Colorado Home Buyers: Top 7 Reasons to Buy Your First Home Today

Top 7 Reasons to Buy Your First Home Today


1. Free Money. The $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers is valid before April 30, 2010(under contract deadline). This is a special tax credit from the government that you don't have to pay back, as long as you stay in the home for at least 36 months. Contact me today for a free and informative a tax credit packet.
2. Affordability. Based on recent property declines and current interest rates, home affordability has not been higher since it was first tracked over 40 years ago. Your grandparents couldn't have received a better interest rate than you can today.
3. Tax Breaks. The IRS allows you to deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage, your property taxes and, in many cases for those who qualify, some of the costs to buy your home and mortgage insurance. Owning a home is a great way to lower your tax bill.
4. Build Wealth. Unlike paying rent, with each mortgage payment you make, you build equity and you decrease your income tax liability. Owning a home is still the best long-term investment.
5. Appreciation. As home prices have fallen precipitously in today's tough economy, the basis for realizing appreciation in future years is very strong. Historically, even with other periods of declining value, home prices have exceeded consumer inflation. From 1972 through 2005, home prices increased on average 6.5%, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
6. Stability. Knowing you can establish roots and raise a family in one location, free of the desires or needs of your landlord to sell the property you are living in. This is something no other investment provides. You can't live in a stock, and you can't raise your kids in a bond.
7. Independence. Enjoy the freedom to do what you want to your home. After all, it's yours to do what you wish. And, with any improvements you make, you have the ability to benefit from your investment. Try that with an apartment!

Call me today to get started!

Stefan Geyer
Home Real Estate
303-766-4663
www.StefanMax.com

Reprinted courtesy of:
Mandy Hammer
Loan Officer
Pinnacle Mortgage
Phone: 877-716-9006 ext 885
mhammer@pinnacle-mortgage.com
www.mytoplender.com

Colorado: $8,000 reasons to buy a new home.

$8,000 REASONS
FOR YOU TO GET OFF THE FENCE!

Dear Future Homeowner,

There’s never been a better time to buy a home. Really!!

That’s because Congress is offering the $8,000 tax credit to help first-time homebuyers, like yourself, purchase a home. If you qualify and buy a principal residence before April 30, 2010, then you’re eligible for the credit—allowing you to subtract 10% of the purchase price of your home up to $8,000 from your tax bill.

Also, the FHA at the urging of NAR has changed the rules to make this money available to you at closing! Visit www.HousingMarketFacts.com for more information.

So, why wait? Please contact me for more information about this can’t-miss opportunity.


STEFAN GEYER

Realtor®, Home Real Estate
C: 303.766.4663 , F: 303.534.5508
http://www.stefanmax.com/

"A Modern Realtor® for Modern Times"

Obama Signs Extended Tax Credit into Law

Obama Signs Extended Tax Credit into Law: http://bit.ly/oFMH9

Call me if buying or selling a home in the Denver Metropolitan area.

(see previous post for very detailed information regarding the tax credit for homebuyers)


Stefan Geyer
Colorado Realtor
http://www.stefanmax.com/

Denver > Buy Homes with your Credit Card?

Have you considered investing in a rental property, or two, or three?  Adding them to your investment portfolio?  How about properties so cheap that you could likely buy them using your credit card?  Of course, a credit card is not a recommended purchase method, but it gives you an idea of just how cheap some deals are.  I dove into the MLS this morning, searching for cheap properties in Colorado, specifically in Denver and the Greater Denver area.  Below is a summary of my findings:

-260 Single Family homes priced at 50K or less.
-28 Single Family homes priced at 25K or less.
-18 Condominiums priced at 25K or less.

You can expect every one of these properties need work, but there is a great deal of equity to be had in many cases.  Are you interested?  Contact me for additional information.


Stefan Geyer
Colorado Realtor
http://www.stefanmax.com/

Colorado Update: Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended & Expanded

For homebuyers, and home sellers, in Colorado, there is more good news! 

The Senate voted 98-0 on Wednesday and yesterday the House voted 403-12 on legislation that includes the extension and expansion of the credit. The President is expected to sign the legislation, perhaps as early as today.

More information on the tax credit and what it means to you:

Changes to the Homebuyer Tax Credit Law
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Bill
See How the House Voted
In Depth: 2009 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Now REALLY is the time to get your home listed or to begin your home search.  Contact me and let's get started.


Stefan Geyer
Denver Metropolitan Realtor®
Home Real Estate, 303-858-8100
Automate your home search.  Property alerts sent to you via e-mail >> http://www.stefanmax.com/

Tentative Agreement to Extend & EXPAND Homebuyer Tax Credit

Colorado / Denver home buyers and home sellers, GREAT NEWS!  The homebuyer tax credit appears it will be extended and expanded.  To take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, first-time home buyers would need to be under contract by 04/30/2010, and close before 07/01/2010. 

Are you a homeowner?  You may qualify for a credit too!  Have you lived in your current residence for a consecutive five-year period in the past eight years?  Then you would be eligible for a new $6,500 credit.  You also must be under contract by act by April 30, 2010 and close before 07/01/2010.

Contact me for more information.  The time to buy and sell is now, as it is unlikely this type of opportunity for Colroado homebuyers and sellers will appear again or be extended anytime soon.


Stefan Geyer
303-766-4663
Colorado Realtor
Home Real Estate
http://www.stefanmax.com/

Not Selling Your Colorado Home? Just In Case, Follow These Tips

Not selling your home right now? Chances are you will in the future, so I have a few recommendations for you, ones which will give you an advantage over your competition if you do decide to sell.

