Yesterday a first-time home buyer asked if it was a good or bad time to buy a home. He and his wife had lived in an apartment for some years, and now their personal situation will finally allow them to buy a home of their own. But they were worried about buying now when the economy is in such a mess.
I couldn't help them decide on long-term prospects for the American economy, but I do know that Warren Buffett's advice in an op-ed piece in the New York Times is sound. He says, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful."
In terms of buying a house, if you have good credit and money for a good-sized down payment, now is an excellent time to buy. I learned very early in life to buy on the downside and sell on the upswing. That's just good sense. So if now is your time to look for a house, go ahead. The supply of available homes in Denver is plentiful. Interest rates are still low. Denver's economy is solid.
And if you need someone to help you sort out the possibilities, give me a call. I only represent buyers. I can help make sense of the complexities of buying either your first home or your move-up home. You can reach me at 303-587-3509, or you can email me.
With the nation's financial markets in turmoil people want to know if it's a good idea, or even a doable idea, to buy a house. Paraphrasing Richard Nixon in 1970, "Frankly, if I had any money, I'd be buying a house right now." If you have good credit and a good source of financing, buying a house in Denver right now is a solid choice. The market is either at bottom, or just slightly on the rise.
Denver's real estate prices continued to drop in September. Single family home median prices were down 11.78% and average prices were down 14.84% from September 2007, while condos and townhome median prices dropped 4.73% and average prices dropped 10.75% from this time last year. More homes sold in September 2008 by 14.13%, but sales were down 6.10% from August 2007.
The only good news for sellers is that 21% fewer homes were on the market than were available for sale in September 2007. 1.48% fewer homes went under contract than did a year ago. Average days on market for both single family homes and condos/townhomes remain virtually the same as last year, indicating that homes are not languishing longer as might be expected in a soft market. The lower inventory of available homes is likely due to sellers deferring plans to sell till the market shows a substantial increase in prices.
Denver is in a much better position than many U. S. cities. The S & P/Case-Shiller report for July 2008 showed an overall 1.1% increase in home prices over June, the fourth consecutive increase. Denver was one of only two cities out of 20 measured nationally that showed any increase. Only Minneapolis showed a greater increase (1.8%).
But the continuing loss in value from last year is striking. Has Denver reached bottom? It's still too soon to say. Bottom can only be defined retrospectively, after prices start rising more consistently month over month. When will that be? It's anybody's guess.
On the whole Denver's economy is showing a slow-down, but is still in better shape than many other U. S. cities. Job growth is stable, and unemployment through September was 5.4%, less than the U. S. rate of 6.1%. Governor Bill Ritter predicts that unemployment will slowly drop through 2009, and believes the Denver economy is relatively strong. A report issued by the Governor's office on September 19th shows that "Colorado's economy...is more resilient and perhaps better poised to rebound from the current national financial turmoil than the national economy," noting that "Colorado has lower unemployment, greater job growth and lower inflation than the nation overall."
Another interesting fact indicating the strength of Denver's economy is that its credit rating was recently upgraded to AAA from Standard & Poor's Rating Service, citing its "role as the economic center for the Colorado Front Range - with a diverse economy and reliant per-capita property values" (Denver Post, 9/9/08). And Wells Fargo, one of Colorado's largest lenders has just upgraded their ratings for Denver housing from "distressed" to "stable." In an article in Denver's Rocky Mountain News (9/16/08) Thomas Thibodeau, academic director for the CU Real Estate Center in Boulder was quoted as saying that "The housing market here is vastly different than the rest of the U.S. I think the Denver housing market has turned the corner and is on the way to recovery."
Two large renewable energy projects are slated for the metro area. Rentech recently opened a demonstration plant in Commerce City to produce synthetic jet and diesel fuel. And Vesta Wind Systems announced plans to build a wind turbine blade manufacturing plant in Brighton. The two projects combined could bring as many as 1,800 new jobs to the Brighton/Commerce City area. Colorado is becoming internationally known as a center for renewable energy and aerospace development activity. "Metro Denver's dynamic and innovative industry base continues to support the region's economy through challenging times," stated Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.
