4 Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out

If you’re searching for a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, it probably won’t be long until you find the perfect place.

And when you do, you really want your offer to stand out. If it doesn’t, you run the risk of losing your dream home to another buyer.

4 Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out

Come up with a large earnest money deposit
Offer to rent the house to the seller for a while
Be flexible on your closing date
Pay your own closing costs

Come Up With a Large Earnest Money Deposit

The larger your earnest money deposit is, the more likely your offer is to stand out to the seller. Typically, you can expect to pay between 2 and 5 percent of a home’s sales price – and to stand out, you want to be on the higher end of that spectrum.

Offer to Rent the House to the Seller for a While

If the seller is working on his or her own timeline, it might be beneficial for you to offer to let them rent it for a limited time. Their timeline might hinge on a new house being completed, a work relocation or a number of other factors.

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Be Flexible on Your Closing Date

If it’s not going to throw you off, be flexible on your closing date. Sometimes sellers need just a few extra days (or a month) before they can comfortably close – and if you offer them that flexibility, your offer will stand out.

Pay Your Own Closing Costs

Rather than asking the seller to pay your closing costs, offer to take care of them yourself. That puts more money in the seller’s pocket – and if you’re the only buyer who’s offered to pay them, you might just win the home.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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3 Tips for Buying a Home From a Motivated Seller

If you’re buying a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, you’ll probably see at least a handful of listings that say “motivated seller.” (Read What Does “Motivated Seller” Mean? for more information.)

Like any real estate transaction, there’s a good chance that if you love the house, other people love the house, too. But when you’re working with a motivated seller, here’s how you can give yourself an edge over the other bidders.

3 Tips for Buying a Home From a Motivated Seller

Be flexible on the closing date
Offer a big earnest money deposit
Pay your own closing costs

Be Flexible on the Closing Date

If you can be flexible on the closing date, by all means, give that to the seller. Sometimes the seller has a very specific timeline, and it could work in your favor if yours is the only offer that includes that flexibility.

Offer a Big Earnest Money Deposit

It’s pretty standard to come up with between 2 and 5 percent of a home’s sales price for an earnest money deposit. The higher yours is, the more likely the buyer is to realize you’re completely serious about your offer. Try to be on the high end of that standard spectrum – or higher.

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Pay Your Own Closing Costs

A lot of buyers ask sellers to pay their closing costs, but if you pay your own, you’re leaving the seller with more money in his or her pocket. That’s a tough deal to pass up.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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What Does “Motivated Seller” Mean?

When you’re buying a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, you’ll encounter real estate listings that say “motivated seller.”

But what does motivated seller mean, and how can it benefit you as a buyer?

What Does “Motivated Seller” Mean?

A motivated seller is a seller who needs to sell the home quickly. (Not all sellers are in a rush to sell, but if you see that they’re motivated in the listing description, it’s a good indicator.)

In many cases, sellers are so motivated because:

The original owner died, and the sellers are heirs who just want to get rid of the home
The sellers are divorcing
The sellers are relocating for work or another reason
The home has been on the market for a while

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The listing description might not say that the seller is motivated, though – sometimes you can tell without that language. When a house is staged and move-in ready, and the listing photos were taken professionally, you can tell that the seller is interested in selling; he or she isn’t just putting the home on the market and seeing what type of offers come in.

When sellers are willing to negotiate, you know for sure that they’re motivated to sell.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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Pet Safety During Your Move

When you’re a pet parent who’s buying a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, your primary concern is your four-legged family members’ safety.

Check out these pet safety tips for moving.

Pet Safety During Your Move

Make sure your pets are chipped and registered
Prep them for the car ride
Board your pets if you can
Acclimate your pet to your new home

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Make Sure Your Pets Are Chipped and Registered

Anything can happen during a move – even your beloved pet slipping out the door while you’re carrying boxes out to the truck. Make sure your pets are chipped and registered before you move, and make sure everyone’s wearing a collar.

Prep Your Pets for the Car Ride

If your pets aren’t too used to the car, take them for a few rides before the big day. Make sure they’re properly restrained, and take them to places they love (like the dog park). That way, they’ll associate car rides with something paws-itive. (We couldn’t resist.)

Board Your Pets if You Can

If it’s possible, board your pets for moving day. You’ll minimize the chances of an accidental escape, and your pet will be less stressed watching the comings and goings.

Acclimate Your Pets to Your New Home

Moves shock pets. Although you’ve been planning it for some time, there’s no way your pet can understand what’s going on. When you get there, allow your pet to explore. Place favorite toys in different rooms, bring plenty of treats, and give your four-legged family member extra attention to make things easier.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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What is a Fixer-Upper Mortgage?

If you’re like many people searching for a home for sale in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Snowmass or Woody Creek, you know that you’ll need a mortgage – and if you’re a first-time buyer, you probably also know that there’s a shortage of move-in-ready homes you can find that fit within your budget.

Here’s the deal: You might want to try a fixer-upper mortgage.

What is a Fixer-Upper Mortgage?

Really called a “renovation loan,” a fixer-upper mortgage can be used to buy a home and, at the same time, make structural and cosmetic improvements.

There are two types of these loans widely available: FHA 203(k) and HomeStyle.

FHA 203(k) Loans

Designed for primary residences only, FHA 203(k) loans require a minimum credit score of 500 and a down payment of at least 10 percent. If you have a credit score of 580 or above, you could put down as little as 3.5 percent.

You can’t use these loans for things the FHA considers luxuries (like swimming pools), but you can use them to renovate a home and make it more livable.

