When is the right time to sell a home in Colorado Springs? In the Pikes Peak MLS it is taking an average of 127 days to sell a home. How much time you have may be the biggest concern you have. Or, are you trying to figure when you can maximize your sale? Well I hope I can help.

First, now is always the best time to sell. Now can be in February or it can be June or November. There is a market for buyers at all times of years. In El Paso County the biggest surge in any given year is between March and July. It tapers in August & September and then surges again in October & November. Depending on weather January and February hold pretty consistent.

If you are trying to work around kids schools years, one should put their home on the market mid March and April. But, if you want to beat the rush try February, less competition.

Now if you want to maximize your price you will have your best chances June-August. If you live in a townhome or condo you are pretty much season resistant. Condo, Townhome buyers are usually unattached and don’t have specific time frames.

All of these times can vary because of interest rates and local economy variances. If there is job gain or loss it affects the market. As you know, rates always affect the market. These 2 factors are a heavy influence so they have to be considered.

So when is the best time to sell a home in Colorado Springs? It is Now!! Rates are low, jobs and military are coming back. Homes prices are still low. All of this news is bringing buyers back into the market. If you do have to sell, price aggressively. If you don’t have to sell, stay on the sidelines and let the “Have To’s” get through the market.

Please call if I can answer more question at 719-593-2963 or visit my website at www.maecker.com


Thanks,

Brian

I have just come upon my third house in a row that has tested positive for radon. All three were in areas of Colorado Springs that I wouldn’t have thought radon possible. The areas were central Briargate, Pine Creek, and eastern El Paso County. All areas thought to be sandy and free of radon. Typically, we have always found radon on the city’s west side, but it appears it can be everywhere.

What is radon? Radon is a colorless odorless gas that emits from the ground from decomposing granite with moisture; granite decomposes and creates radon. Radon can harm you and possibly cause cancer. According to the federal government, the maximum allowed tolerance is four Picocuries. Which, in English, means four parts per million. If a home tests over four, it should be mitigated.

Mitigation of radon from a house is relatively easy and inexpensive. The home is tested by measuring devices such as canisters or electronics. The test lasts two days and typically costs $100-$150.00. To mitigate a radon problem, the basement and or peripheral drain system is vented with a fan system. This venting sucks the gases out from the foundation to the outside of the home. The costs for these systems run from $900-$1,300.00.

If you are considering buying or selling a home and have concerns about radon, contact a real estate professional such as The Brian Maecker Team. We can be reached toll free at 888-593-2963 or at our website at www.maecker.com

Thanks,
Brian

Everybody has read about the mortgage industry’s woes and foreclosures. Countrywide Mortgage is showing why it’s in the mess it’s in. I just experienced, in the last couple of months, a failed short sale with them and an almost failed new loan.

Last week we closed a transaction that Countrywide was the originating broker. The file was submitted over 2 weeks prior to closing and they didn’t formally approve the loan until 4 hours after the closing was scheduled to happen. The buyers were a retired colonel and a medical technician. Today they are both well employed and had 700+ credit scores. They were buying a home $300,000 below what they were qualified for. The 1st hitch was that they wanted 1% down payment. They were already putting down 14%. Second they wanted the title company to change an appraiser name. This typo caused a 2hr delay. Then thirdly they held up funding because they wanted the title company closing letter to be in bigger font. Countywide penalized a good buyer for all their past mistakes.

Then, when you talk about mistakes, we negotiated a short sale with Countrywide accepting a deficiency. The contract was within their appraised value and the buyer was well qualified. After verbally verifying all figures were in line and after waiting 8 weeks they countered the buyer. They wanted $5,000 more. They buyer said no and terminated the transaction. Now understand this was a $475,000 house the $2,500 month payments. Well it’s been 5 months since that counter and he home is still not sold and it’s vacant.

How many dollars does it cost now? Lenders, including Countrywide, have to be willing to take losses like the rest of us. They all need to adopt and accept the reality that some money is better than none. Then, when they get a good buyer, they mess that up to. I hope some common sense comes soon or this foreclosure mess will last much longer than it should.

Thanks,
Brian

Dear Friends,

I hope springtime is finding you healthy and happy. We have had a long winter and I am glad to see warmer weather. With warmer weather we are hoping to see the real estate market heat up. As many of you know and read, the market is tough.

Thankfully because of your referrals, we are doing real well. Through the month of March, we had 30 sales. City wide the market is continuing to slump, but we are actually ahead of last year. I credit you and I sincerely Thank You for your referrals.

The other part of our success is my experience. I know that sounds like I’m bragging, but 22 years of experience is coming through. Anybody could sell a house during the record years. I sold back in the 80’s and it was really tough, but I was able to be successful and it taught me lessons I am able to use today.

For sellers the market is telling us that “Price is Everything.” Experience is helping us price our homes so they will sell. Secondly, the market wants perfection in the home. They need to be staged and ready to go. I have hired a stager who assists us in getting homes ready. Third, it’s marketing, particularly internet marketing. I have over 20 domain names and almost 30 links to other sites. Our web presence is huge. I Googled my name and there was 1700 matches. Check out our website at www.maecker.com.

Now if you are a buyer, you are like a kid in a candy store. The market is full of choices. Prices are great. Interest rates are still at or below 6%. It’s an awesome time to be an investor or do a move up to sell and buy. Both scenarios can make you lots of money and I’ll show you how.

Hopefully this market will end in the next year to year and half. In the meantime, I am here working hard and making things happen. Please call me if I can be of service to you, your family, or your friends.

Thanks,
Brian

P.S. Give our postcards to your referrals so they get a deal and you get a gift certificate for dinner.

In Spite of everything that is being published in the local Gazette newspaper and other publications like USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, real estate is good investment. Real estate is a particularly good investment for investors. What better time to buy rental property that when home prices are down.

Now before you go out and buy a rental property, you need to hook up with an experienced REALTOR® like Brian Maecker. Brian has been investing in homes for over 20 years and has developed a great money making strategy.

The strategy briefly is: #1 to buy it right. Look at the market and try to buy the lowest home in any given area. #2 Calculate rents in that area. You can use rentals.com or the local paper. Figure your rental return on the low side. #3 Calculate the positive cash flow, That is the difference between payment and rent. I like to see at least $100 plus dollars a month. The cash flow divided by your investment is cash on cash return. I like to see 7% or higher. #4 Calculate appreciation. I use 3% as a base. In today’s market it might only be 1% or nothing for 2008. But in 2009 and beyond, there will be positive appreciation.

When appreciation is added to cash flow that is your total before tax return.
My next blog we will talk about the after tax benefits. If you are interested please contact us at www.maecker.com.

Thanks,
Brian