Relocating?

Dale and I recently started working with a young professional family to find their next home. They are moving to Colorado from the west coast. Although this family’s move is a move home for them – it caused me to think about other families that move across the country to cities that are new to them.

Our office has the best relocation company in the state – they handle relationship nearly 63% of all relocation buyers coming into Colorado and sellers moving out of the area every year. All of those buyers and seller’s have access to our inventory and our network of top producing brokers. Our relocation company has provided advice for “Tips for A Successful Relocation” and “Helping Children Adjust”. They are a good read and we wanted to share with all of you.

Of course, if you are looking to buy or sell a home – please call us. And, if you are relocating to another state, please give us a call. Our network of brokerages is global and we can and will assist you in finding the best broker in your future city. Enjoy!

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL RELOCATION

Get organized. Buy a small notebook, one you can fit in your pocket or purse. Use it to keep all your notes on the move in one place. When you think of something you need to do, write it down. Everyday, go over your notes.

Find out as much as you can about your new city. Visit our Relocation Page to read about Helpful Links and Lists what it is like to Live a Mile High. If you need any specific information, you can always reach Dale or myself at 303.919.7176 or 303.250.7974.

Have the local newspaper sent to you. This will give you the flavor of the city and you can find out what is happening before you move.

Start networking. Get in touch with anyone you ever knew who lived in your new city and ask as many questions as you can think up!

If you belong to any national organizations, ask if there are local chapters in your new city.

Gather your medical and dental records. Ask your doctors for recommendations in your new community.

Travel light. Don’t move things you’ll have little use for at your new location. Prepare your belongings by sorting through them before the move. Sort everything into one of three categories: sell, donate or save. Be merciless! Have a garage sale and save the proceeds to buy new furniture, linens or accessories at the new location. Let the children sort their own toys and give them the profits from any sold. Arrange for a charitable organization to pick up the unsold items and write off the donations on your taxes.

Last load boxes. Be sure to have one special box for every family member. The box should include a change of clothes, linens, towels, alarm clock, medication, toiletries, first aid kit, household/kitchen supplies, tools, light bulbs and snacks. Give each family member an empty box with their name and the words “LAST LOAD” written on it. In the weeks before the move, the can put into it those things they want to have when they arrive at the new home. Also, give each child a satchel or backpack to take with them on moving day. It could hold favorite books, toys, sweatshirt – whatever your childe or teenager needs to feel more comfortable.

Hand-carry all important papers, any valuables collections or jewelry.

HELPING CHILDREN ADJUST

New Home, New School | By Beverly D. Roman

Each year thousands of relocation parents and children try to make a new home and cope with new schools, new office environments and a new city – possibly even a new country. Moving from school to school can be a scary experience for children. Parents need to know how to smooth each move and how to recognize trouble signs that indicate their children are not adjusting. They also need to know what to do when problems do arise.

Advice to Parents

Depending on children’s ages and interests, they can create a scrapbook, write a journal or plan the next city excursion. Give children a disposable camera to take pictures of what they like best in the new city. They can then send photos to friends and relatives to tell them about their new home. Help children to become involved in local activities the family enjoys. Meeting people in smaller groups who share a common interest is a good way to break the ice and make a few friends at any age. Think about the move as a way to learn and expand personal horizons. Relocating families will have more to talk about with new and old friends as their experiences become more varied. And …

• ·      Set the example. Don’t complain about the move; rather, try to reinforce the positive aspects of the new community.
• ·      Reach out and volunteer with a charitable organization and create opportunities for children to do the same. When people care about others, they tend not to dwell on their own concerns.
• ·      Go exploring! Learn everything possible about the new community and its people. 

Smoothing Adjustments

When children enter new environments, they express their feelings in various ways, some of which can signify that they are not adjusting well. Typical trouble signs include: changes in reading ability, attention span, eating habits (weight loss or gain), enthusiasm, energy levels, quarrelsome behavior and unreasonable fears. It is my experience that uncharacteristic behaviors will usually disappear as children settle in, but if not, parents should seek the advice of a pediatrician or a counselor.

Set aside a special family time at least once a week that allows everyone to discuss his/her feelings. During these meetings, be sure to validate both positive and negative feelings, but do encourage everyone to discuss at least one good occurrence.

Anyone who moves will experience to some extent a sense of loss for people, sounds, foods and places. But it is important for the family to bond together and support each other. Many times I have been asked: “of all the places you lived, which city did you like best?” My answer was always the same, “Wherever my family was.” I believe the moves served to make us a more close-knit family because no matter what else happened in a new community, we always had each other.

BR Anchor Publishing produces fine books with more transition advice. You can read chapters and book reviews about the company’s books for adults, teenagers, preteens and young children at www.branchor.com

© Copyright 2003, BR Anchor Publishing.

Our Favorite Minestrone Soup

Aaaahhhh … we love our weekly office soup! Thanks, Mo!

Ingredients

½ cups small, uncooked pasta shells

1 lb. ground beef

½ cup chopped onion

3 cans (14.5 oz. each) beef broth

1 package (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables

1 can (16 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes

1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste

3 teaspoons Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon basil

¼ teaspoon thyme

¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain.

Stir in the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.  Drain pasta and add to the pan. Cook 5 minutes longer or until heated through.

