Welcome Kacie Vaughn!
The Sears Real Estate family is pleased to
welcome Kacie Vaughn!
Kacie joined the Sears family in March. She serves both buyers and sellers, from investors to first-time homebuyers.
Welcome!
Click here to visit Kacie's profile
Welcome Robbie Miner!
The Sears Real Estate family is
happy to welcome Robbie Miner!
Robbie joined the Sears family in February. He is a life-long Greeley resident with extensive knowledge of the local real estate market.
Welcome!
Click here to view Robbie's profile.
The Home Inspection
Why should you get a home inspection?
For most people, buying a home will be the single largest, and most expensive, purchase they will make. No one wants to move in to find surprises and unexpected problems.
A home inspection can identify problems before you close on a home and give you the knowledge to help you make decisions and take action. Most homebuyers agree, a home inspection is some of the best money they have spent.
Inspection vs. Appraisal. An appraisal is not the same as a home inspection. An appraisal is to determine the market value of a home, a home inspection is an inspection of the physical condition of the home.
Inspection Contingency. When making an offer, include an inspection contingency. If problems should arise from the inspection, you will have options for how you want to proceed.
Independent Inspector. Find a qualified, trusted, professional home inspector. Ask around for referrals and/or contact a professional home inspector organization or your state regulatory department.
Inspection Report. Your inspector will provide you with an inspection report. They will point out any problems they found (major and minor) and make suggestions.
Problems. If problems are found during the inspection, you will have the knowledge to make a decision on how to proceed.
Bottom Line. Before buying a home, get an inspection so you can make a wise decision. Even if the inspector finds no problems, most people would agree that the peace of mind is well worth the price!
Click here to speak with one of our agents
National Association of Home Inspectors
American Society of Home Inspectors
Real Estate Statistics
The first two months of 2010 have come and gone. How is the real estate market shaping up?
Greeley/Evans
While overall sales are down from this time last year, the Greeley/Evans market is still looking up! The median sales price of single-family homes continues to increase (currently $129,000, up 2.5% from this time in 2009).
In addition to the increases in the value of single-family homes, attached dwellings have been selling for a median price that is 11% higher than in 2009! Attached dwelling sales trended up throughout 2009 and the market appears to be continuing that momentum.
Windsor Area
For the ninth straight week, the average days a home is on the market is down from the same time in 2009. Averaging 108 days, homes are selling more than 2 weeks faster in 2010.
Smaller Communites
Continuing a trend that we have seen for seventeen weeks...median single-family sales prices are up! In our smaller Northern Colorado communities, homes are selling for nearly 12% more than this time in 2009. Values have steadily increased over the past four months.
Is now the time to sell your home?
Visit our Sellers page for more information.
Source: Ires Statistics March 2010
Windsor Area refers to Windsor, Severance,
Johnstown & Milliken
Smaller Communities refers to Ault, Eaton,
LaSalle, Nunn, Platteville & Gilcrest
Time is Running Out!
The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit & Repeat Buyer Tax Credit end soon!
Both tax credits are set to expire June 30, 2010 (the signed contract must be in place on or before April 30th). At this time, it is highly unlikely that these credits will be extended again. If you want to take advantage of the $8000 First-Time or $6500 Repeat Buyer credits, you have to act now!
1. Speak with a lender. Find out what you qualify for.
- The lending process can take longer now that it did a few years ago, your lender may need more time and more information to get your loan approved.
2. Find a Realtor®.
- Click here to view our agents' profiles.
3. Start looking.
- Your Realtor will help you find homes that fit your needs and budget. Some times the process happens quickly, some times it may take longer to find the right home.
4. Make an offer.
- You and your Realtor® will submit an offer to the seller. Keep in mind, if you are making an offer on a short sale or foreclosure, getting a response can be a lengthy process.
5. Close by June 30th.
- If the offer is accepted get ready to close. You must have a signed contract by April 30th and close no later than June 30th!
