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        <title>Denver Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/home-buyer-information/</link>
        <description>Denver real estate topics including local metro Denver community news and events.</description>
        <item>
            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-denver.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-denver.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>First Time Home Buyer Denver</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME CAN BE EASIER THAN YOU THINK!


Buying your first home may seem overwhelming in the beginning. There are dozens of different things to consider and tasks to complete. We have been there, right where you are hundreds of times and are committed to assisting you to understand each step while taking you through the process. The homeownership club is exclusive and fun, we are committed to helping those who want to become homeowners become a part of it.


We provide you through this website with direct access to the information you need to help guide you through the process of buying your first, second or tenth home. If you can’t find it quickly on our site simply give us a call, No Strings Attached! You will be making good decisions based upon understanding the process and not guesswork in no time.


SERIES : First Time Home Buyer Denver


DENVER FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS COULD QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS


One of the first things that we do will be determining your eligibility for Special Colorado Grant Programs. These programs are available to both First Time Home Buyers and those who have not owned a home in the past three years.


QUALIFIED BENEFITS INCLUDE:




Purchase with low to no downpayment.


Deferred payments


Grants that never need to be repaid


Interest costs subsidized




GETTING STARTED




Get Pre-Qualified for your loan – The first step of meeting with a loan officer face to face is important. Your income, credit and current debts will be reviewed to discuss your different options for financing. You need to know how much of a loan you can afford to understand how much you can pay for your home. In some cases actions may need to be taken so that your credit report can stand up to future scrutiny. We will put together a plan for your home purchase that matches your timeline.


Getting the Go-Ahead – After meeting with the loan officer you will make the actual loan application in order to get a pre-approval. Having an actual pre-approval lets a potential seller know the strength of your offer and will aid in negotiations. Despite a pre-approval the home which you move forward on will still need to appraise at the purchase price or more. If a home does not appraise for at least the agreed upon price, there is no obligation to continue with the purchase.


Sign up for access to search the Denver MLS – IDX – Knowing the price of the home you can afford to buy and with your pre-approval in hand it is time to get serious about the home search. This is the fun part of searching for the right home in the communities that meet your lifestyle and budget requirements. Searching online enables you to do the initial steps of learning about the properties and neighborhoods available. You can have new listings delivered to your email box as soon as they become available and even save your favorites to easily find them again later.


House Hunting – Pre-approval in hand and understanding the process it is now time to tour a selection of the best homes that meet your budget and requirements. A good number of homes to tour is in the range of 4 to 6 at a time. If the first home does not make your heart flutter, it only brings us closer to finding the one that will.


Make the offer – This will cover both price and terms derived through our discussions of the market conditions and property. Items that are typically covered in the offer include:




     - The date of closing and possession


     - Any included personal property


     - Closing costs assistanceInspection deadlines


     - Terms of financing





THE RIGHT REALTOR


Choosing the right Realtor to represent your best interests throughout the home buying process is extremely important. Too many times home buyers fail when choosing a Realtor by merely calling the name that is on the sign in front of the home and working with that agent by default.


YOU MAY NOT REALIZE – REALTORS CAN BE VERY DIFFERENT


You should choose a Realtor that works as a real estate professional full time so they are able to devote themselves to your home search and providing top notch service throughout the transaction.


Experience matters in real estate, so choose a Realtor who has experience working as a full time real estate professional. Relying on a “newbie” for the largest transaction of your life may not be in your best interests.


See out a Realtor that is ready to work diligently on your behalf to represent your best interests. Your Realtor should be able to answer your questions and provide guidance through all the phases of the transaction.


We are here not only to serve your needs but to exceed your expectations. To discuss your goals and the possibility of having us represent you take a moment to email or call. No time like the present, I look forward to hearing from you.
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            <pubDate>Sun, 06 May 2012 15:43:52 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/lines-drawn-in-the-sand-often-lead-to-failed-negotiations.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/lines-drawn-in-the-sand-often-lead-to-failed-negotiations.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>Lines Drawn in the Sand Often Lead to Failed Negotiations</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Give and take is part of every successful negotiation. Ego and stubborness are the primary obstacles to achieving your goals of selling your current house or purchasing your dream home because they leave little room for agreement between buyer and seller.


An adversary in negotiations is rarely inclined to capitulate to lines drawn in the sand. Negotiating with lines drawn in the sand raises defense mechanisms that most often leads to failure and feelings that prevent the negotiation process from moving forward.


Small accomodations and compromises will often keep lines of communication open and move both sides closer to an agreement. These compromises show a willingness and interest in continuing to talk in order to keep negotiations moving forward.


