Broadmoor Neighborhood Information

Well established homes mix with new homes along the stunning foothills and slopes of Cheyenne Mountain creating a unique area known as the Broadmoor. The Broadmoor is known as one of oldest and most renowned neighborhoods in Colorado Springs. Mature landscapes and beautiful views of Cheyenne Mountain are not the only things that create a wonderful community.The Broadmoor area was originally established in 1891 with a hotel and casino during the famous gold rush era. In 1916 Spencer Penrose bought and transformed the Broadmoor Hotel into one of the finest resorts in the world. This world class resort and the surrounding establishments can't help but add historic charm and beauty to the entire Broadmoor Area. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Penrose-Norris riding stables, Seven Falls, Old Colorado City, US Figure Skating World Hall of Fame and Museum, and Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun are just a few of the attractions that can be found in the area. Many parks and nature trails can be found in and around the Broadmoor, providing for all kinds of activities. If that is not enough head out to the links at the Broadmoor's famous 36 hole golf course designed by Donald Ross himself. Children living in the Broadmoor will attend Cheyenne Mountain School District 12.

The Broadmoor Bluffs, Broadmoor Bluffs Estates, Broadmoor Bluffs Park, Broadmoor Downs, Broadmoor Foothills, Broadmoor Glen, Broadmoor Greenhouse, Broadmoor Heights, Broadmoor Hills, Broadmoor Knolls, Broadmoor Mesa, Broadmoor Northstar, Broadmoor Plaza, Broadmoor Oaks, Broadmoor Ridge, Broadmoor Resort Community, Broadmoor Spires, Broadmoor Terrace, Broadmoor Valley, Broadmoor Village, Broadmoor Vista, Count Pourtales, Country Broadmoor, High Valley Park, Mountain Oaks, Neil Ranch, Penhurst Park, Pine Grove, Polo Park, and Roxbury Park are some of the wonderful neighborhoods found in the Broadmoor.

Briargate Neighborhood Information

On the northeast side of Colorado Springs, just east of the Air Force Academy lies the beautiful 10,000 acre master planned community known as Briargate. Briargate is well known for its quiet cul-de-sac neighborhoods and beautiful views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range. Briargate is popular for its convenient location to I-25, shopping centers, malls, restaurants, theatres, medical centers, a business campus and much more... All of the Briargate neighborhoods have access to many parks and over 4 miles of inter-linking trail systems. Many golf courses can be found near Briargate, including the area's wonderful Pine Creek Golf Club. Children living in Briargate will attend District 20 Schools.

Briargate has a wonderful business campus where companies like USAA, T. Rowe Price, California Casualty, Focus on the Family, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, and CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) are located. The Shops at Briargate are a wonderful addition to the Briargate area. These shops and restaurants add to the convenience and beauty that Briargate is known for. Don't leave Colorado Springs without viewing this wonderful community.

Anderosa Heights, Charleston Place, Charter Greens, Contrails, Cordera, Fairfax, Gatehouse, Havenwood, Lexington Heights, Meadowridge, Misty Meadows, Pine Creek, Rampart Meadows, Rangewood, Sable Chase, Sagewood, Spring Crest, Stoneglen, Summerfield, Wedgewood, Windjammer, Woodside and Wolf Ranch are just some of the neighborhoods within the Briargate area.

View the Briargate Master Plan

Black Forest Information

The beautiful Black Forest area was named by a German immigrant who noticed a striking resemblance with the many Ponderosa Pines found here and Germany's own famous Black Forest. Black Forest covers over 200,000 acres and borders the north end of Colorado Springs. Black Forest is an ideal area for those looking for a rural setting while still remaining close to Colorado Springs. Black Forest is dense with trees while some areas open to beautiful grasslands, especially in southern Black Forest. Many of the subdivisions in Black Forest boast riding trails, parks, golf courses, country clubs, as well as small lakes and streams. Black Forest provides a wonderful topography with elevations ranging between 6500-7800 feet. Great views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range can be seen from some areas within Black Forest. The age of homes in Black Forest varies from the early 1900's to today's beautiful custom homes. Most properties in Black Forest have 2 to 5 acre lots. Much larger parcels can be found however and vacant land can still be found for custom homes. There are many new subdivisions in Black Forest including Cathedral Pines, Flying Horse, Highland Park, Elkhorn Estates, Palmer Divide, Park Forest Estates, Camelot, Sylvan Meadows, Red Fox Ridge, Abert Ridge, Eagle Wing Estates, Terra Ridge, Longview Estates, Forestgate, Blue Spruce Estates, High Forest Ranch, Black Forest Reserve, Wildwood Ranch Estates and Walden Preserve. Children living in Black Forest will attend School Districts 20, 38, or 49 depending on the area.

