At Home Colorado - Northern Colorado Edition

REAL ESTATE

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HOME IMPROVEMENTS you might regret

Quick Guide and Featured Open Homes

Should I hire a carpet cleaner?

Your January day-by-day calendar of gardening chores

Looking for a home? View comprehensive listings of local open homes taking place this weekend from all across the area.

The first of the year is a great time to clean your carpets, but before you hire someone, here are a few questions to ask.

Winter doesn’t mean that your lawn and garden don’t need any attention. This checklist will help yours look its best now and in the spring.

December 29-30, 2018

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

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atHome

STYLE AT HOME

Make the most of your tables

COLORADO HOME AND REAL ESTATE

ATHOMECOLORADO.COM CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Paul F. P. Pogue Cathy Hobbs Jessica Damiano Mary Carol Garrity Suzanne Plewes Ilyce Glink Samuel J. Tamkin

ADDITIONAL CONTENT Tribune News Service Brandpoint Content ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Thais Hafer, Toni McNeill EDITOR/FEATURES COORDINATOR Misty Kaiser

At Home is an Advertising Feature published by the Loveland Reporter-Herald. ©2017 Prairie Mountain Media.

SEND US YOUR NEWS. At Home welcomes news from the local community on real estate/home tips, events, hirings, advancements, awards, community involvement and other information of interest to the Boulder County and Northern Colorado areas.

Submitted items should be non-promotional in tone.

Visit AtHomeColorado.com/ Submit-Your-News.

ADVERTISING INFORMATION: To advertise in At Home or to promote your open house contact Thais Hafer at 303.473.1456, Toni McNeil at 303.684.5329 or visit AtHomeColorado.com/Advertise To submit an open house listing, visit AtHomeColorado.com/ SubmitOpenHouseLoveland.com.

FACEBOOK.COM/ ATHOMECOLORADO

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For more formal occasions, this dining room is where all the fun takes place.

(Bob Greenspan)

By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service (TNS) As 2018 comes to a close, I couldn’t resist making one last visit to my friend Leslie’s beautiful home. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and take a break from the holiday festivities.

Today, I want to show you how Leslie uses tables throughout her home, both as gathering places and as mood makers.

TABLES FOR FAMILY MEALS When you have four children, family meals are an important time for everyone to come together and connect. So Leslie wanted to make the dining spot in her kitchen welcoming for family and friends. The white lacquered dining table and chairs have the fun, contemporary feel the family loves and a hint of the chinoiserie styling that is the bedrock of Leslie’s look.

For breakfast or an after-school snack, the family can pull up to

the bar in one of these adorable bar stools. Check out how the stools are finished with an apple green detail. Love!

Anne, the Nell Hill’s designer who assisted Leslie with bringing her vision to life in her home remodel, knows how hard kids can be on furniture. Especially during meal time. So she helped Leslie wed style and function when they picked fabric for the custom upholstered dining chairs.

The Schumacher fabric that backs the chairs pulls together all the colors and patterns in the space, while the Kryptonite fabric on the inside of the chairs protects them from everyday spills.

TABLES FOR ENTERTAINING For more formal occasions, or when Leslie and Dan entertain, the dining room is where all the fun takes place. Leslie is a big fan of wallpaper, so she started this room right by warming up the walls with a navy grasscloth wallpaper. She found

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the upholstery fabrics she was looking for to help tell the room’s story. Her farm table provided some old-world charm to the room, keeping it from feeling too formal.

The star of this room, though, is this designer chandelier, which Leslie unearthed in an antique mall. Leslie, the consummate bargain hunter, regularly visits an antique mall near her home to scout for diamonds in the rough she can get for a song, then fix up. This Barbara Cosgrove chandelier was the steal of a lifetime and is a stunning addition to this fresh blue and white room.

Leslie has spot-on instincts when it comes to finding accessories that give her spaces personality. She bravely mixes styles, colors and shapes, and the effect is arresting. But she was a little less confident when it came to selecting and hanging artwork.

