Real Estate Information

Median home prices were down 12% in 2009 ($173,200). But for the first three quarters of 2009, prices were inching up, to then drop again in the fourth quarter.

But, home sales have continued to rise, along with an increase of long-term fixed rate mortgages, instead of the adjustable rate mortgage. Home buyers are also staying within their budgets which helps to add to a long term recovery process in pricing.

Colorado Springs real estate shows a 1.25% increase in the median home price at $189,800. With mortgage rates continuing to remain low, it is still a good time to consider buying a home.

Let me know if you would like to look at the inventory currently available.

Don't wait to make use of the extended Federal Tax Credit..for both First Time Home buyers as well as current home owners.

Get your purchase agreement signed before the April 30th, 2010 deadline hits!

If you are eligable for the credit you can get up to $6500 back on tax credit.

For more details about the current deadline, check out this article on RISMedia.

Or check out information here.

Catch it while you can!

The annual 2010 Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships at Breckenridge just announced it's winners on Sunday. You can still see these sculptures until Sunday, Feb. 7th. 

Planning a day on the slopes? Check out these sculptures while you are there!

Colorado Springs can be a really wonderful place to experience the holiday spirit! You can definitely get your white Christmas here, but we also have some fun light displays.

Here are two I recommend you check out!

Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Visit the Zoo from Dec. 7th to Jan. 1st to see their annual display of lights for the Holidays! They spend three months preparing and stringing over 3 million lights for the various animated displays.

They will also have some indoors animal displays open, as well as Santa and his reindeer. If it gets to cold, take advantage of the various warming stations that are set up.

Open 5:30-9pm

4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
(719)633-9925

Seven Falls Holiday Lighting

The beauty of the falls with Holiday lights added!

2850 S. Cheyenne Canyon Rd.
Colorado Springs
Phone: (719-632-0752)
Evening after 5:30 p.m. holiday rate: $6.00 adults, $3.50 children 6-15.
December 15-30 open 5pm - 9:30pm nightl

Here is a home waiting for you to move in! An immaculate home with a spacious, award winning split-level floorplan. Give me a call and come check out this gem found in the exceptional Heritage subdivision. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms. Priced at $169,892.

Click here for more information.

Did you know that indoor environments have shown to be more polluted than the outdoors? According to the U.S. Green Bulding Council, indoor pollutants are 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors.

Here are some ideas for improving the quality of your indoor environment --

AIR
-Advanced allergy filters to control dust particles and pollutants
-Dehumidification devices to manage the humidity in the home
-Variable speed air handlers to maintain the circulation of air throughout the home and ventilation fans to introduce fresh air into the home while removing stale, humid air

WATER
-Carbon filter and reverse osmosis units to purify drinking water by removing particulate matter and harmful minerals
-Whole-house water softeners to remove calcium and other harmful minerals which affect your plumbing as well as your skin
-Underground cisterns to collect rainwater from the gutter and downspouts to use for irrigating the lawn and landscapeHealthy home living is also improved by the use of low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) materials, which emit lower levels of gasses into the home.

LIGHTING
-Decorative light fixtures with less wattage requirements and soft-light emitting globes
-Compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs or L.E.D. fixtures and bulbs for longer life usage
-Next generation skylights, such as Velux Sun Tunnel or Solatube, that bring natural light into the home, reducing the need for artificial light and energy consumption

These are just a few ideas. Read on to find out more about the health of your indoor environment...


Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-29/9-home-improvements-to-promote-healthy-living-in-your-home/#ixzz0YOsEmJVk

Today Congress agreed to extend the Federal Home Buyer's Tax Credit.

As reported on the National Association of Realtors website (www.realtor.org) the following was updated to the credit:

So, now this credit is not ONLY for First Time Home buyers but current home owners.

Don't waste anytime! Take advantage of this extension and contact myself and Bev to find out what your options are for buying a new home!

While buying a short sale can save you money, the process involved can be time consuming and if you are wanting to move right in to your dream home, a short sale may not be right for you.

That being said, if you have the right kind of information and support in navigating a short sale, it's a fantastic opportunity to get a good deal!

Here are few things that can slow the process, and why it's important to have an agent working with you that knows how to handle a short sale:

1) Closing date is most often moved, a few times!

2) Getting the bank to approve the final price isn't so straight forward - remember, the bank is the one with the final say and often there are two mortgages to contend with. Hidden costs over time can end up being added in after the negotiations to pay off the mortgage price that has been agreed upon. If the utilities went into arrears, then these costs can get added in and the negotiation process has to start again.

3) Getting a walk through of the property  - oftentimes the utilities are shut off due to non-payment and it is hard to get a thorough walk-through of the property.

With my help, I can take you through this process with minimal stress. If you are willing to make it work, a short sale is a good deal!

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home sales in September had the highest monthly increase in 26 years!

The pace shown since August out performed even Wall Street's forecast, jumping 9.4 percent.

Inventories are also down by 7 percent, lowest levels since 2007.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of one of Colorado Springs signiture landmarks -- The Garden of the Gods.

Donated 100 years ago by Charles Parkins with his wish that the park "remain free to the public", the park continues to attract visitors and locals alike.

The park provides incredible views as well as hiking & biking trails, climbing rocks, and lot's of fauna.

For more information visit their website at Garden of the Gods Park.