The Fine Print - 11/30/11 10:35 PM
In some ways, providing full disclosure can actually help a seller. As a Realtor reviewing disclosures with potential buyers, I like to see a comprehensive set of disclosure documents. It shows that the seller is thorough and upfront. This goes a long way toward giving buyers peace of mind, and in this market, anything you can do to move buyers off the dime is worth considering.
Seller's are required to fill out this form to the best of their knowledge. There are a few others including Radon, Lead Based Paint etc that a knowing seller needs to disclose. Regardless, sellers may not … (1 comments)

New-Home Sales Posting Biggest Gains in Months! - 11/30/11 09:53 PM
New-home sales for single-family homes rose 1.3 percent in October, marking the best pace for new-home sales activity since this May, the U.S. Commerce Department reports. 
Following the sector’s worst year for new-home activity on record last year, several recent reports are suggesting a pick-up in new construction.
"Builders have been seeing some marginal improvement in sales activity over the past few months, particularly in select markets where consumer confidence is higher due to improved economic conditions," Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, said in a statement. "While this trend is encouraging, overall sales activity is still … (0 comments)

Negotiating: 6 Tips for Success! Not Just for Agents. - 11/29/11 09:11 PM
There are any things to consider in negotiating and many skills you need to have BEFORE you even begin. I have thought about this long and hard, and there are certain elements that will make anyone a master of the craft if they can master the elements.
First. Know What You are Worth. You need to know exactly what you are offering the other side and what they want and need. This means researching all the potential benefits and ways that your idea, product and/or service could help the other party, whether it is solve a problem, increase earning potential or simply make … (2 comments)

Holiday Home Selling. Yay or Nay? - 11/28/11 10:28 PM
This post is to hopefully answer the age old question, do you or don't you take your home off the market during the holidays? 
The holidays can create a lot of pressure to get things done and maintain the house. When you look at your holiday calendars you find the months overloaded with seasonal obligations -- shopping, entertaining, children's pageants, charity work, decorating the house, and so much more. If you add in trying to sell your home, you are looing at an intense amount of pressure to keep the home in perfect show condition as well. This can pretty much break … (5 comments)

Listings Down! Prices UP! - 11/26/11 09:16 PM
Residential real estate listings are down in all three Northern Colorado areas monitored by the multiple listing service Information and Real Estate Service, pushing median home prices up.In the Fort Collins area, single-family-detached listings decreased to 1,132 in October from 1,273 in October 2010. Median sales prices increased for detached units in Fort Collins, from $225,000 to $234,845 year-over-year in October. In the Loveland-Berthoud area, the number of detached listings decreased to 807 in October from 969 in October 2010. Median sales price for detached listings increased year-over-year in Loveland-Berthoud for the third month in a row, from $211,000 in October 2010 to $215,000.In … (1 comments)

Check list to help your child move – Canton home sellers tips - 11/21/11 04:48 PM
There are so many things to consider when moving with children. They need to feel like their whole world isn't shutting down, like they have a sense of control and that their ideas count. Russ really compiled a great list of ways to include your child and make any move go smoother than it may have without any precautions!
Via Russ Ravary - Metro Detroit homes - Michigan Real estate & Mortgage info (Remerica Hometown One):
Check list to help your child move – Canton home sellers tips Parents many times do not think about their children when they  have to move for … (0 comments)

Creating Connections - 11/21/11 04:40 PM
I was inspired by a post I saw earlier about Follow Ups by Celeste Grupman. It got me to thinking that most realtors try to sell themselves. We are always pitching our skills, our market, etc and very rarely getting to know our clients BEFORE they are our clients. 
What can you do to really get to know people and make them WANT to come to you, even if they aren't buying or selling right now? Well, I learned a few things from a manager way back in the day in a sales position and his trainings still resonate with me. … (4 comments)

