Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
Most Active
Here’s a question we sometimes hear…
“What is the most active price range in our market?”
For most of Northern Colorado, the range of $300,000 to $500,000 is far and away the most active (no surprise there). For example, in Fort Collins there are more than three times as many sales in this price range compared to the range of $500,000 to $700,000.
The one exception is Greeley. In Greeley the most active price range is under $300,000. This price range has twice as many sales as the $300,000 to $500,000 range. Why is this true for Greeley and not other places? You guessed it – it’s because the other locations don’t have much inventory under $300,000.
It’s interesting to note that in Fort Collins there are more sales in the $500,000 to $700,000 range than the under $300,000 range. This was not the case even one year ago.
The market is changing right before our eyes.
Home Decor Through The Decades
As we celebrate our 45th anniversary here at Windermere, we’re feeling a bit nostalgic. The fundamentals of helping our clients buy and sell homes haven’t changed much over the past 45 years, but the way we decorate our homes sure has. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore interior design trends from the past four decades—the good (farmhouse sinks), the bad (macramé owls), and the ill-advised (carpeted bathrooms!).
1970s
Inspired by the hippie movement, interior design in the 1970s centered around bringing the outdoors inside. Wood paneling could be found in bedrooms and basements alike, and wood accents adorned appliances in the kitchen.
Earth tones dominated throughout the house. If your refrigerator wasn’t avocado or burnt sienna and your shag carpet wasn’t harvest gold, you were not keeping up with the times.
1980s
In the 1980s, we wanted to make homes as cozy as possible, which for a lot of folks meant chintz, Laura Ashley–inspired florals, and tons of pastels.
The “country” look gained huge popularity during this decade as well. Even high-rise city apartments were filled with objects that seemed more at home on a ranch in Texas, including bleached cow skulls and weathered-wood dining tables and chairs.
1990s
Perhaps as a reaction to the excess of the decade before, the 1990s saw a rise in Japanese-inspired minimalism. Sparsely furnished rooms with rock gardens, clean lines, and simple colors were all the rage.
On the opposite end of that spectrum was the shabby chic craze. Distressed furniture, soft colors, and oversized textiles combined to create this look.
Texturized walls were also a big hit. Wall paper and paint brushes were out, and sponges became the way to get the chicest look for your home.
2000s
It’s hard to believe, but we’re nearly a decade out from the early aughts. And that perspective makes it easier to spot trends that felt of-the-moment only a few years ago but are waning in popularity today. One example is Tuscan-style kitchens. It seemed every new home—especially homes on the upper end of the market—included a kitchen with stone tiles, granite countertops, hanging vines, and beige and tan tones.
Another popular item from the early 2000s that is now facing a bit of a backlash is mason jars. Once a staple of homes looking to incorporate a rustic feel, mason jars are now so common in decorating both homes and restaurants that they no longer feel special or nostalgic.
Today
Trends are always evolving, but if you’re looking for some cutting-edge interior design ideas for 2018, here are a couple to consider.
Embrace super saturated colors, especially warmer tones like yellow and red. These bold hues no longer need to be saved for accent pieces like pillows or lamps. Larger pieces of furniture and entire walls make a bigger splash.
Incorporate geometric patterns. There’s really no wrong way to get on board with this trend. Whether your couch features large circles, you add patterned backsplash in your kitchen, or you cover your ceiling with octagonal wallpaper, geometric shapes will help your home feel fresh.
5 Deal Breakers that can blindside home buyers
Purchasing a home can be a complex endeavor for even the most well-prepared home buyer. You’ve diligently saved for your down payment, followed the market, researched agents and now you are ready to make an offer on your dream home. Don’t let these 5 “Deal Breakers” come between you and your new home.
-
- Big Purchases on Credit. It is tempting to buy the furniture for your new home or a new car for the garage before the sale closes. Take care if you are making these purchases on credit. Large purchases on credit can have a major impact on your credit profile which effects your mortgage application. It’s a better plan to wait until after closing or pay cash for these transactions or you may be putting that furniture in a different living room than you originally picked them out for.
-
- Overpaying. Before your bank will approve your mortgage they will appraise the home you are purchasing. If they feel you are overpaying they are likely to decline your mortgage application. If you find yourself in this situation consult with your agent on renegotiating your offer to be more in line with the bank’s appraised value.
-
- Purchasing too close to Foreclosure. If you are making an offer on a house which is facing foreclosure be sure to have a closing date set before the foreclosure date. Have your agent work with the lender to structure closing before the house goes back to the bank and into foreclosure.
-
- IRS liens. You’ve heard the old saying “Death and Taxes”. Back taxes and liens can derail your attempts to get financing for a mortgage so be sure to have your books in order before filing your loan application.
-
- Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE). CLUE is a database of insurance claims for both people and property. Your home insurance rates are determined by the information about you and the property you plan to purchase which is contained in this report. Past claims for water damage, falling trees and even dog bites from present and past owners can multiply your insurance rates. Consult your agent about the CLUE report for your future home as soon as possible once your home purchase offer is accepted.
When purchasing a home there will be challenges which you can plan for and the unexpected hurdles. By educating yourself as a consumer and choosing a well trained real estate agent you can avoid many of the pitfalls of 21st century home ownership.
