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Ed Powers Real Estate April 2021 Newsletter

Get the latest news in the October 2020 Ed Powers Newsletter Real Estate Update

For the complete April 2020 Newsletter Click here

Simple Ways to Start Investing in Real Estate in 2021

Simple Ways to Start Investing in Real Estate in 2021
Maybe you’ve decided 2021 is the year you start working toward your financial goals and building wealth. Investing in real estate is decidedly one of the best ways to build wealth, but getting started is intimidating. Too often, people count themselves out of investing in real estate because they don’t think they have enough money to get started. The following are key things to know even if you don’t have a big initial investment.
      Buy REITs To invest in real estate, you don’t always have to buy property. There is something called a real estate investment trust or REIT. A REIT lets you invest in real estate, but you don’t have physical property. They’re a bit like mutual mutual funds, except with commercial real estate.
      For example, the company that makes up the REIT will own retail spaces or 
CONTINUED >>>

New vs. Existing Homes: Which Should You Buy?

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is April221.jpgNew vs. Existing Homes: Which Should You Buy?
If you’re considering the purchase of a home, you have one big decision to make as you get started, to narrow down your search. You have to decide whether you’ll buy a new home or an existing property. There are pros and cons to each, and you have to weigh them carefully during the decision-making process.
      It used to be at one point that buying a new house was almost always going to be more expensive than an older house. Buying materials for new construction is less expensive now than in the past, so price alone isn’t necessarily a determinant or at least the primary determinant for many people.
      What Are the Upsides of Buying an Older House? Some of the benefits of buying an existing, older home might CONTINUED >>>

6 Ways to Win a Bidding War


6 Ways to Win a Bidding War
You’ve fallen in love with a house, and you put in an offer—only to discover that you aren’t the only one to feel that way. A lot of markets around the country right now are experiencing high demand and low inventory, meaning bidding wars are common.
      A bidding war just means that a seller receives multiple offers within the same short window of time.
      It’s great from a seller’s perspective. They can wait around and see how much buyers are willing to sweeten the deal.
      It’s tough for a buyer. It means you’re probably going to pay more than you thought, and it’s stressful to be in limbo.
      The following are 6 tips to keep in mind to win a bidding war if you find yourself in that position.
      Get Pre-Approved by Your Lender One of the first things you should do if you’re going to be looking for CONTINUED >>>

How to Handle Your Home Sale Falling Through

How to Handle Your Home Sale Falling Through Selling a home can be an emotional and stressful experience. Then, finally, you find a buyer and you feel a huge sense of relief. You’re ready to pack up and move on.
      What happens if your contract doesn’t actually make it to closing, however?
      It’s easy to feel defeated and emotionally pretty upset, but you can bounce back.
      Understand Why It Fell Through One of the big things you need to do to move forward is get a handle on why your deal fell through. This is important so you can prevent it from happening again.
      Contingencies are what protect a buyer from running into often unpleasant surprises.
      A few reasons why home sales fall through include:
      • A home inspector finds something that would be expensive for the buyer to repair.
• Your home appraises for less than the sale price.
• There’s an open lien on your property uncovered by a title search.
• Your buyer’s financing falls through.
      Initially, if
CONTINUED >>>

Daily News and Advice

Read about the events shaping the Real Estate market today, find current interest rates, or browse the extensive library of advice and how-to articles written by some of the top experts in Real Estate. Updated each weekday.

More Articles

March Real Estate Roundup
Everything You Should Know About Property Taxes
Reasons to Refinance You May Not Know About
APR Explained
The Best Ways to Save Money on a Bathroom Remodel

Mortgage Rates 

U.S. averages as of April 2021:

30 yr. fixed: 3.17%
15 yr. fixed: 2.45%
5/1 yr. adj: 2.84%

Message me if your thinking about buying or selling a Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate

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Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com

6 Questions Your Loan Officer is Sure to Ask

6 Questions Your Loan Officer is Sure to Ask

Whether you’re a veteran real estate investor or a first time homebuyer, you can expect to provide your loan officer with no shortage of documents. The lender is gathering information needed in order to get your loan file completed and sent over to the underwriting department for an approval. Knowing in advance what your loan officer is sure to ask for will help ensure a smooth closing.

