Colorado Springs Homes Blog

Since this home's price has just been reduced, it's the perfect time to schedule a showing!

Don't let the front photo fool you - this home has a full, finished, walk-out basement, so it's much larger than it looks from the front.  1536 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths.

This home sits on a great lot!  There's a good sized grassy area in the back yard, and a lot of Xeriscaping (with a drip system), so your weekends aren't filled with yard work.

This light-filled home has been lovingly remodeled.  The neutral decor will complement your furniture.

Wouldn't you love granite counters and stainless appliances?

Visit this home to see the many special touches.  Now offered at $171,900.

See more details and photos on our website.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

Reflections on Twin Lakes, CO

        The snow-capped peaks are particulary beautiful on a sunny June day.

        The smooth-as-glass lake on a gorgeous October day.

        Thanksgiving, with just a dusting of snow on the shore.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Colorado Realtors who love spending time in beautiful Twin Lakes, CO.  To contact them, please call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500.  They'd love to answer your questions about Twin Lakes!

www.wickhome.com

We've all heard the Trick or Treating safety tips like: wear reflective, well-fitting clothing; don't wear masks that obscure vision; carry flashlights (never open flames); and only go to homes in well known neighborhoods with their porch lights on.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has some additional tips that may not be so common:

• Secure emergency identification discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.
• Teach young children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (from any phone) if they have an  emergency or become lost. Older children should have coins for emergency calls, or a cell phone.
• Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
  
• Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.
• Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.

Our Colorado Springs weather is predicted to be much balmier than usual, so hopefully it will be a great Trick-Or-Treating night for the little tykes. 

Halloween has become much more of an adult holiday in recent years, and many people drive to bars or parties to enjoy some cheer.  Even though the smaller children are out early, some drivers may be returning from happy hour.  With the date falling on a Friday, it's especially important to review street crossing safety with your children, and adding some reflective tape to any dark costumes can help make your child more visible to motorists.

Have a safe and happy Halloween.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500. 

www.wickhome.com

This delightfully remodeled home is well worth your visit!  It has a full, walk-out basement, so it's much larger than it looks from the front picture. 

Light, bright and neutral decor!  All new flooring, lighting and bath fixtures. 

Kitchen has granite tile counters, custom tile backsplash, stainless appliances, and room for a table for two.

Upper Level Bath

Check out those mountains!

Walkout from family room to patio and large, relaxing yard. 

Ready for move in!  All the work has been already done for you; this home is just waiting for you to make it your own. 

Open House:  Wednesday October 29th from 4 pm to 6 pm.  1401 Avenue A Street,  near Brookside off 8th Street in Southwest Colorado Springs.  Offered at $185,000.  Call Sandy at 719-660-9950 for more information.   See more photos and a map.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  To contact them, call 719-534-7920 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

The 2008 General Election is a little more than a week away. 

We're all being bombarded by phone calls, TV ads, and slick glossy flyers about the ballot issues.  While it's hard to make sense of all the conflicting information, one thing you can be sure of, the sponsors of those ads are trying to get you to vote their way. 

If you'd like to do your civic duty, but still have some hair attached to your scalp come election day, it's time well spent to read your 2008 State Ballot Information Booklet and the similar pamphlet you received from the county. 

The beauty of these publications:

• You get to read - and re-read - the full text of the ballot initiatives, so you don't find yourself poring over the cryptic verbiage in the election booth, causing a line of angry neighbors to form behind you.
• The Pros and Cons of each issue are listed, as fairly and dispassionately as you'll find anywhere.
• The state booklet has a cheat sheet you can take with you to the polling place.

We're considering 14 amendments to our state constitution and statutes (plus four state referendums), in addition to local issues - measures that really affect us.  These publications can help assure you you're voting the way that actually fits with your beliefs, and not depending on some one else's agenda to inform you.

If you've misplaced or didn't receive your state booklet, go to the Colorado Blue Book's site, where you can download a PDF or even an audio version.  For El Paso County's Guide, click here.

