Discover the Power of the Flat Rate Realty Group Blog: Your Ultimate Guide

Welcome to Flat Rate Realty Group’s blog, a premier resource tailor-made for homebuyers, sellers, and investors exploring Colorado real estate in Colorado Springs and beyond. Our mission is clear: to empower you with trusted, actionable real estate knowledge that drives confidence and success in your property journey.

With today’s real estate market evolving rapidly, having an expert guide can make all the difference. That’s why our blog combines in-depth market analysis, detailed how-to guides, insider tips, and regional neighborhood insights — all framed by the proven Flat Rate Realty model of exceptional customer service paired with flat-fee savings.

Why Read the Flat Rate Realty Group Blog?

  • Expert Local Insight: We live and breathe Colorado real estate — sharing first-hand neighborhood trends, market stats, and investment opportunities.
  • Cost-Saving Strategies: Learn how our flat rate commissions save typical sellers about $10,000 in real estate fees while receiving full professional services.
  • Comprehensive Guides: Step-by-step instructions for buying, selling, negotiating, and financing homes or land in Colorado efficiently and stress-free.
  • Buyer Rebates and Incentives: Exclusive details on programs offering rebates up to $3,500 for buyers who list through Flat Rate Realty.
  • Market Updates & News: Stay current with regional price trends, inventory updates, and economic drivers impacting Colorado real estate.
  • Real Client Stories: Authentic testimonials showcasing how we’ve helped buyers and sellers save money and achieve goals.

What You Will Find in Our Blogs

Our blog covers critical topics, including but not limited to:

  • Colorado City and Neighborhood Guides: Detailed posts on communities like Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and more.
  • Real Estate Market Trends: Analysis supported by data from sources such as the Colorado Association of Realtors.
  • How-To Guides: From preparing your home to sell, home inspections, appraisal tips, to navigating loan approvals.
  • Financial Tips: Optimizing buyer credits, financing options, costs breakdowns, and tax considerations.
  • Flat Rate Realty Service Deep Dives: Understanding our unique flat-fee approach and how it benefits you directly.

Step-by-Step: How to Maximize Benefits Using Our Blog

  1. Identify Your Goals: Browse posts focused on either buying or selling to hone in on your current needs.
  2. Leverage Neighborhood Links: Access the city guides for detailed local insights before home search.
  3. Engage with Market Trends: Use our data-supported posts to time your purchase or sale advantageously.
  4. Apply Financial Tips: Make informed decisions on budgeting and rebate opportunities informed by our expert content.
  5. Follow Our How-To Guides: Prepare yourself for each transaction step with checklists, timelines, and best practices.
  6. Contact Our Team: Use insights gained to approach Flat Rate Realty agents ready to support your unique real estate journey.

Key Benefits of Using Our Blog as a Resource

  • Unique Flat-Fee Savings explained and illustrated
  • Insider market knowledge specific to Colorado Springs & Colorado’s evolving landscape
  • Actionable advice for professionals and first-timers alike
  • Direct access to trusted agents and affiliate services
  • Regular updates and fresh perspectives keep your knowledge current

Client Voices: Success Stories From the Flat Rate Realty Group Family

"Had the absolute pleasure of buying a home with Frank. We not only got our number 1 choice but also got it for over $10,000 cheaper than it was listed for... He is one of the best Real Estate Brokers in Colorado Springs!" – Ross Keps
"Frank and his team sold our house above market value while charging a fraction of traditional commissions. Their personal dedication and expertise outshone all others." – David Goscha

This is the kind of personalized service and savings you can expect, and our blog is the first step in learning how to replicate this success.

Comparison: Flat Rate Realty Blog vs. Other Real Estate Blogs

Feature Flat Rate Realty Blog Typical Real Estate Blogs
Local Colorado Focus Deeply specialized Broad/general
Flat-Fee Real Estate Insights Extensive, practical guides Minimal or none
Buyer Rebate Information Detailed and transparent Rarely mentioned
Regular Market Updates Data-driven, timely Occasional, inconsistent
Client Testimonials & Case Studies Featured frequently Less personalized

Access These Premium Tools & Resources

Ready to start your real estate journey with trusted Flat Rate Realty experts? Contact us through this link or email Homes@FlatRateRealtyGroup.com for personal assistance today.

