Why homeownership is a huge step toward building wealth
For many, homeownership is the right path to building wealth. Discover why, and learn how you can start building your wealth with homeownership today.
Continue Reading →Blog Archives
The 1% Rule – Everything You Need to Know
Heard the term “1% Rule” but not sure what it means? We’ll clarify and give you pointers on how to determine if an investment property is worth your attention or not.
Continue Reading →Looking to sell this year? Start preparing now
Selling your home is quite an undertaking. If you are looking ahead to the new year and making plans to sell your home, it’s best to start prepping now. From a fresh coat of paint to a few trips to drop off items you no longer need, when you space out the projects over a few months it’ll be much…
Continue Reading →Updates to Colorado Renting Laws – Application Fees
In the 2019 Legislative session, Colorado Congress passed several laws relating to rental properties. We’ll cover most of them over the next few months but we’ll start with HB19-1106 (Rental Application Fairness Act). This bill sets regulations on the process of charging application fees. This is a standard practice among landlords and property managers, but the bill seeks to create…
Continue Reading →Take Control of Your Future and Buy a Home Now
In Boulder County, home prices have increased by over 45% since 2009 proving that investing in real estate is one of the best investments you can make. Shockingly, even with the growing housing market, over 40% of households in Boulder County rent, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Buying a home feels intimidating, and it’s a common…
Continue Reading →Looking to sell your home next year? Get prepared now.
Selling your home is quite an undertaking. If you are looking ahead to next year and making plans to sell your home, it’s best to start prepping now. From a fresh coat of paint to a few trips to drop off items you no longer need, when you space out the projects over a few months it’ll be much more…
Continue Reading →Ways to Use Technology to Improve the Tenant Experience
Having long-term tenants means you spend less on vacancy, marketing and repairs. The key is to keep your tenants happy to benefit your business. Here are a few simple things to implement now to improve the tenant experience and work towards longer term renters. Accept Rent Online With the rise of peer-to-peer money exchanging apps, online bill pay and the…
Continue Reading →Why Hiring a Property Manager Can Help You Make More
So you took the plunge and invested in a rental property, now what do you? Managing a rental for the first time can feel overwhelming, which is why it can save you time, money and stress to hire a property manager to do it for you. Here are 6 reasons to hire a property manager: Screening applications All landlords will…
Continue Reading →A Glossary of Basic Real Estate Words
Each industry has its own jargon which can be overwhelming to those on the outside. Even having bought or sold a few times doesn’t guarantee you’ve heard and understood all of the lingo. To help you out in your real estate journey we’ve put together some common real estate terms (and a few uncommon but important ones) to help you…
Continue Reading →Should you allow your tenants to sublease?
The jury is out in the property management world on whether or not it’s a good idea to allow tenants to sublease your property. This is for good reason as subleasing comes with many complexities regarding maintenance requests, property access and reliability of tenants. As a landlord, you get the final say on whether or not to allow subleases. Here…
Continue Reading →What sellers need to know when negotiating an inspection objection
Once your home is under contract, the ball shifts into the court of the buyer. Legally, buyers are allowed to walk away from a deal for almost any reason. As a seller, you need to play your cards right to keep a buyer in the deal, especially when negotiating an Inspection Objection. Saying no to requests from a buyer can…
Continue Reading →Quick Tips to Fill Properties With Fewer Showings
Are you tired of showing your rentals and not getting a bite? Even in a busy market with low vacancy rates, renters are often picky about where they are living and who they are giving their money to. Here are 5 maintenance tips to help your units make a strong first impression: Improve Curb Appeal Make a strong first impression…
Continue Reading →Before You Sell Consider These Questions
The Denver/Boulder real estate market is still a hot one. Days on the market have increased but homes are still turning over quickly and prices continue to rise. Many homeowners wonder if now is the right time to sell and cash out on their investment. Before you decide to sell, ask yourself these 5 questions: Is it a want or…
Continue Reading →Digital Vendor Reviews and the Importance of Relationships
A recent article in The Denver Post exposed poor business practices regarding the ranking and promotional system at Angie’s List. With Angie’s List being known as a trusted source for quality vendors, this news leaves many landlords scrambling for where to go now. The article explains how the ranking of “top-rated pro” was only given to companies who paid Angie’s…
