Monday, January 31, 2011

Lafayette Colorado Autumn Ridge Real Estate


Lafayette, Colorado Autumn Ridge Neighborhood

Solds last 12 months, (from day of posting) Information from Metrolist MLS.

Address                                   Total sq ft         Fin sq ft            Sold price


2330 E Cherrywood Dr            1828                1348                158.752

2400 E Cherrywood Dr            1315                1315                175,000

2350 Heartwood Ct                 1346                1346                214,500

2375 Redwood Ave                 1174                1174                222,500

2330 E Cherrywood DR          1828                1348                239,000

2345 Heartwood Ct                 2071                2071                269,000

Median days on market- 43

Average price sq ft- $180

Average price total sq ft- $151

If you are looking to buy or sell in Lafayette, let me help you. I’m an experienced agent who lives in Lafayette.



Roy Johnson
Real Estate Broker
303-875-1986


www.mybrokercolorado.com
 

Friday, January 28, 2011

Home Seller? Need to reduce the clutter to prepare for showings? Garage Sale!


When you are preparing to sell you home if your home is listed for sale you may want to consider a garage sale for several reasons.

It is to your benefit to prepare your home to show well. Much of this is reducing the clutter in the home; the clutter we all tend to accumulate over the years. Also, consider that you will be moving and you may want to reduce the amount of possessions you will need to pack and move. If you are considering a garage sale at some point before moving, why not do it early to help prepare your home for showings?

Here are some tips:


1)                  When using craigslist.org, be sure to list items that you have for sale, at least the types of items, for example, children’s clothes, TV’s , electronics, computers, etc. Be specific with larger/more expensive items. Craigslist browsers like pictures!

2)                  Be sure to tell where and when, the specific days and hours.

3)                  Be sure to check with local regulations and HOA rules.

4)                  Post noticeable directional signs from a main street to your home. Only keep the signs up when you are “open”.

5)                  Be realistic on prices. Check other yard/garage sales, thrift stores, and online before having your sale. On the other hand, be sure not to sell valuable antiques, jewelry, etc too low.

6)                  When selling clothes, be sure they are freshly laundered and folded or hung on racks.

7)                  Coordinate with your neighbors. If you have 3-4 garage sales in your neighborhood, you may be able to attract more buyers.

8)                  A friendly greeting and conversation tends to make people feel more comfortable to buy.

9)                  Some garage sale buyers like to drive by slowly to take a look to decide whether or not to stop in. Give them a friendly wave in.

10)              Keep your more valuable items close to where you can keep an eye on them. While most people are fairly honest, some are not; keep an eye out.

11)              Have ample change available, but keep it secured. Accept cash only. Be attentive when accepting bills and making change.

12)              Consider donating leftovers to a local charity.

Some real estate agents will help you with a garage sale. For example, I offer free use of garage sale “arrow” signs and enjoy doing an open house concurrent with a garage sale. Those coming for the open house could buy something at your garage sale and those coming for the garage sale may also be in the home market, or know someone who is.

Good luck!


Roy Johnson
Real Estate Broker
303-875-1986


www.mybrokercolorado.com

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Denver Highland Neighborhood- Sold Homes Info!

The Denver Highland neighborhood is an eclectic neighborhood in the northwest area of Denver. Homes in this area were built from the late 1800’s to 2010. Home sale information shows a price range of about $70,000 to $790,000 in the last six months. The Highland United Neighbors Inc defines the boundaries as 38th to the north, Federal on the west, I-25 on the southeast, and Speer on the southwest.

Many residents consider the area highly desirable and enjoy the sense of community and local amenities. The Highland United Neighbors Inc has a nice internet site with much information. www.denverhighland.org/huni.html

Informally, other nearby neighborhoods are often referred to as Highland or Highlands neighborhoods. For the purposes of the following sold information, the Highland United Neighbors Inc boundaries as described above, are used.

Solds in the last six months (from date of posting). Information from Metrolist MLS.

Number sold
53

Median total days on market
72

Low sold price – high sold price
$70,000 - $790,000

Average price sold sq. ft – average sold price fin sq ft
$235 - $192

For more information please contact me,



Roy Johnson
Real Estate Broker
303-875-1986


www.mybrokercolorado.com
 


Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Recent Sold Information! Indian Peaks Neighborhood Lafayette, Colorado

The Indian Peaks subdivision is a beautiful neighborhood in Lafayette, Colorado. Lafayette is located in Boulder County within easy commuting distance from Denver and the Denver metro area, as well as minutes from Boulder and Longmont. There are several filings within the subdivision and includes condos, paired homes, single family homes from about $300,000 up to luxury homes over $1,000,000. The community adjoins the Indian Peaks Golf Course and there are several parks with the area. Here is recent sold information from the neighborhood, single family homes, from the last six months from time of this posting. (1-26-2011), according to Metrolist MLS.

Number sold
18

Median days on market
66

Low sold price- High sold price
$294,250 - $975,000

Average price/ sq. ft. – Average price / Fin sq. ft
$211 - $1657

Four paired and condo homes sold in this time period from low to mid 200’s.

