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Investment Property

General / Investment / Market Trends / Real Estate

What To Look For In Your Next Investment Property!

Have you been thinking about purchasing an investment property? Real estate can be a great investment if you know what you’re doing, but there are some risks involved. Below, we’ve compiled some things to look for when considering a rental property.

Investment Property
Photo By: Gavin Kiker
  1. Location – This first tip is an important one. When searching for a rental, location is the top thing tenants are interested in. Choosing an area that is close to schools, shopping, and healthcare is a good way to draw tenants in. Rentals in college towns or ski towns can be very profitable, but it can be difficult to lease one of these properties in the summer months, so that is something to keep in mind.
  2. Safety – Safety is very important to most people. Choosing a location with low crime rates is always smart when shopping for real estate to rent out. Installing quality locks and even a good security system can increase the appeal of your property!
  3. Parking – While not as crucial in rural areas, reserved parking for tenants in cities and more populated areas is a must. Rental properties with off-street parking or even a garage or carport can be a huge selling point to prospective tenants.
  4. Fresh Property – New builds or freshly renovated properties are usually more attractive to tenants searching for a rental. Moving into a new space is a fresh start for tenants, the rental should be as fresh as they feel!
  5. Open Space – An open floor plan with plenty of natural lighting feels a lot larger than a closed off space with no windows of the same size! Potential tenants will subconsciously lean towards a bright space over a darker one, so properties with lots of windows and lighting are preferable.
  6. Appliances Included – No one wants to buy appliances for a house they don’t own! Including essential appliances will add value to your rental property and will most likely get it rented sooner!
  7. Outdoor Space – Connecting with the outdoors is important to a lot of people; Especially in Colorado! An outdoor space like a backyard, deck, or even a small balcony to enjoy the mountain views can add a lot of value to your property. This is one feature that is typically more important in rural areas than it is in more urban environments.
  8. Pet Friendly – Pets are family to a lot of people, and no one wants to give up their family to move into a rental! Consider looking at more pet-friendly properties, as they will be more desirable to a lot of tenants. A house with a decent backyard and hard floors is ideal for a pet friendly rental.
  9. Job Market – Locations with a growing job market, or a strong established industry will draw more tenants. Job security is an important factor to consider when renting, so choosing a location with a strong job market is a good idea when looking for investment property.
  10. Trustworthiness – Tenants looking to rent a house want a landlord or property manager they can trust completely. Being honest with potential tenants and disclosing any negative aspects of the property that you are aware of is a good way to build trust as a rental owner. These people are depending on you to provide them with a safe and functional living space for months or even years at a time!

These are just a few tips to help you in your search for the perfect investment property! To speak with a NextHome RMR agent about purchasing your investment property, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. If you want to view our current inventory, visit our featured rentals page here!

 

Ranch House For Sale

Colorado / Featured Listing / General / Pagosa Springs / Real Estate

13750 Highway 151

13750 Highway 151 is a beautiful 45 acre property backing up to the National Forest and Reservation land. There are 3 stick-built dwellings as well as several outbuildings sitting on this wonderful property. The main ranch house is a 2 bedroom with in-floor heating, a woodstove, and an awesome wraparound deck. There are several large living spaces, so adding a 3rd bedroom would be easy!

Ranch House
13750 Highway 151

There is also a guest house and a bungalow just steps from the main house, as well as a barn and a large detached carport! Outside of the buildings, there are many mature fruit trees on the property, as well as enough fenced pasture to let your horses run free. This property is just minutes from Lake Navajo, it backs to National Forest and Reservation Land, and has it’s own water well. This property is not going to last long!

If you are interested in this property, you can view the full listing here. Our other available listings can be viewed here. To talk to a NextHome RMR agent, call (970) 507-8655!

 

Congratulations!

Community / Fall / Featured Listing / General / Real Estate

231 Tiffany is SOLD!

Big congratulations to Chris and Mariana on the sale of their home! 231 Tiffany Place sold for $585,000 and features a fully finished basement and incredible views of Squaretop Mountain. The Letchfords have their home at 1551 Cattle Trail listed with us as well. See this beautiful ranch home here!

Sold!
Photo: 231 Tiffany Place
Sold!
Photo: 1551 Cattle Trail Place

Thank you Mariana & Chris for choosing NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals to list your Pagosa Springs real estate! We appreciate your business and friendship! If you would also like to work with NextHome RMR, give us a call at (970) 507-8655.

