Colorado Springs Real Estate and Your Colorado Springs Realtor, Ron Mangiarelli

HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT EXTENDED!!!!

2009-11-05T23:00:00Z

This is supposed to be signed tomorrow November 6, 2009....Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible, subject to income limits, for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or people who haven't owned homes in the previous three years — could get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers have to sign purchase agreements before May 1, 2010 and close before July 1, 2010. Read more here http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091105/ap_on_go_co/us_homebuyers_tax_credit_10 or give me a call TODAY for more information. ...

$8,000 Tax Credit Extention

2009-10-16T14:26:00Z

Great news! Congress moved yesterday to give American Service Members an additional 12 months to claim the $8000 tax credit provided they served 90 consecutive days overseas. It passed unanimously! You have until November 30, 2010 to get the incentive ...for Military families. CALL ME TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION.... ...

WE NEED YOUR HELP...VOTE YES ON 2C!

2009-10-12T21:59:00Z

Our city is in grave danger of losing many of the assets that will significantly impact our quality of life. The city budget has a current projected shortfall of $25.4 million in 2010, which will include cuts in ALL City departments including our Police and Fire Departments, our parks and basic street maintenance. Please support the ballot initiative 2C on November 3,2009. Without this initiative, Colorado Springs will see a significant decline in our quality of life. Strong police and fire departments and well-maintained parks and streets protect our property values and ensure Colorado Springs remains a great city for families and for corporations who are looking at moving here bringing jobs to the local market. The cost the first year will be $126 or less than $2.50 a week for the owner of an average-priced home of $262,000.

Failure of this initiative would force the following cuts in 2010:
35 positions eliminated from the fire department - 24 positions eliminated from the police department - The Pioneers Museum will be closed - Six community centers will be closed - Minimal irrigation and maintenance for 128 neighborhood parks - No bus service on holidays, in the evening, or on weekends - No bus service to Ft. Carson or Shreiver

To learn more please visit www.cityworthfightingfor.com and visit the Property Tax Calculator at www.cityworthfightingfor.com/pages/property_tax.php

Colorado Carbon Monoxide Bill...Mandatory July 1, 2009

2009-05-14T00:04:00Z

This law goes into effect July 1, 2009 for every home bought or sold in the State of Colorado. Also landlords must comply with this as well so read up kids and give me a call with any questions! Remember "A recession is a terrible thing to waste"! Buy a rental property TODAY!

1. The CO detectors can be battery powered, OR hardwired, OR hardwired with a battery backup.

2. They can be combined with a smoke detector in one unit if the alarms are a different alarm.

3. They are required in virtually all dwellings, including condos, rental units, and apartments. Fuel-fired appliances include wood stoves and wood fireplaces, as well as gas-fired appliances, water heaters, space heaters, cooking stoves. They are required if the dwelling has an attached garage, whether there are gas appliances, a fireplace, or not.

4. Any interior alterations, or additions, or repairs, or replacement of fuel-fired appliances that require a building permit will require CO detectors in the dwelling.

5. Each listing contract for a dwelling has to disclose the requirements. Each single family home or unit in a mult-family OFFERED FOR SALE or transfer after July 1,2009 will have to comply with CO Detectors.

6. If you have a rental property(s), you must comply with the requirements at the time you change tenants, or an alteration that requires a building permit, or if it has an attached garage, or if it has fuel-fired appliances. In addition, every time you change tenants, you have to give the new tenant extra batteries.

7. Placement needs to be within 15 feet of any bedroom OR room that can be used for sleeping. This will be fun! I can see property inspectors asking for a CO Detector if there is a fold-out couch in the living room!

Regional Building, and they are NOT going to inspect, or require them to get a permit. It is STATE requirement, and RBD is staying out of it.

Detectors should be mounted close to the ceiling or on the ceiling (out of reach of kids, pets, etc). Do not install them in utility rooms beside, above or near a gas-fired appliance . Install them at least 15' away from gas-fired appliances and/or fireplaces. Do not put them in humid areas like bathrooms. If bedrooms are adjacent to each other, only ONE detector is required as long as it is located within 15' of the two rooms, (i.e. a hallway).