A question asked by many of my buyers is "If I buy now, what about declining values? Will my home be worth less when it comes time to sell it?" The answer varies depending on how long you stay in your new home.
On average buyers stay in their homes about 5 years before selling according to independent real estate broker, Gary Bauer. (Bauer issues a monthly market report used by the Denver dailies and is widely regarded in Denver real estate circles as a market expert.) In an April 2008 report in the Rocky Mountain News by Rob Reuteman, Bauer is quoted on the issue. He says, "If I bought my home a year ago for $200,000, and I had to sell for $180,000, I'd be upset. If I'm staying in the Denver market I take $180,000 and buy a house that would have cost me $200,000 a year ago. But I'd still have a little feeling that I really didn't do so well. If I were that individual five years ago, my average appreciation would be 39 percent. Would I be concerned about a 10 percent drop in price today? I don't think so. I would have bought it for $130,000 and sold it for $180,000."
The Denver Post has a very useful interactive map of home values across the metro area. You can look at values by neighborhood, discover whether values are rising or declining and much more.
Interest rates are still low (conventional loans were at 5.750% for well-qualified buyers as of October 8, 2008 from our preferred lender, Rate One, The Mortgage People). Homes are more affordable. Denver's economy is steady and jobs are expected to increase this year.
Denver's cost of living makes it an easy choice over higher cost areas like both coasts. According to CNN/Money.com it costs 51.1%% less to live in Denver than in San Jose; 43.8% less than in San Diego; 66.6% less than in San Francisco; and 12.9% less than Seattle. If you live in the east, it will cost 37.6% less than in Washington, D.C.; 32.8% less than in Boston; 101.9% less than in New York; 22% less than in Philadelphia.
For buyers coming from the south and the midwest, Denver could cost more. It costs 4.9% more in Denver than in Atlanta; 12.8% more than in Houston; 8% more than in Dallas; 8.3% more than in Dayton, Ohio; 5.2% more than in Rochester, MN, and 10% more than in Boise. But living in Denver still costs 10.7% less than in Chicago, 15.1% percent less than in Portland, and a whopping 49.3% less than in Los Angeles.
You'll need to do your due diligence to compare cost of living between your city and Denver at websites like Sperling's Best Places, BankRate or CNN/Money.
Having an Exclusive Buyers Agent to find the best buys will shore up your buying ability by representing your best interests - finding the best home at the lowest possible price, and saving you time and hassles. See client references. Phone numbers available upon request. Call Judith Clausen now at 303-587-3509 to help you find your next house.
September 2008 Market Conditions
Denver's real estate prices continued to drop in August. Single family home median and average prices were 12.6% lower than August 2007, while condos and townhome median prices dropped 8.2%. The number of homes sold in August was down 9.34% from last year, and 11.34% from July. The only good news for sellers is that 20% fewer homes were on the market than were available for sale in August 2007, and that 4.98% more homes went under contract than a year ago. Average days on market for both single family homes and condos/townhomes remain virtually the same as last year, indicating that homes are not languishing longer as might be expected in a soft market.
Average sold price for single family dwellings decreased by only .43% from July, but showed a significant decrease of 13.72% from August 2007. Condos and townhomes fared better, showing an increase of 2.57% from July 2008 and an increase of 1.96% from August 2007.
Denver is in a much better position than many U. S. cities. The S & P/Case-Shiller report for June 2008 showed an overall 1.5% increase in home prices over May, the third consecutive increase. Denver was one of only two cities out of 20 measured nationally that showed any increase.
But the loss in value from last year is striking. Has Denver reached bottom? It's too soon to say. Bottom can only be defined retrospectively, after prices start rising more consistently month over month. When will that be? It's anybody's guess.