But she found some beautiful pieces that captured her heart, like the wonderful abstract that found a home in her dining room.

TABLES FOR TRANSITION SPACES It isn’t just the dining tables in Leslie’s home that are wonderful.

So are the accent tables. This unique table turns a generic hallway into a showplace that carries on the style story created in every room.

Placing a chest of drawers in a hallway not only offers you a spot to put a welcoming lamp and a few fun accents. It also gives you added storage space. I adore this little blue chest, and the blue and white collection it holds is picture perfect.

——— This column was adapted from Mary Carol Garrity’s blog at www.nellhills.com December 29-30, 2018

COVERPROFILE

HOME IMPROVEMENTS you might regret

Converting a bedroom into a closet may decrease your property value. (Shutterstock)

Adding a sunroom may not yeild a great return on your investment.

(Shutterstock)

By HomeAdvisor HomeAdvisor (TNS) Between trying to save money and customizing a home to an exact lifestyle, homeowners can make some big mistakes.

Whether they decrease resale value, go way over budget, or increase maintenance costs, some renovations are better left undone. These are the projects homeowners most commonly tell us they regret.

MAKING A BEDROOM INTO A CLOSET Most of us dream of a big closet, but converting a bedroom into a walk-in will make your realtor cringe. First, removing a bedroom usually decreases a property’s value up to 15 percent.

December 29-30, 2018

Second, installing shelves typically costs between $1,000 to $2,600.

Instead of going this route, consider maximizing the storage space you already have. Use prebuilt racks and closet organizers to take advantage of your existing closet space.

INSTALLING A POOL Pools come with a few unexpected costs people don’t always consider. First, building a pool can increase the cost of homeowners insurance and property taxes. If local codes require pool owners to install a barrier, you’re looking at more than $2,500 in fencing costs. Installation is expensive, and the ongoing time and pool maintenance costs can also be steep. If you’re on a budget, a pool can easily become a regretful addition.

SPRINGING FOR AN EXPENSIVE BATHROOM REMODEL High-end finishes like timeconsuming tile patterns, costly tubs and showers, and luxury faucets or fixtures can end up

breaking your budget and falling short of your anticipated return on investment. Getting rid of the rust and laminate and adding efficient features is great. Just don’t go overboard. Set a budget in advance. A general guideline is to spend no more than 10 percent of the home’s value on a bathroom remodel.

ADDING A SUNROOM According to Remodeling Magazine, sunrooms typically yield returns less than half of your initial investment. The average sunroom costs over $16,000.

Unless you’re adding much-needed livable square footage to a small floor plan, building and furnishing a sunroom can drain your bank account and create less enjoyment than you hope.

INVESTING IN EXTENSIVE LANDSCAPING It’s easy to overdo landscaping, but it can be a fine line between just enough and too much. Too many trees, shrubs and plants can detract from the natural beauty and curb appeal of the home. Plus, homeowners can end up spending

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

thousands of dollars and all of their free time doing yard work.

Intricate landscaping is a choice most homeowners wish they hadn’t made.

ANYTHING WITH INFERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP From the smallest update to the largest renovation, it pays to choose better quality. It’s easy to end up with mediocre or regretful results when you accept the lowest contractor bid or go the DIY route. In the world of poorquality construction, there are nightmare stories of contractors who demanded extra money to finish the job, used substandard or dangerous materials, or just stopped showing up altogether.

The best way to avoid this?

Interview at least three contractors before you hire, verify licensing and insurance, and always call to check the references of any professional you’re considering hiring.

HomeAdvisor is an online marketplace connecting homeowners with trusted service professionals to complete home projects. Visit HomeAdvisor.com.

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OPEN HOUSES THIS WEEKEND

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The Northern Colorado Real Estate Source is also available online: www.thegroupinc.com/the_source FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL OUR OPEN HOUSES VISIT WWW.THEGROUPINC.COM 4

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HARMONY OFFICE 970.229.0700

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CENTERRA OFFICE 970.613.0700

MULBERRY OFFICE 970.221.0700

OLD TOWN OFFICE 970.493.0700

LOVELAND OFFICE

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

970.663.0700

December 29-30, 2018

Looking for something fun to do?

