“When military staff and
their families relocate, the
services of a real estate
professional who
understands their needs and
timetables can make the
transfer easier, faster and
less stressful…”
In This Issue
Military Relocation
Professional Award
announcement
Local Housing Market
Update
Feds and Interest Rate
Update
Limited Local Growth
Ballot Initiative #66
Customer Success
Stories: Principle of
Attraction
Spring Lawn
Maintenance Tips
Happy Mother’s Day
Military Relocation Professional Award
Congratulations to Namati Katungu with CredoTrust Real Estate Group,
LLC and The Katungu Team, he has been nationally recognized and
awarded certification as a Military Relocation Professional (MRP). The
National Association of Realtors® (NAR) awards the MRP certification
to Realtors® who help military personnel, veterans and their families find
housing that lets them make the best use of their benefits and serves the
unique needs of military life. The certification provides NAR’s members
with resources to accommodate current and former military service
members at any stage of their military career and is an approved elective
for NAR’s Accredited Buyers Representative designation. To earn the
MRP certification, Realtors must be in good standing with NAR;
complete the MRP Certification Core Course; complete a reading
providing background information on the military, including acronyms
and understanding military culture; and complete two webinars. When
military staff and their families relocate, the services of a real estate
professional who understands their needs and timetables can make the
transfer easier, faster and less stressful. Realtors® who earn this
certification know exactly how to work with active duty military and
veteran buyers and sellers.
As an MRP, Namati Katungu is Knowledgeable About:
PCS Quick Relocations
Military Housing
BAH Rates
Housing Market
Military Resources
Military Benefits
Veteran Grants
VA Financing and Entitlements for Active Military and Veterans
THE KATUNGU TEAM
CREDOTRUST REAL ESTATE GROUP Issue 1 Believe and Put Your Trust in Us May 2018
We Contribute 10% of Our Commission as an Incentive for Using Our Services
Information is deemed reliable as of the date of printing. It should be used for information only, not as a realtor’s advice. The Katungu Team and
CredoTrust Real Estate Group are not liable for its use.
Local Housing Market Update
Spring has sprung in the Colorado Springs’s housing market despite traces of
snow. The month-to-month single family/patio homes activity of new listings
in April 2018 increased by 12%, the average sales price increased to $348,527
which is up by 11.8% when compared to $311,829 of April 2017, and the
median sales price increased to $305,000 which is up by 10.9% from
$275,000 in April 2017. For condos/townhomes the average sales price in
April 2018 increased to $236,915 which went up by 19% from $211,378 in
April 2017, and the median sales price increased to $212,500 which went up
by 11.8% from $190,000 in April 2017. In April 2018, 77% of the single
family homes sold were priced under $400,000, 11% were between $400,000
and $500,000, 11% between $500,000 and $800,000, and 2% were priced
over $800,000. Homes in Colorado Springs are steadily becoming less
affordable.
Effects of Limited Local Growth Ballot Initiative
#66 on Economy
Colorado’s economy has grown
rapidly in recent years due to a strong
job market, and an enviable quality of
life that defines the Colorado
experience.
The proposed statewide ballot
initiative called Limited Growth
Initiative #66 will place arbitrary
limits on growth that would cripple
future economic prosperity and create
a new growth burden on the already
low inventory of housing available to
Colorado consumers. The initiative
will limit the total number of all
housing units in each of the 10
populous counties on front range to
1% in both 2019 and 2020. Therefore,
this initiative would have a very
significant detrimental effect on
affordability of housing in Colorado.
For example, lack of affordable
homes will push workers farther from
their jobs, forcing them to commute
long distances, and put undue strain
on local roadways and public
transportation.
The supply of affordable housing is a
vital component to our regional
economy by retaining a skilled
workforce, keeping local business
competitive, and reducing urban
sprawl. Also, it gives young people
the chance to purchase rather than
rent, allowing them to begin building
valuable home equity.