Nutrition

Yield: 16 cups

Serving size: 1 ½ cups equals 324 calories, 8 g fat (4 g saturated fat) 37 mg cholesterol, 1427 mg sodium, 40 g carbohydrate, 10 g fiber, 25 g protein.

9751 Tanglewood Road, Franktown

This is an awesome new listing in Franktown, CO. Competitively priced at $450,000! Over 5 acres of horse property, a newly remodeled home, a storage barn/garage and tremendous views. If you have any interest in seeing this property, please let us know or share this with your friends or family who may have interest.

Just click on the photo below to view the property information, virtual tour or YouTube video.

9751 Tanglewood Road, Franktown, CO 80116

Offered for $450,000

Thanks and enjoy!
Dale & April

Easy French Onion Soup

Our apologies! We missed posting a Monday Soup blog last week - we hope you enjoy this week's Easy French Onion Soup recipe!

Ingredients

2 cups thinly sliced onions

2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)

4 cups beef broth

1 teaspoon Worcestershire

¼ teaspoon garlic powder (or one fresh minced garlic clove)

½ cup dry sherry or dry white wine

1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

Directions

Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onions and cook until golden brown (30-45 minutes)

Add remaining ingredients and simmer 10 minutes

Serve with baguette topped with provolone or Swiss

(toast underneath broiler until cheese is melted)

Show Me The Money - Tracking the Down Payment & Large Deposits

We have the luxury of hearing from two of our favorite Loan Officers, Ann Heinz and Mo Robinson frequently at our weekly sales meeting. Last week, they brought to our attention something all of our buyers are dealing with these days - SHOW ME THE MONEY. In order to obtain a loan these days, buyers are being required to track all of their "large" deposits. And - they are serious about the tracking of it. Ann & Mo recently wrote an enlightening blog that we wanted to share with you. 

SHOW ME THE MONEY

As real estate professionals, the amount of information that you have to impart to your buyers is staggering.  If it is a first time homebuyer or someone who has owned ten homes, people do not buy a home every day and there is so much to know.

One aspect of the loan process that we are trying to educate buyers on is the tracking of the funds for the down payment and any large deposits.   Over the last six months it seems that the tracking has taken on a life of its own.  We are touching on this topic due to recent loan applications where people are constantly transferring money from one account to another or there are large deposits that we have to explain.  Sometimes when one account is asked for, we see a large deposit from another account and that leads to getting the statement on that account which has another large deposit.   This is a part of lending these days; however, if you have clients out looking to buy, it might make it easier on them if they knew about the tracking that goes on and if there is enough time to possibly gather all funds in one place.   We mention this in an attempt to make the process easier for the buyer.

The background behind the tracking stems from rules that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have regarding the source of funds for the down payment.   Fannie and Freddie want to make sure that the down payment and the reserves after closing did not come from an unsecured loan.  They want to make sure that there is no additional debt that we are not counting in the debt to income ratio as the result of a loan and they want to make sure if there is a loan it is secured by an asset.

Due to these rules, we have to show that the funds for the down payment are verified in the borrower’s account.   Here are a few things we look at:

▪   We ask for 2 consecutive months of bank, brokerage and retirement statements to verify the down payment and reserves after closing.  Any large deposits that are not clearly marked as payroll require that we get a copy of the check that the borrower deposited and an explanation on the deposit.

▪   If the statements become stale, underwriters like to see a current statement 30 days prior to closing, we have to get a statement prior to closing and if there are large deposits on the current statement, we have to track them.

▪   The down payment cannot be an unsecured loan.  If it is a gift, we need to know up front as we have to have a gift letter for the file.

▪   If funds are being moved from one account to another we have to show all accounts involved in the transferring of funds – this can lead to multiple requests if the borrower has a lot of non-payroll activity on one of the accounts.  It is as if one door opens another.

This week, one lender has actually come out with a definition of “large deposits” as this has been a guessing game with some lenders asking for copies of checks as small as $50.

“Any deposit or aggregate of deposits in any one month greater than 10% of borrower’s gross monthly salary (excluding regular and consistent deposits for payroll, Social Security, retirement or other documented income).” 

Having a hint as to what a large deposit is will be helpful.

Buying a home is a very exciting and can be a stressful time.  We  want to do anything we can to prepare your buyers.

Ann Heinz
 Senior Loan Officer
 (303) 263-4003
License #100027008 NMLS#360599

Mo Robinson
 Senior Loan Officer
 (303) 478-2136
N

Chicken Cacciatore Soup

Ingredients

½  pound medium fresh mushrooms, quartered

2 medium leeks (white portion only), sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 cans (14 oz. each) reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 cups cooked cubed (or shredded) chicken

1 can (14 oz. diced tomatoes with basil, oregano, and garlic, undrained

1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into ½ inch slices

1 each medium green, sweet red and yellow bell peppers, chopped

1 cup uncooked bowtie pasta

½ teaspoon pepper

½ teaspoon dried thyme

½ cup shredded parmesan cheese

¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

Directions

In a Dutch oven, saute mushrooms and leeks in oil until tender. Stir in the broth, chicken, tomatores, zucchini, peppers, pasta, thyme and pepper.

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until pasta and vegetables are tender. Top each serving with cheese and basil.

Nutrition

Yield:  12 cups

Nutrition Facts:  1-½ cups equals 283 calories, 11 g fat, (3 g saturated fat) 58 mg cholesterol, 951 mg sodium, 21 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 27 g protein.