My International Referral Program

2009-03-25T20:36:00Z

My Agent Referral Program has proved to be a huge success to buyers and sellers outside of my working area of Colorado Springs. You will be getting a full-time quality associate to provide better service for your needs and wants that has been screened and interviewed by myself assuring that they will do business as I would on your behalf. You are also getting a top agent in the area, whether they are a RE/MAX associate or not, with knowledge of the area and customer service being their top priority to you.

If you are moving to or from anywhere in the world I can help you choose an outstanding agent. Please let me help you pick the best agent for your situation. Just email me where you need that agent and I will send you 2 or 3 resumes of the best agents in the area.

I'm Back....

2009-03-20T20:37:00Z

Well I'm back and digging out from being gone for whats felt like the entire month. i met some great agents in Las Vegas and connected with some old friends that I had met at past conventions and have done business with. I even managed to break away from the craps and poker tables long enough to take some classes and I came away with some great new ideas and a new perspective of my business after listening to Chris Gardner (Yes, the Pursuit of Happyness guy). He is an amazing speaker with an even more amazing story (the movie only touches the surface) and if you don't get motivated by listening to this man go crawl under a rock because you are done... The second leg of my journey took us to the South West Regional TaeKwonDo Tournament in the Village of Cloudcroft NM. My youngest son Mike (9) won three world championships last year and started of this year by defending his championships and positioning himself to repeat that performance by winning two gold medals and one bronze!

Ok back to work...We in Colorado Springs have a mail in election this fall and I believe one of the most important issues on the ballot is !A! Here is the best write up for that issue that I have seen. Please read the article below, go to the website and learn all you can on this topic then VOTE YES! Talk to you soon!

February 20, 2009

Are we feeling the pain enough? We are seeing layoffs at the city and county governments at various levels. The crime rate is going up. There are budget cuts seemingly every day. The unemployment rate is pushing 7 percent, the highest since 1998. It is not the economy as much as our quality of life that is experiencing a downturn.There is a way to rise above the problems; it is called Job Opportunity and Business Sustainability Fund or jobs. The more jobs we have, the more positive the impact on revenue streams for the city and county.The jobs resolution will be on the April 7 ballot and is asking the voters to extend a .665 mill levy that has been in place since the late ’80s. How much are we talking about? Ten dollars a year on a house valued at $200,000. Keeping this mill levy will result in roughly $3.2 million a year that will be used to attract and retain primary jobs while marketing and promoting Colorado Springs.

This revenue is not going to some corporate slush fund like anti-growth proponents want you to think. It will go exclusively to create, attract and retain primary jobs. It will not go to the Economic Development Corp. It will be administered by a five-person committee that will counsel City Council on how to best use the money.Dave Bamberger, a local economist, did an analysis of the annual increase in primary jobs required to pay back $3.2 million at a net present value of 6 percent over 10 years. Guess what, that $3.2 million turns into $10.6 million and generates 1,000 primary jobs.

For those of you who say no, what is your idea to bring jobs to town? Before some little, wet-behind-the-ears McElhany minion says I am being an alarmist, it is just the facts that the game has changed — economic development is a very sophisticated, competitive business. To be a world-class city that many of us talk about, we need to ratchet up the economic development effort.We have lost, by some estimates, $1 billion of total investment. Analysis of 12 of the last 16 major prospect losses going back two years showed incentives were a factor or the factor on why we did not get the company. We are losing, and if we don’t do something like pass the jobs initiative, we will continue to be losers.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to be a bit competitive, and losing is not high on my list of what I want to be when I grow up — and it shouldn’t be on the list of what Colorado Springs wants to be when we grow up. Have you felt enough pain? Do you want to see our city wither up, tumbleweeds blowing down Tejon Street and Academy Boulevard with boarded up storefronts because we don’t have the primary jobs to support businesses? Have you driven west on Garden of the Gods road lately? The empty buildings are stacking up. The opening scene from Clint Eastwood’s "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" come to mind.

The time is now. Vote yes on April 7 for jobs. Don’t be on the losing end of this resolution.

