Exciting Announcement


I am very excited to announce that I have started my own Real Estate company, Springs LifeStyles Real Estate and I am the broker/owner! What a great way to start out a new year, huh?

Happy 2011 to you and be watching for new listings, a new logo, and more!

Seven Tips on Charitable Giving

RISMEDIA, December 9, 2010—While the holiday season puts many in the spirit to give, it’s also important to do some research before opening your wallet to support charitable causes.


"There are many worthy charitable causes and residents should feel free to contribute to causes with personal meaning, whether a local homeless shelter, food bank, soup kitchen, animal rescue, or an international organization with global outreach," said Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Basil L. Merenda. "However, I urge everyone to take the time to understand where their dollars will be going so they can have confidence that their donation will have the biggest benefit and get to the people who need it most."

Before giving to any charitable organization, research how your money will be used. Most charities are legitimate and strive to ensure the majority of dollars go directly into worthwhile projects, but some may misrepresent their cause or spend a high percentage of donations on administrative costs. Be sure that the charity's spending practices match your expectations.

Here are some tips and warnings to help ensure your donation goes to the right place:

1. Never give to a charity you know nothing about.

2. Request written information from the charity about its programs and finances.

3. Do not feel pressured into giving on the spot or allow someone to come to your home to pick up the contribution.

4. Never commit to donate over the phone unless you are familiar with the organization.

5. Never give cash, credit card numbers or bank account numbers. Always write a check payable to the charity so you have a record of your donations.

6. All charities have expenses, so check carefully and understand how your donation will be spent.

7. Consult with a tax advisor to determine whether your contribution is tax deductible. If giving before Dec. 31, charitable donations may be tax deductible for the upcoming tax filing.

brought to you by RISMEDIA

Well Maintained & Beautiful Home that backs to National Forest

The price has been reduced on this home down to only $609,o00. You won't want to miss buying this lovely home for sale in Durango, Colorado in La Plata County. This 1990 home has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths with 1890 square feet. You will enjoy the natural light that comes in through the large windows while also enjoying the vaulted ceilings. Whether you prefer a wood burning stove or a gas fireplace, you can curl up in front of one of the two fireplaces and enjoy the fantastic views!
There is an over sized, detached garage that can hold 2 vehicles and also a 50x36 shop that can hold 9 cars. There is also plenty of southern exposure on the driveway and home (which helps reduce the need for shoveling snow in the winter).
The home backs to national forest, is close to biking trails and has breathtaking views of the Red Cliffs throughout the over 4 acre lot.
To view the slideshow below, move your mouse cursor to the bottom of the slideshow and click. A toolbar will then be visible and you can click the triangle to play the slideshow:
Click here for more details or call Don Ricedorff at 970-375-7014 or click here to email Don. This property is listed in Durango, Colorado (La Plata County) under MLS # 639063

Foreclosure Freezes: Will they fix the housing market?

I found this to be an interesting article. It was published on RISMedia and CBS Money Watch early this month.

So will Chase’s and Ally’s foreclosure freeze ultimately fix the housing market? That’s one theory put forth in today’s New York Times. But, I’m not so sure. What will happen in the short run is that all of the banks will put a moratorium on the foreclosures. Law firms that have become foreclosures processing machines in places like Florida, will have a lot of extra time on their hands. Read Full Article.

Zillow CEO Talks About the Ever Evolving Real Estate Market

RISMEDIA, October 27, 2010—As the real estate industry waxed and waned over the past several years, Zillow has gone from suspect intruder to trusted partner. Here, Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff explains how both the industry and Zillow have evolved together, and why the “dark days” of real estate are behind us.

Despite the story the data tells, what positive messages do you think are important to get out there about real estate?
SR:
Home values have bottomed and bounced off the bottom in some parts of the country. In San Diego, for example, they’re already 5-10% off the bottom. We don’t expect a significant price appreciation from here, but we don’t expect home values to go further south in those parts of the country. This points to the way we must look at home values—which is at the neighborhood and regional level. It’s more nuanced than what the national media typically reports. There is definitely some good news for our industry which has been underreported. For example, we’ve clearly passed through the bottom in terms of transaction volume. Homes are selling again and the dark days of two to three years ago when there were no sides taking place are behind us. The agent and broker who is tech-savvy and understands how to price homes in the market and who has the experience on short sales and foreclosures will do extremely well.