The Fed and Interest Rate Update
The Federal Reserve raised its key short-term interest rate by 0.25 percent in
March 2018, citing concerns about inflation. It is the sixth rate increase by the
Fed since December 2015, and at least two more rate increases are expected
this year. Borrowing money will be more expensive, particularly for home
equity loans, credit cards and adjustable rate mortgages, but rising wages and
a low national unemployment rate reported in April 2018 that has remained at
4.1 percent for six months in a row would seem to indicate that we are
prepared for this. And although mortgage rates have risen to their highest
point in four years, they are still affordable and low.
~PPAR Monthly Indicators~
Customer Success Story: Principle of Attraction
One discovery of the power of the human mind and
how it works is the ability to achieve; whatever, it
conceives and believes regardless of your past
failures. This principle of attraction was displayed by
our customers Kenneth and Ip, a deaf couple, when
they bought their retirement home. After unsuccess-
fully working with two other Realtors to buy a patio
home for their retirement, they were introduced to the
Katungu Team by one of our previous customers.
During our initial consultation meeting, Ip said
something with extraordinary determination, “We
arrived early at Flying Horse Community, and we
drove around this beautiful community. We have
decided to buy our retirement home and live here.”
Kenneth was skeptical of Ip’s desire as the cost of
patio homes at Flying Horse was not within their
original budget. Therefore, he questioned whether
they had enough money to afford buying a home and
living at Flying Horse Community. Since our meeting
was on a Saturday, we contacted one of our preferred
mortgage loan officers, Matthew Shtatman, with Axia
Home Loans, to see if he was available to come to our
office and prequalify them for a mortgage loan.
Luckily, Matthew was available, and he came to the
office within an hour to meet with Kenneth and Ip,
and got them prequalified. We showed them three
available paired patio homes under construction in the
Village of Siena at Flying Horse. We negotiated for
one of the patio homes to ensure that it was within
their budget, and executed a contract. After the
closing for their new home, we continued to provide
them with real estate services.
Building trust, providing unique real estate services,
and exceeding expectations is what The Katungu
Team with CredoTrust Real Estate Group is all about.
Kenneth and Ip Standing Outside Their Patio Home
Spring Lawn Maintenance Tips
The best way to have a thick, green and healthy lawn in the
Summer is to maintain it in early Spring as stated below:
Rake Old Grass: Rake old grass from your lawn to
prevent them from blocking sunlight which causes the
lawn to become thin and slow to grow.
Aeration and Fertilization: We recommend aerating
and/or applying organic soil revive to your lawn. Also,
applying Scott’s Turf Builder and Weed Control fertilizer
will help provide start-up nutrients for your lawn.
Sprinkler System: Most homeowners turn on their
sprinkler system after Mother’s Day. However, you may
activate your sprinkler system early if necessary.
Weed Control: Control weeds such as dandelions by
applying weed control in early Spring on the lawn and
decorative rocks to prevent them from growing. Use at
your discretion.
Tune-up Your Mower: Change oil, air filter and spark
plugs, and sharpen the blades to ensure your mower is
ready for heavy moving season. Adjust your mower so that
it cuts grass at the highest possible setting about 3-4” high.
“Uncountable many thanks for helping us to find an
excellent home in the right place. You have been really
going out of the way to give us helpful suggestions and
advice and aid. In our past experience with other realtors, you
have truly stood up on the top of the pillar. If we should get a
problem in our home, we will turn to you to give us some help.
If any person in our condition asks us, we would recommend
you. You are an energetic and amazing Realtor.”
Thank You! Kenneth and Ip
Contact Us
Please contact us
and visit our
websites for more
information about
our real estate
services.
Namati Katungu, Realtor®, MRP,
Eco-broker, LHP, QSC, CDPE
CredoTrust Real Estate Group
Believe and Put Your Trust in Us
Text/Voice: (719) 231-5174
Visit us on the websites at:
www.CredoTrustHomes.com
www.KatunguTeam.com
Namati Katungu
CredoTrust Real Estate Group
Believe and Put Your Trust in Us
P.O. Box 63931
Colorado Springs, CO 80962
PLACE STAMP HERE
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The CredoTrust Real Estate Group Newsletter is Published Monthly for Our Customers