The Group, Inc. now offers its customers 24/7 secure online access to their real estate transaction file through www.thegroupinc.com whenever and wherever.  This new system, called SureClose, provides centralized communication with direct email contact to the Realtor and the lender.  As items in the file are added or updated, it is noted in SureClose.  This cuts down on the need for you to make a call to the Realtor or our Escrow Department…it saves time and is more efficient.  

All closing documents may be reviewed online prior to closing AND following closing, all documents are stored for 4 years for your convenience.

This is just another way The Group, Inc. is making the real estate transaction ‘transparent’ for our customers – making you a part of the process.  It is also one more way we are ‘going green’!

Contact The Group, Inc. for more information about SureClose and how it can streamline your next transaction with us!

The Group, Inc. is breaking new ground in customer service by making information on sold homes available online for consumers.  Visitors to The Group’s website, www.thegroupinc.com, can search for sold properties by address, neighborhood, zip code, and city; results will show the sales price, sold date, specific details about the property, and photos.

Consumers have been asking for easily searchable data on sold homes for a long time, and real estate companies have been reluctant to provide it.  The Group, Inc. is one of the first real estate companies in the U.S. to put this information on their website for direct access by consumers.  Our company philosophy has always been to be the source of real estate information for our customers and this is the next step.

History shows that job growth makes a positive impact in the residential real estate market over the ensuing 12-18 months. So, the pending addition of jobs in Weld County portends better times to come in the housing market. Upstate Colorado, Weld County’s economic development agency, has recently announced projects that will bring approximately 2,100 new jobs. Those projects include Hexcel, a supplier to the still-growing Vestas Wind Systems, as well as Leprino Foods, Abound Solar, and Cornell Companies.

Such job growth prospects are reinforced by the latest Manpower Inc. survey. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which anticipates hiring for the second quarter of 2009, predicts a “respectable pace” of hiring by northern Colorado employers during the period between April and June. In the Greeley area, 18% of companies surveyed said they will add jobs, while only 8% expected to reduce jobs. In the Fort Collins-Loveland area, 19% expected to add jobs compared to 10% that would reduce jobs.

Loveland found its way on the 2009 Best Place to Live List just published by U.S. News.  Here is what they said about the cities chosen: 

In selecting our Best Places to Live for 2009, U.S. News took a thrift-conscious approach: We looked for affordable communities that have strong economies and plenty of fun things to do. The cities we selected are as distinct as America itself–ranging from a quaint suburb to a live-music mecca. But whether you prefer hiking through the Rocky Mountains, pulling a fish out of the Atlantic Ocean, or grilling hot dogs at a college football tailgate, here are 10 places that will fill up your daybook without emptying your wallet.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Best-Places-to-Live-usnews-15476164.html?.v=1

Fort Collins/Loveland placed #3 on US News and World Report’s list of the “Top 10 Housing Marketing for the Next 10 Years”.  Here is an excerpt with the list of 10 metropolitan areas:

With home prices at the national level down a painful 32 percent from their 2006 peaks, it’s easy to overlook real estate’s benefits as a long-term investment. But the truth is, despite the ongoing housing bust, the overwhelming majority of America’s real estate markets will appreciate over the next 10 years–although some more handsomely than others. “In the long run–subtracting from the ups and downs of the business cycle–house prices should grow at the rate of household income,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com. “If people’s incomes are rising, then they will buy more housing and house prices will rise.” Income growth, in turn, is linked to the strength of the area’s economy. Moody’s Economy.com sifted through employment and population data and analyzed geographic and industry trends to generate 10-year home price projections for each of the nation’s 384 distinct metropolitan statistical areas–everywhere from Abilene, Texas, to Yuma, Ariz. Using these data, U.S. News compiled a list of the top 10 housing markets for the next 10 years.

Here’s the projected average annual percent change in home prices from the fourth quarter of 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2018:

1. Bremerton-Silverdale, Wash.: 5.22 percent

2. Glens Falls, N.Y: 4.71 percent

3. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.: 4.06 percent

4. Corvallis, Ore.: 3.95 percent

5. Anchorage, Alaska: 3.8 percent

6. Duluth, Minn.: 3.74 percent

7. Sandusky, Ohio: 3.66 percent

8. Santa Fe, N.M: 3.57 percent

9. Pittsfield, Mass.: 3.51 percent

10. Decatur, Ill.: 3.44 percent

Click here for the full article:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20090605/ts_usnews/thetop10housingmarketsforthenext10years

In her position as Federal Reserve Senior Vice President, Julie Stackhouse has a front row seat to the twists and turns in America’s economic fortunes. So, it was noteworthy to hear her provide some encouraging words about the economy when she addressed a recent gathering of Group broker associates.

In her presentation titled “Understanding the Financial Crisis and Implications for the Future of the Home Mortgage Market,” Stackhouse reviewed the origins of the 2007-2008 financial storm, the government’s response, and the outlook for a return to normalcy.

In Stackhouse’s view, the definition of normal is likely to change. Mortgage lenders will insist on greater documentation. “We’re not going to see a lot of subprime loans,” she said. If subprime loans do return, it will be in far different form from the easy-access mortgages that emerged in recent years.

Stackhouse believes the real estate market is ideal for buyers who can qualify for conventional loans. “If you can qualify in the conventional market, or if you are a first-time homebuyer, it’s a great time,” she said. “And for refinancing – it’s a great time to do it. Take advantage of it.”

Stackhouse also contends that consumers shouldn’t succumb to fear. “As consumers, it is reasonable for us to continue spending money within our means,” she said.