Have You Ever Owned a Home Before? 

This question does a couple of things. The first is to determine whether or not you’ve eligible for various loan programs designed to get someone into their first home. So-called ‘first time buyer’ programs are designed not just to get people into homes as easy as possible but to jump start the local real estate market. When you buy an existing home, the occupants will typically buy and move into another. As well, this gives the loan officer an idea of whether or not the person is somewhat familiar with the financing process.

Are You Self-Employed?

Again, the answer helps the loan officer to the right path. Lenders are required to determine if the borrower can afford the new mortgage payment and they do so by comparing monthly income with the future mortgage, including property taxes, insurance and mortgage insurance when needed. With an employee, this income information is straightforward as both year to date and monthly income is listed. Self-Employed borrowers need to provide other information which verifies income such as a YTD profit and loss statement, bank statements and the last two years of business tax returns. This income is averaged over the two year period to arrive at qualifying income.

How Is Your Credit? 

This of course is a bit obvious but the difference here is how you view your personal credit compared to how a lender views it. Sometimes borrowers who have had a recent late payment on a credit card mistakenly assume their credit has been damaged. However, one or two late payments over the past couple of years won’t matter. In addition, late payments on a credit report are only reported if the payment was received more than 30 days past the due date. Someone who gets a bill on the 1st of the month and pays it on the 15th might consider that as a late payment when it’s not. At least in the lender’s eyes.

How Much Money Do You Have Available for the Transaction?

There’s a difference between how much money you have and how much you have available to close on a purchase. Your personal funds might have some reserved for other transactions such as simply going to the grocery store or making a car payment. How much you have available guides the loan officer toward your ideal loan options. Remember, there will be funds needed for your down payment but there will also be closing costs to consider. In addition, the lender wants to make sure you won’t be completely ‘tapped out’ and have some cash left over after closing. These funds are referred to as ‘cash reserves.’

When Do You Want to Close?

Is this a short term purchase that needs to close soon, such as 20-30 days or are you looking at buying and financing sometime down the road? This gives the loan officer the window needed to make sure you meet the contract date without fail. Many escrow periods are for 30 days but other transactions can take longer. Many long term transactions don’t yet have a property identified and are looking just to get a preapproval.

Have You Been Preapproved?

Getting a preapproval letter from your lender lets the sellers know you’re serious about this. A preapproval means you’ve already submitted a loan application along with needed documentation. The lender will also review a credit report. This answer will also alert the lender that you’ve submitted an application to another mortgage company. Remember, a preapproval isn’t the same as a prequalification. A prequalification can occur with a phone call but has no verification of the information provided.

Message me if your thinking about buying a Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate

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Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com

Renovations to Make Aging at Home Easier

Renovations to Make Aging at Home Easier

As you or your loved one ages, your home may need to be adapted to accommodate lifestyle changes, accessibility and independence. Over 41% of individuals plan to stay in their own homes until the age of 81 or older. It is important to make gradual adaptations to your home as you age to allow for maneuverability. When remodeling to age at home, start early and plan ahead. It is cheaper to do small renovations one at a time than an entire home overhaul overnight.

Grab Bars

Installing grab bars can significantly decrease falls and injuries. They should be installed where the floor may get wet or transition to a different level. Grab bars should be installed by a professional contractor because they require special reinforcement. If a grab bar is improperly installed it can be pulled from the wall causing injury.

Places grab bars should be installed:

• showers
• near toilets
• stairs
• room transitions

Home Entry

Access to the main level without the use of stairs is a change you can make to your home without changing the overall curb appeal. This requires planning ahead. A ramp can be designed with wood or concrete that provides a gradual incline to the front door. By planning ahead, you can have a contractor design a ramp that fits the aesthetic of your home without reducing its value. This provides accessibility for wheelchairs, walkers and those who cannot use stairs.

Making Doorways Wider

Increasing the width of doorways is a simple way to make living at home easier with walkers or wheelchairs. Widening a doorway is a project that should only take a contractor about a day. Making a door 36 inches wide as opposed to the normal 24″ or 32″ allows for easier access, especially in tight spaces.

