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Archive for the 'Foreclosures and Short Sales' Category
Colorado Springs Foreclosure — Pick of the Month for March
Colorado Springs Foreclosure – Pick of the Month for March
Search for Foreclosures and Short Sales in Colorado Springs
Must Read Articles
My short sale pick of the week is Colorado Springs on 2021 Carlton Avenue close to Constitution and Chelton. It includes over 2100 are
feet, with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a 2 car attached garage. The property was built in 1960 ; It is a Raised Ranch plan, and includes a semi-finished basement.
The Upsides
The upsides….. nice roomy attached two car garage, kitchen has been partially updated and wall has been knocked out to open up the living space. A very modern master bath has been added with access directly to the hot tub on the deck. Also, the windows have been changed to vinyl which is always definite plus
Read the rest of this entry »
Where are the Bank-Owned Homes in Colorado Springs
Where are the Colorado Springs Foreclosed Homes?
Search for Colorado Springs Foreclosed Homes
Related Articles:
The Colorado Springs area saw 62 new listings for Colorado Springs bank owned homes come on the market since March 1, 2010. The homes are in a variety of different areas of the city, but the Southeast part of the city had the most foreclosures come back on the market, with 12 new listings. There were no new foreclosures listings in the last 10 days in the Northwest or Manitou areas. The price on these Colorado Springs Foreclosed homes ranged from $39,900 for a condo in Southeast Colorado Springs to $510,000 for a 4000 square foot home built i 2005 located in Northgate. The average price was $163,033.
Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Shadow Inventory, fact or fiction?
Foreclosures and shadow inventory
As a Colorado Springs Realtor, I live and breath real estate news. There has been a lot of speculation lately on Shadow Inventory, and I’ve been thinking about how to figure out if the Colorado Springs housing market is going to have a problem with Shadow Inventory.
The term “Shadow Inventory” refers to homes owned by lenders that are not being offered for sale yet, but probably will be before 
long. The existence of a ’shadow’ inventory of homes for sale is a hard one to prove, but I did a little research, and here is what I found.
I looked at the Post Foreclosure Sale List from 6-24-09 from the El Paso County Public Trustee’s web site. This is a list of properties that completed the final stage of foreclosure in Colorado Springs, and were either bought back by the lender or purchased by an investor. I definitely found some properties on this list that were purchased back by the lender and still haven’t hit the market to be resold. As an example………
- 7150 Ravine Drive East, Certificate of Purchase went to BAC Home Loans Servicing for $198,072. Property has never hit the market to be resold
- 6993 Harrier drive, Colorado Springs, 80922, Certificate of Purchase went to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for $179,785.20. Property has never hit the market to be resold.
- 1524 Prairie Road, Colorado Springs, 80909, Certificate of Purchase went to the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority for $127,788.50. Property has never hit the market to be resold.
Some experts feel that lenders nationwide are sitting on hundreds of thousands of foreclosed homes that they have not resold or listed for sale. And foreclosures, which some banks unload at fire-sale prices, can be a major factor in pushing down home values.
Even though I only went through one foreclosure report from in June, it does make me think there may be shadow inventory; as there definitely seems to be properties that got foreclosed on that still haven’t hit the market. Only time will tell if the Shadow Inventory theory has merit to it and if it will affect our pricing in the Colorado Springs area.
Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Colorado Springs Short Sale – February Pick
Colorado Springs Real Estate — Short Sale pick
Search for Foreclosures and Short Sales in Colorado Springs
Related Article: Buying a short sale vs. a foreclosure, what’s the difference?
My short sale pick of the week is a home in Peyton on 12410 Motley Road.
It includes over 3624 square feet, with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, and a 3 car attached garage.
If you are looking for a large house at reasonable price in Peyton; then this is the property for you.
The property was built in 2002; and was originally sold for $306,000. It is a two-story plan, and includes a finished basement.
The upsides….. large attached three car garage, nice corner lot, stucco exterior, very well maintained, on almost 1/2 an acre, additional curved driveway, move-in ready.
The description in the MLS Says: “Must see! Shows like a model! Spacious and open floor plan. Bay windows in dining room and kitchen. Walkout kitchen to raised wood deck, 99% finished walk out basement with custom wood bar and wired with surround sound. Vaulted ceilings, bull nose corners, covered porch, beautifully landscaped front and side yard with wrap around drive way, concrete sidewalk around home, dog run, storage shed. and may be adjusted by . “
How can I steal properties from the banks?
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO PAY?
For a FREE List of Foreclosures email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
Related Articles:
Real Estate Auction Facts and Observations
Are Real Estate Auctions the wave of the future?