Visit nocohappenings.com to ďŹ nd a current listing of events in Northern Colorado.

December 29-30, 2018

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

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ASK ANGIE’S LIST

Should I hire a carpet cleaner?

By Paul F. P. Pogue, Angie’s List Angie’s List(TNS) If you’ve been holding holiday events all December, the unsung MVP of your home may be your carpets! They’ve endured large amounts of traffic, not to mention the salt or melted snow visitors may be tracking into your house.

Now is an excellent time to take stock of your carpet and consider hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

BENEFITS OF CARPET CLEANING Cleaning your carpet carries more than just aesthetic benefits.

The American Lung Association says that dust accumulation in carpets and rugs can impact allergies. And according to the Environmental Protection agency, carpets retain numerous sources of indoor air pollutants, including pet dander, insect allergens, particle pollution and everyday dirt and

Professional carpet cleaners use a variety of techniques to safely remove allergens and air pollutants from your carpets. (Dreamstime)

dust. Microscopic dust mites or mold can also take up residence in your carpets without being visible.

All of these can be stirred up and released by walking across the carpet or using a standard

vacuum. But a professional carpet cleaning service can use steam cleanings, special shampoo formulas, and high-powered vacuums that remove these deeply trapped pollutants safely.

HIRING A CARPET CLEANER The frequency of carpet cleanings depends on the amount of traffic your carpet receives, as well as the household environment. Low-traffic carpets may only need to be cleaned yearly. Households with pets, smokers, children or large amounts of foot traffic should be professionally cleaned two to four times per year.

Carpeting is one of your home’s most valuable and visible assets, so you want to select your cleaner carefully. When you hire a carpet cleaning service, ask exactly what is included in the quoted price.

Will they move furniture for you? Will they clean high-traffic

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Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

areas? Does it cost extra to clean stairs? You also want to be sure they screen their employees and conduct criminal background checks. Ask what certifications they hold from reputable cleaning organizations, such as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification.

Homeowners have several options when it comes to choosing the type of carpet cleaning method.

Some cleaning services use a wet cleaning method, or steam cleaning, that has a significant drying time, while others are considered “dry” treatments, which you can walk on as soon as the cleaning is finished.

Some treatments use powerful cleaning chemicals, while others rely on the power of steam or environmentally friendly cleaning products. You want to choose a company that offers the treatment method that works best for your home and family.

Take care when listening to promotional carpet cleaning rates.

Insist on an in-home estimate to get the best estimate possible. Be very skeptical of carpet cleaners who keep piling on extra services and costs after they’ve given an initial price. Some companies offer a low price simply to get a foot in the door, then identify many other issues to upsell costly services.

Double-check your carpet manufacturer’s documentation for cleaning details. Some methods will void a carpet’s warranty.

——————— Paul F. P. Pogue is a reporter for Angie’s List, a trusted provider of local consumer reviews and an online marketplace of services from top-rated providers. Visit AngiesList.com.

December 29-30, 2018

DESIGN RECIPES

How fine details can make your decor shine

Brass accessories, one of the hottest finishes in home decor, can be impactful when paired together. (Design Recipes)

By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service (TNS) Just like the icing on a cake, when it comes to decor, a room can come to life with the help of fine details. From artwork to accessories, look for fine details to help make individual spaces stand out.

Accessories of the same tone and color make an otherwise plain bookcase shine. (Design Recipes)

DO: Add one or two accessories to a side or coffee table, such as a decorative vase or accent piece.

Group accessories as a pair or in a vignette. Three items grouped together can work well.

Mix accent pieces with books when styling a bookshelf.

Use metallics. Brass remains a hot finish in home decor, especially

in accessories. Feel free to also mix brass with silver finishes such as nickel and chrome.

