Tag Archives: for sale

Talk about taste specific!

Although this is a very cute house and quite a novelty, it is a prime example of going a bit far in the realm of “taste specific” choices.  I am sure that there would be a niche market for a house like this. After all, there are a lot of Lord of the Rings fans out there ( I liked the movies too, and own them all).  But how many fans would actually want to live in a hobbit house on a full-time basis?  I am guessing that not many of even the staunchest Lord of the Rings fans would be willing to go that far.  Maybe as a vacation home-like a fun little cabin in the woods.

As cute as it is though,  I would like to use this little house as a slightly exaggerated example of a pretty common problem- personalization.  The longer we live in even a “normal” style home, the more personalized the tends to become.  In most cases, when you are selling your home, your goal should not be to find a buyer that “wouldn’t change a thing” and that has your same taste and hobbies.  To have a much easier time of selling, you want to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.  The more people that want to buy your house, the better your chances of getting multiple offers, getting offers sooner, and getting full price or maybe even more than the asking price.  Isn’t that what the real goal when selling your house?

Sellers who “take their taste out of a house” help buyers more easily see themselves in the house, instead of being distracted by things like the seller’s family photos, a chartreuse dining room wall, and things like religious artifacts everywhere, a huge PEZ dispenser collection, and/or Lord of the Rings swords above the fireplace.  (Is the buyer going to be looking at the great fireplace feature of the home- or the cool sword that is probably not even included as part of the sale).

In the case of the Hobbit house in this post, the sword is probably okay!  After all, they are trying to appeal to a very tiny niche of buyers.  But chances are, most of us don’t live in a house that is this unusual.   So the rest of us are going to have better results if we stick to the tried an true rules of selling.  Paint the house in more universally appealing color schemes and present a clean and de-cluttered home that does not have any unfinished projects or repairs needed.  That is the formula for making buyers want to make it their home.

I hope you enjoy this little peek at the Hobbit house- I certainly did.   I think it would be “a nice place to visit”- but like so many buyers that see overly-personalized homes… “I just wouldn’t want to live there”.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, I would be happy to help!  Feel free to contact me using the form below!

 

Price Reduced by Nearly $11,000 – 8321 Ralph Lane

4 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom, 2000 total sqft

Asking Price:  Was  $329,900-  NOW:  $319,000!

Status:  ACTIVE

Adorable brick ranch-style home!  All baths and the kitchen have been updated! New roof in 2016.  Fresh paint, newer carpet, wood floors!  Quiet neighborhood near shopping and easy commute to Denver & Boulder!  Click on the photo below for guided tour and all the details!

Click the photo or the address:  8321 Ralph Ln

You are Invited!

The beautiful house, with incredible views, is having an open house Sunday, May 22 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm!  You are invited to come and take a look in person (slide show below)!  I hope to see you there!

2662 W 118th Ave, Westminster CO  80234

house straight on, hi def

2662 W 118th Ave, Westminster CO 80234         Click Here for more Info and Photos!

Curb Appeal: Is it worth the investment?

Here’s an article specifically talking about the value of curb appeal, from a dollars and cents perspective.  It even breaks it down to what trees and fencing are worth. Most landscaping (as with any home project) should be done for your own enjoyment, but it does add to the value of your home, either in the form of a faster sale or in the form of a higher sales price when you decide to sell.   Some experts believe that mature landscaping can add up to 25% to the value of your home.  If you have been thinking of sprucing up your exterior- have a look at this link!  It may give you some good ideas of where to invest your money.
http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/landscaping-gardening/landscaping-home-value/

 

 

 

New Listing- 14366 Blue Vista Way

4 Bedroom,  2.5 Baths,  2,320 Above grade sqft, 941 unfinished basement sqft

Status: ACTIVE

Asking Price:  $460,000

This 2-story home is on a cul-de-sac lot. The home has hickory wood floors, and a well designed kitchen with 42″ hickory cabinetry, a pantry, a kitchen island and stainless steel appliances included. The kitchen is open to an eat-in area and the family room w/gas fireplace, 2-story vaulted ceiling, pre-wired surround sound!  All bedrooms are on the same floor!   Formal dining room, study and main floor laundry. Sprinklers front and back. Back yard is flat and fully fenced and pre-wired for speakers. New furnace in 2014. Garage is oversized 2.5 car.

Click below for photo slide show:

For more information Contact Joan Bagwell: joan@joanbagwell.com or fill out the contact form below.