Contact KTorline@msn.com to get a FREE list of properties coming to auction and foreclosure properties
Related Articles:
As I’ve continued to learn more and more about real estate auctions, here’s some more of my observations: 
- As far as I can tell, you can’t find the bid statistics on properties that sold at recent auctions. I would love to see exactly what some of the properties from last Tuesday’s auction in Golden, Colorado actually went for. I tried to write down the final bids while I was at the auction, but the next property came up for bid so fast, it was hard to keep up. The statistics would be very valuable, as it would be helpful to see the actual sold price vs. the valuation price.
- Some auctions are online only. As an example, right now there is online auction for Colorado Springs homes on www.auction.com. All of these properties seem to be properties that went for sale last week at the auction I attended. Some of these properties didn’t get bid on it, or they got bid on and the financing must not have went through and they are now back on the market.
- Most of the auctions seem to have a Buyer’s Premium. Read the rest of this entry »
7 things to know about Real Estate Auctions
Colorado Real Estate Auctions — the wave of the future?
Contact KTorline@msn.com to get a FREE list of properties coming to auction
Related Articles:
I went to my first Real Estate Auction on Tuesday night where they auctioned off 55 homes that were located all over Colorado. All of these properties were owned by the bank and the banks had decided to sell them by auction. H
ere’s some of the interesting things to understand if you are going to go to an auction like this.
(1) Do you homework up front. Preview the property, understand the amount of any repairs that need to be done, get quotes from contractors if there is work to be done. Do your due divergence.
(2) Get registered for the auction. If you don’t register in advance, it’s too late to attend.
(3) Figure out how you are going to finance the property. If the property says that it is going for cash only, chances are you can’t get financing on it.
(4) On the day of auction, get your certified check from your lender. The auction company required to see a copy of our certified check before we could check-in on-site at the auction. We also had to bring a blank check with us; as if we would have got the winning bid, we would have had to write a check for the rest of the downpayment.
(5) Make sure and bring a picture ID with you; again we had to show proof of who we were.
(6) When the bidding starts, pay attention. It does go quick and fast. You could very well be bidding against other people in the room as well as Internet bidders.
(7) Stay to the end of the auction; as several properties were sold but then the potential buyers couldn’t secure financing, and they came back up for sale.
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Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
NEW Colorado Springs Foreclosure Listings
Where are the Colorado Springs foreclosed homes?
During the first two weeks of February , 52 foreclosures came on the market; 10 (16%) of them are already under contract.
Homes in Southeast Colorado Springs and Homes in the Powers area, Homes in Fountain, and homes in Northeast area are still continuing to see more foreclosures than other areas of the city.
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes in Colorado Springs, Email KTorline@msn
Foreclosure Pick of the Week
Colorado Springs Foreclosure pick of the week
Search for Foreclosures in Colorado Springs
Related Article: 9 key things to know about buying a bank repo
My foreclosure pick of the week is in Pinecreek in Briargate on 10181 Oak Knoll Terrace.
It includes over4500 square feet, with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a 3 car attached garage.
If you are looking for a BIG house at reasonable price in Briargate area; then this is the property for you.
The property was built in 2005; and was originally sold for $478,000. It has a ranch floor plan, and includes a finished basement of 2249 square ft.
The upsides….. large attached three car garage, District 20 schools, laundry on the same level as the master bedroom, open floor plan, separate dining space, main floor office, newer built, upgraded gourmet kitchen, hard wood floors in the kitchen and dining room. Overall a very nice property.
Learn the Colorado foreclosure process, it’s different
Buying a Colorado Springs Foreclosed Homes — important to understand the trustee process
As a student of Foreclosures in Colorado, both to help sellers facing foreclosures, and for buyers looking to buy a Colorado Springs foreclosure, I’m always trying to learn more about the foreclosure process in Colorado. I attended a class this week
taught by Pete Griffiths, the in-house legal counsel for Land Title. Very good instructor, and definitely understands the legal process of foreclosures in Colorado Springs. Here’s some of the things I learned in the class that I thought I’d pass on.
- There was 50,514 foreclosures in Colorado in 2009.
- Legally, the definition of foreclosure in Colorado for contract purposes, is defined as a homeowner who is 30 days behind in their payments.
- Colorado is the only state that has a Public Trustee, whose duties are defined by statute.
- If you are the successful bidder on a foreclosed home at at the Public Trustee auction, you don’t automatically own the property. There are redemption periods for junior lien holders. Only at the end of the redemption periods (if junior lien holders don’t redeem) will you officially be the owner of the property.
- The majority of junior liens are “wiped out” if you are the successful bidder at the Public Trustee sale, but not everything goes away. it’s important to partner with a good title company who can give you information about other liens on the property including HOA liens and tax liens.
