Homeowners gained an average of $15,000 in home equity last year, totaling $908 billion, according to CNBC. 

A sharp rise in home values last year gave homeowners a strong infusion of cash, in the form of home equity. It also helped more than half a million borrowers rise above water on their mortgages.

All real estate is, of course, local, and some homeowners saw significantly bigger gains than others, especially those in the Western region of the nation. Overall, however, they gained the most equity of any year since 2013.

Homeowners with a mortgage, representing about 63 percent of all properties, saw their equity increase 12 percent over the course of last year, according to CoreLogic. That comes to an average of $15,000 per homeowner and…

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The fact of the matter is that wire fraud perpetrators have fooled industry professionals and consumers alike—including veterans extremely familiar with the real estate closing process. They’re also growing more brazen and sophisticated by the day. To this point, the real estate and mortgage industry has been caught mostly unprepared. But preparation starts with awareness.  Whether you’re a real estate agent, a home buyer, a mortgage broker, title agent or loan officer, you are now officially on notice:  mortgage wire fraud is not a nuisance.  Instead, it’s a threat; an epidemic. It’s now past time for the entire industry to address it as the crisis it is.

Wire fraud victims have few options once they discover they’ve been had. But when…

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With home prices rising again this year, some are concerned that we may be repeating the 2006 housing bubble that caused families so much pain when it collapsed.

Today’s market is quite different than the bubble market of twelve years ago, and Keeping Current Matters provides four reasons why...

1. HOME PRICES

Hpme prices have reached 2006 levels in many markets across the country. However, after more than a decade, home prices should be much higher based on inflation alone.

Frank Nothaft is the Chief Economist for CoreLogic (which compiles some of the best data on past, current, and future home prices). Nothaft recently explained:

“Even though CoreLogic’s national home price index got to the same level it was at the prior peak…

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Investment opportunity in an incredible Jefferson Park location.

Less than a block from some of the best restaurants, pubs and coffee shops in the neighborhood. House needs renovation, but has possibilities as a flip or rental property. Recent sewer line replacement and electrical upgrades.

2842 W 25th Avenue, Denver CO

Listed by Dave Christie for West + Main Homes. Please contact Dave for current pricing + availability.

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Spring fever has come early for many Coloradans, with sunny days, warm weather, and even some flowers and trees starting to bud.

Get started on your spring cleaning and make your home stand out with a picture perfect yard! To make the most of the warm days as the state transitions from winter to spring, here are 7 ways that ReColorado recommends getting your home ready for the Spring + Summer months, especially if you are thinking about selling your Denver area property this year.

Between the interior spring cleaning, decorating, and the yardwork that has to be done, you’ll settle for mowed grass and clean floors by the time April rolls around.

Nearly 75 percent of Americans participate in some form of spring cleaning. The stats might not…

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Owners of starter homes across the country are gaining equity faster than other homeowners because demand for entry-level homes continues to grow faster than supply.

The phenomenon – which has become more pronounced over the past few years -- underscores the power of homeownership to build wealth, particularly among the middle class.

For this analysis, Zillow divided the U.S. housing stock into equal thirds based on value and determined the median value of the most and least valuable homes.

Over the past year, homes in the most affordable segment of the market, which are often sought after by first-time buyers, gained 8.5 percent in value, compared to a 3.6 percent gain for the most expensive homes. Over the past five years, the…

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SOME Denver residents, looking to make a move, are looking to move in-state, to areas with less expensive housing costs than Denver.

That's according to a new report from online real estate company Redfin, which analyzed homebuyer migration patterns from around the country.

Denver residents are looking mostly to moving to Colorado Springs (the choice of 11 percent of Denver leavers) and Fort Collins (10.6 percent), followed by Chicago (7 percent), Los Angeles (6 percent) and Phoenix (5.5 percent).

In August, Denver residents looked at Chicago more than anywhere else, including in-state cities, as a preferred destination.

On the other side, regarding people thinking of moving to Denver, the housing-expensive Bay Area was the top inflow origin…

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In order to approve a loan on your home, the bank conducts an appraisal

In today’s housing market, where supply is very low and demand is very high, home values are increasing rapidly. Many experts are projecting that home values could appreciate by another 4% or more over the next twelve months. One major challenge in such a market is the bank appraisal.

When prices are surging, it is difficult for appraisers to find adequate, comparable sales (similar houses in the neighborhood that recently closed) to defend the selling price when performing the appraisal for the bank.

Every month in their Home Price Perception Index (HPPI), Quicken Loans measures the disparity between what a homeowner who is seeking to refinance their home believes their…

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In the nine months since Colorado lawmakers passed a construction-defects bill aimed at reviving the Denver area’s near-dead condominium market, there has been a slight increase in construction but not enough to declare the problem solved.

The numbers so far — a 7.4 percent increase in under-construction condos in metro Denver in 2017, representing just 55 additional units — demonstrate it may be a few years before production begins to meet the state’s considerable demand, if that happens at all. For now, large builders are remaining on the sidelines, leaving the market to smaller developers, and many of the projects underway are aimed at more affluent buyers who aren’t necessarily the ones the new legislation was meant to benefit. But…

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Your House isn't ready for the open house until you do these things

We are pleased to publish this guest post from author Suzie Wilson of Happier Home!

When you’re putting your home on the market, having an open house is a great way to squeeze in multiple viewings at once. You already know that you need to keep your house clean, but there are a few things you may overlook in your excitement. Here are eight ways to prep your house for an afternoon influx of potential new owners.

1. Clear the clutter…all of it. Cleaning and clearing clutter are two distinctly different things. You can clean your knick-knacks and bric-a-brac all you want, but they are still distracting and should be removed from sight. Don’t forget your closet, under the beds, and…

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