2016 Pikes Peak Home Buying Guide

Pikes Peak Home Buying Guide

• Profiles of local home builders and real estate agents • Appraisers: What are they looking at anyway?

• Ken Moon’s tips for buyers and sellers • Specialty insurance coverage A S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E O F T H E G A Z E T T E • S U N D AY, J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

APPRAISERS:

What are they looking at anyway?

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

Whether you’re purchasing a home, refinancing your existing mortgage, or even a real estate broker looking after your client’s interests, recognizing the duties and procedures for residential appraisers can make the home appraisal progress smoothly and quickly.

A residential appraiser is hired by the lending institution financing the home loan to form an opinion of value for the property that will, hopefully, support the lender’s investment. The three primary pieces to an appraisal include: • The inspection. A licensed appraiser, representing the lender, comes to the property and examines it to determine fair market value.

• Comparables. The appraiser researches similar homes in your immediate vicinity and compares recent sales to determine market value.

• Appraisal report. Using the data gathered from the inspection and comparables, the appraiser issues an appraisal report to the lender.

Local appraisers provided a list of items that can sometimes slow down the process or prevent them from completing the inspection the first time. These tips can help get the appraisal scheduled

and sent on to the lender in a timely and efficient manner:

INSPECTION

The housing market is remarkably active right now. Buyers, sellers and Realtors should be aware that most appraisers are experiencing a surplus of work, and their availability is limited.

“The appraisal is just as important, if not more so, as the showings,” said Rick Smithson, Action Team Services. “When the appraiser calls to set an appointment, you need to grab it.”

Although the appraisal report doesn’t include how clean or messy your home is, “If you want your home neat and tidy, it should be done in advance and don’t leave out anything you don’t want in photos,” said Mike Carton with Peak Vista Appraisals. “Also, please have access to crawlspaces and attics ready.”

In addition, real estate brokers who prefer to meet the appraiser at the inspection, should be aware not to park in front of the house being appraised. An unobstructed photo of the exterior is required.

Lenders require the appraisers to confirm that the property exists and is in

PH 2 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

livable condition, which requires a number of pictures of the property.

“We need pictures of the exterior, the street, and every room, including basements, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

Everything,” said Carton. “It’s not a good time for someone to take a shower or a nap prohibiting the appraiser from getting required photos.”

It’s also important to understand that daylight hours are necessary for the appraiser to completely measure the home, inside and out, and get good photos for the report. “Access to the front and back yard is required,” said Carton. “Keeping pets out of the way or in kennels is helpful so we can focus on the appraisal.”

Having a list of improvements, that have been completed since you bought the home, ready to give the appraiser along with what year they were done, will help give these improvements the appropriate consideration.

COMPARABLES

To help support the value of the home purchase or refinance, lenders require the appraiser to present examples of recent home sales with similar qualities as the subject home being financed.

Strict guidelines are required in locating acceptable comparables. These must be homes that have already sold, located within the same neighborhood, same age, similar finished living space, and more. Appraisers must provide exterior photos to the lender of every comparable used in the report.

Due to the need for comparables, if you’ve just closed on a home purchase, sometimes as soon as the first day after closing, appraisers will likely be driving by to take photos of your closed sale to use as a comparable for another loan. If you’re curious about why they’re taking photos feel free to ask, but please do not call the police.

REPORT

While the lenders generally charge the appraisal fee to the homeowner as part of the closing costs, the contract is between the appraiser and the lender. These contracts consist of confidentiality agreements very similar to doctors and lawyers, the appraiser cannot discuss the appraisal with anyone, other than the lender. Buyers and/or homeowners need to contact their lender directly for a copy of the report and ask questions or discuss details of the report. 

2016

Want to know more about why your broker is keeping an eye on us?

Agents: Call 719-685-8300 SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 3

RE/MAX PROPERTIES, INC.

Helping families love where they live

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

“

In order to be prepared for the variables in a market like ours, buyers need to be smart and ready in order to lock-in the home and lifestyle that lets them ‘love where they live.’

across-the-board support to each client so they can make the best choice for their family regarding the home as well as lifestyle,” Marzolf said.

Helping buyers stay focused on the emotional aspects of choosing a home, RE/MAX Properties, Inc. helps smooth the path for the variety of details involved.

Dedicated to educating buyers throughout the process, RE/MAX Properties, Inc. believes it’s less stressful for buyers who are well-informed and knowledgeable.

MISSING INGREDIENT FOR MILLENNIALS:

Down payment savings

BY JOSH BOAK  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Short of savings and burdened by debt, America’s millennials are struggling to afford their first homes in the face of sharply higher prices in many of the most desirable cities.

Surveys show that most Americans under 35 lack adequate savings for down payments. The result is that many will likely be forced to delay home ownership and to absorb significant debt loads if they do eventually buy.

Steadily rising home values in recent years have eclipsed pay increases, making it especially difficult to buy in major growth areas for jobs, such as San Francisco, Denver and Seattle.

Nationally, 37 percent of millennial renters have saved nothing at all for a down payment, according to a survey of 30,000 renters being released by Apartment List,

a company specializing in rental home searches. At the same time, 79 percent of millennial renters say they aspire to own a home, illustrating a troublesome gap between expectations and financial realities.

Even those diligent enough to set aside money are still short the cash to buy a home.

Among larger metro areas, millennial renters who are saving have put aside an average of just $5,830. This marks less than one-fifth the savings needed for the typical 20 percent down payment on a starter home costing $175,000. The lack of savings raises doubts about whether the under-35 crowd will also delay CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

PH 4 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

“

When you embark on a mission to purchase a home it can be convoluted and stressful. You spend hours looking for a home that is just right; carefully finding the right number of bedrooms, the right amount of space, the right price, and the right part of town.