Foreclosure Reviews = Retribution for Consumers! - 11/16/11 02:25 PM
 
Some homeowners who were foreclosed on may be in a for a big suprise. Homeowners who were bullied and processed quickly during their foreclosures can now request an independent review of how their forclosure was handled, says the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. Should the review find that "financial injury" occurred as a result of an error or other deficiencies in the way the foreclosure process was handled, the homeowner may receive compensation for their losses. 
The reviews are part of a larger enforcement action taken against 14 large mortgage servicers last April by the OCC, the Federal Reserve and … (2 comments)

Freddie Mac: Winter REO Sale on NOW! - 11/16/11 01:52 PM
HomeSteps, a Freddie Mac real estate sales unit, kicked off a sales promotion this week to unload some of its inventory of foreclosed homes in several cities. 
Its Winter Sales Promotion for owner-occupant buyers includes: 
Paying up to 3 percent of the final sales price toward the buyer’s closing costs for initial offers received between Nov. 15 and Jan. 31, 2012. Escrow must be closed on or before March 15, 2012, to qualify.  A $1,000 selling agent bonus is also available for offers received in that timeframe. The bonus is available in 28 states and the District of Columbia, including: Colorado, … (0 comments)

20 Healthiest Housing Markets! - 11/15/11 01:59 PM
 
1: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Minn.-Wisc.
Health Index: 91.6
2011 Population Forecast: 3,326,400
2011 Total Building Permit Forecast: 4,511
2012 Total Building Permit Forecast: 10,118
 
 
2: Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.
Health Index: 89.4
2010 Population Forecast: 299,630
2011 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,004
2012 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,650
 
 
3: Salt Lake City, Utah
Health Index: 88.9
2011 Population Forecast: 1,163,600
2011 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,294
2012 Total Building Permit Forecast: 1,181
 
 
 
 
4: Jacksonville, Fla.
Health Index: 84.0
2011 Population Forecast: 1,343,300
2011 Total Building Permit Forecast: 2,284
2012 Total Building Permit Forecast: 4,363
 
 
 
5: Miami-Fort … (0 comments)

Get Serious! 5 Steps to Selling in a Tough Market! - 11/15/11 01:47 PM
What do you need to do to sell your home in a tough market?
Here are some ideas to get your going!
Step One: Make Your Spaces Look LargerBring your furniture in off of the walls. This will make the room look larger as opposed to smaller. It may take some getting used to, but the less that is touching the walls, the better. This is definitely contingent on the size and shape of the room, but if you have to remove a piece of furniture or two so it doesn't look crowded, do that too!
Step 2: Clean it upGet … (3 comments)

CSU Seeks Housing Balance - 11/15/11 12:57 PM
Colorado State University, what some say is the heart and soul of Fort Collins, is seeking a way to balance the climbing attendence numbers with more beds. CSU and private developers are trying to erect thousands of new beds around Fort Collins to deal with the influx of students over the next 10 years.
Right now, there are 3 projects in the works. Each in a different phase of approval and design. Some will be on campus, some will be off, but overall, they should add approximately 1,800 beds. Fort Collins has determined that to maintain a balance, about 1,500 beds … (0 comments)

Locks, Cleaning and Strangers Galore! - 11/11/11 03:55 PM
What to Expect After Listing Your Home:
When listing a house, a lot of people don't know what to expect after the sign has been put up and the documents for listing signed.
Knowing what to expect when your house goes up for sale can be half the battle of getting through the transaction. Most people are a bit excited when they put their house on the market. Hopefully, they are moving up to a better home or off to new challenges in another city.
Sor some, the sales process is simple, but for most, the sales process can be an … (0 comments)

Home Inspection - Is it ALL you should do? - 11/10/11 02:47 PM
The most important reason to have an inspection is to find out the major problems with the property and assess what kind of cost you are looking at for repairs. If the repairs are too much, then the buyers have some negotiating power to close the deal.
A home inspector goes through the house looking for obvious problems and checking integral parts of the home like the foundation, exterior, electrical, plumbing and roof, structure, heating, garage, etc.
But there are certain things they won't note, such as: painting the interior or exterior, landscaping the back yard, installing sprinklers, installing new … (0 comments)

