Short Sale, Colorado Springs!

I am frequenly asked by home owners who are experiencing financial troubles to explain what aShort Sale is and how it works! Here in Colorado Springs our housing market has lots of Short Sale properties as well as bank and goverment owned homes for sale on the market.

Basically, a home owner who is having troubles making payments--does not have to be late or may already be late withpayments or knows they are coming up on a future circumstance that will not allow them to make payments are candidates for a Short Sale. The phrase Short Sale derives from the shortage of money the bank will receive between what the home sells for and what the home owners still owes on the home. Each circumstance is reviewed individually by the banks before a Short Sale is granted by the bank to the seller.

Here are some basics of a Short Sale and its pprocess and some of the steps may be out of order and not all are included: Please call for details or a FREE CONSULTANTION-719.209.0190

Home Owner consults with a real estate professional ( Short Sale & Forclosure Specialist Designation), attorney and tax consultant and if determined, home is listed with the agent and placed into the MLS.

Home Owner contacts bank and request a Short Sale Packet from any mortgage lender the home is currently financed with. Takes about 5-7 business days to receive the paperwork. Lots of financial information will be asked for and requested by the bank as well as a Hardship Letter. After packet is filled out and completed the packet is giving to the Agent so they can properly label, tag and number each page of the packet. Once the packet is sent to the right fax number of the banks it takes about a  week to get the packet assigned by a Short Sale Negotiator.

Home is priced at market prices to start with for approx. 60-90 days before any major price reductions. Bank wants to see that there was an effort to market the home at market rates before they are willing to take a reduction in price from a buyer.

Bank will order an appraisal and or a BPO (Broker Price Option) to get and idea of what they are working with concerning the condition of the home and market prices in the area.

Prices are dropped more frequently after the 60-90 day period to incite home buyers to make and offer. The list price may not be the price the bank counters back with. Extreme low ball offers are usually frowned upon by the bank. However, there are many different tactics and reasons why an agent will price a home at a given prices, so ask questions before you judge an agent.

Offer comes in on the home and the home owners either accepts the offer or declines. If accepted, the agent sends the offer to the bank, along with the listing agreement, recent financial information from the home owner, HUD statement from a title company.

Offer and documents are submitted to the bank and bank determines what they will take as a payoff for the home. The price may be the buyers offering price or the bank may decide the home is worth more and they could as for more.

Once a price is aggreed upon, the bank with stipulate when they would like the closing to take place and then the agents work on making that closing happen.

Thank you for reading the BASICS of a Short Sale 

5 Acres of Beautiful Land with Pikes Peak Views

Have you ever wanted to build a home that was not too close to your neighbors, gave you the feel of living in the great out doors of the West, while still having Pikes Peak Views, then I have the property for you! This is a Land Opportunity for you that will return a great future investment. There is 5 acres of Beautiful Land located between Colorado Springs and Monument priced at only  $123,000. Enjoy Unobstructed Pikes Peak Views from this wonderful 5 acre lot of your next dream Home. 

Untilities are already at the front of the property!

5 ACRES OF UNOBSTRUCTED PIKES PEAK VEIWS NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS AND MONUMENT!

Call today for a viewing of this wonderful piece of property and see for your self the Pikes Peak Views.

How to find a New Home in Colorado Springs

Whether you are a first time home buyer or a seasoned buyer, finding a New Home in Colorado Springs may not always be an easy task. With land being more available to the North and East of Colorado Springs, New Homes are popping up everywhere, but not always in the area you wanted to buy. Compromise is the name of the game and with than comes some really great rewords. With the slowing of the housing market and low interest rates, buyers now have the opportunity to purchase a New Home in Colorado Springs for what a resale would cost them.

Working with a New Home Specialist like myself will help you save time and money! It's not that I know every home that is being built or available at a moments notice but I do know who to call for the information to find that needle in a hay stack of a home your looking and in a timely manner. How to find a New Home in Colorado Springs boils down to working with a great New Home Specialist who has the resources to find what you are looking for. Have a look some of the layout of this New Town Home in Colorado Springs. Available models with great move in incentives are the Gibson w/1391 sq. ft. at $177,219, the Emerald w/1647 sq. ft. at $200,009 and the Crimson with 1827 sq. ft. at $226,299.  HOA's are around $115.00.

Ask for a pre-view of these beautiful Today's Homes located near Powers Blvd.

If you want more information about these town homes or single family homes with great move in incentives, please visit me at New Home Colorado Springs.