Use greenery. Greenery as well as florals, succulents and blooms can help add texture and color.

DON’T: Clutter a tabletop or surface. In general following the rule of three works well.

Overlook books as decorative items. From coffee table books to small hardbacks placed on shelves, books can be an affordable and colorful decor addition.

Forget black and white are colors. Often neutral colors such as white, taupe and black can be used to help highlight bright colors or finishes.

Mix too many colors and patterns. In general, a color palette should have a maximum of three colors.

Forget to plan your look.

Purposefully selected accents and accessories can go a long way in creating a cohesive design.

——— Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at www.cathyhobbs.com .

QUICK GUIDE

OPEN HOUSE

OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM Boulder

Lafayette

Loveland

2700 Canyon Blvd Suite 200 $947,500 Sunday 11:00 AM-1:00 PM The Bernardi Group The Bernardi Group at Coldwell Banker (303) 402-6000

1205 Stein St. $499,900 Sunday 1:30 PM-4:30 PM Julia Cantarovici 8z Real Estate (720) 203-7789

3157 Crux Dr $339,950 Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Matt Nesbitt The Group Inc (970) 690-7155

7211 S Boulder Rd $949,000 Saturday 11:00 AM-2:00 PM Lenny Maiocco RE/MAX Alliance On Walnut (720) 201-1114

Broomfield

Longmont 918 Half Measures Drive $600K’s+ Daily 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Marlita Lazo Markel Homes (303) 522-7928

Louisville

15675 Deer Mountain Circle $1,150,000 Saturday 12:00 AM-3:00 PM David Scott Colorado Landmark (303) 588-8358

1396 Snowberry Lane - Model Home $600K’s+ Saturday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Michele Steward Markel Homes (303) 604-9196

15675 Deer Mountain Circle $1,150,000 Sunday 12:00 AM-3:00 PM David Scott Colorado Landmark (303) 588-8358

1396 Snowberry Lane - Model Home $600K’s+ Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Michele Steward Markel Homes (303) 604-9196

LIST YOUR OPEN HOUSE December 29-30, 2018

3157 Crux Dr $339,950 Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Matt Nesbitt The Group Inc (970) 393-3102 3157 Crux Dr $339,950 Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Matt Nesbitt The Group Inc (970) 393-3102 3122 Crux Dr. $397,665 Saturday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Matt Nesbitt The Group Inc (970) 393-3102 3122 Crux Dr. $397,665 Sunday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Matt Nesbitt The Group Inc (970) 393-3102

4805 Mariana Hills Circle New Homes From The $600’s to $700’s Saturday 11:00 AM-4:00 PM Rollin Goering LC Home (970) 402-6432 4805 Mariana Hills Circle New Homes From The $600’s to $700’s Sunday 11:00 AM-4:00 PM Rollin Goering LC Home (970) 402-6432

Niwot 6331 Snowberry Ln $1,450,000 Saturday 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Kristin Kalush RE/MAX Alliance (303) 809-1717 6331 Snowberry Ln $1,450,000 Sunday 12:00 PM-2:00 PM Kristin Kalush RE/MAX Alliance (303) 809-1717

VISIT OPENHOMES.ATHOMECOLORADO.COM OR CALL 303.473.1456, 303.684.5329 Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

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LAWN AND GARDEN

Your January day-by-day calendar of gardening chores

By Jessica Damiano Newsday (TNS)

It’s nearly January — a new month, a new year, and a time for new beginnings. Synonymous with resolutions to do better, January is rife with hope, as is the garden, even when it’s dormant, bleak and frozen over.

I suppose that, too, parallels life, as even when we’re at our lowest, there is hope for a new and better tomorrow. So, while we’re resolving to diet or quit smoking or simply be better people, let’s acknowledge that our human condition holds all the promise of an unplanted seed or a dormant rose bush. Happy New Year, everyone, with best wishes for a bountiful and beautiful harvest — in the garden and out.

1. Today is a day for fresh starts. Plan to start something new this year, like a compost pile. Get instructions for that and other how-tos at newsday.com/ gardening101.

