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If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to sell your house this year, there’s good news. Real estate professionals are highly experienced in how to sell houses safely during the pandemic. Over the last year, agents have adopted new technologies and safety measures designed to keep you safe. And experts say these practices are here to stay. As Bob Goldberg, CEO of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it:
“The pandemic has confirmed to all of us in the industry that technology will continue to transform real estate.”
Below is a closer look at some of the new tools real estate professionals are using to better serve sellers.
In the 2021 Realtor Technology Survey, NAR asks real estate professionals their opinions on the most valuable pieces of technology for their business over the past 12 months. The graph below highlights the top five tools those agents said are true game-changers:
Tools that allow agents to serve clients at a distance and limit exposure to others, including eSignature, lockboxes, and video conferencing, became increasingly important during the last year. Those same tools are just as essential today. Restricting the number of people a seller must interact with during the process is the best way to keep all parties involved in a sale safe.
As things change in our day-to-day lives, the guidance on how to stay safe changes as well. NAR regularly updates the resources available to real estate professionals to ensure the latest recommendations and best practices are readily available. This includes suggestions on how to continue to conduct safe in-person showings.
Agents also follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to make sure homes are safe. The CDC’s advice includes information on how to clean high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and countertops so they’re disinfected for all.
This past year changed the way agents do things for the better. Real estate professionals use new technology, tools, cleaning procedures, and the latest guidance to meet your changing needs. The goal is to keep you safe and build your confidence throughout the sales process.
It’s important to know that your safety is still a top priority when it comes to selling this year. Let’s connect today so you can have the best tools available to help you take advantage of today’s sellers’ market.
Bill Keenan has had tremendous success finding buyers' homes. He is relentless in his pursuit when clients have specific needs. If you are looking for a home he WILL help .you find one. Give him a call 720-606-3800.
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Wishing all you wonderful Moms all the love and happiness you so richly deserve!
Happy Mother's Day
As Coloradans, we love altitude. But why limit ourselves to 5,280 feet when we can be a mile high plus 27 floors up on a killer rooftop? With the weather becoming consistently warmer, it’s time to head up—way up—to the best eating and drinking destinations around. These 12 rooftop bars and restaurants are tip-top spots at which to cheers a Rocky Mountain sunset.
Starting with Denver’s highest open-air rooftop bar, 54thirty is perched atop the Le Méridien hotel. The 20th floor bar, which is named for its altitude at 5,430 feet, is popular (how could the city’s highest al fresco rooftop bar not be?) so get there early or be ready to wait. The space offers oodles of sun during the day, fire pits on chilly nights, and Instagram cred, well, always.
Drink this: There may be no drink more appropriately named than the #Thatviewthough, a mix of vodka, chamomile tea syrup, lemon, and Denver Beer Co.’s Princess Yum Yum raspberry Kölsch.
There’s already a lot going on at Englewood’s Grow & Gather: The former automotive shop now houses a hydroponic farm, urban garden, market, greenhouse, and a restaurant, The Feedery. But one of the best spots to enjoy all that hyper-locally grown produce is on the rooftop, at a table nestled between the greenhouse and grow bed retaining wall. That’s a whole lot of greenery for an industrial stretch of Hampden Avenue. Note: Due to difficulty hiring, the rooftop is closed for the time being, but keep an eye out for a reopening later this summer.
Drink this: Grab an On the Fence kombucha or Middle State Coffee cortado for brunch, or one of the house cocktails made with the Family Jones spirits for happy hour.
Don’t worry beer geeks, there’s a rooftop for you, too. Tap Fourteen offers 70 Colorado draft beers (and more than 50 Colorado-made whiskeys, because whiskey geeks need love, too) on the rooftop of Hayter’s & Co. The south-facing beer garden is downright dripping in sunshine come summer, so bring the SPF.
Drink this: There are a lot of choices, but check out the Tap Fourteen exclusive, Platt Park Peach Guava Snowdance IPA.