Finding New Homes in Colorado Springs

Have you ever thought that owning a new home was out of the question? Well, if your one of those people that thought it was impossible, think again. As a Colorado Springs Relocation Special I do my very best at finding whatever type of home my clients are looking for, at the price that fits their needs. New homes In Colorado Springs can be found at various locations across the city, in all different sizes and prices, depending on your buying needs. Pre-viewing New Homes In Colorado Springs is just one of the many things I do during the day to stay current with our builder inventor. Visit me at New Homes in Colorado Springs to find the perfect new home for you. Make sure you put in your comments that you are looking for a New home.

The beautiful Town Homes listed below are in a great location and conveniently located to easy access to Powers Blvd, Dublin, Woodman and minutes away from Austin Bluffs.

Available New Homes in Colorado Springs Included some of these choices:

1. Priced at just $177,219 This New Home in Colorado Springs is a beautiful Town Home available that is 1391 sq. ft with 2 master bedroom suites, 2.5 baths and a 1 car garage. This is an end unit so you don't have to worry about additional noise. Beautiful hard wood floors through out the entire main level, with all appliances included, washer, dryer included with a private patio......

2. Priced at $200,009 This New Home in Colorado Springsincludes 1647 sq.. ft. 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath and a 2 car garage. Large great room wth 10' ft. ceilings, open kitchen with bar top, beautiful upgraded maple cabinets with crown molding, fireplace, hardwood floors in the kitchen, dining area, powder bath and foyer, all appliances included, large bedroom wth walk in closet's

3. Priced at only $ 226,299 This New Home in Colorado Springs bosts1827 sq. Ft with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath and a 2 car garage. Large end unit with 10'Ft ceilings, large great room and beautiful open kitchen, fireplace, upgraded maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors in entry, dining area, kitchen, and powder room. Has LARGE master suite with sitting area.

Keep in mind that when buying a new home it is always in your best interest to have a representative working for you and looking over your shoulder. Purchase contracts are very cumbersome and cover many different aspects of a home purchase. A trained real estate professional in your corner can easily point out things to look out for when making a new home purchase and make sure that you are getting the best deal possible.  Did you know that when a home buyer purchases a new home, the builder (just like a normal home owner) pays the buyer's Agent his commission fee to professionally represent the buyer and his/her best interest.  Just like to shouldn't use a soon to be ex-spouse's lawyer to get a divorce, you should use a builders representative to close on a new home. Hire a professional representative to put in your corner. 

New  Homes Availabe through Today's Homes!

Selling Peregrine Homes for Sale in Colorado Springs

Come visit this beautiful area of Northwest Colorado Springs in the award winning Academy District 20 Schools. Just West of Rockrimmon and 10 minutes from I-25, Peregrine is a wonderful community nestled close to the Pikes Peak base of Pikes Peakand away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Enjoy peaceful mountain and wild life in Peregrine from your own back yard. Established in the late 80's and primarily built in the 90's, Peregrine has grown to be a popular area for families looking for large economically priced homes with that mountain feeling, without the long drive up the mountain. Most of the Homes for sale in Peregrine sell for between $300-600k, some higher, with 5 bedrooms, 4 bath and 3 car garage, ranging from 2700-6500 square feet.

Peregrine Homes for Sale in Colorado Springs-- Community includes:

Alpine Glen, Angel Stone, Cedar Village, La Belleza, Mahogany Vale, North Valley The Riverie, Rockledge, Sanctuary, Stone Hedge, Table Rock, Talon Ridge, Tuscany Heights and The Villages.

Peregrine Provides: Wide range in of wildlife, large homes, good size lots, near mountain terrain, district 20 schools

Want a free Market Analyis and home Evaluation of your home in Colorado Springs, visit Get My Home VALUE NOW!

Antelope Meadows Real Estate in Colorado Springs

Are you looking for a great community neighborhood conveniently localed near 1-12 grade schools in district 11? Well look no further because Antelope Meadows in Colorado Springs is a fantastic neighborhood for families and children.! I have lived in Antelope Meadows of Colorado Springs for  over 5 years now and my kids love the schools and neighborhood. Nicely tucked away on the out rim of Antelope meadows you can easily find you way in minutes to Austin Bluffs, Stetson Hills, Dublin, Academy and Woodmen. I find this neighborhood is very convenient to all the major shopping centers and entertainment. 

