As you know, we’re experiencing exponential growth here in the valley. You’ve heard of Silicon Slopes, Building Salt Lake, and other major projects that are going online. Every time I think of the mountain plan, I can’t believe what’s going to be there in the next five to 10 years.

It’s life-changing for all of us, which is why we’re experiencing this growth. People are arriving in droves because our economy continues to expand. When the population of an area grown and its economy expands, some developers get visions of grandeur. I even came across an article recently about a group of developers who want to build an island city in the middle of Salt Lake. 

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We know where you should buy so your home can experience the highest appreciation.

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The point is, our team keeps our thumb on all these awesome long-term projects coming online. We know what’s happening and what to expect, which means we know where you should buy so you can be next to these projects that will increase your home’s value.

If you have any questions about our economy and where things are going to expand, explore our website http://utahcribs.com—we have all the latest updates on all the latest events happening.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

This Christmas, help a family in need.

Every year, we do a Sub for Santa event. This event has grown each year thanks to your support. 

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Help a family in need have a great holiday season.

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If you know a family who is struggling this time of year, please reach out to us to nominate them. We’re also looking for donations to give these families a great holiday season. We’ve been able to help more and more families each year, and this year, we hope to pass our record of 10 families!

You can learn more details here.

Please reach out to us with your nomination or donation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Happy Holidays!

Today we want to show you how to safely remove an old refrigerator from the third floor of your investment property.

It is absolutely crucial that your mannequin friend tests the fall first.

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Find a friend to test the landing.

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If you don’t plan on getting new windows, you can probably open one before you throw your friend out and achieve a similar effect.

Then, you are good to deposit the fridge.

Watch the video above for a complete demonstration.

Although our mannequin didn’t quite make it, he did at least break the fridge’s fall.

If you have any other questions about renovating an investment property or real estate in general, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

It’s always important to thoroughly examine a home. Of course, the inspector will let you know if there are any underlying issues with the property, but it doesn’t hurt to pay attention to the details during a showing.

Check out our short video to see what not to do when looking at a home. For starters, let’s take a look at the bathroom. Although bathrooms are a major selling point for buyers, it’s a little unconventional to actually use the restroom during a showing.

Secondly, home warranties also play an important role in homeownership.

Damage happens. But sometimes, we aren’t exactly sure how. Sometimes we come across a home that leaves us wondering: “What happened here?”

What do people do in their houses to cause such significant, and strange, damage?

For instance: How can a wall have not one, but two holes big enough for us to fit our heads through to the other side? As you’ll see in the short video above, a bowling ball may have been the culprit.

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Be careful in there.

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Usually, damage to drywall isn’t quite this bad. It also isn’t typically caused by a bowling ball. But, regardless of how damage happens, it is always a possibility.

Damaged drywall or broken appliances can be a pain if you’re stuck without coverage. This is exactly why you should ask yourself, “Is a home warranty worth it?”

Personally, we think it probably is.

Whether you are looking for a turnkey property or more of a fixer-upper (or you’re interested in a bathroom remodel project), give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Many of you may have already heard about the Fed’s recent quarterly meeting where they decided not to raise the benchmark rate.

There is always a little bit of confusion about the difference between interest rates and the benchmark rate, so I want to clear that up. These two rates are not the same thing.

The benchmark rate is basically the rate at which banks can borrow money. This means the affordability for banks borrowing money is still very, very low, and it also indicates that interest rates are likely to stay the same for now, as well.

Many officials on the Fed board have said that they plan to do a third raise on the benchmark rate in the future, but this likely won’t be relevant until December.

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These two rates are not the same thing.

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As for now, we’re still seeing historic lows for interest rates. In fact, it’s likely that we’ll never see rates these low again. As a consumer, you should definitely take advantage of this.

If you’re ready to make a real estate transaction, my team and I would love to help. We can give you some great referrals.

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.