Earlier this week a community survey asking "would you approve of local government public funds (including special taxes or financial incentives) to be used to attract and retain businesses that provide good quality, high paying jobs?" was conducted. The envelope please — 68.2 percent replied yes.The alumni of the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute were also polled. You guessed it. Ninety-three percent came back agreeing that CSLI should endorse the jobs resolution. As one person wrote in the survey, "If we can’t focus on getting more and better jobs, then we are done as Colorado’s second largest city and might as well concede to Pueblo" and another remarked "a painless way to make a big difference."

Is there enough pain? Think about your kids, vote yes on jobs. http://www.votejobsnow.com/
Lon Matejczyk is publisher of the Colorado Springs Business Journal. He can be reached at lon.Matejczyk@csbj.com or 329-5202.

Going on Vacation

2009-02-26T21:21:00Z

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am headed to Las Vegas fo a week for the RE/MAX Convention and then to New Mexico for the ITA Regional TaeKwonDo Championships for my youngest son. Hopefully I come back rested and ready to go with lots of knowledge, new ideas and gold medals! I will resume my blog the week of March 16th so don't even try and collect your $50! Everything will we running here just as I have never left (that's what a great staff is for) so please continue to call or email with any questions or referrals! ...

My Home Town.... Colorado Springs, Colorado

2009-02-20T16:27:00Z

As a Native, I think you will find my hometown an excellent place to live, with friendly residents eager to welcome you. There are many advantages to living in the Pikes Peak area – we have convenient shopping, excellent school systems, and a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities. I would be happy to send you information to help acquaint you on the local area – just let me know. You can find general information on the local area/schools/crime rates, the home buying process, how I work with buyers, as well as search the entire MLS anytime from www.ourdaddy.com.

As a professional, full-time Realtor, I can offer you specialized assistance in locating your new home. My services will provide you access to all of the homes available in the Colorado Springs area, helping you to quickly locate the ideal property in the style, price range and location you desire. In addition, I will assist you in all of the arrangements and details necessary to ensure a pleasant and smooth transition into your new home and I would welcome the opportunity to assist you. Buying a new home is all about decision-making, and you can only make the best decision when you have all the best information that's available, together with an experienced expert who can help you interpret it if necessary. I specialize in helping home buyers make the most informed decisions they can based on location, the market, financing options, the condition of a home and its real price as distinct from its sale price, what "extras" to negotiate for, which service providers provide the best service and value, and more.

Here is a link to my "February Real Estate Update": http://realtytimes.com/123/RonMangiarelli
This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter. This month's issue includes topics such as:

"Real Estate Outlook: What's in Store for 2009?";
"Buy Now And Beat The Spring Rush";
"Is A Mortgage Modification For You?";
"Clutter-Free Helps Sell Homes";
"Good Time To Buy A Vacation Home";
"Repairs That Help Sell Your Home";

... plus a roundup of January real estate activity and local market conditions, as well as much more advice and information.

I hope you enjoy this monthly newsletter. If you have any comments, please e-mail them to me. Or, if you would like to see a certain topic covered in future months, let me know that too!

Have a great weekend!

2009 American Recover and Reinvestment Act

2009-02-17T21:41:00Z

This is the best decription/chart that I have seen about this so far.... Obviously I did not prepare it but if you have any questions please give me a call. If you would like to view it online click here.

BREAKING NEWS: 2009 American Recover and Reinvestment Act

President Obama signed the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law in Denver today. The Act, which was the subject of much debate in Washington over the last month, passed through Congress last week, mainly along party lines. At well over 1,000 pages, it contains a broad range of provisions intended to stimulate the economy.

Included in the Act are numerous important income tax provisions, which are summarized below. These tax provisions include incentives for businesses to acquire depreciable assets, tax breaks for low- and moderate-income individuals and families and several others.

