One of the perks of a real estate boom is increasing values and improving home equity.  During the Great Recession, many homeowners with mortgages saw their home’s value plummet below the balance they owed on their mortgage.  Being “upside down” on their homes led many owners to short sell or simply give up and let the bank foreclose.  In Utah, time has healed that wound and CoreLogic has come out with new figures showing just how robust Utah’s recovery has continued.   Here you can see that Utah’s […]

Being a Realtor takes you many places many people never go.  Realtors also see many things that people never see.  Here are some of the latest sights that made us giggle…or cringe. Accessory dwellings are all the rage with affordable housing being so scarce.  This house comes with an mother-in-law apartment in a tree.   Meh.  Just another run-of-the-mill 747 accident in the neighborhood.  (Courtesy of my vacation to Universal Studios)   Is your bathroom boring you to tears? Spruce it up with vanity wallpaper.     You learn a lot […]

The news cycle has been filled with stories of the affordable housing problem we are experiencing here in Utah. The problem is nationwide but there are some unique features to our problems locally. First, a lack of land prevents the continued suburban sprawl that is the hallmark of the last 60 years of Utah’s development. Compounding the problem is that zoning laws in most of Utah’s small municipalities shun higher density housing projects which could alleviate the imbalance of supply and demand for housing.   Despite these macro forces creating […]

We recently purchased the historic Ambrose P. Hibbs home located at 2223 Adams Ave. in Ogden.  The purchase was somewhat of an accident after one of our property management clients ran into a personal hardship and even worse circumstances at the property.  Recognizing the impossible situation, we offered to purchase the home and help alleviate their burden.  They happily agreed.   At closing, we adopted a property that was a complete mess.  Fetid trash was piled high and years of neglect and abuse were glaring. The building had been used […]

We just listed this home for sale located at 2122 Jefferson Ave. in Ogden, Utah.  The home is tucked away next to New Bridge Elementary and across the street from the Historic Ogden 4th Ward Chapel.  The neighborhood is highly walkable with restaurants, recreation, worship centers, entertainment and more just blocks away. The home has 1220 SQFT with a tiny portion of that being a cellar space.  The remaining floorplan is dedicated to 3 bedrooms, a spacious laundry area, an updated bathroom, and a sizable kitchen.  There is also a […]

Developers recently made a pitch to the Ogden Planning Commission to construct a Hilton Hotel at the corners of Lincoln Ave. and 24th St.  Currently the site is the home to a grove of trees and an under utilized commercial building. The proposed hotel will be 23,500 SQFT and host the “Home 2” and “Tru” sub brands that Hilton offers. While we are excited about the prospect of the city continuing to grow and redevelop, we can’t help but hold our nose at today’s unfortunate architectural trends with gaudy fins, […]

Our property management company manages a freaky property located in a formerly creepy part of Ogden City.  The property is currently used as a duplex and tenants have occupied it for years.  Recently however, the owner received a letter from the city stating that the property did not have a “legal non-conforming use” certificate.  What is that, you say?  To make a long story short, a legal non-conforming use certificate says that a property can be used for a purpose that conflicts with the zone that the property resides in.  […]

We just signed with the owner to manage this fantastic rambler located on a secluded dead end street in North Ogden.  The home has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and nearly 2400 SQFT.  It is surrounded by open space and has a lot of room for stretching out.  The home is located in a newer subdivision just below 3100 N. We welcome our newest client to our property management family!   If you are in need of management services, CONTACT ME, and let’s put a plan together to make sure owning […]

Explore the latest market info to answer questions about affordability and the future of Northern Utah house prices with Broker Jeremy Peterson.  

We just closed on the purchase of this home for our clients.  Located at 682 W. 1860 N. in Clinton, this property was recently renovated by the owners.  At the time we saw the property, it appeared the seller was nearly complete with construction inside the home but had a few loose ends to finish.  The home was listed for $295,000 on March 14th.  The home has 5 beds, 3 baths, and 2380 SQFT between the main floor and fully finished basement. We offered $298,000 and asked for $3,000 in […]

We just closed on the sale of this 3 bed 1 bath rambler in the Ron Claire neighborhood of northern Ogden.  We listed the home for $179,900 on March 14th.  We received four offers within 24 hours. The offers were: $183,000 with asking $3,800 in seller paid closing costs.  FHA loan. $175,000 with asking $3,950 in seller paid closing costs.  FHA loan. $195,000 with asking $4,000 in seller paid closing costs. FHA loan. $185,000 with asking $3,500 in seller paid closing costs.  Conventional loan. Since this transaction was the platform […]

We just closed on the sale of this iconic Ogden craftsman home located at 2223 Adams Ave. in Ogden Utah.  The home was constructed in 1913 by Ambrose P. Hibbs and his wife Gracie in 1913.  He was a doctor of osteopathy and she was a socialite.  They had one son who graduated from Ogden High School and joined the navy in 1919. The home has hit hard times lately and will need a significant renovation to be made livable again.  The property is 2900 SQFT and has 5 bedrooms, […]

It has been a while since we shared some of the absurd, unusual, and outright strange things we see while out in the field.   Enjoy some of the latest: They weren’t lying.  Box Elder trees can grow just about anywhere it turns out.   Nice touch. Those curtains totally hide the 2×4 security bars screwed into the door.   Is the bedroom to small or the bed to big. Hmmmmm….   Terrify your child into using the toilet with this creepy evil wall mount urinal.   Look at the light […]

So imagine you move into a cheap basement apartment to save some money while you go to school.  While you are there, a neighbor moves into the apartment next door.  You and your spouse befriend them.  You make a plate of cookies and introduce yourselves to them in a gracious act if neighborliness.   Meanwhile, your neighbor’s daughter and her ne’er-do-well boyfriend start hanging out next door.  When you come home from work, the boyfriend gives you bad looks and watches you.  You have a bad feeling about the guy. […]

We just closed on the sale of the Historic Callie E. Cave home located at 2202 Adams Ave. in Ogden, Utah. The home was originally listed for sale in late November for $249,900.  After a couple of weeks of relatively slow activity, the price was dropped to $244,900.  A steady drumbeat of showings began after that and the home was placed under contract on January 31st.  The buyer was self-employed and requested a longer contract time to help facilitate the financing process.  Our clients accommodated the buyer. Unfortunately, the buyer […]