Continue Reading →Beat the Competition with These Summer Staging Tips
Warmer weather and the freedom of summer has people feeling ready to move. Summer is one of the most popular times for real estate sales and gives you a good chance of selling fast. But, the Denver area market is shifting and sellers are having to compete for buyers more than in years past. Make your house stand out this…
Continue Reading →Hire a Property Manager to Streamline Property Ownership
As a real estate investor, you have a lot of plates to juggle. Managing rentals can feel overwhelming and hard to keep up with. The many details involved in managing a rental are intricate and best handled by a property manager saving you time, money and stress. Here are 7 reasons to hire a property manager: Keeping you in compliance…
Continue Reading →Stand Out from the Pack: Tips for Staging Your Home
Inventory in the Denver area is on the rise which means more competition for sellers. You want your home to stand out to buyers as the best, so what do you need to do? You could hire a home stager to really wow buyers, but if you’re looking to maintain a high bottom line then there’s a lot you can…
Continue Reading →Continued Increase for Denver Area Rents
Since 2010 national rents have, on the whole, continued to steadily increase. This trend didn’t change in 2018 and we saw a year-over-year increase of 3.1% from December 2017 to December 2018 according to CoreLogic. The Denver area was above this pace. According to Rent Jungle, rents in the area increased by 4.18% year-over-year. In Denver proper, the average rent…
Continue Reading →Creating the Perfect Move: Details You Shouldn’t Overlook
You’re getting ready to put your home on the market, which means a move is coming. As a home seller, you have a lot of control over when you move, and you know that it’s coming up soon. Even two months can fly by before you know it, so it’s important to start getting prepared now so you can stay…
Continue Reading →Ways to Fund the Purchase of Your First Investment Property
If you’re looking to get into the game of real estate investing, you have a few choices for financing. Ideally, purchases are made with cash but that’s not realistic for most first time investors. This means you’ll likely be taking out of a loan of some kind, but what’s the best fit for you? Here are 4 different ways to…
Continue Reading →The Influence of Rising Interest Rates on Home Selling
Interest rates have been on the rise for a few years now and have done little to slow the market in the Denver area. In general, experts are expecting a slight slow down in the market as interest rates continue to rise. Some experts even expect interest rates to rise about 5% in 2019. So what does this mean for…
Continue Reading →5 Tips to Help Real Estate Investors to be Successful
It’s easy to enter the world of real estate investing, it really just takes the purchase of one property. However, there is plenty of room for mistakes along the way. It’s important to carefully consider all your expenses, stay organized and plan ahead to truly make this worthwhile. Here are 5 tips all new real estate investors need to know:…
Continue Reading →The Projection of Denver Area Home Prices in 2019
It’s no secret that the Denver market has been burning hot for years now. Experts have been questioning how long this burn would last and some are wondering if it’s come to an end. According to the Denver Post, Denver and other markets saw a sales slump and an increase in inventory at the end of 2018. Data from ReColorado…
Continue Reading →5 Things You Should Not Have in Your Tenant Lease
We understand that it’s tempting to manage properties on your own. While it can quickly get overwhelming, for many people it’s easy enough to manage maintenance requests and other such tedious tasks associated with being a landlord. One thing we highly encourage you never to do alone is drafting leases. A poorly written lease can leave you empty handed in…
Continue Reading →Looking to sell next year? Start preparing now
Selling your home is quite an undertaking. If you are looking ahead to next year and making plans to sell your home, it’s best to start prepping now. From a fresh coat of paint to a few trips to drop off items you no longer need, when you space out the projects over a few months it’ll be much more…
Continue Reading →A Slight Dip in Denver Area Rents + A Suburban Rent Boom
According to Apartment List, there was a .2% decrease in rent prices for 2 bedroom units from September to October 2018. The good news is that even with the drop in prices, rents have still risen 1.2% since the same time last year. As a real estate investor, you’ve invested in the right market. Interestingly, the Denver Metro area has…
Continue Reading →It’s Time to Stop Renting and Invest in Your Future
In Boulder County, home prices have increased by over 40% in the past 8 years proving that investing in real estate is one of the best investments you can make. Shockingly, even with the growing housing market, over 40% of households in Boulder County rent, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Buying a home feels intimidating,…
Continue Reading →Ways to Use Technology to Improve the Tenant Experience