Floorplan Alterations

Creating room for maneuvering is important. There may be times that you need space to use a wheelchair. A wheelchair requires a square five feet to move freely. Creating an open floor plan is a good way to open space to move around. This can be done by removing full and pony walls, creating cased openings, and relocating furniture and appliances to make sure paths are wide and clear.

When aging in your home you may need to restrict living to a single floor to accommodate for the difficulty of climbing and descending stairs. It is important to ensure that there is a kitchen, bathroom and a space for a bedroom on the main level of your home. If there is not a full bathroom on the ground floor, a contractor can create a full bathroom by adding a shower to an existing half bath or creating a new bathroom entirely. According to HomeAdvisor, a laundry room on the main level may even increase the value of your home.

Removing Thresholds

Removing floor thresholds between rooms can prevent tripping, which is the number one cause of injury for aging individuals. Many homes have a threshold between rooms where flooring changes. This can be alleviated by removing the threshold or installing a ramp that lets them move easily.

Shower Conversion

The bathroom can be a dangerous place due to slippery floors and tripping hazards. Even with the help of grab bars and grippy bath mats, it is important to remove tripping hazards. A popular option is to convert a bathtub into a shower without a threshold. This renovation can allow for ease of access especially for those in a wheelchair.

Message me if your thinking about buying or selling a Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate

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Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com

Ed Powers Real Estate October 2020 Newsletter

Get the latest news in the October 2020 Ed Powers Newsletter Real Estate Update

For the complete August 2020 Newsletter Click here

Creating an Optimal Virtual Learning Space

Children around the U.S. are learning virtually this school year. Some districts are entirely virtual for the time being. Others are doing a hybrid approach combining virtual and in-person learning.
      Parents are wondering how they can facilitate the best possible experience for their kids when they’re learning virtually. A lot of that has to do with creating a good environment that’s conducive to learning.
      Choose a Space Separate From Living Areas. One of the most important things to keep in mind when creating a learning space is that it needs to be quiet and separate from the main living and traffic areas of the home. You want your kids to not

to not only be able to focus but also to be able to separate the time they’re learning from the time they’re doing other things.
      Transforming a guestroom can CONTINUED >>>

How to Destress Downsizing

There are a lot of reasons you might feel like it’s time to downsize and move into a smaller home.
      If you’re now an empty-nester, that’s one good reason. Even families who still have children at home often opt to downsize to save money on their mortgage and to have less upkeep and maintenance.
      If you spend all of your free time maintaining a larger home than what you need, you have less time to enjoy your life.
      When you downsize to a smaller home, you can declutter and enjoy lower utility bills.
      Living in a smaller home requires you to think about your priorities and get rid of things that aren’t CONTINUED >>>

Financing a Rental Property: What to Know

With interest rates flirting again with historic lows over the past couple of months, many are looking to invest in real estate. Rates are low and as such the situation offers the opportunity for monthly cash flow as well as long term appreciation. If you’re looking to expand your portfolio and get beyond stocks, bonds and mutual funds, adding real estate might be an option. When financing a rental, there are some things you need to know about before moving much further along.
      The first is how much cash you’ll need at the closing table. Conventional loan programs ask for a minimum of 20% for a down payment and can offer slightly better terms with a 25% down payment. Owner-occupied loan programs can ask for a minimum down payment of 5%, with certain targeted areas qualifying for a 3% down option. One of the drivers behind the difference in down payment requirements for the same type of property is private mortgage insurance, or PMI. Down payments CONTINUED >>>

How Can You Get a Mortgage If You’re a Freelancer?

Being a freelancer, contract worker, gig worker, or anyone self-employed is more common and popular than ever right now. There are downsides, such as the lack of benefits like health insurance. At the same time, there are more upsides for many professionals who choose to work this way.
      Upsides include freedom and flexibility to make your own schedule, unlimited earning potential, and the ability to have the work-life balance that allows you to create your own lifestyle.  
      There is an issue that can arise if you’re a freelancer or contractor, though.
      How do you get a mortgage?
      When you apply for a mortgage as a traditional employee, you’ll probably show your proof of income through your job, but it can be a bit trickier if you don’t have a traditional employer. You’re also going to face more scrutiny from lenders.
      Keep Up with Relevant Documents Over the years, it’s easy to be disorganized as far as how you keep up with your earnings and expenditures, but come time to apply for a mortgage
CONTINUED >>>

Daily News and Advice

Read about the events shaping the Real Estate market today, find current interest rates, or browse the extensive library of advice and how-to articles written by some of the top experts in Real Estate. Updated each weekday.

