Market Snapshot: August 2011

So what is happening in our local real estate market?  This being prime selling and buying season, the inventory has continued to dwindle.  Home prices remain stable and show slight increases while Days on Market, DOM, remain stable as well.  The condominium market has taken a downturn for the month of July in price.  DOM for condominiums is down over June's numbers, however.

For a more detailed report on your specific area, visit: Home Market Report or call 303-300-8989, to speak with us directly.

5 Inexpensive Home Updates to Complete before Listing Your Home

5 Inexpensive Home Updates to Complete before Listing Your Home

RISMEDIA, August 11, 2011—There is no perfect formula for selling your home efficiently, but by following these five tips prior to listing you can increase your chances to close quickly at a higher price.

1.) Update your old garage door(s). Garage doors seem like a non-issue, but many times they make up a significant percentage of the front of a home. Because of this, they are one of the first things that buyers notice when they pull in the drive way. Replacing, or even just painting, these central fixtures will do wonders when it comes to instantly impressing perspective buyers and standing apart from your competition. The market has changed drastically since many of us purchased our homes here in town. I frequently hear buyers say that they have taken a house off their list because of the lack of curb appeal. This issue is especially important to people on busier streets, corner lots, or near a neighborhood eyesore.

2.) Replace old windows. Outdated windows age a home significantly, and you can often upgrade standard windows to vinyl for a reasonable $300 per window. The average home has 8 windows, so this upgrade doesn't cost nearly as much as you might think and it will make a huge difference to the value perceived by prospective buyers. Key point to remember is that when buyers view a home they love, if they see it has older windows, they consider it a time consuming and costly headache. First time buyers have never replaced windows and often dramatically overestimate the cost to cure this issue. By replacing pre-listing you an actually save money. A well priced, move-in condition home will sell for far more than one with windows in need of repair.

3.) Assess your floors . If you have hardwood flooring, it's worth the investment to have them refinished considering buyers put an extremely high value on them; you'll get the most bang for your buck if they are refurbished. Carpets should be shampooed and replaced if they are stained or look worn. You don't need to spend large amounts of money on the highest grade or most modern name but something inexpensive and neutral will certainly bring you a return on the investment. Even the smell of new carpet will make buyers set your home apart from the comparables.

4.) Paint the trim. If you can't afford the daunting task of painting your entire house, painting just the trim will still make a big difference when it comes to curb appeal. Painting the whole house can be expensive, time consuming, and delayed by weather conditions; painting just the trim will give your home a fresher look. Interior trim is equally as important.

5.) Update fixtures. Keep an eye out for sales at home improvement stores and replace outdated lighting, plumbing and hardware fixtures. Simple replacing lighting fixtures and knobs in the bathroom or kitchen can update the entire look of the room. You can find many modern brand name fixtures online on contractor supply websites by just searching for terms like sale faucets, sale plumbing fixtures etc.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.
Cynthia M. Parker, ABR®, SFR®, CDPE®
Broker Associate
"Marketing your home for all it's worth"!

RE/MAX Alliance
Office: (303) 757-7474
Mobile: (303) 563-9700
Fax: 866-673-0053
E-mail: cynthia@cynthiamparker.com
Web site: http://www.CynthiaMParker.com

BUYERS: "Find out how to buy a home for as little as $ 100 down"...visit: http://www.FreeCOHomeInfo.com
SELLERS: "Find out what the home down the street from you just sold for"... visit: http://www.HomePricesInYourArea.org

* Oh, by the way, if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number. I'll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

Louisville, Colorado is # 1 on "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America"

MONEY Magazine Reveals Annual "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America" RISMEDIA, Tuesday, August 16, 2011— “MONEY” magazine has revealed the 2011 list of "MONEY's 100 Best Places to Live in America," highlighting small towns across the country with populations of 50,000 or less. For the annual cover-story, on sale August 19, MONEY looked for places with the optimal combination of job opportunities, fiscal strength, top-notch schools, safe streets, good healthcare, cultural and outdoor activities, and even nice weather.

MONEY's editors write, "With the current state of the economy—and the dispiriting sight of the nation's leaders endlessly battling about how to fix it—the phrase 'small town' conjures up images of a happier time. When unemployment wasn't above 9%. When people didn't stress out about home values. When school budgets weren't under siege. Those were the days, right?"

Louisville, Colorado tops this year's list at number one. Twenty-three miles outside Denver, Louisville has a strong economy, stable housing and lots to do. Louisville has some of the lowest crime rates in Colorado and was also ranked No. 1 in 2009 when MONEY assessed places with populations of under 50,000. There are good jobs in Louisville in the tech, telecom, aerospace, clean energy, and healthcare space.

Additionally, MONEY editors report that businesses are flourishing in the historic downtown district writing, "This summer alone saw the opening of three restaurants, a rooftop bar, a coffee shop, a yoga studio, a gift shop, and two art galleries. And world-class outdoor recreation is a short drive away."

MONEY's 2011 top-ten list:
1. Louisville, CO http://cnnmon.ie/pZGV36
2. Milton, MA http://cnnmon.ie/pVK3gT
3. Solon, OH http://cnnmon.ie/njtiIa
4. Leesburg, VA http://cnnmon.ie/r2j6KD
5. Papillion, NE http://cnnmon.ie/nuHOEl
6. Hanover, NH http://cnnmon.ie/qIHOVD
7. Liberty, MO http://cnnmon.ie/pnxqf5
8. Middleton, WI http://cnnmon.ie/ntBOjr
9. Mukilteo, WA http://cnnmon.ie/nbZB6M
10. Chanhassen, MN http://cnnmon.ie/okTt1D

For more best places to live, visit www.Money.com/BestPlaces.
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

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