5 Reason You Need A Realtor

5 Reasons You Need A REALTOR

A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.

Selling or buying a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for an average of 77 days. And it usually takes another 35 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.

Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language.

REALTORS have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical.

REALTORS provide objectivity. Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security, not just four walls and roof, homeselling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you.

REALTORS are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, a trade organization of more than 1 million members nationwide. REALTORS subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity.

Freddie Mac Announcement

Freddie Mac economist says worst of US housing slump over

Nov 15, 2006
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The worst of the nation's housing slump is over, and the market should show signs of a pickup around mid-2007, a senior economist at Freddie Mac (FRE) said Wednesday.

"I think the worst is behind us in terms of the downturn in the housing market," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist, at a luncheon in Washington, D.C.
While Nothaft felt the market may not have reached its "trough" yet, he said it was unlikely that housing starts would plummet as dramatically as they did from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006, when they fell by 18%.

"Housing starts will trend a bit lower, and we have them bottoming out at some point in the first half of 2007," Nothaft said. "I think by the midpoint of 2007 we're going to consistently see some positive signs," he added.

Those predictions for the housing market coincide with Nothaft's expectations for below-trend overall economic growth in the first half of 2007, followed by an uptick in the second half of next year, with overall gross domestic product growth coming in at 3.2% for 2007.

Real Estate Real Talk!

Are you all tired of being beaten up by the press about how bad the real estate market is?

Don't they realize that LOCALLY this is our second best year ever? 2005 was the best!

Don't they also realize that the market slows down about this time every year?

Yes, we have higher amount of inventory, but the prices are still inching up!

Here is a breakdown of September 2005 - September 2006 average house price changes:

Boulder + 5.8 %

Broomfield + 1.7 %

Erie + 0.4 %

Lafayette + 3.5 %

Longmont + 3.5 %

Louisville + 6.7 %

Superior + 5.4 %

Mountains + 9.9 %

Plains + 8.2 %

MEDIA HYPE

Economists Challenge Media's Negative Drumbeat on Housing

By Kenneth R. Harney, Realty Times Columnist: Is it a housing bust or a media-driven panic? Mike Moran, chief economist for Wall Street's Daiwa Securities America, says he's surprised that virtually nobody has challenged the constant drumbeat of negative headlines and TV news warnings of imminent crashes and home price meltdowns.

"It's really been way out of line with reality," says Moran, whose firm specializes in the bond market. When a 1.7 percent decline in the median home price nationwide sparks headlines about the "housing bust," that is "just pure sensationalism about what is going on here," he said in an interview.

The housing market "is going through a correction that's badly needed" after five years of record sales and price appreciation. "The key issue is whether it is orderly or disorderly" - and it's clearly the former. Yet the financial press and TV news programs are "portraying it as a catastrophe."

Moran got indirect support for that view from other economists, including the Mortgage Bankers Association of America's chief economist, Doug Duncan, who said "the rhetoric is just way overwrought" - the sky is not falling in the real estate and mortgage sectors.

To the contrary, even the Federal Reserve's vice chairman believes the current correction will not be dramatic or even that long-lived, and that the housing slowdown will not have dire side effects on other parts of the economy.

In a speech that went virtually unreported by major media, vice chairman Donald L. Kohn told New York analysts that the "rebalancing" of prices to better fit current demand that is under way in many metropolitan markets is a normal, cyclical event - not an incipient disaster. In fact, it may even be a healthy and necessary part of the cycle: "The reported declines in new home prices in a number of areas should help facilitate the rebalancing of supply and demand" - i.e., lower prices should help gradually expand the number of serious buyers looking for houses.

Thanks to strong underlying demographic factors - new household formations and population growth - the current down phase may be relatively short-lived, Kohn suggested. New housing "starts may be closer to their (low point) than to their peak." If one takes mid-summer 2005 as the peak of the multi-year housing boom, Kohn appeared to suggest that the low point of the cycle - and the beginning of the eventual turnaround - could be just over the horizon.

The latest pending home sale index from the National Association of Realtors, which showed a surprising 4.3 percent jump in the number of sales in the contract stage, but not yet closed, supports that conclusion.

