Author Archives: Paul Gruber

Spotlight on Downtown Littleton

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Paul Gruber

Downtown Littleton is so much more than cute shops and home of The Melting Pot. There are several fun filled family events throughout the year. Something can be found for every taste and every age. Check out a few of the highlights below. Western Welcome Week Western Welcome Week is held toward the end of summer, and includes everything from a parade to a craft fair. It is a celebration of the community of Littleton. Some activities include a live trivia challenge, silent auction, and an old fashioned cake contest. ELKS Car Show The Littleton Elks, one of the anchors of Downtown… Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Car Show, community, Downtown Littleton, Lighting of the Lights, Littleton Colorado, Littleton Elks, Main Street, Mayberry, Western Welcome Week | Leave a comment

Traits to Look For in a Realtor When Purchasing a Home

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Paul Gruber

It seems that everybody knows somebody who is a Realtor, and when you’re ready to purchase a home it seems everyone wants you to use who they know. Everyone from your nosy coworker to your Cousin Ricky who just got his realtor’s license has a “helpful” suggestion. With so many individuals to choose from, how do you decide? Read on to see a list of basic traits to look for in a realtor. 1. Look for someone that won’t treat you like a commission. Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you can make, and if you are… Read More »

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Four Steps to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Paul Gruber

So, you’re ready to sell your home? There is more to it than hiring a realtor and plunking a For Sale sign in the front yard. Our current market is a buyer’s market, and you have to make your house stand out among all of the other inventory out there. The good news is there are some easy steps to take to make your home shine. Step One – Curb Appeal When a perspective buyer comes to look at your house, the first thing they see is the front. Overgrown hedges, peeling paint and weeds aren’t going to impress anyone…. Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged buyer, curb appeal, for sale, fresh paint, home buyer, home sale, home selling, seller | Leave a comment

Purpose of a Home Appraisal

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Paul Gruber

You’ve found your dream home, and entered into a contract. Your closing date is looming. An inspection has been completed, and the house is in good shape. Now what? Now you get a home appraisal. A home appraisal is how your lender determines how much money they are willing to loan you for the property you wish to purchase. It is one of the most important steps in the home buying process. An appraisal is typically ordered by your lender; you won’t usually get to choose an Appraiser yourself. The report often costs several hundred dollars, and is paid for upfront… Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Appraisal Report, Appraiser, Bank, Home Appraisal, home buyer, lender, mortgage, property condition | Leave a comment

Reasons to Get a Home Inspection

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Paul Gruber

We’ve all seen The Money Pit. Tom Hanks’ and Shelley Long’s characters buy a beautiful mansion for a really low price. Except once they move in, the so-called beautiful house falls apart at the seams, and becomes a complete disaster. If they had gotten an inspection done prior to purchasing the house, they would have saved themselves lots of money and heartache. Of course, we would have missed the hilarity, but in the real world, buyers should always have a home inspection completed. The main reason to have a home inspection completed is to protect the buyers from a disaster house…. Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged home inspection, home inspector, inspector, loan programs, The Money Pit | Leave a comment

What to Expect When Purchasing a Short Sale

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Paul Gruber

Short sales have a bad reputation among home buyers. They take forever! There’s no room for negotiation! You’ll never buy a house if you look at short sales! Now, while purchasing a short sale does require some patience, it’s not as bad as many people make it out to be. A short sale is the sale of a property that is often listed for less than is owed to the bank. The seller gets agreement from the bank to sell the home at a lower price to avoid foreclosure. This agreement is good for banks and sellers. The bank saves… Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged avoid foreclosure, buyibg a short sale, lender, Short sales | Leave a comment

What is a HUD Home?

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Paul Gruber

HUD homes can be a budget friendly housing choice. Many people already know these homes are usually listed below the market, but there can be some confusion understanding what exactly a HUD home is, or how the purchase process works. Let’s start with the definition of a HUD home. It is a home offered for sale by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They are single family homes that can be up to four units. The homes are usually priced below comparable homes in the neighborhood, so you can often get more bang for your buck by way… Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged HUD, HUD bidding process, HUD home, hundred dollar down program, sweat equity | Leave a comment

203K Q and A

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Paul Gruber

What is a 203K loan? The 203K loan is a FHA loan that provides financing for a home that needs to be rehabilitated that traditional banks won’t finance. The home price and cost of fixing the home are rolled into one loan. How does it work? A 203K loan helps home owners by making repair costs of a home part of the mortgage payment. The repair part of the loan is put into an escrow account and pays for repairs and contractors. How is the repair escrow price decided? The repair escrow of a 203K loan is decided by estimates… Read More »

Posted in Low Down Payment Programs, Uncategorized | Tagged 203K loan, FHA loan, home repair, property rehabilitation, repair escrow | 1 Comment

CHFA: What is it, and how can it work for you?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Paul Gruber

CHFA, or Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, is an organization that helps Coloradans achieve the dream of home ownership. They have their own loan program that helps lower income families buy a house. There are income limits with this program, so be sure to check with your lender to see if you qualify. The steps to obtaining a CHFA loan are fairly simple. First, you will be required to take a homebuyer education course. They are available both online and in classes around the Denver-metro area. The course is free, and helps buyers learn about all the terminology and… Read More »

Posted in Low Down Payment Programs, Uncategorized | Tagged Buying 1st home, CHFA, Down Payment, Down payment assistance, Low Down Payment, low income | Leave a comment

Denver Metro Area 2012 Real Estate Forecast

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Paul Gruber

Home prices: Your local forecast Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area Forecast change: second quarter, 2011 – second quarter, 2012 -4% Forecast change: second quarter, 2012 – second quarter, 2013 +2.8% Market fundamentals Median Family Income (2010) $74,000 Median Home Price (Second quarter 2011) $254,000 Change in Home Prices (From second quarter 2010 thru second quarter 2011) -2.7% Worst 1-Year Home Price Change (1980-2011) -6.2% (2006:Q1)