New federal rule: Make sure borrower can pay loan

The good news is that lenders have been doing this on their own already! If you are thinking about buying a home it is best to talk to a lender and pre-qualify. This will make your home buying experience a much smoother and enjoyable experience. Check out the following link!

New federal rule: Make sure borrower can pay loan

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

2012 1st Quarter Real Estate Trend

Here are some interesting Statistics for the 1st Quarter Homes sales in Mesa County.

This graph was provided by Advances Title Company as a preview to their newsletter coming out next week.


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

908 Kaley Street -- Open Today 10-2

Square Footage Galore! You won't believe the room inside this home. This Beautiful home has a nice open floor plan with the split bedroom design. From the large living room with vaulted ceilings to the easy to work in kitchen with plenty of storage, it feels airy and bright. There is a fourth bedroom and a full bath upstairs off of the HUGE bonus room that could, also, be used as a mother-in-law setup. Don't forget about the awesome views of the monument! There is nothing behind you to block your view from the back patio. This home is completely landscaped, is move in ready, and just waiting for your personal touch.

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

Put Your Best Features Forward: Simple Staging Solutions

The following link has a few GREAT and EASY ideas that sellers can do to make their home appeal to buyers. The before and after pictures speek for themselves!


Put Your Best Features Forward: Simple Staging Solutions

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

619 Panorama - Just Reduced!!

Just reduced to $180,000!!!

This beautiful home in the Redlands is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home and is a ranch with a full basement and over 2600 square feet. Three of the bedrooms are on the main level.


THE HOME YOU DESERVE....with hardwood floors throughout the main level, newer Accent windows, beautiful fireplace, newer roof, bay window in the living room, and a roomy open floor plan that is great for entertaining. You will enjoy the large kitchen with plenty of counter space. There is A LOT of home for your money in this ranch style home with a full finished basement. You can decide the best place for your grill in the big park like yard with wonderful views and the feeling of privacy. There is no HOA, more than enough RV parking, a dog run, and room for your toys. This home is ready to go and just waiting for your personal touch! The 1361 Sq Ft in the basement is finished and heated, but non-conforming. Buyer(s) to verify; all information subject to change/error.



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

Some Local Statistics for The New Year

I thought you would enjoy some statistics from last year! It has been VERY interesting to see how real estate sales are trending. Right now the inventory is low only 932 residential listings and we as agents are scrambling for good homes to list. Pricing is very important right now! Also, the average list price is $306,065.00 and they are on the market for an average of 194 days. We sold more homes in 2011, in 2011 we sold 2,394 homes and that is up from 1750 in 2010. Although that doesn't mean that the prices are increasing, in fact the average sales price is down from $210,512 in 2010 to $177,727 in 2011. The following are some more statistics by area. Thanks!

Area          Listings in 2011       Sold Listings in          Average Sales 

                Active           Sold            12/2011                   $ in 12/2011 

City              94              275                22                        $124,935      

North          121             297                 20                        $173,257      

Northeast     77             291                  20                        $155,373      

Southeast     45            304                   15                         $109,922     

Redlands   119             248                   21                        $287,112       

Orchard

Mesa           76              217                  14                        $154,260         

Fruita          84              306                  29                       $212,996          

Clifton       48               161                  17                      $93,515            

Palisade/

East OM    33                  60                   1                        $373,600         

Our brokers gave us the following statistics in our meeting this week.

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

Housing market improves, but foreclosures spoil the party

We are seeing the same trend here in Grand Junction. Our inventory is down and home sales are up, however the average price of recently sold homes is down slightly. Housing market improves, but foreclosures spoil the party Feel free to give me a call, send an email, or a text with any questions. Thanks!Becky Behrens

10 remodeling projects that pay back most

Every year Remodeling Magazine puts out a report on what remodeling projects have the most payoff. They take the price of the project versus the added value to the home, if you were to sell it now. The project htat suprised me the most was a new garage door. It isn't a very expensive project. I will testify that numurous times I have had clients comment on the older garage door that isn't moving smoothly and it beat up. It is like your front door and it makes a big impression.

10 remodeling projects that pay back most - MSN Real Estate

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

Congress Restores FHA Loan Limits to NAR-Backed Levels

It looks like this should happen in the near future and the report states that we should go back to the previous loan limit we had prior to October of 2011. The FHA loan limit is currently $271,000 after the limit dropped from $371,000 in October of this year. This is GREAT news and will make financing easier for many of the home buyers in Mesa County. Currently our inventory is lower than is has been in 18 months.

Congress Restores FHA Loan Limits to NAR-Backed Levels

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

Wedding Registries for Home Downpayments?

This is a GREAT idea, but you definitely want to talk to your lender prior to doing this. Just to make sure you document your gifts correctly.


Wedding Registries for Home Downpayments?

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

Red neck closing gift......

Oh Yeah! Ice Ice Baby --'90s Pop Icon Offers Up Real Estate Tips

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-'90s Pop Icon Offers Up Real Estate Tips

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

HUD Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP)

If you are struggling with your monthly mortgage payments this may be a great program for you. You can apply at the Grand Junction Housing Authority here in town.

Just be aware that this program will affect your credit score, but not as badly as a foreclosure. Also, when they quote their success rate with homeowners, it is the percentage of people who didn't lose their homes to foreclosure. If the homeowner participated in a short sale or deed in lieu program it is considered a success to the Grand Junction Housing Authority. However, if you are running out of options there is no cost involved and it doesn't hurt to find out more about the program. Don't be afraid to ask questions on how this will affect you.

HUD Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP)

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

As Close to a Crystal Ball as I can Get!

The following article is the closest thing I've seen to a crystal ball for the future real estate economy. I found this article very encouraging and interesting. I hope you do, as well. Just click on the following link to learn more.


Real estate price declines overshooting fundamentals?

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

Bull or Bear??---Predictions for Housing in 2011

So are you a bull or a bear??? Click on the following link to find out.

I tend more to the bull side. There is a lot of inventory out there, but folks are buying homes and gettiing some GREAT deals!

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Predictions for Housing in 2011

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

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

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 Behrens

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 Behrens

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 Behrens

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 Behrens