Laura Pratt Broker Associate with Coldwell Banker

09/08/2022

According to the National Association of Realtors, despite some in the media who have claimed otherwise, existing homes that are available and priced appropriately are still moving at a remarkably fast pace. The average house in the U.S. is selling in just 14 days. To put that into perspective, homes took an average of 96 days to sell back in 2011.

01/19/2022

When is 15 greater than 30? The big advantages of a short-term mortgage...read more https://www.grarate.com/article/short-term-mortgage-benefits?LOID=4697&adtrk=|email|RAC|JanuaryTopicalRPs||RefiToAShorterTerm||||||||||&utm_source=RAC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JanuaryTopicalRPs&utm_content=RefiToAShorterTerm

There are so many mortgage options available to homebuyers that shopping for one can be stressful and confusing. It’s not just a matter of different rates—it’s also different lengths.

10/07/2021

Just listed 5138 Harvest Park, Fort Collins, CO

09/01/2021

Whole House Staging Strategies
Deploy Depersonalization
If you as many as possible prospective buyers to imagine themselves living happily ever after in your house, take yourself out of the place completely. Remove all family photos, travel souvenirs, collections and mementos, knickknacks, favorite media (books, movies, etc.), heirlooms, and any other items that reflect you and your family. Also banish any furniture, wall, window, and floor coverings, and even colors that don’t seem “quirky” to you but might to strangers. Rent a storage space if necessary, and remind yourself that you’ll be moving soon and will have to pack anyway.
Cut Clutter
Boxing up your belongings as you depersonalize will go a long way toward achieving the “neat and orderly” is key. But take it further: Toss junk mail in the recycling bin; keep surfaces free of keys, phones, purses, backpacks, and the like; empty junk drawers and organize cabinets, which will surely be opened by house hunters. Don’t stash items in closets, which will appear smaller if crammed with stuff.
De-cluttering also applies to furniture: Bid goodbye to unnecessary pieces (Dad’s bulky recliner, Grandma’s towering China cabinet), making sure that whatever remains looks welcoming and feels comfortable. Donate what you can, and store what you can’t off premises.

08/31/2021

Is it Important to Stage a House?
Staged homes, on average, sell about 88 percent faster and for 20 percent more, according to Realtor.com.
“Staging is crucial now because, through technology—how fast we can see things, want them, and get them—buyers will spot a place online and think: ‘I found it! I have to have this house!’” But it’s not just the look of a place that seals the deal; it’s the emotional response. “We design staging’s to feel welcoming and serene so buyers immediately fall in love with a space,”
Professional home staging is pricey, however: You’ll pay between $300 and $600 for an initial consultation and as much as $600 for each staged room, per month. Plus, many pros insist on a three-month contract, even if the house sells the very day it goes on the market.
While you may recoup that cost if the house sells well, if you prefer to stage your home for sale yourself, I will share ideas and specific room-by-room tips for home staging success each day.

08/19/2021

According to the Colorado Association of Realtors. August data.
REALTORS® Seeing Signs of Change in Markets Across Colorado

FORT COLLINS “With summer temperatures rising, is the real estate marketing in a cooling trend? “Throughout the early spring and into the beginning of summer, a combination of pent-up demand for housing, persistently low interest rates, an economy on the rebound, and a robust vaccination program led to record setting paces in housing units sold, housing units coming on the market, over-asking sale prices, and appraisals supporting the uptick in appreciation. Cost of building materials has also led to reduced inventory in new construction which has definitely not helped ease the supply shortage. “The post-Independence Day market analytics are showing a bit of a stabilizing trend as you look at median price settling down closer to $500,000 at $506,750 compared to $533,435 the month previous. The average percent over list price was still
pushing 4% for June (which means a house listed at $500,000, on average, sold for at least $20,000 over the list price). Competitive offers are the rule rather than the exception, and buyers are having to use all the tools in their competitive offer bag of tricks to have their offers stand out (waiving appraisal conditions, waiving or minimizing inspection objections, nonrefundable earnest money, etc.). “That being said, July is showing signs of a different kind of pent-up demand: vacations. Folks are getting out and away after 16 months of essentially being shut in. This is resulting in a dispersed pool of potential buyers that are taking some time out for travel and a time out from buying houses. The statistics will likely bear this out next month, but there are some early signs like price reductions on listings and lower showing totals than what we saw earlier in the spring. This is good news for competing buyers. However, don’t expect prices to come down – there’s still plenty of demand for housing that will likely see prices stabilize for the remainder of the summer,” said Fort Collins-area REALTOR® Chris Hardy

