Passionately Urban Realtor - Kirstan Borne, Location Innovators LLC

04/06/2024

About that solar eclipse on Monday...USA Today tool will hook you up with its timing in your area.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/06/april-total-solar-eclipse-2024-monday-time-path-glasses/73192667007/

03/25/2024

Under the recent NAR settlement, a broker who represents a seller would no longer be allowed to include a blanket offer of cooperative compensation to a prospective buyer’s agent when they advertise the property on NAR-affiliated Multiple Listings Services, where a majority of U.S. homes are listed for sale. This is meant to remove any incentive from a buyer’s agent to steer their client away from home listings that don’t include a cooperative compensation offer.

However, the proposed rule change leaves it open for individual home sellers to negotiate such an arrangement with a buyer’s agent outside of the MLS platforms, essentially creating a loophole for agents to keep things as they are now.

Homebuyers could also ask the home seller for a concession that includes money to help cover the buyer’s agent compensation.

What happens if a seller doesn’t want to offer to pay the buyer’s agent commission? Homebuyers would be on the hook to shop around for an agent they can afford. They’d also have to sign a contract with an agent before they enlist their services, spelling out how much the agent’s compensation will be.

Having to factor in another expense into their homebuying budget could be challenging for homebuyers without a lot of savings or financial flexibility, making it tougher for them to navigate the housing market.

Still, many variables are at play when it comes to buying or selling a home, not the least of which is how motivated each party is to close the deal.

These changes will impact how residential real estate business and transactions have been conducted for decades. Your patience and understanding are appreciated as we adopt and adapt!

08/10/2021

Photos were taken in May, before I-70 lanes were switched to new lanes. This was one of my first projects working in real estate appraisal and transportation - it's the I-70 expansion through Denver. Personally, a great deal of learning, gained experience, controversy and much needed improvement occurred here IMO. All businesses and residents were properly relocated. This is how a growing city adapts.

06/26/2020

Due to the extension of both federal and state 2019 tax filings and payment deadlines until 7/15/20 there is still time to get free tax help.

Taxpayers were given an additional 90 days to file their federal and state income tax returns and make payments without penalty if they owe.

Free online filing options can be found through Get Ahead Colorado (https://getaheadcolorado.org/get-my-refund/), a program from the Piton Foundation. Tax Help Colorado (https://taxhelpco.org/) also provides free, online tax assistance to help Coloradans file their tax return and claim their tax refund as quickly as possible.

Taxpayers will be connected to an IRS-certified volunteer who will prepare their return remotely. Filers can visit GetYourRefund.org to get started today.

As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the federal and state tax filing deadline has been extended until July 15. However, if you think you are receiving a refund, file as soon as possible to receive your cash-back and ensure you receive your Economic Impact Payment as soon as possible.

04/22/2020

Thank you frontline workers!

04/01/2020

COVID-19’s impact on Colorado has been widespread and its effects on our business community have been particularly profound. Many businesses are faced with finding ways to pay employees and expenses while remaining viable in the face of this major economic interruption.

The $2 trillion CARE Act is a major economic resource to help Colorado’s small businesses experiencing economic harm. A key portion of this act is the Paycheck Protection Program which allocates $349 billion in forgivable loans to help small businesses, independent contractors and nonprofits meet payroll and rent needs. This is a very important economic resource and Governor Polis and I strongly encourage you to review this federal program to see how it can help your business.

The first step in accessing these forgivable loans is to prepare the materials necessary to apply. That includes confirming your eligibility, gathering the necessary records (payroll, rent, utilities, tax and bank records) and estimating the eligible amount of your forgivable loan.

For additional details on the Paycheck Protection Program’s forgivable loans and a comprehensive list of state and federal resources available for Colorado’s businesses, visit choosecolorado.com. SBDC representatives are available to answer your questions through the COVID Economic Hotline at (303) 860-5881.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade is committed to keeping you informed and connected as we face this shared challenge. (From Betsy Markey, Executive Director, OEDIT)

The Office of Economic Development & International Trade assists new and existing businesses of every size starting, expanding or relocating in Colorado.

03/25/2020

Real estate transactions in Colorado are encountering several hurdles and new uncertainties during this time as well. The Colorado Bar Association (CBA) has approved a COVID19 Addendum to real estate contracts that real estate brokers can use to "pause" pending real estate transactions where the parties want to close but cannot due to circumstances caused by the virus.

03/12/2020

Stay Calm and Wash Your Hands!

Updates on in Colorado: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Colorado COVID19 case summary (Due to the high volume of traffic, it may take several minutes for updates to appear.

03/07/2020

Coloradans - Initiative 122 is NOT the answer to our home affordability issues and growing infrastructure challenges. This measure will only cripple Colorado's economy statewide and does not consider our diverse community needs. We need public policy that addresses smarter city planning and looks at these important issues individually.

Limiting Statewide Growth: Initiative #122 Four petition firms have registered to gather signatures to put Initiative 122 on the November ballot, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Proponents have until June 5th to gather at least 150,000 valid signatures.

If you are approached and asked to sign a petition, please be aware of and fully understand what it is that you're signing. Initiative 122 would arbitrarily cap housing permits in 11 Front Range counties. This type of limit on the percentage of houses, apartments, townhomes, condos or that can be built would raise the cost of housing. As any economic course will tell you, when proposed policy would limit the supply of housing the end result drives up the price of homes for everyone. If passed by Colorado voters, Initiative 122 will devastate any efforts to build the affordable housing that Colorado desperately needs to meet the demands of our workforce and civil servants.

If this gets on the ballot for November it could allow for example, Pueblo to decide for Greeley how many houses they should build each year. In Colorado we have a strong tradition that local decisions should be made locally. Shouldn't all Coloradans have the opportunity to buy an affordable house rather than only allowing the people who already own a home to be the only ones able to pursue the American dream?

03/01/2020

Some licensed real estate brokers seem to misunderstand and mislead their clients about the role of the appraiser in property sales. DORA's director of CO's Division of Real Estate provided good info about this recently:

Licensed Ad Valorem Appraisers work for tax assessment offices. They cannot perform fee appraisals. Licensed Ad Valorem Appraisers must complete 110 hours of qualifying education and pass an examination in order to qualify for a license.

10/31/2019

It's a good time to think about taxes and a year-end business review.

The new tax laws in 2019 have brought several significant changes to how businesses approach taxes, here's how to implement these into your year-end review.