Colorado Springs Real Estate Podcast with Jeff Ryder

Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access As we get nearer to wrapping up the first quarter, I want to give you a quick update on the market. We’re just three months into 2018 and the housing market is already setting all kinds of records: The median price of homes jumped 15% higher than last year to just above $292,000.The average price is up 10%, landing at $331,000.In January and February, 1,884 homes sold, which is 10% higher than last year.In February alone, 994 homes sold. This is 18% more than the same month in 2017! If you’re asking yourself about why all of these numbers are going up, here’s another stat for you: the supply of homes that is available in town has hit an all-time low. Right now in El Paso County, there are only 1,089 homes for sale. Think about that—there are probably 800,000 people living in El Paso County, and there are barely over 1,000 homes for sale. That includes condos, townhomes, and single-family homes in all price ranges and areas. “ There are around 800,000 people living in El Paso County, and there are barely over 1,000 homes for sale. ” As you drive around town, you’ll notice home builders are building new homes on just about every patch of dirt they can find, and yet, they still can’t build fast enough for the demand. If you’re thinking about buying a home, don’t wait! Most experts agree that prices and interest rates are going to keep rising. Let us help you through the maze of the current market. We can find you the right house for a lower cost than you’ll get if you wait until later to buy. If you’re thinking about selling your home, I think you’ll be happy to find out what it’s worth today. In either case, please feel free to reach out to me today. I’d love to help you.

Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access So you’ve decided to sell your home and, before you know it, it goes under contract. Before the deal can close, though, you’ve got to pass a home inspection. A home inspection contingency is present in most real estate contracts to allow the buyer to back out should any major issues become apparent. It’s at this stage that many deals fall through. So, with so much at stake, it just makes sense to thoroughly prepare your property in advance. Making these preparations will save you a lot of negotiation and repair work down the road.  “ Preparing your property before it’s inspected will save you a lot of negotiation and repair work down the road. ” The following areas are where unpleasant surprises often arise and, ultimately, either kill the sale or cost the seller a lot of money: The roof. Repairs to the roof can be very expensive. If you think your home may need a new roof, consider taking care of it before listing your property on the market. With all the hail damage we get in our area, these repairs might be covered by your insurance. The heating and cooling system. Regardless of the season, a home inspector will want to make sure the heating and cooling systems are in good shape. I highly advise hiring a professional prior to your inspection to uncover any issues beforehand. Electrical issues. Making sure your electrical systems are up-to-code before the inspection is critical because electrical violations are both common and easy to spot. Also, faulty wiring is a fire hazard. The sooner you address these issues, the safer your home will be.The plumbing. Plumbing problems can cause your deal to go down the drain. So, never put these issues off. Water damage. Even if you don’t have an active leak, stains on ceilings are often signs of previous problems. Though this past issue may have been as harmless as an overflowing toilet, buyers will suspect the worst if they see signs of water damage. Always fix any current leaks in your home and cover signs of previous ones. So, if you plan on selling your home, you may want to consider having a pre-inspection performed. This can help uncover any of the issues we’ve discussed today. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

So you’ve decided to sell your home and, before you know it, it goes under contract. Before the deal can close, though, you’ve got to pass a home inspection.

Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS accessHere are four common real estate terms you might hear when dealing with real estate agents and what they mean: Pending: When we put a “pending” sign in front of a house, this means the property has an accepted offer and the buyer and seller have agreed on most of the terms and they’re waiting for closing. There’s normally a 30- to 45-day time frame for the buyer to do their due diligence. It also gives the bank time to get their paperwork in order. Basically, “pending” means the sale is “pending to close.” Sold: If you see a “sold” sign in front of a house, that means the property has already closed—it’s already changed hands, the deed’s been signed, the title work is done, and the new owner is probably in the process of moving in. “ Once you become a client, we start fighting for you. ” MLS: This acronym stands for “multiple listing service,” which is the system us agents use to search and reference any and all active properties in the market.  Client: Or more specifically, what’s the difference between a client and a customer? You become a client once you fill out paperwork with us and we’ve fully disclosed our service relationship to you. A customer, on the other hand, is someone who’s just walked into an open house and is still in their home search phase. At that point, we don’t have any fiduciary rights to that person and don’t represent them in any way, shape, or form.  If you have any questions about these terms or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in our area, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you. 

If you are buying a home, you need to have it inspected by a professional home inspector.

Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access If you are buying a home, you need to have it inspected by a professional home inspector. Today, I’ll show you how you can get a free home inspection (including a radon test and sewer scope). First, I want to explain why it’s so important to get one in the first place. Brody Lotz, the co-owner of American Professional Home Inspection, is here to help. So, why is an inspection so important? The main thing is that when you buy a home, especially as a first-time buyer, you are making one of the biggest investments of your life. You want peace of mind. You don’t want to walk into a bad situation or money pit. Inspectors like Brody look at things to protect your investment. What major components are covered in a home inspection? The most important things inspectors look for are structural issues. “We check the roof for leaks and look at plumbing, electrical, and, of course, the foundation,” says Brody. “We really pay attention to big-ticket safety items. We also look at your appliances like the water heater and the furnace, which could be a big deal down the road.” Your inspector is there to make sure you are protected. What is radon and why do you need to test for it? Radon is present everywhere in the air, but it tends to accumulate in basements. Radon is a radioactive gas that dissipates in the air, but radon levels can rise in your home. If the house does have high levels of radon, it can be mitigated. Now, in my opinion, it’s also very important to check the sewer line. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories out there where someone buys a house, the sewer line collapses, and the basement is flooded with sewage. Not all homes need a sewer line inspection, though. According to Brody, he determines that on a case by case basis. It all depends on what kind of drain pipes there are, how old the home is, and if there are a lot of trees in the front yard. Those are all major concerns. If Brody can determine what the pipes are made out of, that can help determine whether or not the property needs a sewer line inspection. “ Home inspections protect your investment. ” If the sewer line collapses after you buy the house, that’s automatically a $10,000 to $15,000 fix. You can protect yourself from that by paying a much smaller amount for a home inspection. Now, I have a home inspection certificate valued at $600. If you are the first buyer to contact me, I will pay for your inspection, as well as your radon and sewer line tests. I want to go above and beyond that, so here’s my next offer: If you buy a house with me before the end of 2017, I will pay for your home inspection to make sure you are protected when making such a big investment. If you are interested or know someone who is, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. You can also reach out to Brody at 719-648-4098 or [email protected] with any home inspection questions you might have. We would be happy to help you!