On the whole Denver's economy, like its real estate market, is better than many other U. S. cities. Job growth remains steady and unemployment through July was 4.8%, only slightly more than through the comparable period in 2007.
Two large renewable energy projects are slated for the metro area. Rentech recently opened a demonstration plant in Commerce City to produce synthetic jet and diesel fuel. And Vesta Wind Systems announced plans to build a wind turbine blade manufacturing plant in Brighton. The two projects combined could bring as many as 1,800 new jobs to the Brighton/Commerce City area. Colorado is becoming internationally known as a center for renewable energy and aerospace development activity. "Metro Denver's dynamic and innovative industry base continues to support the region's economy through challenging times," stated Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.
A question asked by many of my buyers is "If I buy now, what about declining values? Will my home be worth less when it comes time to sell it?" The answer varies depending on how long you stay in your new home.
Average buyers stay in their homes about 5 years before selling according to independent real estate broker, Gary Bauer. (Bauer issues a monthly market report used by the Denver dailies and is widely regarded in Denver real estate circles as a market expert.) In an April 2008 report in the Rocky Mountain News by Rob Reuteman, Bauer is quoted on the issue. He says, "If I bought my home a year ago for $200,000, and I had to sell for $180,000, I'd be upset. If I'm staying in the Denver market I take $180,000 and buy a house that would have cost me $200,000 a year ago. But I'd still have a little feeling that I really didn't do so well. If I were that individual five years ago, my average appreciation would be 39 percent. Would I be concerned about a 10 percent drop in price today? I don't think so. I would have bought it for $130,000 and sold it for $180,000."
The Denver Post has updated their very useful interactive map of home values across the metro area. You can look at values by neighborhood, discover whether values are rising or declining and much more.
Interest rates are still low (conventional loans were at 5.875% for well-qualified buyers as of September 9, 2008 from our preferred lender, Rate One, The Mortgage People). Homes are more affordable. Denver's economy is steady and jobs are expected to increase this year.
Denver's cost of living makes it an easy choice over higher cost areas like both coasts. According to CNN/Money.com it costs 51.1%% less to live in Denver than in San Jose; 43.8% less than in San Diego; 66.6% less than in San Francisco; and 12.9% less than Seattle. If you live in the east, it will cost 37.6% less than in Washington, D.C.; 32.8% less than in Boston; 101.9% less than in New York; 22% less than in Philadelphia.
For buyers coming from the south and the midwest, Denver could cost more. It costs 4.9% more in Denver than in Atlanta; 12.8% more than in Houston; 8% more than in Dallas; 8.3% more than in Dayton, Ohio; 5.2% more than in Rochester, MN, and 10% more than in Boise. But living in Denver still costs 10.7% less than in Chicago, 15.1% percent less than in Portland, and a whopping 49.3% less than in Los Angeles.
You'll need to do your due diligence to compare cost of living between your city and Denver at websites like Sperling's Best Places, Bank Rate or CNN/Money.
Having an Exclusive Buyers Agent to find the best buys will shore up your buying ability by representing your best interests -- finding the best home at the lowest possible price, and saving you time and hassles. See client references. Phone numbers available upon request. Call Judith Clausen now at 303-587-3509 to help you find your next home.
Good news for buyers! It's not too late to buy near the bottom of Denver's real estate prices. Although May median prices for single family homes showed a slight increase (1.8%) over April of this year, the decline (9.8%) over May 2007 was significant.
For condos the median increase in price from April to May 2008 was 10.03%, but dropped 4.5% from May 2007.
The steady increase in median price since the first of the year is largely seasonal. 2007's high point came in June when the median single family home was $263,000 and for condos was $157,950.
The number of homes sold declined by 8.2% from May of 2007. The credit crunch earlier this year took a toll on sales. But with credit requirements loosening the number of home buyers may increase in June. In May FHA increased loan limits to $406,250 ($460,000 in higher priced Boulder), though "jumbo" loan limits are still $417,000, making it more difficult to buy an expensive home.
