Barb Schlinker The Real Estate Voice

Barb, many home sellers worry that they have to set aside money to pay Capital Gain taxes when they sell their homes.  What are some of the tax issues home sellers must know before putting their Colorado Springs area home up for sale?1.In 1998 the law changed that provided for sellers to gain:$250,000 for not married$500,000 for marriedTax FREE on the Sale of A HomeThis Segment is about Taxes when you sell a home and what home sellers should know.I’m Barb Schlinker with Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty and I have helped thousands of home sellers sell their homes in my career. I attend the closings and I am right there with along side with the title closer, going over the closing documents.There is one document they provide which helps title determine whether or not to issue you a 1099on the sale of the home.Here are the questions that Determine Whether Title will Issues a 1099:Have you lived in the home for 2 of the last 5 years?Have you used the home for rental or a business?Have you sold another primary res

Barb, as a lawyer, I am aware that selling real estate is a form of practicing law. Home sellers do not sell homes frequently, what are some Legal Mistakes to Avoid when selling a home?I Believe only Lawyers want to be dragged into lawsuits.  For most people they are very expensive and, in most cases very frustrating.There are subtle details to handle that can turn into major problems if not handled correctly.In the segment we will be walking through some of the Legal Mistakes to avoid before Listing Your Colorado Springs Area home for sale.I’m Barb Schlinker with Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty Colorado and I have helped thousands of people buy and sell homes.In the state of Colorado, all licensed real estate brokers (same as agents are licensed to “Practice Law” by filling out the state forms our state provides to help people buy and sell homes without using a lawyer for every transaction.It saves consumers a bit of money but there are some risks.You can call our office any time at 719 301 3900 if want to

Barb, When Buyers Do a Home Inspection, Typically they are checking to see if the home is in functional condition, what are some Inspection Blunders You have Seen and How to Sellers Watch out for Them? 1. Inspectors are NOT licensed in the state of CO2. For our Errors and Omission Insurance to be Valid, we as licensed agents CANNOT let an unlicensed person go in the house on their own…yet1. Weekly, I get requests from agents asking if we can give out the code to let inspectors spend 3 hours in someone’s home touching every system on their own without an escort.  Not only is this behavior a license law violation but it invalidates our insurance!2. I’ve caught agents, going to the home, letting them in THEN LEAVING DURING THE INSPECTION1. I’m not sure what agents have to do other than represent their clients (of which they are getting thousands and thousands of dollars to do…but not attending to their buyer’s due diligence, to me, is a failure to represent the client.2. As a result, if the seller is NOT present

10 Questions You Should Ask Agents Before Selling Your HomeWe are back with Barb Schlinker, Barb…Barb, you know I have recommended you and your team for years. But many people do want to interview several agents to pick the best one.  You have a report on the Top 10 Questions You should Ask Before Hiring an Agent, tell us about that..1.Many home sellers quickly figure out, that not all real estate agents are the same.2.And picking the wrong agent can cost a home seller thousands.a) There are agents that give a commission discount and do very littleb) There are agents that charge full price and do very littlec) Some people assume that the agent that sold them the home would be a good fit to be their agent to re-sell the home.1. I recently met with a home seller that found out that was not the case.  While they really liked the agent to find them that home.  When it came to selling their was very little effort to appropriately: price the home & promote the home to get buyers to come see it.  The result was

Barb, in the last segment we talked about how it’s a seller’s market, which means, in many cases, the home sellers get to choose from multiple offers, and there is a low number of available homes on the market, but you have said before that Buyers are still quite picky and will pay top dollar for the BEST homes.  What are some of the top things a home sellers must know before putting their Colorado Springs area home up for sale?1.The traditional ways of selling homes have become increasing less and less effective on today’s market.#1 Mistake is to Analyze Why Your Are Selling and Have a Destination in Mind2.The number 2 mistake is:Not Preparing the home for Buyers Eye..Where are the Buyer’s eyes?ONLINE a.You have NO IDEA what buyers are eliminating homes,b.We have a whole team who will you get your home ONLINE viewer ready!Eg: Neutrals ALWAYS WORK!1.OVER PRICING –Most home sellers want top dollarYou will actually GET top dollar if you DO NOT over priceIt does not work to build in ‘negotiating room” buyers alr