6. Speak with a tax professional.
- You may be able to file the credit with your 2009 tax return. Speak with a tax expert about your specific situation.
You must act now if you want to take advantage of these tax credits!
Want more information?
Click here to visit our Buyers page.
Click here to find a Sears Real Estate agent.
Both credits expire
April 30th 2010!
Search Properites that have SOLD!
Did you know that the Sears Real Estate website allows visitors to search for properties that have SOLD, not just homes currently listed?
Users can search for any Colorado home that has sold in the past 12 months...for free! Unlike some real estate websites, there is no limit on the number of sold properties you can search for.
Our Sold Search also features:
List Price vs. Sold Price
Date Sold
Search by Subdivision, Type of Home, City or MLS Numbers!
Want to know how much the home up the street sold for? Curious about average prices in your neighborhood?
Click here to be redirected to our Search Sold Listings page.
Real Estate Statistics
Quick Stats
Average Days on the Market
Greeley/Evans 
2010--------------82
2009------------------93
Windsor Area
2010----------------------111
2009---------------------------122
Smaller Communities
2010------------------------113
2009----------------------------124
Year-to-Date Median Sales Price
Greeley/Evans
2010-----------------$130,000
2009---------------$125,000
Windsor Area
2010---------------------$197,400
2009-------------------------$208,000
Smaller Communities
2010----------------------$147,000
2009---------------$115,500
Source: Ires Statistics March 2010
Windsor Area refers to: Windsor, Severance, Johnstown & Milliken
Smaller Communities refers to: Ault, Eaton, LaSalle, Platteville, Gilcrest & Nunn
What Does That Mean?
In the world of real estate, a unique, and usually acronymic, language has developed.
If you aren’t familiar with the terms, it can get confusing!
Here are a few of the most common abbreviations and terms along with their meanings:
MLS: Multiple Listing Service
A service that allows real estate professionals and subscribers to list, review and research properties.
MSA: Metropolitan Statistical Area
An informally defined geographical area that generally has a population center with economic and social ties throughout the area.
NAR: National Association of Realtors
All Realtors are licensed real estate agents but not all real estate agents are Realtors. Realtors are members of the National Association of Realtors and must meet specific guidelines, continuing education credits and ethical requirements.
CAR: Colorado Association of Realtors
The state of Colorado’s branch of the National Association of Realtors
GARA: Greeley Area Realtors Association
The local, Greeley MSA office of the National Association of Realtors.
Listing Agent:
The real estate agent working on behalf of a home’s owners. The agent who listed the home for sale.
Buyer’s Agent:
The real estate agent working on behalf of someone buying a home.
HOA: Homeowners Association
An association that manages the common areas of a PUD (planned unit development) or condo project. Generally, owners within the community will pay HOA dues to cover expenses of managing the common areas and/or any other included services.
Homeowners Association can be in place for communities of single-family homes or communities of attached-dwellings.
Questions?
Click here to contact one of our
real estate agents!
Now is the Time!
Now is the Time to Buy...and Sell!
Buyers
The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and Repeat Buyer Credit are set to expire April 30, 2010 (most have a contract by April 30 and close no later than July 31, 2010).
If you do not buy now, you will miss out. These credits were extended (and expanded) in November 2009 and most industry experts do not expect they will extended again!
Interest rates will most likely rise (and probably sooner rather than later). Remember, the rates we have seen for the past several years took nearly two decades to reach their low levels. If they begin to rise, they most likely will not fall to these levels again quickly!
The Federal Housing Administration is also in the process of implementing new, stricter rules for borrowers including; increased down payments and tougher credit score requirements. These changes, among others, will be implemented starting in April 2010!
Sellers
Inventory levels are beginning to increase. Throughout 2009, we reported that most of Northern Colorado saw huge decreases in the number of listings month by month. The number of homeowners putting their homes on the market is now beginning to creep back up. As a seller, remember that the more homes on the market, the more competition your home has!