Taken from RISMEDIA Oct 27, 2010 article. Entire article can be read by clicking here.

Lowe's Build & Grow Clinics for kids

I've posted information before on Lowe's Build & Grown Clinics, but wanted to remind you of this great and FREE program for kids. There are some great projects coming up in November that you won't want to miss. Visit Lowe's Build & Grow site to sign up!
On November 13th your child can build this periscope:
And on November 20th your child can build this snowman gift card holder:

Beautiful Home For Sale in Durango, Colorado

You won't want to miss buying this lovely home in Durango, Colorado in La Plata County. This 1990 home has 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths with 1890 square feet. You will enjoy the natural light that comes in through the large windows while also enjoying the vaulted ceilings. Whether you prefer a wood burning stove or a gas fireplace, you can curl up in front of one of the two fireplaces and enjoy the fantastic views!
There is an over sized, detached garage that can hold 2 vehicles and also a 50x36 shop that can hold 9 cars. There is also plenty of southern exposure on the driveway and home.
The home backs to national forest and has breathtaking views throughout the over 4 acre lot.

Beautiful views of the Red Cliffs and awesome biking trails. Click here for more details.



What to Do in Colorado Springs this weekend, July 23-25th

What are you doing this weekend? Maybe you'll decide to check out.....

FRIDAY, JULY 23rd:

UNIQUE STEP & DANCE TEAM TALENT SHOW 6-9pm @ UCCS - no cost (1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918) FRIDAY - SATURDAY - SUNDAY

COWBOY SONGS & POETRY 7pm @ Cheyenne Mountain State Park Amphitheater - singing and foot stompin' to Old West tunes (410 JL Ranch Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80926) call 719-576-2016

ICE CREAM THEATER - THE DUSTY ATTIC 7pm @ Manitou Arts Theater - family show followed by art activities and ice cream - $10 tickets (1367 Pecan Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904) call 719-685-4729 - FRIDAY & SATURDAY

FREE COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE LESSONS 7pm @ Carey-On Saloon - intermediate/advanced rodeo line dancing (3350 N. Chestnut, Colorado Springs, CO 80907) call 719-630-5077 or 719-440-1818

SATURDAY, JULY 24th:
GUIDED WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE 8am @ Cheyenne Mountain State Park - Join us for a 2-3 mile hike to observe mule deer, wild turkeys, prairie dogs, and other park residents. Bring binoculars and water. Have $6 exact change, if you need to purchase a daily State Parks pass (410 JL Ranch Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80926) call 719-576-2016

PIKES PEAK WATER GARDEN SOCIETY ANNUAL POND TOUR 9am-4pm @ meet @ Wasson High School - no cost to tour great ponds and yards around town (2115 Afton Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80909) SATURDAY & SUNDAY

2010 SPRINGS BEER FEST 11am-7pm @ Antlers Park - Join Old Chicago, The Friends of Cheyenne Canyon, Bristol Brewery and BeerTapTV for a day of fun in the sun! Live music, over 25 breweries, amusements for the whole family, great food from local joints and YOU - $20 tickets if purchased in advance or $25 at the event (31 W. Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903)

RAGTIME PIANO PLAYING 8:30pm @ The Broadmoor's Golden Bee - The sounds of a ragtime piano, played by resident pianist Bud Kreuzer and others can be heard nightly at The Golden Bee. Beginning at 8:30 p.m., classic songs including Sweet Caroline, Margaritaville, and Piano Man are played by request, and patrons are encouraged to grab songbooks, raise their glasses, and sing along! (One Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906) SATURDAY & SUNDAY

OLD COLORADO CITY'S SHOWDOWN OF CHILI, BBQ, BEER & BANDS 10am-7pm @Bancroft Park (on W. Colorado Ave. between 24th&30th Street. Bancroft Park on 24th Street will come alive w/live music, food, fun & entertainment) SATURDAY & SUNDAY

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER & SHOW 6:15pm-9:30pm @ Embassy Suites (7290 Commerce Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918) Call 888-575-3884 for tickets and more information

SUNDAY, JULY 25th:
SUNDAY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH @ THE MOUNTAIN VIEW RESTAURANT 10:45am-2pm (3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906) 719-538-4000

Of course, there are MANY more activities going on around town. You can check them out. If you have an upcoming event you would like me to feature, please email me!