Summary: Why Our Blog is Your Go-To Colorado Real Estate Resource

  • Unrivaled local expertise: Unpack Colorado Springs and regional market trends.
  • Actionable insights: Step-by-step guides you can implement immediately.
  • Cost-saving strategies: Learn how to maximize equity with our flat-rate commission model.
  • Exclusive rebate info: Understand and access buyer rebates and incentives.
  • Trustworthy & personable: We are Colorado real estate agents with your best interests at heart.

Explore our full blog archive and start turning information into successful real estate decisions: Flat Rate Realty Group Blog

 

June 4, 2018

Why Would a Lender Do a Short Sale?

 

There are several means to lose a home but passing away rights in a way that destroys credit, humiliates the family and strips an owner of self-respect is one of the toughest. For landlords who can no more afford to keep mortgage payments up-to-date, there are options for insolvency or foreclosure proceedings? One of those alternatives is known as "short sale."

When financiers agree to do a short sale in real estate, it means the financier is agreeing to accept less than the total amount due. Not all financiers will agree to short sales or discounted payoffs, mostly if it would make more financial wisdom to foreclose; besides, not all sellers or all properties are eligible for short sales.

If you are thinking about buying a short sale, there could be downsides. For your security, I recommend that all borrowers:

  • Get legal advice from a knowledgeable real estate lawyer
  • Call an accountant to deliberate short sale tax consequences                

As a real estate agent, I am not licensed as a lawyer or a CPA and can’t guide on those penalties. Save for certain circumstances pursuant to the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, know that the I.R.S. will regard debt forgiveness as income, and there is no assurance that a lender who agrees to a short sale will not lawfully pursue a debtor for the difference between the amount paid and the amount owed. In some states, this amount is called a deficiency. A lawyer can regulate whether your loan is eligible for a deficiency claim or judgment.

Though all lenders have different requirements and may request that a borrower submit a wide array of papers, the following steps will give you a very good idea of what to expect.

Call the Lender 

You may have to make half dozen phone calls before you see the person in charge of handling short sales. You do not want to discuss the "real estate short sale" or "work out" department; you want the supervisor's name, the name of the person responsible for decision making.

Submit Letter of Authorization

Lenders normally do not want to reveal any of your personal information without written authorization to do so. In case you are working with a real estate agent, Title Company, closing agent or lawyer, you will get good support if you write a letter to the lender permitting the lender to talk with those specific interested parties concerning your loan. The letter should contain the following:

  • Property Address.
  • Loan Reference Number
  • The Date
  • Your Name
  • Your Agent's Name and Contact Information

Preliminary Net Sheet

This is a predictable closing statement that shows the sales price you hope to get and all the costs of sale, unpaid loan balances, unsettled payments due and late fees, including real estate fees if there is any. Your closing lawyer or agent should be able to organize this for you, in case you do not know how to compute any of these fees. If the bottom line shows cash to the seller, you will possibly not need a short sale.

Hardship Letter

The sadder, the better! This statement of facts explains how you got into this financial predicament and makes an appeal to the lender to take less than full payment. Lenders are not cold-hearted and can understand if you lost your job, were hospitalized or a truck ran over your whole family, but financiers are not mostly sympathetic to circumstances relating dishonesty or criminal behavior.

Proof of Income and Assets

It is best, to be honest, and truthful about your financial condition and reveal assets. Lenders will want to know if you have money market accounts, savings accounts, negotiable instruments, stocks or bonds, cash or other real estate or anything of real value. Lenders are not in the business of charity and always require assurance that the debtor can't pay back any of the debt that it is forgiving.

Copies of Bank Statements

If your bank statements show unexplainable deposits, huge cash withdrawals or a rare number of checks, it's probably a good idea to explain each of those line items to the lender. Additionally, the lender might want you to account for each and every deposit so it can decide whether deposits will continue.