Everyone talks about this hot real estate market, do you think ?Real estate is a local game based on the economy.It’s strong because of the growth of this city and the ease of obtaining financing:Space Force – also bring in Defense contractors, NASA, etc15,000 + HIGH PAYING JOBSAmazon1,700 + JOBSDemand for Extremely HighBuilders cannot build homes fast enough – Buyers must wait 9 – 12 months to buildInterest rates are at record low levels = lower house paymentsBuyers can get ZERO down FinancingIt’s the perfect situation to get in the game!A large majority of Americans do not save enough to retire. Becoming a Homeowner Will Automatically Increase Your WealthAccording to Andrew Carnegie “Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.”You do NOT have to be wealthy to buy a homeYou do NOT need a down Payment to Buy a HomeIf you would like to find out more about how to buy a home zero down, in any price range, visit:  BarbHasTheBuyers.com or call us at 719 301 3900.  We have never seen ho

What Makes Some Homes Fly off the Shelf and Others Not and Hot New ListingsWhat makes some homes FLY off the shelf and others sit there? Our team is designed to help home sellers get their homes ready for sale.1.All the stars are aligned to get top dollarLow Available inventory of homesLow Cost Financing30 year fixed Conventional: 2.6%30 year fixed VA/FHA: 2.25%Little or No Down Payment NeededNavy Fed CU = 100% Conventional Loan (little higher rate 3.65) 0 down jumbo!2. To me, #1 PricingPricing a home correctly takes:Market experienceWe well hundreds of homes in a yearAverage agent sells less than 3 (74%) of themPricing REALISTICALLY vs OPTIMISTICALLY1.I’ve had a few sellers try pricing above what I thought was the value and they won!2.On balance though, if you price Optimistically, the result even in this environment will result in long days on market (more than 30 days, there is something wrong) ANDBuyers think something is wrong if they see thatDays on market are broadcast ALL over Realtor.com, & Zillo

5  Ways to Stage Your Home for Any SeasonBarb many of our listeners know, you and your team are the only people I would recommend and you have been here in the market selling homes for a long time.  As we go through the different holiday seasons, some people worry about whether holiday decorations are appropriate, is it ok to stage with decorations? Yes, but do not over do it! Here are some basic guidelines: Do Decorate for the Season Don’t obstruct the beautiful features of your home Keep the home Neat and Tidy Make your home Available for Showings but Minimize buyer distractions Heavy Family Photos Remove pets At a house last week that had the MOST adorable Bull Dog He was the star of the show! You want the HOUSE to be the star DO Bake Cookies but be sure to leave some  Out for them with plates and napkins+ small water bottles Builders and title companies do this all the time I remember my very first Broker said: “If you smell it, you can’t sell it!” At the time we were inside a vacant home that had heavy p

TOP Trends for Home Design Colors for 2021Barb, in the last segment we talked about how it’s a seller’s market, which means, in many cases, the home sellers get to choose from multiple offers, and there is a low number of available homes on the market, but you have said before that Buyers eliminate homes online.  What are some things that a home seller can do to make their home seem on trend and more attractive to home buyers? The Average Buyers spends LESS than 57 Seconds Viewing a Single Home ONLINE. You have NO IDEA what buyers are eliminating homes, but here is what you can do about it…NEUTRAL IS ALWAYS BETTER! For the past 2-4 years we have seen the GREY be a big color People went ALL IN with it. GREY, MODERN Now the trend has changed… Neutrals ALWAYS WORK! BRASSY GOLD FINISHES ARE PASSE BUT: “BRUSHED CHAMPAIGN” IS INYou can give color accents with furniture, pillows, bedspreads, etc: Big Trend colors for 2021: Very soft green, jewel colors (not for selling on walls ok for accent) You want an agent that

There is some much going on right now, a contested election, a pandemic with an increase in cases, yet the real estate market remains strong, why is that and what is the latest on activity in the real estate market?The only change for us with the pandemic is we have to limit the number of showings to 4 people at a time and wear: Masks, Gloves & Wipe Down surfaces after showing. I believe the market is strong because of the growth of this city: Space Force – also bring in Defense contractors, NASA, etc 15,000 + HIGH PAYING JOBS Amazon 1,000 + JOBS This is a great time to buy a home AND  A really great time to sell a home Here is why: Increase in sales by 25% Increase in Average Sales price by 17.3% SF Homes For Townhouse / Condo Increase = 35.4% Decrease in Available Inventory by 59.7% Let’s explore that: Right now:  Average Sales Price is $431,104 If you bought a Single family home for $300,000 1 year ago Its value now is $350,000 If you bought a Condo/Townhome for $150,000 – 1 year ago Its value now is $

