Nicole Strom Realtor

10/28/2026

Who’s Buying Homes with Cash Right Now?

More than 1 in 4 homes are being bought with cash right now. But here's something that might surprise you about who's buying them.

It's not just wealthy investors swooping in with deep pockets.

A lot of these cash buyers are everyday homeowners who've built up serious equity over the years. And that equity is giving them more buying power than they may have ever imagined.

According to Cotality, the average homeowner with a mortgage has about $310,000 in equity.

Think about what that could mean for your next move.

You might have enough equity to buy your next home outright. No mortgage payment. No worrying about today's interest rates.

And even if you can't pay all cash, that equity could help you borrow significantly less.

But what if you're buying with a mortgage?

Here's some good news: Nearly 3 out of 4 homebuyers are still using financing. You're actually in the majority.

So don't let the headlines about cash buyers make you second-guess what's possible for you. Whether you're buying your first home or using equity to make your next move, there may be more opportunities than you think.

Wondering how you stack up in today's market? Send me a message. Let's talk about your options.

10/26/2026

Why Builders May Be More Motivated To Sell Than Homeowners

Pending home sales just dropped 11.3% compared to last year. But what if that slowdown could actually help you get a better deal on a brand-new home?
Here's why that matters.

When the market slows, homeowners and builders don't always react the same way.

A homeowner who isn't getting the offers they want can decide to stay put and wait. But builders? They've already invested in houses they need to sell. And every completed home that sits unsold costs them money.

That can make builders more motivated to negotiate. And the numbers prove they're already making moves.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 65% of builders are offering incentives, and 43% are cutting prices. The typical reduction? 6%.
For buyers, that could mean serious savings. Think lower prices, help with closing costs, or even a better mortgage rate.

And the biggest opportunities may be hiding in brand-new homes that are already built and waiting for buyers.

So, before you rule out new construction, let’s see which builders in our area may be ready to negotiate.

10/23/2026

Do you still pay mortgage insurance on your home? A new executive order could eventually change how and when it comes off.

On October 22, an executive order was signed that directs FHFA to create a pilot program for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. The idea is to use automated home value estimates to check your equity periodically and cancel your mortgage insurance automatically once you have reached the required equity. No chasing paperwork, no paying for an appraisal.

Quick refresher: mortgage insurance protects your lender, not you. It is usually required when you put less than 20% down, and it is generally not needed once you have 20% equity.

The order also targets refinance costs by making a title insurance waiver program permanent for eligible refinances and waiving appraisals and some documentation for certain refinances.

A few things to keep in mind:

This does not change your loan today. The rules still have to be written.
The owner’s title insurance you get when you buy a home is separate and still important.
Not everyone agrees on the approach. Mortgage insurers have raised concerns about relying on automated value estimates.

More on the other parts of this order coming soon.

10/23/2026

Why More Buyers Are Turning To Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Today

When mortgage rates climb, buying a home can start to feel like trying to hit a moving target. Every jump in rates makes monthly payments bigger, and that pushes a lot of buyers to look for another way in.

10/22/2026

To Sell or Rent? How To Choose the Best Path for Your House.

Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan.

10/22/2026

Fewer people are moving. So why are there so many homes for sale?

Here is what is happening in Colorado Springs.

More than half of Colorado homeowners with a mortgage have a rate under 4%, and nearly 1 in 4 are under 3%. With new rates above 7%, most people without a reason to move are staying put. Only about 29% of Colorado Springs homeowners own their homes outright, so rates matter a lot here.

But the homes that ARE on the market are sitting. Our inventory is back to 2019 levels. In El Paso County this year, 14,187 homes were listed and 8,980 sold. About 37% had not closed by the end of September.

What I see every day: the people moving are the ones who need to. A new baby. An empty nest. PCS orders. A new job. Family.

If you need to move but love your low rate, selling is not your only option. Since 2023, I have helped 26 sellers turn their primary home into an investment property. It is not the right fit for everyone, but it is worth running the numbers.

If you are thinking about selling, please hear me. Do not test the market. Do not list high to leave room for negotiating. Paint, carpet, and soft updates matter. Buyers are looking for value, and they will not spend an extra $1,800 to $2,400 a month on a home that is not priced, located, and conditioned right.

Price below your competition. That is how homes are selling right now.

10/21/2026

Confused by Home Price Headlines? Here’s Why.

Whether you own a house already or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices.

10/20/2026

Colorado Springs is officially a buyer’s market!

Realtor.com’s new Market Clock report lists Colorado Springs as one of only three buyer’s markets in the entire West. Denver is right on the edge of becoming one too.

Honestly? The official label is new, but it has felt like a buyer’s market here since May of 2025. If you’ve bought or sold in the last year and a half, you’ve probably felt it too!

Here’s why that matters if you’ve been priced out of Denver:

The September median single-family price was $610,000 in metro Denver and $479,000 here in the Pikes Peak region. That’s $131,000 less!

With 10% down at 7.4%, that’s roughly $800 a month less in principal and interest (your lender can run your exact numbers).

On top of that, buyers here are often negotiating five-figure seller concessions, and many use them to buy down their rate.

For some families, the drive up I-25 may be worth the savings... plus the trails, the views, and the hometown feel Colorado Springs is known for.

Curious what concessions look like in the part of town you love? I can share the averages by area.

And if you’re thinking about moving but aren’t sure you want to sell, you’re not alone. Since 2022, I’ve helped 26 homeowners turn their homes into investment properties. I’d love to show you what your numbers could look like now and 10 years from now.

10/20/2026

I attended the State of the City on Friday, and this slide made me so proud of our town!

Since 2017, homelessness in Colorado Springs has stayed essentially flat (-0.1%), while Denver is up 92.2%, Aurora 81.3%, and Albuquerque 136.1%.

What really got me was the veteran numbers. In January 2026, 131 veterans were counted as homeless in El Paso County, down from about 195 the year before. That’s roughly one-third fewer in one year!

This matters so much here. We’re home to five military installations: Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, the Air Force Academy, and Cheyenne Mountain SFS. About 1 in 7 Colorado Springs residents is a veteran (around 54,500 people), and more than 350 service members transition out of the military from our local bases every month.

Nationally, veteran homelessness is projected to drop 8.2% this year, the biggest decline in over a decade.

There’s still work to do, and a one-night count never tells the whole story. But as a retired Army spouse, I’m grateful for every organization and volunteer helping our veterans find a place to call home.

If you know a veteran who needs support, Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center is a great place to start.

10/20/2026

Keys in hand at 19 and 20 years old!

I could not be prouder of my buyers, who just closed on their dream home in Rockvale. These two came in with so much conviction. They did their homework, met with their lender early, asked all the right questions, and never lost sight of their goal, even when the process asked for patience.

I will be honest: I wish I had thought about homeownership with this kind of grit at their age. They are starting to build their future years ahead of where most people begin, and that head start matters.

If you have ever wondered whether you are too young to buy, age is not the deciding factor. Credit, income, savings, and a clear plan are what count, and a conversation with a lender is the best place to start. Getting prepared early also helps things move quickly. With the lender I partner with, many of my buyers close in two weeks or less!

Congratulations, you two. Enjoy every moment in your new home!