Can Pokemon Go Help Sell Your Home?

If you are planning to sell your home, there are a lot of details to consider, especially when it comes to your listing, and any open house viewings. There are common catchphrases used across the real estate industry to help draw in potential buyers. Describing a property as a cottage or bungalow, or highlighting popular features such as smart products and eco-friendly upgrades, will catch the attention of buyers looking for these features in a home. There are also trends and ideas that come and go, but can make a big impact in buyer interest for a time. There is one new trend just getting started which has already been put to use by home sellers. Recently highlighted by CNBC, the popular AR (Alternative Reality) game, Pokemon Go, is now showing up in MLS properties.

You may wonder why a mobile app with imaginary creatures that “pop-up” at various locations around town would be of interest to a seller; but there is a strategy behind the inclusion of Poke Stops or Pokemon Gyms in a listing. The Pokemon Go mobile app game draws players to locations around the globe, and right in your own neighborhood, too. While you may not have your own Poke Stop, with the game app, you can see if there are wild Pokemon near your property (they like recreational areas a lot), or there may be a Poke Gym nearby. This game is gaining in popularity across all age groups; the potential to have buyers who play the game is growing, quickly spreading across cities and towns everywhere. So why not give your listing an extra kick which may catch the eye of a buyer who happens to enjoy Pokemon Go?

Your listing is your first impression for potential buyers. We live in such a mobile, fast paced world

now, that the quicker you can capture someone’s attention, the more likely you are to keep their interest. With resource and tool apps, and social media being part of the average daily routine for the majority of people now, businesses and industries have realized the benefit of “playing the game” in the playing field of our digital world. As a home seller, you can take advantage of this, too. If you have a Pokemon Go feature near your home, by including it on your listing, you may just attract that one buyer with Pokemon Go, who turns out to be the buyer for your home.

While the popularity of Pokemon Go may lessen over time, keeping up on current social trends and popular features is a wise thing to do when it comes to selling your home. Including sought after features and neighborhood amenities in your listing is part of what draws potential buyers’ attention. The broader the pool of potential buyers you can reach, the better your chances are for selling your home quickly. When you are ready to sell or buy your home, we at Springs LifeStyles Real Estate are here to help you with all of your real estate needs! As your buyer agent, we will strive to give you the best support we can. Call Kathy Stenberg at (719) 963-4867 or you can email her at springslifestyles@gmail.com You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.

Pikes Peak Real Estate Continues as a Seller’s Market

Residential sales data for June 2016 has been released by The Colorado Association of Realtors® (CAR). According to the report, across the state and the southeastern region, of which Pikes Peak is a part, we are continuing to see a strong seller’s market. Prices of single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums are still on the rise. Listed inventory also saw an increase, reflecting seller’s response to an in-demand market. The overall inventory, however, is still below average, and with more buyers still seeking property here, this is an ideal time to put your home on the market.

According to the CAR report for June, there was a rise in the number of newly listed properties across the state. With 12,526 single-family homes newly listed for the month, this was a 5.5% increase compared to a year ago, but still down year-to-date by 0.3%. Active inventory supply is down by 18.9% compared to June 2015, representing a supply of 2.9 months. For condos and townhomes, the supply was down by 0.4% with 3,331 units listed for sale, providing 2.1 months’ supply of inventory. This current inventory is down 30% less than the same time a year ago. Statewide prices continued to rise as well. Median sale prices were at $325,00 for the month, up by 10.2%. Single-family homes reported a median price of $345,00, up 8.8% with townhomes and condos showing a median of $246,000, up by 11.8%.

The Southeast region saw an increase in new listings of 3.4%, 2,653 properties put on the market in June. Single-Family home listings went up by 1.3% while townhomes and condos saw a significant rise in listings, up by 26.5%. Active inventory for the month in the region was down by 33.9%, providing 2.8 months' supply. Median sale prices were up for the region as a whole as well, reporting $237,500 as the median, an increase of 7.4%. Single-family home median prices went up by 7%, to $246,000 while townhomes and condos rose by 12.4% with a median price of $170,000.

Buyers are continuing to find homes in the Pikes Peak area, with another rise in the number of closings being reported for June. The Pikes Peak Association of Realtors® has reported 1,651 single-family homes were sold for the month, compared to 1,401 sold in June 2015, an increase of 17.8%. Townhomes and condos saw a slight decrease 3.8% in sales, with 201 units sold last month compared to 212 the year prior. Median sale prices continue to rise for these types of properties as well, with single-family homes increasing by 5% compared to a year ago, at $262,500. Townhomes and condos around Pikes Peak saw a 12.4% increase in median sale prices going up to $170,000.

We will continue to watch this ongoing trend to see just where it goes in the coming months. If you are thinking of selling your property in the Pikes Peak region, this is an ideal time to list your property. When you are ready to sell or buy your home, we at Springs LifeStyles Real Estate are here to help you with all of your real estate needs! As your buyer agent, we will strive to give you the best support we can. Call Kathy Stenberg at (719) 963-4867 or you can email her at springslifestyles@gmail.com You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.

