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The Perks of Owning More Than One Home

Many things have changed over the past couple of years, and real estate is no exception. One impact is an increased desire to own more than one home. As trends such as remote working and flexi-hours took hold in 2021, so too did the flexibility of relocating as well as the growth of second homeownership.

This may be because the pandemic has altered how we think about our homes. Where we live has become, more than ever, our safe space and our getaway. And with the rise in remote work, more people are reconsidering where they want to live and buying second homes to give them greater flexibility. If you fall in that category, here are just a few of the perks you’ll enjoy, and how owning a second home may be a great decision for your lifestyle and your future.

Enjoy a Change in Scenery (or Weather)
When you have two homes, you can alternate between them as the weather changes or as you crave different scenery. Do you want to live in an area with a particular season? Would alternating between a resort and a suburban setting be ideal? With two homes, you have those options. Being able to move between homes based on which location best suits you at the time gives you added flexibility and variety that can help increase your happiness.

Build Your Wealth Faster
You may have heard that home equity is skyrocketing, thanks to ongoing home price appreciation. CoreLogic reports that the average homeowner gained $56,700 in equity over the last year. With home prices projected to continue rising, if you purchase a second home, you could benefit from rising equity on both properties to build your wealth (and your net worth) even faster.

Be Closer to Loved Ones
The pandemic has also reignited the importance of being near our loved ones. One option worth exploring is whether you want your second home to be near the people who matter most in your life. This makes it easier to see your loved ones but still gives you your own dedicated, private space so you can be nearby for major life events or longer visits.

Lock in Your Expenses
Buying a second home today and locking in your mortgage rate may be a good option if you’re looking to stabilize your housing costs for the long haul. If you’re approaching retirement or are looking to use your second home as your permanent residence in the future, buying that house now with today’s rate and price may be a good financial decision. That way, no matter what happens with rates and prices in years ahead, your monthly payment is locked in for the next 15-30 years.

Bottom Line
Having multiple homes has considerable benefits. If owning a second home is something you’re interested in, let’s connect to explore your options, discuss the benefits, and take the next step to start your home search.

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City of Boulder Issues Emergency Order for Rental License Exemptions

As a result of the extremely high demand for immediate housing for the families who lost their homes or sustained significant damage due to the recent fires, the City of Boulder has issued an emergency order to make it easier for more homes to become available as rental properties to affected families.

According to Tonia Pringle from the city of Boulder, “The emergency order allows for properties that are not currently licensed or [within a 90 day renewal period], to apply for a temporary long term rental license to offer housing to victims of the fires.”

The exemption/temporary license is valid to 3/15/2025 (3 years) and requires a regular rental inspection for safety, however, is exempt from SmartRegs and Outdoor Lighting requirements.”

This does not apply to existing rentals, or those coming up for renewal. It also does not apply to “professional landlords,” nor does it apply to affordable housing units, according to the city.

Here is the link to the city’s website to fill out the Emergency Order Rental License Exemption Affidavit. A rental inspection to check for safety issues must be included prior to anyone moving into the home.

This exemption is time-sensitive. Your application to the city must be received by February 28, 2022, and an inspection must be done prior to occupancy!

Thank you to Scott Home Inspection for bringing this to my attention!

Need a rental inspection? Contact Scott Home Inspection at Schedule A Rental Inspection Now.

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REALTORS Announce $2,000,000 Relief Grant for BOCO Fire Victims

REALTORS® Announce $2 million relief grant 

for victims of Boulder County fires

Application process now open to displaced residents

A $2 million grant from the REALTORS® Relief Foundation to be distributed to victims of the December 2021 fires that ravaged Boulder County, destroying more than 1,000 residential properties.

Funded through donations from REALTORS® and REALTOR® organizations and administered by the Colorado Association of REALTORS® Foundation, the grant will provide eligible applicants up to $3,000 of assistance per household impacted by the recent fires. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified applicants, victims of the Boulder County fires who have been displaced from their primary residence, based upon certain qualifications. The funds must be used for one of the following:

  • Monthly mortgage expense for the primary residence that was damaged by the wildfire disaster; or
  • Rental cost due to displacement from the primary residence resulting from the wildfire disaster.