Inventory is down from this time last year. In May 2007 the number of single family homes on the market was 21,505, while 20,287 homes were on the market in May 2008, a drop of 5.7%. 7,605 condos were on the market in May 2007 compared to 6,046 this year in May, a drop of 20.1%. The average days a home or condo is on the market also dropped 11.9% from last year for condos to 104, but remained virtually the same for single family homes at 99.
Better credit conditions and higher loan limits plus plenty of homes on the market make it a very good time to buy.
A question asked by many of my buyers is "If I buy now, what about declining values? Will my home be worth less when it comes time to sell it?" The answer varies depending on how long you stay in your new home.
On average buyers stay in their homes about 5 years before selling according to independent real estate broker, Gary Bauer (Bauer issues a monthly market report used by the Denver dailies) is widely regarded in Denver real estate circles as a market expert. In a report in the Rocky Mountain News by Rob Reuteman (4/19/08), Bauer is quoted on the issue. He says, "If I bought my home a year ago for $200,000, and I had to sell for $180,000, I'd be upset. If I'm staying in the Denver market I take $180,000 and buy a house that would have cost me $200,000 a year ago. But I'd still have a little feeling that I really didn't do so well. If I were that individual five years ago, my average appreciation would be 39 percent. Would I be concerned about a 10 percent drop in price today? I don't think so. I would have bought it for $130,000 and sold it for $180,000."
The Denver Post has a very useful interactive map of home values across the metro area. You'll be able to look at values by neighborhood, discover whether values are rising or declining and much more.
Interest rates are still low (conventional loans were at 6.250% for well-qualified buyers as of June 4, 2008 from our preferred lender, Rate One, The Mortgage People). Homes are more affordable. Denver's economy is steady and jobs are expected to increase this year. The metro Denver and Colorado state unemployment rate in April were 4.4%. 2,000 new jobs are expected in Colorado in 2008, and foreclosures are expected to drop by about 9% according to Patty Silverstein, Chief Economist for the Metro Denver Development Corporation.
The Denver market is not in the same situation as many cities. We're still riding out the effects of the mortgage crisis which led to so many foreclosures, but values haven't dropped nearly as much as the rest of the country. Values dropped about 2% in 2007 and are expected to drop another 3% overall in 2008. Contrast that with Orange County, California (suburban Los Angeles) which dropped 10.2% or Boston a 13.3% drop.
Many parts of the country have suffered a double whammy with the real estate bubble bursting together with the number of foreclosures rising which put a downward push on prices. Denver's bubble burst in 2001, but values remained steady until 2007 when they began to drop. 2006 values increased an average of 2.7%, while values at the end of 2007 had dropped by 2%, a difference of 4.7%.
Denver's cost of living makes it an easy choice over higher cost areas like both coasts. According to CNNMoney.com it costs 57% less to live in Denver than in San Jose; 53% less than in San Diego; 61% less than in San Francisco; and 20% less than Seattle. If you live in the east, it will cost 51% less than in Washington, D.C.; 36% less than in Boston; 72% less than in New York; 26% less than in Philadelphia.
For buyers coming from the south and the midwest, Denver could cost more. It costs 14% more in Denver than in Atlanta; 49% more than in Houston; 41% more than in Dallas; 29% more than in Dayton, Ohio; 22% more than in Rochester, MN, and 23% more than in Boise. But living in Denver still costs 17% less than in Chicago, 16% percent less than in Portland, and a whopping 56% less than in Los Angeles..
You'll need to do your due diligence to compare cost of living between your city and Denver at websites like BestPlaces, BankRate, or CNN/Money.
Having an Exclusive Buyers Agent to find the best buys will shore up your buying ability by representing your best interests - finding the best home at the lowest possible price, and saving you time and hassles. See client references at the Buyers Advantage website. Phone numbers available upon request. Call Judith Clausen now at 303-587-3509 to help you find your next house.