Benefits of Being a VIP Buyer or Seller Including the FREE Use of a Moving Van & Hot New ListingsBarb you have talked about the many benefits of working with you and your team, you have something special to share with us today tell us about it:Yes Richard, we are always to provide the best possible service to our clients so we can serve more families and help more Veterans.We are a 100% Veteran owned business and I was honored to go down to Boerne Texas to pick up our new MOVING Van, on Veterans day!We are a 100% Veteran Owned Company.We are on a mission to serve more families so we can donate to Veterans causes such as:USOFisher House FoundationVet DogsTunnel2Towers Smart Home ProgramAdopt a platoonIt was such fun experience.We had to wait for some finishing touches on the van.So we took an Uber down to Main Street1st Stop: Black Rifle Coffee Company – a Veteran Owned CompanyThe American Legion was Giving Veterans Rides on a Convoy of Sling Shots as a VeteranI had to have some Tex Mex so we walked around

Hottest Property Improvements That Command a GREAT Return on Your InvestmentRegardless of your situation or budget we can help you get ready. We have what we call the HELP program whichWe pre-pay for a few reasonable updates that can make the difference between sold for top dollar and NOT sold.  To find out more give us a call at719 301 3900.What are Home Buyers Looking for in Homes in this Market?Start with a Budget in Mind – If you are making ImprovementsFocus on Systems that need to be replacedEg: 30 year old furnaces15+ year old water heaterAny broken stuff – it really stands out when sellingCosmetic repairs on flooring, lights, kitchens and baths are the main things that attract buyers:Hardwood floors are big...howeverLVT looks GREAT, easy care, lower cost than real hardwoodKitchens – these updates always pay off:CountersAppliancesMany are painting oak cabinets white –really popular nowBathrooms – you will get 100% ROIVanitySinksFlooringLight fixturesLandscaping – curb appeal is a must! Backyards are clo

What are some things that will cause a person’s home to get digitally eliminated ONLINE?Yes, these are worries that keepme up at night.Home sellers might be surprised toknow a few facts:The training for real estate agents in regards to marketing is very limited.There is just not much training on it.You would be SHOCKED or you may have seen some AWFUL MARKETING PHOTOS trying to entire buyers to see a home posted by untrained real estate agents.Example: Price:  $590kNot ONE photo was in focusWhat’s Wrong with This Picture?Here is one: 67 Days on the MarketPrice: $415,000Halloween DecorationsHalloween was WEEKS AGO!Here is another of the same home:Two dirty cars in front drivewayMakeshift dumpster in yard.You wonder why its been sitting on the market for 70+ days!!!!!Agents are just not trained to attract buyersto want to come see the home!The Average Buyers spends LESS than 57 Seconds Viewing a Single Home ONLINE.You have NO IDEA what buyers are eliminating homes, but here is what you can do about it…Ask friend

Home Design Trends Ushered in Having to Work and Learn from HomeCOVID Level ORANGE, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE REAL ESTATE MARKET NOW?I heard the Governor declared most of the heavily populated counties in the state underReal Estate is considered an ESSENTIAL SERVICE.  Not much as changed as far as how we do business. Level Orange is in effect for:El Paso, Pueblo, Teller, Elbert, Teller, Douglas & Jefferson and all the counties around Denver and many othersWe have the state mandated precautions in place.PRECAUTIONS WHEN providing Real Estate Services:Social DistancingWipe Down After ShowingsNo More than 10 at Open HousesWear Masks and Gloves at ShowingsWear Masks at OfficeThermometer checks at OfficeMeet virtually where possibleWe Provide all Protective Equipment both in our listings and in our office.Common sense:  Don’t go out and infect others if sickComment:I don’t know how it spreads:I know I could have been exposed and found out about it 1 week after I metwith those 3 people. Two were sick the other w

What are the Top 7 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?Segment 4It’s interesting to note that:So, if you are going to refinance you need to consider:How long you plan to stay in the homeWhether or not it makes sense to add Years to the MortgageThe cost of RefinancingBut if you plan to stay, paying off your mortgage as fast as possible is the best way to go: Fact:  A typical 30 year mortgage takes 21 years just to pay down LESS THAN HALF of the principal of your loan! Fact: For a $435,000 30 year mortgage at 3.0%, paid monthly with no extra down total amount paid would be $660,231! The Banks GET THEIR INTEREST MONEY FIRST! If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, give us a call at 719 301 3900, so here are some ways to pay it down early: Make Bi Weekly Payments – In 1 year you would have made 13 payments and, over time taken 4 years and 4 months off your mortgage Make an Extra House Payment Each Quarter = $65,000 savings on interest 3. Bring Your Lunch to Work, apply extra $100 to mortgage= savings of

