Many seasoned home buyers have been through the process and already know what they want and need. But if this is your first rodeo, you may not know what to look for when buying a home or where to even start. The home buying process can be emotionally charged at the best of times, so to help you stay on track and find exactly what you're looking for, here are a few things to think about before you start shopping.

Find Out How Much You Can Afford

Before you start perusing the listings and falling in love with house after house, it's time for a reality check. It's better to find out what you can really afford before you get your heart set on a particular home. This is one of the most common mistakes of first-time buyers and it's heartbreaking to

Thanks to the annual amount of sunlight the city receives, Colorado Springs may seem like a great place for a garden to succeed, but it also comes with its own unique set of challenges as well. The Pikes Peak region is home to several little microclimates, all of which make gardening a totally different experience from one end of the city to the other. However, with a little bit of hard work, the right conditions, and some persistence, you can achieve the beautiful backyard vegetable garden you've been dreaming of.

If you're looking to start your very own vegetable garden in Colorado Springs, here are a few tips to help you get started:

Find The Perfect Spot

You'll want to find a spot that typically receives around 10 hours of sunlight per

During the construction of a new home, your builder acts as a conductor would in an orchestra. The builder is the person in charge of coordinating all the smaller contractors and builders who are involved in the main construction of your home. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, are just a few of the people involved.

With so many cooks in the kitchen, it is imperative for the builder to keep track of everything and inspect the progress. Not only does the builder make sure the project is running on schedule, they also make sure everything is up to standard.

Before Closing

A couple weeks before the closing date, your builder will most likely walk through the home and make several notes of things that must be changed or repaired

Spooks and frights are in the air as the cold sets in here in Colorado Springs, which means Halloween is just around the corner. Whether you have kids or just want to go out for a thrill this upcoming Halloween, Colorado Springs is sure to have an event that suits your needs. Find out which of these Colorado Springs Halloween Events are the best for you:

Halloween Events For Kids

Boo at the Zoo

Get your boys and ghouls dressed up to visit the animals at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! This annual event is a howl for the whole family! Check out the animal displays, take a walk through the haunted house, visit the spooky pumpkin patch, and much more!

• Dates: October 21 – 23 and 28 – 31, 2016
• Time: 4 – 8:30pm
• Cost: $17.75 per person,

Known for its dry climate, lawn care in Colorado can sometimes seem like a constant uphill battle. Drier than normal spring weather will result in watering and irrigation restrictions that will make it, even more, difficult for homeowners to maintain a healthy, lush lawn. Dried up, brown grass is a constant plague that homeowners in the area must deal with.

However, there are a few things that you can do to better care for your yard. Here are some of our top tips and tricks for caring for your Colorado Springs lawn:

Fertilize the Lawn

Fertilizing the lawn in the spring is always recommended between March and June each year. Even if the spring is dry like it has been recently, fertilizing is still recommended since minimal precipitation and

Although most homes for sale in the Colorado Springs area will typically have a selling agent, some owners opt for the For Sale By Owner route. What this means is that the owner is 100% in control of the sale, from setting the listing price and marketing it on their own to negotiation with the buyer directly. For buyers, this doesn't really change how they buy the home, but there are a few things you should be aware of when working with a property that's For Sale By Owner.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Do You Still Need An Agent If Buying From An FSBO?

Like with any real estate transaction, you can choose to work with or without

Sometimes, a necessary part of the home buying process is attending a few open houses. These are great opportunities to see a home without the pressure of scheduling a viewing. For first-time homebuyers, open houses are a great way to see what other homebuyers are looking at and speak to a real estate agent without making a huge commitment.

Here are a few tips and tricks of things you can expect and ways you can prepare should you go to an open house:

Make the Most Out of the Day

One of the best ways how to prepare for an open house as a buyer is by researching the neighborhood and finding more open houses happening on the same day. That way, you can make the most of the afternoon and see as many properties as possible.

Dress

With PCS season just around the corner, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out about your upcoming move. If you're doing a personally procured move, you are most likely going to be spending a lot of time packing, planning, scheduling, and losing sleep. When it comes to relocating, there are a few things you can do to take some of the stress away and make sure your move is eco-friendly and simple.

Try some of these tips and tricks to make your PCS greener and more environmentally friendly:

Use Natural Cleaners

It's amazing how much dust you discover during a move. Even if you are a clean family that maintains a relatively dust-free home, you will most likely want to go for a deep clean before packing up all your belongings. Using

So you've found your dream home and you want to start the mortgage process to make things official. There are two options for buyers when it comes time to secure their local mortgage lender: either go with a mortgage broker or get a loan from a bank. Many homeowners will tell you exactly what they think the right choice is and while their opinions may be valid, they are often biased by their own past experiences. To find out which option is best for your personal needs, continue reading as we look at what it's like to work with a mortgage broker versus bank:

What is a Mortgage Lender?

A mortgage lender refers to a bank or other financial institution that specializes in mortgage products. Banks employ loan officers who work off a

The housing market in Colorado Springs was recently recognized as the best in the state, and with so many transactions and new construction properties, it's an exciting time to be buying or selling a home. Home values have continued to increase over the past few years, there are plenty of buyer's in the area, but there's also a lack of inventory for those buyers. These are all just some of the reasons why those who are looking to sell their home are at a bit of an advantage right now. That said if you're thinking about buying right now, with the right preparation, resources, and connections, you'll be well on the way to successfully owning a home in no time, for a great deal no less.

Know What You're Looking For In A Home

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