1. If you get work done to your home, get any required permits, and any required approval signatures. Many homeowners avoid getting permits, due to the expense, but this could later come back to bite you. Keep the permits in a file and make them available to potential buyers.

2. Keep all warranty information for relevant items such as appliances, roof, water heater, furnace, and garage door opener. When getting warranties, seek out ones that are transferable. Buyers appreciate this; it gives them more confidence in the home.

3. Take before and after photos of any remodeling done to your home. Buyers like to see these, and it could also help justify a higher asking price. Appraisers and lenders also like to see these pictures, even in the case of a refinance.

4. Hire a photographer to take professional pictures of your home when it looks the best, particularly the landscaping. If you list your home during the fall and winter months, these pictures will help buyers visualize the home when it looks its best. For my Colorado home sellers, this one is important (we have two feet of snow on the ground right now, and it is only October!).  This will not cost as much as you think, and I can refer you to photographers that I use when listing my client's homes.

Happy selling!

Stefan Geyer
Colorado Realtor
http://www.stefanmax.com/

Denver is 11th Most Walkable Neighborhood. What is Your Neighborhood's Walkability Score?

A healthy lifestyle is in fashion.  Just looking around, it is apparent that a growing number of people like to ride their bikes(I'm loving the cruiser bikes!), walk, and jog.  The areas where this is most evident is in areas where there is a good concentration of recreation, shopping, eateries, etc.  Click HERE to find out what the Walkability Score is for your neighborhood, or for a neighborhood you are interested in living in.  Denver is ranked 11th most walkable neighborhood in the top 40 U.S. cities, specifically the neighborhoods of Lodo, Golden Triangle and Capitol Hill.

Walk on!

Stefan Geyer
Colorado Realtor
http://www.stefanmax.com/

Colorado Architecture #3 | Highlands

 West Hayward Place is one of my favorites streets in Denver for viewing homes from the Victorian Architectural Period.  These homes were built in the late 1800's and reside in the popular Highlands area, which is approximately a five minute drive from downtown Denver.  The street is very peaceful, with old trees with large canopies providing blankets of shade.  Victorian Cottages primarily line the street, with their acute roof slopes creating a pattern of triangles lined up.  Upon closer look, you will see what makes these homes so unique; the detail in the woodworking on the gables and the use of vivid and contrasting colors of paint. 
These homes were built during a time of rapid industrialization, so new innovations in architecture and design were occurring, evident by these homes.  Wood detailers spent a great deal of time adding their designs to a home, such as fish scale shingles, and ultimately adding character.  I think it adds a quirkiness or playfulness to a home.  Some argue that the extra detailing creates needless complexity.  I appreciate that each home was given a unique personality.

Stefan Geyer
Denver Realtor
http://www.stefanmax.com/

Colorado Architecture, Case #1

A revitalization has been occurring in various historic Denver neighborhoods, particularly in the general Highlands (Denver NW) and Washington Park areas.  This revitalization has included an increasing number of property scrapes.  On the scraped lots, new homes are being built, in styles including Prairie, Craftsman, and Modern.  These historic neighborhoods, in the past, have been comprised primarily of bungalow's, craftman style homes and Victorian style homes, so the homes of modern design are new to the landscape.  Many of the local residents would like to preserve the architectural integrity of the neighborhoods and do not appreciate the new development, and in particular, the homes of modern design.  Others feel that the new development, including the homes of modern design, add a new interesting dynamic to the neighborhood.  I took the following picture of a home located near the Historic Highlands shopping area:

When I saw this home, I pulled over, as it had my immediate attention.  It may appear as there are two homes built very close to each other, but in fact, it is one structure.  The original structure is a Queen Anne style Victorian, built in 1907.  The modern style addition was added sometime after 2006.  The architect is seemingly comfortable with a marriage of the two styles and has made a bold statement to the surrounding neighbors and passer-by's. 
A nearby neighbor told me she felt the home was not cohesive, and would benefit from a more balanced design.  She felt that adding a modern tower to the opposite side of the Victorian portion would be a good remedy.  Otherwise, this neighbor was intriqued by the design concept.  What was the concept?  It may have been that the owner liked both styles and could not pick one.  Another idea is that the design is meant to force people to accept that the two style are essentially 'one', and will both be part of their neighborhood in the future. 

Stefan Geyer
Denver Realtor
http://www.stefanmax.com/

What is a condominium? It May Not be What You Think.

As a Realtor and appraiser, I am often asked what defines a condominium.  Some of the defining characteristics I have heard are:
1. A condominium does not have ownership of land associated with the unit.
2. A condominium shares one or more walls, or party walls, with another unit.
3. A condominium has a unit above and/or below it.

Though some or all of these factors can be true, there is only one reliable definition of a condominium, and that is form of ownership.   Condominiums are an individual interest in an apartment and an undivided interest in common areas contained in a condominium project.  It is ownership of the airspace whithin the unit only.  So, this is why a building that by all appearances looks like a duplex, can be considered a condominium.  Condominiums of course have other things that make them unique, such as a condominium declaration, which should be researched and understood if one is to best serve their clients whom want to buy or sell a condominium. 
Special tip regarding condominiums:  Other owners in a condominium project may have right of first refusal, in the case of an owner selling their individual condominium.  Something worth looking into prior to listing!