Make Thanksgiving Day a memorable occasion by putting your own signature style on the event. Surprise your guests with unique touches you bring to your food and table that will make them feel extra special and leave them more than satisfied.

Set a perfectly appointed table. This is the time to channel your innermost Emily Post. Follow the proper etiquette for utensil and glassware placement and bring out the fine china. Pick one main color and sprinkle it throughout your table setting – in the napkins, table runner and serving platters. Tie the whole look together with petite, colorful bouquets in the same themed hue and set them in front of each guest in individual bistro glasses for rows of beautiful, cohesive color.

Don’t forget the kiddos. Kick up the fun at the kids’ table and keep them amused while waiting to dig into dinner. Get them to eat their vegetables by placing a dollop of yummy dip inside a small cup along with colorful veggies that are ready for dunking. And strategically keep the peace by using tail feather-shaped place cards atop Tom Turkey cupcakes (for after dinner). Seat older children next to younger ones that need a little help passing and serving family style. Lastly, spare your fine linens and lay down a tablecloth of craft paper. Arm each child with a bundle of colored crayons and let them have at it. What’s better than scold-free table drawing?

Best wishes and thank-you notes. Not the typical kind, but new and special ways to share at the Thanksgiving table. Encourage wish-making all around by having some fun with handmade napkin rings made of raffia twine and breakable novelty wishbones. Keep the conversation flowing by inviting guests to write down what they’re most thankful for and then put it into a gratefulness jar that gets passed around the table. Let each guest pick out a note of thanks and read it aloud.

Bring out the best of the holiday and spread a table of good cheer, great food and an abundance of love and kindness. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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Growing up, both my parents were full-time Real Estate agents; and I saw first-hand the hard work and dedication that they gave to their clients on a daily basis. I saw their pride in being upstanding members of the community and providing a valuable service to their clients. It hurt me when I heard the common misconceptions about real estate agents. We’ve all heard them: “untrustworthy”, “not earning their commissions”, and “being in it to just get a quick buck”. I knew that wasn’t true and I saw it first hand from an early age. When I became a Real Estate agent myself, I knew I had to do my part to not only dispel those myths, but ensure that I helped create an environment where agents had the tools to become outstanding representatives of the profession and to be of greatest service to their clients.

WHAT IS AN ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS?

The National and Local realtor associations are important groups of industry experts that band together to create and advocate for policies that foster vibrant real estate markets, support the industry, and protect consumers. For example, the motto of The Colorado Association of Realtors is to “Strives to be the collective voice for real estate and consumer property rights, and to advance Colorado REALTORS® as industry leaders in knowledge, ethics, and professionalism.” The Association of Realtors is an important tool to help clients find a great agent and provide education and tool to agent to be their very best. When it comes to the biggest investment in most people’s lives, having good representation is critical. A good agent is a necessary part of the home buying process, and not having one can cause many issues before and after closing.

MY JOURNEY

I’ve had the pleasure of serving on Local, State and National Boards of Realtors in many different commissions and in many different roles. Starting out, I quickly became involved with the local board, eventually becoming chair of the board and then worked my way up to the state level. Becoming the Mountain District chair with CAR (Colorado Association of Realtors), I became involved in creating services for members and how to communicate those services to the public. Being able to craft the messaging and educate the public on the critical services that Realtors provide was a wonderful experience, and I truly feel that we have made strides in c educating the public to the services that Realtors provide.

Being on the state board allowed me to mingle with leaders at the national level. This was a great experience because it allowed me to attend informative seminars and receive a first-rate education in real estate with the best in the business. I was able to see the political power that the National Board had to push for essential values for real estate agents and their clients, like property rights and members benefits. Being selected to the board for Resort and Second Home Member Services for NAR (National Association of Realtors) was eye opening as well, and has since given me so much insight into the Crested Butte Market and the Colorado Mountain region in general.

WHY I VOLUNTEER.

