lender’s costs for the loan you wish to apply for, compare them side-by-side. Here’s what to look for:
Interest Rate – There are various factors that impact your rate (i.e. your credit score, type of loan, loan discount points, etc.) but some lenders have a higher interest rate than others for the same loan product.
Loan Origination Fees – some lenders will charge a flat fee or none at all. Some will charge a percentage of the loan amount, typically one percent (this is where your loan gets expensive).
Example: On a recent transaction, one lender charged 1% for loan origination on the same loan while another charged a flat fee of $1200. For a $400,000 loan you will be paying $4000 vs. $1200 for the same product.
Underwriting Fees – This is the cost for the underwriter services for your loan. Compare to see which one is higher.
Additional Fees – Some fees you’ll see have miniscule differences but when added up, can make one lender look more attractive than another (i.e. Tax Service, Credit Report, Appraisal Fee, Flood Certification).
In addition to cost, the level of service provided by a lender is very important. This can make or break a transaction. Some questions to ask:
What is the lender’s availability? Do they return calls/emails to you and your real estate agent in a timely fashion? Do they work weekends and nights if need be? This is crucial if you have important questions, especially those of a time-sensitive nature.
Will you be working with an individual throughout the transaction or a team? Sometimes a personal touch can make all the difference. In any case, you’ll want someone that knows you, what your needs are and where you are at in the transaction. This is especially important with regard to getting the appraisal done on time.
What kind of loans do they provide? Some lenders tend to provide a limited number of loans as they provide service in multiple states. Local lenders will provide basic loans (Conventional, FHA, VA) but also state specific products that will benefit you (i.e. down payment grant assistance programs).
What happens if the lender makes a mistake? Will they correct the issue and compensate you? It happens, we all make mistakes. A good customer service provider will fix it with the least amount of burden to you.
Once you’ve narrowed your prospects down to one lender, it’s wise to shop their offer around to the other lenders. They can evaluate whether or not they can meet or beat the other lender(s). Once you’re satisfied you have chosen the right lender, have them pre-approve you for a loan and then you are ready to go shopping for a home and start making offers!
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado and is a Certified New Home Specialist™. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at 970-313-6706. For additional articles see Sean’s blog or to search for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
Looking for fun and interesting things to do in Longmont this October? Below is the short list. If you’re looking for more information on Longmont and all there is to do, check out visitlongmont.org.
Click on the link below for a larger image.
About the author: Sean Gilliam is a Realtor® with RE/MAX Alliance in Northern Colorado and is a Certified New Home Specialist™. Sean can be reached at seangilliam@remax.net or by phone at 970-313-6706. For additional articles see Sean’s blog or to search for properties see his web page.
Interested in buying a home or selling your current home? I am committed to your success. Give me a call at 970-313-6706 to get started.
