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Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thanks to all the Veterans Out There!

I just want to thank all those Veterans out there for all the sacrifices they have made on behalf of me and my country. THANKS!!!!

If you are an active military person or a Veteran, there are a few places in in Grand Junction that want to show their thanks. Today you can get a free meal at Applebee's or Texas Roadhouse, you can get your car washed at no charge at the Redlands Car Wash, and Cabela's is offering special deals and discounts throughout the day.

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks! Becky Behrens Search Real Estate

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Coldwell Banker in "ON Location"

Coldwell Banker has it's own YouTube channel called On Location. Now our Grand Junction office has put a video on there explaining who we are. I think our brokers did a pretty good job! Check it out!




Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Friday, October 29, 2010

10% Jump in September Existing-Home Sales

This is good news! Between the super low prices and super low interest rates, you can get into a home more affordable than ever. If you have been thinking about buying a home, give me a call. I'd love to share some of these good deals I've been seeing with you!

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-10% Jump in September Existing-Home Sales

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

GOOD NEWS!!! -10% Jump in September Existing-Home Sales

This is the kind of news I like to hear! I hope this trend continues and we can get rid of some of our inventory!

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-10% Jump in September Existing-Home Sales

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Houses Get Smaller but Furniture Remains Big

So...Are you a baby boomer or an echo boomer child? The following article says that the baby boomers like large overstuffed furniture, but their children like smaller furniture with clean lines. It makes sense if we are buying smaller homes that we would, also, buy smaller furniture to make our space look bigger.


REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Houses Get Smaller but Furniture Remains Big

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Bring The Fall Season Indoors

The following link will take you to a great article about selling your home during the fall season. These are some great tips!

http://www.frontdoor.com/2UPQ03


Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks! Becky Behrens Search Real Estate

Friday, August 6, 2010

Mesa County foreclosure filings, sales, up year-over-year | GJSentinel.com

The fact that sales are up is a good thing. Just Remember that an increase in sales doesn't mean that the sales prices have increased. If you compare the first half of this year to the first half of last year the prices have decreased, some areas more than others.

Mesa County foreclosure filings, sales, up year-over-year | GJSentinel.com

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Foreclosure - Strategic Defaults' Can Damage Credit for Years

This is a tender subject. I know some folks feel that they have no other option, but I think it is important to know the repercussions. I'm a firm believer that the more information we have the better decisions we can make. If you are struggling to make your mortgage payments or you are already behind, it is easy to think that maybe you should just walk away. However, there are a few options out there and it is best to stay in contact with your mortgage company. You may be eligible for a loan modification or a good canidate for a short sale. Yes, both of these options will affect your credit, but not as badly or for as long as a foreclosure. Both of these options require work and diligence on your part. It is easy to feel very overwhelmed and just want to quit. Trust me during this process you will feel like throwing in the towel, but the reward for sticking with it is worth it. The Rewards are that your credit won't take as big of a hit. I know some of you feel it can't get any worse, but it can. The big picture of your credit score is that anyone who asks for your SSN can and probaly is running a credit check on you. If you refuse to give them your SSN them the various companies assign you as a person with low credit. Now, think carefully who already has or request your SSN. I can name a few - health and auto insurance, credit card companies, auto loans, banks, physicians, colleges, and employers. Not all of these entities order a credit check on you, but some do and based on your credit score they are increasing your interest rates, reducing your line of credit, cancelling you card, and increasing your insurance rates. The one that most folks don't think about is employers, depending on their parameters, low credit can hurt you from getting security clearance for some positions(especially for government positions). If you are applying for a job and you are in the running, but you have a low credit score it can hurt you. In general, all of these entities feel that if you have low credit score you are a bigger risk to them. I'm not saying this is right, however it does happen.

I know that there are a couple of you reading this now and you have tried these options, but for whatever reason these options didn't work out for you. They key is that you tried and gave it your best.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-'Strategic Defaults' Can Damage Credit for Years

Friday, July 9, 2010

Save Money...Plant a Tree or 3

According to the US Department of Energy, three properly placed trees could save homeowners between $100-$250 a year in energy costs. Their shade cuts cooling costs in the summer and in the winter they serve as a windbreak and help hold down heating costs.

Check out the National Tree Calculator and it will tell you what each tree will save you annually by area.

You can contact your local nursery to see which trees grow best in your area.


Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Thursday, July 8, 2010

What to Look for in an Outdoor Kitchen

In Grand Junction we have a wonderful climate that allows us to utilize our outdoor kitchens most of the year. They can be great for entertaining and adding additional living space. The following article gives us some useful tips when planning an outdoor kitchen.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-What to Look for in an Outdoor Kitchen

Friday, July 2, 2010

Foreclosures Account for 31% of Sales

This has been a problem for the people who want to sell their homes. They are having to compete with the foreclosed homes on the market. Buyers will look at the foreclosed homes and think they are getting a great deal because it costs less than a non-foreclosed home. What they are forgetting is that a foreclosed home has usually been vacant for awhile, sometimes more than 1 year. Most of the time the homes weren't winterized or taken care of until the bank took ownership. You can see that the carpet needs replaced, the home needs a major cleaning, and cabinets need replaced. However, you don't see if the pipes have frozen during last winter, if the swamp cooler is rusted through, that the hot water heater or furnace is inoperable. During the inspection you will find some of this out(if you hire a good inspector). So buyer beware...you could be walking into a money pit!

