1. Isn’t it just easier to rent than to buy?

I get this question a lot. Colorado Springs is very different from other duty stations you may have lived at. The area is large but really still small. That won’t make sense to you now but when you arrive you’ll get what I mean. We have really one county in our area (excluding the mountain communities). Finding a home takes (with a good Realtor of course) no more than a few days tops! The city is pretty spread out but once you decide on a price range and area amenities, we can narrow things down pretty fast. As a rule, I do not show rental properties. Finding a rental takes as long or longer since you have to set up the showings and then meet the owner or agent at each property.  If you are not familiar with the individual areas it could take a while and then you might find yourself in a one year lease in an area that you really do not like.

2. Is it difficult to get financing?

Not as difficult as you might think. The key is to get pre-approved prior to packing up at your current duty station. Bank statements, tax returns etc. are much easier to obtain prior to moving since you have quick and easy access to all of your personal data and records. When you arrive as a pre-approved buyer you will only need to find a property and get the appraisal done in order to close. Very simple!  Loan guidelines are very clear these days. The lender can tell you up front whether or not your credit and income levels meet those guidelines. It takes just a simple conversation with the lender to find this out.

3. Where will we live while we wait to close?

Again, if you have already been pre-approved the closing can happen quickly. In Colorado we do not do “Escrow” closings. We close and fund the transaction on the day of closing and you get the keys to your new home. We can close in a matter of a few weeks. It also may be a possibility that you can move into the property prior to closing and rent from the owner until the transaction is finalized. This won’t be possible if you are buying a bank-owned property but in that case it may be worth waiting for if the price is right! There are many possible places to live in a temporary situation in Colorado Springs. Our community is used to military personnel coming and going so we have extended stay hotels, temporary furnished apartments and of course you can also check out the base TLF or on post Guest House.

4. Do I have to have 20% down payment to buy a home now?

No! Conventional loans require a larger down payment but if you are military you most likely have the option of using your VA loan benefit. This options require ZERO down payment! Also, it is just a myth that you can only use your VA one time. It can be used multiple times with conditions. FHA is also a good option that only requires a down payment of 3.5%. Contact me so I can explain these loan programs in detail.

5. Do I have to make a separate house hunting trip in order to buy?

If time or finances did not permit an advance home buying trip do not despair. The process is just not that difficult. Lots of times we work with people who really thiought they would be renting a home. Once they viewed the selection of rentals in their monthly price range they change their minds and look into buying a home. We can adapt to this situation quickly. The key is to work quickly as far as submitting the loan paperwork. In a pinch you can obtain your LES and W-2 statements along with bank records by going online and printing them. Again, we are used to helping military people settle into their new homes quickly and with a low level of stress!

As you can see, buying a home might just be easier than you thought! Even if you are PCS’ing from overseas, we can help you find a great home! Contact us to get started.

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

When a security freeze is added to your credit report, all third parties whose access is not exempt under law will not be able to access your credit report without your consent. If you have been a victim of identity theft this service is highly recommended.This is a free service in all states if you have been a victim of identity theft. Inother states the cost is $10-$15. There is not charge in Colorado to initiallyfreeze your file for victims and non-victims of identity theft. Once you have ordered a security freeze there are still some agencies that can have access to your credit file:

• Companies you have a current financial relationship with.

• State, local law enforcement agencies, child support agencies.

• Governmental agencies

• Uses falling under the FCRA-disclosure to the FBI for counterintelligence.

• Credit monitoring services that the consumer has subscribed to.

Please note: Placing a security freeze on your credit file can delay the processing/acceptance of credit applications for a mortgage, auto, credit card, etc. as the freeze will have to be lifted in order for your credit to be pulled. Please plan accordingly if you are planning on submitting an application for credit so that your credit file can be accessed. Each bureau has different criteria for requesting a security freeze.

For Equifax:

Equifax Security Freeze

PO Box 105788

Atlanta, GA 30348

www.equifax.com or

https://www.freeze.equifax.com/Freeze/jsp/SFF_PersonalIDInfo.jsp

You can put a freeze on your file with Equifax either by mail or online through the above link. If you choose to request by mail you must include your name, address, date of birth, social security number, and proof of current address such as a utility bill. Once they receive the request they will mail you a confirmation with a 10 digit security freeze confirmation number. You must have this number to request a lift of the freeze. If you are a victim of identity theft you much also include a copy of the police report or identity theft report. Lifting a freeze from Equifax must also be done by mail.