The expiring credits could effect you! Consider the additional pool of buyers tax credits created for your home. The average days on the market in Greeley/Evans, for example, is currently 86 days. That means it has been taking an average of nearly 3 months from the day you list your home to the closing. How many days are left to April 30th?
Take Our Web Survey!
In the age of technology, an important part of serving our clients is having a comprehensive, easy to use and helpful website.
Over the past few years, Sears Real Estate has made a number of changes and improvements to searsrealestate.com. Now, we would like your opinion!
For your time, we will send you a $10 Buzz Coffee & Gelato gift card!
Click for more details!
Time is running out...take our survey today!
Welcome Dori & Carol!
The Sears Real Estate family is pleased to welcome our
newest agents, Dori Workman & Carol Albo!
Dori and Carol joined the Sears family in February 2010.
Working as a team, they are able to work with both buyers
and sellers in most any situation.
Welcome!
Click here to visit their website.
Real Estate Statistics
What a year it has been so far in 2010! Most local real estate experts would agree that the markets are heating up.
Greeley/Evans
The median sales value of all residential detached homes in January was up 6%. In 2009, the median value was just over $121,000. In 2010, that value was more than $128,000!
Another bright spot we are seeing for home values is in foreclosure sales. In January, Greeley/Evans foreclosures sold with a median value that was 11% higher than January 2009. Could this be an indication that housing values are starting to get back to previous levels?
Windsor Area
The number of days homes are staying on the market continues to be an encouraging factor! Both residential detached and attached homes in the Windsor area are selling, on average, about 2 weeks faster than in 2009.
Smaller Communities
The median sales values in our smaller communities has been up over previous year's numbers for several months...and January 2010 was no exception! Homes in January 2010 sold for nearly 18% more than January 2009!
Every real estate market sees ups and downs...
The numbers we have seen so far help us to predict
that 2010 will be a great year for Northern Colorado!
Source: Ires Statistics January/February 2010
Areas included: Ault, Eaton, Gilcrest, Platteville,
Nunn, Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Severance,
Milliken, Johnstown
Spend Money to Save Money?
Feel a draft from a window? Does one room just always feels cold? Forget to turn down the thermostat?
You are losing money.
Drafty doors and windows, under insulated walls and attics and inefficient heaters can cost homeowners hundreds of dollars over the winter months. A few simple, and even inexpensive, solutions can help save you $$$...
- Add insulation. While most newer homes will have a decent amount of attic insulation, many older homes do not. The recommended thickness depends on what type of insulation you have but generally speaking, insulating your attic to 8 or more inches can help you save on heating and cooling.
- Install a programmable thermostat. You can buy a programmable thermostat for as little as $30 or so and they take only a few minutes to install. Setting your thermostat to a lower setting while you are at work or asleep can save money on your heating bill every day, without you doing anything.
- Weather strip a drafty window. Weather stripping kits are available for just a couple dollars per window or door. Not only will you save money on your heating and cooling, you will make that once drafty room more comfortable and cozy.
- Change your furnace filter. Filters for most furnaces are available in multi-packs for $10-$40. It is recommended that you change your filter every three months. But, to keep airflow the most efficient, change your filter monthly.
- Take advantage of the tax credits! Tax credits are available for many products, appliances and upgrades that make your home more energy efficient. Not only can you receive a significant tax break, efficiency alone saves money! Check out the Energy Star website for more information.
With a small investment, these energy
saving tips will pay for themselves
and save you money!
Take Our Website Survey!
In the age of technology, an important part of serving our clients is having a comprehensive, easy to use and helpful website.
Over the past few years, Sears Real Estate has made a number of changes and improvements to searsrealestate.com. Now, we would like your opinion!
For your time, we will send you a $10 Buzz Coffee & Gelato gift card!
Click for more details!
Time is running out...take our survey today!
Sears Real Estate Website - A Great Resource!
The Sears Real Estate website is a great resource for home buyers, sellers, investors and anyone looking for up-to-date real estate information. We regularily update information and have access to real-time MLS listings and recently sold properties!
