Anyone can use their retirement plan to invest in real estate you just need to have the proper plan in place. (Photo: Pexels). Retirement plans such as IRAs, SEPs, and 401ks are often thought of as limited to investments in stocks or mutual funds. However, if you open a self-directed IRA account (SDIRA), your […]
Investing in real estate using retirement plan funds, Part 1
Anyone can use their retirement plan to invest in real estate you just need to have the proper plan in place. (Photo: Pexels). When most people think of IRAs, SEPs, and 401ks, they usually think of investing in the stock market or mutual funds. However, if you set up a self-directed IRA account (SDIRA), […]
Home appreciation outpacing capital gains exclusion
It is very tough to “outsave” an appreciating real estate market. The 1997 Taxpay Relief Act allowed for a $250,000 capital gains exclusion for a single person and $500,000 for a married couple when a personal residence was sold. The caveat was that the homeowner needed to live in the home for the last two […]
Homebuyers gain purchasing power with higher loan limits
It is very tough to “outsave” an appreciating real estate market. As 2021 begins, today’s homebuyers are frustrated with the scarce inventory of homes to choose from across all price ranges. Shrinking inventory has put upward pressure on home prices across the country. In fact, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) determined that the average […]
Round up of the 2020 local housing market: What happened?
The economy here in Colorado and the Front Range were no exception, but we have fared better than many other areas of the country. (Photo: David McBee, Pexels). The global economy was hit very hard in 2020 with the pandemic. The economy here in Colorado and the Front Range were no exception, but we […]
Second home and retirement home market booming since coronavirus
In the mountain towns of nearby Summit County, home sales surged in 2020. (Photo: Shutterstock). The ability to work from home has changed the behavior of homebuyers. Not only are they searching for floor plans that offer home office and homeschooling spaces, they are no longer tied to a specific location. Many also want to […]
Buying or selling a home? Consider using a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
Only two percent of Realtors nationwide take their profession to the next level by becoming a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), the highest credential in the industry. To earn a real estate license in Colorado, an applicant must complete a total of 168 hours of coursework covering real estate law and practice, Colorado contracts, trust […]
Keep your home safe! January is Radon Action Month
Preparatory stage for the construction of a ventilated crawl space in a brick building. (Photo: Francesco Scatena, Shutterstock). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated January as National Radon Action Month. According to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon gas is emitted from decaying uranium naturally occurring […]
Find out if you qualify for the Senior Homestead Property Tax Exemption
Owner financing is an alternative to a using a mortgage lender or bank. (Photo: Pexels). In 2000, Colorado voters approved a property tax exemption for qualified seniors (also known as the Senior Homestead Exemption) as a state constitutional amendment. The Colorado legislature makes a determination each year to see if the state budget allows […]
Owner financing in real estate
Owner financing is an alternative to a using a mortgage lender or bank. (Photo: Pexels). Owner financing is an alternative to a using a mortgage lender or bank. Also known as seller financing, owner financing is when a real estate owner has enough equity to loan all or part of the money for a buyer’s […]