Businesses
Provision	In Effect	Impact
Bonus Depreciation	2009	Last year, Congress temporarily allowed business to recover the costs of capital expenditures made in 2008 faster than the ordinary depreciation schedule would allow by permitting these businesses to immediately write off 50% of the cost of depreciable property acquired in 2008 for use in the United States. The new law extends this temporary benefit for qualifying property purchased and placed into service in 2009.
Section 179 Expensing	2009	In order to help small businesses quickly recover the cost of certain capital expenses, small business taxpayers may elect to write off the cost of these expenses in the year of acquisition in lieu of recovering these costs over time through depreciation. Last year, Congress temporarily increased the amount that small businesses could write off for capital expenditures incurred in 2008 to $250,000 and increased the phase-out threshold for 2008 to $800,000. The new law extends these temporary increases for capital expenditures incurred in 2009.
NOL Carry Back	2008	Under pre-Act law, net operating losses (NOLs) may be carried back to the two years before the year that the loss arises and carried forward to each of the succeeding twenty years after the year that the loss arises. For 2008, the new law extends the maximum NOL carry back period from two years to five years for small businesses with gross receipts of $15 million or less.
Work Opportunity Credit	2009 – 2010	Businesses are allowed to claim a work opportunity tax credit equal to 40% of the first $6,000 of wages paid to employees of one of nine targeted groups. The new law expands the work opportunity tax credit to include two new targeted groups: (1) unemployed veterans; and (2) disconnected youth. Individuals qualify as unemployed veterans if they were discharged or released from active duty from the Armed Forces during 2008, 2009 or 2010 and received unemployment compensation for more than four weeks during the year before being hired. Individuals qualify as disconnected youths if they are between the ages of 16 and 25 and have not been regularly employed or attended school in the past 6 months.
Individuals
Provision	In Effect	Impact
“Making Work Pay” Credit	2009 – 2010	The new law provides an individual tax credit in the amount of 6.2 percent of earned income not to exceed $400 for single returns and $800 for joint returns in 2009 and 2010. The credit is phased out at adjusted gross income (AGI) in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly). The credit can be claimed as a reduction in the amount of income tax that is withheld from a paycheck, or through a credit on a tax return. Under the credit, workers expect to see perhaps $13 a week less withheld from their paychecks starting around June. Next year, the extra take-home pay will go down to around $9 per week.
First-time Homebuyer Credit	January 1, 2009 – November 30, 2009	Last year, Congress provided taxpayers with a refundable tax credit that was equivalent to an interest-free loan equal to 10% of the purchase of a home (up to $75,000) by first-time home buyers. The provision applied to homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Taxpayers receiving this tax credit were required to repay any amount received under this provision back to the government over 15 years in equal installments (or earlier if the home was sold). The credit phases out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of a joint return). The new law enhances the credit by eliminating the repayment obligation for taxpayers that purchase homes on or after January 1, 2009. It also extends the credit through the end of November 2009, and bumps up the maximum value of the credit from $7,500 to $8,000.
Child Tax Credit	2009 – 2010	A measure increases the eligibility for the refundable child tax credit in 2009 and 2010 by lowering the threshold to $3,000 (from $8,500 in 2008).
Deduction for Tax on Purchase of Vehicle	Date of enactment – December 31, 2009	The new law allows taxpayers to deduct State and local sales taxes paid on the purchase of a new automobile, including light trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, and motor homes. The tax break phases out starting with taxpayers earning $125,000 per year ($250,000 for joint returns). The deduction is allowed to both those who itemize their deductions as well as to non-itemizers. However, the deduction cannot be taken by a taxpayer who elects to deduct State and local sales taxes in lieu of State and local income taxes.
Suspension of Tax on Unemployment Compensation	2009	A provision temporarily suspends federal income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits received by a recipient in 2009.
Education
Provision	In Effect	Impact
American Opportunity Tax Credit	2009 – 2010	The new law creates a $2,500 higher education tax credit that is available for the first four years of college. The credit is based on 100% of the first $2,000 of tuition and related expenses (including books) paid during the tax year and 25% of the next $2,000 of tuition and related expenses paid during the tax year, subject to a phase-out for AGI in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for married couples filing jointly). Forty percent of the credit is refundable. The new credit temporarily replaces the Hope credit.
Computer Technology Treated as Higher Education Expense	2009 – 2010	A provision permits computers and computer technology to qualify as qualified education expenses in 529 education plans for tax years beginning in 2009 and 2010.
AMT Relief
Provision	In Effect	Impact
AMT Exemptions	2009	To hold the number of taxpayers subject to the AMT at bay, the new law increases the AMT exemption amounts for 2009 to $46,700 for individuals and $70,950 for joint returns, and allows the personal credits against the AMT.