Kohn also noted that other economic conditions today do not point to a deep housing price recession or bust. For example, long-term mortgage interest rates are about a point above their historic lows, the Fed itself has stopped raising short-term rates, gas prices are falling, and the unemployment rate just dropped to 4.6 percent.

The current "situation stands in sharp contrast to some past downturns in the housing market" - in the early 1980s especially - "that followed actions by the Federal Reserve to tighten credit conditions significantly."

"Continuing growth in real incomes should underpin the demand for housing," said Kohn, "and as home prices stop rising, help to erode affordability constraints."

How come you're reading about the Fed vice chairman's moderately upbeat speech here rather than watching it on the evening news or reading about it in your newspaper?

Good question.

SUPPLY & DEMAND

There has been a lot of news media in the recent past about the "slowing housing market"....

Did you know that this year ranks among one of the highest in home sales? Well, probably not, the news media isn't talking about that.....

There are times when the economy is brisk and everyone feels confident about the future. As a result, people spend money. They eat out more, buy new cars, and they buy houses!

In a slowing market where the supply of available houses is greater than the supply of buyers, appreciation may slow and prices may even fall. If you are lucky enough to purchase a home during a slow period, you will probably have lower interest rates available for financing, you can be reasonably certain the economy will begin to show strength again and along with it higher appreciation rates.

Well, we are in that SUPPLY & DEMAND timeframe, interest rates are low AND NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO INVEST IN A HOME PURCHASE!

Since 1983, we have had two failrly long expanses of hot real estate markets with only a slight recession in between each. You would not want ot wait nine years to buy a home, would you? You could miss out on a substational amount of appreciation by waiting, and end up paying much higher prices.

BUY NOW - THERE IS A FABULOUS SUPPLY - LOW INTEREST RATES - LOW PRICES!

Best Of The Best

We're Number One!

Boulder ranks high in many national publications lists.

And, RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc. , once again wins the destinction by being voted "Best Of The Best" - Boulder Realtors!

READY - SET - BUY

WHETHER THE HOME YOU ARE ABOUT TO BUY IS NEWLY BUILT OR PREOWNED - ESTABLISHING YOUR PRIORITIES EARLY IN THE HOUSEHUNTING PROCESS IS VITAL!

• Identify FAMILY priorities: Begin with a family discussion of priorities, a "must list". Establish a price range and mortgage amount that you can qualify for. Determine how long you expect to live there and its location. Select a competent and experienced REALTOR.
• Define INDIVIDUAL priorities: Identify privacy needs, family and individual activity requirements, and space needs to accommodate your current and anticipated lifestyles and preview homes that fit those priorities as closely as possible.
• Establish MONETARY priorities: Expect some anxiety - it's normal whether you are a first time buyers or veteran movers. Avoid "qualification anxiety" by meeting with a lender early-on so that you know what price range you can qualify for and search with your REALTOR in an appropriate range.

WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWN

Home Ownership - A Good Investment In Your Future!

As a general rule, homes appreciate about five percent a year. Some years will be more, some less. The figure will vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, and region to region.
Five percent may not seem like that much at first. Stocks, may at times, appreciate much more and you could currently earn 4.87 % with 30 year treasury bonds, the safest investment of all.
Over the last 10 years, the cost of renting housing in the U.S. has increased an average of 3% per year. That means that an apartment or home renting for $1,000 per month will cost more than $1,300 per month in 10 years. If you rent the same home for 10 years, the total amount you would pay for rent will equal $137,567!

None of that $137,567 is returned to you, either through savings or as an investment. Homeownership, on the other hand, has tax advantages that renting does not, and those advantages can help you save money! Unlike your monthly rent, part of your monthly mortgage payment “comes back to you” in tax savings.

Return On Investment

If you bought a $250,000 house, obtained a mortgage, and put as much as 20% down—that would be an investment of $50,000. At an appreciation rate of 3% annually, a $250,000 home would increase in value $7,500 during the first year. That means that you earned $7,500 with an investment of $50,000—an annual “return on investment” of 15 %!

Plus Income Tax Savings &Tax Advantages

Because of income tax deductions, the government is basically subsidizing your purchase of a home. All of the interest and property taxes you pay in a given year may be deducted from your gross income to reduce your taxable income.

