| Happy August! Have you experienced the extreme heat of the summer this past month? Unfortunately, we’re dealing with fires & heat waves here in Colorado, so my thoughts go out to anyone who has been affected. I’ve been enjoying the cooler summer temps up in Fraser with lake hangs and creek dips. Things are Cooling in the Market though….thank goodness! Sales dropped & inventory increased. July saw a 12% decrease in sold homes and an increase in inventory (new listings were up 6%) – the market is normalizing! Rates are dropping! According to Zillow data, 30-year fixed rates are currently at 6.12% and with the upcoming September Fed meeting, there’s stipulation that more drops are coming. Are rents increasing? In the past year, rents in Denver have increased 0.6% in the past year & are still 11% higher than the national average. The number of rentals have increased though, giving more options to renters. The rental market in Denver is becoming more balanced, providing renters with more options. If you’re looking for a rental property, need help optimizing or analyzing your rental or help placing tenants in your current rental – reach out!  Colorado Lake Life Looking to buy that mountain home or investment property? Let’s chat – reach out! What is top of mind in August? What’s going on with US Jobs? Job growth has slowed, with only 114,000 jobs added in July (lower than expected) while unemployment rate has risen to 4.3%, the highest in nearly three years. Wage growth has also stagnated, with average hourly earnings increasing by only 3.6% over the past year. Despite these challenges, some resilience remains, as evidenced by the creation of 187,000 jobs in August! Are you sitting on equity? According to Census data, Americans are sitting on quite a bit of equity! With 39.3% owning their home outright & over 30% of americans having at least 50% or more equity. So if you’re thinking about selling, make sure to talk to a professional – like me – to understand how equity is in your home. Are we Happy or just Busy Working? Recent research from the World Health Organization suggests that when we trade our leisure time for long working hours, it can quite literally be fatal. Being stuck on a hamster wheel of work may mean you need to rethink fun and add more of it into your everyday life! Inflation Sucks – How do You make the Money You Have, Work for You? If you’re not investing in income producing assets (like Real Estate), stocks that compound and pay dividends or increasing your skills to make you more valuable in the marketplace, you may feel like your money isn’t working as hard as it could be.  Have Mountain Markets Changed? I’ve been visiting Fraser Colorado for years and years – skiing, hiking, enjoying the mountains. Since moving up here for Mike’s job, I’ve seen a significant change in the real estate landscape in the area, especially as I’ve been looking for a home for us. Here are the changes I’ve noticed in Fraser, Colorado. Home Prices: Surprise, they’ve increased! Driven by a combination of high demand and limited supply. Year-over-year appreciation for the Denver area, which influences Fraser, was 4.8% as of early 2024. And in 2014 (the year we moved to Colorado) the median home price in Granby was $300K and today, it’s $800K – time in the market!!! Market Activity: It’s cooling a bit up here, with the median listing home price around $1.1 million (February 2024), showing a downward trend of 5.6% year-over-year (Redfin). Additionally, homes are staying on the market longer – an average of 90-300 days! Inventory and Demand: The number of homes for sale has increased – while the number of homes sold has decreased Interest Rates: Interest rates, which had risen significantly, have begun to stabilize and are predicted to decrease slightly in 2024. This has started to reinvigorate buyer activity, leading to increased market engagement (The Colorado Home Realty Blog) (Property Management Denver). New Constructions: There has been a rise in new home constructions, with builders offering concessions to attract buyers. This trend is expected to continue as builders and sellers compete for home shoppers in 2024 (Houzeo). Looking to buy that mountain home or investment property? I’m servicing the Grand County Mountain areas – including Fraser, Winter Park, Granby – as well as the Denver Front Range – Arvada, Broomfield, Westminster,  Beautiful Rentals I’ve had the pleasure of not only managing my own rentals, but also having clients put their trust in me to secure tenants for their own properties. While I believe self-managing rentals can be done (and allows you to keep more of your cash-flow!) I am a firm believer of setting up systems to make things run smoothly, proactive fixes and outsourcing certain elements of landlording that you don’t have time for! Here are the things I can help clients with: Securing Professional Photography & Advertising the listing Coordinating Showings and Communicating with Prospects Qualifying & Vetting tenants Creating a House Manual Checking Employment & Rental References Executing a Lease Walking through tips & processes to set your rental up for success Reach out via email to discuss your rental needs! Happyhomescoltd@gmail.com  With Rates down…Maybe it’s Time!? Rates are finally moving….so is it time for you to move on up!? If you’re still on the fence, no problem, I’ve got an educational series that will inform, provide tips and give references. Education is power – so sign up to empower yourself! Sign up for my 7 month Email Series that will Help You Prepare! |
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| I was On a Podcast!!! Full-Time Employee to Full-Time Real Estate! |
 Tips & Teachings This summer has been amazingly full, with finding two clients’ beautiful homes and playing like a kid in the mountains. I have fully embraced it! Alpine lakes, waterfall hikes, paddleboarding on reservoirs, mountain biking galore, camping & smores, Oh My! It reminded me that you can curate a life that’s full of joy & play and it’s something I’m leaning into and celebrating!! These quotes, podcasts, statements have resonated with me lately, so sharing in hopes they do the same for you – Enjoy! If it’s not a FU*K Yeah it’s a NO.- Derek Shivers Start practicing Volunteer Simplicity. Busy means you are not in control of your time. Fear expressed allows relief. |
How to Simplify Your Life – The Good Life Podcast
10 Ways to Start Making Your Life Better, Starting Now
What We Can Learn from Broke Gen Xers – Earn & Invest Podcast
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Have Questions? Reach out to happyhomescoltd@gmail.com about real estate investing or if you’re looking to buy or sell! |