Need To Know

1. Start at the Front Door Your front door is the welcoming threshhold for friends coming to visit, family visiting over the Holidays or potential Buyers. An easy way to freshen up your front door to give that great first impression is to paint it. The most popular color these days is classic black. Other colors are navy blue, red, yellow andsage green. It all depends on what feel you want your entry way to look. Painting is an improvement that can be made fairly quickly and inexpensively. 2. Consider Function and Style I have found that my front porch is an area for decompressing or relaxing before the day starts or ends. You can create a personality just for your entry way. Add a seating area, plants, fun mementos, colorful pillows or fun accents. I have a cement turtle about to eat a wire sculture of a grass hopper. Of course, the turtle never accoumplishes eating the grasshopper. You know how slow turtles can be. 3. Upgrade the Lighting Lighting plays a dual role—safety and amb...

  As the days grow warmer and the sun shines brighter, Northern Colorado transforms into a vibrant playground full of outdoor adventures, festivals and community events. Whether you’re a resident or planning to move here, these neighborhoods offer the perfect backdrop for making the most of summer. From water activities to lively downtown scenes, let’s explore a few of the best neighborhoods for summer fun in Northern Colorado! These are just a few of the many options available to create your own definition of fun. 1. Old Town Fort Collins: Downtown Delights & River Adventures  Old Town Fort Collins is the heartbeat of summer activity with its bustling streets, lively festivals and farmer' s markets. Enjoy paddleboarding or kayaking along the Cache La Poudre River, or simply unwind in one of the many parks. The area’s numerous breweries and outdoor patios make it a perfect spot for summer evenings filled with good food, live music, and community gatherings. ...

  Tiz the Season: Is It Time To Make Your Move? Or Just Make Smart Upgrades? I was sitting having coffee the other morning and was asked when the best time is to sell or buy a home. This is not always an easy answer to come up with because it is the time that is best for you and your family.  Typically, when s chool is out and graduations are over, you will see an increase in homes coming onto the market. Students have graduated; weddings are being planned and the busy summer months are here. Many of us find the months between April and June are the peak months. This is because families like to move during this time so the kids aren’t as disrupted while in school. This can mean that home prices may be higher and there will be more competition. While summer is the more popular time to plan a move, many choose other times of the year. People referring to themselves as Empty Nesters or Baby Boomers can be reflecting on their next chapter. Some are considering downsizing, relo...

 People stop me and want to discuss how best they can time the real estate market.What I tell folks is that this is near if not impossible to do. I suggest that they refrain the question in their minds when considering buying a home or selling a current property. Why not take the emotion out of this decission and think aout what is right for you at any given time. Face it, this can be an emotional idea. Planning can remove some of the emotion and make this transaction smooth and what is right for you.  Many people are concerned about what the stock market is doing. For home Buyers and Sellers, there is a bright side. Money is moving out of the stock market and into treasuries. With this happening, it is expected that interest rates will come down soon. Great news for those looking to make a move. Let me explain a tried and true process that I use as I help you navigate a  home purchase.  1. Is it the right time for you to purchase a home? Many things influence this....

 There are many myths that are believed as facts when buying  a home. As a Realtor, I hear them from you all the time. Often, these myths may have been facts at one time, but if you believe this you may never move forward in your pursuit of the American dream to own your own home. Myth number one and proably the most commonly spread myth is the one about needing a 20% down payment. There are many loan options now that require a much lower minimum down payment. You may or may not need to have private mortgage insurance with a lower down payment. It is important to get the facts and learn what your options are. The best way to do this is to meet with a great loan authority and get started.  Myth number two would be finding the home you want first. While looking homes can be educational about what is on the market, it can have you getting the proverbial cart before the horse in the process of home ownership. Processes are so important. When it come to successfully purchasin...