Now, if they only had this sort of guide for the candidates...

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1119.

www.wickhome.com

  When the furnace kicked on this morning, our sweet dreams were interrupted by that alarming sound of money figuratively being burned.  Last night the predicted low was 32 degrees, and while our area has plenty of warm spells in fall, winter is on its way. 

Energy bills are sure to be sky-high this winter.  We're fortunate to have our utilities through Colorado Springs Utilities; the company works very hard to keep rates as low as possible, but even with their efforts, rate increases are slated for 2009.

We thought we'd list some web sites that give conservation and savings ideas.  You probably have heard of or practice many of the tips already, but may also find some new hints, or be reminded of some items you've meant to do. 

Sites quote a savings of 2% to up to 5% of savings for every degree you lower your thermostat between 70 and 60 degrees, so it can add up to real money.  Beefing up inadequate insulation is also a very effective way to trim heating costs.

Even if you checked all your weather stripping and caulking last year, these items deteriorate over time, so it's worth re-visiting.  And it's not just older homes that need inspecting; owners of new homes shouldn't assume that air leaks don't exist.  These sites will list many places to check besides windows and doors.   

Colorado Springs Utilities - The homepage has several energy efficiency related links.  It's also helpful to read the newsletters enclosed with your utility bill, as they contain good information.

U.S Department of Energy  Winter energy savings tips

Energy Star is also a government sponsored site

If you have any creative ideas for saving energy, we'd love to hear them!

Ken and Sandy Wickham are seasoned Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.   To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

          734 single family homes sold through the Pikes Peak multiple listing service in September, up from 695  sold in September 2007.   The number of active listings was actually down year over year: 6030 actives during September 2008 vs. 6767 last September.

The trend of stronger sales in the lower and mid price ranges continues; half the homes sold for under $200,000, and another 230 sold between $200,000 and $399,000.  374 of the sold homes had three or fewer bedrooms.

The average Days on Market for El Paso County single family homes was 95 days, and homes sold for an average of 96.5% of the list price.  According to the figures from Pikes Peak RSC, Teller County residents face a few more challenges, with longer DOM (110), and an average sales to list price ratio of 92.9%.

6,696 single family homes sold from January through September, which is in between the number of homes sold during the first three quarters of 1998 and 1999, when there were far fewer listings. 

Real Estate is always local (and "hyper" local, as trends vary by area and neighborhood), so don't assume what you hear in the press necessarily applies to the Pikes Peak region.  We're always glad to answer your questions, so please give us a call. 

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. ("RSC"), for the period September 1998 through September 2008.  RSC does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by RSC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are Realtors who have been linking buyers in sellers in the beautiful Colorado Springs area for many years.  To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

First time home buyers please take note:  This is a lot of home for your money!

This well cared for Widefield home boasts just under 2400 square feet, and a great floorplan.  With Living and Family Rooms, Eat-in Kitchen and Dining Room, 4 Bedrooms and 3 Baths, huge Laundry room plus Hobby room, and the large Backyard with roomy covered Patio, its occupants won't be in each other's way! 

The very low maintenance exterior means you can spend less time working in the yard, and more time on other interests.

This home is just waiting for new owners to appreciate the space and make it their own.  Updating is needed, but the house is in excellent condition, and comfortable just as it is.  It's convenient to Fort Carson, schools, and a park.

More Photos

Call us today; we'd love to tell you more about this home.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are seasoned Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500.

www.wickhome.com

Location, location, location...  It's long been a tag line of real estate - and for good reason.  A good, or great, location will help a home's appreciation, and will make it far easier to re-sell.  Think of the popular subdivisions in your area, where buyers and agents are always hoping for homes to come on the market.

So why do so many people disregard location when buying a brand new home?

A brand new home is exciting (just as is that new car smell).  As the first owner, you're not buying anyone else's problems or questionable taste.  Even if you didn't get to pick your decor, you're surrounded with up-to-date amenities.  Everything is fresh and new - no nail holes to work around, no stains, no worn carpet.  The paint glows and the windows don't stick.

