Come visit Glade Park!

Glade Park CO is a great little community about 15 miles outside of Grand Junction CO. It is a spectacular drive up the Colorado National Monument to access Glade Park and that access is free through the monument as long as you don't make any "pit stops". You do gain quite a bit of elevation so the temperatures are around 10-15 degree's cooler which is nice if you are looking to escape the heat of the summer. Once you reach Glade Park there is a little general store that offers the staples of gas, snacks, and gifts. If you head south from the store you will have access to camping at Mud Spring's campground and primitive camping and fishing at Enoch Lake. If you head west from the Glade park store you will find a great little hiking trail at Miracle Rock. A fun activity for the family is the volunteer fire department's movie under the stars and the best part is that admission is free, just be sure to order some food to support the fire department. If you would like more information please feel free to contact us or visit the local Glade Park website.

Did you also know that there is some awesome properties on Glade Park for sale? This one in particular is my favorite!

We would love to help you discover Glade Park. Contact Josh today at 970-261-2014.

Multiple Offer Time!

With the recent upswing in Grand Junction's real estate market we are beginning to see situations where our buyer's and seller's are seeing  multiple offers on properly priced properties in certain price points. Historically low interest rates and low inventory are a part of the equation that makes this happen. We have some advise for both buyers and sellers. We first advise all of our buyers to get pre-qualified with a reputable lender for their financing before we even get started looking at homes. This will allow us to immediately act should you find your dream home. If this first essential step isn't followed you won't be even in the running should there be a multiple offer situation. Second you need to put your best foot forward with your offer. You may only get one shot so make it the most attractive as you can with the offering price and seller concessions should you need any. A good agent should also have you write down a few reasons why you would be a great new owner of the home. Some things you might include is that you would take care of the property, be a good neighbor, or other reasons why the property is a perfect fit for you and/or your family. Don't forget that the seller might have an emotional attachment to the property and sometimes the bottom line isn't the only thing that will affect their decision. We work closely with our buyers in Mesa County to educate and counsel them on the process of purchasing a new home. For home sellers we recommend pricing the property correctly. If it is priced correctly it will create urgency and the possibility of multiple offers increases. With multiple offers there will be various factors that will affect the contract that you select. Price, seller paid concessions, closing date, deadlines, if financing is involved, or if it is a cash deal are examples. We as listing agents review all of this information with you so you can make the best decision with regards to which purchase contract to select or counter. Your agent should also thank and encourage the buyer's who's offers weren't selected to be in a back up position in case something should happen in the future with the contract that was selected. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about buying, selling, or investing in Grand Junction!

Grand Junction Real Estate Apps for Iphone, Ipads, and Droids

The Harris Group at Keller Williams Colorado West Realty is proud to announce the arrival of our hyper local property search app for IPhone, Ipad, or Android Devices! We know that the consumer wants a access to properties in real time even when they are on the go. Our app utilizes GPS location based software that will pull the property details around you so you will always know the price of the neighborhood or area you are in. You may also view mobile enhanced photo galleries, set and save search criteria, and have one touch access to schedule showings or contact us with questions. Simply click HERE to get started! We are always striving to deliver excellent customer service along with the most cutting edge tools available for our clients. If you know of anyone buying, selling, or investing in real estate around Grand Junction CO please contact us! If you have a QR Code reader you can also scan the following for more info.

Home Inspections in Colorado

So you have been prequalified for your financing,  found the property with your Buyer's Agent, negotiated price and terms of the home sale. Now what? One of the most important items within the dates and deadlines of the contract is the period where you have the opportunity to inspect the property. Some people wish to complete the inspection on their own, while others hire professional home inspectors. We always recommend the use of a home inspector. Home inspectors can do a thorough walk through of the property and let you know if there are items that are or could pose a problem in the future. Typically the home inspection should be completed within the first 10-15 days after the contract is signed depending upon how long the contract period until closing is. We recommend that our clients do the home inspection as quickly as possible after title review because if potential items come up we want to be able to address them in a timely manner to make best use of both the Buyer and Seller's time. If items do come up we will execute a notice to correct. These items are presented to the seller and then they have 1 of 3 options. They can agree to do all the items, none of the items, or present an alternative resolution. Depending on how the seller responds to the inspection items will determine the next step. If they agree to correct the items great, no other action is required. If they refuse to complete the items or offer an alternative resolution the buyer will then need to respond that they are either terminating or accepting the terms of the sellers response. The Colorado contract to buy and sell real estate has two different dates that deal with inspections. The first is the inspection objection and the second is inspection resolution. The inspection objection date is the latest date you can object to the items under the terms of the contract. The inspection resolution is the date that all parties to the contract must agree to the terms of the inspection resolution. If no resolution is reached by that date the contract automatically terminates. If you have questions regarding this process or are in the market to buy, sell, or invest in homes in Grand Junction Colorado please don't hesitate to contact us at 970-261-2014 or visiting us at our website.