As a neighborhood and community relationship builder I hosted the 2010 Antelope Meadows Community Garage sale with over 30 particapants and look forward to another one this year. The greatest thing is that all the schools and park is within walking distance, if you did not want to make the drive every morning. Antelope Meadows has a walking trail that cuts through the neighborhood and passes by the community park and to two of the local schools. Need some excercise, take a long walk or ride a bike on these walking paths and enjoy this peaceful neighborhood. Want to search for a home in Antelope Meadows visit Search Colorado Springs MLS.  The local schools are: Elementary--Scott, Middle--Jenkins and High School is Doherty. 

Antelope Meadows 6 Month Housing Market Data as of 1/6/2011

On the Market-- 4 Properties ranging from $205-$259

Average price of listed properties--$238,500 with 2843 square feet, finished 2100

Solds-- 11 Properties

Average price of sold properties $231,763 with 2625 square feet, finished 2375

For a complete Colorado Springs Market Data update for all the areas of Colorado Springs visit Market Data Information.

RECEIVED UPDATES ON YOUR HOUSING MARKET

December, Colorado Springs Housing Market Data

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home this new year you can never be without the most recent Colorado Springs Housing Market Data. I make it my mission to know the most recent market trends across our great city of Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs Housing Market Data helps Home Buyers and Sellers make informed decisions but without a good agent, could cost them money.  Colorado Springs Housing Market Datalets the local consumer know what to expect in today's market and on a month to month basis. When you visit Colorado Springs Housing Market Data you can get a monthly update on every area across Colorado Springs.

Are you thinking about selling your home and want to know what is going on in your neighborhood? Visit What is My home Worthand register for a free home evaluation and get a free web-link to our local (MLS) and receive updates of home prices and new listings in your neighborhood over the last six months as well as information about homes that have Sold, are Under Contract or Pending. As a home owner, you can't sell put a price on a home unless you know what people are paying for homes of like kind in your neighborhood.

Are you thinking of buying a home in Colorado Springs in 2011? Well ,if so, you definitely want to check out the Colorado Springs Housing Market Data to see what is going on in the area you would like to live or visit "Find My Dream Home" and either search the free home mapping tool or register to receive a free MLS website linked directly to our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and receive daily updates of all the homes in the MLS that meet your specific needs.

Don't hesitate, Colorado Springs Housing Market Data information could help you save money when you buy or sell a home in Colorado Springs.

Finding Homes for Sale In Colorado Springs using the (MLS)

If you are a home buyer and serious about buying a home in Colorado Springsin 2011, don't miss out on a great search tool that will automatically allow you to have access to the (MLS). By visiting "Buying A home" will give you all the information you need to find the perfect home faster and easier that you ever imagined. If you want to search Homes for Sale in Colorado Springs on one of the fastest map searching website tools visit "Homes for Sale in Colorado Springs".

Are you looking for a Colorado Springs Realtor that will help you completely through the home buying process and not make you feel like you're pressured into buying a home? Most likely that is the case so please visit "Homes For Sale in Colorado Springs" and register to receive updates and listings of Homes For Sale in Colorado Springs that meet your specific needs. 

Colorado Springs Top 10 Tips for Staging a Home

If you are considering on selling your home in Colorado Springs or anywhere else for that matter, you definitely want to read these Top 10 Tips for Staging a Home. They are easy to do and bring more value to your home. In Colorado Springs we have many agents that prefer to have a home staged by a professional, rather than let the owner do the staging. I provide each of my sellers with a pre-listing video that goes over home staging, examples of what it is suppose to look like and tips of what buyers are looking for. Additionally, I provide a written brochure with over 80 plus tips on home staging and preparing a home to sell. It works great and is easy to follow.   Staging a Home needs to be done through the eyes of a homebuyer, not the homeowner. Get with your agent and discuss ideas about what works the best in your home to attract the most number of buyers. Make the home as user friendly and neutral as possible.

Provided your home-for-sale has the curb appeal to get potential buyers inside, keeping them inside for a further look requires a staging strategy that sticks the deal. If you can find the money in your budget, hire a professional stager when you are ready to list your home. 

Staging A Hometip #1 Reclaim the yard! First Impressions rule! Spruce up the curb by maintaining the yard, pull weeds and cut down overgrown bushes and shrubs. Having a clean fresh look never hurt a sale. Add a splash of color and apply a fresh coat of paint, especially the front of the home and a new coat to the front door. New lock set also go a long way in front door appearance.