Having long-term tenants means you spend less on vacancy, marketing and repairs. The key is to keep your tenants happy to benefit your business. Here are a few simple things to implement now to improve the tenant experience and work towards longer term renters. Accept Rent Online With the rise of peer-to-peer money exchanging apps, online bill pay and the…
Continue Reading →What to Expect After Signing a Contract to Sell Your Home
It’s easy to find tips on how to get your home ready for showings, but what happens once your home is under contract? As a seller, there is still some game playing to be done as in Colorado the buyer has a lot of power once a home is under contract. Here’s what to expect after your home is under…
Continue Reading →Amenities You Should Feature to Get More Attention
Despite the luxury housing trends of lazy rivers and game rooms, it doesn’t take much to attract good tenants to a unit. Most renters aren’t looking for all the bells and whistles, they’re just looking for a place to live that fits their budget. Simple amenities that may feel basic can be a big draw. Here are 5 simple amenities…
Continue Reading →3 Reasons You Want to Work With a Realtor ® to Sell Your House
There’s a common myth floating around that you can save money by listing your home with a real estate agent. While this may feel true on paper, research shows that for sale by owner listings sell for 5.5 percent less than those that use a real estate agent. Here are 3 reasons why working with a real estate agent will…
Continue Reading →Landlord Tips: Habits to Help You Be More Successful
The life of a landlord and real estate investor is busy and can be stressful if you let it. Working with a property manager can help keep your life manageable, but you still need to adopt a few habits to keep things in order. Successful real estate investors have many of the same qualities, here are a just a few…
Continue Reading →Tips for a First Time Home Seller
Purchasing your home was a big deal, but now it’s time to sell and you may be feeling overwhelmed. Home buying and selling is something that almost no one is an expert at, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Just a few tips can save you countless headaches. Hire a Real Estate Agent You may believe that you can…
Continue Reading →Important Summer Property Maintenance
Summer is one of the busiest seasons for real estate, rental units included. With kids being out of school and the weather looking nice, it’s a great time to move. With all the business of move-in and move-out inspections, it can be hard to find the time to complete basic summer maintenance on your properties. It’s important to keep your…
Continue Reading →5 Questions to Determine the Right Time to Downsize
Maybe your kids have started heading off to college. Maybe they’re all graduated and not coming home for summers anymore. Or maybe you bought a large house a few years ago and wonder if you have too much space. There can be many reasons for downsizing, but is now the right time to make the move? Here are 5 questions…
Continue Reading →Avoid Design Trends and Save Money When Renovating Rental Property
Home design goes through just as many fads and changes as fashion. Renovations to your rental property are inevitable, but following trends can end up costing you money in the long run. A trendy unit will be highly marketable for a bit but will quickly feel out of date. Here are a few current trends to avoid during your renovations:…
Continue Reading →Improve Your Curb Appeal Before Selling This Summer
It’s no secret that the real estate market heats up in the summer. In the Denver area this makes what’s already a seller’s market even more of a seller’s market. But inventory is on the rise and competition is increasing. Making your home look nice from the outside can give a buyer an overall better experience and help your home…
Continue Reading →BuildSmart Regulations in Boulder County
Boulder County implemented BuildSmart regulations a few years ago and since then they have been tightening and perfecting the requirements for new developments. These building regulations are part of Boulder County’s Sustainable Energy Plan. All new developments in unincorporated Boulder County are required to follow BuildSmart regulations. Outside of the actual materials and inspection of the completed building, the BuildSmart…
Continue Reading →Does Your Home Need an HERS Rating
The Home Energy Rating System is the standard by which a home’s efficiency is measured and is the same nationwide. This can be good for a homeowner to obtain for many reasons, the first of which showing where modifications can be made to improve efficiency and lower energy bills in a home. But when you’re selling your home, is there…
Continue Reading →5 Simple Tips to Help You Keep Good Tenants
Vacant units are expensive. Not only are you not bringing in rent while a unit is vacant, you also incur costs marketing it and finding new tenants. Instead of losing money to vacant units, work to keep good tenants around. It doesn’t take a lot to keep most tenants happy and it can save you a lot in the long…
Continue Reading →5 Energy Saving Tips for Your Home that Buyers Will Love
The green trend is still going strong and buyers love seeing homes that have energy efficient solutions. This doesn’t mean you need to replace all your appliances before putting your home on the market. With warm summer months coming up fast here in the Denver area, you want your home to stay cool without blowing up the energy bill. There…
