Stephanie Sawin's Blog Posts

Have you been dreaming of owning a rental property???  Then, COVID-19 hits, along with furloughs and deferred payments.  Owning a rental sounds a little bit scarier then it did a few

I think we all are...Real estate is all about timing, well mostly...I take that back.  Real estate is about strategy.Everyone has their own strategy.  The best part is different strategies

I will say stay at home orders were a no brainer for me.  Working from home and being a stay-at-home parent made the transition easier.  I will say it forced me to look at the way we were

Retirement can be a scary topic for some people...or most people.  We've actually sat down with a couple of different financial advisors (have only met one that actually gives advice and doesn

Preach!  I forgot the 9-5 a very long time ago.  It's a little terrifying at first, but also liberating to know that you are in control of your hours, your pay raises and your future!Photo

This home is located in the neighborhood where I purchased my very first house, so it's extra special.  Metzler Ranch in Castle Rock is a fantastic neighborhood located within walking distance

I don’t know about you, but there are a lot of people who had to either cancel their plans or put everything on hold.  I stumbled across this fantastic Pin on some of the best places to

Many of us have been working at home for awhile now…There are times when you love your space and times when you run from the mess.  I’m about somewhere in between.  Slowly,

What are your goals?  Are they personal, physical, business orientated…??  Do you have them written down somewhere?  What steps are you taking to achieve them?  Do you

Ever catch yourself in a rage of opinions, and the first thing you think about doing is blasting your thoughts all over the internet?  Good, I’m glad you’re thinking about it first.

Can you imagine this being you?  I no longer wear glasses, but I love coffee and doing research on a topic I’m passionate about.  As most of you know, I also love to learn from'

Some of you may know that I will simply jump into an article because the title automatically jumps out of me, and I think..."Oh that's going to be good and something I want to know!"As many of you

Not really something a lot of us think about...Actually most of us are waiting for the market to “crash,” but have no idea what would bring another crash about.  As much as I like

I’ve been posting a series of videos on saving for a down payment or saving while you’re stuck. I realized that my husband and I saved the most money for our first home by staying at

I have to admit this was the first thought that popped into my head when that money was received.  Fortunately, my husband and I are both essential employees (text me for info on becoming

Now, if you follow my blog regularly, you'll know that there are times when I will solely click on an article because of the title.  This title was intriguing right!?  I will tell you,

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

There is a lot going on behind the scenes in the real estate and lending world.  First, stocks dropped, interest rates went up (after being very very low, lenders were overwhelmed with

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie Sawin Realtor. Stephanie Sawin specializes in first time Buyers and Sellers, new construction homes, custom homes, land sales, and investment properties

Everyone’s dream...to own a cash flowing property where there are no issues and everyone is happy...It’s just a dream.  Being a landlord requires a lot of work, patience, and money.

I have always loved the idea of investing in a short term rental!  The little voice inside my head and outside (my husband) has constantly reminded me that these investments are a little more

Decided to grab a quick look at this article because I know when I get bored at home I love to go online and shop for all of the non-practical items that I really don’t need.I will say, like

Have your spouse and you been having conversations like this recently:Me: “Let’s support a local business and grab dinner to go tonight ?”Spouse: “We need to save money.;

It's no secret that I'm stuck at home and keeping myself busy by giving you all kinds of crafty ideas to keep yourself busy!  Yay!  I love the idea of repurposing old furniture into

I'll be the first to admit I didn't know this was a thing until I read it just now in this article.  Oddly enough, I have shown a home with a cedar lined bathroom ceiling...(now it's all making

My kids have been wanting to put up our Easter decorations forever.  We finally took down St. Patty's day and pulled out the Easter stuff (2 containers!)...So sad...the Easter baskets took up

Getting your house painted and ready to go on the market (or maybe you're just stuck at home and finally getting that paint project done)!?  Me too!  I don't know about you, but I don't

“...the dark forecasts...”I’m not sure this is it, but we are most likely due for a downturn, so why not be prepared?  Here are 5 different ways to make the next downturn to