Daily News and Advice

Read about the events shaping the Real Estate market today, find current interest rates, or browse the extensive library of advice and how-to articles written by some of the top experts in Real Estate. Updated each weekday.

More Articles

September Real Estate Roundup
How Much House Can You Reasonably Afford?
Should You Go Solar at Home?
Move Over She-Shed, Make Room for the Backyard Office
What Should You Know About Homeowners Associations?

Mortgage Rates 

U.S. averages as of October 2020:

30 yr. fixed: 2.90%
15 yr. fixed: 2.40%
5/1 yr. adj: 2.90%

Mortgage Rates Oct 2020
Mortgage Rates Oct 2020

Message me if your thinking about buying or selling a Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate

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Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com

What Do I Need to Know about the Plumbing

What Do I Need to Know about the Plumbing

“What do I need to know about the plumbing?” The answer can be rather long and rather complex, but in the simplest of terms, the plumbing of a home consists of two major parts:

• Supply System – the plumbing that brings fresh water into the home, a connection of sealed pipe sections and valves under pressure, which are intended to bring a continuous flow upon demand

• Drainage System – the plumbing that safely removes used water and waste products from within the home through a series of vented pipe sections which flow downward to allow discharge via gravity

Well, that is about as simple as the explanation gets, water in, and waste out. But there is much more to the story, such as the types of piping used, “are the pipes made of plastic, copper, or galvanized steel”?

And, “what types of connectors are used, brass fittings, soldered connectors, or adhesive materials?” And then, “what other types of fixtures or accessories are found within the system; are there well pumps, storage tanks, pressure regulators, treatment systems, water heaters, and so on?”

And, “what types of traps or clean-outs are provided for the toilets, sinks, and tub/showers”? Wow, so many things to cover, and so many locations for possible leaks. After all, plumbing systems in good service are those that deliver the inbound potable water upon demand, and then take the contaminated waste water outbound, and without any leakage along the way!

Let’s talk about the supply piping first. Prior to the early 1960’s, most homes built in the last century used inbound water pipes made of galvanized steel, galvanizing being a process of coating raw steel pipes through a corrosion resistant chemical process. Galvanizing worked well, but typically this coating material began to breakdown over time, which then left the steel piping exposed to water which in turn began the process of decay.

Usually galvanized piping had a life expectancy of approximately 40 years, maybe a bit longer depending upon their use, maintenance, or original installation methods. If the home you are purchasing has galvanized piping, it may be getting up in age and therefore this system may need to be replaced at some future point in time. Signs of corrosion or visible signs of rust detected during an inspection may suggest that the system has areas of decay, and that further evaluation may be advised.

Some other older supply systems to watch out for are various forms of flexible plastics. Only a few types of plastic piping are recommended for use within supply systems by the International Residential Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code, and these uses are very specific in nature. If you have any plastic supply piping, this should be given special attention as these are not common, and some plastic systems have been prone to have problems. Expert advice should be sought under these conditions.

Now fast forward in time just a bit. After the 1960’s construction methods began using copper piping almost exclusively. With the exception of some weaker versions of the first copper pipes (there are various grades K,L,M), extruded copper plumbing has become the gold standard. Almost all supply piping installed today in residential construction is made of copper. This type of material is largely resistant to corrosion from water, is easier to install and/or repair than steel products, and in most cases copper has become the most cost effective material overall.

The only concerns with copper piping are with respect to its softer material which is subject to puncture if struck, by a nail for example, or it may rupture if bent by accident or not supported properly. Copper piping is also subject to galvanic oxidization if connected to galvanized steel piping. Meaning that if a steel connector or section of galvanized steel pipe is attached to a copper pipe, a corrosive reaction develops slowly, usually at the point where the two sections meet.

