The Advantage of MLS for Colorado Springs Real Estate

May 8th, 2011

Colorado Springs has been fortunate in that it has not witnessed the big swings that other markets have had. Colorado Springs has been lucky enough to have a slow, stable and strong growth in its housing market. In fact, Colorado Springs has had an average growth rate of 7% since 1992 and has not had the massive declines that other parts of the country have experienced.

However, there is a down side to the housing market in Colorado Springs. Property owners have been looking for brokerage options in selling their homes. The frequency of homes in the Colorado Springs area being bought and sold is exponentially more significant compared to the national average. This is due to the fact that there are many military related jobs as well as a mobile workforce associated with companies such as HP and Boeing. Since homeowners aren’t usually a fixture to the years of appreciation that properties accumulate, the high brokerage commissions are severely felt. Sellers therefore believe that their only alternative is to skip agent fees altogether by putting their property up as For Sale by Owner. However, there are other alternatives available, one of which is to utilize a flat fee listing on the Multi Listing Service (MLS).

Often times, listings are sold by buyers’ agents who sometimes work with a listing agent. Whether the listing agent sells directly to the buyer or works with the buyers’ agent, the commission rate is typically the same. Even when the buyer did not have an agent, the seller may not see any savings.

A MLS listing allows the seller to see some profit as the agreement with the listing agent is to list the property for a small, flat fee. The seller is responsible for showing the property and handles negotiations with the agent as the middleman. If the buyer’s agent is responsible for the sale, only the buyer’s agent is paid but the listing agent is not paid at closing. If a seller finds some aspects of selling a house difficult, a MLS broker can agree to take on additional functions for more money at closing but this is usually less than 1%.

Other than savings on commission payments, a huge benefit to using MLS for selling property in Colorado Springs is the effective exposure. Buyers and their agents can find data with MLS feeds and internet sites. A for sale sign is never sufficient in pulling in interested house hunters, especially, given the fact that many of them are not residents of Colorado Springs.

The MLS for Colorado Springs outreaches to neighboring areas such as Woodland Park, Falcon and others. Sellers are finding that the flat fee MLS listings offer is effective in selling anything from an urban to suburban property and a single family home to a condominium. No matter the type of property, the fact that a seller can save money by avoiding those steep commissions as well as gaining exposure to buyers, makes this alternative the best to hiring a broker. It is expected that more and more sellers will use this medium in the future.

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Looking at Homes for Sale in Colorado Springs

May 8th, 2011

One of the most populated counties in Colorado is Colorado Springs. It’s located on Fountain Creek south of Denver’s Colorado State Capitol. It is home to a diverse mix of educational, cultural and historic attractions. For example, you will be educated at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, entertained at the Museum of the American Cowboy and wowed at the Peterson Air and Space Museum.

Persons seeking homes for sale in Colorado Springs will be intrigued to learn that tourists from around the world visit Colorado Springs to see the amazing rock formations as well as to experience the popular tourist spots such as Seven Falls, Garden of the Gods Park and the Cave of the Winds. Becoming a homeowner in Colorado Springs will drive you to the realization that the town draws people from all over because they love what it offers. It makes a fantastic place to live and not just a vacation spot.

Homes in Colorado Springs tend to be on the expensive side as compared to those located on the outskirts. However, you should factor in the fact that it is a popular tourist destination and so it makes for a good investment as your home will surely appreciate in value. Not to mention, you are able to rent your home as a vacation property in order to generate a size able income during peak tourist season. Here are some other reasons to become a homeowner in Colorado Springs.

Housing Assistance – Though housing can be expensive, you can take advantage of the fact that the city provides technical assistance and helps to provide affordable housing programs. Examples of funding include grants, low-interest loans for projects and direct rental assistance. Technical aid is inclusive of but not limited to assisting other organizations in the form of structuring projects, management assistance and program reviews.

Housing Rehabilitation – Citizens who are qualified for Colorado Springs real estate and home rehabilitation can receive loans with low to no interest. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development in association with the Community Development Block funds the local Housing Development Division.

Business-friendly – New and existing businesses are encouraged to transfer to, stay and expand in Colorado Springs due to the efforts of the Economic Development Division.

Transportation – There are many route and fare options available from the Mountain Metropolitan Transit. Public transportation and fixed route service is not hard to adjust to here. There is also a daily commuter bus – the Ute Pass Express- that runs along Highway 24 to and from Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls and Woodland Park. However, other transportation options include commuting aid through carpool matching, school pools and van pools.

Jobs – . As such, it attracts many highly educated and sought after professionals. This is a reason why there exist many outdoor activities and other attractions that add to quality of life so that the working community can find a work-life balance.

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Selling Your Own Houses

June 6th, 2009
One of the things that most people would want to try when selling their houses is to sell their house on their own, that is without a Realtor’s help. It is advantageous since they will be able to save money compared to when they hire a real estate agent. Think about it. Instead of paying somebody to sell your Colorado house for you, you just do it yourself. And the money that you were supposed to pay a real estate agent would add up to the earnings you get out of the deal.

Most people think that selling houses on your own is an impossible feat and should never be done because a lot is at stake, that is, a lot of money is at stake. And if things go worse, your reputation could also be at stake. However, it is not as impossible as many people think it is. All you need are the basic things about selling houses and a sane sense of decision making.

If you do intend to sell your house on your own, make sure that you do enough research on pricing, look up the different ways on how you can sell houses quickly, know the appropriate people to go to and make deals, scour the places for motivated buyers (people who are determined to sell a house fast and would agree to sell you their houses on a much lower price than its original value), and how to make basic repairs on houses or know people who could do basic house repairs.

