Tag Archives: home appraisal

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How’s the Market?

Atlas Real Estate Group

In one word, market conditions are robust. A proud member of Atlas Real Estate Group, the premier real estate investment company and brokerage team along the Front Range, I am often asked for an indication of the rental market in Colorado Springs. Here is a brief synopsis.

Market Conditions – Year over Year Rent Growth

At 11% according to Yardi®, we are top three in the nation when it comes to year over year rent growth, a finding consistent with what we see on a daily basis analyzing the market for our investor clientele. This is due to a myriad of factors, such as limited inventory, minimal construction activity and a level of population growth that has moved us up to being the nation’s 40th most populous city and a “positive trajectory with respect to economic recovery and growth“.

Market Conditions – Supply and Demand

The result of our robust market is high prices. This is bad news for wholesalers and flippers, a business model needing margins of 25% or better to make sense. Forced to seek elsewhere for the short term ROI they need, many are flocking to markets such as Indianapolis, St. Louis and others where housing prices are low enough to generate the profit margins they need. And this is where the downside takes a sharp decline.

Stepping over dollars for pennies, their capacity for building long term wealth is severely limited, as can be seen by much lower rent growth rates of 4.3% and 2.9% respectively.

Not to mention, and though cash is truly king in the rental game, appreciation cannot be overlooked. According to NeighborhoodScout®, Colorado Springs has shown an 8% in annual appreciation rate in the last 12 months, whereas Indianapolis, IN and St. Louis, MO show 4.73% and 6.14% rates respectively.

Market Conditions – Seeking New Clients

How’s the market, you ask? Like Caribbean waters, warm and inviting. Come on in? Don’t worry, no sharks allowed.

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A Better Return on Investment

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According to Remodeling’s 2016 Cost vs. Value Report, you’ll recoup an average of 64% of what you paid for a renovation if you sell your home this year.

Source: 10 Home Renovations That Offer the Best (and Worst) Return on Investment – Real Estate News and Advice – realtor.com

Return on Investment

We’ve previously discussed Return on Investment (ROI) about how much more (or less) than an asset’s cost it is (or will be) worth at resale. It went a little something like this.

ROI

OK. The same concept of ROI applies, perhaps but not always on a lesser scale, to the effect of improvements made after purchase to the resale value of that asset.

Many (not all) buyers want gorgeous granite, jacuzzi tubs, bedroom fireplaces and similar creature comforts. And where these add great value…prestige, will they amount to a dollar for dollar increase in financial value? It depends.

Remodeling Values

It’s never good to have the most expensive house in the neighborhood. First, they can stand out like the a Taj Mahal near Quonset huts. Gaudy is definitely not good, IMHO. Worst, pride in ownership can be a bitter pill to swallow when no one cares how much that Italian marble tub cost. When it comes to comparable values, a tub’s just a rub-a-dub-dub. Sorry, couldn’t resist.

Quickly. What is relatively worth more, adding attic insulation or a bathroom that will relieve congestion come school time? Before we tell it, understand you’ll recoup about 67% of improvements on average. Drum roll, please…

Attic insulation, by a long shot of 2:1. Sad but true. Dollarphotoclub_81671951 - Down Payment Assistance

Rehab Loans – Pennies from Heaven

So be careful what you ask for, you might not get it. Unless it’s help to pay for remodeling projects on that would be perfect home were it not for the host of improvements needed to make it your castle, whether necessary or not.

With Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s HomeStyle Renovation and FHA’s 203k loans, it is relatively easy to turn that ugly house into the nosy neighbor’s bane of existence.

Energy Efficiency Assistance

How about we add energy efficiency upgrades to our efforts and receive up to $8,000 in help to do so?! This is HOT! No pun intended. Learn more here.

Thanks for reading. Let us know how we can help?

No Comments Construction, Down Payment Assistance, Finance, Investing, Mortgage News, Products, Real estate, Rehab loans , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Energy Efficiency Assistance

Dollarphotoclub_72894076 - energy efficiency small

Energy Efficiency Assistance

As an incentive for new and existing homeowners to buy homes with high energy efficiency ratings or make upgrades (furnace, insulation levels, windows, etc.) to an existing home, the state of Colorado is offering up to $8,000!Dollarphotoclub_81671951 - Down Payment Assistance

Qualifications

  • New or existing homes (existing homeowners OK)
  • Lender must reserve the incentive amount before closing
  • Energy upgrades completed within 120 days of purchase

Additional Down Payment Assistance Programs

There are hundreds, if not thousands of extra programs that help with adapting homes for folks with disabilities, down payment. closing and other costs. Check them all out here!

No Comments Construction, Credit, Down Payment Assistance, Energy Efficiency, Finance, First Time Home Buyer, Investing, Mortgage News, Move up buyer, Real estate, Selling , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Return On Investment (ROI)

 

RE ROIReturn on Investment (ROI)

According to Investopedia, ROI measures the amount of return on an investment relative to the investment’s cost. To calculate return on investment, the return of an investment is divided by its cost with the result expressed as a percentage:

ROI

Real Estate ROI PPAR Average_Median Sales Price Chart dec 2015

Compared to precious metals (silver, gold), stocks and bonds, at 6.8% real estate provides the highest ROI on a national scale. Not to be confused with ROI, consider the Pikes Peak market saw a 8% increase in average sales prices from December 2014 – December 2015.

Make Money When You Buy

Not that it is risk free, but with variables such as appreciation, comparative property values, income history and such accounted for with relative certainty, in real estate it is said the money is made at the time of purchase, not so much at its sale. It is no wonder more millionaires have been made in real estate than anywhere else and with careful analysis, you could be the next!