Remember, make sure and do your research
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Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Where are the foreclosed homes?
Colorado Springs Foreclosures
Search for Foreclosures in Colorado Springs
Related Article: 9 key things to know about buying a bank repo
I’m definitely a “data-queen”, as I love analyzing data, looking at numbers. As I continue to become more and more of an REO specialist, I recently crunched some numbers to look at the current homes for sales in Colorado Springs and specifically focusing on foreclosed homes, including bank-owned, HUD homes, VA repos, and other foreclosures. It’s interesting to see where the majority of foreclosed homes for sales are located at in the Colorado Springs area. Any even more importantly, what parts of the city have very few foreclosures.
Manitou Springs and the Ute Valley area currently have very few foreclosures for sale; the northwest area of the city ; including Rockrimmon and Mountain Shadows also continue to see very little foreclosure homes for sale. The southeast part of the City (Soaring Eagles, Pikes Peak Park) and Powers area (Stetson Hills, Springs Ranch) currently have the highest amount of foreclosures for sale. The Central area (including downtown) is also continuing to see a high amount of foreclosed homes for sale.
Also, according to a new report published by Realty Trac, 1 in every 69 homes is in foreclosure, and Colorado Springs ranks #49 in their U.S. Metro Foreclosure Market Data. In Las Vegas, 1 in every 13 homes is in foreclosure, in Phoenix, it’s one out of every 22 homes.
Read the rest of this entry »
VA Vendee Financing helps sell VA Repos
VA Vendee Financing
Related Article: What is a VA Repo?
Search for Foreclosed Home in Colorado Springs
If you are interested in buying a VA Repo home in the Colorado Springs area, you’ll want to understand take advantage of VA Vendee Financing. Here’s some of the basic the facts:
- It’s a loan product offered to individuals and investors to help finance the purchase of VA Repos
- It’s offered to both veterans and non-veterans
- VA may contribute up to 6% of the purchase price for buyer’s closing costs
- Interest rates are determined by the VA
- For investors there is no maximum number of investment properties; down payment can be as little as 5% down
- For owner occupieds, amount can be financed with 0% down.
- Mortgage insurance is not required.
- It’s available to both owner occupied and investors
- Properties are always sold “as-is”
- There is no contingency for financing or for inspection
There are currently several Read the rest of this entry »
What you see is what you get
Bank Repos can be surprising
Search for Foreclosed homes in Colorado Springs
Related Article: What makes buying a foreclosure different?
I was out previewing properties yesterday for a buyer who is moving to Colorado Springs from our of state; and it reminded me how nothing takes the place of seeing a property in person. No matter how good technology is, you still have to see it.
One of the properties I was looking at was in the North Central part of Colorado Springs in a neighborhood called Roswell. Roswell is a unique neighborhood, lots of history with some houses being built in the early 1900’s. Parts of the neighborhood have been rehabbed and some parts still look a little rough and distressed.
The property I previewed is on Tremont Street, listed at $109,000 for 2100 square feet. At first glance it seemed like a great deal at around $50.00 per square foot, 5 bedrooms, 2 baths. This is the description in the MLS, which certainly gives fair warning that the property needs work:
FIXER UPPER, FIXER UPPER, FIXER UPPER. PROPERTY CAN BE A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE OR SET UP AS A DUPLEX. STUCCO EXTERIOR, TWO SEPERATE ENTRANCES. STAMPED AND STAINED CONCRETE PATIO WALK WAY. NEWER VINYL WINDOWS. LARGE LOT PLENTY OF ROOM FOR A DETACHED GARAGE. CLOSE TO PENROSE HOSPITAL AND DOWNTOWN AND TWO BLOCKS FROM 1/2 MILLION DOLLAR HOMES ON WOOD AVENUE!!!! NO UTILITIES SO USE A FLASH LIGHT. CLOSE TO MONUMENT VALLEY PARK AND WALKING TRAILS. UNIQUE LOCATION.
What is a VA Repo?
VA Repos in Colorado Springs
Related Article: What makes buying a foreclosure different?
Search for Foreclosed Home in Colorado Springs
There are many different types of foreclosed homes in Colorado Springs, as well as the rest of the US, that hit the market, including VA repos. These are the result of foreclosed homes that were financed with a VA loans. Currently these homes are marketed for sale through Bank America Homes Loans.
The properties are typically listed in the MLS, but they can also be viewed on www.reotrans.com and on www.homesales.gov and www.va.reotrans.com
Here’s some basic facts about VA repos.
- Buyers must use a Real Estate agent to submit their offer.