Add Value to Your Home

10 Value-Adding Home Improvement Projects

By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, July 14, 2010--Now that summer has arrived, homeowners across the country are taking advantage of the warm weather by tackling home improvement projects they have been putting off. If you are looking for ways to add value to your home, the following home improvements may be just what you’re looking for.

Tip 1: Remodel your kitchen
Kitchen updates are one of the best ways to increase the value of your home. Adding modern appliances and refacing your cabinets to give it a more modern look is well worth the investment.

Tip 2: Add a Garage
Homes with at least a two car garage are more attractive to potential home buyers. Having a home with a small garage is almost as bad as having no garage, so consider upgrading before putting your home on the market.

Tip 3: Remodel your bathroom
Bathrooms are very important to home buyers. Just as with the kitchen, home buyers look for modern conveniences. Adding a Jacuzzi bathtub, painting the walls and adding appropriate flooring will go a long way toward increasing your home’s value.

Click here to read all 10 of these helpful tips from RISMedia.

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Days in Colorado Springs

This week, the 70th annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Days is taking place in Colorado Springs. If you missed the parade last night, you won't want to miss the events in the coming days.

Authentic Chuck Wagons will gather for a Cook-Off at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Days. Cooks from across the country will circle the wagons on Saturday, July 17th for the annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Days Chuck Wagon Cook-off. The event is free to the public for viewing of the different campsites, but for only $10 you can enjoy a hardy cowboy meal from 5p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 17th at the Norris Penrose Event Center. Meal tickets are available onsite the day of event or by contacting Dean Venezia at (719) 491-2158. Learn more here.

Visit the Colorado Springs Rodeo site for tickets and more information.

5 acres full of trees and mountain views in Lake George, Colorado

What's Happening around Colorado Springs This Weekend, June 25 - 27, 2010

Colorado Springs sure is a happening place, especially in the summer. I've highlighted below just a few of the great activities that are going on around town this weekend, June 25th - June 27th.

FRIDAY, JUNE 25th:

Cheyenne Mountain Art Workshop grades 7-12, 9am-4pm

8th Annual Firefighter Chili Cook-off to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) 4pm @ Pikes Peak Ave & Colorado Ave downtown

Sunset Celebration Music on the Sundance Terrace at Cheyenne Mountain Resort from 5-8pm (Friday AND Saturday night)

SATURDAY, JUNE 26th:

Arts & Crafts on West Pikes Peak Avenue @ Old Colorado City History Center parking lot, 9am-2pm

Farmer's Market @ The Citadel 10am-3pm (click here for information on Farmer's Markets throughout Colorado)

FREE Computer & Scrap Metal Recycling Event @ The Citadel, The Chapel Hills Mall and 12 Goodwill Donation Centers 9am-1pm

US Olympic Committee Community Appreciation Day @ The Olympic Training Center, 10am-2pm: athlete autographs, live sports demonstrations, prize giveaways, food, music & fun

Painting & Jewelry Exhibits @ Arati Artist Gallery, 10am-5pm

Junior Ranger Program @ Cheyenne Mountain State Park 10am (for ages 7-12)

Family Nature Club @ Bear Creek Nature Center 10am-noon

Cheyenne Mountain State Park Full Moon Hike (ages 10 and up) starts 8:30pm

SUNDAY, JUNE 27th:

10th Annual Tejon Street Bike Fest 10am: 10 city blocks of motorcycle only parking, vendors and party atmosphere.