Know these basic ideas and you can start selling houses on your own. Consulting an expert’s opinion would not hurt and would even boost your selling techniques so long as you know who the right person to turn to. Also, it would be a plus if before you try to sell houses, you become part of the real estate market itself. Know people, the buyers, the sellers, the Realtors, everybody. Make sure to get their cards and also try to give yours. Being in this circle of people would make it easier for you to look for house buyers and house sellers. Being part of these groups of people will also give you what you do not have and what people who have been in the business possess. And, that is experience. You can get experience by becoming a part of the people who have been buying houses and selling houses for years. Learn by looking at how they do it and from what you see, come up with your own strategies and techniques.

It will be difficult for sure, that’s why you have to be ready to face everything. Real estate is not a walk in the park and it is going to be a battlefield there. That is why, you should be equipped with all the weapons that you could get. Be careful with the people that turn to and think twice before you take a step and be sure that if every you take it, you will be successful in selling your house on your own.

About the author:

Louis Batides is one of a group of real estate investors who buy houses from people and help people in selling Colorado houses. He and his team make sure that you get a fair deal in selling your house fast, whether in cash or terms. Since he and his group do not consider themselves as Realtors, they do not ask for commissions or fees and they can work in all types of mortgages.

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How To Sell Your Colorado House Fast

June 4th, 2009
For people who did not have much of a good luck when they tried to sell houses, they might have encountered some of the common problems that home sellers should know about. It would have been fortunate if they were able to see the warning signs so that they were able to stop their selling houses from becoming a disaster.

To guide you to how you sell your own house, here are the things that you need to watch out for in order to not just succeed in selling your house but also sell your Colorado house fast.

Home inspection

Most houses fail to impress during home inspection. No matter how expensive the house is or how impressive it may seem, home buyers will most definitely find something wrong. It’s normal. The critics eyes are very quick at distinguishing faults and you as the seller would most probably have one or two of your eyes blinded by the idea that your house is already good and well to go. The inspection is very crucial because this is where the fate of your house as to whether it’s going to be sold or not would be decided. The irony is that, again, your inspectors will most definitely find something wrong, however, what you can do is that to make sure that whatever they find wrong would be easily dismissed as not so important. Thus, make sure to cover all the basic and important features that home buyers would need to be in good condition and do not worry so much on those whimsical demands.

Pricing

One thing that would make buyers shun away from buying your house is the price. Most buyers would most likely try to compare how you priced your house to how much other houses were priced in the market. So, if the market is not so good, houses are being sold below what you intend to get, then opt not to have it listed. Or better yet, before you do the remodeling of the houses, even at the onset of planning, make sure that you included the market trend so that the moment you have your house listed, it would not look so expensive compared to the other houses in the marker. Now, it does not mean that you can already set your price with the sky as the limit. Make sure that you also try to consider the location of the house, is it in the city, in the suburbs or is it very accessible, among others. Again, buyers would not usually go for houses that has a high price tag and is in a not-so suitable neighborhood.

Repairs

Improvements do not necessarily equate to higher pricing. In fact, improvements are not so encouraged unless it is for something that is really seen as a necessity by the buyer. In order to cut you remodeling expenses, it is okay that you just stick to the repairs. What is important, again, is for the home buyers to see that your houses is comfy, livable and safe.

About the author:

Louis Batides is one of a group of real estate investors who buy houses from people and help people in selling Colorado house. He and his team make sure that you get a fair deal in selling your house fast, whether in cash or terms. Since he and his group do not consider themselves as Realtors, they do not ask for commissions or fees and they can work in all types of mortgages.

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How Time Can Help You Quickly Sell Houses

June 2nd, 2009
In selling your Colorado house, one thing that you have to remember is that the element of time is very crucial. Timing will help determine whether or not you are going to make a quick sell. Without this, just like with dancing when the timing is off, selling your house would become a disaster.

So, you have a house ready. You know for a fact it is going to sell. You have an idea of the how the market’s going to accept it, but one question is left unanswered - is it the right time sell your house? How does one know when is the perfect time to sell? What can help you tell that you just have the perfect timing to sell houses?

What makes the concept of timing when it comes to selling houses is that it is never the same for all people. Timing depends on a lot of factors - the seller, the potential buyers, how the market is fairing and the current financial scenario where the seller, the buyers and the market are dancing. But there are things that within in your control that you could use to help you asses whether it is just the right time to sell your Colorado house.

One thing that will tell you that you it is the time for you to nail it is when you are really sure, and I mean a hundred percent sure, that you are ready to get the work done from start to finish. Selling a house is not for the faint of heart and if you heart is not totally into it, the tendency is you would slack off and slacking off would mean either you get the house that you are selling to be stranded in the market for a long period of time or you sell the house to just anybody interested because you just want to get it off your hand. Whichever path you go, you are in for a big loss.

Second thing that you need to be aware of is that if there’s a prospect for a sell that bears no net worth, then definitely it is not a good time to sell. You do not need to be a rocket scientist to know why this is so. What is the use of doing business if you gain no profit?

Third is when you have both parties (the house seller and the house buyer) satisfied with the deal, then it is definitely time for you to sell your house. Even if you are the one doing the sell, you must make sure that you are not the only one happy when the deal is through A satisfied customer would tell you that your selling houses career is not about to end.

And lastly, and the most important thing that you should remember is that when you do try to close a deal make sure that you are doing it not because you just want everything to be over. That means, do not sell a house for the purpose of just selling a house. Careful decision-making should be involved and you have to think of the important things that you need to consider when trying to sell a Colorado house.

About the author:

Louis Batides is one of a group of real estate investors who buy houses from people and help people in selling Colorado house. He and his team make sure that you get a fair deal in selling your house fast, whether in cash or terms. Since he and his group do not consider themselves as Realtors, they do not ask for commissions or fees and they can work in all types of mortgages.

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