Comparative Market Analysis

Occasionally markets drop and property values decrease. If this is part of the reason that you cannot sell your home for enough to pay off the lender, this point should be validated for the lender through a comparative market analysis (CMA). Your real estate agent can make a CMA for you, which will show prices of related homes:

  • Active on the market
  • Sales from the past six months.
  • Pending sales

Purchase Agreement AND Listing Agreement

When you reach an agreement to sell with a potential purchaser, the lender will require a copy of the deal, along with a copy of your agreement of listing. Be ready for the lender to negotiate commissions again and to decline to let payment of certain items like home protection plans or termite inspections.

 

Posted in Real Estate News
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June 3, 2018

Why Use a Realtor?

 

One of the main trends in real estate presently is people trying to sell their homes through the method known as For Sale By Owner (FSBO). Normally this is for the reason that of the idea that they will save thousands of dollars in commissions. Sadly, this is actually not the case. What remains after these advertisements for FSBO is the fact that those thousands of dollars saved via commission are typically used up even over-expended by finishing the tasks that are normally done by a realtor.

A realtor is a home seller expert. Ask yourself this: if you require having a cavity filled would you go see an electrician? No? Then what’s the point of allowing a non-professional to sell your most valuable property?

Realtors offer services that are not only intended to ease your home sale but services that are planned to precisely guard your investment. One of the greatest valuable things that a real estate agent can offer is marketing. Different from selling by yourself, a realtor has access to a huge variety of advertising channels. Normally the front lines of which are an already established web presence.

Additionally, to listing your home on the local MLS, an agent will have a personal site that is created to showcase their listings. This is where most homes for sale are first seen by potential buyers. In addition to marketing is typically done via newspapers and other print media as well as a range of flyers and info sheets that are available 24/7.

Another part of home marketing where a realtor is needed is in the relationships they keep with other real estate experts. A realtor will put great effort into selling a home to other local realtors so as to best reach potential buyers. Home selling is really all about positive exposure for the home on sale and only a realtor can offer that amount of exposure. There is an intention that a huge percentage of FSBO's ultimately end up listing with a realtor in order to get the coverage and price they want.

 

Posted in Sellers Resources
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June 2, 2018

Why Some Home Sellers Prefer Direct Buyers Over Brokers

 

A real estate broker is an individual or an entity that serves as a middleman or intermediary between buyers and sellers of real estate and is the individual who starts or tries to look for property sellers and buyers.

In the US housing scenery, a real estate broker and his associated sales team, help sellers in promoting and selling their property, typically negotiating for the highest price or rate thinkable, and under the best terms. It is a normal practice in the United States that an individual is mandated to get a license first in order to collect a commission or compensation for services rendered as a licensed real estate broker.

Real estate activity not licensed is considered illegal, however, buyers and sellers who act as big gun in the purchase or sale of real estate are not mandated to be licensed. In many states, however, lawyers are permitted to handle real estate sales and are given commissions or fees without any need of getting licensed as agents or brokers.

There are somewhat a few sellers and buyers who are happy doing the work of advertising their home for sale by themselves, as well as carrying the burden of the work on the buyer's side. Unrepresented sellers or buyers do the same amount of work as licensed brokers or agents.

An unrepresented seller always goes to a listing agent for a property they represent. If in some way the home seller persuades the agent to give back the "buyer's agent portion" to him, it is not as if the listing agent is not going to be picking up the slack for the work the seller does not do or is inexperienced in doing it.

The overlooked seller is at most, offering his/her property to a buyer directly by bargaining deals straightforwardly and negotiating over the best imaginable price and payment means. The advantageous thing however with dealing with direct buyers over agents or brokers is that a homeowner would not have to share profits with reputable brokers agents, and would not see the need to give out over a large amount of commission to the agent.

Should a home or property owner choose to sell his property on his own and not make use of the services of a licensed broker, he/she should be set to prepare all required papers describing the assets for advertising, open houses, pamphlets, and others. Advertising a property is always the major external expense in listing a property, and a home seller should be ready to bear the expense for this.

In some parts, holding an open house to show the property would be a somewhat inexpensive setting for the home seller to show off his property. By becoming a contact person, the seller should often be available to answer any requests about the property and to schedule displaying appointments to potential buyers.