The Act is so large that many of its provisions have not been properly analyzed to determine their impact. We at BiggsKofford will continue to monitor the discussions about the provisions of the Act and assess their impact to our clients. If you have any questions or would like more details regarding a provision discussed above, please call our offices at (719) 579-9090 for more information.

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Friday the 13th, Hahahahah... I Laugh in Your Face!

2009-02-13T20:38:00Z

Today I'm headed into the office and get a call from my wife that our youngest son (he's 9) Michaels TaeKwonDo instructor called with some good news. Michael has been studying TaeKwonDo for two and a half years now and just became a first degree level three black belt. Well last year Mike attended a National Tournament in Mobile Alabama, a Regional Championship in Las Cruces New Mexico and then went to the World Championship Tournament held in Chattanooga Tennessee on October. Out of 9 competitions he won 6 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze earning him THREE world championships(one in each discipline)! Congratulations Champ! Mike competed against other people from all over the United States as well as other countries such as Australia and Great Britain! Hey Dana White... He's also testing for his Brazilian Ju Jitsu belts, taking Hanmudo and getting ready to start wrestling.
Then...
I get a text about a half hour later from my oldest son (he's 13) Christopher saying that he just found out that he will be the starting point guard for his 7th grade IS (that’s the number one team in 7th grade) basketball team (of course it took me 5 mins to try and decipher the stinking text because there was not one word written like it was supposed to be) Chris has been playing basketball on and off for the past few years but his number one love is football (he was the starting wide receiver and corner back for his 7th grade IS team this past fall) so it was a quite a shock when I found out he was chosen as a starter for basketball too. Great job bud! Now go do your math homework!
Then...
I find out about an hour later that my (little) brother Rob was just promoted to Senior Vice President of Hotel Accounting, North America Operations for Hyatt (can you hook a brother up with a room!?!)

Friday the 13th.... A pretty damn good day!

Random Stuff, Mostly About Real Estate..

2009-02-09T21:45:00Z

This just in...Fannie Mae is updating the policy that pertains to multiple mortgages to the same borrower. Fannie Mae’s current policy limits the number of one-to-four unit financed properties in which the borrower may have an individual or joint ownership interest to four financed properties when the mortgage being delivered to FNMA is secured by an investment or second home. FNMA is modifying this policy to allow investor and second home borrowers to own Five to Ten financed properties if they meet certain eligibility, underwriting and delivery requirements. Reserves will play a vital role in this new change so before you investors start looking call me first and we will see if they will qualify.

This just in (last week)... The Financial Times ran an op-ed that pretty much confirmed what I've been saying all along: The constant barrage of negative news creates adverse feedback loops that overwhelm the psyche. The most immediate way to thwart these loops and improve psyche is simply turn off the news, or at least throttle back the number of times you read the same account. Another way to improve psyche is not to get too caught up in the here and now. People tend to absorb news as if it actually happened to them or will happen to them in the near future. Fertile minds tend to conjure numerous scenarios, most of them bad. They also tend to extrapolate (this was on my word of the day calender yesterday) today into infinity. Life is not the movie Groundhog Day. Trends do not last forever.

I hate writing this... In the 5 previous years that the Steelers won the Super Bowl (1975, 1976,1979, 1980 and 2006), the S&P 500 has been up an average of +25.6% on a total return basis (source: BTN Research). That's good news but I hate writing this because it's about the Steelers(did you also know that the Steelers are the only team in the NFL that does not have cheerleaders).