Bent Tree Neighborhood Information

Located just east of Monument, Bent Tree is a beautiful community featuring large custom homes and lots that average 3 acres. This is a great location for quick access to Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and Denver. Spectacular views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range can be seen from many of these homes due to Bent Tree's diverse topography. You will also be able to find great privacy in Bent Tree with many trees in the area. Homes in Bent Tree currently sell anywhere from $500,000 - $1,500,000. There are plenty of activities to do around Bent Tree with nearby parks, golf courses, and country clubs. Children living in Bent Tree attend School District 38. Does this neighborhood match what you are looking for in a home? Bent Tree is just one of many wonderful neighborhoods located in and around Monument with Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and Denver just a skip away.

Abert Estates Neighborhood Information

North of Colorado Springs, Abert Estates is located in the beautiful Black Forest area. Still a part of Colorado Springs, Abert Estates is located just of highway 83 allowing for quick access to everything you may ever need. Each lot in Abert Estates is a minimum of 5 acres and all are zoned as horse property making this a great area for space while maintaining close access to everything in Colorado Springs. Abert Estates is a covenant protected neighborhood with great views of Pikes Peak, or in other cases great privacy in the trees. Development of Abert Estates began in the early 1990's where many of these beautiful custom homes can currently be purchased for under $1,000,000. District 20 schools are attended by children living in the Abert Estates community. Don't forget that the newer Flying Horse area is just across the way which boasts a beautiful signature golf course designed by Tom Weiskopf. Does this neighborhood match what you are looking for in a home? Abert Estates is just one of many wonderful neighborhoods located in and around Colorado Springs.

Is it Going To Last? - Find the Life Expectancy of the components in your home

If you are looking at buying a home, selling a home, or even just updating your home here are some reasonable estimates of how long, at most, different components in your home will tend to last. These numbers are complements of the National Association of Home Builders. Remember these numbers can vary greatly depending on the quality of material, installation, environmental factors, maintenance, and use. Which components from your home are at or past there average life expectancy?

Dishwasher	10
Microwave	11
Gas Range	19
Electric Range	17
Cast-Iron Bathtub	10-15
Fiberglass Bathtub	10-15
Electric Water Heater	14
Gas Water Heater	11-13
Ceramic Tile Countertop	10-15
Laminated Countertop	10-15
Exterior Door with Protected Overhang	80-100
Garage Door Opener	10
Waterproofing Sealer	1-5
Waterproofing Silicone	1-5
Waterproofing Waxes	1-5
Wall & Trim Paint	5-10
Exterior Paint	7-10
Washer	13
Dryer	14
Refrigerator	17
Carpet	11
Galvanized Ducts	30
Plastic Ducts	15
Wood Deck	15
Swimming Pool	18
Brick Wall	100+
Stone Wall	100+
Gravel Walk	4
Concrete Walk	24
Asphalt Shingle Roof	15-30
Wood shingle and Shake Roof	15-30
Slate Roof	50-100
Tile Roofing	50
Gutters	30
Vinyl Siding	50
Aluminum Siding	20-50
Wood Siding (depending on moisture)	10-100
Drywall	30-70
Boilers	30
Gas or Oil-Fired Furnace	18
Heat Pump	15
Central Air Conditioner	15
Pumps, Sump and Well	10
Concrete Block Foundation	100
Poured Concrete Foundation	200

July 2006 Statistics for All Listings & Sales

The much anticipated listing and sales summary for July of 2006 has just been released for Colorado Springs, Monument and surrounding areas by the Pikes Peak Board of Realtors. There are some astounding trends in this actual report.

There are 5,985 homes available in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. This is the highest number of homes available in any month since July of 1988 where there were 6,119 available listings. There were 1211 properties sold in and around Colorado Springs in July this year compared to 1988's 322 sales. The number of available homes may be fairly close but the markets then and now are quite different. Today's market is much stronger.

There are 35% more homes on the market than this time last year with sales down 9%. So what does this mean and how does it effect you?

• Buyers this means more choices and better prices for you. You have a lot to choose from. Foreclosures are a good part of this statistic, so stay clear of any risky financing that could potentially hang you out to dry.
• Sellers this means make sure you have a full service real estate agent who can give you a competitive advantage in this flooded market. Never choose a real estate agent by how much they say they can get for your house. Many agents will say what you want to hear. Choose an agent that can provide realistic data on the value of your property and make sure they have an extensive marketing plan to beat your competition.