3 Offers in 2 days!

Status: Under Contract, Taking Backups!
PRICE: $244,900
MLS: #2849347, #737063

3 BEDROOM, 3 BATHROOMS, 2-CAR OVERSIZED GARAGE, 2132 SFT

Beautiful tri-level home with a great floor plan! Large covered deck overlooking the fenced backyard with mature landscape, dog kennel and sprinkler system for plenty of green grass! Stay comfortable with AC and Evaporative cooling in the warm summer days to come! Neutral colors inside with newly refinished hardwood floors, new kitchen counters, fresh paint throughout, and new carpet on lower level. Kitchen appliances included! Low maintenance metal siding, newer water heater and windows. Clean and Move-in ready! Short Walk to Schools, Croke Reservoir, Northwest Open Space, RTD, and nearby Shopping! Just a quick hop to I-25 for a fast commute to Downtown Denver! Quick Possession possible!

Click Below for Photo Slide Show:

 

 
Please call (720-201-3049) or email with any questions about this home or about the current real estate market!

Home Buying After Foreclosure or Bankruptcy- How Long Until I Am Eligible?

Only a few short years ago, the Denver Market was flooded with short sales and foreclosure properties for sale. The bankruptcy rate in Colorado was still fairly high then. Many people lost their homes during that time and have been renting since then. With the current tight rental market and rising rental rates, they may now be wondering, “How long until I can buy again”?

The answer is “it depends…”. Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Short Sales and Deeds-in-Lieu are all called, “derogatory credit events” in the lending world. The waiting period before you are eligible for a new home loan will vary depending on: which type of “event” you had, the circumstances that lead to it, and the type of loan you want to get for your next house (VA, FHA or Conventional).

The lending world breaks down these events types even further: Foreclosure, Deed-in-Lieu, Short Sale, Multiple Bankruptcies, Chapter 7 Bankruptcies, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcies.

VA seems to be the most forgiving of these derogatory credit events. With VA financing, the buyer is eligible for a new loan only one year after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The wait period for the other types of events is only two years.

For FHA, the wait period for Chapter 13 bankruptcies is also after one year of on-time payments and approval from the bankruptcy court. It is 2 years for a person having a Chapter 7 or multiple bankruptcies, and 3 years for a Foreclosure, Deed-in-Lieu, or Short Sale.

Conventional Loans tend to be less forgiving. Wait periods range from 2-7 years depending on the type of event. After the wait period is up, the buyer may also be required to come with a higher down payment amount for their new loan.

The following chart, provided by the Wynn Team with Citywide Loans, provides a “short and sweet” visual summary of the waiting periods required for each circumstance and loan type.  Here is the link to the chart:

Derog Waitng Period for mortgages

Buyers should keep in mind that even if the waiting period has elapsed, lenders still make loan approval decisions based on credit scores and debt-to-income ratios. The waiting period is an added requirement.

If you are ready to buy or sell a home, please contact me!  I would love to help you make that move!  Or, if you have any questions, also please fill out the form below.

 

Preparing your home for showings

A property’s physical condition is one of the main factors determining whether or not it will sell quickly and at a desirable price.

IT’S LIKE WHEN YOU SELL YOUR CAR:

Since most people have probably bought or sold a car more often than they have bought or sold a house, I am going to use a car analogy to demonstrate this point.  Here goes…  If you were going to sell your car, and you wanted to get top dollar for it, you would “detail” it, inside and outside, and keep it that way each time you showed the car to a potential buyer.  And why  would you do this?  Because you know that it is more likely you will sell it quickly and get what your car is worth if it looks newer, is well-maintained, is clean, and has been “de-personalized”.  Auto dealers know this too, and that is why you seldom see cars on their lots that are riddled with oil leaks, have flat tires, have “wash me” written in the dirt accumulated on the back window, or have car seats or dog fur on the seats, or crumbled fast food bags, empty water bottles and muddy footprints on the floor, or something sticky on the dashboard .  While that may be a common way people “live” in their cars, it is not what most buyers are going to rush to buy!

The same is true when you sell your home.  While presentation is not everything in selling your home (price trumps all else)- presentation is a close “second”.

The good news is, that even minor improvements made at little cost can assure the highest return when it comes time for prospective buyers to tour your home.   A word or advice:  always be receptive to feedback from your showings. If there is something homebuyers consistently don’t like, change it.  It may not suit the way you live in your home, but remember, if you do what buyers are asking for– you won’t be living there much longer anyway.  Give the people what they want, and you will get what you want- the house sold!

Here are some suggestions to ensure your property is prepared for its public debut:

Curb Appeal & Exterior

Rake, mow, and water the lawn

Trim hedges and bushes

Tidy the flower beds and garden

Pick up any litter

Clean gutters

Sweep and hose down all types of walkways

Remove driveway grease spots

Repaint exterior areas on the house as needed

Repair or replace any broken features, especially those at the front of the house (steps, windows, screens, etc.)

Make sure the garage door is closed and no vehicles are blocking the driveway

Welcoming Entrance

                                Clean & tidy up the entrance

Be sure the doorbell is functional

Buy a new doormat

Clean the door and polish the door hardware

Be sure the door opens smoothly and key turns easily

General Maintenance

Oil squeaky doors

Tighten doorknobs

Replace burned out bulbs

Repair any broken windows

Touch up chipped or scuffed paint

Repair cracked plaster

Repair leaking faucets & toilets

Complete any unfinished home improvement projects!

