Highlands Ranch Real Estate

Highlands Ranch Real Estate

If your looking for information on homes in Highlands Ranch your at the right place.  I specialize in listing highlands ranch real estate for sellers and purchasing highlands ranch homes for buyers.

Please vist our website: www.YourDenverHouse.com

 

Highlands Ranch is a planned community that includes 4 recreation centers, youth and adult sports programs, 2 skate parks, nature programs, libraries, 25 parks, 70 miles of trails, and 2,200 acres of open space. Development of Highlands Ranch began in 98. Highlands ranch resides in Douglas county Colorado, its a suburb of Denver situated about 15 miles south of Denver. Highlands Ranch has received many accolades including "Moneys list of Americas best places to live" and Forbes "Americas 25 p\best places to move". For more information on what Highlands Ranch has to offer, vist these sites:

http://highlandsranch.org

http://highlandsranch.com

http://hrcaonline.org

 

My goal is to provide you with a great real estate transaction whether you are buying a home in Highlands Ranch or selling a home in Highlands Ranch. I have extensive knowledge of the Denver real estate market. If you need help with your real estate transaction please contactme or click for a free market analysis of your home. Please visit the main site at YourDenverHouse.com to search active Denver MLSlistings including short sales, Hud Homes, and Foreclosures in all Denver neighborhoods at YourDenverHouse.com.  .

Should You Mortgage Your Home

Should You Mortgage Your Home

 

It used to be that you spent 50 years at a company and 50 years in your home, and when you retired, your home mortgage was (happily) paid off.  Times have changed. Certainly, few people spend their entire careers at one company, and now many retirees are shrugging off the conventional wisdom of paying off their homes at retirement.  Here are some points to consider if you are pondering using your savings to dispose of that mortgage on your Denver real estate:

 

·         Home Value: If you are one of the unhappy folks who are underwater (that is, the value of your home is less than what you owe on the mortgage), then paying off the mortgage will secure your credit from any possible foreclosure issues should you have cash flow problems later. But paying off that mortgage also depletes your savings substantially, leaving you less cushion if emergencies arise. Reverse mortgages (mortgages based on the equity in the home) are certainly an option for getting back at that cash later, but other investments may be more income-producing in the long run. 

 

·         Interest Rates: If you are one of the many people who have taken advantage of the historically low interest rates recently, your mortgage payment may not be the burden it used to be.  With your retirement income from pensions, 401Ks and social security, you may feel more comfortable holding onto your savings in a more liquid form rather than paying off the house. 

 

·         Tax Benefits: Mortgage interest continues to be tax deductible, so you may want to consider the tax ramifications for your situation. You can only deduct mortgage interest on two houses, so if you are a snow-bird commuting between several houses, ponder all the options.

 

·         Wanderlust: Paying off the mortgage on your Denver house for retirement makes more sense if you are planning on staying in that home for the duration. 

 

If you are considering selling your home or buying a new one, I can help.  I am a Denver Realtor specializing in listing Denver real estate for sellers and assisting Denver metro area buyers in your search for a home.  You can search all Denver MLS listings including short sales, Hud Homes, and Foreclosures in all Denver neighborhoods at YourDenverHouse.com. Give me a call today at 303-525-8721 or email me at Huffman@ccpre.com. 


Please see my profiles and reviews on Trulia & Zillow.


 

Thinking of Downsizing? Pros of Living In Smaller Homes in Denver

Thinking of Downsizing? Pros of Living In Smaller Homes in Denver

 There are many reasons to consider downsizing your Denver home.  Obviously, if the kids have left the nest, you’re recently widowed, divorced, or just have more house then you need, or want to clean and maintain, moving to a smaller home can simplify your life in many ways. But even if the size of your household has not changed, there are still benefits to living in a smaller house.

·         Maintenance will be easier. Take a lesson from monks: The more possessions you have, the more demands they make on you. It’s no different with your Denver house. It’s easier to clean 1,000 square feet than 3,000 square feet or more. The more plumbing you have, the more chances that something will go wrong with it. The bigger your roof, the more expensive it is to replace, and so on.

·         Life is easier in a small home. Small homes tend to be only one story. It’s nice to not have to climb the stairs every day. You may even find a one-story home that has no stairs to negotiate outside, making it wheelchair-accessible.