I was at the store yesterday to grab some fresh fruit and vegetables.  A friend of mine asked me to let him know what they had...well...."A fairly decent amount of fresh produce, wine and beer

Here in Colorado and probably most places with hot markets and a booming economy there is a lot of building going on.  That means a lot of people following the money and getting into the

I think it was fate. I came across this article today after finishing a podcast called “There’s No Plan B.”  I hope your mindset right now is thinking or doing something to

You hear a lot about real estate investing and how wonderful it is.  Get started today! Yay!...But where in the world are you supposed to find the money??? Read this and then check out the

This article is straightforward.  Here are the cities, here’s why they are so popular, and here’s what the average rent and home price looks like.  How do you narrow it down?

Spring cleaning is a wonderful thing!  As a matter of fact, every once in a while, I feel like we should move again just to be able to go through all of our old stuff.  Now is also the

Yes, I went there again...what can I say??  I love food, and I love Colorado!  I have to admit after coming to Colorado from Las Vegas, I thought I would never find food as amazing. 

Short and sweet article.  Again, this type of investment is super important to do your research on!Still thinking about that income property in Douglas County Colorado?Castle Rock Real Estate

Oh to be 21 again and redo it all!   What would you do differently?  I for one would definitely invest in a property versus squandering my hard earned dollars away on short term fun with

For those of you that are self-employed you’re getting to the feeling.  For those of you who run a business (successfully), you are so close...And for those of that are successful

The gears are still turning after reading this one…  … ...If you’ve read certain investment books this makes a little more sense.  If not, maybe read this article a

When you ask me this question the best advice I feel I can give is “Think like a buyer and do the math.”  Kitchen and master bath renovations will may make a home sell faster and

As a Realtor, I’m constantly educating myself to make sure I can do the best job for you.  Millennials are one of the largest generations since the baby boomers! I don’t know about

Learning from other people’s mistakes is awesome, but learning from other people’s successes is even better!  It’s important to remember not to copycat someone’s

Why do you think you are currently in the business you’re in?  Why do you think people become real estate agents? ?The money, the flexibility, the “lifestyle.”  Everyone

It’s been awhile since I’ve been completely captured by a title.  This one I couldn’t resist. For most of my adolescence, I was dragged around the middle of nowhere northern

Maybe you’re not even thinking about real estate investing, but I think this can be the biggest mistake in many different parts of our lives.  Giving up because you feel overwhelmed. DON

There are a countless number of times I stumble across posts asking for a side hustle.  Stop searching social media for answers and check out this article with an entire list of different kinds

Kind of a funny question, but I’m sure there’s someone somewhere out there who does and who could use some advice.  You can watch the video or read the notes.  My favorite part

When you hear real estate investors you might think “Flippers?”  Because what else is there???  The flipping trend is slowing down.  Luckily, there are many different and

No, of course it doesn’t!  Now, I think I’m a pretty good food shopper, but there’s a tip in this article that I didn’t even think of!  I’m downloading the

Not sure what yearly vacation you were going to do this year???  Well, here's your answer...plan a road trip around the country trying the best tacos in every state!  Wooooo!  Why is

Congratulations!! You are already doing #3 by reading my blog and the articles that go along with it! (Never stop learning people)  This is a quick read that just makes total sense, and as for

Word of the year...why not?? Everyone else has one.  I tried my best to stay off of the bandwagon, but then I saw the word “intention.”  When you look back at your 2019 and see

One of my favorite things about the real estate investment market and the real estate market in general is that you can always learn from someone else’s mistakes.  Here’s a quick

My husband was the first one to bring up investing in real estate and owning our own businesses probably about 14 years ago.  It’s been a long time of just talking, thinking, planning and

Every once in awhile I need to change it up from real estate related to goal related.  Goal:  How to continue to eat the junky foods you probably shouldn’t be eating? This article

When I tell people I'm with EXIT Realty I get a lot of "?," "Who?" "I've never heard of them..."  Let me tell you we are an agent forward company founded on the idea of helping real estate