Crazy Colorado Weather

Colorado / Fall / Nature / Outdoors / Pagosa Springs / Wolf Creek Ski Resort

Snow In September!

Colorado is having trouble making up it’s mind on the weather this month! The beginning of the month held several 90F+ days and forest fires throughout the state. September 8th however, we experienced a temperature drop of nearly 50 degrees and enough rain and snow to leave the ground muddy! Wolf Creek Pass got 13 inches of snow, A full 13 days before the solstice!

Snow In September
Wolf Creek Ski Area

This moisture is greatly appreciated, even if it’s a little early! Visit our website to view property available for sale in this winter wonderland!

 

Fall Home Selling Tips

Colorado / Fall / General

Fall is Upon Us!

It is common knowledge that Spring and Summer are the peak seasons in the real estate industry, but that doesn’t mean that fall can’t be productive! In this post we’ve compiled several tips for anyone wanting to list their home this Fall. Enjoy!

Fall Home Staging
Photo Courtesy Of: Houzz.com
  1. Keep the Yard Clean! – Be sure to keep your front yard clear of dead leaves and other fallen debris. Trimming tree branches and bushes can let more light hit the house; which can help attract buyers! Make a yard clean-up checklist so you don’t forget to do anything before showings.
  2. Autumn Curb Appeal – Solid curb appeal can really help your house stand out in the fall months. Place potted yellow or orange flowers by the front door and pumpkins/squash by walkways to help potential buyers envision how they would decorate the home! Adding a tray for wet shoes is a good way to keep the interior flooring clean during showings.
  3. Fire Up the Woodstove – If your home has a wood-burning stove or fireplace, be sure it has been cleaned and it is functional for showings. A clean stove indicates a well maintained stove! Plus, there is nothing cozier than a fire burning in the woodstove on a fall day.
  4. Clean Your Windows! – Windows can gather a lot of dust and grime throughout the spring and summer months that you may not notice as an owner. Prospective buyers will notice dirty windows, so we recommend going through the house and cleaning them before listing. This is an easy way to clean up the front of your house without adding anything!
  5. Fall Colors Everywhere – Using Fall accent colors such as oranges, yellows, and reds can really dress up the interior of your home and tie the moods from autumn back into your property! You can even use pine cones and candles as decorative pieces throughout the home. Throw pillows are also an easy addition.
  6. Make it Brighter – As days get shorter, homes get darker. Turn all the lights on and open windows, blinds, and curtains everywhere you can. Natural light will really brighten the space up and open windows can make your home appear larger!
  7. Be Creative With Photos – With trees losing their leaves and grass beginning to die, fall real estate photos can start to look pretty drab. You need to be creative with how you photograph and display the home to sell. Twilight photos and staged decorations are two great ways to set your house apart from other listings!
  8. Treats! – Buyer comments are a great way to learn what is working and what isn’t during showings. Leaving treats out next to a comment book is a great way to get people to leave their comments on the showing experience. Plus everyone gets a treat on the way out! Halloween candy works great for this.

Following these tips will make your home stand out from other listings this Fall! Don’t forget to like our Facebook page for weekly Virtual Open House videos and updates.  If you have any questions, or if you would like to speak with one of our licensed brokers, you can contact us here. We would love to help sell your home this Fall!

 

Off to the Sand Dunes

Colorado / General / Hiking / Hiking Trails / National Forest / Nature / Outdoor Activities / Outdoors / Photography / Rocky Mountains

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Sometimes staying in the same place for too long can be tiring, especially in the midst of a pandemic. Luckily, Southern Colorado is full of places to explore! If you are having trouble deciding where to go or just looking for somewhere to escape for the day, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a great place to start!

Topping out at around 755 feet high, these impressive sand dunes are the tallest in North America. The dunes are surrounded by the 14,000 ft. peaks of the Sangre De Cristo mountain range, the Southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains. The contrast between the light sand of the dunes and the dark greens and blues of the mountains makes for a truly stunning view. If you like taking photos, you are sure to enjoy this area!

Sand Dunes
Photo By: Gavin Kiker

In addition to taking in the views, visitors to the Great Sand Dunes can enjoy hiking and camping all throughout the park, splashing in Medano Creek when it’s flowing, and even sand-boarding and sledding. (Think snowboarding but with sand.) Sand toys are available to rent right before entering the park.