·         Small homes are cheaper to heat and cool. Energy prices increase all the time and always will. While it’s important to have good insulation and tight windows, all things being equal, the smaller your square footage, the lower your utility bills.

·         Insurance will be cheaper. The size of your home is one of the main factors determining how much your home insurance costs.

·         Taxes will be lower. Again, property taxes are based partly on the square footage of your home.

 

While you may not be ready to move into a tiny home, it’s worth considering the benefits of living in a smaller home. If you want to explore the possibilities, I am a Denver Realtor specializing  in helping Denver metro area buyers and listing Denver real estate for sellers. You can search all Denver MLS listings.  Call me directly at 303-525-8721 or email me at Huffman@ccpre.com 

Please see my reviews and profile on both Trulia & Zillow 

Remodeling Your Denver House

 

You decided the orange shag carpet, country kitchen, and felt wallpaper have to go, now what?  Remodeling your Denver house requires planning and budgeting whether it’s a small project like adding a bay window or a big project like adding a new bathroom, here are a few items you should consider before making the decision to remodel:

 

·         Budget for success – However much you think the renovation might cost, realize that it will likely cost more. Keep that in mind when considering whether you can truly afford to make the changes.

·         Put your money toward your priorities – If you live to travel, and you spend very little time in your [city] home, is the best use of your funds really a renovation? Think about the return on investment as it applies to your happiness. 

·         Remodeling only goes so far – If you want to rip out the kitchen and both bathrooms and add three bedrooms, what you may really want is another house. Both remodeling a home and buying a new home require a financial commitment. To help you decide whether you should remodel or move, recognize your goals. Do you prefer to stay where you are because you love your current neighborhood and the easy commute to work? Or would you rather move to a new area?

·         Understand the upheaval – Depending on the extent of the renovation, areas of your home may be out of commission and uninhabitable for stretches of time. If you renovate your kitchen, for instance, cooking is off limits or severely constrained for some time. Can you handle the mess? 

·         Now and the future – When you are looking at your budget, consider how secure your current income is.  For instance, if the contract for your position is up in a few months, make sure that renewal is likely before setting your remodeling budget.

·         Invest wisely – If you are planning on staying in your house over the long-term, and want to make it more comfortable, then renovation can make sense. If you are planning on selling the house, consider whether the changes you want to make will increase the value and be worth the headaches that will come with all the work. 

 

If you’d like more information about renovations that can increase the value of your Denver house, give me a call today at 303-525-8721 or email me at huffman@ccpre.com .  I am a Denver Realtor specializing in listing Denver real estate for sellers and assisting Denver metro area buyers in your search for a home.  You can search all Denver MLS listings including short sales, Hud Homes, and Foreclosures in all Denver neighborhoods at YourDenverHouse.com.

Please see my reviews and profile on both Trulia & Zillow 

What Happens After You Sign a Denver Real Estate Contract?

What Happens After You Sign a Denver Real Estate Contract?

Buying a new home isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. When you find the Denver real estate of your dreams and place an offer that is accepted, don’t assume the marathon is over -- there are many more miles you must travel before closing.

Here are four steps to take after the contract is signed:

1. Be prepared for your earnest money or escrow deposit to be cashed. This money can be anywhere from $1,000 to three percent of the price of the home.
2. Go over disclosures with a fine-tooth comb. Your agent will help you identify any red flags. Then you want to familiarize yourself with the home’s history, zoning district and past building permits. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
3. Negotiate with your bank. It’s time to lock in an interest rate with your lender. You might have gotten pre-approved beforehand, but now you actually need the loan.
4. Schedule a property inspection. Attend the inspection, and come prepared with a list of questions for your home inspector. The point of this appointment is not just to highlight major issues, but also to familiarize yourself with the short and long-term maintenance of your new home.

Don’t get derailed by unexpected costs and time-consuming tasks that come after you sign a contract. You’ll want to be mentally and financially prepared so that you can close smoothly and move into your new Denver metro area home quickly.

If you have a dream of home ownership, begin your search at YourDenverHouse.com. I specialize in helping Denver metro area buyers and listing Denver real estate for sellers. You can search all Denver MLS listings or contact me directly and I will assist you. If you’d like more information about what happens before closing, please call me at 303-525-8721 or email me at Huffman@ccpre.com .

Please see my reviews and profile on both Trulia & Zillow