Ro Troia

The VA Vendee Financing Program

I was asked the following question when showing one of our VA (Veterans Administration) owned properties:

 ”Are you familiar with the Vendee Program in which Bank of America offers to buyers? And I am curious if you’ve had real estate deals involving the Veterans Administration.”

Since we are witnessing more and more Veteran Administration-owned properties in the real estate market, I assume that many more people have the same question or are unaware of financing that they may in fact qualify for. 

Vendee financing is a program Veterans Admin offers to help finance VA REO (bank-owned) properties. The appeal of this is the times when a VA loan product or program is offered to non-veterans. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Tags: bank owned, buyers, credit score, finance, loan, loan Vendee Financing, non veteran, owner occupied, property, property management, real estate, REO, Veterans Administration

Mortgage Rates as of 4/20/2010

Here ya go readers and potential buyers.  Another update on the mortgage rates here in Boulder Colorado.  Not much has changed but a few numbers have.  Please check them out.

1) 30 yr is at 5.2 with no points and 5% even with 1 point

2) FHA 30 yr is 5.238 with no points and 5.138% with 1 point.

Also, I would like to inform you all about a unique program that only Coldwell Banker is offering.  It is a Pre-Purchase Rate Protection (PPRP).  It allows a buyer to lock a rate without identifying a property, and is good for a 90 day lock.  Every Coldwell Banker Mortgage customer gets the opportunity to enroll in the (PPRP) as soon as they receive a mortgage pre-approval decision from Coldwell Banker Mortgage.

So click here and lock in your rate today with a professional mortgage broker.

Tags: Tags: boulder, buyers, Coldwell Banker, colorado, mortgage rates, professional, The Troia Team

What Is An Eco Friendly Renovation? Part Two

Why is this information important? 

For several reasons: Being more conscientious is the way to be.  It’s the right choice.  The eco evolution is not only taking over Boulder but it’s blossoming throughout the world.  We drive Priuses, shop locally, and remodel with the consideration of the environment. 

You’re not only saving mother earth but yourself as well; indoor contamination causes health problems and the community is becoming more aware of its harmful risks. 

 It’s really not that more expensive to do a earth loving remodel and it will positively increase the value of your real estate.  Buyers are looking for those green qualities in a home so here are the basics. 

 

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Tags: boulder, buyers, conscientious, eco friendly renovation, eco house, environment, flooring, health problems, increase value, indoor pollutants, insulation, investment, kitchen trends, paint, real estate, sellers, VOCs, water efficiency, world

RATES FLAT DESPITE MORE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC DATA

Mortgage interest rates were mostly flat this past week despite continued negative economic data. Today’s January employment report showed that the unemployment rate jumped from 7.2% in December to 7.6% in January. This is the highest unemployment rate in 16 years. Non-Farm Payrolls declined 598,000 on expectations that they would decline by 500,000. This is the largest monthly decline since December of 1974. Weekly jobless claims increased 35,000 on expectations that they would increase only 4,000. December Personal Income was down 0.2% and Spending was down 1.0%. The ISM Manufacturing and Services Sector indices were slightly better than expected but both indices still showed contraction within their respective sectors.
 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at 8,221, up over 200 points on the week. Crude oil futures are currently trading at just over $39 per barrel, down over $2 per barrel on the week. The Senate may vote on the stimulus package today.
 
Next week look toward Wednesday’s International Trade Report, Thursday’s Retail Sales and weekly jobless claims, and Friday’s Consumer Sentiment Index as potential market moving events.

Tags: Tags: boulder, buyers, colorado, market, mortgage rates

Boulder County Tax Lien Sale is a Safe Place to Stick Some Dough

It has been a while since my last blog and I am trying to get over a severe case of writers block.  With the holidays and my writers block, blogging just wasn’t working for me, so this one is a little out of date, but definitely something that needs to be discussed, so here we go.  I hope it finds everyone well and enjoying the first part of 2009.

Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Boulder County Tax Lien Sale at the Boulder County Courthouse.