Embracing Aging in the Home - 11/10/11 02:16 PM
A bulk of the U.S. population is getting older, faster. Twenty-five percent of America’s population of more than 300 million are Baby Boomers — people born during the post-World War II years of 1946 to 1964.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as this population ages, the median age will continue to rise. By 2030, there will be 70 million Baby Boomers over the age of 75. The median age will increase from 35.5 in 2000 to a peak of 39.1 in 2035.
As these Boomers age, society will need to adapt, too. Health care, employment, social service and entitlement costs … (3 comments)

No-Cost Refinancing... What's the Cost? - 11/09/11 04:40 PM
What exactly IS a no-cost refi? A “no-cost” refi is a mortgage program that promises you no fees or out-of-pocket expenses. All your upfront costs — from application, title search, credit check, appraisal, and other settlement fees — are paid for by the lender, and you “save” potentially thousands of dollars in the process.
Why am I hearing more about this product now? While this product has been around forever, you’re hearing more about it now because so many consumers want to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates and do a refi, but can’t (or are reluctant to) come up … (1 comments)

Healthy Housing Markets DO Exist! - 11/08/11 05:55 PM
Out of the top 8, there are 2 of the top housing markets located in Colorado! The second is Fort Collins-Loveland and #7 is the Colorado Springs! Way to go Colorado!
The following are the eight cities that topped Builder’s list, including projected housing permits in 2011 and 2012.
1. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Minn.-Wis.
2011 Building Permit Forecast: 4,511
2012 Building Permit Forecast: 10,118
Home prices here are expected to rise 8 percent next year, the highest growth projected in the 100 cities analyzed. As a hub for medical technology and headquarters for several large companies, employment is expected to grow 2.5 … (1 comments)

Real Estate Investor Moguls in the Making - 11/03/11 02:40 PM
Who are some of the Real Estate Investors who are making a splash in the market and what are they doing?
Jeffery Lehman - Buying housing in the South Florida. He currently owns about 60 properties and is continuously snatching them up, fixing them, and renting them out for approximately 20% return on investment (after taxes and insurance). He has it all figured out!
Mo Singh - Buying in the Dallas Suburbs. Owns 16 properties. Planning on retiring from his job in Engineering soon, he plans to use his investment properties as his full-time retired income.
Tom Gawronski - Buying property in San Diego, … (2 comments)

A Friendly Reminder... - 11/01/11 01:45 PM
That it is THAT time of year again! The holidays are upon us and it is officially time to think about what you are grateful for! Here are 5 things I am grateful for this November!
1. My family. I know this seems generic, but we welcomed our first son into our home in September and I feel so blessed to have a wife I couldn't live with out and a handsome little man to raise with her.
2. Work. Again, generic, but - my business is thriving in a down economy. Fort Collins and the surrounding area are seeing a … (1 comments)

Energy Costs Affecting Homeowners Power to Buy?! - 11/01/11 12:31 PM
Utility bills may be one of the new issues homeowners have to face when purchasing a home. They can be a really big burden depending on the house, and are often more burdensome than property taxes or even home owner's insurance. Basically, a new bill that was introduced to the Senate is calling on lenders to take a home's energy cost into consideration during mortgage underwriting, along with principal, interest, taxes and insurance.  
The bill is called the SAVE Act - Sensible accounting to Value Energy and it requires the 3 major mortgage companies - Fannie, Freddie and the FHA … (0 comments)

 
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Ben Blonder

Fort Collins, CO

More about me…

Broker/Owner, Kapital Real Estate Inc

Address: 153 N College Ave, Fort Collins, CO, 80524

Office Phone: (970) 797-2190

Cell Phone: (970) 420-6166

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