For example, assume you purchase a home that costs $250,000. Your down payment is $50,000 (plus closing costs incurred to actually process the transaction). You finance the balance with a 30 year fixed rate mortgage at 7 % interest, making your initial loan balance $200,000. During the first year you would pay $13,935 in interest. If your first payment is January 1st, your taxable income would be $6,135 less due to the IRS interest rate deduction!
Property taxes are deductible too. Whatever property taxes you pay in a given year may also be deducted from your gross income, lowering your tax obligation.

Tax Advantage & Home Ownership

Annual Taxable Income $50,000
Interest Deduction -13,935
Property Tax Deduction - 2,500
Taxable Income $33,565
Tax Liability $10,069

Annual Tax Savings $3,401
Return on Investment $7,500
Principal Payment $2,031
Ownership Advantage $12,932

Freedom & Individualism

When you rent, you are normally limited on what you can do to improve your home. You have to get permission to make certain types of improvements. Nor does it make sense to spend thousands of dollars painting, putting in carpet, tile or window coverings when the main person who benefits is the landlord, not you.
When you own a home, however, you can do whatever you want. You get the benefits of any improvements you make, plus you get to live in an environment you have created.

Your rate of return when buying a home is higher

than most any other investment you could make!

It's Easy Being Green!

Have A BBQ!

You knew grilling was a healthy way to cook vittles, but did you know it was good for the air? Outdoor grills take less energy than electric kitchen stoves. They also keep heat out of the house, lowering air conditioning costs.

Stick with grills that use propane or natural gas; they emit 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere while a charcoal grill belches 11 pounds of the air-polluting compound.

One more thing - dine on reuseable plates, not disposable paper ones.....The Tress Will Thank You!

Economic Outlook & Real Estate

Excerpts from The Kiplinger Report:


Will housing's slump cause a recession?
* No. But it will slow growth a lot through next year, until the balance of supply and demand for residential property returns. Next year...2.5% economic growth TOPS, and it may well be closer to 2%.

Housing is delivering a triple economic whammy:
* A sharp, sudden drop in housing construction, financial strains on many homeowners' incomes and a major chill in consumer confidence.
* Energy prices remain the linchpin on whether the economy sinks or swims in 2007.
A big increase in costs of oil and other fuels would be too much for U.S. consumers to bear on top of the hit they're taking from housing.
* Most likely, oil prices have peaked and will start a slow easing after Labor Day. But supply disruption risks are rising as conflicts in the Middle East gain intensity.
* Average home prices will stay flat through about the middle of next year. By then, builders will have curtailed supply enough to allow the current overhang of about 300,000 houses nationwide to start to be absorbed by the market.
* Still, sellers will face a dismal spring, usually the best sales season.
* We see starts sliding to 1.7 million next year from 1.85 million this year. Population trends argue for an average of 1.8 million homes to be added annually, but builders surpassed that level in 2004 and 2005.
* Much of that surplus went to speculators, but the demand has vanished.
* Housing will play a big part in slowing job growth. Next year, net employment growth will slacken to an average of 117,000 a month.
* Home building and related fields...mortgage finance, furnishings, design, landscaping, etc...have made up 25% of overall job growth since 2002.

The housing cooldown will have a broader reach than expected just a few months ago. Back then, it seemed that the bulk of the downturn would be restricted to former boom areas, located mainly on the coasts. But sluggishness in some industries, especially autos, is taking its toll on some inland areas, notably Ind., Mich., Ohio and parts of Pa. and N.Y.

That doesn't spell a shift from a market correction to a crash. The market is adjusting, albeit very quickly, from an extended period of unusually robust activity made frothy by investment-led purchases. By late 2007, homeownership will resume its historical role as a relatively secure store of value that also provides shelter.

Strong global demand is putting a firm floor under oil prices, keeping them between $70 and $75 a barrel through Nov. at least.
* Of course, any new threat to supplies will produce sharp price spikes.
* Gasoline prices WILL start coming down after Labor Day, as usual.
* But motorists may hardly notice. In past years, pump prices fell about 15% between the end of summer and early Jan. This year, the drop will be about half that, to $2.75 a gallon, on average, from $2.95 now.
* Diesel fuel...down only about a dime, from $3.11 a gallon.
* Heating oil...up about 30¢ a gallon, on average, this winter from $2.80 this summer. That's about 25¢ a gallon higher than a year ago.
* Natural gas will be much costlier by year end as well, increasing to $10 to $12 per million British thermal units, from $7 now, as demand for electricity to heat homes puts pressure on scant supplies.