HomeStyle Loans

A Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan can be used on a primary residence, a second home or an investment property. You must have a credit score of at least 620 to borrow this type of loan, and you have to have a down payment of either 3 or 5 percent (it depends on whether you’ll live in the home, you’re a first-time buyer, or you have low or moderate income).

There aren’t a lot of restrictions on the improvements you can make with a HomeStyle loan, other than the fact that the improvements you do make are “permanently affixed to the real property (either dwelling or land).”

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

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3 Harmful Credit Myths That Are Hurting Your Chances to Buy a House

When you’re buying a home for sale, you need a decent credit score – but what if you were doing things that could actually harm your credit score without even knowing it?

Check out these three harmful credit myths that could be hurting your chances to buy a home.

3 Harmful Credit Myths That Are Hurting Your Chances to Buy a House

Credit Myth #1: No credit is better than poor credit.

Some people say you shouldn’t take on debt – and in a way, they’re right. But that’s not the whole story. You should never take on debt that you can’t handle is far better advice.

The point is that everything revolves around credit, from the stores you shop at every day to buying a home.

You need some kind of credit. But if you avoid using it at all, you’ll never develop a strong credit history – and that’s what lenders look at when they’re deciding whether to let you borrow the money to buy a home.

Credit Myth #2: Closing credit cards can boost your credit score.

Closing your credit card won’t boost your credit score. It’ll actually affect you negatively. That’s because the age of your credit plays a role in the way lenders look at your overall creditworthiness. Additionally, your available credit immediately drops – and that makes it look like lenders are willing to let you borrow less.

Credit Myth #3: Delinquent accounts disappear after you pay them off.

It’s definitely true that paying off past-due accounts will stop bill collectors from coming after you, but those accounts stay on your credit report for quite some time. Typically, it’s about 7 years before a late payment falls off your report – and it’s 10 for a repossession or bankruptcy.

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What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

When you’re buying a new home, you’ll have the chance to have the house and the property professionally inspected.

But what is the inspector looking for, and how will he or she let you know if there are issues?

What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

Your home inspector is on the lookout from the moment he or she pulls up to the house. Some of the things the inspector will check include:

HVAC systems
Interior plumbing
Electrical systems
Roof
Attic
Visible insulation
Walls, ceilings and floors
Windows and doors
Foundation
Basement
Structural components of the home

Your inspector will walk through with a huge checklist of items to make sure he or she doesn’t miss anything.

The inspector isn’t really on your side or the seller’s side. He or she is just there to provide you with a report of what’s going on in the house and whether things are malfunctioning.

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3 Surprising Things Most Buyers Don’t Know

When you’re in the market to buy a new home, there are a few things you should know. The problem: Nobody tells new buyers these things.

Here are three surprising things most buyers don’t realize.

3 Surprising Things Most Buyers Don’t Know

#1. Real estate agents work on commission, but as a buyer, you don’t pay it. Typically, the seller pays the real estate agent’s commission.

That means real estate agents don’t get paid if they don’t find you the right house.

#2. You don’t always need to work with a bank. Seller financing is a thing – and it occurs when the seller keeps the mortgage to the house, and you pay the seller monthly.

Seller financing isn’t always a great deal for buyers, though. Your contract will most likely state that after a few years, the seller will require the rest of the amount you owe in full so he or she can move on. That’s fine – but if you can’t come up with it, the seller will most likely foreclose on you, just like a bank would.

#3. No house is perfect. It’s great to find your dream home, but you need to know that even your dream home will have some flaws. It’s up to you to decide whether you can live with them or whether you’ll be able to fix them.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

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Can You Buy a Home With Bad Credit?

We’re not going to sugar-coat it: It’s harder to buy a home with bad credit than it is to buy a home with good credit.

But there is still good news: It can be done.

For most people, credit is the biggest obstacle to buying a new house. When your credit isn’t shining very brightly, you’ll have limited choices when it comes to home loans – and you won’t qualify for the best interest rates.

The best course of action is to work hard to clean up your credit while you save cash to use as a down payment. Follow these tips to begin boosting your score:

Don’t pick up any new debt. Don’t buy a new car, get new furniture or anything else that requires you to take out a loan or have credit extended to you.
Don’t apply for new credit cards. When you apply for credit, that’s a ding on your credit report. And when lenders see that you’re picking up new ways to get yourself into debt, they’ll be less likely to approve you for a mortgage loan.
Keep an eye on your credit report. Use a free tool like the one Credit Karma provides to monitor your scores weekly. You also need to dispute items that are dragging down your score that don’t belong to you, which happens far more often than you think.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

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What if You Don’t Have 20% Down?

If you’re like many renters, you really want to buy a home – but you don’t have enough cash to put down a 20 percent down payment.

The good news: You can still swing it.

Here’s how.

What if You Don’t Have 20 Percent Down?

Sure, 20 percent is the “gold standard” in buying a home. That means you pay 20 percent of the home’s purchase price up-front – but it’s not always necessary.

In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors(R), about 81 percent of Americans buy their first home with less than 20 percent down.

There are homebuyer programs that let you buy with as little as 3 percent down – and if you’re a qualifying veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, you could qualify to put nothing down by using your VA loan.

But that aside, you need to know there are some disadvantages to buying with less than 20 percent down, including:

A private mortgage insurance requirement. Your lender will most likely require you to buy PMI to protect the lender’s investment in your home.
You’ll have to take out a larger mortgage, which raises your monthly payments.
You may have to deal with higher interest rates and less-friendly terms than you would have if you put down more money.

Are You Buying a Home in Aspen or the Surrounding Communities?

We’d love to help you find your dream home here. Call us at 970-429-8275 or contact us online to let us know what you’re looking for so we can start searching right away.

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