And remember, corrosion then ultimately leads to decay and leakage. If you have copper piping, keep the entire system made of copper and all will be fine (brass fittings may also be used with copper piping as an alternative material). There are special dielectric connectors that may also be used if a steel pipe is to be connected to a copper pipe.

Okay, we are getting a bit beyond the simple explanations we promised. Just remember:

• copper = good, this is the most common material used today

• galvanized steel = fine, but regular inspection advised due to older materials

• plastic = okay, but for specific uses only in supply systems

Now before we leave the supply piping discussion we need to revisit “what does corrosion on piping really mean?” Corrosion is a process whereby external materials or very small amounts of water are making their way to the surface. Put another way, this could mean that the threads or connections where two sections of piping come together are not completely sealed tight, and therefore tiny amounts of water can get through any small gaps, thus making their way to the outside of the connection. Remember these supply water pipes are under pressure, so any weakness will give water a place to escape.

Now in this example of threaded piping, if the threads are not damaged, cleaning them with a wire brush and then adding Teflon-tape or other piping compounds to the threads might be all that is required to stop further corrosion or leakage. Repairs are not always this simple, but the point here is that corrosion is the first indication that something is not right, so any mention of corrosion on pipes/connectors or fixtures should be taken seriously as this is the plumbing systems “early warning” that repairs are needed. Left unattended, corrosion becomes a leak, and although this process may take months or weeks before a leak appears, it WILL lead to a leak at some point in time. So like most things, the sooner the problem is addressed the better!

Now let us talk about the waste or outbound drainage plumbing systems. Before the 1960s most residential applications were of clay tiles or cast iron piping (and a few less common uses of lead, brass, etc). Clay tiles didn’t last very long, only 25-40 years typically, so any clay piping still in use would be suspect to cracks and leakage. Cast iron on the other hand could last up to 80-100 years by some estimates, but also noting that there have been reports of cast piping failures as early as 40-60 years of use.

Since most of a home’s waste plumbing may be buried under a floor/slab or within the soil, it is hard to really know the true condition of the entire waste system. That being said, an inspection of the visible sections is a great placed to start, and this visual inspection can provide an indication of how the rest of the system may be functioning. Additionally, in the case of concealed areas within the soil for example, visual inspections for wet areas can also be an indication of an active leak.

Or if the water flow out from toilets/tub/showers appears to be slower than usual, this could be an indication of a break or blockages within the waste lines. If problems such as these are evident, further evaluation by a licensed plumber might be recommended, whereby these professionals could send a camera scope through the waste lines to visually inspect then from the inside out. As previously stated, the aim of any initial inspection is to detect possible warning signs, to give a general assessments, and then to recommend next steps accordingly.

If we look beyond early waste systems of clay tiles and cast iron, we move to today’s almost exclusive use of ABS plastic piping (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene schedule 40, typically black in color). Okay, that was a mouthful, but one word to remember: “Plastics.”

Unlike supply systems, for waste systems the use of plastics has appeared to have been a huge success! ABS plastic is smooth (unlike the sand-paper texture of cast iron) so clogs due paper getting caught inside the waste lines have been drastically reduced. Plastic is also rigid, meaning that unlike clay pipes that crack if struck or squeezed by tree roots, plastic piping is more likely to withstand these external forces. And did we mention that installing or repairing ABS plastic waste lines is much easier and less costly than the other materials.

Now no discussion of waste systems would be complete without a brief mention of the many connections and fixtures used. Remember that every connecting point is an opportunity for leaks. Every toilet, sink, shower, and water-using appliance should be thoroughly checked. This starts with a visual inspection to determine if the parts were assembled properly. Then further assessments are taken to look for corrosion, stains, and leaks … these steps all begin the process of “early warning” and detection! And then of course, running water through the system can be a final measure of the waste system’s current condition.

A standard inspection process may look at literally hundreds of connection points in an average home. And in addition to determining the types of materials installed, the inspection process will try to weed-out any potential problem areas. Remember, no matter what type of system you have, the key is to keep a watch out for the signs of corrosion or leakage! Plumbing system problems can be serious and costly concerns, but the home inspection can help make the process of detection and analysis a little less of a concern.

And that completes today’s course of Plumbing 101.

Message me if your thinking about buying a Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate

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Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com