But don't let the euphoria of a potentially owning a new home blind you to location.  Many people are so enthralled with a new build, that they'll settle for lots they'd never consider in a re-sale.   Chances are, some day they'll be selling that home. 

Face it, lot prices are high, and land in many areas is getting scarce.  Builders are "in-filling" on many urban and suburban tracts of land.  This often leads to some homes in the subdivision facing or backing to areas that could pose a problem for re-sale, or maybe even make living in the home less enjoyable.

We've seen just-built homes:

• With their backs looking out to a penitentiary. Even if you work at that facility, do you want to look out on it during your time off?
• Looking out on overflowing dumpsters
• Backing up to an interstate highway which was only about 40 feet away (seriously!)
• With sleep-impacting nighttime light pollution from commercial areas
• Next to the mega utility lines or power substation
• With serious noise pollution issues, like being below the landing paths of airplanes

In some of those situations, the buyers may have been wiser to pay lot premium to buy a house a few streets over.  If only a couple of houses abut the busy street, one a few lots in would be a better bet.  And, in other instances, where the whole subdivision isn't in a desireable location, you may be better off with a re-sale home in an established neighborhood. 

"But I plan to live in the home forever..."  You can't predict the future, and this applies to views, too! Think of future construction; the view that sells you on the house may not always be there.

Now, we're not suggesting that every new home must have a large, premium, cul de sac lot with a postcard view - that's not realistic.  Just that, when buying a brand new home, you look at that home with the same critical eye as you would a re-sale.  And, use a Realtor!  An experienced Buyer's Agent who is on your side will give you valuable guidance.  We've seen too many buyers who didn't use agents end up in short-sale or repo situations because the new home wasn't the "deal" it was made out to be.  

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  Any questions about home buying or selling in the Pikes Peak region?  Call them at 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120. 

www.wickhome.com 

According to Tom Cooper of Cripple Creek's 2 Mile High Club, this should be a great weekend (September 27th and 28th) to take in the club's Aspen Tour.  Even though the tours were also held last weekend, the Aspens didn't quite cooperate as planned.  (Some trees were turning along Highway 67, but not so much in the hills surrounding Cripple Creek - the  town's elevation drops down to 9494 feet).

As of Tuesday, our leaf-peeping scout noted:

• The scrub oak in Ute Pass hadn't started turning, except for a very few
• The Aspens from Woodland Park to Divide were mostly dark green to light green
• Color was beautiful on the ride from Divide to Cripple Creek, getting more colorful in the higher elevations toward Cripple Creek
• Aspens were turning between Cripple Creek and Victor, but many were still green
• There are more orange Aspen leaves this year than usual, and even a few red!

The most direct way to drive from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek is to take Highway 24 west, then Highway 67 south when you get to Divide.  If you'd like to return basically the same way, you can turn at 2nd street in Cripple Creek, and see some different scenery as you head toward Victor; the road is part of a loop that takes you back to Highway 67.  Or, for an alternate route, you can take Teller 1 from Cripple Creek to Florissant, and head east back to Colorado Springs on Highway 24. Teller 1 is a very scenic road, but there's not nearly as much color as on Highway 67 (it has pockets of Aspens), although you can take in the rock formations as well as the Aspens on Highway 24 between Florissant and Divide.

Teller 1 is part of the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway. 

Conditions will vary widely around the state according to latitude, elevation, and nature's whim.  Trees turn at different rates, even on the same hillsides.  As of last weekend, we heard that the leaves were almost peaking close to Montrose, CO.  Highway 24 near Buena Vista was also very colorful, and there was some leaves turning around Hartsel, CO.  Today, near Twin Lakes, Colorado, the leaves are close to peak (some green) and may last about another week.  It's a beautiful time of year in Colorado!

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  To contact them, call 800-599-8500 ext. 1120 or 719-534-7919. 

www.wickhome.com