If you’re looking for a change in perspective, try the sky-high Peaks Lounge inside the Hyatt Regency at the Colorado Convention Center. A favorite of local sophisticates and out-of-towners alike, this 27th floor enclosed (but well-windowed) bar offers one of the best vantage points in town. Note: Peaks is currently closed but is expected to emerge from its COVID-19 cocoon at the end of May.
Drink this: End your night with city views and the 27th Floor, a decaf coffee liqueur, crème de cocoa, espresso, vodka, and cream cocktail.
The Source Hotel’s eighth-floor rooftop bar and restaurant, the Woods, is certainly one of our favorite spots to catch the unbeatable duo that is city skyline and mountain views. The wraparound terrace is our favorite perch, but even indoor tables share the views thanks to massive windowed garage doors. And when they’re flung open on nice days, it’s even better.
Drink this: Frosé all day.
When the Golden Mill opened in April, it didn’t just bring west siders more food options, it also added a great rooftop to the Front Range’s already stellar lineup. Boasting views of Table Mountain and the equally iconic Coors Brewery, the rooftop is the best seat in, or should we say on, the house. Besides the very on-trend food (Hot chicken sandwiches! Birria gorditas! Poke!), there’s two self-pour beverage walls serving 50 local craft beers, wines, cocktails, and more.
For complete list visit https://bit.ly/3ewOvgQ
Mark-
We are so excited for you! I know this move was a lot for you but now you are going to have that beautiful ranch home you've always wanted with a great 3 car garage. Thanks for being so on top of everything. It is such a pleasure working with you. Congratulations!!!
Friends,
If you are thinking about listing or buying a home give us a call. We promise to exceed your expectations and we will.
720-515-0248
Many people are sitting on the fence trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a home. Some are renters who have a strong desire to become homeowners but are unsure if buying right now makes sense. Others may be homeowners who are realizing that their current home no longer fits their changing needs.
To determine if they should buy now or wait another year, they both need to ask two simple questions:
Let’s shed some light on the answers to these questions.
If you average the most recent projections from the major industry forecasters, the expectation is home prices will increase by 7.7%. Let’s take a house that’s valued today at $325,000 as an example.
If the buyer makes a 10% down payment ($32,500), they’ll end up borrowing $292,500 for their mortgage. Applying the projected rate of home price appreciation, that same house will cost $350,025 next year. With a 10% down payment ($35,003), they’d then have to borrow $315,022.
Therefore, as a result of rising home prices alone, a prospective buyer will have to put down an additional $2,503 and borrow an additional $22,523 just for waiting a year to make their move.
Today, mortgage rates are hovering around 3%. However, most experts believe they’ll rise as the economy continues to recover. Any increase in the mortgage rate will also increase a purchaser’s cost. Here are the forecasts for the first quarter of 2022 from four major entities:
The projections average out to 3.6% among these four forecasts, a jump up from where they are today.
A buyer will pay a lot more in mortgage payments each month if both of these variables increase. Assuming a buyer purchases a $325,000 home this year with a 30-year fixed-rate loan at 3% after making a 10% down payment, their monthly principal and interest payment would be $1,233.
That same home one year from now could be $350,025, and the mortgage rate could be 3.6% (based on the industry forecasts mentioned above). That monthly principal and interest payment, after putting down 10%, totals $1,432.
The difference in the monthly mortgage payment would be $199. That’s $2,388 more per year and $71,640 over the life of the loan.
Add to that the approximately $25,000 a house with a similar value would build in home equity this year as a result of home price appreciation, and the total net worth increase a purchaser could gain by buying this year is nearly $100,000. That’s a small fortune.
When asking if they should buy a home, many potential buyers think of the nonfinancial benefits of owning a home. When asking when to buy, the financial benefits make it clear that doing so now is much more advantageous than waiting until next year.
One of the greatest feelings; when you finally get your buyers under contract in this crazy real estate market. 
Please let me know how I can help you in your home search 