I have always wondered about buying tax liens and the process and how one might benefit from it. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Tags: boulder, buyers, colorado, investment, purchasing, real estate, tax liens

RATES FALL AGAIN ON NEGATIVE ECONOMIC DATA

 
Interest rates fell slightly again this week on continued negative economic data. October Wholesale Inventories and weekly jobless claims were much weaker than expected. November Retail Sales fell 1.8%. Excluding automobile sales, Retail Sales were down 1.6%. The November Producer Price Index (PPI) fell 2.2% on expectations that it would fall 1.8%.Excluding the food and energy components, core PPI increased 0.1%. November import prices fell 1.8% and export prices fell 2.9%. China’s November Exports fell 2.2% year over year, its first year over year decline in seven years. At next weeks FOMC meeting the markets increasingly expect the Fed to cut the Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points to a rate of 0.25%.
 
Other news of note includes the auto bailout plan, which has stalled in the Senate. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at 8,575, down about 60 points on the week. Crude oil futures are currently trading at $44.83 per barrel, up about $3 per barrel on the week. The US Dollar lost ground versus both the Euro and Yen.
 
Next week look toward Mondays Industrial Production, Tuesdays FOMC Announcement, Consumer Price Index (CPI), and Housing Starts as potential market moving events.

Tags: Tags: boulderr, buyers, colorado, mortgage rates, updates

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly

Yes, Boulder Colorado, decorating your home for the holidays is fun, spiritual, and festive.  We love to put out those icicle lights, wreaths, and huge figurines.  However, if you are listing your home during the holidays, be cautious to not go overboard.  Sellers, you don’t need to keep all the trimmings in storage just because your home is on the market.  But you should decorate in such a way that buyers won’t be turned off.  Will they be able to picture themselves spending the holidays in your home someday?  Read more to find out. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Tags: boulder colorado, buyers, curb appeal, Flagstaff, holiday decorating, Pearl Street, realtor, sellers, staging

RATES INCREASE SLIGHTLY ON TREASURY DEBT AUCTIONS

 

Today’s Market Commentary:

Interest rates increased slightly this past week as the US Treasury auctioned off $55 billion of debt. Economic data continued to be negative. Weekly jobless claims jumped by 32,000 claims on expectations that claims would actually fall by 2,000. Continuing claims increased to 3.9 million from 3.84 million the previous week. October Retail Sales fell by 2.8% on expectations that sales would fall by 1.2%. Excluding auto sales, Retail Sales fell by 2.2% on expectations that sales would fall by 0.9%. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported third quarter losses of $29 billion and $25.3 billion respectively. Markets increasingly expect the Fed to cut short term interest rates by 50 basis points again at their FOMC meeting December 16.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently at 8,503, down about 440 points on the week. Crude oil futures are currently trading at just over $56 per barrel, down almost $5 per barrel on the week. China announced a $586 billion stimulus package to keep their economy growing.

Next week look toward Monday’s Industrial Production, Tuesday’s Producer Price Index (PPI), and Wednesday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Housing Starts as potential market moving events.

Tags: Tags: boulder, buyers, colorado, economic data, mortgage rates, real estate, sellers

Dakota Ridge Village Doesn’t Get Much Greener Than This!

We’re talking about Net Zero Energy Homes, one of which is currently under construction in Dakota Ridge Village in Boulder Colorado.  Nestled in between your traditional new builds, stands a more modern, uniquely designed living space, called The NZE House.  This progressive piece of real estate will lead the way in the green building trend here in Boulder Colorado.  With buildings consuming 40% of the total energy in the US, why not strive to achieve buildings that create zero net energy?  Meaning that they have net energy consumption of zero in a typical year, therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and conserving energy.  I believe that soon, all homes will become net zero energy and we just might save the world after all!

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Tags: boulder colorado, buyers, Dakota Ridge Village, green building, real estate, sellers, Trends

What You Get for The Money

What does today’s average buyer look for in a home?  Here are the top ten home features according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2007 profile of buyer’s home feature preferences.  As a real estate professional, I have made these observations when working with home buyers.  This list will also aid home sellers evaluate the desireability of the various home features. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Tags: boulder home values, boulder homes, boulder properties, Boulder real estate, buy real estate, buyers