First-Time Home Buyers

Home ownership may seem like "the impossible dream" to first-time buyers who have to stretch in order to purchase their first home. Many younger buyers can afford the monthly mortgage payments, but may have to get creative to cover the down payment and closing costs. It is possible to buy a house with no money down, depending on your credit of course.

Contact a real estate professional if you are thinking about buying your first home. For those whose funds are limited, there may be possibilities you have not considered, such as local or federal loan programs that can help get you moved into your new home. There are many flexible new mortgage loans available to first-time buyers. Sellers are sometimes willing to extend a small loan to help cover closing costs in order to complete the sale. You can also consider the many housing options available. There are beautiful condominiums and townhouses with desirable amenities and prices that are designed to appeal to first-time buyers who cannot yet afford a single-family detached home.

Selling a Vacant Home vs. Selling an Occupied Home

There are two schools of thought about whether it is better to show a house empty or with the furnishings in it. An empty house is like a blank canvas, and prospective buyers can more easily imagine what their things would look like in it. But buyers could take the fact that the house is vacant as a sign that the sellers are very anxious to sell and, therefore, might entertain a low offer.Our recommendations are usually based on how the house would look. Personal taste is highly subjective.

Unless your furniture looks really wonderful and is neutral in color and conservative in style, it could distract buyers from the most attractive qualities of your home. The fact that your home is vacant could give it a competitive edge when they make their final selection. Will it attract low offers? It might, but if the price is right, it will attract reasonable offers, too.

Brighter is Better

Sometimes a real estate agent will walk into a home that is basically attractive, yet communicates the feeling that something is lacking. Then the agent notices that all of the drapes are closed, interior lights are off and there is a lot of overgrown shrubbery blocking the sunlight that might otherwise pour through the windows. A dark house is not as appealing to most buyers as one that is flooded with light.

As a part of your preparations to market your home, try to maximize the light in your home. Make sure that all the windows are clean and the drapes are open when the house is being shown. A fresh coat of light paint can do a lot to brighten up the interior. If your house has very dark paneling, and you do not wish to repaint the walls, you may want to consider adding additional lamps. Your real estate agent may be able to provide other simple and cost-effective ideas about how to maximize your home's appeal.

Why Consult with A Realtor?

When a real estate agent begins to work with a new buyer, they will ask a number of questions, and listen carefully to your answers. Their purpose during this initial interview is to get a clear idea of what kind of property you are looking for and your approximate price range. They will explain how they will function as your representative, what the local market is like, and what they can do to help you locate that perfect home. Another name for a Realtor could be a "Real Estate Consultant", because they lead you through the entire buying process while representing your best interests (buyer's agency).

It is important for you as a prospective buyer to be as clear as possible about your needs. After you have talked and you have decided how much you can comfortably spend, they will know how to facilitate your home search. They won't take you through a three-story colonial with a top floor master suite if you want to avoid climbing up and down stairs! Establishing clear communication with you helps your Realtor save you hours of unfocused house hunting.Any good agent can provide you with many great resources to save you time and help you find your dream home with ease.

The good news is that being represented by a Colorado Springs Realtor costs you, the buyer, absolutely nothing in most cases in Colorado. So my question is why not be represented by a Realtor? There are many great Realtors to choose from. THE CHOICE IS YOURS...

Selling Your Home in The Summer

Sellers- I have noticed that homebuyer's interests are definitely focused on the outside of the home and air conditioning during these summer months. Enough to overshadow some of the interests on inside features. Make sure your yard, patio/deck and other outdoor areas are maintained and set for showing just as the inside of your house. Most sellers do not set there outside for showing as they do on the inside, so be creative. This will make quite a big difference during the summer. Most buyers enjoy spending time outside during these months and picture their time outside in their dream home.

It is also important to make sure you have a nice cool house for people viewing it. If it is hot and stuffy they will most likely rush through it so they can get back to the air conditioned car or even the next house (your competition). So do what ever it takes by using air conditioning, opening windows, running fans, ect.

Last but not least leave the blinds open to bring the outdoors in. This should be done year round, especially during the summer.

Buyers- Try not to view homes as if there is only one season. With summer here do not forget about the other functions of your home. If it snows does the driveway have a dangerous slope? Where are you going to spend most of your time inside when it is cold out? These are just a few examples. Look at everything that is important to you.