Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Why Our Team Is the Best Choice in Colorado Springs



Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value report
Buying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access

I wanted to take a moment to answer a question I hear a lot. “There are almost 5,000 real estate agents in Colorado Springs. Why should I hire your team?” This is a really good question, so I want to give you a few really good answers.

The first reason you should hire our team is because of our experience. I’ve been involved in the sale of over 1,200 homes in the past 16 years and during this time, the real estate market has changed a lot. Prices and sales went from extreme highs to extreme lows and back again. When the market changes, we change with it to help our clients navigate the challenges they face when purchasing or selling a home.

I don’t do it alone, however. To really get great results for our clients, it takes a whole team. We have a great one. When you hire us, you get a team of professionals working for you for the price of one.

Another great reason to hire us is because of our flexible and innovative programs designed to maximize the equity in your home. For example, our common sense listing program offers flexible commissions, the right to sell your house yourself and pay nothing, and the right to fire us at any time if you aren’t happy. You can even list your house with us for a dollar with our "dollar listing plan," when you move up to a new home. These are just a few of our innovative programs created with our clients’ best interest in mind.


We’ve seen everything that the real estate market has to offer.


Finally, you should hire us because of the team behind our team. Keller Williams is the largest real estate company in the world for the number of agents and the number of homes sold. Their technology, training, and resources are unmatched.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home or know somebody who is, remember that our experience, our flexible and creative programs, and our company and team-wide support is what we have to offer.

If you have any questions or want to learn more, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Monday, June 18, 2018

What 4 Lessons Did We Learn From the 2007 Housing Crisis?



Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value report
Buying a Colorado Springs Home? Click here for full MLS access

Today in Colorado Springs, many of our local communities are seeing home prices that are even higher than what we observed during the 2007 housing crisis.

That period of our market may have been difficult, but it also taught us some important lessons. Today I’d like to share four of the most important things we learned:

1. Don’t buy a home you can’t afford. Many people during, and just prior to, the housing crisis in 2007 bought properties beyond their budget out of fear. They worried that, if they didn’t make a move, they would be priced out of the market and lose out on ever having the opportunity to purchase a home again. In retrospect, we know that this way of thinking is fatally flawed. So don’t buy into the hype. If you cannot afford a home now, it doesn’t mean you never will be. 

2. Don’t always believe your home will go up in value. A lot of people in our market falsely assume that home prices will always increase. Yet this is not the case. The reality is that prices fluctuate. Real estate purchases are best thought of as a long-term commitment.

3. Make sure you have adequate reserves. During the housing crisis, homeowners without sufficient savings found themselves in an extremely difficult position. Experts say that you should have at least six months’ worth of reserves so that you can sustain your lifestyle in the event of major unforeseen expenses. 




If you cannot afford a home now, it doesn’t mean you never will be able to.


4. Submit a big, healthy down payment when buying. Many people today are putting down as little as possible, but this is not the ideal way to proceed. If a downturn in prices pushes homeowners like these to sell, they are sure to encounter financial hardship as a result. Submitting the largest down payment you can afford will make your home more affordable on a monthly basis and will make it easier to hold onto your property during turbulent times.

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.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Your Spring Housing Market Update



Selling your Colorado Springs home? Get a home value report
Buying 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.