All new and ready for quick closing! This beautiful Pinon Valley tri-level has been updated for you! All new interior paint and carpet. New lighting and hardware in kitchen. Formal living room plus the added bonus of a lower level family room with fireplace. Three bedrooms and two baths. You’ll love the deck just off the master suite. Perfect for enjoying your morning cup of coffee!

The Pinon Valley area is known for its parks. Ute Valley Park is within walking distance. This park features hiking and biking trails for avid outdoor enthusiasts. The grassy Pinon Valley Park is the perfect place to take the kids and dog for a walk or to throw a frisbee. Schools for this home are among the highest rated in the city. Chipeta Elementary is very close and Holmes Middle School and Coronado High School are within a short drive.

This home offers the peace and quiet of the area while still being an easy drive to everything you need to get to. Contact me today for your private viewing.

The newest location of Rosies Diner just opened a few weeks ago. I have to admit that we’ve already been there twice already. It’s so nice to have new places to eat in the Northgate area. In the past we’ve gone up the road a few minutes to the Monument location but now we drive south on Voyager Drive to the newest location.

Actually, the Monument store feels a bit more “diner-ish” but the new place is biggers and the food is great! I was there a few weeks ago during the grand opening and while we waited they offered everyone free little milkshakes. What a nice treat.

They actually have juke box music playing and the atmosphere is definitely that of a classic 1950′s diner. The first location was in New Jersey and opened in 1946. Remember the old TV commercials with Rosie and the paper towels? That diner was the inspiration for those TV spots. From that first location the chain has grown quite bit with now two locations in the Colorado Springs area.

Take a look at the menu and see what they offer. I’ve had the burgers, the prime rib and I love the meatloaf. All good old-fashuoned American diner food! We like to find out of the way diners to eat when we are on road trips. The last one we found was Mom’s in Salina, Utah. What a treat that was. The coconut cream pie was so good and the waitress knew to bring it out before the meal. Too funny! The Rosie’s Diners in the Colorado Springs and Monument areas are equally charming and serve yummy food. Give it a try.

Colorado Springs Location: 11550 Ridgeline Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 MAP

Monument Location: 411 Hwy 105, Monument, CO 80132  MAP

Well, yes and no.

The answer will depend on where you live and how you live. For people who have a job that does not allow you to come in a bit later in the morning after a big snow then you will want to invest in a good set of snow tires.  Snow tires are actually made of a different rubber mixture than regular all-season tires so they work differently when gripping the road and snow. The treads are bigger as well.  All season tires are certainly less hassle but if you are the kind of person who delays buying new tires until the last minute, they won’t serve you well in the snow and ice.

If you will be buying a new vehicle when you arrive in Colorado Springs, it might be wise to invest in a four wheel  or all wheel drive car or SUV.  This is a must if you live in the foothills or Monument area. In my area, Flying Horse Ranch, the interior streets never get plowed so just getting out of the neighborhood can be an issue even in a four wheel drive SUV. I know people who buy a new car just before they set out to move to Colorado Springs. Great idea unless you bought a two wheel drive Suburban. Pointless and poor resale value in Colorado Springs!

If you plan to live in the mountains then chains might be needed but us city dwellers have no need of them.  I am native of Colorado Springs and I have never had to put chains on my vehicle. If it is that bad outside, we just stay home. There is definitely something to be said for a snow day. We stay inside with a pot of chili and movies to watch. Makes for a good relaxing day!

Bottom line here is not to panic about winter driving. Make sure that you have at least all weather tires with plenty of tread left on them. Keep your tires inflated to the proper setting. Drive slower than normal and leave early to allow for slower speeds of travel. Driving in snow is no problem if you are prepared and take your time.

I contacted the listing agent to ask if there had been any previous testing done on the property. After she had quizzed the seller, the response was “They did not do any testing when they bought the house. Their inspector said that since the home had a walkout basement, there would be no radon issues.” When I got done laughing, I contacted the buyer and he ordered the tests.  Inspector Whitbeck did the test and guess what? The results came in at a level of 14.2 pCi/l. The EPA recommends that the level be no higher than 3.9 pCi/l.  As a result, the buyer requested that the seller install a radon mitigation system to lower the levels and provide safety for the new buyer and his family.

Having a walkout basement does not make any difference in whether or not a home has radon! Common sense and science tell us that if radon comes out of the soil, when a house is built on top of that soil, radon can get into the property through the floors or cracks in the floors. Some migt think that a walkout basement has more ventilation since it has a patio door instead of smaller windows. What difference would that make? None unless you left the door open 24/7.  Duh! Whoever that inspector was that told the seller this should be the one who pays for this new system! This was a costly problem for that seller!

I always recommend that my clients educate themselves on radon and it’s dangers. While there are many arguments on radon and if it is really a problem, the fact is that if you have it in your home and decide to sell, you may have to pay the cost (around $1000-1500) to install a mitigation system. Better to test and ask the home seller to foot the bill than to not test and have to pay later!

Worried about radon or other home inspection issues? Call me at 719-264-7777 so we can address all of your questions.

For those of us that love Steve Martin’s movie The Jerk, this phrase along with the excitement that it carries is familiar.  I went down to the Criterion Bike Shop  yesterday to get my copy. Colorado Springs is a great city for bike riding. We have city street trails as well as many off road trails.
Legend

The map is fairly large. I guess I was expecting some kind of laminated fold out pocket type of thing but thats not what this map is. I think this map is meant to be much more than that. When folded out completely the whole city is viewable along with all of the trails. The trails are color coded to make it easy to know what kind of trail to look for based on the type of ride you want to do.  For instance the red markings indicate an area that has “Very High Traffic-No bike facilities.”  Translation: Crazy, busy street not fit to ride with little kids! There are 9 other designations/colors to look for on the map. My search is for the brown lines that indicate either a paved trail or an unpaved trail.