Continue Reading →5 Aspects to Setting the Right Rental Price
When you have a rental property, setting the right price can be the difference between having a vacant unit for months and having a waiting list of tenants. It’s important to find the sweet spot so you attract the type of tenants you want without losing money because of vacancy. So how do you find the right price? Here are…
Continue Reading →3 Common Myths About Selling Your Home
There are a lot of myths that come up around the topic of real estate. It’s easy to perpetuate ideas that aren’t true because there are very few real estate experts at your standard cocktail party. So instead of getting advice about selling your home from your cousin’s friend or your neighbor try getting some advice for a true professional,…
Continue Reading →Common Move-In/Move-out Misunderstandings
There are a wide range of expectations when it comes to moving in and out of a rental. From the tenant to the owner to the property manager, there are a lot of people to make happy. So what should these walkthroughs cover and how can you manage the expectations? Here are 3 common misunderstandings for move-in and move-out walkthroughs:…
Continue Reading →Your Trees Still Need Water in the Winter
As a homeowner, you are the only person responsible for the health of your lawn, including your trees, unless you decide to hire a professional landscaper. When winter comes, many homeowners take a break from managing their plants outside because everything is in hibernation, but that may not be accurate. Here’s how to give you trees the water they need:…
Continue Reading →Understanding the Common Reasons Tenants Sue
Tenants don’t sue often. Most times a landlord is threatened with court it’s an empty threat. But it does happen and it is rarely expected. Understanding the most common reasons for a lawsuit is the first step to avoiding them. Here are the 4 most common reasons tenants sue: Mishandled Security Deposit Laws about security deposits vary from state to…
Continue Reading →How to Use Your Garage as a Selling Point
More often than not our garages end up being used as storage. And since it’s not intentional stuff ends up being unorganized and all over the place. Many buyers dream of having a place to park and store their stuff. So how can you give them what they want? Here are a few tips to market your garage as a…
Continue Reading →The Implications of Fannie Mae’s Investment in Invitation Homes
Earlier in 2017, Invitation Homes, one of the nation’s largest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) went public. In addition to gaining billions in the capital market, they received a $1 billion interest-only loan from Fannie Mae. This loan was met with a lot of questions and outrage. People are concerned about Fannie Mae’s involvement in backing a company that buys…
Continue Reading →Negotiating on an Inspection Objection – What You Need to Know
Once your home goes under contract, the ball primarily lies in the buyer’s court. They are legally allowed to walk away from the deal for almost any reason. This means you have to play your cards right, especially when it comes to resolving the Inspection Objection. You don’t want a buyer to turn away when you refuse to make repairs,…
Continue Reading →Reasons to Turn Away a Potential Tenant
When you have a vacancy all you want is to fill it, and filled quickly but that doesn’t mean you should let just anyone in. Of course, you always need to comply with Equal Housing guidelines but there are plenty of reasons to say no to a tenant. It’s not worth having the risk of dealing with an eviction to…
Continue Reading →5 Tips for Staging Your Kitchen to Help Sell Your Home
As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Make your kitchen stand out by giving it some attention before you list. A clean and organized kitchen can wow almost any buyer and all you need is a little elbow grease. Here are our 5 tips to stage your kitchen before you list: Clean – And Again Kitchens…
Continue Reading →Tips for Handling Unimaginable Tenant Situations
After a few years of working with tenants it’s likely you’ll have stories to share you never would have imagined. Despite tight screening things with a tenant can go wrong quickly. Maybe they lost a loved one, lost their job or are struggling with their health. Life happens and some tenants aren’t able to manage and start to go off…
Continue Reading →Fall 2017 Denver Real Estate Market Update
The Denver area real estate market is still going strong even after seeing a 2.75% decrease in housing prices from July 2017 to August 2017. Home prices in the area have still increased over 8 percent from August 2016. While the market is still turning over quickly, the Denver area is on it’s way to becoming a more normal market…
Continue Reading →What Does it Cost to Sell Your Home?
When you’re selling your home your focus is often going to be on the bottom line, and how to maximize it. This generally leads you to focus on list price and potential inspection items you need to fix, but have you factored in the other costs of selling your home? It’s more than just Realtor commission, and while you will…
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