In spite of national real estate market "doom and gloom" reports, Denver buyers have a golden opportunity to buy at (or near) the bottom. In February the market showed more activity than it has in recent months. Properties under contract, both detached and attached single family homes, increased over January by 12.66%, and by 4% over February 2007. The number sold decreased slightly, but that number reflects properties under contract in January. Prices for all single family homes showed a slight decrease (-.47%) from January, and a greater decrease (-3.74%) from February 2007.
Median prices increased 2% from February for detached single family homes, but decreased by 1.9% for attached single family homes. The median price for detached homes was $221,486 in February, up from $216,950 in January, but down 5.75% from February 2007. For attached homes the price in decreased from February 2007 by 7.73%. The high number of foreclosures is keeping prices low, giving buyers the advantage.
Homes are still selling for much less than the original price, but by the time sellers finally sell, on average 114 days after first listed, the sale price was 96-97% of list price. Seller concessions, such as down payment and/or closing cost assistance, is still common.
Interest rates are still low (conventional loans were at 6.375% for well-qualified buyers as of March 7, 2008, from our preferred lender, RateOne, The Mortgage People). Housing supply is as high as it's been in awhile at 25,037. Homes are more affordable. Denver's economy is steady and jobs are expected to increase this year. The unemployment rate in December was 4.5%, a half-percent lower than the national rate of 5%. 22,000 new jobs are expected in Colorado in 2008, and foreclosures are expected to drop by about 9% according to Patty Silverstein, Chief Economist for the Metro Denver Development Corporation.
New home builders, faced with a sizeable inventory of unsold homes in early 2007, have pared the excess to virtually nothing. In the 4th quarter of 2007 starts of single family new homes and condos dropped to 1,611, the "lowest quarterly starts in the seven years that Metrostudy has gathered information for the metro area" according to the Rocky Mountain News ("Metro new-home sales, starts "worst in 20 years", February 7, 2008).
The Denver market is not in the same situation as many cities. We're still riding out the effects of the mortgage crisis which led to so many foreclosures, but values haven't dropped nearly as much as the rest of the country. Values dropped about 2% in 2007 and are expected to drop another 3% overall in 2008. Contrast that with Orange County, California (suburban Los Angeles) which dropped 10.2% or Boston a 13.3% drop.
Many parts of the country have suffered a double whammy with the real estate bubble bursting together with the number of foreclosures rising which put a downward push on prices. Denver's bubble burst in 2001, but values remained steady until 2007 when they began to drop. 2006 values increased an average of 2.7%, while values at the end of 2007 had dropped by 2%, a difference of 4.7%.
Denver's cost of living makes it an easy choice over higher cost areas like both coasts. According to CNNMoney.com it costs 57% less to live in Denver than in San Jose; 53% less than in San Diego; 61% less than in San Francisco; and 20% less than Seattle. If you live in the east, it will cost 51% less than in Washington, D.C.; 36% less than in Boston; 72% less than in New York; 26% less than in Philadelphia.
For buyers coming from the south and the midwest, Denver could cost more. It costs 14% more in Denver than in Atlanta; 49% more than in Houston; 41% more than in Dallas; 29% more than in Dayton, Ohio; 22% more than in Rochester, MN, and 23% more than in Boise. But living in Denver still costs 17% less than in Chicago, 16% percent less than in Portland, and a whopping 56% less than in Los Angeles..
You'll need to do your due diligence to compare cost of living between your city and Denver at websites like Best Places, Bankrate, or CNN/Money.
Having an Exclusive Buyers Agent to find the best buys will shore up your buying ability by representing your best interests - finding the best home at the lowest possible price, and saving you time and hassles. See client references; phone numbers available upon request. Call Judith Clausen now at 303-587-3509 to help you find your new home in Denver.