 

Posted in Buyers Resources
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June 1, 2018

Why Room Rentals?

 

 

Room rentals? Why would you want to make your home into a boarding house? Maybe you shouldn't. I enjoyed having people living in my house, and most of them became friends. On the other hand, you might not like that arrangement. I hated being a landlord when I owned rentals that were not my home. Each of us is different.

Consider Your Room Rental Options

You don't necessarily have to live with the room-renters, so consider all the options available. You could do any of the following:

1. Rent rooms in your own home and share common space with the renters. This is what I did for several years when I was single, and it worked fine for me.

2. Partition your home so you can rent rooms without sharing common space. You'll need at least two bathrooms, and separate entrances to make this work.

3. Include an efficiency apartment for yourself, so you can have privacy, maybe sharing a laundry room with the renters. This is what we did at the time I got married. It also opened up one my former bedroom, increasing the rental income as sufficient to pay for the new apartment in less than a year.

4. Buy a house just to rent it out by the room. This can be an excellent way to get cash flow out of homes that might not otherwise be such good investments.

5. Sublet a room in the apartment you rent. That is if it is okay with the landlord, it can be a means to have the funds for a better apartment, or to get past monetary hard times.

6. Use room rentals as a way to have the funds for a house payment. In case you are having issues buying a home for the reason that you can't manage to pay, you can buy a home with additional rooms and rent them out.

Consider the Money In Renting Rooms

The money you can charge for rent will differ significantly in different parts of the country. Here is what a mobile home in a small town in Denver, Colorado (couple years back):

Small Bedroom: $65 weekly multiply by 52 weeks equals $3380 per year.

Medium Bedroom: $75 weekly multiply 52 weeks equals $3900 per year.

Large Bedroom: $85 weekly multiply by 52 weeks equals $4420 per year.

Possible Annual Income (I often had a couple weeks opening): $11,700 per year.

This was a home that I lived in, don’t forget. I added all utilities in the rent, and I tracked my expenses carefully. Including the refrigerator, repairing the heating system, and roof, as well as garbage collection, utilities, cable television, property taxes, local phone service and insurance, my costs the last year I had the house, was $3,900 (I had already paid off the $253/month mortgage).

How do you find out a profit when you live in the home? Renting rooms in my home perhaps added $300 or so to the annual costs. Heating was almost the same cost, as was taxes, garbage collection, insurance, cable television, and phone service. A bit more and tear and a little more electricity were the only real additional costs. In other words, almost all the extra income was profit. Or if you want to view it in another direction, I lived for free and had $7800 income from the home I lived in.

Do you want to have thousands of dollars of extra income every year? What would you do with that money? Think about that, and you have the answer to why you should rent rooms.

 

Posted in Real Estate News
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May 31, 2018

Why Real Estate Agents And Investors Should Use Blogs

 

Online blogs offer news or commentary on a particular topic like sports, music, news, or interest. Many online blogs function more as personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The capability for readers to comments on your blog in an interactive way is a major part of various blogs. Most blogs are mainly textual, although some emphasize on photos, audio podcasting, videos, or all joined together.

Several realtors or real estate investors who have business or properties can make use of blogs to interact with their readers or build a community of readers who are interested in their subject matter. In case you are a realtor who focuses on condos you can blog about condos and if you are a wholesale investor who sells fixer uppers you can talk about fixer uppers and increase your knowledge. Some of your blog posts can contain your projects or listings that you are working on. You can subtly ask your blog readers about interest in your real estate inventory. By giving quality knowledge in your field you gain trust among your readers and perhaps a possible buyer.

Blogs are inexpensive compared to the cost of creating a website. Many blogs are free or have a low monthly fee to maintain. The most popular blog platforms available are blogger and WordPress blogs. Both of them are easy to use and update. Blogs are search engine friendly as well so it will also help in getting you found easier online.

Here are few things you can do with a blog:

·         Post real estate tips and information every day to your readers.

·         Share your real estate knowledge and become the go-to blog for valuable information in your market.

·         Search Engines like to spider Blogs since the content is fresh always and continually being updated!

