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Colorado Springs, CO Real Estate News

By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
Today we spent the morning "dealing" with the snow that started visiting us yesterday (12/20). I prefer to call it "playing" ... It started yesterday morning - the wind... wild, wild wind- whipping snow all over our city, Colorado Springs.  By 10am, yesterday the whole city knew that it was time to stock up and bunker down for a storm. (However, not everyone actually stocked up and bunkered down...) **Kristal Kraft, our neighbor to the North -Denver posted 2 great blogs ... HERE and HERE.** Thanks Kristal!Businesses (like our title company) told us that they planned on being closed for the remaining of the day, and tomorrow (well, today). Our office was closed and other stores started following suit. Midday proved to be white out conditions, such that I could not see my front porch ... ...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
In a recent post, I commented on the healthy housing market, here in Colorado Springs. (here) I thought that I would check in on the November 2005 - November 2006 housing market has changed, and we have seen some slowing and some pick up. This data was taken from the existing single family home statistics from our local Pikes Peak Association of Realtors. I have not included new home sales in this research.The average sales price rose 8.7% -from $223,624 in Nov.2005 to $243,064 in Nov.2006.New listings have dropped from 1,151 in Nov. 2005 to 1,085 in Nov. 2006.(down 5.7%)The median sales price rose from $195,800 (Nov.2005) to $197,750 (Nov.2006)Overall Sales have dropped 14.5%- from 795 transactions in Nov. 2005 to 680 transactions in Nov.2006These numbers are not staggering, by any mea...
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By Sallyanne Holmes, GRI, MRE, Probate Specialist, REDivorceS
(Merit Co Inc)
My scariest real estate story just happened to take place last week.I was sitting an Open House in a new subdivision, and I appeared the only agent in the sub that day. I had had fairly steady traffic most of the day, mostly young families looking for "oh my gosh, we need a  bigger house" style homes. The home I had open was a perfect example  of the style, and built by one of the name builders in town. I  remember early in the afternoon, I was answering questions for a  really nice couple with two kids in tow. It was early enough in the  day that the kids weren't bored to unruliness yet, and we were all  getting along pretty good. They didn't have a REALTOR working for  them yet, so I was working hard for the job. You know what I mean,  we've all had that scene.A gentleman came in by h...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
In analyzing the October 2006 data from some of the MLS areas of Colorado Springs, I found that our average Sale Price vs. List Price was 98.85%. What I found to be of particular interest was that the areas that had the fewest "sales" all had SP vs. LP over 100%.Why would that happen? My guess is that we have run into the issue of "Unintentional Range Pricing."  Range pricing is not something that our area Realtors® practice, but there is always a "price range" that a house falls within. (What is Range Pricing?)   So, let's consider the following scenario (based on our local economy):Cast:Sella Notherhouse ~ Buyer's AgentAnita Housenow ~ BuyerLiz Twithmee ~ Listing AgentIma Muvinsoon ~ SellerMs. Twithmee lists Mrs. Muvinsoon's house and puts it in the MLS for $200,000. Although the mark...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
Here in Colorado Springs, Colorado ... we are not running with the Big Boys. Nope, we aren't. Sorry Nevada. Sorry Arizona. Sorry Florida. Sorry California. You are on your own. These once "Booming" areas have experienced sales declines anywhere from 28.6% (California) to 38% (Nevada) over the past year - with the real pain felt this past summer. In fact, 38 states experienced a dip in sales and "9 states had sales declines of 20% or more" in the summer of 2006, according to an article in our local paper. Not only that, but median home prices (existing homes) in many metropolitan areas have dropped about 1.2%, as well.... woah.What about Colroado? We never really experienced the (sonic) BOOM in the housing market that places like Nevada and California did. So, I guess our reward for bein...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
Colorado Springs... No we are not a big metropolis, but we love to adorn our streets with art. What does our art say about us, the "locals"...? Let's take a tour...When you drive down, or up I-25 (the only Interstate in our city) there is only one exit to our downtown - Bijou (say: BEE-Jhoo) Street. Exit the highway and head east, into our downtown. Here you will be greeted by a humongous lime green question mark.  It is about 12 feet high and dominates the corner of Cascade and Kiowa (Say: KYE-o-wah). What does it say about Colorado Springs? I guess you won't know until you come visit, and form your own opinion!The heart of our Downtown encompasses about 20 blocks (depending on where you want to draw the line...). One of the main streets is Bijou (I already told you how to pronounce it...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
       The Pikes Peak Region is home to many natural and entertainment attractions- (Check this out ... Colorado Springs Info). One of my favorite places is Garden of the Gods. Today I took a personal field trip to the "Garden"- a beautiful collection of enormous red rock formations nestled in the foothills of of Pikes Peak. I took some pictures (shown here) and basked in the Serenity of the Awe of Mother Nature.What IS the Garden of the Gods?About One Thousand Million Years ago, the Ancestral Rocky Mountains (Rockies I) began to form. Then, about 180 million years ago, they erode and become buried in their own debris. (No more mountains!) The dinosaurs become extinct and another "uprising" of the Rockies begin-  and the "sedimentary formations of the Garden of the Gods" begin tilting u...