Hot PropertiesWith access to every home listed in the area, we analyze and maintain a database of properties sold as-is which include short sales, estate sales and bank owned properties available at all times. Just click the image to the left for your free download.

Thanks for reading. We look forward to serving your current or future real estate needs.

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Are You Thinking About Buying a Home?

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buying a home

The process of buying a home can be overwhelming at times, but you don’t need to go through it alone.

Source: Are You Thinking About Buying a Home?

Buying a Home – Helping many buyers and sellers to successfully transact real estate, we offer this comprehensive guide to buying a home this winter. With information including four great reasons to buy a home today instead of waiting, what will happen to interest rates, whether it’s better to buy or rent, and more, the experts at the Axiom Realty Team are standing by to help and not in the traditional sense either.

After many years of institutional lending experience as a mortgage loan officer for major banks, we are experts at helping both buyers and sellers understand the lending side of things, a crucial part of the process. Still active in non-owner occupied lending circles, we are also able to help with hard and private money, business lines of credit, lease options, land contracts…whatever it takes to make the deal happen.

Partner with us and work with the finest professionals in the title, insurance, remodeling and other related service providers to make sure everything comes together smoothly and efficiently.

If you are thinking about buying a home, be it this winter or next summer, we are here to help. Please subscribe at the top left of this page and/or ask for your personalized consultation via the contact form at the bottom right. We’ll work together with you to make it happen.

Thanks for reading. See you on the other side!

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Sell Your House – Fall 2015

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With our incredible guide to selling your house, you will learn expert strategies that will help sell your home faster and for more profit including:

  • Five reasons it really is a good idea to sell in the fall
  • The importance of using an agent
  • Pricing it to sell from the beginning
  • And more!

Don’t miss out on one of the last opportunities we’ll have this year to sell your house. Download your free guide today!

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Interest Rate Hike in 2015?

Silhouette of businessmen carrying Interest Rates word uphill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The U.S. Federal Reserve chairwoman described the central bank’s positions in a speech Thursday.

Source: Janet Yellen Expects Interest Rate Hike in 2015

It’s not that the sky’s falling, but that it’s important to illustrate the affect rising interest rates has on home affordability so buyers who are on the fence know the answer to that million dollar question, what is the “perfect time” to buy.

It appears we are in the best of all worlds – the economy has improved, home prices are rising and interest rates are at historic lows. So, why not now? To answer that, let’s look at the effect a 1% change in interest rates will have on purchasing power.

According to the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, the Average Home Price in the Colorado Springs market as of end of month August 2015 was $273,381. With the Average 30 yr Mortgage in the Colorado Springs market currently at 3.91%, amortized over 30 years a monthly payment on this average home is $1,291 per month, not including taxes and insurance. Whereas, a payment for the same house at 4.91% is $1,453, a monthly increase of $162 or $58,165 in added payments over the life of the fully amortized loan. And if affordability is an issue, consider this increase means less house for the money, as the max purchase price becomes $242,973 in this scenario.

Buying a home is no small decision with many factors to consider. However, those who are ready, willing and able to buy might want to consider pulling the trigger sooner than later as, be it in 2015 or later, interest rates will rise. To illustrate its inevitability, this old goat was originating mortgages with interest rates in the mid to high teens back in the 90’s. Yes, before smart phones.

Interested in buying or selling a home? Use the form to the right to contact us for a no cost, no obligation consultation. We look forward to serving you!

No Comments Education, Finance, First Time Home Buyer, Investing, Mortgage News, Real estate , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mortgage Bond

Mortgage ApprovedAttention renters! Are you ready for a place of your own? And, I don’t just mean somewhere to live because, if you’re a renter  you already have that! I mean a home that you can paint and fix-up the way you want, where you will have less neighbor worries and, there are so many more benefits to being a homeowner, not the least which is no longer paying someone else’s mortgage or nest egg by helping to build their equity, but building your own instead.

Many people I talk to think they can’t afford to buy a home. Well just today, July 22, 2015, a search for properties less than $90,000 in El Paso County resulted in 15 results. Now, keep in mind there are down payment requirements for most loans except VA, but a $90,000 loan amount at a 4% interest rate (which not everyone will qualify for) equals a monthly payment for principal and interest of $429.67 (not APR)! Add 1% for taxes and insurance and we’re talking about a payment of roughly $505! As you see, with monthly payments this affordable, you just can’t afford not to! Not to mention, there are some areas in El Paso County enjoying up to 14% appreciation, meaning if it’s worth $100,000 today it’s potentially worth $114,000 next year!

Look at the interest rates bank are paying for savings and compare…you’ll find that, even at 2% there is no comparison!

And if that’s not enough to get you off of the fence, let me nudge a bit and introduce the El Paso County Bond program, which offers down payment assistance equal to 4% of the mortgage amount. And you don’t even have to be a first time home buyer to qualify! In case you missed it, this might mean zero down.

Do I have your attention yet? Use the contact form to the right and I’ll be happy to help you stop paying rent and start paying yourself.

Source: El Paso County, Colorado • Single Family Mortgage Bond Program

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Hone Your Property Investing Skills

Sharpen Skills

The Great Recession brought about a major downturn in the housing market. In this new economic reality, many investors backed off for a few years. Now, they’re slowly starting to come back as the market improves and their wide-eyed dreams of ditching the rat race for wealth and independence expand by the day. If you’re one of the many who have taken the plunge into the housing market or are considering doing so, keep in mind that it can be challenging. In particular, there are four key issues you’ll want to master in order to hone your property investing skills…read more

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