·         There are a lot of directories dedicated to Blogs online. Some directories let you to “Ping” them when you add new content to keep their directories update to date.

·         Have your visitors subscribe to your blog by putting a subscribe button on your blog so that visitors who are interested can get informed when you post.

·         Use Google Adsense to get added income from PPC targeted advertisers.

·         Have your blog provide RSS feeds and Podcast feeds of your posts.

·         Place links to important information from your websites like your listings or your contact information.

·         The important social and interactive aspect of blogs is its ability for visitors to post comments on your post. Building dialogue shows your reader you are a live person behind the blog.

·         You don’t need to be a coder or programmer to start a blog. For the most part, it is very user-friendly and easy to start one up.

·         You can customize the design and layout of most blogs to cater for the look and feel of your business brand.

If you haven’t noticed blogs are here to remain in cyberspace. If your business doesn’t have a Blog you need to start planning on getting one running now. Any business looking to create a social presence in web 2.0 should have one.

 

Posted in Real Estate News
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May 30, 2018

Why Own a Home Instead of Rent?

 

There are periods when it is good for an individual to rent, but most times owing a home has many more advantage and benefits. 

Roughly 10 years back I had an aunt and uncle who retired and rented a condo in Las Vegas. Uncle Jim (pseudonym, anyway that's what I'll call him) was a retired minister. During his career, he and his wife stayed in parsonages, which are homes given by the congregation while they ministered there. 

Uncle Jim and his wife expressed that the biggest error they ever made was not to buy any house as an investment. In the year they retired, when their other friends who retired were staying in homes that were practically paid off and had appreciated much, he and his wife were using a huge part of their little retirement money to pay expensive condo rent. They strongly warned me not to make the same mistake they made.

Latest studies are showing that there are many advantages for both the community and the owners for owning your own home, as well as increased education for children, a higher lifetime annual income for children and lower teenage pregnancy rate. Asides these, below are some of the major advantages of owning your own house.

More Stable Housing Costs

Rent payments can normally rise every year and very unpredictable but most mortgage payments stay the same for the whole loan period. If the taxes rise, the increase is normally gradual. This stable housing cost particularly important during inflation when owners make money and renters lose money.

Tax Savings

Homeowners can be qualified for significant tax savings since you can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from your federal income tax, and also many states' income taxes. This can be a considerable amount of money at first because the first few years of mortgage payments are made up mostly of interest and taxes.

If you need to refinance to consolidate other debts (an opportunity you don't have if you are renting) the interest on this is also tax deductible.

Equity

Rather than payments vanishing into someone else’s pocket, homeowners are building equity in their own home. This is always one of a person's biggest investment contributions.  Every year that you own the home you pay more to the principal, which is money you will receive back when the home sells. It is like having a planned savings account that develops faster the longer you have it. In case the property increase in value, and generally it does, it is like money in your pocket. And you are the one who receives the benefit of that, not the landlord. You can then use this equity to plan for future goals like your child's your retirement or education.

It is Yours!

Once you own a home you are in control. It gives you the liberty to beautify it and landscape it anyhow you like. You can have a pet or two. No one can pop in and inspect your home and intimidate you with eviction.

Even young people, like college students out on their own, can sometimes profit from home ownership. It puts them way ahead of other young people their age financially by assisting with their credit and giving them what is often a brilliant investment. Often times a college student buying a home will rent the rooms out, and his or her roommates end up making the payments for the house. When the student is set to leave, she or she can sell the home (hopefully making a profit) or keep it as an investment and continue to rent it.

Buying a home is a vital decision. It is often the biggest acquisition a person makes in his or her life. Homeownership comes with some better responsibilities and is not for everyone. There are some drawbacks to homeownership that you should take into account.

Increased Expenses

Your expenses monthly may rise, depending on your condition. Even if the payments monthly are the same, homeowners still have to pay property taxes, all the utilities, and all the upkeep and maintenance expenses for the home.  Often you need to supply appliances that were equipped with a rental.

Decreased Freedom of Mobility

Homeowners can't easily move as a renter who just has to give notice to the landlord. Selling a house can be a difficult and overwhelming process. 