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Exclusive buyer representation for buyers relocating to Denver or moving locally. Advocating ONLY for you, not the seller, providing expert guidance through the complexities of buying a home in Denver
Buyers Advantage Real Estate is my professional creation. Years of experience taught me that buyers and sellers need special representation and a REALTOR® of their own they can trust, so I decided to develop my own business as an Exclusive Buyer Agent brokerage. I’ve been in business in Denver for many years, first in property management and then as a broker associate in a large real estate firm before I established my own business. I’m a member of the
I work hard for my clients to save them money. If I can negotiate $5.000 off the price of a home, that doesn't include the additional build-up of equity amortization for paying less for the original loan amount, and that's much more than the original $5,000. Why would I do this when I'm paid by commission and a higher price would mean a higher commission for me? First, as an Exclusive Buyer's Agent I'm legally obligated to represent the best interests of my clients above any other interests, including my own! And -- the difference in commission for negotiating $5,000 off the price of the house is only $140! I want my clients to be satisfied. Their good will and word of mouth are good advertising, worth much more than whatever I save them. My goal is to save my clients as much money as possible when making what may be the biggest purchase of a lifetime. I save clients liability and pitfalls they may not be able to avoid simply because they don't have the knowledge and experience to know what those issues might be.
Real estate is a second career for me – I’m an ordained minister. In my years as chaplain and pastor I learned about listening to and understanding people’s needs. Serving people wanting or needing to buy their home is a very special ministry for me. I want to work with people I like and who need my professional help, people who will trust me to be their REALTOR®. I have two grown sons and a granddaughter. My spouse is a retired university professor. We love to spend time in the mountains – we go there as often as possible. And we both like to garden. And to travel. I continue in ministry as a consultant to the Department of Pastoral Care at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood.
Well, that’s it – that’s me. Can I help you better than any other REALTOR® in the Denver area? I think so! That’s my job and my passion, it’s what gives me satisfaction.
Only an Exclusive Buyer Agent (often called an Exclusive Buyer's Agent, or EBA) can GUARANTEE to represent you in your home purchase. Only an EBA can GUARANTEE to negotiate on your behalf.
An EBA provides the true facts as to value, market/neighborhood conditions, and obvious physical defects. The high level of negotiation training and expertise of an EBA truly levels the playing when it is time to make an offer on a property.
Because an EBA only represents buyers and does not have in-house or company listings, a seller is always unaware of the price buyers are willing to spend during the negotiation process, bringing the advantage back to the buyer and the buyer's wallet. For this reason alone, it is very common to save thousands of dollars during the critical negotiation process.
An EBA will insist that the buyer utilize a qualified home inspector who will treat the buyer as their client, and not as a customer.
Listing agents (the ones with the sign in the front yard) and the company that they work for represent the SELLER, not the buyer. Their job is to get the SELLER the highest price on the best terms.
An EBA`s job is to get the BUYER the lowest price on the best terms.
EBAs will do a better job for people who are relocating than anyone else. They will give you the facts, good and bad. A listing agent cannot tell you about many things that would be detrimental for the BUYER because they work for the SELLER.
An EBA will help you with your financing alternatives. They may advise you to be pre-approved by a lender. Why? Because a fully approved loan makes you a cash buyer. EBA's have a legal and ethical obligation to put your interests first!
It just makes sense!
I love helping clients find their new home and facilitating their move. See what some of my clients say about working with me. Of course, I have more clients than show up here, but you have to put a limit on it somewhere! --Judith Clausen
This young physician and his family (T. K.'s a public health nurse) were first-time homebuyers who found their ideal home after much looking. It's a 4-bedroom, 2 bath, 3,520 square foot home in Greenwood Village, Colorado. It has what they were looking for -- a walk-out finished basement, a spacious kitchen with a breakfast room overlooking the family room, a striking brick fireplace, and even a central vacuum system. Their lovely home on a tree-lined street will provide plenty of room for this new family of three.
