Showing Property with Kids - Through the Eyes of a Child

Showing Property with Kids
Through the Eyes of a Child

I have been showing people property for 15 years.  Some of my favorite experiences have been families with kids.  And some of my least favorite experiences have been families with kids.  

Now, I have kids of my own, so I have seen every form of bad behavior.  I understand temper tantrums, snack breaks, wetting pants, falling and crying, wanting to jump in the pool, climbing on and in bunk beds, and touching everything in someone else’s home . . . sometimes with dirty hands.  I once had a little boy break some figurine on a shelf as he slid his arm across the entire table.  Oops. 

But the youthful energy and the innocent questions make me love working with kids.

Kids get bored looking at properties.  It’s a long day of getting in and out of the car, listening to some real estate person talk about short term rental income, earnest money, furniture, garages, radon, blah, blah, blah.  They want to know if there is a park, pool, or ski run nearby.  They want to run.  They want to play.  They also usually want a snack.  

I’ve often wondered what a day of real estate showings is like for a kid. Recently, I got to work with a family with two little boys, ages 7 and 8.  I personally am partial to little boys.  I have two boys so I feel like I understand them.  These little men have a great mom who came prepared.  She gave them the “job” of taking photos to remember the places and to show their dad who was at work on the day we looked. I asked her whether it would be OK if I shared some of their photos.  These are the choice picks from the 8 year old.   

Now you get to see what a day of real estate showings looks like to an 8 year old boy.

We don’t know whose car this is.

But it feels kind of "spy like" as he shoots the photo through the blinds of the upstairs bedroom.

The listing broker did not think to feature the bear soap dispenser.  

Little boys like bunk beds. Period.

This is actually me. I think he thought he was getting my good side.   Haha.

This is a stuffed bear in the home they actually decided to purchase.  The kicker with this bear is that it was in the direct vision of security cameras that were on.  I noticed the cameras as the kids were crawling on the bear so we quickly stopped “riding “ the bear.  

Yes, Breckenridge is winter fun for all!

This is the inside of the refrigerator.  The buyer asked me if a place was occupied, and I said you can tell by looking in the fridge.  So, our little photographer opened the refrigerators to see if anyone lived in the units we saw.

I mentioned that I loved fast cars.  So check out this fancy Porsche!

I can’t tell you what we have here.

The mountains are a place where families create lifetime memories.  And sometimes, kids get the special treat of being able to shop with their parents for the place they will enjoy for many years to come!

If you are shopping for mountain real estate, and have little ones, feel free to bring them along!  With snacks and a camera of course.

#investinsummit
#amynakos

Live Webinar on Summit County Real Estate Investment!

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1359813698196353283

On March 14, 2018 at 1:00 pm, join me for a LIVE webinar on all things Summit County (and Mountain Resort) real estate investment. Registration link is above and below!



Many people live in Denver for the mountain lifestyle but the reality of driving I-70 on a Saturday or Sunday can make day trips almost unbearable. If you have ever wondered about the realities of buying, owning, renting and selling a mountain property, then this episode is for you. Amy Nakos, a Summit County Real Estate professional for over 15 years, will discuss general considerations in mountain resort properties and then take the audience through two investment examples of actual properties in Summit County. Learn how you can own a piece of the dream, offset your expenses with rental income, and create memories with your friends your family . . . that don’t include sitting in stopped traffic! Specific topics we will cover are: - Mountain Market Trends - Considerations for purchasing a second home in a resort - Homeowner’s Associations - Short Term Rentals v Long Term Rentals - AirBNB/VRBO v. Property Management Companies - Buying and owning with friends - New Construction and Developments - Investment Property Operating Data x 2 Guest: Amy Nakos lives in Frisco, Colorado where she has been a real estate professional since 2003. She and her husband own and operate a mixed use commercial and residential property that they purchased out of foreclosure and have also developed a new construction four-plex. She is the managing broker of Your Castle Summit LLC, and is also a licensed Colorado attorney. She loves helping her clients build wealth through real estate and especially enjoys sharing her love for her community. She spends her free time with her husband Darren, her two sons Tyler and Max, and her dog, Chester and enjoys skiing, biking, hiking, fine wine, trying to golf and being outdoors.

Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1359813698196353283


This is the intro slide to the webinar! I chose some photos of the family, my dog, me skiing powder (actually just posing in powder), and of course the business shot against the blue wall!!

Breckenridge Colorado Ultra Luxury Homes - $3,000,000 and above

BRECKENRIDGE COLORADO LUXURY HOMES

For the finest homes currently on the market in Breckenridge, Colorado, click the link below:

Breckenridge Luxury Homes over $3,000,000

These homes range in price from $3,200,000 to $9,950,000.

They range from 4 bedrooms to 7 bedrooms.

Square footage is from 4,700 to 7,360 square feet.

The average price per square foot is $763.46

Here is a photo preview of some of the amazing homes in Breckenridge listed at $3,000,000 and above:

 For more information or to schedule your private showing, please reach out to me!

Amy Nakos, JD, GRI, RSPS

Your Summit County Luxury Expert

970-389-8388

www.amynakos.com

anakos@yourcastle.org

Your Castle Summit

Information and photos from Summit County Multiple Listing Service

Listings may not be listings from Your Castle Summit or Amy Nakos

Breckenridge 5 Bedroom Home For Sale - Great Rental

AMAZING OPPORTUNITY NEAR BRECKENRIDGE, CO

People who know Breckenridge Colorado fall in love with the mountain charm and breathtaking scenery.  If you are interested in owning your own home near Breckenridge, then this is a great opportunity for you!

This home is a 5 bedroom, 3 bath single family structure with a gorgeous master suite, private hot tub, game room and luxury kitchen.  It is 3,365 square feet and will make a great primary residence, second home, or investment property.  It is and has been successfully rented through AirBNB.  List price is $825,000.


Here is a video walkthrough:  https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=zwXAco2vzwu
MLS listing:  http://summit.mlsmatrix.com/matrix/shared/jdQZgTJzxd/213CountyRoad672

At only $245 a square foot, you could never replicate this home for this cost.  A great opportunity to get into a fine Breckenridge home at a very competitive price.

For more information or for a private showing, please contact me!

Amy Nakos, JD, GRI, RSPS

www.amynakos.com

anakos@yourcastle.org

970-389-8388

Your Castle Summit

The Size of Your Property Depends on Who You Ask - The Square Footage Question

I sell real estate.  But when buying a residential property, the question of “How much real estate am I buying?” is answered with square footage.  Surprisingly, square footage isn’t a hard and fast measurement.  In fact, measurements can vary depending on the source of the measurement and what is included in the measurement. And, invariably, if you have three different people measure the same property, you will have three different measurements.

In our market, most real estate brokers pull the County Assessor square footage measurement. With new construction, the square footage measurement comes from the builder.  Builders’ measurements, in our market, are usually bigger than the County Assessor’s measurement.   Finally, appraisers often measure properties when doing an appraisal, and brokers can use this measurement as the square footage source. 

I talked with an appraiser at our local Assessor’s office and was told that for single family homes and townhomes, the Assessor’s office looks at the plans for new builds and they physically measure the house.  These measurements are from the exterior walls.  With condos, the frame of the unit is measured and the calculation comes from the interior of the unit.  If there is an addition, the Assessor’s office will do the same as a new build – look at the plans and measure the space. 

So what are you to do if you have concerns about the square footage of the property you are buying?  My first bit of advice is, if the property works for you, then don’t worry too much about the square footage measurement.  If you feel like you are paying a fair price for the property, enjoy it for years to come.  If, however, you are paying a premium for the property, and the difference in square footage can make a substantial difference in pricing, you may have concerns that you are overpaying. 

