Criminals Hack Broker Emails to Scam Closing or Earnest Funds In the past two weeks, CTM Software and the Colorado Association of REALTORS® (CAR) has been made aware of several attempts to deceive real-estate agents and title company employees into wiring earnest money and/or closing funds into a fraudulent account. In a small number of cases, these criminals have been successful...
Colorado ranks 8th in the nation among states with the most down payment programs, according to Q2 data released by Down Payment Resource. With 68 programs available, Colorado programs offer closing cost assistance grants, mortgage credit certificates, first mortgage loans, and other programs such as employer assisted housing programs. Down Payment Resource has increased to include three percent more programs; 87%...
Featured in Inman News on May 20th, the Down Payment Resource program is capturing the attention of real estate professionals and consumers alike. To see the full article in Inman News, click here. Although 87 percent of homes qualify for down payment assistance, many potential homebuyers have no idea that they may be eligible for programs that could save them thousands...
More than 68 million single-family and condo households, about 87 percent, would qualify for down payment assistance available in the county where they are located. That's why CAR, in partnership with Down Payment Resource, has made available a portal through which both members and prospective homeowners can research their eligibility for various down payment assistance program based on property information, household...
We all know insurance is important. There’s a reason we have coverage on our health, homes and lives. We understand why brokers in Colorado are required to carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance. The total paid claims against REALTORS® in Colorado annually is well into the millions of dollars. This includes all fees and legal expenses incurred defending claims. So if...
How Finding the Right Lender Can Get Your Client’s Mortgage Closed On Time By Todd Crowley Picture this: You’ve been working with your clients for months—putting in additional hours, working late nights and weekends—trying to find them the perfect house. The home is found, the purchase contract is signed, you have worked through the transaction details, and you are ready to close. ...
Sue Carmony, of Carmony Realty in Boulder, won the Reach150 prize drawing for $500 through random selection of participating members that have reached 3 or more recommendations. Congratulations Sue! Have you had a chance to check out Reach150? CAR has partnered with Reach150 to help our members build a stellar online reputation through client testimonials. Setting up a free, new account and...
Self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) are appealing to investors for several reasons, among them to diversify retirement funds, adapt to economic conditions and invest in assets they know and, in some cases, control. However, there is an opportunity for enhanced returns on IRA real estate investing that is not known to many SDIRA holders. Many investors are using their SDIRAs to purchase real...
An end of an era! Laurie Janik, the National Association of REALTORS’ (NAR) chief legal champion, is retiring November 30, 2013. She has been a fixture at CAR events (especially the Legal Panel at the CAR Convention) since 1987 and remains very popular nationally and in Colorado because of her dedication, amazing real estate legal knowledge and for being a...
REALTORS® are constantly on the move. Your career means more financial transactions and travels than an average person, and you’re also more digitally oriented. That may mean you’re at a higher risk for identity theft. The 2013 Identity Fraud Report released in February 2013 by Javelin Strategy & Research reports that in 2012 identity fraud incidents increased by more than one...