Risk of Depreciation

In some areas with inflated prices, there may be a risk that the house will depreciate instead of rising in value if the prices go down. If you then sell the house, you may not get much money from the home to pay back your mortgage, and may still owe the mortgage company money.

Possibility of Foreclosure

If for some reason you are unable to make your payments, you risk having the lender foreclose on your property. This can result in the loss of your home, any equity you have earned, and the loss of your good credit rating.

When considering home ownership, you need to weight the advantages and disadvantages for yourself.  If you are like most people, you will find that homeownership is worth the risks and disadvantages.

 

Posted in Buyers Resources
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May 29, 2018

When Daddy Moves to an Apartment

 

Divorce is hard, there’s no question about it. It’s not just your marriage that ended but, most probable; your standard of living is experiencing some extreme changes as well. This is mostly true if you are mandated to leave the place that was home to your family.

Depending on your particular situation, you may find that moving into an apartment is your only option. Many times it’s hard to think of an apartment as home after you’ve been accustomed to living in a house surrounded by family. But, in case you pick your apartment wisely, you may find it’ll become a cozy, comfy haven.

Take Some Time to Select your Apartment.

Don’t forget, this is going to be your new home. Don’t hurry the selection process. Choose how much you can afford to spend for rent and look at several apartments in that range as you can. The site should be one of your prime concerns. Your life is difficult enough right now, don’t make it worse by selecting a not comfortable site where commuting becomes a problem.

If your children will be visiting frequently be sure your apartment is big enough to let them feel at home. If possible, choose an apartment with a room just for them. Let them have a hand in decorating it so they’ll feel a part of it. If you have joint custody of the children and they will be living with you while attending school, you’ll also want to choose an apartment that is convenient to their schools and recreation areas.

The type of apartment you choose will be important to how well you adapt to living in it. Like a house, choose one that fits your personality. If you like puttering in the yard, make sure there is some private space where you can do that ~ even if it’s just planting flower boxes on your patio. If you enjoy cooking, make sure the kitchen meets your requirements.

You also need to consider the atmosphere of your apartment complex. If you’re going to have children living with you part time, most likely a singles community would not be the best choice. Neither would you like to choose an apartment in a building that is full of senior citizens? If there are pets involved, make sure rules don’t forbid them.

Turn your Apartment into a Home.

Do not consider your apartment a place of exile! It’s your new home and in case you want to be happy there, you must give it your attention. Unpack the boxes and arrange your furniture in a way that’s pleasing to you. Hang pictures or other artwork on the walls and stamp your new home with your own personality. If you take pride in decorating it according to your own tastes, you’ll find it becomes a welcoming and comfortable place to be. Remember you no longer have to consider anyone else’s preferences this is all yours to do with as you please!

The more your apartment reflects you and your interests, the more it will seem like home.

Enjoy it!

 

Posted in Buyers Resources
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May 28, 2018

When A Great View Is Not A Great View

House hunting is a game wherein you try to get the most while paying the least. Part of getting the most is often finding a home with a view, but don’t be a sucker.

When A Great View Is Not A Great View

After a hard day’s work, you come home to your dream home. You change into something comfortable, grab a beverage and head out to the deck. There, you relax and take in your fabulous view. This is the daydream you have while standing in a home for sale that has an incredible view.

Yes, it is a nice view. In fact, it may be so nice that you do not really pay attention to the rest of the home. Even if you do, you may be able to overlook some problems that you would not otherwise if there was no view. At the end of the day, you make an offer to the seller and he accepts. 2 months later, you are the owner, moved in, unpacked and enjoying your new property. 

After a year or thereabouts, you come home at the end of a stressful day. You change clothes, grab a beverage and head out to the deck. You are stunned to see a two-story home being built in the middle of your view. How can this be? This is an outrage! Unfortunately, you probably are out of luck. Depending on your state laws, you may have no way of keeping the other property owner from spoiling your view.

As you might expect, this situation arises more often than people would like to admit. When considering making an offer on a home, one must be very careful when it comes to views. You should never dismiss other problems with the home because you like a view. Further, you should not overvalue the view. A beautiful view today may just be a view of the side of a home in a year. Investigate local legal regulations regarding new construction in the area, the height homes can be built to and whether pre-existing homes can add second or third floors. 