Buying an investment property with a huge chunk of cash flow sounds amazing right!?  It can be super awesome amazing, but make sure you do it the right way. This article is a fantastic take

There’s a lot to love about the real estate business, and there’s a lot to hate about the real estate business.  In the end it’s about helping people too. Helping people find

Here are a few quick stats on Denver Metro's November 2019 Market!Watch the Video!Call me to schedule an appointment to see how much your house is worth!Castle Rock Real Estate Specialist-Stephanie

What does your retirement look like?  Are you confident in the items you’ve invested a lot of your hard earned money in? Retirement is changing and has been slowly over the decades. 

I love my children more than anything, but man are they days when I wish house hacking was a little easier for people with kids because it’s AWESOME!  I recently took a class with a

Are you reading the 3rd post about the FIRE movement!?  If you’re answer is “yes,” I’m so proud of you for educating yourself!  This article is a perfect example of

When I saw this article I couldn’t help but think of all the long time citizens you hear of moving away from parts of Colorado because of our rapid growth.  Guess what Coloradans??? There

Here I go again!  Let me start by saying, when I found out about the FIRE movement it was like someone lit a fuse inside.  This is what my goal has been for years, but I just couldn&rsquo

You may be thinking, “Sure, I'll invest in real estate!  That sounds easy and fun!” or “No way! That sounds expensive and horrible!”  Whether you’re thinking

These words actually caught my eye in a previous real estate investment article I blogged about (What does your retirement look like? “...hope is not a strategy!”). “FIRE Movement

Have you noticed the difference in the way people speak about retirement?  Some people would like to retire, but have no idea how. Others plan on working for the rest of their lives because

I write a lot about investing in real estate, but sometimes it’s good to hear someone else’s story.  In my job as a Realtor, the biggest perk and challenge is everything is in your

Yes, buying or selling your first piece of real estate (or any piece of real estate) can be stressful and super emotional.  Some people are laying the groundwork for their future, and most of

I love Castle Rock, and I love getting out and about in our little town.  Check out this month’s event calendar, and get out and meet your neighbors in this beautiful weather!Castle Rock

I have to say I hate having debt!  I’m ok with a mortgage payment, bills, day to day living expenses, etc. but credit card debt and car payments drive me crazy!  Unfortunately, this

There’s a couple of these that you might say “Oh yeah...I knew that, and a few that you’ll be scratching your head about. I actually helped a seller sell a Sears home last year!

Now, let me start by stating that this is one person’s opinion, but as this is always a hot topic and popular question...I thought I’d go ahead and share this article with you! 

The title pretty much explains it all!  Have you thought about moving to a different area just to cut the cost of living?  It’s in the cards for some of us...Check out how your place

People are always asking me what they should do to their house?  What will increase the value? My answer usually is, “How long do you plan on living there?”  Now, if you plan

It occurred to me this morning, while sorting through emails, the amount of sales pitches I receive when I close on a property is astronomical.  The worst part is I wonder how many people"

This article is geared towards investors who are not working with an agent.  So, I may be shooting myself in the foot, but I love to talk about title companies.  Most people don't know

For starters, if you want my opinion of a Zestimate on your home feel free to schedule a meeting with me in person.  That being said, never underestimate the human senses beyond sight. Not only

Wondering where are of that hard earned cash is going??? Yeah me too!  My first challenge for you is to sit down with around 3 months of statements from every account and start highlighting...1

This article just flat out spoke to me.  So many of us struggle to fulfill the “get rich quick” dream because that’s exactly what it is a dream, not reality.  The best

I love learning from other peoples' mistakes, don't you??  Here's a story from an investor that got into a purchase that didn't pan out they way he planned.  The best advice, that I think

Everyone has some sort of morning routine...mine varies depending on how I'm feeling when I wake up, so not quite sure I'm the best for giving advice...That's why I found this awesome article! 

