Leadership Northern Colorado Graduates

2012 Leadership Northern Colorado Class Graduates

Fort Collins, Colo. – The third Leadership Northern Colorado class completed their six month program on Tuesday, June 26 at the Budweiser Event Center.  Twenty-seven participants completed the 2012 program and were recognized at a graduation event sponsored by Public Service Credit Union.  Leadership Northern Colorado has now graduated 85 participants.

Leadership Northern Colorado, a joint initiative of the Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland chambers of commerce, the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and the Community Foundation Serving Greeley and Weld County, is designed to build human capacity and to identify, define and address the issues facing the Northern Colorado region.  The program was sponsored in 2012 by McWhinney Enterprises.

The 2012 Leadership Northern Colorado graduates are:

Keely	Aggers	United Way of Larimer County
Stacey	Baumgarn	Colorado State University
David	Bruni	US Bank Community Banking
Kyle	Christensen	Make Change NoCo
Sharon	Courtney	Foothills Gateway
Royce	Danford	Kennedy & Coe, LLC
Alie	Daniel	Exodus Moving & Storage
Dan	Dennie	Banner Health - North Colorado Medical Center
Sean	Dougherty	RE/MAX Alliance
John	Drigot	Poudre Valley Health System
Isaac	Essay	1st National Wealth Management
Travis	Guerette	RLH Engineering
Bryce	Hach	Homeward 2020
Steve	Hayes	1st Choice Realtors
Gerry	Horak	City of Fort Collins/CSS-Dynamac
Johnny	Hyde	Burns Marketing
Julie	Johnson Haffner	McKee Medical Center Foundation
Alexis	Kanda-Olmstead	Colorado State University
Brett	Kemp	Flood and Peterson
Nathan	Klein	Loveland Commercial, LLC
Laura	McFadden	Security Service Federal Credit Union
Peter	Meyer	Brinkman Construction
Teresa	Mueller	Mueller & Associates, CPA, LLC
Jared	Reimer	Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors
Scot	Sanders	The Career Center at Colorado State University
Nicole	Yost	Fyn Public Relations
Marie	Zimenoff	A Strategic Advantage

The program was produced by the Fort Collins Area Chamber, the Loveland Chamber, the Greeley Chamber, the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and the Community Foundation Serving Greeley and Weld County with assistance from a steering committee:

Kristi Benningsdorf, First Western Trust Bank

Bill Becker, Security Service Federal Credit Union

Catherine Doering, First National Bank

Roxanne Fry, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado

Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber

Judy Knapp, Community Foundation serving Greeley and Weld County

Jessica MacMillan, Great Western Bank

Sarah MacQuiddy, Greeley Chamber

David May, Fort Collins Area Chamber

Amanda Miller, The Place Setting Company

Dawn Paepke, McKee Medical Center Foundation

Nancy Patton, Public Service Credit Union

Lee Ann Sterling, Greeley Chamber

Applications for the 2013 Leadership Northern Colorado program will be available in the fall. Anyone interested in learning more about the program or applying should contact Ann Hutchison at 482-3746 or ahutchison@fcchamber.org.

About Leadership Northern Colorado

Leadership Northern Colorado is a program developed and designed through collaboration of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and the Community Foundation Serving Greeley and Weld County. The regional development program is designed to build human capacity and to identify, define and address the issues facing the Northern Colorado region. The six-month interactive program for 30 select leaders from across the region will focus on regional issues, regionalism and regional leadership skills. For more information, visit www.LeadershipNorthernColorado.com.

The Accidental Landlord Start-Up Kit

The term "accidental landlord" has become much more common these days as folks who have seen their once cherished equity dissolve have turned to renting out their homes without any prior intention. 

There are several situations in which these accidental landlords might come about.  Most commonly, these folks need to move for one reason or another, but they may end up in a short sale situation, or needing to bring money to the table to cover the difference.  Also, folks who aren't as financially strapped are now seeing opportunities in the thriving rental market and are willing to rent out their home for the monthly cash flow while waiting for the market to appreciate. 

Whatever the reason, there are more and more accidental landlords every day throughout the country.  With that, comes a whole new set of responsibilities, headaches and challenges, but it is very rewarding if done right.  Follow these guidelines to set yourself up for success.

Treat Your Rental Like a Business and Investment
As with any investment or business, you're likely to have an advisor or two to help you navigate the complexities of any situation.  Owning a rental property is no different.  Once transitioned into a rental, you're likely to face several issues you never thought you'd face as an owner occupant.  I recommend enlisting the services of a competent and experienced real estate or business attorney and a personal accountant.  These advisers will help you organize your new business, provide consultation on both legal and tax matters to help you maximize your knowledge and your return on investment.