2. If you received gift plants for the holidays, quarantine them in a separate room for two weeks to ensure they aren’t harboring pests that could spread to other houseplants.

3. Inventory seeds and supplies, making note of what you’ll need to replenish for spring.

4. Gardening catalogs should be trickling in. Place plant and seed orders soon, lest they run out of popular items. They’ll typically be shipped when the time is right.

5. Apply anti-desiccants to evergreens, especially the recently planted, to protect against dehydration — but only when temps are warmer than 40 degrees.

6. It’s the Epiphany: Time to take down the Christmas tree.

Recycle branches for mulch over garden beds. In spring, add to

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21. Inspect indoor plants for pests, taking care to check under leaves, where many prefer to live.

22. Prune broken tree and shrub branches so they don’t rip off in windy conditions and damage property or injure people.

23. If you neglected to store clay pots indoors and they’ve cracked, don’t discard them.

Break them up and use them to aid soil drainage in spring.

Frostbitten gardens in the countryside during winter morning sunrise.

(Dreamstime)

compost or chip into mulch.

damage.

7. Did you neglect to plant spring bulbs? As long as there isn’t snow cover and the soil is soft enough to dig into, you can do it now.

14. Deadhead African violets and other flowering houseplants.

8. Mist houseplants every other day with room-temperature water, or run a humidifier.

9. Here’s a project for you: Soak seeds (alfalfa, barley, flax, etc.) in a cheesecloth-covered jar of water overnight. Strain, then rinse two to three times daily until sprouted. Add to salads and sandwiches.

10. Remove yellowing foliage from tropicals overwintering indoors.

11. Keep off frozen or muddy turf. Winter foot traffic can injure grass blades and — worse — damage soil structure, which is very difficult to reverse.

12. Restock bird feeders and be sure to provide clean water.

13. If you planted evergreens last year, protect them with burlap to avoid wind and snow

15. Keep houseplants away from heat sources, and rotate pots a quarter-turn daily to ensure even sunlight exposure.

16. Check tree branches for gypsy moth egg cases — gray blobs that resemble used chewing gum. If found, remove, destroy and discard in the trash.

17. If you’ve rooted cuttings in the fall and they’re growing leggy, pinch them back a bit and change the water.

18. Dust houseplant leaves so lenticels (tiny pores that allow gasses to reach plant tissue) can do their job.

19. Inspect stored bulbs and corms, and sprinkle with water if they appear dry. Discard any that have shriveled or rotted.

20. Gently poke a hole through frozen fish ponds to release gasses, or hold a potful of steaming water over ice to melt an opening in the surface.

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

24. When shoveling snow, pile it onto perennial beds as long as you haven’t salted. It’ll add extra, igloo-like insulation.

25. Check bog plants overwintering indoors and discard those that are rotting.

26. If ornamental grasses look unkempt, cut them back. Waiting until March is fine, too.

27. Replenish deer and rodent repellents.

28. After snowfall, gently brush snow from evergreen branches — especially arborvitaes and Leyland cypresses — with a broom to prevent buckling and cracking.

29. Easily eradicate mealy bugs from houseplants by touching them with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab.

30. Repot indoor plants, but don’t fertilize until next month.

31. When blooms are faded, deadhead forced amaryllis, but discard paperwhites.

December 29-30, 2018

HOME TIPS

Steps for homeowners dealing with ice or snowstorms be ready to weather any snow event!

UÊ Have at least three days’ worth of water.

UÊ Have a supply of flashlights and batteries on hand.

UÊ Have a portable grill or camping stove at the ready to prepare food.

UÊ Purchase nonperishable food.

(BPT) - Are you ready if a blizzard hit tomorrow? While smaller snowstorms certainly create a level of frustration for homeowners, large storms require preparation to stay safe and comfortable. Families don’t want to be caught off guard in the event of a large snowstorm.

Finding yourself unprepared and without power can be a dangerous predicament.

