Colorado Springs Homes Blog

Do you have some athletic shoes that are too well-used to donate to charity, but hate to waste?  Reuse-A-Shoe is one of Nike's longest running environmental and community programs, and is endorsed by our El Paso County Environmental Services Department. 

Nike collects worn-out athletic shoes - they'll take any brand - and then processes them to recycle into material used in sports surfaces.  Instead of clogging landfills, your old shoes could become part of a sports court, athletic field, running track or playground, in an area which lacks sport facilities. 

Since the program's start, Nike has recycled more than 21 million pairs of athletic shoes, and created or refurbished 265 sports surfaces.  It's not just the rubber soles that are recycled, but also the uppers and mid-soles.  Pretty neat! (No word on what happens to the shoe laces.)

To drop shoes off locally, visit the Boulder Running Company store at 3659 Austin Bluffs Parkway unit 32 (west of Academy Blvd).

Reuse-A-Shoe is part of Nike's Let Me Play campaign.  To find out more, visit the website.  

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  They welcome your real estate inquiries.  To contact them, call 719-534-7920, or visit their website.

El Paso County has expanded the items it accepts for recycling hazardous household waste at their facility at 3255 Akers Drive.  

There's a covered drive-thru drop off point, so it's quick and  convenient.  You can now recycle or dispose of: 

Aerosol Cans
Ammunition
Antifreeze
Batteries - Lead-Acid, Alkaline and Rechargeable                                                                               
Electronics
Fire Extinguishers
Fuels - high BTU liquids, sludges and solids
Lawn and Garden Chemicals, including pesticides and rodent poisons
Household Products - lots of stuff that shouldn't go down the drain                                                   Motor Oil and Oil Filters                                                                          

Medications Liquids and Pills are accepted.  Black out or remove personal information. Place loose pills in clear, seal-able bag; leave liquids in their bottle, and also place in a seal-able clear baggie.            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Mercury - fluorescent lights, (including CFL's) thermometers, thermostats and light switches
Paints and stains
Propane Tanks

Items NOT accepted: 
Abestos 
Business Waste
Tires 
Other materials deemed unacceptable by the staff

Facility hours are Monday through Thursdays 7am to 5pm. 

Some new and usable products are available free through the "Drop and Swap" program.    And, you can exchange your mercury thermometer for a new digital one - one per household!

Dispose of your yard waste every Saturday from 8am to 4 pm at Rocky Top Resources, at 1755 E. Las Vegas St.  (579-9103, south of downtown) or find out more about the Black Forest Slash and Mulch program and schedule.   

Services are free to residents of El Paso and Teller counties; you're encouraged to bring non-perishable foods to donate to Care and Share.  Call 520-7878 for more information, or visit www.elpaso.com and search "solid waste managment."  (If you forget the address, it's better to go to the county site, as Google still has the address for the old facility in some of its links.)                                         

You can also pick up a comprehensive recycling directory when you visit the facility, which includes a list of other businesses that recycle materials.  This is an excellent resource, and it's very interesting to find out how the particular items are re-used or recycled.                      

Take advantage of this excellent county service!

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or visit their website.  They welcome your real estate inquiries.                                                                                              

In our last post, we focused on the number of homes sold in June.  In this one we'll break down the number of active  Single Family and Patio Homes by price range as of July 14th, 2008.  (In the last post we included all solds entered the Pkes Peak Multiple Listing Service; today we're just looking at El Paso and Teller Counties.)

           Price Range                              Active SF/Patio Homes                                                

• under $149,999                        763
• $150,000 to $199,999               1125
• $200,000 to $249,999               1021
• $250,000 to $299,999               673
• $300,000 to $399,999               992
• $400,000 to $499,999               516
• $500,000 to $599,999               285
• $600,000 to $699,999               193
• $700,000 to $799,999               156
• $800,000 to $899,999               83   
• $900,000 to $999,999               68
• $1,000,000 to $1,499,999         136
• $1,500,000 to $1,999,000         60
• $2,000,000 and more               36

So, even though the majority of homes sold last month were under $300,000, even those sellers faced stiff competition.    Sellers, if you're home is listed or you're thinking of listing, you need to make sure your home is priced right and shows extremely well.  Buyers, if you're in the position to buy a home - first time or move up - there are many opportunities for you.

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. ("RSC"), for of July, 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 long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  Call them at 719-534-7919, or visit their website.  They welcome your inquiries!

Sellers in the Colorado Springs area still face challenges, due to a large inventory of homes on the market, and comparitively slow sales for the peak selling season.

867 single family homes sold in June, while there were 6,595 active listings. That's more homes sold any month since last August, and 27 more than in May.  The better news:  The average sold price increased to $256,829, and the median price rose to $233,000 (the highest figures since August's prices). And while both figures are lower than June of last year, the median sales price is very close to last year's $233,900 (last June's average price was $276,148).

337 of the single family homes closed in June sold for under $200,000, and another 249 sold between $200,000 and $299,999. Only 50 homes sold that were $500,000 or more - 11 of those over were over $750,000 (with one slightly over a million).  

During June 2007: 88 homes sold for $500,000+, including five at one million plus (and the $3,633,525 property helped to bring up the average price).  

We always stress that statistics don't tell the whole story.  It's not just a matter of "prices are up" or "prices are down" or "homes aren't selling."  Price and price range, (for instance, this is a good time for first time and move-up buyers),  condition, location, appeal, and a bit of luck all factor in.  Call us to see where sales and prices are at in your neighborhood.