Know Your Insurance
Your homeowners insurance policy might not cover the types of incidents that arise while land-lording.  When tenants occupy your home, there is a whole new array of damages, financial loss and accidents that can occur.  Talk to your homeowners insurance company and discuss additional coverages to protect you.

Create a Strong and Specific Written Lease
It's the litigious world we live in.  People like to sue and lawyers like people who like to sue.  A specific, written lease creates a legal advantage for you when problems arise.  It will also help the tenant know what is expected of them, spelling out all the terms and conditions.  Make sure to include language on payment (and late fees) and what type of maintenance is required for both parties.  Clearly state a beginning and end to the lease agreement.  There are several templates for leases that can be found online, however, I urge you to create specific clauses, statements or conditions that describe your individual property.  Your lawyer could also help you in this case.

Know the Fair Housing Laws
All states have laws prohibiting certain types of discrimination when it comes to renting or purchasing property.  As a rule of thumb, DO NOT discriminate for any reason.  Even asking a prospective tenant about marital status, religious views, familial status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation can land you in hot water.  Screen your tenants carefully with credit checks or background checks but never reject a potential tenants application without a valid reason.

You may be an accidental landlord, but intentionally following these guidelines will put you in an excellent position moving forward.  Best of luck!

Jared Reimer is a real estate broker with Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors in Northern Colorado.  Real estate is his passion and he always wants to connect with like-minded and savvy real estate fans.  For more information or to get in touch with Jared, please visit his website at www.ReimerRE.com or email him at JaredReimer@ReimerRE.com

5 Fast Paced Market Tips for Buyers

When prices and interest rates fall, new buyers are itching to take advantage of them and get into a new home.  But what happens when buyers find there is little available to them?  That's right: bidding wars and multiple offers.

When real estate is moving fast, it can pay off big to understand how to move quickly, and take advantage of opportunities that others miss out on.  In real estate, the early bird doesn't get the worm, the early bird gets the home. 

Making a big decision in a fast paced market doesn't have to be high pressure.  If you go into your purchase prepared, you'll be in great shape to make that offer when the right home comes available.  Here are the best techniques to make sure you're able to beat out everyone else.

1)  Get a Savvy Realtor
In a quick market where you need to move fast, you also need an agent that can move quickly and give you all the tools and advice necessary to make an informed decision.  Technology is huge when it comes to moving quickly.  Gone are the days of running around town getting signatures; digital docusign technology is the way to go.  A savvy agent will understand that you're looking to move fast and will treat you with a sense of urgency.  They will typically be young, energetic and have strong tech background.  With most multiple listing systems, your agent (if they know how) should be able to create saved searches that notify them of new listings as soon as they hit the market.

2)  Know the Contract
When you've got to get a contract in, you can't waste a few hours having your agent explain the terms and conditions.  Before you search, before you put an offer in, have your agent explain the entire contract from beginning to end, so you know exactly what it contains.  After a thorough explanation, ask questions!  Most real estate contracts are very standard, and only a few sections need to be changed per home.  Trust your Realtor to expertly write the contract to your benefit and be ready.  Those few hours could make the difference!

3)  Pre-Approval and Proof of Funds
To back up a strong contract, make sure your lender has provided you with a pre-qualification letter, or even better, a pre-approval letter.  This letter will let the seller know that you are financially stable enough to afford their home, which increases the likelihood of the deal closing.  Proof of funds can come in the form of an earnest money check, showing the seller that you "earnestly" want to purchase their home.  These two items are becoming more and more commonplace as standard attachments to any contract.

4)  Be Time Flexible
A lot of real estate transactions get done over weekends, which is typically when people are able to be out home-shopping.  But, what if a perfect listing comes available on a Tuesday?  Are you going to wait three or four days to go see it?  I like to tell my clients to be time flexible as much as possible.  Heck, it could either save you a lot of money, or get you into the right home in at the right price.  Set up showings for the late afternoon after work (4-6pm) and get into those houses if you can.  Better yet,  if you're comfortable doing so, tell your employer that you're in the middle of an epic house hunt and that you may need to dip out for an hour or so to see a home.  In the grand scheme of things, how important is an hour of work when you're making probably the biggest investment of your life?  Put it into perspective. 

5)  Put Your Best Foot Forward
You could move as fast as possible, but if you throw in a low-ball offer, you'll get laughed out of a contract.  If the comparable properties in the neighborhood support the list price, come in at or near a full price offer.  Sometimes, the time required to negotiate back and forth can open opportunities for other buyers to come in and submit a higher offer.  A reasonable offer will get a reasonable response from the seller and will prevent animosity during the next phase.  Make the decison whether you want to get a "killer deal" or whether you want to find the best house. 