Family Mystery Hike @ Cheyenne Mountain State Park 2pm (ages 5 and up)

The Secret Garden, The Simpich Showcase Marionette Theater, 2:30pm

Colorado College Summer Music Festival: Orchestra Concerts 3pm - features include Johann Strauss' "Die Fledermaus Overture," Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn and strings, and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major

Summer Remodeling Ideas for your Home


I always enjoy quick, easy reads that are also helpful tips for your home. I found this article on summer remodeling ideas to be thought provoking. Whether you are thinking of adding or refinishing a patio or deck, adding some energy efficient home improvements or just some much needed home maintenance, I think you'll find that article to be helpful.

How To Be (More) Frugal

Do you consider yourself a frugal person? Have you had to become more frugal in recent months and years due to economic changes? What are some great ideas that you have for how to be frugal? I found this quick read to be helpful: from brown bag lunches to frugal cleaning and toy swapping. Check it out.

Things to Do in Colorado Springs This Weekend


What are you doing this weekend? There are LOTS of fun events going on in Colorado Springs, El Paso County over the next few days. Here are just a few of the attractions and events happening this weekend around town:

Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at the World Arena June 10th - June 13th. For pricing and further information visit here.

Alice & Wonderland is being performed at the Manitou Art Theater on Friday night, June 11th at 7pm.

Youth Fashion Show Friday evening at Colorado College.

Want to visit a park or some open space in Colorado. Here is a great site showing where you can go.

Love a good Farmer's Market in Colorado? I sure do. There is one at the Citadel Mall this Saturday, June 12th from 10am-3pm. For more information call 719-494-9092 or just show up!
Would you enjoy a midnight bicycle ride through Garden of the Gods Park and then the streets of Colorado Springs? I didn't even know about this, but this Saturday at midnight is the 16th annual midnight bicycle ride.

The Colorado College Summer Music Festival on Sunday, June 13th at 3pm at Packard Hall sounds like a great way to wrap up your weekend.

For even more musical enjoyment, Jerrod Niemann will be in concert at Downtown Lanes at 5pm on Sunday.

How To De-stress After Work


Do you bring work with home you? Either physically bring it in the door or mentally because you can't stop thinking about the office? How can you be there for your family and relax if you are at work, even when you are home? I hope you'll find these tips to be good and simple reminders to de-stress after work.

Moving Into Your New Home

Are you moving this summer? Moving can be stressful, exciting and exhausting! Here's some moving day tips that will help make you more organized and hopefully make the whole process easier for you!

Once you are moved in, where do you start with the unpacking? Do you organize the garage first? The kitchen? The bedroom? Again, this can be overwhelming. Try to keep some of these helpful unpacking ideas in mind.

What to Do in Colorado Springs this weekend, June 4-6, 2010

Looking for ideas of things you can do this weekend? Here's just a few:

Start tonight & go to the 6th Annual First & Main Summer Concert Series from 5-7pm Powers Blvd. Between Constitution and North Carefree Colorado Springs, CO 80903 FREE ADMISSION First & Main Town Center

It's FREE FISHING weekend for all ages in Colorado this weekend. There is even a kid's fishing derby at Fountain Creek Regional Park Nature Center on Saturday, June 5, 2010.

There's the Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Festival on Saturday the 5th at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs.

Head up to Tri-Lakes for the Native American Inter-Tribal Festival on Saturday at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts.

Go on over to Rock Ledge Ranch for the start of their summer season on Saturday. The public is invited to come watch some wild 'n wooly sheep shearing and sheepdog herding demonstrations, and experience the traditional daily activities at the ranch to celebrate the start of the summer season.

Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center: Bird Walk with Melissa Walker on Sunday at 8am on June 6 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED- 719-219-0108 or For more information visit www.gardenofgods.com and www.Friendsoffardenofthegods.org.

Great listing at a FANTASTIC price: Lovely home on almost 20 acres in Black Forest, Colorado Springs

Price recently reduced down to $635,000. This is a fantastic deal on a large home and 19.55 acres. Several outbuildings and barns. Lots of possibilities!