"Judith was very helpful in teaching us first time home buyers what to look for in a home. She was patient and very responsive to our questions." T. K. and Sonam
"Judith was an ideal agent for a first-time homebuyer like me. She was very reassuring and created a comfortable atmosphere for a very intimidating process. She was patient with my many questions and safeguarded my interests from start to finish. Thank you!" Bridget D., Capitol Hill, Denver, CO
"Thank you so much for your help! We could never, ever have done it without your guidance and excellent advice. (Heather at closing: "You were perfect!")"
Mike and Heather, Denver, CO
"We were first-time homebuyers and didn't know much about the process. It was very valuable to have someone on our team who knew the system so well and negotiated so effectively. Hiring a Buyer's Agent was a good decision and Judith did a great job!" Chris and Lynn, Denver, CO
"Judith is a great listener and has become a very good friend! She is one cool "gen-xer! Enthusastically recommend."
Barby and Adam T., Ken Caryl Ranch, Lakewood, CO
"As first-time bomebuyers Judith made us feel comfortable. She provided info and support while allowing us to make our own decisions. She is very easy to work with. We are very happy!!"
Brian and Heather P., Englewood, Colorado
"Buying our house from out of state, our real estate selling agent back home knew exactly the type of service that we would be requiring from our buying agent in Denver so she hand chose Judith for us. I know this was a researched and unbiased choice, Judith was not even a member of the same agency. Living in another state, we were very attracted to technical services that Judith was willing to offer, including her promise to preview and photograph houses and having the photos online for me to view within hours, which she did. One of the first points of her significant help was very early on when I had obtained a prequalification with one loan agency, Judith convinced me to at least try one other to have a comparison. This action not only gave us a better rate, but it brought to light some incorrect information on our credit report that we were able to correct in time for the loan. 
The hard work, great service and personal attention that Judith showed us in the looking process gave me enough confidence to sign a contract on a house without seeing it for myself. She knew our budget and pushed hard to find something within that range. As the hunting process turned long and looked dim, she was still very honest with every house that she viewed for us, even when I was excited about something that I had viewed on the internet and she new from our lengthy conversations and one brief meeting what to warn me about so that I would have a clear understanding of the complete package.
When Judith finally found the perfect house for our family, in the price range that we were looking for, she wasted no time helping us through the contracting procedures. This was the second house that my husband and I had purchased during our marriage. The first purchase was made when we were younger and it was very uncomplicated. That is why the obstacles that we encountered on this purchase came as a shock and stress factor at almost every turn. Judith was there to help us through all of it. We appreciated Judith's experienced advice and support through the entire month of our roller coaster contract. She helped us deal with problems that included our seller threatening to back out at every turn, handling completely unforeseen issues that came up at our inspection and getting us through many paperwork delays on our closing. We literally did not know if we would still be able to purchase the house 10 minutes past the start time of our closing appointment.
I would recommend Judith for any buyer in any special situation." --Christina T., Northglenn
"You are a "real person" who helped us buy a house. You honestly looked out for us and patiently helped us find the right house. No pressure. You made our experience of buying a house from an outside state a pleasure.--Glenn and Sarita B., Aurora I was very impressed (and sometimes surprised) at how quickly you responded to my e-mails and how quickly you answered my questions. In fact, it was your quick response to my initial inquiry that led me to select you in the first place. I had sent out several requests for information while I was in Kazakhstan, but yours was the first (and more thorough) response. I was impressed with your knowledge of the areas and your objectivity as we were looking. I was very grateful for the connection to the lender and the creative financing that she was able to come up with. I also liked all the information that you emailed to me while I was out of country. You always seemed to be available. And, I don’t know how accurate, but I got the impression that we working more off mutual trust rather than the formal buyer’s agreement. I liked that. I would definitely recommend you to someone. One criticism was that initially when I had listed our requirements, I received a lot of stuff that didn’t seem to meet what we were looking for. Having said that, however, our requirements were often pretty specific, and they varied quite a bit as time progressed and we learned more." --Randy H., Bonnie Brae, Denver Colorado