For Experian:

Experian

PO Box 9554

Allen, TX 75013

www.experian.com or

https://www.experian.com/consumer/cac/InvalidateSession.do?code=FREEZEC

ENTER

You can put a freeze on your file with Experian either by mail or online through the above link. If you choose to request by mail you must include your full name with middle initial and any generation (Jr., Sr, etc), Social Security number, date of birth,current address and previous address (if less than 2 years). You must also enclose one copy of a government issued ID and proof of address (utility bill, bank or insurance statement). They will mail you a confirmation and an access code to lift your freeze. You can order a temporary or permanent lift either by mail or on line.

For Trans Union:

Trans Union

Fraud Victim Assistance Department

PO Box 6790

Fullerton, CA 92834

www.transunion.com or

http://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/fraudPrevention/securityFreeze.page

You can freeze your file with Trans Union either by mail, online through the above link, or by phone 888-909-8872. If you choose to request the lift by mail you must provide proof of your current residence such as a copy of a state issued identification card of valid driver’s license.

[idx-listing mlsnumber="545664" showall="true"]

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Bank Owned!

Beautiful walk-out rancher is ready for a new owner to enjoy all that it has to offer. This home sits on 2.5 acres in the trees. Private but close to highways for commuting. Over 5000 square feet of living space. Main level features huge master suite with fireplace. Two other bedrooms are also on the main level. Formal dining room and large open kitchen area are perfect for entertaining.

Large open family room has bar area plus big space for TV or gaming tables. Walkout to patio and enjoy the quiet sounds of the pines. This home has three gas fireplaces to take the chill off. The five large bedrooms and four baths will be perfect for those with a family or guests.

For a private showing, click here to contact me. I do not expect this property to last long on the market!

Not bad really!

The traffic issues in Colorado Springs are minute as compared to other metro areas across the country! I drive several thousand miles per month in town and in Denver. Believe me, we do not have a traffic problem!

Every morning and afternoon the flow of cars is obviously heavier on I-25 than it is during the rest of the day. Heading south into town from the USAFA area around 630 am takes me about 30 minutes to get to downtown. Sometimes when the roads are a bit snowy or icy it will take a little longer. Typically the traffic seems to be what we in Colorado Springs call “bad” on a Friday afternoon. The slowdowns occur at their worst from the Woodman Road exit on I-25 to the Baptist Road exit heading north. Beyond that, its just not a big problem. Those that have moved here from other parts of the county laugh at the idea of what we call traffic!

Why should we care? We’ll most people don’t give this much thought. It will be very important when you are selecting your home in Colorado Springs. If you work at Fort Carson but want to live in the Powers area (zips 80922, 80923, 80917) you need to know how long it will take to get to work. Lots of people want to live in a certain school district. Again, working at Fort Carson and educating your kids in School District 20 will cost you 40 minutes each way in commuting time.

The biggest traffic issues seem to arise with east-west driving in Colorado Springs. We don’t have a highway going that direction. We do not have a loop off of the highway like many cities have. This means lots of un-timed stop lights and extra driving time. This might come into play if you want to live on the west side of town near hiking and biking trails but work at Peterson AFB or Schriever AFB. Plan on a 30-40 minute drive from the West and Northwest areas (80904,80919) to Peterson AFB.

Lots of people live in Colorado Springs and work to Denver. The drive is not bad at all if you live in the northern part of the city or in Monument (80921,80920,80132). I take classes at University of Denver and commute from 80921 area.  My drive is a total of 50 minutes one way from my house to the college which is located mid-way into the city. Housing can be less expensive and quality of life might be better in Colorado Springs so many people choose to make the drive each day.

If you want to take a look at the local traffic cams, click here. This will give you an idea of what to expect at major routes through the city. If you have questions about where to live, feel free to contact me. I can point you in the right direction when it comes to living and driving in Colorado Springs!

This is an all too common scenario in todays world. This week, I am in the process of evicting three tenants for a four-plex property that has been foreclosed on. The tenants will have to move to a new place but whats to say that this won’t happen to them again?

In my mind, I see one solution to this problem. Don’t rent if at all possible! If you own your own home, you have control over the payments actually being made. This does mean that you have to plan ahead. Those planning to buy a home will need to make sure their credit score is high enough to qualify for a loan. They also need to pay down debt and possibly save for a down payment. None of this is hard. My 24 year old son just bought his first house with zero help from me. He saved 3.5% for the down payment and bought a home that needs a bit of cosmetic improvement. Prior to this he was renting an apartment. His car was broken into, the pool was always having problems and there were noise issues at night. All of this for over $1000 per month!

The key to buying a home is to make a plan. Then decide on the time frame to implement the plan. Colorado Springs is a perfect place to buy a home! The city is not so large that it takes long to find your way around. I can guide you to areas that may be of interest. Contact me today and take control of your housing destiny. You should be in control–not a landlord!

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