Deep Clean Interior

Clean every interior room or hire a cleaning service to ensure a spotless environment

Replace worn throw rugs and shower curtains to freshen the overall appearance

Place fresh towels and new guest soaps in every bathroom

Clean all windows and sliding glass doors

Have carpets or wood floors professionally cleaned

Be sure the house smells fresh and clean (clean window treatments, upholstery, linens, laundry, take out trash, don’t smoke in the house etc)

De-Clutter For a Spacious Feeling

Arrange the furniture to accentuate the space

Store excess furniture

Clean & clear off counters, stove, and refrigerator

Clear closets of unnecessary clutter and seasonal clothing so they appear larger

The “Buying Atmosphere”

 

Keep interior and exterior lights on at night

Keep the temperature at a comfortable level

If possible, be absent when the broker shows your property so the buyer feels more comfortable taking a closer look and expressing their opinions

“De-personalize” your house so that buyers can picture themselves in it

Remove pets during showings (confine them inside or outdoors, or take them with you)

Turn on soft music

Turn on gas fireplaces (in winter)

Make all beds

Open curtains and blinds during the day and leave lights on in dark rooms or hallways

Set the table with good china and candles

Put clothes, dishes and all other personal items away

Put private documents, jewelry, precious coins, and other valuable items in a safe place, out of view.

New Listing- 921 Stage Coach Ave in Lochbuie

3 Bedroom, 2 1/2 Bathroom

1694 Sqft, Two-Story house built in 2010!

Light, Bright and Beautiful 2-story home built in 2010!  Backs to PANORAMIC mountain views!  No neighbors behind!  Large backyard enclosed by 6-ft privacy fence!  9-ft ceilings with recessed lighting, built-in surround sound! Ideal location– in quiet cul-de-sac, low traffic street! Laminate flooring throughout the main level. Open floor plan! Master bedroom with 5-pc bath & walk-in closet!  Appliances included– all stainless steel in kitchen! Tall kitchen cabinets!  Guest bathroom on main level!  Energy Efficient Home!  Clean, like new, & move in ready!  Only 35 minutes to downtown Denver! Quick closing possible– Normal sale!  Move in by Christmas!

CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW TO SEE SLIDESHOW OF ADDITIONAL PHOTOS!

Front view, 921 Stagecoach Ave

For more information or to request a showing- Please contact Joan @ 720-201-3049 or submit the request form below.

Brand New Homes for Low-Income Buyers!

I have recently taken two listings with the Adams County Housing Authority!

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) is winding down and now Adams County only has two remaining homes available.  They are set aside for low income homebuyers- meaning the annual household income for the buyers for these properties, cannot exceed the limits listed below (based on household size):

Household Size Maximum Annual Income

1 person- $26,400         2 people-  $30,200          3 people- $33,950

4 people- $37,700         5 people- $40,750           6 people-  $43,750

The properties are two sides of a brand new duplex in Commerce City.  The addresses are:  6694 E 72nd Pl and 6698 E 72nd Place. Each property is a two-story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, open floor plan with pergo floors throughout the main level, fully fenced yard with sprinklers & storage shed.  The floor plans for each are mirror images of each other and they are done in neutral finishes.  Both homes are Energy Star rated so utility bills will be lower than comparably-sized homes.

They are priced and advertised at their appraised value ($162,000).  However, the seller expects to provide assistance to prospective buyers to help make the homes more affordable.  For example- the NSP Assistance amount could be used to buy down loan principal and/or interest rates to make the payment much lower than it would normally be for a home at the $162,000 price point.  The Assistance amount can also cover the Buyer’s closing costs.

Buyer must be an owner occupant.  Also, the buyer is required to have their own minimum down payment for their loan type through some other non-NSP source (personal savings, down-payment assistance program, etc..) and must have at least $1,000 of their own money into the purchase.  In exchange for the assistance, the buyer would sign a Deed of Trust and Promissory Note for the amount of the assistance.  There are no payments on the Note, no interest accrues on the balance, and the balance is forgiven on a prorated basis at 5% forgiven each year of the first 20 years the buyer occupies the home as their primary residence.

Photos of the properties can be found on this website under the tab for each property address (6694 or 6698 E 72nd Pl).

Adams County Housing Authority has further information about the NSP program on their website at www.AdamsCountyHousing.com .  Interested parties can also look up the properties by their MLS numbers on public home search sites (like  http://www.recolorado.com).  MLS numbers for each property are:  #1226695 and #1226765.

Thank you for your help in getting the word out on these properties!  I am sure some lucky buyers out there are going to love these homes!

Please contact me if you have any questions!