Is there really such a thing???  What about the least painful ways to save and still have money to spend on stupid stuff??  Yes, I know I should be encouraging Buyers to pinch every penny,

What do these 3 things have in common??? Everthing!  Basically find you "strike zone" or create a system.  Stick to it and know when to say no.  You might get the sideways glance

When you start researching and educating yourself on truly becoming a real estate investor you will start hearing the words cap rate thrown around all over the place.  Some of us who are new to

If you follow my blog regularly (if you don't and want to know more about real estate investing do), you'll know that I post all kinds of things about real estate investing.  This article

Awhile back I posted about our Colorado mini vacay to the Sand Dunes and how awesome it was!  This quick read sums up cheap ways to travel during the summer.  Guess what?!  Most of

As most of you know I'm a huge advocate for the wonderful amazing super awesome town of Castle Rock, Colorado.  It still amazes me that I have been here for 9 and half years (the longest I've

I know you've seen me post tons of articles on how to, why to, why not, just go for it...INVEST in REAL ESTATE!  But,  don't just take my word for it.  Here is a list of books for

Love this article!  Finally, someone has summed up all of the contradiction in investments, buying a home, where your money is best spent, etc.  Don't get me wrong, all of these people are

As my 5 year old would say..."What the hek is that?"  Check out what this agent has to say...As always, I recommend:  Do your RESEARCH, EDUCATE yourself, and MAKE the DECISION based on

What's your go to "change jar?"  OMG do you even have one!?  I will say that when I worked for tips, I always volunteered to take the change that no one else wanted.  In college, my

If your answer is "yes" or "maybe" keep reading!  If you answered "Hek no!  I never want to be a landlord!"  Not to worry of I have other methods of helping you invest in real estate.

Well, that sounds intense!  I just picture the green ooze for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II burning away at a pile of money :(This is a great little piggy back off of my previous blog "The

Also known as a credit card, and is one reason why so many of us are broke.  Are you spending more money than you make or are you spending money just as fast as you earn it? It's time to

I really don't like to talk about myself, but for those of you who don't know me I have 4 kids, a full time job, a husband with a full time job, lots of activities and just lots of life in general

I just had to read this article because...1. I am no longer a renter2. I believe in being open to all new information I can graspAND 3.  Practice what you preach!  I'm all about

Debt is a looming big dark ball of stress.  Kind of like the monster thing in Stranger Things...The nice part about debt is it doesn't have to be around forever.  There are ways to rise

This is one question I have always struggled with.  How much control do you need or want to have?  Does it make sense to invest in your local market or are there better deals elsewhere?

Most of us think and ponder how wonderful it would be to invest in real estate and be swimming in the positive cash flow for the rest of our lives...Want to stop pondering and start doing?  It

A lot of us feel like it's almost impossible to find a good deal on real estate in our current market...Guess what!?  Not true, but it will take some hard work (on your part or mine depending

Investing in 1 home may seem daunting!  Now, I'm talking about investing in multiple homes, taking care of multiple tenants and spending a whole bunch more money :D  Not sure what you want

Because why not??  We've all been there.  Some of us are very good at staying positive, and some of us are very good at staying negative.  I don't know about you, but when I feel good

Believe me I thought investing in real estate was just a fantasy my husband and I had...I also thought there was no way we were ever going to save up for a down payment on our first home (not an

I usually don't touch on this subject often, but I met some really awesome other real estate agents last night!  And yes most of us do get along for the most part, we realize that our business

I love to network with like minded professionals and entrepneurs!  Every once in awhile the topic of books comes up...What's your favorite business book, what book do you recommend, what book

Sound too good to be true???  I thought so too when my husband first started talking about investing in real estate around 10 years ago.  It took maybe one conversation to understand the

Always a interesting subject...what rights do squatters have???  What's the right way and the wrong way to deal with squatters?  Squatter versus trespasser?  Is there such thing as a

If you've read my past blogs I post a lot about investing in real estate.  Guess what!?  This has to do with saving money to invest (in general), but also has some great tips for post

Hello!  Have you recently started a home improvement project, that turned into another project, that turned into a toilet replacement, and eventually snowballed out into the backyard and you're

