“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

KatunguTeam@gmail.com

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