A loss of power can reduce your access to water, food and light.

Follow the tips below and you’ll

UÊ Move perishable items into a cooler that can be packed with snow to keep them fresh.

UÊ Pretreat areas outside your home with a bag of ice salt before the storm hits.

Winterizing your home is another step you can take to prepare for winter storms.

Checking that your house is ready to withstand a winter storm is crucial. Review the checklist below to ensure that you stay warm and dry.

UÊ Make sure to clean out your gutters and patch any holes in your roof.

UÊ Check for cracks around your door! Use silicone caulk to fill in any gaps larger than a credit card.

UÊ Clean out your chimney and secure a pile of firewood.

Beyond securing the necessities and winterizing your home, there are a number of tools that work even when your power doesn’t!

Below are the tools that can make dealing with a large accumulation of snowfall much more pleasant.

UÊ A battery-powered snow thrower to clean off the driveway. Greenworks Tools 60V 20” Snow Thrower will get the job done and eliminate the noise and hassles of dealing with fossil-fuel options.

UÊ A generator that provides

portable power can also be of great use in charging cell phones or other essential electronics.

UÊ A cordless, battery-powered snow shovel to remove snow on porches or sidewalks helps clear a path without the back-breaking work. The Greenworks Cordless 12” Snow Shovel is a valuable addition to any winter tool collection as it effortlessly clears a foot of snow on a single pass.

UÊ A cordless, portable heater to help prevent frostbite in the absence of electricity or a fireplace.

If you follow these important steps, you will be prepared for anything Jack Frost throws at you this winter.

The Easiest Way to Find a Home in Northern Colorado visit: www.LivingInNorthernColorado.com

C3 Real Estate Solutions Agent Spotlight Helping others and feeling fulfilled by my work is my number one priority in my career. I grew up watching my mom sell real estate and love her career and I always enjoyed getting to help. As I got older, I realized how important it is to love what you do if you want to be the best you can be! I decided Jocelyn McLain to make a career change from the 970-222-9949 non-profit realm into Real Estate jmclain@c3-re.com so that I could continue to help people, but in a different way while loving my work too! How lucky am I to work for a company that shares my passion for community involvement, has great mentors, and is in my home of Northern Colorado? I am eager to deliver quality service and help my fellow Coloradoan’s with all of their real estate needs!

www.1530w28.com Live and Play at Cattail Creek Golf Course

Learn more about Living and Playing At TPC Colorado at Heron Lakes Berthoud Colorado Visit www.LivingAtHeronLakes.com

2 car garage 2 bedrooms 2 Baths Walk out to course

#HappyPetHappyHome 16 yr old Igloo Credits his life with lots of Naps and wonders why Jessica d’Elseaux-Conrad is not joining him LARIMERHUMANESOCIETY

@NoColoHomes

Nanci Garnand (970) 227-1327

970.225.5152 • C3 Real Estate Solution, LLC.

www.MyColoHome.com December 29-30, 2018

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REAL ESTATE MATTERS

If you don’t know much about the selling process, hire help to make sure you get the best deal

By Ilyce Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin, Tribune Content Agency

Q

: I’m in the process of selling my home fast to an investor.

The settlement is soon. I chose this way of selling to avoid showing my home.

The truth is, it’s too expensive for me to maintain my home and I can no longer keep up with the bills. The investor buying my home has had me meet him at my home several times so his crew could take measurements and plan for the renovation.

As the closing date is approaching, he now says he will have to put new roof and air conditioning unit in the house, and he wants me to split cost with him.

If I’m selling the home “as is” and taking a significant loss, I don’t feel as if I should help pay for this. I’m ignorant to the selling process and would appreciate your advice.

A

: You’re right. You shouldn’t have to pay or split these costs with the buyer if you and

the buyer made a deal. What we don’t know is whether you’ve done your homework when it comes to selling your home. We would have hoped that you talked to several real estate brokers and had them discuss the home selling process with you and give you an evaluation of what they felt your home was worth.