Or you could spend a bit more walk into a home that needs little to no work and the sellers have lived in and maintained the property(to their standards) while they owned it. There is no guarantees, but the chances are better you won't run into any major repairs.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Foreclosures Account for 31% of Sales

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Top 10 Mid-sized Markets for the Good Life

If Grand Junction had a higher population, I'm sure we would have been on this list. Seeing how we are sandwiched in the middle! However, you won't find me complaining! I rather like living in an area with under 250,000 folks.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Top 10 Mid-sized Markets for the Good Life

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks! Becky Behrens
Search Real Estate

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The Weather is Finally Warming up...

For those of you out there that are weekend warriors, here are some projects you might enjoy. Although this weekend I'll be watching some baseball at JUCO!

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®



Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Friday, May 21, 2010

Rental vacancy rate drops by 1.6 percent | GJSentinel.com

Here is another good sign that our local economy is doing better. Cabela's opened last night, Exxon and Halliburton have both been hiring...slowly, but surely. I'm not saying there is going to be a boom, but things are looking better.

Rental vacancy rate drops by 1.6 percent | GJSentinel.com

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Just A Reminder....

... the tax credit expires tomorrow!!!! As many of you know, the tax credit for home buyers ends tomorrow. This includes the $8,000.00 tax credit for First Time Home Buyers and the $6,500.00 tax credit for "move up" buyers. It's not too late if you have something in mind and want to get a contract in place prior to the April 30th deadline. You only need to be under contract by April 30th. You then have until June 30th to close the transaction. This obviously doesn't leave much time. Today could potentially be a very busy day for buyers as they try and get sellers to agree to contracts. If you really want to take advantage you only have until end of business tomorrow and hopefully you've already found a house and you're ready to make an offer.

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky BehrensSearch Real Estate

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Tax Credit Extended???? and 5 Costly Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make

So this week I have had three people tell me that they heard or saw on the news that the the First-Time homebuyer tax credit was being extended. I haven't heard anything about this, to the best of my knowledge this tax credit is expiring. This means that if you want to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit for 1st time home buyers or the $6,500 if you have lived in your current home for 5 or more years, then you have until April 30, 2010 to have a house under contract. FYI, that is in 5 days!!!

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-5 Costly Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!

Becky Behrens

Friday, March 19, 2010

Analysts Say Rates Should Remain Low

Ok! So here is the answer to "HOW". Just click on the following link. Thanks!

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Analysts Say Rates Should Remain Low

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!

Becky Behrens


Search Real Estate

Fed To Stop Buying MBS

I've had quite a few people ask me if the government is going to continue to buy mortgage bonds after March. As of now they aren't going to continue this program, but they are commeitted to keeping rates low. Please don't ask me "HOW?".


REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Fed To Stop Buying MBS

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!

Becky Behrens


Search Real Estate

Speed Decorating' Quickly Improves Property

I guess the KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) method is the best....

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-'Speed Decorating' Quickly Improves Property

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Best Bang For Your Buck-Exterior Remodeling Projects

STOP!!! And think...When you are driving by a house that is for sale, what are some of the key features on the outside of a home that you look for? What are the gotta-haves that you make sure you see? What outside improvements are thinking about making to your current home? Will you get a return on your investment? The following link will take you to an article that will tell you if what percentage of a return you will get on your investment and if you are looking for the same improvements most people are looking for in a home.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Exterior Remodeling: Best Bang for Your Buck


Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!

Becky Behrens


Search Real Estate

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

10 Home Features Buyers Want

Do you agree??? Or is there something you think should be on this list that is missing??

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-10 Home Features Buyers Want

Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!

Becky Behrens


Search Real Estate

Friday, January 29, 2010

10 Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers

Right now there are more homes on the market than we have seen in awhile. Once you decide to sell your home you are competing against bank-owned, forclosures, and short sale homes. These homes are usually priced less, but require some TLC (sometimes they require A LOT of TLC). So in order to compete with these homes, it is important that your home makes the best first impression possible. The following link will take you to some tips to help you accomplish this.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-10 Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers


Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!

Becky Behrens


Search Real Estate

Friday, January 8, 2010

Foreclosures Weigh on Home Appraisals

This is something us Realtors are struggling with lately. This is just another reason why it is so important to have an agent that is going to represent you and take care of you.

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Foreclosures Weigh on Home Appraisals

Monday, January 4, 2010

Call me CRAZY, but I'm optimistic

That is right. I said it! I'm optimistic of what this new year is going to bring. I was driving around town this morning and I saw the following quote on a couple of bus benches "Bill Gates started Microsoft during a recession". My Grandma always said "Life is what you make of it". So if we don't stand by idle and let life pass us by and if Bill Gates started one of the most successful companies during a recession, what have we got to lose?

Then I sit down at my computer this morning and there is a graph in a newsletter I get(you can view it Here). Did you know that the Dow Jones Industrial Average started at 8711.98 last year, it did hit a low of 6469.95 in March and continued to grow throughout the rest of the year and it ended at 10580.33. So overall there was an improvement. The following article was in our local paper The Daily Sentinel -Recession over in Colorado, economist tells legislators. Yes, locally our real estate market has taken a hit, but homes are still selling and folks are still buying them (especially below $250,000). People are still getting married, having babies, and downsizing. Life has not come to a halt, we are just more cautious. As we should be. I don't think we will have a quick recovery, but I think there will be a recovery. As our local paper quoted from our Senator in the above article, “There’s been a lot of rosy scenarios coming from some in the Capitol, but the reality is we’ve got some difficult months in front of us”. Notice he said months...not years. Our economy is slowly improving, we are slowly getting back on our feet, and step-by-step things are looking better. Wouldn't you agree?