Here are some highlights:
Search SOLD Properties
Our site allows anyone to search properties sold in Colorado in the past 12 months. Use this tool to see how much a neighbors home sold for or to get information on homes that have sold in another area! Click here to begin your search.
Search ALL Colorado Listings
Our Listing Search allows you to search all MLS listings, not only Sears Real Estate listings, in the entire state of Colorado. Our search tool offers a number of different search options such as; by price, square footage or even search an area using our map search feature. Click here to use the listing search tool.
Search Listings Nationwide
Our affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World allows us the opportunity to provide you with a free Nationwide listing search tool. Click here to search properties across the country, or even internationally!
View our Open Houses
We add current open house information to our site weekly. All upcoming open houses can be viewed in the Search Open Houses section. The information includes the properties, day and time and a mapping function!
Additional Resources
Our Resources section provides you with some great real estate and local area information. We provide several mortgage and real estate calculators, local area information and links (in our Greeley & Weld County section) and the opportunity to sign up for Investor reports and information provided by our agents.
We would love to hear your opinion, click here to learn how to take our survey & receive a $10 Buzz gift card!
On the Fence?
I want to sell my home but is now the right time?
Four reasons to list your home TODAY:
- A trend that began in spring 2009, the number of homes on the market has been down month after month. In fact, listings are down in every community in the Greeley Metro area! What does that mean for sellers? Less competition!
- Homes are selling quicker. Overall, homes in our Northern Colorado communities are selling in fewer days (even up to a month faster in some areas) than they did in 2008 and 2009, on average.
- Home values are leveling off and even increasing! Some of our communities have seen values increase over last year, which is great news for sellers! Some areas have not seen home values increase, but overall, those communities have not had values decrease in 2009.
Keep in mind, all real estate is local (even down to a particular neighborhood). Speak with a professional for an honest evaluation of your home!
- Tax Credits are expiring SOON! The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit expires April 30, 2010 (June 30, 2010 if a contract is signed by April 30th). You could miss out if your home is not on the market while buyers are taking advantage of this credit.
Source: Ires Statistics January/February 2010
Areas included: Ault, Eaton, Gilcrest, Platteville,
Nunn, Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Severance,
Milliken, Johnstown
Welcome Rey Lozano!
The Sears Real Estate family is pleased to welcome
our newest agent, Rey Lozano!
Rey joined the Sears Real Estate family in January 2010.
He serves buyers and sellers in both English and Spanish! Welcome, Rey!
View Rey's profile here.
Sears Real Estate CEO, "Things are Happening."
A recent feature in the Greeley Tribune left many feeling a little bit more at ease about the 2010 real estate market. Specifically, things seem to be looking up for the affordable housing markets of under $200,000 and under $100,000.
Sears Real Estate CEO, Chalice Springfield, was quoted in the article saying, "We'll continue to see strong numbers in the first-time homebuyer range." Historically, first-time homebuyers buy homes that are under $200,000.
As we have reported over the past year, inventory levels remain down considerably from the previous two years. With inventory down, the tax credits expiring and interest rates almost certain to rise, Chalice Springfield states "I think people will look back and say 'I wish I would have taken advantage of the market or bought an investment or first house.' This is that time. This is it."
To read the entire article, click here.
To speak with a professional, contact us or
get to know our agents.
Sources: Ires Statistics January/February 2010
NAR 2009 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers
Proud Game Day Sponsor - UNC Athletics
Sears Real Estate was proud to be the game day sponsor of the Thursday night UNC Mens Basketball game!We are proud of all the student athletes at UNC.
Sears agent Randy Moser (with wife Sears friends and family enjoying
Chris), agent Steve Baker & Emily Tilton the game!
Welcome - Lisa Michie!
We are pleased to welcome the newest member of the
Sears Real Estate family, Lisa Michie!
Lisa has been a real estate agent for 10 years and is a member of both the Greeley Area Realtors Association and the Fort Collins Board of Realtors.
Lisa joined the Sears family in January.
Click here to read Lisa's biography!
