Happy ThanksGIVING

Thanksgiving evokes images of being with family, eating lots of good food and the start of the holiday season. Many people are raised to count your blessings, and name what you are thankful for. Well, sure that's one part of Thanksgiving, but were missing out if we stop there.

ThanksGIVING is just that ThanksGIVING not ThanksFULL. If everyone could just look around them and be more giving, I think we could change the world one person at a time. Each day we have countless opportunities on making someone smile. Instead of asking the same old phrase "How are you doing?" to someone and not really being interested in their response, how about asking someone about their family, recreation, job, or dreams? Taking the time to ask, and really connect with someone gives someone something very valuable your time.

The blessings you get by just giving someone your time is huge. Here are some quick ideas: talk with the grocery store clerk, wave at someone while you are driving, chat with people in line while you are waiting or sitting in a waiting room. There are so many people who especially during the holidays, need a reminder that they are not forgotten and they are loved.

I challenge you to try this! My goal is to really listen more, and love people by giving.

5 Things to know when buying a home

1. Get a realtor who can be your trusted adviser. Ask lots of questions~ Do they know your area that you want to live in? Can they be reached after hours and on weekend? Do they have a website? Get a list of their past clients. How many homes have they sold this year? Keep in mind that the seller, not the buyer, pays the commission. Get a realtor who is a buyer's agent who can protect your interests, find a home for you and guide you through the buying process – from negotiating a price to navigating home inspections.
2. Get pre-approved for a loan before you start looking at homes. This will save you lots of time since you will know your price range of homes. Buy the house you know that you can afford. This can be different from the price that your mortgage company believes that you can afford. The less expensive house means that you can make your payments and have a little left in your pocket. 
3. The asking price is just that. The home might be overpriced. Have your realtor do a market analysis on the home. Are there other fees associated with owning the home? HOA? Covenants? Who takes care of the road? Fire mitigation?
4. How are the neighbors? Are they animal and kid friendly? Is there place junky? Find out about other home sales in the area.
5. Once you have the home under contract, get the house inspected and checked for radon. Even if you are a builder, it's best to get it inspected. They check everything from light switches to roof leaks to crawl spaces. They are very thorough. Your realtor can then negotiate and get the items fixed before the sale closing or if the seller doesn't want to fix them they can give you money back at closing for you to fix them.

Buying a home is one big decision and I'd love to help you!

Should I sell my home in the fall?

One question I get asked frequently is "Should I sell my home now in the fall"?

As with every decision in life, there are pros and cons. Many factors need to be taken into consideration before deciding when to sell a home. Many homeowners believe selling a home during the fall or winter months is not a good idea and that they need to wait till spring. This is not true.

Here are several reasons why choosing to sell your home now may be a better decision than waiting until the spring:

~ Less Competition- In the Mancos, Colorado area, there are a shortage of homes for sale now. The fewer number of comparable homes for sale, the greater the probability that a buyer will look at your home and thus your probability of receiving an offer that is higher.

~Homebuyers are out there- Serious buyers look no matter what time of year it is. If you are waiting to list your home, you might be missing out on a buyer. Worried about moving in the winter? Snow doesn't start sticking on the ground here till Christmas time, so with our great fall weather is a great time to pack.

~Kids are back in school- Your house will stay cleaner and you have time to declutter!

~Beautiful Colors- Outside it's bursting with color and just a little staging will make your home look beautiful too.

~Mortgage Rates are low- With a 30 year fixed mortgage hovering around 3.75%, that is great news for buyers.

Fall is a great time to sell a home. If you would like to know what your home is worth, give me a call for a free market analysis 970-759-2540. I'm here to help!

www.MancosHomes.com

Gotta love Southwest Colorado!

How's the real estate market in SW Colorado?

2016 is whipping past.  Compared to 2015 real estate sales in Montezuma County are pretty much the same as last year.  Year to date (end of June) we have had 172 sales and that's just up 3 from last year.  The good news is that average sales price is rising in the county.  Jan-June last year, the average sales price was $174,933 and this year $191,542.  Homes are selling quicker.  Last year the average days on market was 190 and this year 151.  There are 309 homes for sale throughout the county.  

The Mancos market continues to be strong.  There are a shortage of homes for sale.  Currently just 8, of which one is a foreclosure.  Last year Jan-end of June there were 11 home sales intown Mancos and this year 6. Average days on market for a home is currently 126 days.  