With these tools in mind, you'll be the one hearing "we accept".  Good luck!

Jared Reimer is a real estate broker with Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors in Northern Colorado.  Real estate is his passion and he always wants to connect with like-minded and savvy real estate fans.  For more information or to get in touch with Jared, please visit his website at www.ReimerRE.com or email him at JaredReimer@ReimerRE.com

6 Awesome Real Estate Websites

In a land dominated by technology, where can one reach out to find exactly what they're looking for?  There are literally thousands of websites dedicated to real estate searches, design, and information.  The problem is hunters are most likely getting bogged down in different choices of websites rather than getting the pertinent information they need to make an informed decision.  Over abundance of real estate websites can often cause "analysis paralysis" which doesn't get anyone anywhere.  Rather than pulling your hair out sifting through the mess, I'll show you some hot websites perfect for anyone in the with real estate on their mind.

Realtor.com (www.Realtor.com)
Not all real estate agents are created alike!  Realtors are real estate agents that abide by a binding code of ethics that guide our practice in every transaction.  Realtors are professionals who are typically better trained, higher quality and more knowledgeable than your standard agent.  Realtor.com is your one stop shop to find quality Realtors. Beyond that, begin your search, seeing any listing in any part of the country.  Realtor.com pulls listings directly from local MLS systems so you can be assured it is the most updated, accurate site to search.  Realtor.com also has great organized information to help you get finance quotes, insurance quotes, moving advice and remodel/redesign ideas.  Download their mobile app to be compatible with your smartphone or tablet device.

Trulia (www.Trulia.com)
If you need information, Trulia has it.  Begin your search with homes for sale or rentals.  Need to find some comparable properties?  Search past sold homes to get an idea of the market.  Need advice?  Trulia has it!  Search through advice from Realtors, get neighborhood and market information with ease.  Trulia is also packed full of suggestions for realtors and mortgage lenders.  Download their mobile app to be compatible with your smartphone or tablet device.  ***See comments in Zillow.com for shortcomings of Trulia.

Houzz (www.Houzz.com)
Houzz is a relative newcomer to the scene and not too many people know about it.  Think of it like Pinterest just for homes.  Within, you can search and find ideas for any design feature in or out of your home.  Browse by style, room, or even see what's hot in your locale.  When touring that run down, beat up bungalow, pull up the Houzz app on your tablet and imagine the possibilities!  Learn about new products, styles, and techniques.  Connect with remodel professionals such as contractors, architects, interior designers, and suppliers.

Zillow (www.Zillow.com)
Zillow has one of the most comprehensive real estate search functions going.  Set up filters for your search parameters, and see homes for rent, sale, or search recent sold homes graphically.  Like Trulia you can also search for real estate and mortgage professionals, get local advice and neighborhood information.  When I need a quick search, it's much easier for me to pull up Zillow and see everything graphically.  Where Trulia might be more text heavy, Zillow comes through with charts, graphs, maps and more.  ***CAUTION***  Both Zillow and Trulia provide "estimates" of home value.  Please keep in mind these are not as accurate, nor are they set in stone values of homes.  These programs use algorithms to try and value homes, but only a real estate professional can correctly compare your home to others, mainly because we have real eyes and real brains.  Also, some homes listed as for sale might not be for sale anymore.  Zillow does not show homes under contract and is less accurate, and therefore, is often frustrating.

ColoProperty.com  (www.ColoProperty.com)
Do you want up to date property data in real time?  Do you want to use the same tools the pros use?  Well this is the site for you.  ColoProperty.com is the public side of the Realtor's private MLS system.  When a Realtor lists a home, within 2 minutes, it's available to your on ColoProperty.  It is by far the best when sifting out properties with contracts on them as well.  No other site gives you more accurate data in a very user friendly workspace.  The site is heavily weighted on the search function, but give a look to some of the options under the resources tab...

Reimer Real Estate (www.ReimerRE.com)
Okay, okay...I can't list my favorite sites without a little shameless promotion.  ReimerRE.com combines the search capability of ColoProperty.com with the advice and idea function of all the other sites.  Follow the blog for weekly updates from the real estate world, or see what you can gain from working with me as your real estate professional.  Check mortgage rates, dive into current regional news, or learn about short sales and foreclosures.  It's all in this well managed, constantly updated site.

Jared Reimer is a real estate broker with Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors in Northern Colorado.  Real estate is his passion and he always wants to connect with like-minded and savvy real estate fans.  For more information or to get in touch with Jared, please visit his website at www.ReimerRE.com or email him at JaredReimer@ReimerRE.com