Most people have heard that you should stick with neutral colors when painting your home before a sale. However, a new study shows that this may no longer be the case.

Do you think your property taxes went up too much? You can still file an appeal by June 1st. Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access If you’ve recently received a letter from the El Paso County Assessor’s office, you may have been in for a bit of a shock. The good news is that the value of your home has increased; the bad news is that increased value is what you’ll be taxed on. A lot of people found that their home values went up 10% to 20%. If you think the value doesn’t quite look right, something seems unfair, or if you notice an error, you can file an appeal.  On the back of the letter there is a place to follow an official appeal. You can click here to the El Paso County Assessor webpage for more information on the appeal process. You can find all kinds of good tips, from who qualifies for an appeal, to what information you will need during the appeal process. “ It is definitely worth your time to appeal your property taxes. ”One thing they will want is a list of comparable homes in your neighborhood. They will want to know the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, and how the size of those houses compares to yours. If you can prove that your neighbors' homes are priced less than what you are being taxed on, then you might be able to get an appeal. I can’t file the appeal for you, but I can help you put together a list of comparables and find out what your home is truly worth.  Plus, if you are a 100% disabled military veteran, you are qualified to write off a certain percentage of what your home is worth. So, if you think your new property value is too high, it is definitely worth your time to appeal it. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help.

Is it time for you to consider owning a home? I’ll go over some numbers that might influence that decision today. Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access Rents have hit yet another high, which is no surprise as rents have been going up for a while. However, the shocker is that apartment costs have jumped 10.5% in the last three months! At this rate, we could see rent prices increase 40% this year. Is that likely? Who knows, but it’s something you definitely need to consider if you’re thinking about continuing to rent. Why is this increase in rent prices happening? Many experts say it’s because there are many young people who just don’t want to buy, retirees who want low maintenance living, and many people who simply can’t qualify to purchase a home. “ Consider the security and financial benefits in owning your own home. ”Let’s talk about you. You should be considering the security in owning your own home and the financial benefits of doing so. The average cost of rent in Colorado Springs is about $1,100 and even though new apartment buildings are going up everywhere right now, the cost of renting has gone up every quarter for the past two years. If you really enjoy the amenities of living in an apartment, you don’t want to have a mortgage, or you can’t qualify, then I understand continuing to rent. However, if you’re worried about what rent might cost you this time next year, give me a call. Let’s have a five minute conversation with one of our friendly, helpful mortgage lenders to see how much money you can save every month by buying your own home. We may even be able to help you get into a home for less than $1,000 down with a payment that is less than what you are paying for rent right now. To find out if owning a home is the right move for you or if you have any other questions, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be more than happy to help.

There are three reasons you should hire me to help you sell your home over all the other agents in town. Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value reportBuying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access Today I want to answer a question that I get asked a lot: “Jeff, there are 3,000 real estate agents in this town. Why should I pick you?” There are three answers I can provide: 1. I’m a highly experienced professional. Everybody knows that the market is hot right now. When that happens, a lot of people get into real estate. The person that changed the tires on your car last month could be your Realtor tomorrow. The person you’re interviewing right now to handle your largest financial asset could also have a part-time job at Dillard’s. You have to make sure the person you hire is a full-time, committed professional. I’ve been doing this for more than 15 years and have sold more than 1,000 homes. There are very few scenarios I haven’t seen. This is important because I can predict any issues in advance so we can eliminate them and make your transaction as smooth as possible. The market has changed a lot in those 15 years—it’s gone up, then down, and now it’s back up again. It’s changed, and so have I. “ My experience, my team’s flexibility, and the company I work for will get you the results you’re looking for. ”2. My common sense listing system. A lot of Realtors put you in the same system but my team has got a lot of flexibility. We offer flexible commissions and the right to sell your house by yourself while it’s listed with me and pay nothing. After all the advertising we do and the buyers we bring to your house, you still have the option to fire me. I don’t think you’re going to do that though, and that’s because of reason No. 3. 3. The results we get. The team I have and the company I work for will get you better results and provide you with better service, period. RE/MAX Properties is the No. 1 company in town. Since 1989, they’ve sold more homes than any other company. Right now, one out of every six houses in this city is listed with us. These are factors you should look for in any agent you hire, but my experience, my team’s flexibility, and the company I work for will get you the results you want. Whether you’re thinking about selling or buying a house, feel free to call me or send me an email. I’d be happy to assist you and get you the results you’re looking for.