Turn your tax refund into a new home!

Excited about getting a tax refund and thinking about the 60" TV you can buy or thinking of buying that new couch?  Well how about using it to buy a home!

Renters are typically paying more per month than home owners!  Many people think they need a down payment equal to 20% of the purchase price to buy a house.  Well, that is definitely NOT the case! There are FHA programs than require 3.5% and also first time home buyers programs with just 1% of the purchase price!

Let's say you were looking to purchase a home for $250,000.  This means your down payment for a conventional mortgage of 20% would be $50k.  Many lenders have loans for less than 20%.  FHA program loans requiring 3.5% down payment would be $8750 or home assistance programs would be $2500!  There are also closing costs to be paid, but you may be able to negotiate for the sellers to pay a part or all of the closing costs.  

If you're tired of renting, use your tax refund to buy a place of your own. The 60" TV can wait until next year when you have your own place to put it in!  

I'm here to help!  Carrie Summers MancosHomes.com  970-759-2540

Country Living Home for Sale

Southwest Colorado Home For Sale!

Selling? Things to do and NOT do.

Here's some tips of things to do and NOT do when selling your home.

1.  Don't try to sell it by yourself.  For sale by owner homes sell typically for 20% less than with a Realtor.  Plus do you know what to disclose? You could be opening up a huge can of worms by trying to do it yourself. 

2.  Have the Realtor do a market analysis.  Look at similar homes that are on the market, and that have sold to set the price.

3.  Once listed, make sure you have the home looking it's best.  Clean up the front yard, maybe a fresh coat of paint on the deck, and declutter!  Do not plug in air freshners to cover up a smell.  Remove the cat litter boxes, make sure all animals are outside of home and won't bug or bite a potential buyer. 

4.  Allow the Realtor to put up a sign.  I understand you don't want "looky lous" however you want it to sell so we need to get the word out.  Share your listing with all your friends, co workers and share on social media. 

5.  When you do have a showing, do not be around.  Buyers want to feel comfortable looking around and do not want a tour or story from you. Put a snack on the counter for Buyers with a note, saying "Enjoy the view"!  You want the Buyers to linger and not feel rushed.  Put together a list of things you love about the home and leave on the counter along with a plat map of the home. 

In today's market it is a Seller's Market since there are few homes for sale.  Be sure to put your best foot forward to get top dollar. 

For more tips, please give me a call.  Carrie Summers 970-759-2540  MancosHomes.com

Looking for a new home? Covenants- Pros and Cons

Are you shopping for a new home?  Many people contact asking for homes or land without covenants.  Covenants are rules that restrict your use.  Sounds bad, however without them you might be buying a home and it turns into your worst nightmare. 

When land is subdivided in Montezuma County (Mancos, Cortez and Dolores), the county requires covenants for setbacks, weed control and fire mitigation.  It's very important you understand the pros and cons of covenants.

Recently I showed a home to a potential buyer and once looking at the neighbors we soon found out that their place was in disrepair and had cars coming and going throughout the day.  If there were covenants it might have prevented this kind of activity.  I have story after story, of unhappy homeowners trying to live in an area that doesn't fit. 

Sure you want to do whatever you want on the place you own, however we all have to live together in harmony unless you are miles away from others. 

Most covenants have restrictions to building size, how many animals,  type of home you can build, and road maintenance.  If you were living in an area with covenants, you  have grounds to get the neighbors to abide by the rules.  Without covenants, you can call the sheriff however getting them the neighbors to change, might just cause more friction.

It's best to do your homework, before you buy.  Call me, Carrie Summers, I'm here to help.  970-759-2540

Priceless Memories

The 4 Corners is a great hub for day trips or weekend getaways to explore the desert of Canyonlands in Utah, get lost in the mountain peaks, and play in the many rivers and lakes, like the Dolores River and Navajo Lake.  With over 300 days of sunshine a year it's a great place to call home and make memories.

My parents gave me the love of riding horses and the mountains.  Each summer, our family would pack up and ride 20 miles into the mountains and camp for a week to 10 days.  My first pack trip was when I was two years old.  I rode my own horse.  When I got tired, my Dad would just put me in front of his saddle and I'd take a nap while we kept exploring the mountains.  Some of the best days of my life were there in the mountains.  There were 6 of us and we loved being so far up in the mountains that we would rarely see another soul.  Yes, there were times we spent the day in our tent, reading, playing cards and napping, while it poured outside. Many mornings there was frost, so hunkering around the campfire was a necessity! 

This is a picture of me when I was three on one of our pack trips.  The memories made are priceless from sitting with my Dad on the hillside watching the horses graze, sucking on lemon drops while we rode along, eating fresh trout that my brother caught, to cuddling in our sleeping bags and endless more.  My Mom journaled each of our trips, and yes I have them! 

Life is precious, so please take time to breathe in the wonderful world we live in.  MancosHomes.com

Are you looking for a new home?

Have you been looking at homes online and dreaming about a new home?  If you have started searching, you might be frustrated.  Buying a home is a very important decision and you want to make sure you are doing everything right.   Here are some tips.

1.  Get prequalified for a loan-  I recommend talking to a few lenders and see what they offer.  First time home buyer, or veteran?  There are no down payment loans out there for you!  Once you are prequalified than you are ready to start the search.
2.  Hire a Realtor who will become your trusted advisor.  They should know the area,  are easy to reach, and can work around your schedule. Get references, and google them.  Do they have a website,  and Facebook page? Get a list of their homes they have sold, and speak to their buyers.
3. Your Realtor will search all listings on the internet, for sale by owners and will be able to help you narrow down your search.  They will be able to tell you if a home is over priced, the history of the home, and do comparisons.
4.  Once you find a possible home,  drive by it and go see it at different times of the day.  Are there barking dogs,  strange neighbors or outside lighting that you don't like in the area?  This step is so important.  Many people don't want to live in a subdivision with covenants.  Well if you don't there is nothing stopping your neighbors property to become junky, loud or a pig farm.  
5.  If after searching for a home you just can't find a suitable home, you might want to consider building.  Builders in Mancos are getting $150 a square foot, and a typical 5-10 acre lot will cost you around $65-90k.

Check me out on Zillow and ask about me at the coffee shop.  I'm here to help!