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!