A question I receive all the time is "What kind of improvements should I make on my home?"  I usually answer with "How long do you plan on living there?"  If you're going to be in your

I have people ask me all the time "When is the best time to invest or buy/sell my house?"  The answer "It's always a great time to get into real estate!!!!!" Honestly, the market can do

..."money spent is money you can’t use to build real wealth."  Very well said and just a taste of the article.  Learn how to build wealth quickly and through real estate with the

This awesome (and kind of long) article was written as a step by step guide for new investors to get into the world of multi family.  For some of you this may be a little daunting, or something

Funny that this article popped up in my feed because we (me and the hubby) happen to be investing with family and friends at this very moment in life.  Like with any group of people things can

Again had to read this article because of the photo...Guess what!?  It's an awesome article, and I couldn't get past reason number without commenting.SET GOALS!Every year my husband and I as

Renting anything can seem terrifying!  Even just letting the neighbor borrow a rake (or whatever)...Questions start surging through your head (or maybe just mine)..."Will I ever see it again?"

I try to keep most of my posts non controversial and infomative...I feel like the topic rent control could very quickly go sideways, but feel free to leave your thoughts in the nicest manner.

Did that title get your attention?  Good!  Now, this is basically about the investment side of a timeshare.  I'm talking "naked" because I know almost nothing about timeshares. 

 Negotiating is definitely a skill that needs to be practiced and fine tuned.  Luckily, here's an awesome article with 7 tips to help you get those awesome negotiating skills!  Not so

I will admit (even before becoming a Realtor) my husband and I have been talking real estate investing for YEARS.  Literally, YEARS, and it started out as just that "talk."  One of the

Got that itch and income to invest in your first property!!??  Let's do it...but maybe you're local market isn't the best investment market (show of hands).  Not to worry!  Here's an

This seems to be the latest and greatest in real estate investments.  And there are time when the numbers really do make sense!  First off though, do your homework!  Short term

There are ways to keep your 9 to 5 and still make money in the real estate industry, but is that what you really want???  How about replacing that 9-5 job?  Learn about the F.I.R.E.

It's pretty simple.  Use social media to your advantage by making connections and interacting with other people with similiar interests.  Guess what!?  I enjoying educating, learning,

This article is lengthy, but has some amazing points.  The major point being...Be committed if you want to be successful!I can't tell you the ups and downs of being in business for yourself.

That's exactly what this article is about.  This blog is for those of you highly interested in investing in commercial real estate, and it will also cater to you numbers people. 

Long complicated story short, when it gets down to the nitty gritty your main goal on an investment property is to cash flow (for the most of us, you're in charge of your own goals).  This

Fantastic video on how to analyze and walk through a property!  This video is great for investors, first time buyers and everyone in between.  Investors, this will teach you things to look

I can tell you all day long that real estate is one of the most amazing greatest investments you'll ever make, and if you know how to play your cards right it will just keep getting better...blah

Is it the best idea... maybe or maybe not.  How badly do you want to start investing in real estate???  Some people are willing to risk it all for the chance at a big payout while others

I’m very familiar with 1031s, but because I stream most of what I watch, and my daily news feed is the stream of whatever comes out of my husband’s mouth, I wasn’t quite aware of

For starters, my number one reason for checking out this article was because of the hilarious picture!  Reason Number 2, I would rather learn from someone else's mistakes than my own.  Why

My favorite part about this article is the very first sentence is in tune with my real estate beliefs.  I always encourage my clients to hold on to their property as an investment if possible.