Although many large U.S. companies are flush with cash... Not all are prosperous. Public company bankruptcies are rising this year for the first time since 2001 and will keep climbing for years. Among the reasons: Higher interest rates, a cooling housing market and high energy costs will bedevil firms struggling to pay off debt.

HOW A NEW CAR PAYMENT REDUCES YOUR PURCHASE PRICE!

BUY THE HOUSE FIRST!

When determining your ability to qualify for a mortgage, lenders look at what is called your "debt-to-income" ratio. A debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your gross monthly income that you spend on debt. This will include your monthly housing costs, including principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees if applicable It will also include your monthly consumer debt, including credit cards, student loans, installment debt, and ..... car payments.

For example, suppose you earn $5,000/month and you have a car payment of $400. At current interest rates you would qualify for approximately $55,000 LESS than if you did not have the car payment. Even if you feel you can afford the car payment, mortgage companies approve your mortgage based on THEIR guidelines, not YOURS!

However, if you have not already bought a car, remember one thing. Whenever the thought of buying a car enteres you mind, think ahead.....Think about buying a home first. Buying a home is a much more important purchase when considering your future financial well being.

Do Not Buy The Car First -- Buy The House First!

Buying A Home Is A Good Investment!

As a general rule, homes appreciate about four or five percent in a year. Some years will be more, some less. The figure will vary from neighbohood to neighborhood and from region to region. Boulder County has generally seen much higher appreciation rates over the years.

Five perdent may not seem like much. Stocks can sometimes appreciate much more and treasury bills or bonds are a pretty safe return on investment.

Let's take a look at a property investment....

• If you bought a home for $200,000 with a 20% downpayment, your initial investment would be $40,000. At an appreciation rate of 5%, your home would increase in value by $10,000 during the 1st year. Not bad on a $40,000 investment!
• You are also making mortgage payments and paying property taxes. However, since the interest you pay on your mortgage and your property taxes are both tax deductible, the governments is essentially sudsidizing your home purchase.

Your rate of return on your home purchase investment is higher than most any other investment you could make!

Pikes Pike Bicentennial Celebration

July 14 - August 15

Original Pike documents from the National Archives will be on display at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. This will be the first time these documents have been seen in this region since Zebulon Pike was here 200 years ago!

Pikes Peak was first seen by Zebulon Pike on November 15, 1806.

Many activities to celebrate are going on throughout the year.

Visit www.zebulonpike.org for more details.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

The first pre-season Broncos football game is just 8 days away!

Are you ready?

The game is at Detroit but will be televised on CBS.

Remember the time difference!

Don't miss a minute!

7:30 p.m. EDT from Ford Field

IMPACT ON EDUCATION

Crayons to Calculators Helps Boulder Valley Students

Start School Ready to Learn

Do you know that over 4000 students in the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) who are from low-income homes routinely begin school without adequate supplies? Not only are these students unprepared, they never experience the excitement of starting school armed with new supplies.

To ensure that these students start school prepared, Impact on Education, along with five other non-profits, is involved with Crayons to Calculators, a community-wide school supply drive for students in need. The drive is a partnership among Extras for Education, Family Learning Center, Foothills United Way, “I Have a Dream”® Foundation of Boulder County, Impact on Education and Sister Carmen Community Center. It is sponsored by the Boulder Rotary Club Foundation and Corporate Express and supported by about 15 local financial institutions, corporations and organizations.

Crayons to Calculators aims to ensure that all BVSD students start school ready to learn. But the drive needs your help. Individuals can support the drive by filling a backpack for a student in need, donating cash online or donating loose supplies at one of about 30 supply drop-off locations. To learn more, log on to www.CrayonsToCalculators.org or call (303) 245-5880.
You also may send a check to Crayons to Calculators, care of Impact on Education, 75 Manhattan Drive, Suite 205, Boulder, CO 80303. Together, we can ensure that all BVSD students start school prepared.