On the one hand, this investor might be taking advantage of you and your situation. On the other, this investor might be your best bet to sell the home quickly even if you have to reduce the price of the home further.

We wonder if you’re so in over your head that you might not be able to see the big picture and can’t make an informed decision. And without more details of your sale and other information, we can’t give you specific guidance.

If the investor is giving you a great price for the home, then splitting some costs might still be the best deal for you even if the price you get would be lower than if you listed the market, did work on the home, and then had the

home go through showings. But if you’re not getting a good price, then the deal is going from bad to worse.

Try to take a step back and look objectively at whether the sale is a good, fair or bad deal for you.

Then, decide whether splitting any expenses to get the deal closed is worthwhile. If the answer is no, then say no. If you just need to get out because you’ll lose the house anyway, then say yes. But understand what the ramifications are if you let the house go for even less money before you make your final decision. (Hint: Use a paper and pad so that you can write out all of the numbers.)

Given that you don’t seem to have much information on the selling process and may not have someone there to advocate for you, this might be a good time to find someone to help.

You’re pretty far down the path with this buyer, but if the deal falls through, you might wind up listing the home with a broker. We suspect there are some real estate brokers in your area who’d be willing to help. If you call them, they can sit

down with you and give you some information about the market and your home’s value. You can even offer to give them some flat amount of money to help you through the sale.

Another option for you is to hire a real estate attorney to help you from this point forward. Having someone by your side might save you quite a bit of money in the end and can help you negotiate with your buyer.

You’ve got nothing to lose by gathering more information, learning even more about the process, and getting someone to help you get your deal done.

(Ilyce Glink is the author of “100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask” (4th Edition). She is also the CEO of Best Money Moves, an app that employers provide to employees to measure and dial down financial stress. Samuel J. Tamkin is a Chicago-based real estate attorney.

Contact Ilyce and Sam through her website, ThinkGlink.com.)(c) 2018 ILYCE R. GLINK AND SAMUEL J. TAMKIN. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

REAL ESTATE

Conforming loan rates increase for 2019 Conforming loans (also known as conventional loans) are those that meet the requirements of Fannie SUZANNE Mae and PLEWES Freddie Mac. RE/MAX Alliance The amount that can be borrowed (loan limits) depend on two different factors: national and local home sale trends. For 2019, loan limits are increasing across the board, which is great news for home buyers.

New Loan Limits For all counties in Colorado, 10

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the conforming loan limit will be at least $484,350. This is higher than the previous year’s limit of $453,100. This is based on national home sale averages and enables buyers to purchase at higher prices without the need for a jumbo loan.

For many counties in Colorado, local home prices are much higher than the $484,350 threshold.

Thus, higher loan limits apply as well.

Loan Limit $484,350 $561,200

$625,500

Counties Larimer, Weld Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, and Jefferson Lake, Routt,

$626,750 $696,900 $718,750

San Miguel, Summit Boulder Eagle Garfield, Pitkin

Impact on Home Buyers So, what does this mean for home buyers in Colorado?

For many, it increases buying power. For instance, under the new limits a buyer in Larimer County, Colorado can borrow up to $484,350 in 2019. With a 5 percent down payment, their maximum purchase price will be $509,842. Purchasing above that would require a larger down payment.

The higher loan limits also allow some buyers to avoid jumbo loans.

This can save money as jumbo loan terms are not as favorable as

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

conforming loans. For buyers who couldn’t qualify for jumbo loans to begin with, these new limits may suddenly make home buying an option.

It’s a Great Time to Buy a Home If you’ve been debating whether to buy a new home, now is the time to act! Find your next home before interest rates rise further.

With higher loan limits, the home of your dreams may be in closer reach than you imagined.

—————————————— Suzanne Plewes is a broker associate at RE/MAX Alliance. Write to 750 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537, call 970.290.0373 or e-mail suzanneplewes@remax.net.