There is a nice selection of available homes in the neighborhood ranging from the $300’s to about 1.5 million.

It’s a great neighborhood. I should know, I live there! (On the lower priced side)

For more information please contact me.



Roy Johnson
Real Estate Broker
303-875-1986


www.mybrokercolorado.com
 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Colorado: Why Buyers Should Work With a Buyer Broker!!

 
Buying a home represents the largest and most important asset investment to many people, both monetarily and emotionally. Yet, most people do not have much expertise or knowledge in home buying. Even those who have purchased homes before often walk away from the process confused by the intricacies of the process.

Why should a home buyer work with a professional Real Estate Broker in Colorado?

There are several compelling reasons. First, full broker services to you as a buyer can be free to you. Second, most sellers, including new homes, have an agent working exclusively on the seller’s behalf and work only in the seller’s interest. Third, home buying can be a complicated and intricate process of which the details are not known by most people. A professional real estate broker can guide you through the entire process. Fourth, a professional real estate broker can help you find the right home for you.

Home buying can be a happy and rewarding experience. Having a professional “guide” to help you through this process is definitely to your advantage. Though there are real estate brokers and brokerages that charge you for buyer services, there are some, like the author, that will represent you at no cost to you.

(Most homes are sold with the assistance of a selling broker and in the great majority of cases the listing broker agrees to pay a portion of that commission to the buyer’s broker. In addition, most new home builders agree to pay a commission to the buyer’s broker.)

In most cases where the seller has engaged a listing broker, that broker is working solely on behalf of the seller as the seller’s agent. With new homes, it is almost always the case that the model home sales person is an employee or seller’s agent of the home builder company. The Colorado Real Estate Commission defines the duties of a seller’s agent as follows:

Seller’s Agent: A seller’s agent works solely on behalf of the seller to promote the interests of the seller with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity. The agent negotiates on behalf of and acts as an advocate for the seller. The seller’s agent must disclose to potential buyers all adverse material facts actually known by the seller’s agent about the property. A separate written listing agreement is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the broker and the seller.

Seems a little one-sided. It certainly makes sense that you have a professional real estate broker working on your behalf and protecting your interests.

Buying a home is a serious investment of money and emotion. It is a complicated process with many potential pitfalls and opportunities. Having a professional guide you through this process can help make this process a fun and exciting experience and ease the stress of home buying.

In Colorado, the following working relationships are available to buyers:

Buyer’s Agent: A buyer’s agent works solely on behalf of the buyer to promote the interests of the buyer with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity. The agent negotiates on behalf of and acts as an advocate for the buyer. The buyer’s agent must disclose to potential sellers all adverse material facts actually known by the buyer’s agent, including the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction and, if a residential property, whether the buyer intends to occupy the property. A separate written buyer agency agreement is required which sets forth the duties and obligations of the broker and the buyer.

Transaction-Broker: A transaction-broker assists the buyer or seller or both throughout a real estate transaction by performing terms of any written or oral agreement, fully informing the parties, presenting all offers and assisting the parties with any contracts, including the closing of the transaction, without being an agent or advocate for any of the parties. A transaction-broker must use reasonable skill and care in the performance of any oral or written agreement, and must make the same disclosures as agents about all adverse material facts actually known by the transaction-broker concerning a property or a buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of a transaction and, if a residential property, whether the buyer intends to occupy the property. No written agreement is required.

Customer: A customer is a party to a real estate transaction with whom the broker has no brokerage relationship because such party has not engaged or employed the broker, either as the party’s agent or as the party’s transaction-broker.

Buyer’s Agency requires a written agreement. It places the highest levels of responsibility upon the real estate broker and is a document where the broker can put in writing for you, that you are not being charged for representation.

Buying a home represents the largest and most important asset investment to many people, both monetarily and emotionally. Yet, most people do not have much expertise or knowledge in home buying. Even those who have purchased homes before often walk away from the process confused by the intricacies of the process.

A professional real estate broker working on your behalf can help you in finding homes that meet your desires, showing you those homes, providing information on those homes including comparable homes sold and what they sold for, providing the expertise in preparing the offer, negotiations, obtaining required disclosures, writing contracts, facilitating inspections, facilitating appraisal, facilitating loan and title work, assist throughout the process including the closing, and fulfilling your getting the home of your dreams.

Seems a little one-sided. It certainly makes sense that you have a professional real estate broker working on your behalf and protecting your interests.

Buying a home is a serious investment of money and emotion. It is a complicated process with many potential pitfalls and opportunities. Having a professional guide you through this process can help make this process a fun and exciting experience and ease the stress of home buying.

A professional real estate broker working on your behalf can help you in finding homes that meet your desires, showing you those homes, providing information on those homes including comparable homes sold and what they sold for, providing the expertise in preparing the offer, negotiations, obtaining required disclosures, writing contracts, facilitating inspections, facilitating appraisal, facilitating loan and title work, assist throughout the process including the closing, and fulfilling your getting the home of your dreams.

For more information,



Roy Johnson
Real Estate Broker
303-875-1986


www.mybrokercolorado.com