Insert taken from Boulder Valley School District Newsletter

The Honeymoon Is Over

The media has recently been reporting that the real estate market is slowing. Boulder County sales statistics substantiate these reprots with year to year sales comparison ot be off 5% and inventory of homes up by 16% in the singel family residence category. Condos & townhomes sales are virtually even but the inventory is up by 13%.

The market is increasingly strong for long-term investments, whether it's for your primary residence or a part of your financial portfolio.

Investors who purchase fix & flip properties must approach the market with caution. In the past, properties purchased at discounted prices and fixed could be resold for a tidy profit due to appreciation. In the current market, fix & flip properties need to be purchased at bargain basement prices and will most likely sell closer to current competitive pricing and linger on the market longer.

In terest rates continue to rise and the economic outlook for 2007 predicts that market conditions will be more balanced.

Let Me Help You Invest Wisely

As Your Buyer's Agent!

Lawn Tonic

There has been a lawn tonic recipe circulating for some time that reportedly keeps your lawn green while using less water in our drought conditions. This "home brew" uses beer, mouthwash and a few other unorthodox ingredients. There are many variations of this mixture, this one seems to work well in Colorado......

Lawn Tonic Recipe

1 can beer - do not use "light" beer

1 can soda - do not use "diet" soda

1/2 cup liquid soap - do not use antimicrobial soap

1/2 cup liquid ammonia

1/2 mouthwash

Put the ingredients in a 10 gallon hose sprayer and water your lawn with the mixture.

Results - green lawn using less water!

IDENTITY THEFT

Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.

The NAR (National Association of Realtors) has teamed up with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to provide consumer information to help our real estate clients with the issues of identity theft. The program is called

"DETER - DETECT - DEFEND"

Follow the link and learn more about the program and how you can avoid theft!

BOLDER BOULDER

Bolder Boulder - Memorial Weekend Race

The Chamberlin's (all four family members; AJ, John, Alex, and Landrum) walked the Bolder Boulder in 1:28. As AJ reminds everyone, "with a little help from the shuttle" we finished the race walking with the kids! What a great event for the family!

What Makes One Home More Valuable Than Another?

Buying or selling a home can seem like an overwhelming task. But the right REALTOR can make the process easier - and more profitable. For many home buyers, understanding what makes one home more valuable than another seems a bit arbitrary. But the reality is that various features can add thousands of dollars to the value of a home. Some of these include:

• Square Footage: How big is the house?
• Design: Is it a colonial or a ranch?
• Floor Plan: How well do the rooms "flow"?
• Quality Of The Neighborhood: Is it a highly desirable locale?
• Quality Of The Public School System: Whether or not you have children who will attend the schools is irrelevant.
• Proximity to public transportation, religious centers, shopping, and schools
• Quality Of Construction: Was it built by a reputable builder?
• Lot size, view, and quality of landscaping
• How Busy Is the Street: Houses located on "double-yellow line" streets are less valuable than those on streets less traveled.

Working with the right REALTOR can help you understand why these factors are important and how best to gauge your home's true valve, perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) - an informal analysis of comparable homes in your neighborhood, and recommend a certified appraiser, who can calculate the value of your home at any given time.

Call for a no strings attached, no-hazzel CMA! Log on to www.chamberlinteam.com or http://ajchamberlin.com for more information on buying or selling your home.

Money-Saving Tips

Money-Saving Tips For Your Home

With the cost of energy at an all-time high, we can all save money on our engergy bills with relatively simple solutions! According to the Alliance to Save Energy, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, American consumers and businesses spend approximately $21 BILLION annually, on lighting alone, and could cut their costs in half with energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures while improving the environment. Installing efficient lighting in our homes and businesses would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140 million tons each year! Isn't that amazing?

We found a website (sponsored by the EPA and the DOS) that shows how to save money on energy bills by incorporating their energy efficiency suggestions. It's http://hes.lbl.gov/. Let us know if you have tried any of their suggestions and how much money you saved.....

