Saturday Reporter-Herald June 26, 2010 C1
Real Estate Matters
www.homeandrealtyguide.com • Saturday, June 26, 2010 • Reporter-Herald
Take part in the ReporterHerald’s 2010 Tour of Homes from noon-3 p.m today
Senate votes to extend tax credit deadline
New and existing homes are being featured today and tomorrow from noon to 3 p.m. throughout Loveland. Follow the map on page C4 to each corresponding property.
ILYCE GLINK TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Homes start on page C2
T
he Senate this week voted 60 to 37 to extend the deadline by which buyers have to close on a new home to qualify for the homebuyer tax credits. Under the current law, those with signed, valid contracts to buy a home are required to close by June 30 to collect the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit or the $6,500 long-term homeowner tax credit. If the law clears the House, the new deadline to close will be September 30. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) noted that approximately 180,000 home buyers had signed valid contracts by April 30 but will not be able to close by June 30 due to outside forces. Basically, the banks, appraisers and title companies are overwhelmed by the crush of demand from home buyers and can’t keep up. The new rules of mortgage finance require lenders to doubleand triple-check documents, verify all information and pull several credit checks. Verifying income, tax returns, bank accounts and assets can be time-consuming. Meanwhile, appraisers are now booked weeks in advance in some communities, making it difficult to meet the June 30 deadline. And many title companies that had laid off workers after the real estate bubble burst don’t have enough time in the next two weeks to schedule the closings. I See GLINK/Page C5
Inside this week’s Home & Real Estate Realtor of the Week Anthony Jarmula of RE/MAX Alliance
Page C6
H&RE Real Estate Home sales rise through May REPORTER-HERALD
H
ome sales continued rising through May in Loveland, with 158 home sales, totaling 559 for the year, up from 440 at this time last
year. Monthly sales volume for May ($39,407,269) is up 58.1 percent from May last year, and year-to-date sales volume is up 29.7 percent from May of 2009. Fort Collins saw similar gains in May, with a 25.9 percent gain in year-to-date listings sold. Year-to-date sales volume, at $245,724,054, is up 20.3 percent over last year at the end of May. Mortgage rates remain at historic lows, dropping to 4.72 percent for 30-year fixed mortgages on Friday.
See Regional Real Estate Report on C6
Mortgage rate update This week Last week Trend
Director y Page C8
30-year fixed
4.72%
4.80%
15-year fixed
4.10%
5/1 ARM
3.74%
4.18% 3.78%
Historic garden to be featured in Berthoud’s Art in the Garden REPORTER-HERALD
A
rea gardening enthusiasts will have a chance to tour a historic garden as part of Art in the Garden today in Berthoud. The event will be from 4-8 p.m. at the historic Waggener home located at 980 Mountain Ave., Berthoud. The tour will feature garden talks by area experts, more than 25 artists, live acoustic music and wine tastings. Informative gardening and landscaping talks will include: • 4:30 p.m. — Xeriscaping with Jim Doyle of Imagine Green Design • 5 p.m. — Garden Tour Jane Vielehr will guide a tour through the garden and discuss her planting methods and process. • 5:30 p.m. — Heirloom Roses with Charlotte Hardy • 6 p.m. — Garden Tour Jane Vielehr will guide a tour through the garden and discuss her planting methods and process. • 6:30 p.m. — Edible Landscaping with Marlin & Barbara Ann McMonigal of leasureacre.com • 7 p.m. — Fairy Gardens with Christy Patton
If you go What: Art in the Garden When: Today from 4-8 p.m. Where: Historic Waggener Home located at 980 Mountain Ave., Berthoud. Enter the garden from Massachusetts Avenue, parking is available at Turner Middle School. Cost: $5 for adults, free for children 12 and under. For more information: Visit www.berthoudartinthegarden.com ABOUT THE GARDEN The private garden at the historic Waggener home is maintained by Chuck and Jane Vielehr. It was at one time an apple orchard and later converted to a garden by John Waggener. The Vielehrs plant a combination of vegetables and flowers and experiment with new plantings each year. The garden is a labor of love for those who take care of it, and it is appreciated by many friends, neighbors and family members throughout the summer season. 26-313725
We’re ready to GO! Please visit our new location at
2809 East Harmony Road, Suite 200 Fort Collins, Colorado (Southeast corner of Harmony and Corbett)
WHO YOU DO BUSINESS WITH.
Providing Service with Integrity
970.206.HOME (4663) | www.Colorado-Cornerstone.com Check the license status of your mortgage loan originator at www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm. Gene Humphries • NMLS 247425 | Jim Hunter • NMLS 266865