Believe it or not, it is not always about the money. Time after time a simple accomodation can bring the two sides together for a done deal.
 ]]> </description>
            <pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:24:42 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/what-will-the-seller-take.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/what-will-the-seller-take.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>What will the Seller Take?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
This may be the most often asked question I have heard over the last decade in real estate. What will the seller take?


Unfortunately no Realtor can answer this question and here is why.


The agent representing the seller is bound by the same confidentiality agreement with their client as as the buyers agent has with theirs. Neither side can ethically or legally disclose to the other confidential, hypothetical discussions with their clients and that includes how much they may be willing to accept or pay for a property.


The simple truth is that even if the seller or buyer has told their respective agent what they may be willing to pay or accept, there is a huge difference between hypothetical situations and reality. The way to know what a seller will take is by putting a real live offer in front of a seller, handing the seller a pen and showing them where to sign to sell their home. 
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            <pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:41:49 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/american-land-title-association.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/american-land-title-association.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>American Land Title Association</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Within the industry of real estate, people needed an organization that could stand as the representative of the title abstractors, title insurers, and title agents. In the early 1900s, the American Land Title Association was founded as the answer to that need. Members are better able to serve their clients through their ability to protect land and real estate investors, buyers, and lenders with thoroughly researched titles that can be confidently insured. Membership is not limited to title insurance companies, as associate membership is offered to real estate brokers and agents, lawyers, land developers, and mortgage lenders.

The purpose of the American Land Title Association is to make real estate transfers as professional as legitimate as possible. The highest of standards are used while conducting record searches for land titles and the subsequent preparation of title insurance forms. By eliminating as much risk as possible, the American Land Title Association is an asset to its members and their clients by working to ensure there will be no problems with the land titles. Everyone benefits from this safe and reliable system, but problems do still occasionally occur, and Association members can work effectively to resolve them.

Title insurance has been around for over 100 years, protecting the interests and determining the rights of persons involved in real estate transactions. As real estate ownership is a matter of public record, title searches are conducted to ensure the real estate is free of problems, or to determine what the problems might be so they can be remedied in the quickest possible fashion. Once the search of public records is completed, an abstract of title is prepared by compiling all of the search records, which shows a history of the land and any persons who have owned or held interest in the land.

Unfortunately, even a trained and experienced title professional cannot find some problems by conducting the title search. If there are forgeries on a title or a claim made at a later by an unknown relative, those things will probably not be discovered during the title search. For this reason, title insurance was created. Title insurers work to prevent risk by trying to identify and fix any problems with the real estate title. Common issues are liens against the property, easements, future interests, life estates, and rights-of-way. While this process can be lengthy, title insurers find their jobs made much easier by the American Land Title Association as the association works to maintain up-to-date information on regulatory and legislative issues that can affect the industry land titles.
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            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:37:21 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-homeowner-associations.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-homeowner-associations.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>Real Estate Homeowner Associations</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Homeowner associations are essentially corporations established by developers of real estate. The association works initially to market and sell the homes in the subdivision. The developer is granted the right to vote about association policies while also allowing him or her to transfer the ownership of the association to individual homeowners upon the sale of a certain amount of lots. When a home within a homeowner association is sold, the home buyer is normally not allowed to reject the homeowner association membership. There is typically a board of directors established to run the association, collect dues, and hold meetings. Many of them retain the services of a property management company to carry out those duties.

Homeowner association regulation is varied by state, with some states having practically no laws governing them and others, such as California, having a wide branch of law devoted to homeowner association laws. Homeowner associations have become very common in the U.S. since the fast growth of residential development of the 1960s. Many of the original deed restrictions were biased and racially exclusive, aiming to keep any non-white person from purchasing homes in certain areas. The U.S. Supreme Court outlawed this practice in 1968; however, there are still restrictions on race to be found on deeds across the nation.

Homeowner associations can force their members to pay a portion of expenses that arise for the maintenance of common areas of property such as private streets, pools, and streetlights. Often a homeowner association will place restrictions upon the type of roof a home may have or the color of paint or siding that may cover a home. Fines can be imposed upon homeowners who defy those rules or go against any of the other regulations. While detractors of homeowner associations claim that the restrictive nature of the rules is too limiting to the homeowner's personal rights, supporters claim that the rules and regulations of a homeowner association can keep their property values high and maintain a sense of conformity.

There are states within the U.S. that allow a homeowners association to foreclose or place a lien on a member's home for the purpose of collecting fees, fines, or any other assessment they deem reasonable. Some states require a judicial hearing to take place before the lien or foreclosure can occur. While the overwhelming cause of this is ostensibly to maintain property values, some have claimed it a practice of bias in some communities as a way of removing members the board doesn't like.
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            <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:13:43 -0600</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-appraisals.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-appraisals.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>Real Estate Appraisals</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Determining a property's market value is the process of real estate appraisal and is an important aspect of buying and selling real property. Since two neighboring properties can vary greatly in characteristics, size, and positive attributes, an appraisal will allow for the proper pricing (valuation) of the properties by listing the specific traits and differs of similar properties, including their location to settle on a value for the property.