Grant details and access to the online application process are available at: https://bit.ly/CARBOCOFireRelief. Application requests will be accepted until all funds have been distributed or until April 8, 2022. A panel of local professionals will review and verify the applications and supporting documents with relief checks issued weekly.

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Rental Resources for Those Impacted by the Boulder Fires

The fires in Boulder County impacted so many in our community and many of you are looking short-term or long-term rentals. The Boulder Area Rental Housing Association has compiled a list of available rental properties for those impacted by the fires. They are an excellent resource for those looking for temporary or longer term housing.

Rental Property Resources

If I can support you in any way in finding a rental, please let me know!

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Boulder Ranked #1 Best Place to Live Near the Mountains

Boulder was recently ranked #1 on the list of Best Places to Live Near the Mountains by US News and World Report 2021/22. Not to boast, but we also ranked #1 Best Place to Live 2021/22. The amazing proximity to trails places Boulder at the top!

3 other Colorado communities also ranked high on this list. Think you know which ones they are?

Read the article here >>> The Best Places to Live Near the Mountains

 

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How a Handy Boulder Couple Bought a 100-year-old Pennsylvania Barn and Hauled It to Colorado to Build Their Dream Home

Boulder County Home and Garden featured an article on my newest listing. This one has such a great history and results!

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Nothing exemplifies rural life like an old, wooden dairy barn. But Boulder builder Judy Knapp takes the country life a step further by living in one.

Growing up in more formal surroundings, Judy wanted something she could live in day to day. “I didn’t want the kind of rooms you try to keep kids out of,” she says. So on their 25th wedding anniversary, her husband, architect Johnny Knapp, asked Judy how she’d like to celebrate. The answer came as no surprise to him: “I want to live in a barn.” Shortly afterward, the Knapps traveled to New England on a barn-shopping spree, but came home empty-handed. Then Judy picked up a free newspaper in her driveway to skim the ads, and there it was: A ­couple was selling their family’s century-old dairy barn in Greensburg, Pa., to pay for a house in Colorado.

As luck would have it, a co-worker of Johnny’s was traveling near Greensburg. She agreed to pop over and videotape the barn. Built around 1900, the barn had amassed quite a bit of character—layers of it, in fact. The voice on the video sounded dubious: “I’m kind of scared to go in there. I might fall!” Undeterred, the Knapps focused on the quality of the lumber that lay beneath the dust and age. Satisfied that this was the barn for her, Judy offered to buy it, but discovered she was in line with at least 30 other interested parties. Yet when she told her story to the owners, they found it compelling. “It’s karma,” they concluded, and agreed to sell her the barn.

Read the full article at Boulder County Home and Garden

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Goat Yoga. It’s a thing!

The Boulder area has plenty of yoga options. On any given day you can choose from close to 100 yoga classes. These days many of them are online or Zoom experiences, but there are still many outdoor options, including Goat Yoga. Why goats? They are very social and sweet animals and they naturally enjoy being around people.

If Goat Yoga has piqued your interest, take a look at these local Boulder County options: Goat Yoga Classes

 

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Boulder Ranked #1 Housing Market for Growth and Stability in the U.S.–Fifth year in a row!

Boulder has done again! Once again we have been ranked the #1 Housing Market for Growth and Stability in the United States–for the fifth year by SmartAsset. Here’s what they have to say about Boulder:

Leading this study for the fifth year in a row is Boulder, Colorado. Besides being a great place for career opportunities, Boulder has shown consistently strong performance in the housing market. It has seen a 268% increase in housing value from the first quarter of 1994 up to and including the fourth quarter of 2018, the fourth-highest percentage of any metro area in our top 10, and fifth-highest in our study overall. It also has a 0% chance of a home losing at least 5% of its value in the 10 years after purchase. For those looking to invest in real estate, Boulder is a safe bet and is in one of the best states in the country for homeowners.

Read the full article here.

I’d love to talk with you about any of your real estate needs!