Better than a stick in the eye...Forget everything I just wrote in the I hate writing this paragraph above (except for the cheerleader info) because in the last 6 months of 2008, the median sales price of existing homes sold in the USA fell by 18%. In the last 6 months of 2008, the median sales price of new homes sold in the USA fell by 11%. In the last 6 months of 2008, the total return of the S&P 500 stock index was down 28% (source: National Association of Realtors, Census Bureau, BTN Research).

Tying it all together... SO stay positive (second paragraph) because buying real estate is still the way to go and a great way to diversify your porfolio. With the great news of Fannie Mae (first paragraph) investors need to come out and play in this great market OR move-up buyers can think about turning their now principle residence into an investment property and take advantage of the lower interest rates for owner occupied homes.

Economic Stimulus Bill and the $15,000 Tax Credit

2009-02-05T21:11:00Z

If you have been watching the news this week, you may have noticed that the debate in Washington has finally turned toward real stimulus for the housing industry. As a result, I believe that we could be on the brink of a substantial turn around in the real estate market. Now, it’s critical that we all join together and deliver a powerful message to our legislators that we support this stimulus.

Last night, the Lieberman/Isakson Amendment was included in the senate version of the Economic Stimulus Bill by a unanimous voice vote. This amendment would provide a Tax Credit to all home buyers at the rate of 10% of the sales price up to a limit of $15,000. The credit would be available for a one year period to all purchasers of primary residences.

Today, the senate expects to debate Amendment 353, a proposal by Senator John Ensign (R-NV) that would provide 30 year fixed financing at a rate of about 4%, for anyone purchasing a primary residence.

If these two provisions survive in the final passage of a stimulus bill they could have a tremendous impact on our industry. If they are coupled together with provisions to ease the flow of credit and reduce foreclosures, we could see an immediate and dramatic turn-around in real estate.

I feel that these provisions represent real economic stimulus. They will put money in the hands of millions of homeowners, increase sales, stabilize home values and add more revenues to local communities in the form of property taxes.

I urge each of you to contact your senators and representatives to let them know that you believe these provisions are essential components of any stimulus bill. You can go to the official Senate and House web sites to locate the email and phone number of your legislators.

This may be one of the most critical moments for the real estate industry in our time. Please pass this information on to anyone you might do business with. The outcome of this legislation will have a lasting impact on us all. I appreciate your assistance on this urgent matter.

Lets wait and see what happens. Obviously this just came out so more details will be coming out in the days and weeks to come.

Buy Now And Beat The Spring Rush

2009-02-02T21:17:00Z

Here is a pretty good article form my monthly E-Newsletter that I send out written by Brodrick Perkins. To see the entire newsletter check out http://realtytimes.com/123/RonMangiarelliand remember, if you have any questions just give me a call!

Down market. Up market. It doesn't matter. Spring showers typically bring spring buyers. But if you wait for the seasonal thaw you'll join what could be a throng of market savvy buyers who have already scoped the lay of the land and are elbowing for position. In many communities, an over-supply of homes for sale with reduced prices, foreclosures, auction sales and sellers shopping for short sale buyers, all make it an opportune time not to procrastinate. "We are seeing a confluence of events that contributes to the increase in the number of closed sales," said Quincy Virgilio, president of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors in San Jose, CA."Interest rates are at a record low and the affordability index nears a 5-year high. For first-time buyers, rents are skyrocketing and that's an added incentive to buy a home now," added Virgilio. That doesn't mean every home is a Blue Light Special or that you can shop with reckless abandon. It's a better idea to prepare now, become a savvy buyer and beat the spring rush.

To help get you started we've gleaned some key tips from "Buying Your First Home Now" (Nolo.com, $24.99), by Ilona Bray, Alayna Schroeder, Marcia Stewart and a dozen contributing experts knowledgeable in everything from credit, borrowing and buying to escrow, insurance and taxes.

Check your home-buying pulse. Just because there's a convergence of favorable market conditions doesn't mean it's your time to buy.

Base your decision solely on the state of your housing market and you'll overlook why the current market is littered with the former homes of those who borrowed more than they could afford.

Likewise, if you wait for prices to fall more your could miss out. No one knows when the market will hit bottom until it begins a sustained upward turn and you can look back and actually see bottom.