A licensed real estate appraiser typically performs real estate appraisals, but in some regions, they are only required to be certified. Some areas do not require any qualifications at all. When a real estate appraiser bases his or her decision on Market Value, they must base their opinion on what the highest as well as best use of the property can be in order to determine the price. It could be that the property is capable of more than what it is currently being used for, so this 'potential' is part of the valuation.

Other types of property valuation include measurements of investment value or insurable value. When calculating investment value, the cash flow generated by the property for its particular use is applied to generate its value. This may be more or less than the market value amount. Insurable value is the amount covered by the property's insurance policy and likely does not include the value of the site the property sits on.

There is a distinct difference between the price of a property and its value. While a real estate appraiser takes into account many various factors when reaching a property's value, it is important to consider that anything that is for sale has a value to the potential buyer. For instance, if a person does not want to live in a home by the beach they will not be very tempted to buy an Oceanside property even if it is extremely cheap in price. However, if the same person dreams of living on a mountaintop in Colorado, they would likely be quite tempted to pay more than market value for a home located there. As the balance between price and value hinged greatly on its subjective value to the buyer, real estate can be a tricky business when trying to determine an appropriate price for listing a home for sale.

There are many facets to the field of real estate appraisal and the use of statistical models as a tool for appraising real estate has gained a great deal of acceptance as a fairly accurate tool when used in standardized area. International standards of valuation are being developed through combined efforts of many professional organizations throughout the world in order to bring about principles of real estate investment that can transcend national borders.
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            <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:00:43 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/internet-denver-home-searching.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/internet-denver-home-searching.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>Denver Internet Home Searching</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The internet is a powerful source of information and searching for a home using the internet can be easy and fun. Many websites are dedicated to real estate and can help greatly with your search. Real estate websites have search options to help narrow your search and find the house you want at the price you want. Searching for a house on the internet can be easy. Using a search engine for house hunting has never been easier. If you're searching for agents rather than houses, its just as easy. Finding an online agent is the same as finding a house. Using a search engine, you can search for websites with housing agents and find one for you. Agents over the internet can e-mail or call you after you contact them to help you find a great house.&nbsp;

Most agents can supply pictures and video tours of a house to help you make your decision over what houses to further investigate. Finding houses on the internet is a common way of house searching. You can find houses from the comfort of your home. Getting the information is easy and simple. Many houses are put up on the internet for sale so availability is never a problem on the internet. The only hardship will be figuring out which house to get. Contacting an agent is easy as well. Agents post their contact information online often and are willing to help someone find a house at any cost. Finding houses without using the internet is stressful and often leads to dead ends. Using the internet is easy and makes finding a house so much easier you willnever believe it until you do it.&nbsp;

Many homes are being put on the internet for sale waiting for you to buy them. Using the internet for home searching has many advantages, one of them, being the convenience. No more driving around looking for signs, or searching newspapers daily, now you can type in your housing preferences and find a house for you in a snap. With online house searching, all the information is there and you don't have to look far to find it. It's readily available and easy to find. With non online home searching that may not be a reality. Newspapers may not have all the information you need to decide whether or not that house is for you. Online houses have the information (and pictures) you need to make an easy decision about a new home for you.


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            <pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 09:14:53 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-escrow.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/real-estate-escrow.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>Real Estate Escrow</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
The word escrow can mean many things depending upon which context it is applied to. In generic terms, escrow refers to a deed that a third party holds until a transaction is complete. There are four basic types of escrow - banking, Internet, law, and real estate.

In real estate escrow, a mortgage company sets up an escrow account separately from the mortgage in which the deposited funds are set aside for purposes of paying certain responsibilities such as the property taxes and property insurance payments for the term of the mortgage. An escrow agent is assigned to the purchase of a specific piece of real estate and they are expected to account for the money deposited into the escrow account and make sure that the money is used expressly for the intended purposes.

An escrow company is typically hired to make sure that the new homeowner pays their property tax, as mortgage lenders do not want to risk the taxes might go unpaid. When there is a transfer of property that is very expensive and valuable, whether personal or business, escrow companies are used to ease the worries of each side of the transaction. With the advent of the Internet, lower priced escrow companies have been established online and now are bringing the benefit of escrow services to cheaper transactions.