- VA provides addendums which outline their policies
- VA properties are always sold “as-is”
- VA does not include an inspection period in their offers. If a buyer is interested, they should do the inspection before they put in their offer. Read the rest of this entry »
What makes buying a foreclosure different?
How to Buy a Foreclosure — Part I
If you are interested in buying a Foreclosure in Colorado Springs, it’s important that you 
realize that these are a “different type of sale”; and they go by different rules than “normal sellers”.
Most people who are looking to buy a REO in Colorado (foreclosed property) are looking for a deal. It’s important to know that deals can be had, but they can’t be stolen. Lenders are very good at pricing the properties correctly, and they typically have them priced correctly.
What makes buying a foreclosure different?
- Asset Managers set the rules, and the rules very from lender to lender as well as the and the rules can also vary from Manager to Manager within the same lender. (9 key things to know about buying a bank repo )
- Asset Managers set the price by reviewing BPO (Broker’s Price Opinions) and Appraisals. (Banks, how low will they go?)
- Asset Managers typically work Monday through Friday, no weekends, no holidays, no
evenings. - Asset Managers are looking for the highest net return and the quickest closing.
- The properties are sold “as-is” with no repairs, no warranties and no guarantees. (Homes sold “As Is” in Colorado Springs….what does it mean?)
- Asset Manager almost always require a pre-qualification letter and an Earnest Money Check before submitting an offer.
- Asset Managers can take days to give an answer on a contract.
- Asset Managers may also need to receive additional approval from their investors, mortgage services and the mortgage insurance companies on low offers. Many times they don’t have the final say in accepting a contract.
- REO Foreclosures almost always have an additional addendum’s. It’s crucial for buyers and their Realtors to read the addendum thoroughly as the addendum’s supersede the terms, dates, and deadlines in the contract.
- Remember, The Asset Manager is an employee, they are not real estate agents. Their job description is to get the property sold. They typically will be working on 300 to 400 files at a time. For them it’s a business decision.
The most important thing to remember, they all want to recover the most they can in a sale in the quickest amount of time.
- Don’t let your dream house become a nightmare
- Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval, which do you need to buy a home?
- Homes in Colorado Springs, 5 things to know about buying foreclosures
- 8 biggest mistakes made by Colorado Springs home buyers
- Buying HUD homes in Colorado Springs, Part I
- Buying HUD homes in Colorado Springs, Part II
- Colorado Springs HUD Homes – Part III in FAQ’s
- HUD homes available for $100.00 downpayment
- Buying a short sale vs. a foreclosure, what’s the difference?
- Abandoned pets are foreclosure victims
- 7 reasons to buy a HUD home in Colorado Springs
- Rules are Rules for Title Seasoning
- The Million Dollar Question
If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
Short Sale borrowers can buy again
New rules for FHA borrowers who previously had a short sale
Since Colorado Springs, like many places in the US have their share of homeowners who have done short sales, I was
really glad to see that HUD released some new guidelines about Short Sale Borrowers and information on when they may be eligible for a FHA loan. There are many reasons to do a short sale (12 Acceptable Reasons for a Short Sale) , and in my opinion, some are legitimate and some are not. These new rules give some clear guidelines.
Here’s a recap of document published on December 19, 2009:
Here is the actual language from the new FHA Guidelines:
FHA Guidance on Short Sales Borrowers are not eligible for a new FHA mortgage if they pursued a short sale agreement on his or her principal residence simply to take advantage of declining market conditions, and purchase, at a reduced price, a similar or superior property within a reasonable commuting distance.
NEW Colorado Springs Foreclosure Listings
NEW Colorado Springs Foreclosures homes as of December 31, 2009
During the December 2009, 151 foreclosures came on the market; 56 (37%) of them are already under contract.
Homes in Southeast Colorado Springs and Homes in the Powers area and Homes in Fountain are still continuing to see more foreclosures than other areas of the city.
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes in Colorado Springs, Email KTorline@msn
Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Springs Foreclosure – December Pick
Colorado Springs Foreclosure Pick of the week
Search for Foreclosures in Colorado Springs
Related Article: Buying a short sale vs. a foreclosure, what’s the difference?
My pick of the week is in Falcon Highlands, east of Colorado Springs, on 11006 Birch Hollow Way. Falcon is only a short commute to Schriever AFB, and Peterson AFB.
It includes over 4800 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, and a 3 car attached garage, priced at less than $300,000.
If you are looking for a BIG house at reasonable price in Falcon; then this is the property for you. The property was built in 2007/2008; by John Laing; but was never finished as John Laing went into Bankruptcy.
The house has a great floor plan, with lots of room to expand in the 2500 square foot basement.