Buy a home because, for you, it's the right thing to do. Buy because it's more affordable than renting, because you plan on staying put until it pays off, buy because it is a good fit for your lifestyle and your personal goals.

Learn your local market. While you certainly need to be up on the most recent housing news, get news from your local media outlets, your real estate agent and data providers that regularly generate information about your community. (If you are looking anywhere in the World I can send you resumes of the best agents in that area so you can choose the best agent for you and not just hope you get lucky and find a good one)

Get some basic training. Even if you've purchased before, bone up now. Regulations, local practices and market conditions change. Use well-established, frequently-updated information sources on and off line. Attend real estate industry-sponsored seminars, workshops, counseling sessions and post-secondary level realty classes. ( I offer all of these)

Examine your credit. Pull your credit report and check your credit score before your lender does. You need to make sure both are where they need to be to land you a home loan. AnnualCreditReport.com (also at 877-322-8228) is the one and only official, federally sanctioned program giving you free annual access to your credit report. The nominal fee to obtain your credit score from one of the three credit reporting agencies is worth the cost. (I don't like this part. Your lender can pull your credit and tell you what loan programs they have available for you and they are going to need to pull your credit eventually so you might as well start there)

Shop with money in your pocket. Get a mortgage approved before you begin to shop for a home. You need to know how much you can afford and how much home you can buy so you can negotiate from a position of strength. Shop around for the best mortgage possible. (I recommended using an established lender and institution. Annjie Williams with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is my lender of choice https://www.wfhm.com/loans/annjie-williams/index.page)

Buy like a savvy investor. Buy low now, sell high later. Shop in the least expensive neighborhood in the best community or the least expensive city in the region. Drill down to buy the least expensive home on the best block or the cheapest home in a neighborhood in transition.

Your Agent...Ron Mangiarelli (I added this). Use your real estate agent as your point person, tell friends, family and co-workers you are in the market.

For the immediate future, look for distressed properties to continue flooding the low-performing markets, which will keep sales high but hurt property values. In the more stable markets, the upper end will continue to cool, but record-low interest rates should keep demand relatively strong for well-positioned mid-value properties.

Colorado Springs Realtor Ron Mangiarelli's Resume

2009-01-31T18:16:00Z

EXPERIENCE
I have been a real estate professional since 1998. As a life-long resident of the Colorado Springs area, I am able to give my clients a unique perspective of the local area and local real estate market.

PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS
Advanced Real Estate Courses - Appraisals/Law/Finance/Contracts/Colorado Law
ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative
GRI - Graduate Realtors Institute
CRS - Certified Residential Specialist
QSC - Quality Service Certification - Platinum Service Rating
LHP - Luxury Home Professional

ACHIEVEMENTS
RE/MAX Hall of Fame
Colorado Springs Independent "Best of the Springs 2007 REALTOR"
RE/MAX Properties, Inc. Top Producing Single Agent
RE/MAX Properties, Inc. HALL OF HONOR
RE/MAX Properties, Inc. Outstanding Quality Service Award
RE/MAX Platinum Club

#1 Individual RE/MAX Agent in Colorado Springs – 2007

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Pikes Peak Association of Realtors
Professional Standards/Grievance Committee
Colorado Association of Realtors
National Association of Realtors
Council of Residential Specialists
ReBAC

RE/MAX Properties Agent Council

Distressed Property Expert

2009-01-26T21:44:00Z

I just needed to get this information out to everyone. We all know someone who is having a tough time making ends meet in this current economic environment. Many of our friends and family have lost good paying jobs, value in their homes, and the ability to pay. With the depressed housing market selling a home for top dollar is tougher today. I am available to help all of these people that are struggling. I can help them sell their homes for less than what is owed via a Short Sale (Bank takes less than owed). This helps them avoid foreclosure and save their credit score.

Here are some examples of why to sell via a short sale verses a foreclosure:

1. IMPORTANT FOR MILITARY AND DEFENSE WORKERS, LOSS OF CLEARANCE

2. Lower Credit Score will effect employment, current and future!!!

3. Credit Score lower by 300+ Points by a foreclosure verse 50 points on a short sale

4. Foreclosure cannot be repaired on a Credit Report, must wait 7 years

5. Foreclosure judgment for deficiencies has no statute of limitations can be years before you get a judgment for thousands of dollars.