First, ask for the source of the square footage measurement.  In Colorado, when a broker lists the square footage source, we are supposed to have a document backing up that measurement.  I personally have had sellers tell me that their properties are larger than the measurement I pull from the Assessor’s office.  If they can provide me with a document in writing – builder’s measurements from plans or an appraisal -- then I can use that square footage measurement.  This disclosure is just that – a disclosure.  It is in no way a “guarantee” that the square footage number is perfect.  It is the closest and best measurement, backed up with a document, that the seller can produce. 

Sometimes discrepancies are caused by what is included in the measurement.  For instance, one measurement may include the garage, and one may not.  Or, in some markets, outdoor square footage such as patios or enclosed lanais are included in the measurement.   Ask your Realtor to pull comparable properties from the MLS and compare the measurements to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. 

Second, you could hire someone to measure the property for you to get your own measurement.  Appraisers will do this service.  You can then see whether your measurement is close, or close enough, to the disclosure to make you feel comfortable.  Remember, that square footage isn’t an exact science so you will likely not have the exact same measurement as the disclosure.

Finally, if you think there is a huge discrepancy between the square footage amount disclosed and the square footage you measured, it might be time to put the brakes on the contract and do more investigation.  If you can’t justify the price for the square footage, then look for a new property.

Summit County Real Estate Buyers - Tips and Tricks in a Competitive Market

Welcome to Boot Camp.  Summit County Colorado Real Estate Buyer Bootcamp!

I'm not going to make you get down and give me 20 pushups, but I will be telling you the hard truth about getting your offer accepted in our competitive real estate market.

Here are the important steps:
1) Get on an auto-serve email from me directly from my MLS.  Using Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, etc. will delay the new listings by hours or days.  With this search, get to know the market and how quickly things go under contract.
2) Have your financing completed!
3) When you are ready to buy, make a fast aggressive offer.

And at the end of this video, you can just respond, "Yes Maam!"

I look forward to helping Summit County Real Estate Buyers with their house hunting and acquisition.

Amy

Should You Buy a Summit County Ski Investment Property With Friends?

In recent years, I have represented a number of buyer clients who are groups of friends or couples who are friends.  They have pooled their resources together to buy a vacation ski condo in Summit County.  Here are my tips if you are thinking about doing the same!

For Denver Front Rangers who love to ski or ride in the mountains, you are fully aware of the I-70 traffic woes that lie between your home and a great day on the hill. The reality of day tripping to the mountains on weekends is hindered by the fact that you will be with tens of thousands of others on I-70 both on your way to the mountains and home.  And that makes the commute almost unbearable to the point of not even leaving your house.  And affording a place to stay in the mountains can be expensive.  So, what are mountain lovers to do?

Many people ask me whether it’s a good idea to purchase a mountain property with friends.  This seems like a great solution to have access to a mountain property for the weekends, avoid I-70 traffic, and to generate some income with short term rentals while it’s not being used by the owners.  Here are some pros and cons associated with this plan:

Pros:

• Buying with others increases your purchasing power and reduces your monthly costs.
• You can afford a property you might not otherwise be able to afford.
• You have a weekend place to stay when skiing/riding in the mountains.
• You can offset some of the costs with short term rentals.

Cons:

• You will need to coordinate with your co-owners for use, scheduling, cleaning, etc.
• Your friends will now be your roommates – that could be good or bad.
• People’s plans change in the future and ideal timing for the sale of the property will never be the same for all the owners.

My best advice for people considering buying a property with friends is to over communicate expectations before purchasing the property.  Once the property is under contract, a legal agreement should be created that addresses sales and buy outs at a minimum.  Other items that owners will need to address is ownership structure (LLC, partnership, etc), short term rental management, cleaning, pets, bedroom assignments (if applicable) and guests, to name a few. 

If you are interested in learning more about purchasing vacation property with others, please feel free to reach out to me!

Amy Nakos, JD, GRI, RSPS

anakos@yourcastle.org

970-389-8388

www.amynakos.com