The upsides….. large attached two car and one car garage, laundry on the same level as the bedrooms, open floor plan, separate dining space, main floor office, newly built; never lived in. Plus it’s on over 1/2 acre lot. The downsides ………….. no landscaping, no window coverings, and no floor coverings, except in the kitchen and bathroom.
The description in the MLS Says: “Newly finished former popular Clayborn floorplan includes slab granite counters, upgraded Whirlpool appliances, and hardwood floors in the entry and kitchen / eating nook. Kitchen offers a gas cooktop, double oven, and breakfast bar. This spacious rancher has a great room, main level laundry, convenient mud room, 3 car garage, and unfinished basement with plenty of room to expand. Living spaces flow with ease from one to another, and home has a functionality that all will appreciate!”
Foreclosure in Old Colorado City, Deal or No Deal?
My Colorado Springs foreclosure pick of the week is in Old Colorado City on 2415 W. Platte. It includes over 2300 square feet, with 4![hr10015033-0[1]](http://coloradospringsvintagehomes.com/files/2009/12/hr10015033-01.jpg)
bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car detached garage.
If you are looking for a fixer upper at a reasonable price in the desirable west side of Colorado Springs located close to Garden of the Gods, then this is the property for you.
Even though the property was built in 1948 and a Vintage Home, the property seems to need a fair amount of work. Let’s first start with the main level, carpets need replaced, but I think there may be wood floors under the carpet on the main floor which is always a bonus. The kitchen could use a complete overhaul, but you could probably keep the existing kitchen cabinets, and redo the floor and the put in appliances. There is some cracking in some of the ceilings, so as usual, you’d want a great structural inspection just to make sure it’s structurally sound. And I think all of the walls would benefit from being re-textured and repainted.
Short Sales can be Successful
What makes a successful Short Sale?
If you are interested in a short sale, It’s important to utilize a Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent that specializes in Pre-foreclosures, Foreclosures, and Short Sales; and has a successful and ethical track record. Call Kathy Torline – Nordstrom, 719-287-1049, KTorline@msn.com
Some statistics say that only 10% of short sales result in a successful closing. Not good odds. Made me start thinking about what makes a successful short sale. They do take a lot of hard work and each one is different, but there are some key factors that can make the difference between a successful short sale and one that fails.
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Seller has a genuine hardship.
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Seller is cooperative and motivated to complete the steps required by the lender(s)
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Lender(s) and other lien holders have been contacted and are willing to consider a short sale Read the rest of this entry »
9 key things to know about buying a bank repo
Do you want to buy a bank-owned property in Colorado Springs?
Understand the Differences
Related Articles:
- Don’t let your dream house become a nightmare
- Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval, which do you need to buy a home?
- Homes sold “As Is” in Colorado Springs….what does it mean?
Buying Bank properties is very different than buying a home from a regular seller. Make sure you and your Realtor have discussions about what makes them different, as bank-owned properties aren’t for everyone. Here’s some of the big differences
(1) “As-is”: Most banks won’t repair anything in the property, the property is sold “as-is”. Although there are starting to be some exceptions to this and some banks are starting to fix up the properties, most are sold “as-is”.
(2) No Seller’s Disclosures: The banks typically won’t give out any Seller’s Disclosures or Square Footage Disclosures as they don’t know anything about the property. Hence, it all up to the buyer to do their due diligence.
(3) Response Time: Sometimes banks respond quick and fast when they receive an offer; but many times it can take days, or even a week to get a response to an offer. Read the rest of this entry »
Foreclosures in Colorado Springs continue on the upswing
Foreclosures on the rise in El Paso County
Related Articles:
I was doing some research for a couple of clients on foreclosures this morning, and pulled up the current foreclosure reports for Colorado Springs as of November 30th, 2009 We’re definitely still on the upswing for foreclosure filings with a 16% increase in 2009 from 2008. Last year the average monthly rate for new foreclosures was 384, this year the monthly rate is 446. Here’s the link to the Report and here’s a quick summary of the last several years:
2004 2,298 Filings
2006 2,570 Filings Read the rest of this entry »
12 Acceptable Reasons for a Short Sale
Are you thinking about selling your Colorado Springs Home? Do you want to do a short sale?
If you would like some other helpful advise on selling your home, please feel free to call Kathy at 719-287-1049, KTorline@msn.com
Many times I’ve been asked about why would a homeowner would want to do a short sale. The reasons are many, b
ut here my top 12 list of acceptable reasons:
- Financial Hardship due to a reduction of income, still employed but you are making less money
- Financial Hardship due to unemployment
- Financial Hardship due to your ARM loan resetting and you can no longer afford the payments
- Divorce
- Death
- Military Deployment
- Job Relocation Read the rest of this entry »
New Colorado Springs Foreclosures as of 11-15-09, average prices at a 25% discount
NEW Foreclosure Listings in Colorado Springs as of November 15, 2009
During the first two weeks of October, 77 bank-owned properties came on the market; 8 (10%) of them are already under contract. This is double the amount of properties that have been coming on the market in a typical 2 week period.