Trends

Trends in Bathroom and Kitchen Designs

In a quarterly Home Design Trend Survey, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) determined the latest trends in kitchen and bath features and products. Here are their findings:

Bathrooms

• Larger bathrooms and more of them
• Upscale showers, including multihead showers, steam showers, separate his-and-her showers and walk-in showers with no doors for better accessibility
• Double sinks or multiple vanities
• Heated floors, heated towel racks, towel-warming drawers and fireplaces
• Decreasing in popularity: heat lamps and whirlpool baths

Kitchens

• Larger kitchens and more of them throughout the home, including a separate food storage facility, food preparation area or outdoor kitchen
• More pantry space
• Upper-end appliances
• Integrated living areas near the kitchen such as a family room
• Natural stone countertops and natural wood cabinets
• Drinking water filtration systems

How does your kitchen or bath stand-up to these latest trends?

Be sure to choose your remodeling projects wisely - not all remodels will provide the return on investment when selling your home!

Internet Use Rises

Home-Buyer Reliance On Internet Rises

According to the National Association of REALTORS in a recent survey, nine out of ten buyers still use a real estate agent. The internet, however, plays a growing role in the home-search process:

% Buyers who use the net % Buyers who found their

to search for a home: home on the net:

2005 77 24

2004 74 15

1995 2 2

Visit our website to search for all properties in Boulder County! www.chamberlinteam.com

Boulder Valley School District

Congratulations Boulder Valley School District!

Did you know that in a recently released report that 2 Boulder High Schools ranked in the TOP 1,000 high schools in the nation?

# 233 Fairview High School
# 236 Boulder High School

Just one more magnificent reason to live in Boulder!

Outdoor Wood & Spring Cleaning

Each year around this time, it is a good idea to consider the care of outdoor wood around your home, whether it is decking, fencing, or siding. Here are some suggestions for the care and maintenance of outdoor wood.....

First, a word of caution: The wood you buy at any lumber store will not retain the color and texture you see right after it's installed. Water and sunlight, specifically UV or ultraviolet light, over time will change both the color and texture of wood. Water repellent preservatives and sealers can help maintain a consistent color, but they will not give the same color or tone you see in the lumber rack.

For longevity of your outdoor wood, apply a preservative to the wood. A clear preservative will most often darken and enrich the natural color. Choose a product with UV protection. Some preservatives also have color added with will stain the wood.

Decks require either annual or semi-annual maintenance, depending on exposure to weather and use. A maintenance program consists of cleaning the deck, removing any mildew that might have accumulated and applying a new coat of preservative.

The best way to clean a deck is with a pressure washer, although for smaller decks a stiff bristle brush and a lot of elbow grease will also work! In shaded, moist areas, mildew buildup can be a problem. To solve this, wash with a weak bleach solution - 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water - to kill the fungus before pressure washing.

Once cleaning is completed, allow the deck to dry for a day or so. Then apply two coats of UV protective water repellent sealer or stain.

If this sounds like a lot of work - it is! The reward, of course, is a summer outdoors in pleasant surroundings and prolonging the life of your investment. It's well worth the effort!

Why Use A Realtor?

Some homeowners decide to sell their home by themselves to save the commission charged by a real estate agent. The commission rate may vary but it is usually around 6% of the selling price. Selling your home by yourself means you will be responsible for placing ads, answering phone call inquiries, and showing your home to strangers.

FACT: Home buyers who know you are trying to save money on the real estate commission will offer less for your home, wiping out the amount you saved on real estate fees. FSBO home sale transactions generally can sell for up to 20% less than if a Realtor was used to sell the same property!
FACT: In the last 10 years, there has been a decreasing trend in homeowner's successfully selling their homes - the process has become more complicated, time-consuming, and costly.


What A Realtor Can Do For You:

• Help you establish a fair market price for your home
• Create a marketing program to effectively promote your home through MLS listings, websites, direct mailings, real estate magazines and advertisements, e-mail postings to area Realtors, conduct open houses.....
• Schedule showings to prospective buyers
• Pre-screen buyers so only qualified buyers are shown through your home
• Help negotiate the sale of your home with the buyer
• Make recommendations for "staging" your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers
• Provide all of the necessary forms and documents for the sale of your home
• BE YOUR ADVOCATE throughout the sales and marketing transaction!

Home Appraisals

Home Appraisals and the Home Buyer

A home appraisal determines what a house is worth. This number is especially important when you're looking to purchase a particular house. Your lender will make a decision regarding the amount of your loan based on the appraisal value of the property. The appraiser not only takes into account the house in question, but similar homes sold in the area, as well as several other factors. The appraised value of a house can also help you with assessing taxes and estate planning when buying a home.