Need to demo a bathroom? We’ve got a guy who can help—kind of. Selling your Wasatch Front home? Get a free home value reportBuying a Wasatch Front home? Click here for full MLS access It’s always important to thoroughly examine a home. Of course, the inspector will let you know if there are any underlying issues with the property, but it doesn’t hurt to pay attention to the details during a showing. Check out our short video to see what not to do when looking at a home. Although bathrooms are a major selling point for buyers, it’s a little unconventional to actually use the restroom.  “ Be careful in there. ”Whether you are looking for a turnkey property or more of a fixer-upper (or you’re interested in a bathroom remodel project), give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

For today’s short video, we just wanted to show you what real estate agents do when you are not in your home.

If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a home, please reach out to us. We’d be happy to help!

Whenever April 1st rolls around, we typically predict what the second quarter of appreciation is going to do in Salt Lake County. This is because we usually see the most appreciation happen in the second quarter.

In our area, appreciation is very much a seasonal thing—not a linear trend. Instead, things occur in booms and busts.

So, looking back, what happened this year? Well before we get to that, let’s take a look further back.

In early 2012, when the recession ended, Salt Lake County’s median sales price went up 12%—and did so again in 2013. 2014 saw a 4% increase, and 2015 had an increase of 12.97%.

Just last year, the median sales price rose 6.2%. Looking at these numbers, we can see that we’ve had five solid years of second-quarter appreciation.

 In 2012, the median sales price for a single-family home was $190,000. Today, that median price is $330,000.

So in just five years and one quarter, homes have appreciated almost $75,000. Does this mean we’ve created another bubble? Most experts say no. 

Salt Lake actually has a 40-year history of having median prices double between every eight to 12 years.

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Being an informed, educated buyer is everything

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Real estate is a long-term game. Being an informed, educated buyer is everything—which is why we try to help you be just that.

If you had bought a home on April 1st, for example, the median price was $305,000. But, if you waited the just 90 days until July, you’d find that the median price has risen to $330,000.

Some of the things my team often hears from buyers include: “I have time,” or “I’m waiting for the right home.” But, as we’ve seen here, waiting could cost you. Even if you are waiting because you want to save more money, the market appreciation rate is outpacing the amount you could be saving.

The best deal you could get in this market is often the deal you could get today.

We want to help you understand your options by looking at things like area and price range. Also, homes are moving fast. Low inventory has lead to high demand—which is another reason not to wait.

Ultimately, we’d be happy to help you make an educated real estate decision based on the numbers for your area and price range.

If you would like more information or have any other questions, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

What makes the Utah Cribs team so special? One thing we have going for us is a full team who can assist you with all of your real estate needs.

We're trying to break down the traditional walls of real estate, however, we need a little help. That’s why we have Captain Crib! Check him out in action in the video above.

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Captain Crib is here to save the day.

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Our entire team (including Captain Crib) is ready to serve you or anyone you know when it comes time to buy or sell a home. If you have any questions for us or could use our assistance, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

How did our Salt Lake County market do this May compared to May 2016? A few key statistics tell the tale.

The median price of single-family homes rose 9.1% from $305,000 to $332,800. That’s a significant jump, and it can be frustrating if you’ve been looking for a home for awhile because it essentially means you’ve lost money waiting for the right house to come along. In fact, if you look at the last May that was part of the recession—May 2011—the median price for single-family homes was $200,000. That means in six years, the median price for single-family homes has risen 66.4%.

Another amazing thing about our current market is that 592 single-family homes have closed so far this month, and the average days on market for those homes was only seven days. 

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Shopping on Trulia and Zillow won’t get you a good house in our market.

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What do these numbers mean? If you’re a buyer, don’t even think about starting your home search until you’re pre-qualified and underwritten, you have your ducks in a row as far as lending goes, and you have a good agent going to bat for you. Lastly, remember to be aggressive, especially if you’re looking under the $600,000 price range.

If you have any questions about our market or are looking to buy or sell a home, don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d be glad to help.