If you do not, you run the risk of owning the room without a view.

 

Posted in Buyers Resources
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May 27, 2018

When Good Renovations Go Bad

 

It is common sense to think that if you fix up your place, maybe add a little more counter space in the kitchen or maybe another bathroom, you’ll be able to sell your home for more than you bought it for. And in most cases, you would be right. But in a recent study done by Remodelling Magazine, there are some renovations that can actually cost you money and hurt the value of your house.

One of the biggest signs in today’s world that you’ve “made it” is the back yard pool. Maybe no other home improvement screams to the world that you’ve reached a level of financial security that you’re comfortable with like a pool. Well, not everyone feels the same way. Studies conducted in Florida and Arizona show that having a pool is still a big part in building equity in your property.

But, what about the rest of the country? How about places where it isn’t warm year-round? It turns out that a pool can work against you in parts of the country that have four seasons. The cost of upkeep and insurance are the main turnoffs. But there is one other turnoff, too. The risk of raising young children in a home that has a pool has become a red flag for many new parents. The fear of a drowning accident is very real for many, and the presence of a pool can turn a first-time home buyer away from your property.

Be careful when you try to get too trendy when you go to remodel. An extremely important point to remember is that while you may think a special touch is cool and fashionable, the people coming to look at your house may not think so. And while most remodel touches can be changed, you may have a hard time talking a prospective buyer into that. If you are not completely sure that the house you’re living in isn’t going to be the house you die in, try to make any remodeling touches neutral so that if the time comes to sell, you won’t regret what you did.

A final risk to avoid is the Jacuzzi tub. While you may have the time to sit in a hot tub for an hour a day, most people don’t, and most people won’t use it. You would be better off with an elaborate shower system than a big, fancy bathtub.

 

Posted in Real Estate News
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May 26, 2018

When Disaster Strikes: Keeping Your Investment Safe

 

Once you are done searching for that lifetime real estate investment, you’ve gone to the open houses, you’ve got the backing, made an offer, sat at home disturbed if it’s going to be accepted, had the special dinner once it was and then packed in, you’re challenged with the chore of defending it. The number of pressures that your property faces can be shocking. It’s not only termites and crude neighbors that are looking to sink your land value; natural tragedies are a part of owning land as well.

It doesn’t seem to matter where you live in North America, there is a natural disaster with your name on it. The south has their hurricanes, the northeast and Midwest have blizzards and the west has earthquakes. A quake is the most sinister of all natural disasters. People in the rest of the country can see a hurricane and storm coming days; at times even weeks away and well prepare their property for the coming storm. With earthquakes, there is no caution (usually), there is no report on the news that morning saying you’re scheduled to get one. They simply happen. Therefore, how can you protect your investment from getting a bad case of the shakes? Well here are a few tips.

A good first step would be to pick up the phone or log onto the company that carries your home insurance. Almost no homeowners policies cover earthquakes. If you have the additional cash every month, earthquake insurance is a very good concept, however, be warned, it is considered disastrous insurance, so the deductible is going to be very high, normally between 10-15 percent of the amount of your policy. It’s still a good thing to have. You can view the website of the US Geological Survey to check if you live in a high enough risk area to warrant extra insurance.

A quick quake-proofing of your home is another idea that is good. This won’t so much protect your house as it will protect you if one happens. Use latches to keep cabinets closed, always ensure you have fresh water around and working batteries in all flashlights. These are normal sense steps that anyone who lives in any sort of tragedy area should consider, whether it be storms, earthquakes or hurricanes.

 A final step to safeguard your home is to know where your utility shutoffs are. Fires are common after earthquakes and you’ll want to know where your gas main shut off valve is so that you can turn it off and hopefully keep your house safe after a major quake. Also, do not turn the gas back on until you are told it’s safe to do so.

 Keeping your investment safe from natural disasters can seem impossible, but with a little common sense planning, you can minimize the damage.

 

Posted in Real Estate News
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