Homes in Southeast Colorado Springs and Homes in the Powers area are still continuing to see more foreclosures than other areas of the city.
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes in Colorado Springs, Email KTorline@msn
Foreclosure listings are the best deals in Colorado Springs, sold for less than 24% of “regular” Home sales
Read the rest of this entry »
My foreclosure pick of the week
Colordo Springs Foreclosure pick of the week
For a FREE List of Foreclosures email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
- Don’t let your dream house become a nightmare
- Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval, which do you need to buy a home?
- Homes sold “As Is” in Colorado Springs….what does it mean?
My pick of the week is in Holland Park area on 1090 Kara Ridge Pt.
It includes over 1400 square feet, with 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car attached garage.
If you are looking for a Colorado Springs townhome at a reasonable price in the desirable west side located close to Garden of the Gods, then this is the property for you.
The downside
Even though the property was built in 2004, the property has been lived in fairly hard. There are some dings in the wall, paint chiped on some of the bull nose corners, some broken tiles in the main entryway; all easy cosmetic things to fix.
The one downside I saw about the property, the master bath only has a shower, vs. a shower and bath. The carpet going to the garage is stained, but it may be able to be cleaned up. Also it’s a typical bank-owned property with no appliances, but it has been cleaned up.
The other thing I didn’t like about the property was it’s location in the complex. It’s a middle unit and there are another 8 units located just a sidewalk away; because of it’s location it felt dark and crowded.
The upsides
The upsides, Read the rest of this entry »
Sunday Foreclosure Bargains
Foreclosure Listings in Colorado Springs as of November 1, 2009
During the last two weeks of October, 64 bank-owned properties came on the market; 15 (24% ) of them are already under contract, or pending.
Homes in Fountain and in the Southeast area of town continue to see the most foreclosures
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes, Email KTorline@msn
Banks, how low will they go?
WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO PAY?
For a FREE List of Foreclosures email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
I am consistently asked by buyers how much they can expect to pay for a Colorado Springs foreclosures. My research shows that short sales and foreclosure sell for right around 97% to 99% of the list price. If you think you will get a C
olorado Springs foreclosure or a Colorado Springs short sale for 50% off, you are wrong and wasting your time. These homes are already priced aggressively and ready to move. When you look at the SOLD price for the different categories, bank-owned home sold for 31% less than the “normal” sales in Colorado Springs Here’s a quick recap of September Sales:
Colorado Springs Foreclosures September 2009
- 114 Foreclosures Sold (14% of the total sales for the month)
- $147,189 Average Sales Price
- 99% Sold for Price vs. List Price
- Average days on market: 58
Abandoned pets are foreclosure victims
Don’t leave your pet behind
many buyers who are looking at buying a bank-owned foreclosed homes. As I walk into houses that are now bank-owned, I often wonder what happened to the previous owners of the house; what happened to their kids; their jobs. their pets. I always hope they are able to pick up their lives and start over.There are Options for pets
Foreclosure pick of the week
Colorado Springs Foreclosure pick of the week
For a FREE List of Foreclosures email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
My pick of the week is in Palmer Lake on 18710 Cloven Hoof Drive.
It includes over 1500 square feet, with 2 bedrooms, 1 baths, 2 car carport
The property is hidden back off of the road; and if it’s seclusion you want this is the property for you. Like many foreclosures I preview, this one hasn’t had much updating done to it; as well as it needs some additional TLC. It reminded me of a tree house; stuck in the woods with trees everyplace.
It’s on a wonderful wooded lot, but you have to drive up a rutted dirt road to find the place. Definitely secluded and hidden. No garage, but the house is built over a carport; so with some construction expertise you could probably enclose the carport and make it a garage.
The kitchen cabinets looked very well constructed, as at one time I’m sure they were very nice.
New Foreclosure listings hit the market
NEW Foreclosure Listings in Colorado Springs as of October 17, 2009
During the first two weeks of October, only 38 bank-owned properties came on the market; 15 (39%) of them are already under contract.
Homes in Fountain and Homes in the Powers area are still continuing to see more foreclosures than other areas of the city.
