You’ve found a condo in Glenwood Springs you like. Your income, credit and assets look good, and you’ve been pre-approved for the mortgage. So you're good to go, right? Not necessarily. One of the surprises for some condo buyers is that the lender may be evaluating more than the borrower. The condominium project itself may also need to meet certain requirements. And that means issues involving the HOA can potentially affect your financing. The Short Answer Yes. The HOA and co

For many first-time homebuyers, the biggest obstacle isn't necessarily being able to afford a monthly housing expense. It's coming up with the money needed to buy the home in the first place. That's a question I hear from buyers looking in New Castle and throughout Western Colorado: “Do I need a large down payment to buy a home?” The answer may surprise you. The Short Answer No, you don't necessarily need a large down payment to buy a home in New Castle. There are mortgage pr

One of the most common questions I hear from first-time homebuyers in Glenwood Springs is: “How much money do I actually need to buy a home?” With home prices in Glenwood Springs, it's easy to assume you need a very large amount of cash—or a 20% down payment—before homeownership is realistic. Fortunately, that isn't necessarily the case. The Short Answer You may be able to purchase your first home with considerably less than 20% down. There are mortgage programs designed to h