In short, I volunteer with our various Realtor Associations because I feel strongly in being a driving force in my industry to better the working relationships and quality of service in the industry. I want to bring my knowledge and expertise gained working on the national level to my clients and am proud of the work I’ve done to do just that. With ongoing political challenges to property owners, I find it necessary to aid the fight to maintain the liberties of my clients now and in the future. Owning a home is one of the fundamental parts of the American Dream, and I’m proud to do my part to bring that dream to my clients. I’m proud to represent agents and do my part to better the industry, and I’m proud to be a Real Estate agent.

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Redfin  is actually a broker that uses technology to streamline the home buying and selling process. Redfin is a small but fast-growing broker that uses technology to drive down costs. Its original claim to fame: Lower commissions than traditional brokerage firms. Its agents’ commission is just 1% for those who use Redfin to both buy and sell a home, far less than the 2.5% to 3% charged by most of its peers.

The company can deliver this significant savings by streamlining the transaction process with software — everything from automated paperwork flow to its leading website for prospective buyers to peruse and virtually tour properties for sale. It’s expanded on this base offering with its own in-house mortgage and title services, direct cash offers (called RedfinNow, which competes with Opendoor), and most recently the purchase of RentPath to incorporate apartments and rental properties directly into Redfin.com.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

As a “technical” broker, Redfin only operates in distinct metropolitan markets. This is the reason why you may not see very many homes on the market from the Crested Butte area on their website. As such, Redfin doesn’t currently play into the real estate market at our local level. However, it is interesting to know how they operate to help answer questions about their operation. First, Redfin is different from Zillow in the fact that Zillow make most of its money selling user data to agents as leads. Redfin want to buy or sell your house, and has agents as the largest source of its income. Their agents are paid a salary rather than a commission and are typically newer that your average real estate agent due to this.

It is very possible that with the improvement in AI and other technologies that Redfin will be able to accurately price listings and offers in smaller markets, but it simply isn’t a reality or worth it for them at this time. On the other hand, Redfin can also offer to buy a property with much less paperwork straight from a seller – but the data suggest that these offers come in 7%-12% lower than would an average offer. Moreover, Redfin can make an offer to purchase a home on your behalf, but typically these offers are rejected, as there is no pre-negotiating, no finding pain points on the sellers side to work around, and not having the local savvy to make a winning bid.

However, there is no telling where this company may go in large markets.  Many analysts are projecting massive growth for Redfin as these practices catch on in these metro areas like Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Certainly, their bundling of every aspect of the home purchase process from loans, to offers and beyond make them an attractive offer. As with any industry, there is a large incentive to disrupt the real estate model, and Redfin is one of the companies that is doing that.

Molly wants you to have all the information to help you make a decision at your disposal. She is always learning, going to seminars and making herself a resource for anyone who would like to chat real estate! If you have a question about Redfin, or anything else in real estate, Molly is your gal!

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You’ve decided you are going to list your home, and found the real estate agent who fits your needs and  signed the listing agreement. The listing agreement is a contract under which a property owner (as principal) authorizes a real estate broker (as agent) to find a buyer for the property on the owner’s terms. In exchange for this service, the owner pays a commission. Many things begin to happen once you sign the agreement, everything being focused on presenting your property in its best light to find the most qualified buyers offering to buy the property.

What does the agent provide?

There are many things that need to happen to do this. The agent will arrange to have professional marketing content, such as pictures, video and virtual reality tours depending on the property and its unique characteristics.  All of the marketing systems that the agent provides should be discussed ahead of time so that both parties are on the same page as to expectations to generate the desired outcome. Additionally, the Listing agent should provide the client with an unbiased valuation of the home and help set a listing price. A quality real estate agent is in tune with the market, so can make suggestions for home updates that will lead to a successful home sale, given the local market and macro market environment. In some instances, a seller will have an inflated estimation on the value of their home; in some instances, if the agent ignores market conditions and prices it higher, then it can linger on the market and sell at a lower price. This is a critical part of the listing process.

THE BASICS:

• An agent will put your home on the MLS. The MLS is a local board of agents who share details of homes on the market. This will in turn syndicate out to larger home listing sites to spread word that your property is now on the market. This requires filling out forms, double checking facts and pouring over documents to make sure that everything is in order to sell the property. Depending on local HOA regulations, an agent will put a sign in front of the property that the home is now on the market.

