'Widespread' Softness Defines Market

from Colorado Real Estate Journal | by Jennifer Hayes | April 30, 2014

Widespread softness marked the Colorado Springs apartment market in the first quarter of 2014.
Apartment Insights recently released its Statistics/Trends Summary for the first three months of the year in which it noted vacancy rose, absorption dropped and rents saw a slight increase.

“Vacancy increased in most categories, including affordable properties, absorption was negative and concessions increased, more than offsetting the increase in rents,” explained Doug Carter of Sperry Van Ness/Doug Carter LLC, who co-authored the report with Cary Bruteig of Apartment Appraisers & Consultants. “Although long-term trends remain positive for the area, the recovery continues at an uneven pace.”

Read the rest of the story at the Colorado Real Estate Journal by clicking here.

Pros and Cons of Living Within a Homeowners Association

from Realtor.com | by Michele Lerner | April 25, 2014

Ask two different homeowners what they think about living in a community with a homeowners association and you may see one of them scowl and another smile. The difference of opinion on homeowners associations, or HOAs, depends on several factors, including individual personalities and preferences and the quality of the particular HOA.

To learn more about HOAs read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Neighborhood Red Flags When Renting

from Realtor.com | by Neil J. Leitereg | April 15, 2014

So, you have found a great apartment, one that is in your price range. While it seems perfect, it is important to consider not only the apartment itself, but also the neighborhood you will call home for the foreseeable future. You want to feel secure in your neighborhood, have access to the basic amenities that you need and feel that you’ll live there with peace of mind. Here are tips on looking for neighborhood red flags when apartment hunting.

To read these helpful tips at Realtor.com click here.

Report: Year-Over-Year Foreclosure Down in January

from Colorado Springs Business Journal | by Cameron Moix | March 31, 2014

While increasing from the month prior, Colorado Springs foreclosure rates decreased year-over-year in January, according to a report by real estate research firm CoreLogic.

CoreLogic reported foreclosures in the Colorado Springs area dropped from more than 1 percent in January 2013 to .77 percent in January 2014.

To read the rest of the article click here.