Many of our listeners know, you and your team are the only people I would recommend and you have been here in the market selling homes for a long time.  What are some Top Home Shopping Tips for Home Buyers in This Hot Market?Start with a Budget in Mind Be Prepared to Exceed Your BudgetThat is Why Getting Pre-Approved is Step OneEveryone Loves Looking at Homes, it’s fun!But, Buyers need to know: How Much Home They Can Buy What Their Payments Will Be How Much Cash They will Need to Perform How much Money In Reserves they will need In most cases, you can buy for a payment less than rent. If anyone has looked at rent rates out there they are in for sticker shock! In the past 6 years market value increases have gone up on average over 9% per year! Buying a home is a great investment. HGTV has really messed up expectations for most home buyers Pretty homes sell for a premium often with multiple offers Homes with views sell for a premium Homes with acreage sell for premium Low priced homes get bidding wars Buyers ne

Legal Real Estate Clauses that Help You or Hurt You in a Real Estate Transaction and What You Can Do About ThemIn the last segment we talked about how it’s a seller’s market, which means, in many cases, the home sellers get to choose from multiple offers, but it is a legal transaction. There are some legal clauses in real estate contracts that can help you or hurt you in a real estate transaction, tell us about some of them.First of all make sure you hire a real estate agent that knows the contracts.  Many do not.Some shove a 20-page agreement in front of the buyers and sellers and tell them to sign it without explanation.  It’s actually not required.But I believe it’s malpractice to work that way.Here are some Legal Landmines Home Buyers and Sellers Need to understand:Many agents will cut and paste legal language given to them by another agent or broker because they think it may ‘protect’ their clients.Here are a few of my favorites:Any other documentation and/or disclosures in the seller's possession t

Buyers seem to have much fewer homes to choose from, what is the status of the current market and why do home buyers need to understand the market conditions?I had the privilege of going out to show homes last weekend and it was quite the journey.After that buyer viewed 10 homes and picked one, they got out bid by another buyer.They were given the opportunity to increase their offer but declined.We are in what we call a SELLERS MARKET That means, in most cases the seller gets to choose the best buyer for their home. A sellers’ market is defined as:  Less than 3 months of inventory in a price range. Well we have less than 1 months of inventory in almost every price range below $800,000 The result: Sellers are able to command more for their homes. Other huge factors are: Really low inventory  Inventory of Available homes is at RECORD LOW, right now only 659 homes on the market.   Compare that to 1 year ago there were over 1927 homes to choose from in the Pikes Peak Region That’s a 54% DECREASE in inventory As y

The Top 9 Reasons You Should Call the Barb Schlinker Team for Your Next Move and 7 Hot New ListingsBarb, not all real estate agents and teams are the same, and I would only recommend your team for someone who is planning on making a move, tell us the Top 9 Reasons Our Listeners Should Call the Barb Schlinker Team when they are ready for a move: Our Team is designed to ensure we never run out of time to take care of our client’s needs and consists of: Agents 3 Lead Coordinators Operations Manager Managing Broker Video / Media Manager Social Media Manager Data Base Manager And me – The Team Leader Accomplishments: We help people buy and sell homes daily International Coach and Guest Speaker for Craig Proctor’s Coaching Program for top real estate agents in North America providing training for over 1000 people on a quarterly basis.   The Real Estate Voice, a weekly radio show on KVOR AM 740 which is a broadcast on YouTube & Podcast that educates the public about buying and selling real estate.   I am the onl

Segment 3Why the 2021 Real Estate Market will Soar AgainBarb many of our listeners know, you and your team are the only people I would recommend if they have a real estate need, making a decision buy or sell a home, why do you think next year will be another record year for real estate? Good Credit and Income - No NEED for a Down PaymentCurrent buyer - $324,999 home on acreage $1000 out of pocket! Military and Veterans - ZERO down payment You can get FHA financing for as little as 3.5% down Two Down Payment Assistance programs 4% Down Payment Given to BuyerRent Rates =  Sticker Shock! Buy a Home for Less Than Rent Prices increasing 9% per year Are we in a Real Estate Bubble? No – why Jobs, Employment, 44% of Driving Factors of this economy is from Aerospace and Defense. That’s not going anywhere Southwest Airlines HERE Even the Reology CEO predicts a strong real estate market for 2021. The housing market has continued to set records with home sales far    outpacing last year’s totals by 35% 3rd Quarter 2020St