April
2013 Boulder Area Market Sales Statistics Boulder area single family home sales in April 2013 improved by 13.9% over April 2012; 392 units versus 344. And, condo and townhome sales grew a healthy 26.7%; 128 units compared to 101. Month over month sales also showed solid improvement. Single family home sales grew by 24.4% in April 2013 compared to March 2013; 392 units,
up from 315. Condo and townhome sales saw a 16.3% gain from 110 units in March to 128 in April. Inventory trends continued in April 2013 showing a 30.2% drop when compared to April 2012; 1346 units down from 1930. A somewhat smaller drop was experienced in condo and townhome sales, down 23.5%, 444 units compared to
581. For the fourth consecutive month, month over month inventories improved modestly. Single family inventories grew by 5.4% in April 2013 compared to March 2013; 1346 units up from 1276. Condo and townhome numbers are 444 versus 401, a 10.7% increase. Click on the links below to review the April 2013 statistical reports.
http://www.baraonline.com/sites/bara/files/statistics/April13stats.pdf
http://www.baraonline.com/sites/bara/files/statistics/April13PricePoints.pdf
As 2013 gets underway,
Colorado's housing market is poised to continue the steady recovery that began
last year. Home sales and the median sale price rose in most of our markets last
year, and industry economists expect more improvement this year. Foreclosures
and short sales continue to decline.
The only problem seems to be
that many potential sellers don't realize that things have changed so
dramatically since the downturn of the housing market, and they're missing out
on a tremendous opportunity.
There's a severe shortage of
homes for sale in many areas, which means that homeowners savvy enough to list
their home right now are often getting multiple offers – and sometimes at prices
we haven't seen in several years!
Available inventory of homes for
sale in much of our region is down 50 percent or more just in the past year.
Right now, there are more eager buyers out there than homes on the market to
meet their demand.
With an imbalance between supply
and demand, homebuyers have been fiercely competing with each other, and that's
great news for sellers.
The Denver Metro Area is one of
a growing number of metropolitan areas across the country now considered a
seller's market, according to Metrolist, the region's multiple listing service.
In both November and December, the number of homes sold, under contract or
pending settlement outnumbered those available.
Approximately 3,400 homes sold
in the region last month, an 8 percent jump from a year ago, and the average
sale price climbed even faster, reaching $289,926, a 14 percent increase over
the same month a year ago.
The inventory of single-family
homes and condominiums has dropped by more than 50 percent from its high in July
of 2010, Metrolist reported. Inventory at the end of December was the lowest it
has been since 1998. And the average number of days it took to sell a home has
fallen to just two and a half months.
The same trends that we are
seeing here in Colorado are occurring in markets across the country, according
to the National Association of Realtors.
Home sales nationwide rose to a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.04 million in November, the highest level
since November 2009, when the annual pace spiked at 5.44 million, NAR reported.
"Momentum continues to build in
the housing market from growing jobs and a bursting out of household formation,"
said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. "With lower rental vacancy rates and
rising rents, combined with still historically favorable affordability
conditions, more people are buying homes."
Yun said healthy market demand
and shortage of listings is driving up prices once again. “A diminishing share
of foreclosed property sales is helping home values," he noted. "Moreover, an
acute shortage of inventory in certain markets is leading to multiple biddings
and escalating price conditions."
Total housing inventory at the
end of November nationwide fell 3.8 percent to 2.03 million existing homes
available for sale, which represents a 4.8-month supply at the current sales
pace. It was down from 5.3 months in October and is the lowest housing supply
since September of 2005 when it was 4.6 months, NAR reported.
Listed inventory is 22.5 percent
below a year ago when there was a 7.1-month supply. Raw unsold inventory is now
at the lowest level since December 2001 when there were 1.89 million homes on
the market, NAR said.
Compared with a year ago, home
listings are down in every price category in each of the nation's 30 largest
housing markets, according to a study by real estate website Zillow.
The tight inventory conditions
won't last forever, of course. In an interview with USA Today, Zillow economist
Stan Humphries said tight inventories will push up prices, encouraging more
people to list homes.
So where does this all leave
you? If you've been putting off selling your home, you may want to seriously
consider getting back into the market right now. As the new year gets under way,
the pendulum has swung back into a seller's market. But there's no guarantee how
long that will last.
Buyers are out there looking,
prices are climbing once again and there just aren't enough good home listings
to go around. With such strong buyer demand and a shortage of listings, this may
be the best time to sell your home. I'm ready to help you get started
today!
Read all of The Beauty of Home Ownership
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 | Jancy Campbell Coldwell Banker Boulder 2700 Canyon Blvd Ste 200 Boulder, CO 80302  303-449-5000 |
Don't sweat small holes in your walls . . .
Read all of A Great Household Hint!