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes in Colorado Springs, Email KTorline@msn
Read the rest of this entry »
Foreclosure pick of the week in Southwest Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Foreclosure pick of the week
Search for Colorado Springs Foreclosures
Related Article: Foreclosure pick of the week in Northwest Colorado Springs
My foreclosure pick of the week is in Southwest Colorado Springs on 1825 Parkview Blvd. It’s located in a nice established area in Skyway in District schools, on a wonderful lot, set a little bit back from the main road. It includes over 3600 square feet, with 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage.
One of my favorite features was the hardwood floors, and of course I love main level living ranch homes with walkout basements. At first glance, it looks like the property has been well maintained. The property could use some updating and would look much better with granite counter tops and changing out the linoleum floor in the kitchen. It has a nice 5 pc. master bath with an easy to maintain tile floor. The only thing I thought was odd is Read the rest of this entry »
What can I buy for $100,000?
What kind of house can I buy for $100,000 in Colorado Springs?
Search for Homes in Colorado Springs
The number of houses in Colorado Springs that are sold for less than $100,000 has continued to increased substantially over the last couple of years. It’s a great time to be an investor in Colorado Springs and it’s a great time for a first-time home buyer to purchase their first home.
Here’s a quick breakdown of houses SOLD under $100,000 and a comparison to previous years: 
01/01/09 to 08/15/09 769
01/01/08 to 08/15/08 540
01/01/07 to 08/15/07 387
01/01/06 to 08/15/06 469
01/01/05 to 08/15/05 471
Many of the these Colorado Springs homes are being bought by investors who buy the home for less than $100,000 and have payments between $650 to $700 a month. Then they turn around and rent out the homes for $800 to $900 a month.
With foreclosures continuing to be high in El Paso County Read the rest of this entry »
7 reasons to buy a HUD home in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs HUD home
7 Reasons to Buy
For a FREE list of Foreclosure Homes, Email KTorline@msn.com
- Comprehensive Property Report; HUD has already had a property inspection report done on their properties. Hence, you have an idea of what needs to be fixed on them. A buyer should still get an inspection done; but it’s nice to know most of what needs to be done before you put in a bid; it cuts down on the surprises.
- Precise Bid Periods: All HUD properties are on a bid period, consequently you’ll know quickly whether or not your bid has been accepted.
- Low Downpayment: $100.00 down. Yes I did type this correctly. You can get into a HUD property for $100.00 down.
- Attractive pricing: Read the rest of this entry »
Foreclosure pick of the week in Northwest Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Foreclosure pick of the week
Search for Foreclosures in Colorado Springs
There are currently some unique bank-owned houses for sale in Northwest and southwest Colorado Springs. My pick of the week is in Northwest Colorado Springs on 7151 Wintery Loop.
It’s located in a nice established area, on a great wooded lot, set a little bit back from the road. It includes over 2400 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage. The property was originally foreclosed on in August 2009. It definitely needs updating, as I’m not sure it’s had any updating since it was built in 1977. It’s like you’ve stepped back in time; from the carpet, to the kitchen, to the light fixtures, to the bathrooms. One of my favorite features is the unique long rectangular kitchen windows that looks right out into the pines. Amazing views!
I’m not sure how to Read the rest of this entry »
More and more bank owned properties seem to be coming on the market
Foreclosure Listings in Colorado Springs as of September 20, 2009
During the last 2 weeks, starting of September 6, 75 bank-owned properties came on the market; 17 (22%) of them are already under contract
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes in Colorado Springs, Email KTorline@msn
Related article: 3 Things to know about foreclosure homes for sale
Rules are Rules for Title Seasoning
Buying a flipped property in Colorado Springs?
Related article: 3 Things to know about foreclosure homes for sale and Deal or no Deal
FREE list of up to date foreclosures
Twice this week I’ve ran into issues with buyers who wanted to buy distressed homes in Colorado Springs with FHA loans and the 
properties didn’t have Seasoned Titles. Hence, I thought it was great subject for a blog post, as I didn’t truly understand it until this week; and my guess is that many Realtors and most consumers also don’t understand it.
If a buyer is looking at a property and is planning on getting an FHA loan, there is a title seasoning requirement of 90 days. In other words, the property must have the title recorded in the seller’s name for 90 days before the closing and funding of the FHA loan. This definitely stops any double-closings or a short term (less then 90 days) flip.
The History of Title Seasoning
I’m sure we’ve all heard stories about the crooked investor who stole a home from a sweet Aunt Sally for $80K, spent a few grand on carpet and paint, then sold it 30 days later to a homebuyer for about $150K. Because of stories like this, FHA put this rule into effect to discourage investors from flipping properties several years back. The theory was that it is supposed to tighten up lending requirements to reduce abuse and mortgage fraud.