Due to the varying factors that go into an appraisal, there are cases when the appraised value of a house will differ, sometimes greatly with the asking price. When this occurs you may be suddenly held responsible for a greater down payment than origianally calculated. To protect yourself from this occurence, you should insist that the real estate contract includes a financing contingency. The contingency may include the opportunity to cancel the contract and get your earnest money refunded or state that the seller will reduce the price of the house to the appraised amount.

Working with a knowledge Real Estate Broker can make a huge difference when buying or selling your home and can help to protect your interests by using contingencies like this!

Call AJ or John Chamberlin, they can help you through the many details of buying or selling a home!

AJ: 303.588.8999 - or email - aj@chamberlinteam.com

John: 303.579.4455 - or email - john@chamberlinteam.com

Spring Maintenance Tips

Keeping your home in good working order means it will last longer, be more enjoyable - and worth more when you want to sell it!

Here are twelve suggested maintenance items which most homeowners should check annually:
1. Inspect your roof for leaks or other damage.
2. Repaint as needed.
3. Repair damaged grout and ceramic tile in bathrooms and kitchen areas.
4. Insure that all plumbing fixtures are working efficiently.
5. Caulk or weatherstrip around leaky windows and doors.
6. Keep your driveway in good condition.
7. Clean or replace furnance filters every 3 months.
8. Check batteries in smoke detectors.
9. Repair damaged decks or porches.
10. Prune trees and shrubs.
11. Look for damage from termites or other pests.
12. Maintain proper drainage away from your home's foundation.

Establishing a home maintenance schedule can keep you on top of these jobs. For instance, one month you can make sure your deck is sturdy, and the next month you'll look for roof leaks. However, be careful, when doing jobs you aren't used to - make sure to seek professional help, or even just another pair of hands, when needed.

Congressman Mark Udall Meet & Greet

Area REALTORS are invited to "Meet and Greet"

Congressman Mark Udall

April 17, 2006 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Back Country Brewery

Frisco, Colorado

It is beneficial for REALTORS to stay involved with their Congressional leaders. It is an opportunity to let them know what our concerns are and to develop a relationship with them. We have already captured the attention of Congressman Mark Udall, and he will be at the Back County Brewery to listen to your concerns and speak about issues in the real estate community. There is much to be concerned about these days. For example:

• The President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform recommends that the mortgage interest deduction maximum debt eligible for a tax credit would be limited to 125% of the median sales price for homes in their county. It would only be available on principal residences. The deduction would be eliminated for equity line mortgages! Any implementation of this reform may have a drastic negative affect on your income!
• NAR opposes legal rulings by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to expand the ability of national banks to engage in real estate development and ownership and in merchant banking.
• 25% of REALTORS have no health insurance. Thus, NAR is pushing for association health plans.
• NAR supports increasing the current loan limits in high cost market areas to make available homeownership opportunities for first-time homeowners and minority homebuyers.

If real estate is your career then politics is your business!

The cost is free for the first 50 people to reserve, and includes a soup, salad & potato bar, with marinated chicken garnished with mango salsa. Let's show our Congressman we care and that we are a constituency that must be listenend to. Space is limited, so please RSVP as soon as possible.

To register, Call Sally Stoffel at (303) 415-3590, fax to (303) 449-8554, or email sally@chamberlinteam.com. Include: Name, Brokerage, Address, Phone # and email address.

This event is not a fundraiser, and contributions for Udall's re-election are not required for attendance. However, the Congressman will happily accept any voluntary contributions.

Organized by Colorado Association of Realtors; Federal Political Coordinator Members

Timing Your Decision To Sell

Because most sellers finance a new home purchase with the sale of their present home, they usually put their homes on the market before they begin their search for a new home. Learning the price you can expect from the sale of your present home often sets the pricing parameters for your new home search.
Obviously, it's not wise to wait until the sale of your property closes completely before beginning to look for your new home. Timing your search properly with the buyers' transaction can make the difference between having the available funds to buy a new home and cutting down on the interim period between homes.
In terms of supply and demand, historically the best months for home sale transactions have been March, April, May and June.
By beginning now, your home can be staged and ready for marketing during the prime selling months of 2006!
The Chamberlin Team can help you through the mirade of details to assure the best possible price for the sale of your home and help to make the sales transaction smooth and as effortless as possible.
Call or e-mail AJ or John for a free, no obligation CMA for your home. You'll be glad you did!
AJ: 303.588.8999
aj@chamberlinteam.com
John: 303.579.4455
john@chamberlinteam.com