Price Reduced on Quaint Rancher in Colorado Springs

Great rancher in southern Colorado Springs. Would make a great starter home, home for a single person or to downsize and not worry about lots of steps. Contact me if you are interested or know someone who might be.

Price Reduced on Colorado Springs 5 bedroom home in Stetson Hills

I have this great listing in Colorado Springs at 6065 Emma Lane that has just had a price reduction from $188,000 down to $182,000. This is a 5 bedroom home (3 bedrooms up and 2 in the basement) and it is over 2800 square feet. It has 4 bathrooms and vaulted ceilings throughout. There is a gas fire place, hardwood floors in the kitchen and a formal dining room. The laundry is on the main level and a new roof was put on in 2004.
Call or email me today if you are interested in this (or any other Colorado Springs home for sale) and I'll be happy to work with you on the purchase of your next home.

Pikes Peak Source for Summer Entertainment

Here is a helpful source for finding art, music, family friendly activities, sports, theater, dance, museums, etc. in the Pikes Peak Region and it's called Peak Radar. Check it out today to help you plan your summer activities in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas or if you plan to vacation in Colorado this summer this is a helpful resource.

Colorado Springs Neighborhood Home Values

The Gazette recently published a special report called "Neighborhoods" detailing Colorado Springs home prices in 2009. The Gazette 2010 Guide to Real Estate has an interactive map of Colorado Springs where you can find your specific neighborhood and find details on home sales. Or, if you are looking at moving within or to Colorado Springs to buy a home, you can look up specific neighborhoods to learn more about the homes sales in that area.
Each neighborhood listed in this guide has a profile, including the median price of homes that sold in a neighborhood, the average size of homes that sold and how values have changed from year to year. The guide also includes information about the of number of foreclosure sales in each neighborhood and how distressed properties affected prices.

According to the article, in 2009 in El Paso County there were 8,287 single family homes sold (over 2,000 were foreclosures). The median sales price of homes was $211,591 (excluding foreclosures). Also, the biggest increase in the median price of single family homes was in Eastern El Paso County at a 31% increase from 2008 to 2009.
Sources:The El Paso County Assessor's Office; Gazette data analysis and research

Home Sales on the Rise

From RISMedia May 5, 2010: Pending home sales increased again in March 2010, affirming that a surge of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, rose 5.3% to 102.9 from 97.7 in February, and is 21.1% above March 2009 when it was 85.0; this follows an 8.3% increase in February. Click here to read more.

The Colorado Springs housing market has been stabilizing due to several reasons: the return of troops to the military installations in town and also several local companies have announced new jobs and positions being implemented over the next few years which is a real boost to the Springs economy. Regardless of what you may hear in the news, this is a great time to buy or sell. Interest rates, while fluctuating, are still at record lows.

The current real estate market in Colorado Springs has created a number of opportunities for the astute buyer and it's exciting that in the current market, there is actually room to negotiate and reach a win-win for all of the parties involved.

How To Unclog a Sink Drain Without Harsh Chemicals

I love helpful household tips, especially one's that are "green" and not harmful to the environment or your home! I really like the HowDini site as it is very helpful. Here is a great video on how to quickly and easily unclog a sink without using harsh chemicals. I haven't tried it myself, but I hope to soon. If you try this (or have tried it in the past) - let me know how it works. I'd love to hear from you.

And here's another HowDini video on how to use green cleaning products, whether making your own or buying cleaning supplies that are less toxic to the environment and to you.

I guess I must be in a spring cleaning mood posting all these videos! ;)

Price Reduced on Beautiful Home in Black Forest, Colorado Springs

I've just reduced the price on this fantastic home for sale in Black Forest, Colorado Springs to only $675,000. Also, new carpet is being installed!
This is a 7 bedroom / 4 bath / 3 car garage listing that is located on almost 20 acres. Several barns and out buildings make this a great horse property in the Rocky Mountains. If you are interested in buying a home in Colorado Springs ~ this may be the home for you! Click here to find out more about this great listing.

