Hiring an inspector can bring an interesting dynamic to the home buying process, as it is the only profession in the real estate transaction that does not require any credentials or licensing. Only an estimated 25% of inspectors carry insurance and even fewer have been subjected to a background check. With home inspectors having unlimited access to your client’s home,...
Home sales totaled 1,592 in July, a 3.3 percent drop from the same month last year, says the latest report by the Pikes Peak Association of REALTORS®. Monthly home sales haven’t increased on a year-over-year basis since February. Through the first seven months of 2018, home sales totaled 9,296, a slight, 0.1 percent gain over the same period last year, the...
DENVER -- Denver and Colorado Springs — are we rivals or friends? And which city is better to live in? Several recent surveys are giving the nod to Colorado Springs. U.S. News and World Report ranked Colorado Springs as the second-best place to live in 2018, and the most desirable city in the country. Meanwhile, Denver was ranked as the third-best place to live and...
A good home appliance repair and replacement plan can save a new home buyer many headaches—and dollars—when a home appliance breaks, without breaking their wallet. As Coloradoans head into the dog days of summer, never has this been more critical than with a home’s central air conditioning system. However, in order to try and prevent a breakdown in the middle...
Across the country, wildfires have caused devastation and distress for years. In addition to the destruction they bring upon communities, fires can cost millions in restoration over the course of many years. Headwaters Economics recently published a report that analyzed the cost of several fires across the country. The report looked at 8 major wildfires in four states through 2016, including...
You may have seen recent articles warning of “ominous signs for the U.S. housing market.” One article states that, “recent housing starts data were extremely weak for the month of June, raising alarm about housing.” Another headline announces that the, “Housing Market Looks Headed for Its Worst Slowdown in Years.” NAR’s Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, says that despite the headlines, “Home price growth...
I love talking about “Hot Market Problems.” Market velocity generally means good business for REALTORS® and good job security for the industries and individuals who support REALTORS® (including us annoying real estate lawyers)! Hot markets can be exhausting for all participants, but it is certainly better than the alternative. High velocity also presents unique frustrations and challenges for buyers and...
DENVER – Colorado’s two biggest metro areas are also some of the best places in the country in which to live, according to a new report. U.S. News said it used a variety of government agencies and other data sources to determine things like quality of life, cost of living, the strength of the job market, desirability and migration rates. 1. Austin,...
In a big win for REALTORS®, the National Flood Insurance Program will continue renewing or issuing new insurance for four more months under legislation overwhelmingly by the U.S. Senate today. The bill, which cleared the House last week, is expected to be signed into law before midnight tonight, when the program expires. "We applaud lawmakers for taking this needed action to...
Many homeowners have limits on their home insurance policies that are too low to cover the full cost of repairing or rebuilding in case of a natural disaster—and the problem is particularly alarming in areas at risk of hurricanes and flooding, The Wall Street Journal reports. Catastrophic damage left in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria last year revealed a widespread...