December 29-30, 2018

Real Estate place yoUr ad:

Real Estate

FAIR HOUSING NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Law which makes it illegal to advertise a preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion , sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preferences, limitation or discrimination.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call The Colorado Civil Rights Office at 1-800-262-4845/ HUD at 1-800-669-9777.

303.466.3636 BoUlder/Broomfield/longmont or 970.635.3650 loveland or frontrangeclassifieds.com

14x70 2BR 1BA New cuboards, 15x22 patio, new roof, storage shed, carpet, wood floors, refrg, stove, D/W Call 970-667-3925

Mobile Homes for Sale

Berthoud 2016 14x56 2BR 1BA $48,900

Boulder 1997 16x60 1BR 1BA $64,900 Lafayette 2000 24x48 3BR 2BA $95,500 roseaffordableliving.com 303-682-9141 Water Mineral

CALL IT HOME.

Want to purchase minerals and other oil/gas interests.

Send details to: P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

PLACE YOUR AD. Call 303-466-3636 or 970-635-3650.

303.466.3636 BOULDER/BROOMFIELD/LONGMONT 970.635.3650 LOVELAND

JOBS. WHEELS. HOMES. STUFF.

FIND IT. SELL IT. FAST. December 29, 2018

Reporter-Herald

AT HOME

R11

Vacant Land

Featured Property

Custom Home on 35 Acres!

8402 N 81st St, Longmont $590,000 • MLS# 847671 Hops, Hemp or Hay, you decide! Entire property is a conservation easement zoned AG. This 25 acres is also a great location for horses w/allowable barn/arena/ outbuildings w/max 10% structure coverage allowed.

NO residtl structures allowed.

Jesse Laner John Simmons 970-672-7212 970-481-1250 jlaner@c3-re.com jsimmons@c3-re.com

4219 Goldeneye Dr, Fort Collins $343,500 • MLS# 865876 3 Beds • 1 Baths • 2 car garage 3 BR 1 BA 2 Car Garage This home is located South of Troutman Park. It features a large living room + a family room w/ wood burning fireplace, new flooring & patio access. Vaulted ceilings, kitchen w/ pantry, new flooring & new electric range/oven.

Christie Juhl John Simmons 970-430-9501 970-481-1250 CrownJuhlRealtor@gmail.com jsimmons@c3-re.com

1784 James Park Trl, Loveland $1,200,000 • MLS# 865212 3 Beds • 3 Baths • Total Sq. Ft. 3,317 Views abound from this nearly new custom mountain home located at 6800 feet with 270 degrees view east and west! Incudes over 2000 sq ft of patio and a 2-story barn with additional finished space!

John Feeney 970-231-4172 jfeeney@c3-re.com

138 Acres!

Borders Open Space!

New Listing on 6 Acres!

4151 Wilderland Way, Loveland $1,000,000 • MLS# 846402

15546 W CR 18E, Loveland $725,000 • MLS# 867462 4 Beds • 3 Baths • Total Sq. Ft. 3,075 Beautiful 18 acres bordering open space and Pinewood Reservoir!

Additional 1260 sq. ft. shop along with a 4 stall 964 sq. ft. barn. Rolling hills, meadows and wonderful foothill views!

John Feeney 970-231-4172 jfeeney@c3-re.com

4952 S County Rd 29, Loveland $495,000 • MLS# 868558 4 Beds • 3 Baths • Total Sq. Ft. 2,496 Take a look at the views from this raised ranch home on 6 acres in a convenient location just outside of Loveland and Berthoud! Large Family Room with Wood Fireplace and Family Room on the Main Level.

John Feeney 970-231-4172 jfeeney@c3-re.com

138 Acres of Vacant Land bordering Devils Backbone Open Space!

Only 15 minutes to Downtown Loveland but feels like a world away!

Call for more details or to schedule a tour!

John Feeney 970-231-4172 jfeeney@c3-re.com

www.MyColoHome.com 12

AT HOME

970.225.5152 • C3 Real Estate Solution, LLC.

Loveland Reporter-Herald – AtHomeColorado.com

December 29-30, 2018