Lots of people in Colorado Springs ride their bikes to and from work or school. The map will help these people find the best routes as well as facilities for bike storage. Bus transfer stations are also listed for those that like to bike and ride the bus in the same trip. Each of our Metro buses have bike racks on them. This makes it easy!

On the back of the map, there are lists of city resources for bike riders along with lists of biking clubs and bike shops. This map is a great resource for all bikers in Colorado Springs! Get your copy today and start riding. It’s well worth the cost of  $7.95!

Want to be close to Fort Carson?

This is it! All new upscale remodel just minutes from Fort Carson! Gorgeous kitchen with all new cabinets, stainless appliances and slab granite counters. New paint inside and out. All new bathrooms as well. Nothing has been left undone in this home! Tri-level floor plan offers formal and casual living spaces. Four bedrooms, two baths. 1408 square feet. Attached garage with opener. Perfect for anyone who needs to move in fast and start living! Easy to buy with your VA loan. We have several lenders who can assist you with any financing option. Contact me now for your private showing.

Former Model in The Boulders Broadmoor

Great floorplan in this casual living home! Main level master suite. Newly finished wood floors. All new stainless appliance package. Large open dining room plus living room. Family room offers built-ins and walk out to patio for outdoor entertaining. You’ll appreciate the fully finished basement complete with wet bar, built ins and large open room for pool table or home theater. Five bedrooms and four baths. Over 4700 square feet.

Prestigious area with an easy commute to downtown, Fort Carson or Peterson AFB. Located in Cheyenne Mountain School District 12.   For your private showing contact us now!

Wooded Oasis in the City!

This home is perfect for those who like the convenience of city living but want to live near trees, hiking & biking trails and parks. Backs to scub oak and wooded area. Short distance to Pinon Valley Park, Ute Valley Park and the Garden of the Gods.

Updated kitchen has unique touches like custom vintage pantry door. Upgraded lighting and built in speaker system in the updated kitchen. Family room has new tile flooring. Formal living and dining for entertaining.  Upper level features large master suite plus 3 more bedrooms and additional bath.

Enjoy the pub-like atmosphere of your finished basement full bar area with beautiful woodwork. Built in entertainment shelves and big screen TV included. Guests will enjoy their stay in the bedroom with private attached bath.

The outdoor living area includes patio with lush green surroundings. Lawn spaces offer plenty of room for play. Room for herb or vegetable garden as well. Watch the deer while you sip a glass of wine in the evening. This home has absolutely everything you need for relaxed yet convenient living!

For a private showing, contact me at 719-264-7777

Want to go hiking?

Colorado Springs offers lots of hiking spots right in town! I love this about our city. You can take a quick hike and then grab a nice lunch or even a late breakfast. Of course there are lots of other spots for hiking outside of town but this post is just about the hyper-local trails.

One of my favorite areas is Cheyenne Canon. There are several trails that offer a challenge and usually a spectacular view of the city or the mountains. The City of Colorado Springs has a great page on their web site with a full list of all of the local trails as well as maps of each trail. This will give you an idea of how long the trail is and the level of difficulty. Perfect for beginners or those hiking with kids. Other traills are good for just walking or biking. The site details those locations as well.

If you are planning a move to the Colorado Springs area, contact me for information on homes near hiking and biking trails. We have a few neighborhoods that are perfect for people who want to be able to come home and take a quick hike before dinner! Where else in the world could life be this good? Only in Colorado Springs!

If you have done any online searching at all you know how hard it is to find the right neighborhood in Colorado Springs. Searching the MLS for  homes is not just about a price range and square footage. So many other factors should go into your home search.

Price of course will dictate the beginning of your search. After you have narrowed down how much you want to spend on a home, you need to get serious. Many people just say they want a certain price range and size of home. What about the needs of your family members?

Schools should be a critical part of any home search. Again, online research will not tell the whole story. If your child plays high school soccer, you will want to make sure the high school in your search area offers that sport. If your child plays club sports, you will want to think about where the practice facility is located at. I drive hundreds, maybe thousands  (no, that is not an error) of miles per month taking my son to school and sports activities. I chose a private school for my son and we live in an area in the far north part of the city. For my family, the drive is worth it. I have two sons who have attended both public and private schools in Colorado Springs. I can assist you with details about individual schools and districts. Test scores alone will not tell you the whole story about schools in Colorado Springs.

For many people, a short commute is a key part of the home search. Traffic in Colorado Springs is not very bad but the city is very spread out. Someone who will be working at Fort Carson might not want to live in the Monument (TRI for MLS purposes) since the commute can be nearly an hour one way. Lots of people assisgned to Fort Carson choose to live in the Fountain Valley (F/V) area since it is so close to the post.

I get many requests for information on mountain properties. There are great areas to live just to the west of Colorado Springs. The key will be to find one that is near amenities that are important to the person who will be living there. Woodland Park is a small town up Ute Pass and has everything you might need but on a small scale. I personally would not want to live in the area full time but used to have a cabin in Florissant, a 40 minute drive from Colorado Springs, The road is a bit winding and the winter conditions can be difficult. The upside is that you get to live in the mountains. if you have always dreamed of living up there, then lets get searching for your dream home!

If you want to begin your Colorado Springs home search, please contact me first. I will let you tell me about all of the needs of your family. Then we can define the areas that will work for you. Then I will set up a private search for you that can be easily modified or expanded to fit your criteria.

Finding a home in Colorado Springs. If you have done your homework in advance, we can narrow down the perfect property for you in just a matter of a few days. The key is to tell me about yourself and your family so I can assist you in defining the perfect neighborhood!