What about you? Tell us if you have had any “deal breaker” experiences.
Why Not White Marble?
Are you thinking about replacing your kitchen or bathroom countertops? The choices are endless; tile, granite, soapstone, wood, or maybe marble? White marble often gets a bad rap because it’s a more porous metamorphic stone than most (which means it’s prone to stains and scratches), but we beg to differ, and here’s why.
White marble is as timeless as it is modern. Adding white marble to your kitchen or bathrooms is like bringing home flowers for your significant other; always a good idea. It looks great on kitchen counters, but also just about anywhere in your bathrooms, from the floor to the shower walls. Adding white marble countertops to a dressing vanity in bedrooms is also a great way to incorporate it throughout your house.
After you’ve made the decision to install white marble into your home, you’ll need to decide on a finish. Honing gives a matte finish, whereas polishing creates a shiny, reflective surface. If you want to reduce etching, choose a honed finish instead of a polish. If you don’t mind some added etching, then polished white marble is as stunning as it sounds.
How do you keep your marble happy? Make sure to apply a seal prior to using it. To reduce staining, wipe away spills immediately, and only use a neutral detergent to clean your marble. These simple things will keep your white marble in shipshape condition.
When it comes to your marble, it’s more like you than you think. Marble goes through good times and bad times and some scars fade better than others. It will never be perfect, but in the end, we think you’ll love it—imperfections and all.
Check out white marble looks we love on Pinterest.
Fantastic Ranch-Style Home in Loveland!
Fantastic 3 bedroom 2 bathroom ranch-style home at 205 W. 50th St in Loveland’s popular Ranch Acres neighborhood. Boasting a large kitchen, separate dining area and spacious living room with a wood-burning fireplace, this home has a great balance of updates and vintage charm. Your new home sets on over a quarter acre lot with a huge yard and large shade trees… not to mention two storage sheds, a sprawling wood deck and fire pit. Oversized two-car attached garage. A great home at a great value! Call Jon Holsten for your private showing at 970-237-2752 or click the link below for more details.
http://windermerenoco.com/listing/77679079
18 Days
We now measure inventory levels in terms of days.
Typically we measure in months. For instance, a “balanced market” is when there is 4 to 6 months of inventory currently for sale. Meaning that, in a balanced market, it would take 4 to 6 months to sell every home that is currently on the market.
Anything less than 4 months is a seller’s market. Certainly, when we measure in days, we are in an extreme seller’s market.
Today the Greeley market has 18 days of inventory, Fort Collins has 27 days, Loveland has 30, and Windsor has 51.
These are all lower than a year ago. For example, Greeley at this time last year had 27 days of inventory.
But this statistic can be misleading. Sometimes people assume that the extreme seller’s market applies to all price ranges and all locations.
Not true. When we drill down we find sub-patterns that are revealing. For example, homes in Loveland priced over $500,000 have 3 months of inventory and homes in Fort Collins over $750,000 have 5 months.
Because inventory levels tend to increase as prices increase, there becomes a distinct advantage for the move-up buyer. Today, many people can sell in an extreme seller’s market and move up to a price range with less competition and more selection.
Great Condo with 2 Patios in Fort Collins!
Beautifully maintained, end unit townhome style condo at 705 E Drake Rd N-40 in Scotch Pines. This great condo backs to green space and has 2 patios, one in the front and one in the back, so you can enjoy the outdoors. Just minutes from CSU, shopping, and entertainment, this location cannot get any better. The HOA covers all of the exterior maintenance so you can spend your weekends doing things you enjoy! Come see this amazing for yourself! Call Anali Siegle for your private showing at 970-829-8818 or click the link below for more details.
http://windermerenoco.com/listing/77420570
52.8 Acres of Land in Fort Collins!
With endless mountain views at 6015 S Timberline Rd . This underdeveloped site is an incredible investment/development opportunity. Located in a prime location in Fort Collins, it is currently zoned FA1. Surrounding properties have been rezoned to LMN, with all multifamily development. Backs to Southridge golf course. No showings of the house until under contract. Also available for purchase at market value are 10 shares of CBT and 1 share of New Mercer Ditch. $500K of water rights. Call Kyle Basnar for more information at 970-481-5689 or click the link below for more details.
http://windermerenoco.com/listing/77374327
Move In Ready Home in the Heart of Fort Collins!
Welcome Home to 401 Flicker Dr located in Central Fort Collins. This 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom home is close to CSU, The CSU Vet Hospital, The Max Station and offers a large lot with easy access to Mid Town, trails and shopping. Newer roof, kitchen, updated windows and paint. This home is a great investment and is move in ready. Taking Back Up Offers. Call Chris Guillan for your private showing at 970-310-9357 or click the link below for more details.
Beautiful Ranch Style Home on .3 Acres
This impeccably cared for home 7407 Rosecroft Dr situated on .3 acres with a fenced yard in Belmont Ridge awaits. The gorgeous 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom ranch home features a Great room with a vaulted ceiling, a formal dining room, breakfast nook and 3 car garage. The master retreat showcases a double sided fireplace, adjoining a 5 piece master bathroom, with a beautifully finished river rock shower. Entertain friends and family in the finished basement which is plumbed for a wet bar. This home is better than NEW! Call Rondi duPont for a private showing or click the link below for more details.