As you see these are just some of the very real and hard consequences by deciding not to ask for help. I am here to help anyone that might be looking at the potential of foreclosure. We all need to help our friends, families, and communities to overcome the current crisis that is gripping our nation. The BEST part of my help is the BANK will pay for my commissions, so there is no money out of pocket for these sellers. Please pass on this information to your friends, families, and neighbors that I can help. Also, I keep all my communications private about anyone that is having troubles. It is better to try and sell the home for a loss than having your name listed in the newspaper as a foreclosure. Please call me and I will start helping today.

You Want Home Info Without an Agent Bugging You? I Give You Voicepad!

2009-01-23T21:09:00Z

I am offering a new service to buyers looking for homes for sale in Colorado Springs and even to those of you who are not looking to buy at this time can also use this new technology to keep up with what's going on in your neighborhood and around town. As one of the top RE/MAX agents in Colorado Springs I have just implemented this new service and I think you all will really like it. It's called Voicepad. You can pull up in front of any home (or call from your home while searching the internet) listed for sale in the MLS and call one phone number, enter the house number, choose the street and you will be able to get all the MLS information about the home (in English or Spanish), even the price! No more calling off the sign, emailing the listing agent, registering online or picking up a flier while walking the dog. The two best things about it...It's free and you will never have some pushy agent calling you back and bugging you! You can also receive an email with all the home information after you call if you would like. It's pretty cool. I have started setting it up for the people that I know would find this tool helpful and THEY LOVE IT!

            Here's the deal...Call 264-5434 and you will be up and running in about 45 seconds.
                                Please tell others about it and they can use the system too.
                                                            Just call 264-5434.

My First Blog Ever!

2009-01-19T22:54:00Z

Yesterday I became the father of a teenager, the world is about to change. Tomorrow we inaugurate a new president, the world is about to change. Today I write my first blog ever because the world is changing so I better keep up or go away (that’s not an option because my teenager wants to go to the University of Notre Dame).

It's easy to get caught up in recent headlines, but don't assume everything you read or hear in the news necessarily applies to the Pikes Peak region. For buyers and sellers trying to make a decision about when to make a move, it's important to understand that real estate trends and values are a local business. National statistics will give you a general idea of current market trends, but they may not accurately reflect prices or sales activity in our area. Due to current economic conditions, this is an excellent time to purchase a home. Interest rates are at historic lows (fixed rates as low as 4.75%), and there is a large inventory of homes currently available to choose from. I would welcome the opportunity to assist you. Buying a new home is all about decision-making, and you can only make the best decision when you have all the best information that's available, together with an experienced expert (“frickin sales machine” to quote a past client) who can help you interpret it if necessary and then negotiating the best deal for you. I specialize in helping home buyers make the most informed decisions they can based on location, the market, financing options, the condition of a home and its real price as distinct from its sale price, what "extras" to negotiate for, which service providers provide the best service and value, and more. In addition, I will do a lot of the legwork for you so you save time, money and energy plus my services don't cost you anything and I guarantee that you will like the results (See my Platinum Past Customer Service Rating).

As a Colorado Springs native, and your local real estate expert for the past 11 years, please continue to think of me as a resource you can count on regarding the Pikes Peak area real estate market. Let my experience, knowledge, and proven techniques help you or your friends/family when it comes time to buy or sell a home! You can also find general information on the local area, schools, crime rates, etc., and the home buying process on my websites, as well as continue to search the entire Pikes Peak area MLS anytime from www.ourdaddy.com.

I have no idea how long a blog is supposed to be but my teenager thinks that I talk too much so I will end my first blog with this… Thank You! Thank you to everyone who has supported me the past 11 years and I hope this blog thingy (as someone put it to me today) helps you understand a little bit about our local real estate market (and generates some deals for me so I don’t have to make my living playing poker).

Welcome

2009-01-14T21:31:52Z

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.