Staging A Home tip #2 Let the Foyer Flourish. The home portal set the tone of the entire home. Make the space up-to-date, well maintained and eye catching--top to bottom.

Staging a Home tip # 3 Back off beige! Don't let neutral color walls dominate a room. Splashes of color liven up the room like colorful pillows, art work and fresh flowers ad pops of color and personality.

Staging A Home tip #4 Cure kitchen craziness. Consistency pleases. All counter-tops and cabinets should match. New Hardware, a new back-splash and a thorough cleaning can transform a bleak kitchen into one with smiles.

Staging A Hometip # 5 Denude the dining room. De-cluttering and depersonalizing is the first rule of home staging. Home-Buyers can have trouble envisioning themselves living in a home full of the seller's personal items.

Staging A Hometip #6 Avoid Focal point faux-pas. Highlight the great features in a home by positioning furniture to highlight them. Windows, fireplace and other architectural details will be noticed by the buyer if they are emphasized in a the home correctly.

Staging A Home tip #7 Perk up the patio. The outdoor space is an extension of the home. Capture a higher selling price by cleaning and adding style to an outdoor space with furniture, lighting and accessories.

Staging a Home tip #8 Master the Master Suite. The best approach to staging is often working with existing accessories. Using what is already in the room and repositioning the furniture will highlight the room's best features!

Staging A Hometip #9 Cure the bathroom blues. Older vanities and dreadfull wallpaper will make any bathroom feel outdated. Apply a fresh coat of neutral-hued paint and new hardware to modernize and brighten.

Staging A Hometip #10 Re-purpose extra rooms. The value of a space decreases when homebuyers see a room without direction (think part office, baby's room, part gym). Though almost every homeowner is guilty of having a "junk room", make sure to stage each room with a clear purpose before putting a home on the market.

To see how I get homes sold fast with my 16 point home listing program visit me at Selling A Home!  

Top 10 Mistakes Made by Home Owners  Selling a Home!

Buying a home is a wonderful and exciting time, but selling a home is not always such a festive occasion. Somewhere amongst the packing, confusion and emotions of moving, doing the "right thing" gets lost. All too often, many Home Owners forget what it was like to be a home buyer. They forget the things that attracted them the most to their home and what buyers view as important items of concern when grading homes. As a Colorado Springs Realtor, before I meet with a client to discuss listings their home, I drop off or send them a 20 minute video that covers all the issues listed below and we discuss any questions that might arise from the video.  I encourage all Home Owners thinking of selling their home to read through these mistakes so they will not make the same mistakes or at least will be aware of the negative impact these mistakes can cause. Listed below are the Top 10 Mistakes Made By Home Owners Selling a home:

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #1 - Not being financially ready to sell a home is a big no no! Many times home owners forget that it cost money to sell a home and you can't just put a sign in the yard. Items like Real Estate Agent fees, advertisements costs, equity build up or lack thereof and sometimes prepayment penalties on home loans all contribute to the over all cost of selling a home. All these factors will decide how much Home Owners will need to bring to the closing table or how much they will walk away with. Second, if the home is in need of repair, there should be a budget set aside to make those repairs.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #2 - Not preparing the home for sale! Many Home Owners will knowingly put a home on the market with various things wrong with the home, hoping the buyer will either not see the item or expect the buyer to mention it if there is a concern.  Doing business this way is NOT a good practice!  Home owners should be thinking Ethical and Moral responsibility!  In most cases, home owners will spend more money trying to meet the buyers expectations and lose more negotiating power by not fixing the items in advance that are broken or need repair.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #3 - Not having a Home Inspection before the home is listed! Many times, there are things wrong with a home that even a home owner is unaware of. Having a home inspection completed, before listing a home, is a VERY wise idea and will save you time, money and put you in a better negotiating position, when it comes time for the buyer's home inspection. You could offer the home inspection to the buyer, allowing them to use your inspection report. However, a buyers agent may not see this as a plausible idea since the inspector may have been the home owner's cousin Vinnie from Detroit.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #4 - Not preparing the home to be visually appealing! Home Buyers are visually stimulated and emotional about what appeals to them. Home Owners who leave their dirty laundry out and don't keep kitchens and bathrooms SPOTLESS or don't pick up "doggie poo" in the hallway pay the price by spending a longer time on the market, receive lower offers and get poor feedback. Don't laugh, this happened to me when I was showing a home to one of my clients and one of their children stepped in a pile of fresh "poo" and then tracked it through the home, screaming the whole time. The home owner said it comes off the floor better once it is dry!!!!!!!  REALLY!?!   Model homes, Fashion Models, Model Cars and you name it has the word MODEL in it for a reason. They are a picture perfect examples of unmolested perfection and set the bar for others to achieve and anything less is ORDINARY and captures little attention! For a small fee, staging a home can be a wise investment and statistically is proven to bring a higher purchase price and sell faster. I provide my clients with a list of over 80 different things they can do to improve the looks and cleanliness of their home and make it "show ready".