Escrow payments in real estate terms are meant to pay expenses that are outside of the principal and interest portion of the mortgage. Most escrow accounts are established to cover the cost of real estate taxes and hazard insurance, which is why they are commonly referred to as T&amp;I accounts. While some mortgage companies require escrow accounts, other lenders only offer it as an option. Government mortgages such as Federal Housing Administration loans do require an escrow account to be maintained for the entire lifetime of the loan.

The escrow company determines monthly escrow payments by combining all of the estimated tax and insurance costs of the year and the dividing by 12. Some escrow companies also require their clients to maintain a minimum balance in the account, which is often equal to two monthly payments. If they estimated too low and more money is owed at the end of the year, the client is required to pay the difference. In many regions, including the United States, if there has been more money collected by the end of the year than what was due, there is a refund sent to the customer of the overpayment.
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            <pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 09:24:38 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/how-to-love-your-new-denver-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/how-to-love-your-new-denver-home.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>How to Love your New Denver Home</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
One of the most important things to look for when buying a home is the location. Everything else can be changed through renovations, additions and landscaping, but the location is a permanent factor and one that can't be changed unless you move again. Pay attention to things like where on the property the house is located, is it tight up against the neighbors, or do you have some room to breathe. Is it on a hill with a great view, or does it just add more stairs to walk up every day when you get home from work? Don't forget what might be charming now, could be annoying later; you are planning to live there, not just visit.

Also, when noticing the location, notice the neighborhood your house is located in. Are you next to a busy mall or street? Pay attention to things like is there children playing in the nearby park, or in their yards. Even if you do not have children of your own, it is a great indication of how safe the neighborhood is. Drive through the back streets and alleys as well, paying attention to how clean it is, and how many neighbors leave trash lying around. Watching for these kinds of things will help you enjoy your home more in the future. Although a large house is very nice, it may be worth it to buy a slightly smaller house in a better neighborhood.

The next thing to pay attention to is the floor plan. Although you may be able to afford four bathrooms and five bedrooms, think about if you and your cat really need all that space. You will have to pay more for heating, and lighting the larger space, as well as fill all the extra rooms adding to the cost of decorating. Don't forget to factor in hidden costs such as window treatments for every addition room. Make sure also the floor plan reflects you and your lifestyle. If you are a laid back family then eating in a formal dining room every night may feel weird. Perhaps finding an eat-in kitchen floor plan would be more suitable for your family.

Think of your hobbies and what makes you happy. If you've always wanted a home office, or a separate room to do all your scrapbooking and other crafts in, settling for house without room for that is not going to leave you fulfilled. Likewise if you participate in a lot of winter and snow sports, make sure your home has somewhere to keep your skis, boots and snowboards. Making sure everything you love has a place in your home, will help it stay clean and you in love with your purchase.
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            <pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:49:35 -0600</pubDate>
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            <guid>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/why-is-location-so-important-when-buying-or-selling-a-home.html</guid>
            <link>http://www.denversrealestate.com/blog/why-is-location-so-important-when-buying-or-selling-a-home.html</link>
            <author>bruce@bruceswedal.com (Bruce Swedal)</author>
            <title>Why Is Location So Important When Buying Or Selling A Home?</title>
            <description> <![CDATA[ 
Has your real estate agent preached 'location, location, location' to you yet? If they haven't, they probably will sometime during your hunt for a new home. Your home will be exactly what you are looking for when it comes to the layout, the size, the yard, and the interior fixings. But location is just as important, especially if you have school age children still at home.

Location is actually a factor in how the house is appraised and valued. This is not something that is about to change any time soon. Some homes are more desired than others and if you are looking towards future resale value, you need to take the location of the house into consideration when you purchase it.

A good example of how location is important is the difference between two identical houses on the same street. One of the houses is on the corner and the street crosses a busy thoroughfare. The other house is nestled in the middle of the street. The house in the center of the street is going to be worth more because it is quieter and there is no busy cross street to worry about. However, if the busy road is not a main concern and you can get an extra bedroom in the corner house that you can't in the house in the middle of the street, the corner house may actually be a bargain for you. Corners are just naturally busier and have heavier traffic.

The same concept goes for a single family home in an area where there are other single family homes as compared to a mixed area of apartments, condos and houses. Single family areas in a traditional neighborhood will hold its value better because it is surrounded by other single family homes. If you are looking for a steal, once again, look at the single family home that is in a neighborhood of mixed housing options.

What about homes in depressed area where industry has left and the infrastructure of the neighborhood is failing? These homes usually go for a lower price; however, this is one time where location may really make a difference in your decision. Depressed areas tend to have declining schools and roads that are not in the best of conditions. These also can become troubled areas where crime is on the rise and the element hanging out in the neighborhood is not what you are looking for. In this case, you would do better looking for a home in a more suitable location if you are going for future resale value.
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            <pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:05:47 -0700</pubDate>
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