Mortgage Rates on the Rise

Mortgage rates have climbed and are expected to climb at a slow rate over the next several months with the retirement of Alan Greenspan. If you are considering selling your current home and buying a new home, it is advisable to lock in your rate as soon as possible to assure the best possible interest rate on a new loan or refinancing an existing loan. Knowing your credit score and upgrading your credit history are also important aspects of obtaining the most favorable mortgage rates. The first step in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that consumers may now receive one free credit report annually.
Go too ww.annualcreditreport.com to request your free copy for 2006.

Making Your Home More Saleable

The National Association of Realtors suggests that sellers spend as little as possible on pre-sale repairs and improvements. For example, while new tile might really spark up your kitchen, potential buyers probably won't increase their purchase offers enough to compensate your expense. Instead, focus on the small, relatively inexpensive touch-ups that will give your home a polished, well-maintained appearance. Before you put your home on the market, take an impartial look at your property, inside and out. You may have only one chance to pique potential buyers' interest when they view your home, so don't let easily correctable flaws stand in the way. The Chamberlin Team can assist you with "staging" your property to help make your house stand out to buyers and to enhance your home's salablility.

Boulder Real Estate Market Trends

Investing in real estate is being recognized as a more solid and lucrative investment each year by investment analyzers.
IN 2005

• Residential sales increased by 11.8%
• Attached dwellings increased by 4.3%
• And, income property increased by 8.3%

DAYS ON MARKET

• MLS-Wide was 108
• Chamberlin Team DOM listed properties was 66, which on the average, is 42 days less than the rest of the market!

DAYS TO OFFER

• MLS-Wide DTO was 87
• Chamberlin Team DTO was 49, nearly 50% quicker than the market!

DAYS TO SOLD

• MLS-Wide DTS was 134
• Chamberlin Team DTS was 83.5 on listed properties, 38% quicker than the rest of the market!

When you work with Aj and John Chamberlin, you benefit from two professionals who are both dedicated to your needs and both know what it takes to create excellent results!

Thinking of Selling Your Home?

You've probably already considered your personal reasons for selling your home. Now you need to take into account the other factors involved, such as market conditions, your property's value and tax implications.
There's a rule of thumb to keep in mind when deciding to sell your home: Your home is only worth what a qualified buyer is willing to pay at the time it's on the market.
The current real estate market fluctuates based on supply and demand, interest rates, general economic conditions, and demand, interest rates, and other factors. The same house may sell for more or less under a different economy.
The Chamberlin Team can inform you of the going price for homes in your area at the current time; this data is included in a comparative market analysis (CMA), prepared exclusively for the marketing of your home.
Like finding the right house, selecting a REALTOR you can trust and comfortably work with is paramount. When you work with AJ and John Chamberlin, you benefit from two professionals who are both dedicated to your needs and both know what it takes to create excellent results.

AJ Chamberlin
Broker Associate
ABR CRS FPC GRI

John Chamberlin
Broker Associate
ABR E-PRO CRS GRI

AJ and John Chamberlin

Welcome! We've started this blog in conjunction with updating our web site, http://www.chamberlinteam.com. We were looking for a way to easily post information for potential and returning clients to read and comment on. A blog was suggested because readers can make public comments or email us, and we can easily create posts.

We plan to provide readers with information of real estate, the arts, schools, restaurants, recreation, and social issues in Boulder and the surrounding communities. After living in the area for over 20 years, we've seen significant changes and trends in all of Boulder County. Being active in the communities where we work with clients to buy and sell real estate, we can provide you with a true insiders view of life here. We would love to hear your views or be able to answer questions you have about the area. We understand there are many considerations when buying a new home. We also know everyone is different. So, you may also see posts here by others to give you a different perspective.

Come back often to get to know both of us and get a feel for Boulder and surrounding area!

Two Unique Personalities, One Powerful Combination.