In 2020 and 2021 the sales people sitting in the sales center would literally laugh at me when I would try to negotiate with them on price. Builders just couldn’t keep up with the demand and no incentive to negotiate. From July-December of 2022 and even today, builders are much more willing to negotiate on price. Most sales members are under incredible pressure to produce contracts…which turn into...

Builders tell me 8/10 of their buyers are working with a real estate agent, so who pays the Buyers real estate agent fees. The Builder pays the agents fees when a buyer utilizes an agent. So if you don’t work with an agent can you save money? This is a great question! The answer is typically no. The reason? Builders can’t easily discount the price of their homes, because the last sale in the...

There are so many upgrades to choose from, and it’s really hard to know if you’re getting a great deal or not by allowing the builder to install the upgrades. I’m here to say, not all of the upgrades have a great return when it comes time to resale, but there are a few upgrades I typically recommend (dependent on the builder) the buyer have the Builder install. The upgrades most of my buyers have...

Full disclosure, I’m a Realtor…so yeah, you should for sure call a realtor! Now that we’ve acknowledged my Bias, I’ll tell you why. 1. Many of my clients who think they want to buy new construction actually find out they want to buy a re-sell home. A Realtor can help you with both. 2. The Builder contracts can be challenging to work with, and they are designed to benefit the builder, not so much...

One of the questions I get from new buyers quite often is “Why are the new home neighborhoods built on such small lots?” It all comes down to the cost of land and water here in N. Colorado. You’ve probably noticed homes can be pricey here in N. Colorado. When you talk to builders they actually want to provide more affordable housing, but they have a very hard time doing so with the cost of land,...

One of the advantages of buying new construction is most new homes come with a New Home Warranty. Every builder does things a bit differently, but for the most part they follow this pattern. 1 year materials warranty 2 year Mechanical Warranty 10 year Structural Warranty I’ve found some builders are better about honoring their warranties than others, but for the most part, they do a good job,...

If you are a homeowner in Larimer County, Colorado, you may have received your property tax bill and found that your assessed value has increased significantly. If you believe that your property tax assessment is unfair or inaccurate, you have the right to contest your property taxes. Before I go any further, I'd like to note we are here to help you determine if the counties valuation of your property is...

The Larimer County Assessor's office offers a Senior Property Tax Exemption to eligible senior citizens in the county. This exemption allows qualified individuals to receive a reduction in the assessed value of their primary residence, resulting in lower property taxes. To be eligible for the Senior Property Tax Exemption, an individual must meet the following criteria: - Age: The applicant must be at...

There’s a question I’ve been getting in the last couple weeks…I’ve been asked over lunch after shoving a load of french fries down my face. I’ve been asked while playing kickball, but my favorite was last weekend when I was asked at the pool. I’m telling you, you haven’t lived until you’ve talked about mortgage interest rates in your swimsuit.   The question I’m...

 Ya'll know I love the stats but I thought I'd chill out on the nerd stuff this month and tell you what I'm noticing in the market. 1. Overpriced homes are sitting on the market and having to do price reductions. 2. If you like a home OFFER FAST....Buyers are having success writing same day offers with short acceptance deadlines.3. Sellers should know It may take more...