• Staging and pictures, the real estate agent should ensure that the home is presentable and that a professional photographer promptly delivers quality images to share on the local MLS. Pictures are the main way for potential buyer to become interested in a property and seek out more information on the property.

• Open Houses and Handling request from interest parties. Once the property is on the MLs, if it is priced well it will generate interest from buyers and buyer’s agents. The listing agent will control the flow of information on the property and schedule showings for interest buyers to the home.

Documents, disclosures, contracts oh my! Throughout the process, receiving offers and negotiating the sale of a home, there are many documents that need to be signed, sealed and delivered. Mistakes in this process are not good, so the more experienced and professional an agent, the better.

A Critical Decision.

With every agent, there will be a slightly different take on marketing, or systems to get the home sold quickly and efficiently. You should meet with multiple agent to make sure that you are comfortable with their style of communication, their knowledge and expertise in the field. Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions! Your goal is to find the best agent to sell your property. Molly Eldridge has a perfect 5-star rating as a real estate agent, you can rest easy signing the listing contract with her! Please give her a call to discuss the listing and sale of your property!

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When a transaction is under contract, pending or contingent, the home in a transitional state between the time when the sellers accept the buyers’ offer and when the sale is fully finalized. Typically, this process includes meeting any contingencies, setting up mortgage financing, appraising, inspecting and more.

Going under contract, in many ways, is a bit of a waiting game that can get complicated. But understanding the process can help reduce stress when your transaction is getting underway. Here’s a breakdown of what happens after an offer gets accepted.

Sign the papers

The first thing that happens is the most obvious: the buyers and sellers sign a purchase agreement. This contract is important because it protects both parties during the transaction process. Part of this contract includes the earnest money deposit (EMD) amount, a negotiated payment from buyer to seller to demonstrate that the buyer is serious about purchasing the home. Typically, this amount is 1-5% of the home’s sale price.

The purchase agreement also outlines things like purchase price, buyer financing, closing costs, contingencies, any items coming with the sale like appliances, as well as timelines for contingencies, an offer expiration date and a closing date.

Once the sellers have cashed the EMD and all conditions for sale as outlined in the purchase agreement are met, the buyers are legally allowed to purchase the property.

Some negotiating can happen in this process, including repairs, adjusting timelines or overall purchase price. The best thing to do is be patient, check your email, and TRUST your broker to advocate for your needs.

Meet your contingencies

After the sellers accept an offer, the home is listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as “pending” or “contingent.” While both terms sound similar, they are in fact different. If a property is listed as contingent, that means certain conditions must be met before the transaction can proceed to the next steps.

The Four Most Common Types of Contingencies

A financing contingency means mortgage loan terms must be approved. Typically, the approval letter from the buyer’s financial institution would have already been submitted to the seller. In any case, all conditions related to finances must be met in order to proceed. This process includes buyers completing a mortgage application.

An appraisal contingency means that the lending financial institution will send an appraiser into the house to value the home. This process insures that the lender is loaning an amount of money that’s fair and appropriate for the given market. If the appraiser’s evaluation deems the property’s value under the negotiated sale price, the parties can re-negotiate or the buyers can withdraw.

An inspection contingency is important because an inspector can make sure that a home meets local building codes. This is an important protection method for the buyer because if the inspector finds problems with the property, the buyer can ask sellers to repair the issues or withdraw. Many times, when buyers back out of sales, it is due to a failed home inspection. This process includes scheduling a time for an inspector to visit the home; make this a top priority, as there is often a small window specified in the purchase agreement to get this done.

A home sale contingency means that a buyer will buy the sellers’ property, but only after their own property has sold. This is common in real estate contracts because many times, buyers are also selling their current home as well.

Other action items

Request a quote for homeowner’s insurance, ideally within one week of signing. Your agent will be able to refer you to insurance agencies, if you’ve never purchased it before. Once you decide on a quote/policy, be sure to pass that information onto your lending financial institution. It is common to pay premiums up front. Buyers sign loan documents once everything regarding home financing is squared away.