But both of the properties Read the rest of this entry »
The Million Dollar Question
Related article: 3 Things to know about foreclosure homes for sale and Deal or no Deal
What is a Colorado Springs foreclosures?
FREE list of up-to-date foreclosures
First – Let’s define the word, Foreclosure. When buyers talk about foreclosure, what they mean is a bank-owned property that had been acquired through the foreclosure process.
What happens once the bank gets the property?
After the bank repossesses the property (typically at the Public Trustee Sale at the County courthouse), it is assigned to an Asset 
Manager and goes through several internal procedures before it is available for sale in the marketplace. One of the processes includes a market evaluation of the property which may include a full blown appraisal to tell the bank how much the property is worth. In some cases, the bank may order a BPO (Broker Price Opinion) from a real estate broker vs. a full-blown appraisal. Some banks order both appraisals and BPOs, or they may order multiple BPO’s. They may take the average price from the BPO’s or a combination of the appraisal and the BPO. The most important thing to remember, every lender seems to have a different process on how they price properties for sale. There is no set rule.
When a market value is established and procedures are completed, the property comes on the market available for sale to home buyers. This process may take 2 weeks, or months, months, and more months.
9638 Baltusrol – Foreclosure Date: 8/14/09
7872 Steward: Foreclosure Date: 8/31/09
6618 Bethesda: Foreclosure Date: 6/5/09
4849 Bluestem: Foreclosure Date: 3/25/09
2635 Deliverance: Foreclosure Date: 6/24/09
An important thing to remember: By the time, the property comes on the market, it is immaterial on how much was originally owed by the the previous homeowner. Banks are Read the rest of this entry »
Deal or no Deal
Do you want to buy a Colorado Springs bank owned home?
Related article: 3 Things to know about foreclosure homes for sale
For a FREE List of Foreclosures email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
If you have an interest in purchasing a foreclosed home in Colorado Springs, you are probably going to be in for some surprises as you start to look at homes as many of the properties need work. I looked at a home yesterday in west Colorado Springs, that is a perfect example of some (not all) bank-owned properties. First the facts:
- Property was in a desirable west side neighborhood on 3827 Ellston in Holland Park
- Currently priced at $141,000
- House was built in 1971
- It’s a bi-level with over 1700 square feet with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 car garage.
This is what the description in the MLS says: 4 bedroom, 2 bath bi-level in Holland Park. Eat-in kitchen walks out to deck, master bedroom with walk-in-closet, large back yard with sheds. It doesn’t say anything that the house needs work, not just TLC.
What were they think when they did this?
One of the previous owners put rock facing on the front of the house; but vs. removing the existing brick, it looks like they just put mortar on the existing brick and slapped the rock on the front. I’m not any type of a construction expert, but my guess is that the rock won’t last and you can see where it is already pulling away from the house.
As you walk in the house up the stairs, the main living room has been re textured in a mustard yellow; a huge entertainment center has been semi-built (again in Mustard yellow) and not sure what they were trying to do on the ceiling with the space ship look.
All of the appliances have been Read the rest of this entry »
55 Colorado Springs Foreclosed Homes came on the market last week
Foreclosure Listings in Colorado Springs as of September 6, 2009
During the last 2 weeks, starting of August 24, 55 bank-owned properties came on the market; 19 (25%) of them are already under contract
For a FREE list of up-to-date Foreclosure Homes in Colorado Springs, Email KTorline@msn
New Colorado Springs Foreclosure Read the rest of this entry »
Interesting foreclosed home in Holland Park
Colorado Springs Foreclosed Properties
Search for Colorado Springs Foreclosures
Related post:
I saw an interested foreclosed home yesterday in West Colorado Springs in Holland Park. The property definitely has possibilities, even though it needs lots of TLC and updates. Here’s the main facts, it was built in 1978 and is currently listed at $184,900; 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage. The property was foreclosed on in May 2009 and the El Paso County Assessor has it valued at $232,000. It last sold in 2005 at $217,500 The property has some nice curb appeal from the outside, stucco, circular drive; in my opinion it looks nicer on the outside vs. the inside. It’s in a nice established west side neighborhood.
The bank (who is the current owner) has put in new carpet and new paint; but there is still plenty that needs to be done. In the master bedroom, one of the closets had been converted to an additional bathroom, even though there is a small bath right around the corner. The bathroom conversion (addition) was not done very well, and probably should be torn out and it should be made back to a closet. Or better yet, do a major change and take the 2 bathrooms and combine them to 1 nice spacious master bath. OR, the bathroom in the closet could be redone; as then it would be very usable for handicap access.
Kitchen was also pretty outdated; as it Read the rest of this entry »