GREAT site with Summer Activities for you and your kids

I know I posted yesterday about some great deals ~ and today I came across this site that I think is really good as well. It's called The Frugal Girls and this link is to some great summer activities you can do with your kids from CHEAP movies through Cinemark, to Barnes & Noble reading programs to many other helpful and frugal ideas. Check it out!

And of course, if you want to be frugal in the real estate world, then now is the time to be looking and going under contract for a home. There is only a little over a week to go under contract to take advantage of the government tax credits.

If you are considering putting your home on the market to sell it during the coming months, or you are in need of buying a home, please contact me. My expertise in relocation, market sales, Colorado Springs economy and housing markets, military relocation, first time home buyers and many other niche's are extensive and I look forward to putting my skills to work for you!

Breakfast for $3 in Colorado Springs

Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Breakfast for $3!!! Well, I came across this great article with fabulous breakfast ideas - from Starbucks to Subway to some exclusive to Colorado Springs. Check it out and enjoy!

I also really love Springs Bargains because they always have great deals and coupons for things going on around town.

Colorado Springs Homes For Sale March 2010 Statistics

How is the housing market in Colorado Springs doing compared to previous months and years?
Here is some helpful information from the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors (click on any chart to enlarge it):

It's exciting to see the number of homes for sale increasing over the past few months. This is certainly the right time of year to sell your home, as we get further into spring and head into summer.

Isn't it interesting that the amount of homes under contract in the month of March are at a 5 year high?

The total home sales for Colorado Springs year to date for 2010 are higher than at the same time in 2009; and very close to the same amount as 2008.

Whether you are looking to buy a home in Colorado Springs, sell your home, or both ~ contact me today so I can put my expert real estate services to work for you!





NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY

First Time Home Buyers and others who qualify for the Tax Rebate must act now. The deadline to be under-contract for a specific home is April 30, 2010.

In order to qualify for the Tax Rebate you must CLOSE on the home prior to June 30, 2010.

If you haven’t begun to look, now is the time to start. The market will be busy this month with people who have been sitting on the fence waiting for yet another extension to the tax rebate.

I currently have several GREAT listings that might be perfect for you:

5 bedroom / 4 bath / 2 car garage / 2803 square feet home in Stetson Hills, Colorado Springs for $188,000

2 bedroom / 1 bath / carport / 666 square feet great starter home in 80910 Colorado Springs for $102,500

4 bedroom / 4 bath / 3 car garage / 4087 square feet home for sale with mountain views in Monument for $479,900

You can check out more details on these homes and more on my ERA Herman Group Real Estate site. Please let me know if you are interested in any of these homes for sale. If these homes don't meet your needs and you want to take advantage of the tax credit, please contact me and I will work hard for you to find your next home!

Increase in FHA loan upfront mortgage insurance premiums

PRESS RELEASE:

Effective today, April 5, 2010, the upfront mortgage insurance premium collected on FHA purchases and refinances has increased from 1.75% to 2.25%
Visit this site to learn more about mortgage insurance premiums.
FHA loans can be a great loan for many buyers. They offer low down payments, low closing costs and easy credit qualifying for many buyers.
If you or anyone you know is looking to buy a home - or sell a home - please let me know. I'm here to help you!

The Difference Between http and https

Many people are unaware of the main difference between http:// and https://.

It's all about keeping you secure -
HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transport Protocol. The S (big surprise)stands for "Secure". If you visit a website or webpage, and look at the address in the web browser, it will likely begin with the following: http://. This means that the website is talking to your browser using the regular 'unsecure' language. In other words, it is possible for someone to "eavesdrop" on your computer's conversation with the website. If you fill out a form on the website, someone might see the information you send to that site.

This is why you never enter your credit card number in an
http website! But if the web address begins with https:// that basically means your computer is talking to the website in a secure code that no one can eavesdrop on. You understand why this is so important, right?

If a website ever asks you to enter your credit card information, you should automatically look to see if the web address begins with
https://. ; If it doesn't, there's no way you're going to enter sensitive information like a credit card number.