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That was the title of an article, written in our local paper, a couple of days ago. It states (in not so many words), that due to the decreased demand for homes, Builders are now trying just about anything, to sell current and planned inventory. That includes offering things like landscaping, sprinkler systems and special financing, combined with a huge marketing effort. All to attract that elusive Buyer.According to this article, the number of permits for single family homes (188) has fallen below the previous low  of 244 permits, which was in December of 2001. Quite a drop, considering that a  year ago 345 Single Family Home Permits were pulled, to be surpased in March, with a total of 419 SFH permits.What does this mean for Buyers? It means that NOW is a great time to buy that brand ...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
Located at the (almost) Geographic Center of the United States, and at an altitude of 6,200 feet, the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport provides convenient access to the Pikes Peak Region from anywhere in the world.  Panoramic Pikes Peak and Front Range views welcome you as you disembark- and ticket counters and baggage carousels are no more than 1,000 feet away from the farthest gate! The airport also boasts a variety of artwork from some of the areas best local artists- creating a beautiful setting for wary travelers. Whats more? There is free wireless internet access available for anyone looking to pass the time with a game, checking emails or keeping up on business. This clean and modern facility offers something for any traveler! The airport has about 110 arrivals and departures ...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
Alright, you all have heard about it. Every news outlet IN THE WORLD has topped their newspapers with this story. Colorado Springs is in the news again... Ted Haggard -the pastor of New Life Church has officially resigned from the leadership role that he played in the National Association of Evangelicals, as well as placed himself on administrative leave for the 14,000 member church (New Life) that he created, here in Colorado Springs. If you have EVER been to Colorado Springs- you know that there are more churches per capita than almost anywhere else in the nation.  Who is the BIG Grand Daddy of them all? New Life Church. A $19 million auditorium that seats 7,500 people; a $5.5 million World Prayer Center that opened in 1998 that is home to several evangelical Christian nonprofit group...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
The market in Colorado Springs IS moving. Let's just compare the Single Family House Market from October 2005 vs. October 2006... From a current Pikes Peak Association of Realtors Statistical report:New Listings:October 2005: 1,580October 2006: 1,486DOWN 5.9%Sales:October 2005: 1,124October 2006: 903DOWN 19.7%Average Sales Price:October 2005: $241,799October 2006: $263,811UP 9.1%Median Sales Price:October 2005: $205,637October 2006: $213,500UP 3.8%Total Active Single Family Homes:October 2005: 4,341October 2006: 5,750UP 32.5%Our market is shifting, but it is not as dramatic as people are fearing. It IS heading toward a buyers market, but sellers still have quite a say in what is going on. Reality?If the home is priced properly and your Real Estate Agent markets it effectively, the sale ...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
Why do we love it here? Why have we decided to raise our family and grow our business in the 2nd (ok, maybe 3rd?) largest city in Colorado? Ahh! Where can we begin!? How about the beginning… Colorado Springs started out in 1871, as a resort town for the wealthy European and East Coast friends and family of our city’s founder, General William Jackson Palmer. Gold was soon found in the nearby hills of Cripple Creek, but the tourist industry has always been the real staple of our community.  The scenic beauty of Colorado Springs- nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak- has always been our main stronghold for tourism. However, in 1942, with the start of World War II, 137,000 acres south of Colorado Springs was donated to the U.S. Military; which soon became the Mount...
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By Derek and Mariana Wagner, The Artisan Group - Colorado Springs REALTORS®
(The Artisan Group- Keller Williams Premier Realty )
There will be no showing homes in Colorado Springs, today... (October 26, 2006). Yesterday, we all enjoyed warm (60-ish degrees) weather. But... WE ALL KNEW...Even trying to make it into a supermarket yesterday was an act of bravery. (OK, maybe not as chaotic as the  Y2K  frenzy...) but, EVERYONE was out stocking up. For some reason, we all believed the weatherman this time. Lo' and Behold...  Overnight the snow came in, and morning brought us snow drifts that covered our doors and cars. I LOVE it when Mother Nature gives us spontaneous "Family Days" ...! We were all griddling pancakes ... taking the last ones off the grill... when "POW!" no electricity. For almost 2 hours! And of course we cannot reach the utility company... "All Circuits Are Busy"... (We later found out that a huge ch...
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By Caryn Becker, C.A.R.E. Committed Accountable Real Energetic
(The Cutting Edge, Realtors)
Welcome home guys and gals.  Be sure to go to southside johnnys on a friday night.  lots of people will buy you drinks and express their gratitude for what you did the past year.  Caryn
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