Tag: real estate

Are you ready to sell your home?Are you ready to sell your home?

Should I sell my house?  If you have been asking yourself this questions, I’ve got great news.  It’s a great market for sellers.  There are a shortage of homes on the market which drives home prices up.
Here’s some things to ask yourself.
1.  Are you emotionally ready to sell your home?  Are you ready to put in the work to get your home ready for sale?  Yes, it’s a big chore and I can help you declutter and make that first impression a good one.  Are you ready the reasons potential buyers don’t like your home?  Are you ready to leave those memories created in the home?
2.  Do you have equity in your home?  You need to know what your home is worth.  Look at your mortgage statement balance and call me for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).  With these two things I can help you determine your equity.    Do you owe more on your home than it’s worth?  Probably not since the last several years home values have been rising and that means you are building equity.
3.  So how much equity do I need?  You want to have enough equity to pay off your current mortgage with enough left over to provide a 20% down payment on your next home.  Having this 20% will help you keep your next private mortgage insurance (PMI) down.
4.  Are you out of debt and have cash in the bank?  This is super important that you have money to pay for emergencies.  So how much?  You should have at least 3 months of expenses saved up.  Need help working on a budget or figuring this out?  Call me.
5.  Does your current home fit your lifestyle?  Is it too small for your family or too far away from the school?  Do you really want to spend all your time shuffling kids around?  Maybe your home is too big, now the kids are out of the house or there are just too many stairs.
These are really important things to consider.  I’m here to be your trusted advisor.  Call me, Carrie Summers and lets talk.  970-759-2540

Thinking of Selling?Thinking of Selling?

Have you been thinking of selling?  Here are 4 signs that now is the right time.

  1. You can afford to move.  Sure, when you sell your home you will have money but do you have the money now to help you get top dollar for your home?   Tips to making your home look it’s best:
  • Paint is the #1 investment. Buyers love the clean look.
  • Curb appeal- Need to do some minor repairs?
  • Kitchen and Bathrooms- upgrade faucets and fixtures.
  • Declutter
  1. Your current home doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Do you need more space or is it time to downsize?  Do you like your neighborhood?  Have you been daydreaming of building or been looking at other homes?
  2. How’s the market?  Do you know if there are buyers looking for your type of home?  How long will your home be on the market till it sells? Did your neighbor’s home sell quickly?
  3. How much is your house worth? Do you have enough equity in your home that once you sell, you can buy another?

Selling your home is a big decision.  Want to know what your home is worth? Call me for a free market analysis.  I also have a seller’s guide to help make the transition smoother.  One thing I offer my clients is that I will help you get your place ready to sell by orchestrating handymen, cleaners and even provide the trailer.  I look forward to helping you.

Shortage of Homes for SaleShortage of Homes for Sale

If you are looking to sell, now is a great time.  Inventory of homes in the Mancos area are super low.  Currently, there are only 3 homes on the market in the $300k-$400k range!  That’s a 3 bedroom/2 bath home with some acreage.  With the weather being sunny and warm there are buyers looking.  Why wait to list your home this summer when there is more competition?

If you would like to know what your home is worth, just give me a call for a free market analysis.  I’m here to help.

The Life of a Realtor in MancosThe Life of a Realtor in Mancos

I’ve been blessed to welcome some incredibly great people into Mancos and at the same time my heart broke when I had to sell a cabin for the Nelson’s who’ve owned it for 27 years and since they are in their 90’s it’s just too hard of a drive from Louisiana.

Another great friend who lives in Calif. and been renting his house here in Mancos needed to sell.  I helped him clean the property, replace flooring, take loads to the dump and get it ready for the new buyers.  I am so happy to help others and able to juggle my 3 kids, my two horses that I love to ride, chickens, dogs and a couple of kittys!  God knew this was the job for me!  Here’s a picture of me riding in the mountains!

New Home Construction!New Home Construction!

Home building has been busy this summer!  In Cedar Mesa subdivision just opposite of Mesa Verde National Park in Southwest Colorado, there are several homes getting built.  Right now contractors are getting about $120 a sq. foot. Many home buyers haven’t found their “dream” home and now are looking to build.  This is good news!

There is an abundance of land for sale in Montezuma County.  Currently there are 202 parcels of land for sale ranging from $10k for a lot intown Cortez to 1200 acres north of Mancos for just shy of $8m.  Many of the parcels have restriction/covenants however there are still some that do not.

Are you looking for a new home or thinking of building?  Give me a call 970-759-2540.  I’m here to help you fall in love with SW Colorado!  MancosHomes.com

Do I have enough for a down payment?Do I have enough for a down payment?

So you want to buy a home, however you don’t think you have enough cash for a down payment? That’s the #1 reason why non owners don’t buy a home. However 8 out of 10 people according to the National Association of Realtors say that owning a home is the “American Dream”.

Most lenders will state you need 20% down. That’s $60,000 on a $300,000 home! Plus you need money for cost of getting your loan. That’s scary! So now what? You can actually buy a home with as little as 3% down or 0 down!

The Federal Housing Administration is a government agency charged with helping home buyers — especially first timers — get approved. The FHA assists mortgage lenders to make loans by guaranteeing a portion of the balance.

And if you’re an active or retired service member, or live in a rural area, you may have access to zero down payment programs through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program (USDA).

A lower down payment makes you a bigger risk in the eyes of the lender. That’s why it will look for help from one of those government programs to guarantee a portion of the loan. The thing is, you pay for the guarantee. It’s called mortgage insurance. There will be an upfront fee and likely an ongoing charge built into your monthly payment.

Some of the programs don’t require mortgage insurance, but will charge an “upfront guarantee fee” or “funding fee.” Whatever you call it, a fee is a fee. And as a “higher risk,” you’ll likely pay a higher interest rate for the life of the loan in addition to the other fees.

It’s tempting to go with the lowest all-in upfront charges when trying to buy a home. But the key is to do your homework!

~ Check out Homesfund.org. They are a wealth of information.

~ Review your financial situation and meet with several lenders and discuss options.

Buying a home can sometimes be a challenging process, but with a little work and me, at your side, 2017 may be a good time to start looking. I’m here to help. MancosHomes.com