"Have a why beyond..."  There are a million reasons why you might want to invest in real estate.  Make sure those reasons resinate with who you are.  You want to love what you do

More often than not most arguments between couples (including my husband and I) are monetary.  Luckily, for us, towards the end of the "conversation" we realize it's just money and we'll figure

Yeah maybe the title of this blog didn't quite make sense, so here's an explanation:I believe when you invest in real estate you're investing in yourself.  You're trusting yourself to make a

Let's face reality saving money is hard, and it's not much fun...I remeber saving for my first down payment, and I'm so glad to have ridden the equity train to my forever home already.  Guess

Getting started in real estate is exciting...whether you are buying or selling your first property, buying your first investment property or buying your first multiple set of doors...especially in

I have to admit, I've never been a podcast person.  I actually recorded my own podcast before ever listening to one.  I had so much fun recording one, that I finally decided to sit down

Um...yeah me too!  But not to worry, there are plenty of people out there you can pay to property manage for you or you can take a look at a few of these steps that will make being a landlord

I'm pretty sure I've shared this article before, but it's an important one, so here is it again!  Some people are very ethusiastic and will dive right into real estate without a second glance

This article hits the nail on the head when it comes to investing!  You want to have a team of people surrounding you that knows what they're doing and are acting in your best interest. 

There's nothing like purchasing an investment property...and then having it sit on the market...Good news!  There are some items that renters are looking for on the outside of the house too!

As a Realtor, I love the words "Stephanie, I want to sell my house." Yay!  But as a homeowner, I totally understand that not everyone is at the place in their lives or they straight up never

Seriously, 5 quick simple tips that will make you a legendary landlord!  Some of them are pretty obvious and some of them will surprise you!  Get ready to arm yourself to be the best

I finally found an article/video to answer a question that has been nagging in the back of my mind for awhile.  Especially because different professionals will give you different answers. 

I have to admit sometimes you hear things and then read things that just make sense.  As much as I would love your business, don't do something because everyone else is doing it.  Buy a

I saw real estate, I saw invetors, I clicked on the article and read.  I don't usually like to get into politics, but his article was perfect.  Awesome opportunities out there that may be

"Uncertain"  was the first word that jumped out at me in this article.  There are defintie good numbers and hard facts in this article about 2018 rents, but like all things real estate, we

 This is something that is always lingering in the back of my head as an agent and as an investor.  As an investor, you want your tenants to have a beautiful place to live in so they keep

I'll admit buying my first property made me want to throw up a little bit.  Buying my first investment property makes me feel like I've drunken a million cups of coffee and that's starting to

What's the M word?  It's a word that most of us Realtors, home inspectors, buyers, sellers, mostly everyone looking at property doesn't want to hear (with the exception of a mitigation).&

Every client asks me the same question:  "Is now a good time to buy?" "Is now a good time to sell?"  As a Realtor and investor, my answer will almost always be "yes..."  But it really

Check out the top 5 most affordable places to rent and the top 5 worst places to rent.  Luckily, Colorado and the Denver metro area doesn't fall onto either one of these lists.  Also,

Oh how I love the internet!  I love being able to learn from other peoples' mistakes, especially the big ones, so I don't have to make those mistakes myself.  An even better way to help

I'm going to be totally upfront with you...it took me a couple of reads to completely understand what they are talking about in this article.  The last line is even "Make sense?"  The

Guess what you can invest at any point in your life, and as a Realtor and genuine law-abiding citizen I would love to help you!  There are a million different ways to come up with the money to

As an entrepneur (yes I'm a Realtor which means I run my own business) you have to hustle!  I'll admit for a long time I would think about my goals and wonder why they were so far out of...

As a Realtor of course I need to tell you that it is to your absolute most benefit to have a Realtor representing you when you're investing in a property! (BTW you are always investing in a property

I can totally relate to some of these reasons, and some of them are a great eye opener to why I have more money than other people.  Check them out and maybe start saving for that down payment..

I always think these articles are fun to look at because let's be honest we're looking to see if our city is ticking any of the boxes.  I found this one quite interesting and a nice quick easy

Saw this article and thought is would be great for my fellow entrepneurs.  As I was reading I also thought it would be a good read for those of you looking to buy a home in the Denver metro and

Open house this Saturday 10/6 from 11-2PM and 10/7 from 1-4 PM!  Come tour this beautiful home and enjoy some coffee and cookies!  Lender and listing agent on site to answer all of your