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. ("RSC"), for the period June 2007through June 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 long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  They welcome your real estate inquiries.  To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com  

May saw the continued upward trend over the last few months in number of single family homes sold (840), average price ($251,543) and median price ($210,000). 

However, the number of active listings in May increased to 6,396.  For this time of year, home sales are still down from recent years.  Even though there were more listings in May 2007 (6567), 1,032 homes sold that month.  In May of 2000, 879 single family homes sold, but there were only 3,253 active listings. 

The average Days on Market in El Paso County during May was 88 - not too bad when you consider some  of thoses homes have been listed for a long time.  DOM vary by area; in Black Forest, it was 135, while it was 78 DOM for the Central area.

We always stress that statistics don't tell the whole story!  Your home may or may not sell quickly; it's a function of price, condition, appeal. location, marketing, and that special buyer. 

Homes that are agressively priced and appealing are selling, but buyers are still being picky.  If you're thinking of selling, we offer special services that can help your home stand out.  If you'd like to buy, you can still take benefit from the huge selection and motivated sellers.  Call us so we can help you with your unique situation.   

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. ("RSC"), for the period May 2000  through May 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, the authors of this article, are long-time agents in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  They welcome your real estate inquiries; to contact them, please call 719-534-7920 or visit their website.

In the Pikes Peak area's semi-arid climate, (we're classified as High Alpine Desert) it makes sense to explore alternatives to fussy, always thirsty plants.  You can still enjoy blooms and foliage by employing Xeriscaping principles - it's not about having a drab, plant-less yard.  And, it's not an all-or-nothing situation, either: you can reap many benefits by partial or gradual implementation.

By using Xeriscaping methods, you not only save money and precious water, but you can spend less time and angst maintaining your garden and more time on other interests.   

Don't know much about Xeriscaping?   Colorado Springs Utilities will host a class this Saturday, June 7th, at 9am.  Xeriscapes Basics: An Overview is an introduction to Xeriscaping principles, and the elements that are suited to our area.   The lecture is followed by a tour of the                                          Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.     

The class is free, and you don't have to register.  Call 668-4455 for more information.  The class and the demonstration garden are located at 2855 Mesa Rd.                                     

Even if you can't make the class, it's well worth it to visit the demonstration garden - it's always open to the public (the lobby is open Monday through Friday from 9-5, and you can pick up information).  There's a variety of labeled plants, and you make take home some ideas for your yard. 

Happy gardening!

Ken and Sandy Wickham, the authors of this article, are long-time real estate agents in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  They welcome your real estate inquiries.  To contact them, call 719-534-7920, or visit their website.

Would you like to tour some beautiful homes?  Are you interested in remodeling?  The Colorado Springs Housing and Building Association, the same folks who bring us our annual Parade of Homes, is sponsoring a new tour of homes - the 2008 Remodeled Homes Tour. 

17 homes now boast improved function and style with unique, personalized remodels.  

The homes showcase work by nine local remodeling companies.  See everything from attic conversions to second story additions, and partial to full remodels.  You can pick up ideas and learn about latest remodeling trends. 

Tickets are available at all local Safeway stores.  For more information, visit the HBA's site.

Ken and Sandy Wickham, the authors of this article, are long-time real estate agents in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.  To contact them, please call 719-534-7920, or visit their website.

Brand new condo!  Light, bright, and without a scratch.  Roomy split bedroom design with 2 bedrooms and two full baths.  Amenities include covered balcony, two storage areas, neutral carpet, breakfast bar, all appliances, cozy gas fireplace and also central air to keep you cool this summer.  Save on gas - it's an easy walk to shopping, dining, the YMCA and the new Memorial Hospital.  District 20 schools.  A great chance to own a brand new home for $159,900.  See more details at http://wickhome.com/listing/70307950.

Ken and Sandy Wickham, the listing agents, are long-time agents in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  The welcome your real estate inquiries; to contact them, please call 719-534-7919 or go to their website.

    Do you like privacy and space?  

   Wonderful 5.39 acre treed property in Black Forest has room for your hobbies, collection or horses.

Attached 2 car garage plus detached   1200 SF garage/shop with RV door gives you many possibilities. 

   Expansive decking to enjoy nature, and you can relax under the stars  in your included hot tub! 

You can see more information and a visual tour on our website.

Ken and Sandy Wickham, the listing agents, are long time realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.  They welcome your real estate inquiries; to contact them, please call 719-534-7920  or  800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

While there is still an over-supply of homes for sale in the Pikes Peak region, sales and average prices are improving.  772 Single Family  homes sold in April; 50 more than in March, and well above January's low of 534.   

April's average (mean) sold price was $239,578, and the median price was $207,750.  Both are higher than the previous three months'.  The number of active listings was higher (6,175) than in the previous five months; many people took their homes off the market last winter.

Buyers continue to be picky.  Excellent condition and competitive pricing are still key, and staging is very important to make your home stand out favorably. 

Is this a good time for you to buy or sell?  Call us; we're happy to sit down with you and help you assess your situation.

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. ("RSC"), for the period 4/1/2007 through 4/30/2008 .  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, the authors of this article, are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO.  They welcome your real estate related inquiries; to contact them, please visit their website.