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.

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.

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!

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

Click here for more information.

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

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!

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!

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.

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.

Wildlife officials didn't want to tranqualize the bear this time of year for fear of upsetting its natural hibernation cycle and causing it to not make it through the coming winter.

Thankfully, it climbed down on Sunday, lured by marshmallows and was last seen south of campus near Monument Creek.

Story from the Gazette

1) Find and close drafts
Walk around your home and feel for anywhere that you feel a draft coming in. If you do here are some easy, inexpensive remedies:

• Window drafts: rope caulk for sealing cracks and holes around your windows
• Door drafts: door sweeps you can attach to the bottom of doors
• Storm windows: if you don't have any you can apply removable plastic film with your hair dryer, or put plastic over your windows

2) Insulate your water heater
If you heater is located in an unheated area of your house, be sure to get a insulating blanket for your heater.

3) Obvious actions..
Keep your drapes closed, and close a fireplace flume if you aren't using it. These tactics can make huge differences in your interior temperature!

4) Control your thermostat
Set your thermostat a bit lower, especially at night and when you are out of the house. If you don't have an auto control, you can purchase one so you can set your temperatures for time of day.

5) Check with your electric or gas company...
Many are offering insentives for keeping your heating costs down. Check with them to find out if they offer any programs or incentives.

• Long term it is good to make sure your home's insulation is up to code, that your furnace or boiler is regularly tuned up, and that your home's air ducts are changed every 3-5 years.

Have a cozy winter!

For those who love to see the turning leaves, here's a tip for finding the best foliage locally:

Gold Camp Road from Colorado Springs to Victor, and then Colorado 67 through Cripple Creek north to Divide.

Here you can find out more information about Colorado Fall foliage.

Enjoy!

But what if you want to purchase a home that isn't in major need of repairs...just a few? The Streamline 203K has been created for exactly that!

This loan provides the financing for purchase of the home, as well as the required repairs.

Some of the advantages of a Streamline 203K Loan:
* Repairs are completed after closing with loan proceeds
* Great tool for REO properties
* Low down payment
* One loan amount for purchase & repairs
* Loan fees may be financed
* FHA insured
* No inspection necessary
* No general contractors required
* Mortgage amount may also be increased when combining EET (Energy Efficient Mortgage) with Streamline (k)

Let me know if you would like to find out more about the FHA's Streamline 203K option (or any home loan options). It's a great tool and advantage when considering an REO home.

Regards!

Bev
719-440-1082

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates go up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.