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #5 - Limiting home showings to a 1 HOUR WINDOW or asking for a 24 HOUR NOTICE! This is one of the fastest ways for a home owner to derail ever getting their home shown to a potential buyer. If you plan on selling your home and getting the most out of the time your home is on the market, avoid asking for a 1 hour showing window and PLEASE DO NOT as for a 24 hour notice. Many times home buyers will not even bother with a home owner who is asking for such a huge window of notice. Home Owners need to keep in mind that there are so many homes on the market that bending over backwards to see theirs probably is not going to happen. Also consider that out of town home buyers racing against the clock to find a home will many times pass right over a home needing a 24 hour notice. Understanding that there may be pets involved that have to be moved or kenneled, there's NEVER a good reason a home owner needs 24 Hour Notice. Ask any Agent and they will probably tell you the same thing.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #6 - Not listening to showing feedback from potential home buyers! It is in the Home Owners best interest that when potential home buyers say the "pink" wall in the kitchen reminds them of the "Pink Panther", the seller should consider painting the wall a neutral color.  Home Owners need to listen to the wisdom of their agent and ask what kinds of things might turn potential home buyers away from writing a contract on the home. Most any seasoned Realtor knows what buyers do and don't want to see, so ask questions if they are not coming right out and telling you to change something.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #7 - Not pricing your home properly from the start! Especially in today's market, it never fails that the Home Owner has a price in their head as to what the home should be listed for and the agent has another number. The first four weeks are the most important weeks to pull in home buyers. The sad truth is that a lot of money spent on a home for general upkeep and maintenance does little to add monetary value to a home  Spending money on the wrong upgrades or improvements, without speaking to a Realtor first can be another negative. There are two schools of thought here, if you are making improvements to a home for the sole purpose of your enjoyment and the cost for that enjoyment is not an issue--spend away--within reason. However, over improving cost home owners a LOT of money on a resale and almost impossible to recover. 

Mistakes Made By Home Owners # 8 - Not getting an appraisal for a home, before listing it, when the comparables are questionable. This one may be a toss up and debatable but there have been times when getting an independent appraisal, before listing a home, is a good idea. Remember, a home owner is not just selling a home to a potential home buyers, but first and foremost they have to sell the home and its value to a Home Appraiser. In today's market, (in most cases or preferably) Home Appraisers follow guidelines that have them using "Like Kind" comparable home sales, in the same neighborhood, same approximate square footage--within about 200 sq. ft and that have sold in the last 3-6 months. If there is not an available home to compare of "like kind" an appraiser is NOT going to stick his neck out and put a PFA or "Plucked from Air" value to a Home.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #9 - Expecting a potential home buyer to put an offer on an overpriced home! Almost every Realtor has heard this one from a Seller...."Well, if they want the home they can put an offer on it and we can negotiate from there!" SORRY, but it does not happen that way. Home buyers and their professional real estate agent already know when a home is overpriced and steer away from the home. Listing agents can not spin hay into gold so when they run comparables and recent sales analysis and come up with some physical REAL numbers, DO NOT Pluck from Air a number someone thinks a home is worth. A home owner only wastes their time, the agents time and a home buyers time with FICTITIOUS Home Prices.

Mistakes Made By Home Owners #10- Not communicating enough with their agent! It is my recommendation that a home owner speak with his/her agent at least once a week about their home. I have it listed in my listing contract that we will communicate about all home showings, buyer feedback, recent solds, price ranges and activities in the neighborhood. When an agent and a home owner are working together, homes sell faster and for more money, simply put!

There are other mistakes made by home owners but this list is some of the most common. Some items may be debatable but I have seen these items work toward the detriment of home owners on many different occasions and hear the same complaints from many other agents. Use what you can from this list to make your home more appealing to the majority of home buyers so you can sell faster and for more money.