Then, the appraiser will conduct their evaluation. The turnaround time for results is typically 1-2 weeks. They will look at the home’s structure and bones objectively, without considering aesthetics, to make a fair determination of market value. If the number is too low, buyers have the options to negotiate or walk away.

Wrapping up

After completing those processes, the buyers do a final walk through, noting items that would be left behind by the sellers such as appliances and fixtures. They check that the home is in the condition agreed upon at the purchase agreement signing.

Be sure to set up utilities like water, gas, electric, internet, phone and cable before moving as well.

Then, it’s finally closing time. The buyers and sellers will meet at the closing attoneys’ office for an hour to sign papers and exchange funds. Buyers will want to get their funds together ahead of time while the real estate agent helps them prepare documents to bring. A day or two before the Final Closing Disclosure, buyers will wire over the necessary funds to prohibit delays. Be vigilant about wiring money, as wire fraud schemes have become popular in recent years. Read this blog post on my website to learn more.

Then, and only then, can buyers schedule their moving day.

The process can feel long and complicated, but as a seasoned Crested Butte real estate broker, I’m experienced in the closing process and can help with any questions or concerns along the way. The key is keeping an eye on your email – which shouldn’t be a challenge as you anxiously await closing! – and trusting the process.

Call me to learn about real estate opportunities in the Crested Butte area and to learn how I can make your transaction run as smoothly as possible.

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Whatever your plan is, this property is full of potential!

Incredible opportunity in the R2 zone of the City of Gunnison! This adorable home sits on four city lots and has a great rental history. The current owners have updated the bathroom, created a laundry room/mud room, updated the electrical service, replaced all of the plumbing, replaced the sewer line, installed a new water heater and painted the interior. With laminate wood floors, newer carpet and nice, large windows, this two bedroom, one bath home would make a great starter home or investment property. Also on the property is a large, historic garage/workshop with great wood beams and lots of space for storage. The third structure is a shed with a chicken coop set up for your urban farm! With a little love, the giant yard featuring raspberries, rhubarb, lilacs, chokecherry and many native flowers will come back to life and create a backyard oasis to enjoy as you watch sunsets from the huge back deck. Because of the size of the lot and the R2 zoning, there is the potential to add another residence, but subdividing the lot would likely require demolishing or moving the main house and certainly would require approval from the city.

Contact me if you are interested in this Gunnison property!

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There aren’t many single-family homes for sale in South Crested Butte, and this one is a true gem! Located on a corner lot just blocks from the park, nordic trailhead, and bus stop, you will easily access all of the amenities offered in CB South. The light and sunny great room with vaulted ceilings provides a wonderful space for entertaining and relaxing. An updated kitchen with stainless appliances and bar seating for four allows your guests to hang out with you while you cook. Whether you are dining in the special nook, relaxing in the open living area, setting up a train set in the front bay window or warming by the woodstove, this space creates options for every group! All of the doors and windows were replaced in 2020 to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. When you want to enjoy the outdoors, the mature landscaping with irrigation system and brand-new privacy fence in the backyard create an oasis. Add in the two car garage and storage shed and this home truly has it all!

Check out a 3D tour of the home below, and contact me if you are interested in this property!

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This practically new custom home overlooks the entire valley and provides incredible views of the surrounding mountains. Currently, there are three bedrooms, two offices and 2 1/2 baths. The master bedroom includes a private deck, gas fireplace, a standard closet, and a walk-in closet complete with a chandelier! Plus, the spacious bathroom provides an oversized jetted tub, double sinks with granite countertop and plenty of space. Everywhere you look you will find lovely details and finishes to create a truly special space. The high-end kitchen with stainless appliances, stone countertops and large island flows into the dining and living areas plus you can enjoy the many outdoor decks and patios depending on the weather and views you are looking for. Outside includes a hot tub, space for a trampoline & swing set, and professional, irrigated landscaping. The heated workshop can be used as a studio, workshop or as a shed and the oversized two car garage provides plenty of space for your cars and toys. This luxury mountain home just closed for $1,100,000!

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