08/19/2021

DIY Home Decorating Tip
Paint Wall Colors Light and Neutral
Stick to colors like beige or gray, especially on the first floor, where flow is important. You want to minimize jarring transitions. Neutral walls give you the greatest decorating flexibility, allowing you to easily switch up your accessories. And if you have two small rooms next to each other, painting them the same neutral color helps them feel larger. Look at a paint strip and move up or down a shade or two for a subtle variation from room to room.

08/13/2021

Consumers Overestimate Down Payment Requirements

The majority of consumers continue to mistakenly believe they need at least a 20% down payment to purchase a home, but the truth is the average down payment among all buyers is just 12%, according to National Association of REALTORS® data. Younger buyers tend to put down the least: For example, those between the ages of 22 and 30 put down an average of 6%, and those between the ages of 31 and 40 make an average 10% down payment
Several conventional lenders allow buyers to purchase a home with a down payment as low as 3%, while some government-backed programs like through the VA issue loans with no money down. Borrowers may find such options through FHA, USDA, or VA loans as well as down payment assistance programs.
Young adults, in particular, may be missing out on key information to move forward in the housing market. Two out of three recently surveyed say they are waiting for lower mortgage rates before starting the homebuying process, according to a survey of 1,000 millennials (ages 25 to 40) conducted by Lombardo Homes. However, economists have largely predicted that mortgage rates will edge upwards in the coming weeks. Further, one in four millennials underestimated their buying potential by $150,000 or more, the study finds.
Also, 59% of consumers say they did not know that the seller pays the real estate agents' commission, the Lombardo Homes survey shows. Respondents also expressed confusion about many real estate terms, such as earnest money, FRM (fixed-rate mortgage), and PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance).
Real estate pros can educate buyers on common terms and financing resources. After all, home buyers of all ages are more likely to contact a real estate agent before a mortgage lender when they begin the homebuying process, according to NAR’s 2021 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report.

08/12/2021

Monthly Real Estate Indicators - July 2021
New Listings were down 13.7 percent for single family homes and 14.4 percent
for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales landed at 295 for single family
homes and 80 for townhouse-condo properties.
The Median Sales Price was up 24.1 percent to $540,000 for single family
homes and 8.0 percent to $348,500 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on
Market decreased 34.3 percent for single family homes and 29.4 percent for
townhouse-condo properties.
The National Association of REALTORS® reported inventory of homes for sale
nationwide rose slightly in June as more sellers list their homes, hoping to take
advantage of record-high sales prices across the country. Even with renewed
home seller interest, inventory overall remains 18.8% lower than a year ago,
according to NAR.

08/09/2021

Real Estate Market Snapshot for Fort Collins, Larimer County

08/02/2021

Most 'desirable' place to live in nation located in Colorado, according to new analysis
Out There Colorado | 07.15.2021
Many Americans seem to have their sights set on Colorado these days thanks to a good local economy and ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. With this in mind, it's not too surprising that four places in the Centennial State were ranked among the top 20 'best places to live' in the country by US News and World Report. The second-highest-rated Colorado city on the overall list was Colorado Springs, earning a 6th place rank. Helping to boost the city's overall ranking was a perfect 10 of 10 score in the 'desirability' category. While Boulder was ranked higher on the list overall compared to Colorado Springs, the 'desirability' of this town was lower – a still-impressive 8.5 of 10. Also performing well in the ranking, Denver earned a 'desirability' score of 8.4, ranking 14th overall, and Fort Collins earned a desirability score of 6.9, ranking 17th overall.

07/27/2021

Home Decorating Tips For the DIYer in You
2. Paint Wall Colors Light and Neutral
Stick to colors like beige or gray, especially on the first floor, where flow is important. You want to minimize jarring transitions, neutral walls give you the greatest decorating flexibility, allowing you to easily switch up your accessories. If you have two small rooms next to each other, painting them the same neutral color helps them feel larger. Look at a paint strip and move up or down a shade or two for a subtle variation from room to room