If driving slow offroad is more your speed, the Medano Pass Primitive Road may be for you! This 22 mile 4wd-only trail connects the Great Sand Dunes with Wet Mountain Valley and Colorado State Highway 69. The trail crosses Medano Creek nine times, and also takes you through some deep sand and even Bighorn Sheep habitat at the higher elevations.

Whether you want to backpack in and spend the night, or just pack a picnic and take some photos, Great Sand Dunes National Park makes for a wonderful Southern Colorado day trip! If you would like to see our featured homes in the area, click here. Don’t forget to like NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals on Facebook for weekly virtual open houses and more!

Auction For The Animals

Community / Events / General / Pagosa Springs / Pagosa Springs

First Ever Virtual Auction For The Animals

For the past 25 years, the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs has hosted an annual live “Auction For The Animals” to help fund our local animal shelter. With current restrictions involving in-person gatherings, however, things are going to be different for 2020…

Auction
Photo: Humane Society of Pagosa Springs

In lieu of a live auction, the Humane Society has decided to move the bidding online! Items in this auction range from smaller items such as gift-cards and art pieces, all the way up to a Kilimanjaro climbing trip, and even a four wheel drive F150 pickup! You can also choose to donate money for food, microchips, vaccines, spay/neuter costs, or even emergency medical expenses.

This auction is a wonderful way to support your local Humane Society and animals during these uncertain times.

If you would like to register to bid, or just make a donation, you can visit the Humane Society auction page here. You can also see the dogs and cats available for adoption at the links provided.

Thank you for supporting these animals in need!

Home Staging Tips

Entertainment / General / Real Estate

Staging Your Home

Staging is an important step in preparing your home to sell. It is a method of decorating that highlights your home’s best features to potential buyers. In this post, we’ve put together some of the best tips for staging your home!

Home Staging in Pagosa Springs

  1. Get Rid Of Clutter: This one is fairly easy. Clutter takes up space, and space is what you are trying to sell! Storing the things you don’t use regularly or that take up a lot of space can make your home appear larger to potential buyers. Remember to clear out closets if possible, as buyers will want to see how much room they have.
  2. Stage Where You Need To: Typically, buyers are most interested in the master bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Staging these areas well is more important than staging additional bedrooms and bathrooms, as they will receive the most attention.
  3. Repairs and Patches: If there are nail holes and scuffed walls in the house, many will assume the home has been neglected. We recommend walking through the house with an eraser pad to get rid of all the marks and scuffs on the walls. You can also fill nail holes and touch up paint as needed. Potential buyers will appreciate the extra effort put in to maintaining the home.
  4. Make a Good Impression: The first thing a buyer sees as they walk up to the house is the front entrance. You want to make the best impression possible here! Remove seasonal decorations, as they can make the listing look dated in photos. If you have a front stoop or porch, consider power-washing it to remove any dirt or stains there may be. You can also add a doormat and some potted plants for curb appeal.
  5. Lighting: People like well-lit rooms, so turn on the lights and open all the blinds! Open windows can make your space seem bigger, but be sure whatever is on the other side of the windows is clean and tidy.
  6. Clean Up: You will want to clean like you’ve never cleaned before! Scrub from floor to ceiling; a clean home suggests you took great care in maintaining your home. Potential buyers will notice this!
  7. De-Personalize Your Space: Potential buyers want to be able to imagine the space as their own. Removing items like family photos, visible personal items (such as toiletries, clothes, etc.,) and refrigerator magnets is recommended. This turns your home into a “blank canvas” for potential buyers!
  8. Rearrange Furniture: Open floor-space and walk-able paths throughout the house can make it seem much larger. They also help potential buyers envision where their furniture can go in the home. If you have furniture that doesn’t match the rest of the room, or doesn’t fit, we recommend storing it.

Home staging is a great way to make your home more appealing to potential buyers. You want to present your home in a way that shows off it’s best features; and allows potential buyers to imagine it as their own.

These tips are just a few ways that you can make your home really stand out from the rest of the crowd! If you need some inspiration, you can view our currently listed homes here!

New Long Term Rental

General

99 Carefree Rental

We have a new long-term rental available! Located in central Pagosa Springs, this ranch style home is perfect for you to keep warm this winter.

99 Carefree Long Term Rental

You will have access to all Pagosa Lakes amenities. This includes access to the Rec. Center (with indoor saltwater pool, weight room, and exercise classes,) as well as the stocked fishing lakes!  This home is available now, with the lease ending on June 30th, 2021. Please feel free to contact us for more information on this great rental.