"We appreciated your services and enthusiasm, your overall knowledge of real estate in the Denver area and walking with us through the home buying process -- financing, inspections, builder meetings, etc. We love our home! --Linda and Merritt W., Denver Buyer's Advantage Realty lives up to its name. The buyer has a strong advantage with Judith as the realtor. She treated us as important members of a team. She stands behind what she says. She talks with us frequently and keeps us informed. She combines the best qualities of a realtor - knowledge, experience, integrity and a good sense of humor. With Judith on your side, the entire realty experience becomes the team effort it should be." --A.B. C., Denver
"Thank you for helping us with all the details of buying a newly built home. Luckily, we took your advice in hiring our own inspector. He saved us thousands! We are so thankful that we had you to represent us, not the builder. We LOVE our new home." --Tim and Katrina M., Golden
"I can't thank you enough for finding my home for me while I was in Minnesota. Your follow-through with having the sellers do repairs and include the appliances, as well as giving me phone contacts to get insurance, were all things that were in addition to finding the right home. Your ability to take care of the closing without my presence saved me from having to fly from Minnesota to Colorado many times. You are a miracle worker!" --Connie C., Littleton Colorado
"We enjoyed the personal touch you brought to the whole experience, from historical facts about Denver to your insights about its neighborhoods. Thanks again for helping us find a new home! The best thing about your service was the interest you showed in us personally. During our trips to Denver we both felt like we were traveling not just with a realtor but a friend. We also appreciated the additional services you provided (website links, loan companies, service professionals, etc.) -- Brian S. & Scot O.
Thanks for strongly recommending the buyers warranty! Because of the warranty we were able to get a brand new refrigerator for only $100! We’re going to put your name on it!!! --Sue E. & Nancy K., Thornton
It's kind of funny when you think how mad I was with Shaun for setting up the first appointment with you since we were technically working with someone else. Boy am I ever glad we went with you instead!" -- Lynn M. and Shaun B., Aurora Colorado
"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all your help with the house!" --Jan and Rob F., Aurora Colorado
"Thank you for the good job you did for us. We like our new home very much." --Dahlia and Art F., Highlands Ranch Colorado
"We appreciate all the hard work you did to find us a handicap-accessible home. Not every Realtor can find just the right home for clients living in another part of the world without their ever having seen it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! We love it!"
--Don & Sharon R., Denver
"Your service made the tough process of moving from the east coast to Colorado much easier. You made sure that every detail was seen to and the entire process went as smoothly as possible." --Tracy and Renee B., Aurora Colorado
"Judith went out of her way to protect my interests as a buyer, and settled many differences with the sellers for me. She took a lot of stress out of the buying process." --Judy B., Golden
"I was a first-time buyer. My experience with Judith was a blessing. I was in a difficult situation after an accident -- sore, angry, with a broken foot, and to boot needed a place to live within a month. I needed a Judith, and a Judith I got. Judith not only picked me up, but also chauffeured me wherever we needed to go. She educated me not only on the reality of buying, good and bad, but also on my potential in what I could achieve in owning my own home. She made sure I understood each situation, and the potential pitfalls of any place we looked at. When you are a first-time buyer (newbie) there are so many things one does not think of. We set a time frame. We closed just 20 days after my accident. She even picked me up for that! I got the very best deal one could get -- she made sure of it. Yes, she stood by her word! I now own a 2 bedroom, very nice condo. When my payments are made they are working toward my security and peace of mind -- a place of my own. Thank you, Judith!" --Trude F. Denver
"You were a great guide as I pursued buying my first home. You made it rather painless. You were easy to reach and you gave clear opinions. You found out what you didn't know. And you were sensitive about my perception of value for money." --Joe W., Denver
"There’s no way we can thank you enough for all you’ve done. Your kindness, patience, and thoughtfulness will always be remembered as the best part of our new venture. Thank you so much!" --Kathy A. & Sheri P., Denver (and Los Angeles) investors
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