El Paso County Roadway Improvement Projects Underway

Summer time brings more road construction projects. While we may not enjoy the delays, the improvements that get completed on our roads help everyone in the long run. Living in our recreational paradise is made easier with better roads. This summer promises to be no exception with several large roadway improvement projects getting underway across El Paso County. Continuing the 2013-2017 initiative known as Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance & Partnerships, Colorado Depart of Transportation (CDOT) has the funding to get many large-scale projects underway. Listed below are the current and upcoming El Paso County projects. Be in the know before you go for a better drive to work or fun.

Project: Cimarron Expressway; Cost: $113 million; Details: The interchange along I-25 at US 24/ Cimarron St. will get new lighting and signals alongside new bridges.

Project: Mesa Ridge Parkway/Powers Blvd; Cost: $8.7 million; Details: new shoulders will be added to these state highways between Syracuse St. to Bradley Rd with new pavement surfacing, line painting, and landscaping.

Project: I-25 overlay; Cost $6.4 million; Details: the road from Circle Dr. to the Nevada Ave. exit will be resurfaced.

Project: Powers Blvd. Widening; Cost: $6.3 million; Details: Powers Blvd. will be made wider between Fountain Blvd. and Platte Ave. Airport Rd. will also be widened where it and Powers Blvd. intersect, creating a 4-lane roadway.

Project: U.S. 24 East/Rainbow Falls Bridge: Cost: $2.4 million; Details: This preservation project will improve the safety and extend the life of the Rainbow Falls Bridge. Improvements include new railing and bridge deck surfacing.

Project: Region 2 (Southeast Colorado) Guardrail upgrades; Cost: $1.6 million; Details: Part of a multi-county project cable rail will be added to the 1-25 median and upgrades will be completed to the guardrail along State highway 115.

Project: U.S. 24 East Manitou Springs Overlay; Cost: $1.6 million; Details: Overlay work will be done alongside ADA access improvements, and better drainage at the intersection of Garden of the Gods Pl. along the highway.

Project: I-25 at S. Academy Blvd; Cost: $1.1 million; Details: The northbound on-ramp of I-25 at Academy Blvd will get an extended acceleration lane.

Project: Powers Blvd Signalization at Bradley Rd; Cost: $500,000; Details: a new median, lighting, and traffic signal will be installed where Powers Blvd. and Bradley Rd. intersect.

Keeping up with ongoing roadway improvements will help your commute time and travel to area recreational fun go smoother. You can find out all the details at the CDOT website, including when work is scheduled to be done for each project. Keeping in the know when you are ready to sell or buy your home, can make the process run smoothly as well. We at Springs LifeStyles Real Estate are here to help you with all of your real estate needs! As your buyer’s agent, we will strive to give you the best support we can. Call Kathy Stenberg at (719) 963-4867 or you can email her at springslifestyles@gmail.com. You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.

New listing in the Ridge at Fox Run

15972 Woodmeadow Ct

Colorado Spring, CO  80921

Premium lot on .45 acres located in a cul-de-sac.  A 5 minute walk to Fox Run Park.  Check it out.

Solar Power Options in Colorado

A home is one’s castle. Having an eco-friendly castle not only helps the environment, but can also add value to your home, great news if you are planning to sell your property. Using solar power is a great way to add a unique amenity to your home and conserve energy. Colorado as a state is a great supporter of solar power. This support is spread down to the local level through regional utility services as well. With programs from utility rebates to statewide incentives there are a variety of options and plans to choose from when you are ready to go solar. With residential solar panel systems there is on average more power generated than used, this can result in a great return on the investment for many home owners.

Before you make the step into solar power you will want to do some in-depth research to find the best program and products for your home. Listed below are some great resources when it comes to solar power in Colorado.

·      If you are a customer of Colorado Springs Utilities there are incentives for installing a solar power system which is tied to the regional electricity grid. This provides additional renewable power for everyone to use, and home owners benefit in the form of a credit toward their energy bill.

·      Clean Energy Authority Colorado is a valuable resource to learn about solar power and the programs run by the state. In addition to any utility incentives, Colorado offers property tax exemptions for solar equipment such as solar panels and solar water heaters.

·      With all the different rebates and incentives available it is helpful to have a resource with links and information on different Colorado solar programs. Residential Solar 101 is one such resource. Not only can you see which utilities offer solar incentives, but you can learn about financing as well. There is also a variety of educational material and a calculator to estimate your own energy savings. 

·      Another excellent resource is SolarPowerRocks.com. This site provides a snapshot picture of solar power in Colorado. Here you will find the 2016 Colorado Solar Power Information page with up to date information on costs, incentives, returns on investment and savings. There is also a guide to help you determine the best solar approach for you and your home.

If you are ready to make the switch to solar power, you have a lot of options to consider. The savings in energy and money are just the beginning when it comes to using renewable energy. When you are ready to sell or buy your home, we at Springs LifeStyles Real Estate are here to help you with all of your real estate needs! As your buyer agent, we will strive to give you the best support we can. Call Kathy Stenberg at (719) 963-4867 or you can email her at springslifestyles@gmail.com You can also visit us at our website for available listings and additional information.