Land sales continue to be slow.  Last year we had 39 sales between Jan-June and this year a few more 47.  The shocker is that there are 327 parcels of land for sale in the county.  Very few buyers are wanting to build a home from scratch.  

I appreciate your referrals and if I can ever be of any help, please let me know!!

Info from CREN (Colorado Real Estate Network) MLS

Top 10 Things to do with the Kids this Summer!!

Got kids and need some great ideas to keep them entertained?  Here are my top 10 things to do with kids!

1.  Mesa Verde National Park-  Kids love climbing the ladders, looking at the ruins and maybe learn something too! More info: www.nps.gov/meve

2.  Mancos River-  Head to Cottonwood Park and let the kids go swimming!  Great dug out swimming hole!

3.  Chicken Creek Area-  Take your bike or hiking shoes and enjoy a picnic by the lake in the Pines. 

More info: www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/chicken-creek

4.  Rimrock Outfitters-  Saddle up and enjoy breathtaking views. 

More Info: www.rimrockoutfitters.com

5.  Cortez Outdoor Pool-  Want to just let kids play, while you read a book?  Head to the pool!

More info:  www.cityofcortez.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Cortez-Municipal-Outdoor-Pool-41 in Cortez

6.  Ziplining in Durango with a trip to Fuzziwigs Candy Shop!  Nothing better to get your adrenaline up and then a treat!  More info: www.zipliningdurangoco.com and www.sweetsfromheaven.com

7.  Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad- Check out the museum and take a ride to Silverton! More info: www.durangotrain.com

8.  McPhee Resevoir- Got a boat, paddleboard or just go swimming!  Also great camping spots!

More info:  www.recreation.gov/camping/mcphee-recreation.../r/campgroundDetails.do?

9.  Hiking- Lots of treasures from rocks to horny toads can be found!  

More info: www.mesaverdecountry.com/sites/default/files/MesaVerdeHiking.pdf

10.  Camping- Get away from electronics!  Camp at Transfer, or up by Echo Basin! 

 More info: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/sanjuan/recarea/?recid=43262

Summer is in Full Swing!

Summer in Mancos: cool nights 50 degrees and warm days 84 make it an awesome place to live.  We celebrated the wknd of the 4th by going to the mountains, bbq's, and going for a swim at McPhee Reservoir by Dolores.  My family raises horses and I got one last week so evenings are spent riding.  My Dad taught me to ride before I could walk and I have wonderful memories of riding with him.  Horses are in my in blood.  The evening of the 4th was spent watching the fireworks at the park in Mancos.  Fireworks going off right above us!  Hope you made wonderful memories too.  

Buying and selling homes is in full swing! Interest rates are low with a 30 year fixed at 3.625%.  Whether you are looking to buy or sell, I'm here to help!

Summertime fun in SW Colorado

What do you do to have fun?  Just recently my daughter, Kia and I hiked up towards Ice Lakes about Silverton, Co to escape the heat.  In Mancos, it's been around 93 for the last week so cool mountain air is what we needed! Kia just escaped 117 in Phx!  One of the best parts of the hike was trail running down hill in 60 degree sprinkling weather!  

My one son James, has been busy working at a ranch irrigating, bucking hay and has escaped to fish at Jackson Lake above Mancos.  Nicholas my youngest is Mr. Basketball and has been in a camp at Ft. Lewis College in Durango for the week.  

Tomorrow, Mancos has a 1/2 Marathon, 5k, and a family run.  Hope to see you on the trail or enjoying all the vendors!

The 4 Corners has such an array of great summer activities and is one of the great reasons it's a wonderful place to call home.  I would love to help you turn your heart towards home.  

x

SOLD- 38355 Road K.7 Mancos, Colorado

I'm pleased to announce that I have helped the homeowner sell her home!  This home situated on 42 acres with a seasonal stream, privacy is in a perfect setting just 3 miles from Mancos.  My marketing plan attracted many buyers to the home, but many preferred a different design, or different price range.  

Currently, there is a shortage of homes for sale in the $300-$400k price and also intown Mancos.  If you want to sell, I'd be happy to help~Carrie Summers Baikie 970-759-2540.  

How to sell your home this Summer!