I'm thinking about buying a home in Grand Junction CO. What is the next step?

We often get asked the question "I'm thinking about buying a home, what do I need to do next?" We love it when people ask that question because it shows that they have put some thought into reaching the goal of home ownership and aren't afraid to ask the first important question of many when it comes to purchasing real estate. First things first. Get qualified for your financing. You may have been searching the Internet for properties and doing the online mortgage calculators, but you really need to speak with a professional to gauge exactly what amount you are approved for. Even if you are approved for more you will want to discuss the payments at certain price points and be comfortable with that payment before you start shopping. Another factor is the type of financing you are getting. Are you going conventional, FHA, or VA? It is important to know this as well, because the different types of loans have different attributes that can affect the type and condition of the home you purchase. Once you have settled on your financing the next step is to contact a real estate professional who has experience in the area's you are thinking about purchasing in. Don't be afraid to interview agents. Once you feel comfortable with the agent you select you will want to engage them as your buyer's agent to advocate for you throughout the real estate buying process. Don't be afraid to research the area's you are interested in. Your buyer's agent should obviously know about these area's property values and what has been going on in the market, but it never hurts to do some investigating of your own. Your agent should start looking for suitable properties that fit your criteria. A few agents will give you access to a VIP buyers portal that will also allow you to search properties online at your leisure and save the ones of interest. Once you find the "one" your agent will discuss the offer, contract, property disclosures and the various other details of the real estate transaction. We will discuss this process in depth in future posts. If you are thinking about buying a home or other real estate in Grand Junction CO we would love to apply for the job and answer any questions you may have!

How is the real estate market in Grand Junction & Surrounding Area's? Let's look at the second quarter of 2013 for the answer!

The second quarter of this year produced 1004 sales in Mesa County. This is an increase of 7% when compared to the 939 sales for the same quarter of 2012. For the first half of 2013 there have been 1725 sales, a 5.5% increase from the 1635 sales for the first half of 2012. This is encouraging and we are looking to have a great 3rd quarter as well.

The dollar volume for the second quarter of this year was $202.6 million. This equates to a 9.5% increase from the second quarter of 2012 with $185 million in sales. The dollar volume for the first half of 2013 reflects a 9.3% increase from the first 6 months of 2012, from $317.8 million to $347.5 million. There were 7 sales over $1 million during the second quarter of 2013, accounting for $12 million in volume. Year to date there have been 13 transactions at this level, accounting for $25 million, down slightly when compared to the 18 sales totaling $28.9 million in the same period of 2012. You can research your own area by clicking HERE on our Market Insider report.

The Grand Junction Area Realtor's Association reports the monthly median price of residential property for the second quarter at $162,400 for April, $165,000 for May, and $180,000 for June. The monthly median price continues to trend upward for residential properties sold through the multiple listing service (MLS).

Thank you to Heritage Title Company for compiling much of the information above from the Grand Junction Realtor Association. If you are looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate in Grand Junction or Mesa County please visit us at www.harrisgrouprealty.com or simply click HERE!

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Ends!!

Time is running out on the first time homebuyer tax credit. It is set to expire on April 30th 2010. Now is the time to take advantage of this great program designed to stimulate the housing market. Qualified first time homebuyers are eligible for up to an $8000.00 tax credit if they have a binding contract by April 30th that closes on or before June 30th. This isn't a mere tax deduction, but a true credit that has the potential to put that money directly in your pocket. Current homeowners are also eligible for a $6500.00 tax credit as well if they have lived in their current home 5 of the last 8 years and purchase a new principle residence. You will want to discuss this tax credit with your CPA or tax professional for futher details and to see if you qualify. We would love the opportunity to earn your business. Please call or email us to request more information!