After several email exchanges, we came to the shared conclusion that hiring a worker for "a little government work" was probably OK provided the homeowner knew the worker and realized that he, the homeowner, was taking on the role of contractor, with all the responsibilities that entails. That means that if the job wasn't done right, there is no recourse against the unlicensed worker and that the homeowner is responsible to provide workers' compensation insurance or suffer the legal consequences should the worker get hurt. The Contractors State License Board provides this 10-point checklist for hiring a contractor. •Hire only state-licensed contractors. •Ask to see a copy of the contractor's license and insurance and check that the contractor's license is in good standing at www.cslb.ca.gov. •Get at least three bids. •Get references from each bidder and take the time to check out their work. •Make sure the details of the project and the payment terms are in writing. •Confirm the contractor's liability and workers' compensation policies are active and the coverage amounts are adequate by calling the insurance companies. •Don't pay more than 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000; whichever is less, as a down payment. •Progress payments should not get ahead of the work. •Keep a job file containing all relevant paperwork, including the contract and record of payments. •Do not make the final payment until you're satisfied with the job, including cleanup. California recently has been cracking down on unlicensed and So if you're hiring a contractor for a job costing more than $500 or he has employees, make sure he has the proper license and adequate insurance or realize you may have to pay the piper.
Read all of Some Things to Think About When Hiring a Contractor
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Jancy Campbell Coldwell Banker Boulder 2700 Canyon Blvd Ste 200 Boulder, CO 80302  303-449-5000 |
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Improving the Value of Your Home
Every home is, first and foremost, a place to live and enjoy-a respite from the outside world and a place to build cherished family memories. But a home is also an investment -perhaps the most important investment you will ever make, and there are many small steps you can take over the years to increase its value, comfort, and marketability should the time come to sell it and move.
Here are seven cost-effective ways to treat your home like the investment it is meant to be:
- Curb appeal - First impressions are important, and regular maintenance shows. A well-kept lawn, tidy landscaping, a neatly painted exterior and a nice front door show pride of ownership and pride in the neighborhood.
- Fresh paint - One of the most cost-effective boosts to any home is a coat of fresh interior paint. Choose colors that appeal to you, but if selling your home is on your agenda, stick to neutral shades.
- Update kitchen - Dated counters, cabinets and floors can be a real turn-off to buyers. Investing in granite, tile and/or remodeled cabinetry will not only increase your own enjoyment, but can make a major difference in resale value.
- Update windows - Double paned windows that shut out noise and help regulate indoor temperature are an attractive and worthwhile investment that will add value to your home.
- Update baths - Attractive bathrooms are always noticed. Tubs and showers are easily replaced or resurfaced, and newer, low-flush toilets can cost as little as $100.
- Update floors and ceilings - Popcorn ceilings are a thing of the past. Scrape them away before painting. Carpeting, if used, should never look dingy or worn. Is there a real wood floor under the carpet? Think about ripping out that old carpeting and refurbishing the wood for a clean and updated look.
- Energy savings - Although not always noticeable, energy efficient additions like solar panels, insulated windows and water filtration systems will trim your own utility bills and add value when you sell.
30-Year Fixed Rate Plummets 13 Basis Points 2011-11-01 14:03:51-04 Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 3.82 percent, down from 3.95 [...] read more... Is a Home Inspection Good Enough? 2011-11-01 16:12:32-04 In a typical home inspection, an inspector goes through the house looking for obvious problems and checking integral parts of the home like the foundation, exterior, [...] read more... NAHREP Event In San Diego | #1 RE/MAX Agent, HREU Superstar Chris Townson Featured 2011-11-01 16:17:40-04 Attn: Real Estate Industry From: Chris Townson, #1 RE/MAX Agent and HARRIS REAL ESTATE UNIVERSITY Superstar. Event: November 7th 2012 the San Diego Chapter of NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) will be providing an educational event. Here is the information you need to attend this event. Agents will get to: 1. Learn how to get their offers accepted on bank owned properties from top REO agents 2. Learn how to work with the REO Banks right from the Banks themselves 3. Have a chance to rub elbows with the Banks at a VIP cocktail party. Every agent [...] read more... Banks Planning On BULK REO Sales | REO, BPO Coaching and Training 2011-11-01 16:53:05-04 When will the banks finally sell off their millions of homes held on their books….the so-called ‘Shadow Inventory’? Based on this (and many other reports featured on this site) banks are preparing for 2012 to be the start of the big sell off of REO homes. From CNBC: A new plan to help the market that could make foreclosed homes a sought after commodity. Administration officials hope to have a pilot program in place by the end of this year or beginning of next year to sell-off the foreclosed properties currently on the books of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. [...] read more... Daily Message for November 2nd, 2011 2011-11-01 23:00:09-04 read more...
Read all of Mortgage Rates Drop
Jim Gillespie on CNBC’s Closing Bell by cbwesternregion Coldwell Banker CEO Jim Gillespie appeared on CNBC's Closing Bell yesterday afternoon to discuss the company's recent study on what Baby Boomers are looking for when it comes to real estate. You can watch the entire story and interview by clicking here!
Read all of Cold Banker CEO Speaks on Recent Research