•  Tackle the obvious repairs.  Look at your home thru a buyer's eyes.  Broken windows, doors that don't shut properly, mice, chipping paint, holes?

• Hire a realtor who will listen to you, do a free market analysis and who can be reached.  So important!!

• Remove your junk and declutter.  Take 1/2 the stuff out of your closets.  Buyers like to see space.

• Depersonalize your home.  Take down family photos, your collectibles, and heirlooms.  Buyer's want to invision their stuff in your house.

• First impressions are huge.  Make the outside landscaping sparkle, clean the house really good, open window for fresh air and do not put in air freshners!
• Price your house to sell.  Only have about a $10k wiggle room.  If you don't get showings and offers within the first 30-60 days, it's priced to high!

Call me I'm here to help!  

$29,900 for 11.43 acres in Southwest Colorado

$29,900

        Incredible views of La Plata Mountains and only 10 minutes to Mancos or Cortez, Colorado!
                                                                            Peaceful!

Call me for more info:  Carrie Summers Baikie with Colorado Ranch & Home Realty  970-759-2540

How to choose your listing agent to sell your home.

Hiring a listing agent is crucial to your entire experience as a seller. The person you choose will be involved in preparing your home for sale,  establishing a listing price, marketing your property and negotiating the transaction.  

It's time to do some work.  

1.   Get recommendations and interview realtors.  Can they become your trusted adviser?   You need a realtor whom you can communicate easily, and who will listen to you.  Do they know your neighborhood well and have a good marketing plan to reach buyers who are not only interested in your home but are also qualified to buy it.

When you talk to neighbors and friends about their recommendations, ask them how easy it was to reach the agent when they had questions, and how much support and advice the agent gave them throughout the sales process.

 2.  How many sales did the realtor complete last year? Were these as sellers agent or buyer's agent? Were these sales in your area?

3.  What price range do they sell most of their homes?

4.  What was the average difference between sales price and list price? While this depends on your local market conditions, a realtor who often sells homes well below list price may not be advising sellers to price their homes correctly or may be inadequately marketing homes.

5.  What is your marketing plan for my home? How many websites will include information about my home? Where will you look for buyers?

6. Do you have advice for me about the condition of my home? Do you have expertise as a home stager or can you recommend that I hire a professional contractor to do some repair? Should I get my home pre-inspected? 

7.  How often should I expect to hear from you when my home is on the market?

8.   Will you provide me with regular feedback and updates about potential buyers?

Pricing Advice

The most important conversation you will have with your agent is about the price of your home. The  realtor you choose should present you with a comprehensive market analysis that compares similar homes that are on the market, have sold recently and have been taken off the market.

You are paying for your realtor's knowledge and expertise, so listen carefully to the advice you receive and choose your agent thoughtfully.

Why isn't my home selling?

Many people wonder why their home isn't selling.  Buyers start the process by looking at size of home, style, location and price.  Are you priced right?  Call me for a free market analysis!  

Super Bowl 50! Go Broncos!!

This Sunday, the Denver Broncos vs Carolina Panthers!  It's the 50th Superbowl! Before the game, why not take a few runs and enjoy the sunshine?   Purgatory Ski Area is celebrating their 50th year this weekend and on Sunday tickets will be $50! This way you won't feel guilty in having all those fattening snacks!  Check out the links below for more info!  Go Broncos!! Also the chaplain for the Broncos is Luther Ellis, a Mancos native.   Mancos, CO is a great place to live!!

https://www.purgatoryresort.com/50th/

  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/12/25/broncos-new-chaplain-offers-both-spiritual-financial-help/77908580/

http://college.usatoday.com/2016/02/03/super-bowl-snack-recipes/

http://www.MancosHomes.com

Got Snow??

Since before Christmas the Mancos area has been getting lots of snow!  Currently at my office I have 20 inches of settled snow, and it's still snowing.  Shoveling is a good work out.  Take it slow, and be sure and bend at the knees to prevent stressing your back.  Walking around can be dangerous with all the snow and ice.  Wear proper shoes!  One of the major concerns is snow on your roof!  Removing it is very dangerous. Roof rakes are a great tool.  Please read the following and stay safe!  
http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/roofing-gutters-siding/snow-removal-roof/

Here's a picture of me doing one of my favorite things in the snow~teaching kids how to ski at Adaptive Sports at Purgatory!