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Crested Butte Real Estate

Rent Vs. Buy in Gunnison County

What Makes Buying a Home Better than Renting?

By | Crested Butte Real Estate, Gunnison Real Estate, Gunnison Valley, Mt. Crested Butte, Real Estate Advice | No Comments

Is buying a home the right choice for you? Do you really feel that buying is better for you than renting in Gunnison Valley, CO? In fact, that’s often the case as long, as you are at a point in your life where you can afford to buy and will have a large enough down payment. Let’s look at some of the great reasons to buy a property now.

Naturally, when you are paying your mortgage, you are paying toward something that you will actually own. When you are paying rent, you are paying your landlord’s mortgage instead. Buying a home allows you to build equity in the property, which you can then use later if needed. Another benefit of buying is that you can deduct your mortgage interest and property taxes, which is something that renters are unable to do. This is another way to save some money. 

Of course, one of the biggest benefits of buying a home is that you will have more control over what you are able to do with it. If you want to paint the walls or change out the flooring, you can do it. You can make changes far more easily. Granted, you might need permission to do some things if you have an HOA, and if you want to make additions, you will need to go through the proper channels. You have more options with maintenance as well, although it does mean you will be the one who has to choose, call, and pay for the maintenance and repairs.

Owning a property is a great option, and it could be far better for you than renting is right now. If you feel you are ready, get in touch with a real estate agent and start looking for properties in your price range right now.

Resource: http://www.zillow.com/home-buying-guide/rent-vs-buy/ 

Top 7 Winter DIY Projects in Gunnison Valley

By | Crested Butte Real Estate, Do It Yourself Tips, Gunnison Real Estate, Gunnison Valley, Home Gardening, Real Estate Advice | No Comments

Top 7 Winter DIY Projects in Gunnison Valley

Winter months bring cold days and long nights. We know it is a great time to get outside and enjoy the winter activities in Gunnison Valley, it is also a great time to look at improving your home. While you wait for the weather to warm up so you can get out into the garden, there are still plenty of great DIY projects to tackle, even in the winter. Here are 7 terrific ideas for the Do it Yourselfer in you.

 

  1. Paint Your Walls–Paint an accent wall or an entire room with a fresh color.
  2. Declutter–Sure this sounds like a fancy name for house cleaning,but decluttering is more than that. Remove excess furnishings to make your rooms seem larger and more inviting.
  3. Update Your Kitchen–A new backsplash or cabinet pulls can quickly change the look and feel of your kitchen.
  4. Add Insulation–This will provide instant satisfaction as those cold,drafty rooms feel warm and cozy. If you have some real skill, you can include changing out old windows or doors as well.
  5. Smarten Up–This is a great time to automate your home with Smart devices.  Add security cameras, a smart thermostat or smart lights and plugs.
  6. Build Something–For the handy, winter months are a great time to add cabinets, a TV hutch or bookshelves to your home.
  7. Re-Grout Your Tile–From kitchen counters to floors, re-grouting can freshen up the room.

As always if you are looking for any tips or tricks to get your home sold quickly, feel free to call us or stop by either office location in Gunnison or Crested Butte.

save money in gunnison county

3 Ways to Save $100 a Month

By | Crested Butte Real Estate, Gunnison Real Estate | No Comments

3 Ways to Save $100 a Month

If you’re like most people, you find it hard to save money. Maybe you’re trying to put aside a nest egg so you can make a down payment on a chunk of Gunnison County Real Estate, but you find there’s just, to use the time-worn expression, too much month left at the end of the money.

save money in gunnison countyIf you’d like to save a hundred dollars or more each month, there are three areas to work on.

Groceries

This is the biggest area where you can save money, and there are ways to trim your grocery bill that are so easy you won’t even notice you’re doing it. And no, you don’t have to clip coupons. Forget the tired old idea that you’ll save by planning menus ahead. It’s better to shop the sales, and build your menus day by day according to what you’ve been able to buy cheaply. When you can, stock up – and don’t be a weenie about it. All stores offer what they call “loss leaders,” which are items they actually lose money on in order to entice you into the store. If there’s a staple, like rice or pasta, on for half price, don’t just buy a few bags – buy a few cases. And don’t miss daily markdowns – items that are getting a little old but still perfectly good to eat.

Credit Cards

It goes without saying that you should pay down your highest-interest cards first. If you can, you might also consider getting a loan to consolidate your credit card debt at a lower rate. If you do this, though, get rid of the cards – it’s too easy to charge them up again.

Change

The word on change is, don’t spend it. When you get change back, put the coins in a jar and count them up at the end of the month. You won’t even have missed not using them, and you’ll be amazed at how much you’ve saved.

These three suggestions are bound to save you money – at least $100 a month and maybe more. Start saving today!

Sources:

http://www.echoesoflaughter.ca/2012/01/10-best-ways-to-save-money-on-groceries.html

http://consumerist.com/2013/11/18/save-money-without-thinking-about-it-dont-spend-dollar-bills/

http://www.nomoredebts.org/debt-help/getting-of-debt/solving-debt-problems-tips-for-paying-off-credit-card-debt.html