Real Estate

Home price gains slow for 3rd consecutive month
Business

Home price gains slow for 3rd consecutive month

May 3, 2014

The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 12.9 percent in February compared with 12 months earlier. While healthy, that is down from a 13.2 percent gain in January.…

Evaluating renting versus buying a home
On Real Estate

Evaluating renting versus buying a home

May 3, 2014

Renting is usually the best option when relocating is a possibility or your housing needs are likely to change in the near future. Also, renting for a while is a…

New-home sales dip 14.5 percent in March in U.S.
Business

New-home sales dip 14.5 percent in March in U.S.

April 26, 2014

Realtors are saying more home construction is needed to spur the housing industry’s rebound. The Commerce Department says new home sales fell 14.5 percent in March.Keith Srakocic/Associated Press The Commerce…

Tips, serious and not, for keeping squirrels away
Business

Tips, serious and not, for keeping squirrels away

April 26, 2014

The squirrel-proof bird feeder protects your bird seed from persistent squirrels. The owner can adjust the feeder to close its seed ports based on the weight of the intruder standing…

LED technology being used in ceilings, carpets
Business

LED technology being used in ceilings, carpets

April 26, 2014

These tiny light-emitting diodes, often touted as the ultra-efficient replacement for old-fashioned incandescents, are being integrated into clothes, carpets and ceilings the same way that some solar panels have been…

Sales of existing homes slip to a 20-month low
Business

Sales of existing homes slip to a 20-month low

April 26, 2014

Real estate groups are reporting an increase in open houses, suggesting that demand among buyers is rising. Existing home sales were down in March, slipping to their lowest level since…

The ABCs of mortgage lending
On Real Estate

The ABCs of mortgage lending

April 26, 2014

Let’s break this down and see how a FTHB can determine if homebuyers can use FHA, USDA or FHLB, and whether their FICO and DTI will allow them to qualify…

Inventory impacting local housing market
On Real Estate

Inventory impacting local housing market

April 19, 2014

In a nutshell, the number of properties sold in Colorado and in our local area has dropped in the first quarter compared with last year, but the median price is…

Puppy-proofing? Protect your dog … and your home
Business

Puppy-proofing? Protect your dog … and your home

April 12, 2014

Clove, a Labrador retriever mix, chewed wires we thought were hidden and investigated stairs we thought she’d ignore. She rummaged through deep plastic bins holding smelly shinguards and plucked snow-soaked…

Growing demand for apartments pushing up rents
Business

Growing demand for apartments pushing up rents

April 12, 2014

With demand for apartments surging, rents are projected to rise for a fifth consecutive year. Even a pickup in apartment construction is unlikely to provide much relief anytime soon. That…

Preparing your home for sale  can speed deal
On Real Estate

Preparing your home for sale can speed deal

April 12, 2014

If you have decided the time is right to sell your home, ask your real estate agent for a comparative market analysis, then position your home appearance and condition to…

Real estate and the millenial generation
Business

Real estate and the millenial generation

April 5, 2014

In the Durango area, the millenials want in-town homes with close proximity for walking and riding their bikes to the amenities the town has to offer. The advantages of the…

Improving U.S. home market still facing obstacles
Business

Improving U.S. home market still facing obstacles

April 5, 2014

Housing prices are up in San Francisco and many people want to buy, but there are few properties available for sale. Entering the 2014 spring buying season, the U.S. housing…

Will mortgage rule stall housing recovery?
Business

Will mortgage rule stall housing recovery?

March 29, 2014

du1-i-syn Basic tenets of the rules can be confusing. Near term, implications are not clear. Expect the government to tweak the rules as impacts on the housing market are recognized.…

Spring’s the time to clean walls
Business

Spring’s the time to clean walls

March 29, 2014

It’s easy to pass by walls and woodwork every day without a second glance, but spring-cleaning season is a great time to give them the attention they deserve. Like many…

Living in luxury
Business

Living in luxury

March 22, 2014

5 homes now on the market in La Plata County