September 09, 2010 11:56:55

Announcing... Robin Krueger has joined up with RE/MAX Properties, Inc.!

Robin is a successful Broker Associate from the Pueblo area that is making a transition to Colorado Springs. We are thrilled to have her as another highly-skilled agent ready to serve our community!

 

Click here to check out Robin's Website

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September 08, 2010 12:15:36

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Sep 08, 2010 - According to the American Homeowners Association, due to decreasing property values in the Pikes Peak Region, it is 60% more likely that your property taxes are too high.

"The problem stems from the fact that property values have fallen unevenly across neighborhoods, towns and regions," says Joe Clement, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Properties, Inc." As a result, you may be receiving an unfairly high assessment compared to other homes in your area."

According to Clement, there are several steps homeowner should take to investigate whether or not their Colorado Springs property taxes can be lowered:

• First, get your detailed property tax assessment record online or from your assessor's office. It's possible your entire neighborhood has been over-assessed.
• Clement also recommends checking with a Colorado Springs area real estate agent to get a solid understanding of what homes are currently selling for in your community. Professional agents will have the most up-to-date statistics on Colorado Springs neighborhood market values.
• Check the accuracy of the details about your home used in your tax assessment. Determine if your property's size and description are accurate. Errors are commonly made in transferring data from paper to online. Make sure details like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is correct and that any defects that could affect the value of your home - such as a leaky roof or cracked wall - are noted.
• If errors have made your assessment higher than it should be, says Clement, try working informally with the assessor rather than going through a formal appeal process.
• If the correction cannot be made informally, you'll need to make a formal appeal. There may even be a process for appealing your taxes online. "Keep in mind that there is usually a narrow window of opportunity in which to file an appeal. Some jurisdictions set aside a time every year to hear appeals, while others only consider appeals for a few months after your house has been reassessed, which is often not every year," advises Clement.
• Depending on your municipality, you might also be eligible for property-tax exemptions, says Clement, which range from senior citizen and active-duty military exemptions to ones for those who own livestock.

Throughout the entire process, Clement encourages homeowners to maintain fastidious records. The proper documentation will be critical to supporting your case.

We have over 225 knowledgeable broker associates dedicated to understanding neighborhood real estate market conditions in Monument, Tri-Lakes, Palmer Lake, North Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, Downtown Colorado Springs, Powers, Peyton, Falcon, South Colorado Springs, Security, Widefield, Fountain and more!  For more information, please contact one of our highly-skilled Pikes Peak Region Broker Associates.

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September 07, 2010 18:50:58

Target Market Analysis - 15 Weeks At-A-Glance
Number of Listings vs Number of Showings

Click Here to download a printable version of the expanded Target Market Analysis for August 30 - September 5, 2010

Week	Listings	Showings
May 24-30	994	602
May 31 - Jun 6	1018	692
Jun 7-13	1025	851
Jun 14-20	1031	660
Jun 21-27	1039	794
Jun 28 - Jul 4	1034	648
Jul 5-11	1048	812
Jul 12-18	1060	670
Jul 19-25	1055	686
Jul 26 - Aug 1	1059	735
Aug 2-8	1066	737
Aug 9-15	1080	691
Aug 16-22	1078	779
Aug 23-29	1073	653
Aug 30 - Sep 5	1057	743

August 31, 2010 18:57:15

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Aug 31, 2010 - Naturally, like most homeowners, you have a strong emotional connection to your home and, understandably, feel it deserves top dollar when placed on the Colorado Springs real estate market. After all, no one knows your home better than you, including all the investments you've made in it over the years. But even though all sellers want to get the most money for their homes, especially in today's challenging economic times, decisions made regarding the listing price cannot be made in haste advises Joe Clement, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Properties, Inc., serving Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region.

"Listing your home at a price that is too high can cause it to languish on the market," explains Clement. "This can result in the home selling at an even lower price than would have been realized had it been priced properly from the beginning."

To avoid this scenario and generate optimal profits from the sale of your home, Clement suggests taking into consideration all of the following factors in order to establish a fair, competitive and marketable sale price:

• Square footage - Total square footage is an important consideration when establishing a home's listing price, but this is usually just a starting point for buyers. Buyers will look at square footage to narrow their selections, but will make an actual purchase decision based on many other factors.

• Location within the community - Quiet cul-de sacs, golf or water frontage, lots that offer privacy, etc. are value-adds that can justify a higher sale price over other homes in a community ... or be leveraged as an advantage against competing listings.

• Views ... or lack thereof - Whether it is a downtown skyline, the mountains, golf course or some other desirable landscape, buyers are willing to pay a premium for views and a home should be priced accordingly.

• Upgrades and features - For a home to sell quickly at the desired price in the Pikes Peak region, it must be "finished" with as many structural and interior design upgrades as possible. "Any functional or beautification enhancements to a home are key considerations in establishing a home's true value and strategic sale price," says Clement.

• Community amenities - Guard-gated communities or those with amenities such as a clubhouse, swimming pool or fitness center are elements that raise a home's price per square foot. When pricing a home without these benefits, know whether you are competing against other homes that do offer such value-adds so that you can price your home as aggressively and competitively as possible.

• Comparable sales - Don't price your home based on price per square footage of other home sales in your community six or more months ago, as these don't offer a realistic portrayal of current market conditions. Clement advises sellers to focus on prices of active listings to hone a competitive pricing strategy.

• Professional appraisal - If you need to sell your home quickly, Clement suggests listing it at or below the appraised value as buyers are educated, are shopping deals, and will recognize your fair price and be more apt to pay it with less haggling.

• Current mortgage conditions - Lenders now require higher down payments and higher credit scores, which can cash-strap buyers holding out for the best deal possible. Savvy sellers will understand the mortgage industry's impact on the buyer and will price accordingly.

"Anyone considering selling their home should work with a local (Colorado Springs, Monument, Woodland Park, etc.) professional real estate agent who can guide them through all of the above steps," says Clement. "A seasoned agent will be armed with current, local statistics and know how to sell your home at the best possible price."

On our website, www.HomesColorado.com, you will find a wide variety of highly-skilled, well-educated, professional RE/MAX broker associates.  Each broker associate brings a finely-tuned skill set to the Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak region real estate market.  Check them out, and you may just find the PERFECT listing agent for your home. 

Click Here to find an amazing RE/MAX Properties, Inc. Broker Associate near you!

August 25, 2010 16:30:14

Target Market Analysis - 15 Weeks At-A-Glance
Number of Listings vs Number of Showings

Click Here to download a printable version of the expanded Target Market Analysis for August 16-22, 2010

Week	Listings	Showings
May 10-16	967	733
May 17-23	988	694
May 24-30	994	602
May 31 - Jun 6	1018	692
Jun 7-13	1025	851
Jun 14-20	1031	660
Jun 21-27	1039	794
Jun 28 - Jul 4	1034	648
Jul 5-11	1048	812
Jul 12-18	1060	670
Jul 19-25	1055	686
Jul 26 - Aug 1	1059	735
Aug 2-8	1066	737
Aug 9-15	1080	691
Aug 16-22	1078	779