“What our clients are sincerely searching for is a place that will compel them to ‘love where they live,’” said Martha Marzolf with RE/MAX Properties, Inc. Families are searching for a home that will become the blank slate to raise their kids, gather with friends and family, and chronicle each journey in their new home.

Finding the perfect home is not just about price, bedrooms, and square feet — it’s about choosing the lifestyle your family wants and a home you love, in a place you love.

“It’s important to our agents to provide

“Educated buyers understand the true value of finding the right home in a community they love,” Marzolf said. “The process really goes beyond just chasing a home within your budget.”

In combination with their awardwinning agents, The RE/MAX Properties, Inc. Home Buying Guide helps buyers navigate the various issues immersed in home purchases, such as offers and counteroffers, earnest money, property inspections, home appraisals and other

important subjects, leaving clients more time to focus on “living where they love.”

All together, these comprehensive, highquality services can save time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful.

If you’re like most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you’re buying a starter home, your dream home or an investment property, take advantage of the expertise and experience from local market specialists in the Pikes Peak region.

And, while sometimes buyers may have to compromise on a few of the features they wanted, they shouldn’t have to settle for a home they don’t love. In order to be prepared for the variables in a market like ours, buyers need to be smart and ready in order to lock-in the home and lifestyle that lets them “love where they live.” 

Nationally, 37 percent of millennial renters have saved nothing at all for a down payment.

SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 5

AROUND THE HOUSE

Buying or selling, use a Realtor

BY KEN MOON  SPECIAL TO PIKES PEAK HOME BUYING GUDE

If you’ve got a house to sell, you’re in luck’s way. It’s definitely a sellers’ market out there.

I hear stories of multiple offers — some even higher than the list price — on many properties, especially those in the more moderate price ranges.

You’ve heard all this, too, so it is tempting to try to do it yourself. There are all sorts of on-line resources touted to make it easy to market and close a ForSale-by-Owner property.

Not for me. I think it’s always a good idea to hire a professional real estate agent. Why? The business is fraught with regulations, deadlines, legal mumbo jumbo and miles of paperwork. Make a mistake in any critical step along the way and the deal

might not close on time, if at all.

For instance, how are you going to negotiate face to face with a nervous buyer on all the inspection items? How do you pick the right title company? What about marketing and signage? Most important, what’s the right list price to both maximize your return and to ensure a quick and timely

PH 6 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

offer? The list is endless, but your agent will have computerized systems in place to manage all of these steps and deadlines.

Once you and the agent decide on a price, now what? In good markets and bad, regardless of economic conditions, a clean, sparkly, uncluttered and updated house will always will sell quickly and for top dollar. In spite of the condition of your home, your agent could also recommend updates. Kitchens and baths are number one; fresh carpet and paint are a must; in the spring and summer, the yard and lawn are a big deal; and, of course, the most (temporarily) agonizing and painful chore, uncluttering. Less stuff in the house will make it seem bigger, brighter and more inviting to a future buyer.

Expect that the buyer will hire a home inspector. So for starters, make sure there are no leaks around plumbing fixtures; that the furnace and fireplaces are cleaned and checked by a heating contractor and chimney sweep, respectively. If your house was built before the mid ’70s, have an electrician check for aluminum wiring and other issues, like loose outlets and switches.

Finally, if you have un-permitted work, like a basement finish, check with the city now to resolve it. I promise it will come up later on and perhaps cause you to lose a buyer in all the commotion.

In the market for a home? The same precaution applies vis-à-vis an agent. How come? Because here there’s the added complication of getting a mortgage. There are a zillion loan programs — like interest rate and down payment subsidies from the government, low down payment FHA and VA programs, mortgage insurance choices and on and on.

Picking the right package for your situation is a difficult enough task, so it helps to have a partner who has “been there, done that.” The agent will point you to a lender and title company they like (good real estate agents have no nefarious reasons to recommend these vendors to you, but they know who the good, professional folks are in town that can make everything work on time with minimum hassle). I know it’s tempting to go after some faraway Internet lender, but many times these companies use faceless underwriters who demand more and more frivolous documentation right up until the closing day.

What about an inspection? It would be a foolish decision to avoid this step simply because it seems costly. What’s a $300 or $400 expense when compared to the $200,000+ investment you’re about to make? Most inspectors can save you many times their fee in future outlays by pointing out subtle or hidden defects. And please, don’t let your father-in-law or some other relative perform this critical step. I don’t care if they are in the construction business; if they miss some big deal item, it will take a long time to restore family harmony!

What is a home inspection? It is a cursory look at the home you’ve selected. Inspectors are generalists, with a broad knowledge of the systems in the home. They will point out potential problems such as broken or missing items and unsafe conditions. Then you and your agent can sit down and decide between what you will ask the seller to do, and what is acceptable as is. There is no “pass or fail,” since the report indicates present condition only.

The inspector will also point out items which may need upgrading to make the house safer — a smoke detector is a good example. After all, homebuilders have been incorporating new technologies in their products for years, but items which were not required when a specific home was built are usually not the responsibility of the seller.  Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 9 a.m.

Saturday on KRDO, AM 1240 and FM 105.5.

Contact him at aroundthehouse.com.

DOWN PAYMENT SAVINGS FOR MILLENNIALS: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

marriage and children, said Andrew Woo, a data scientist at Apartment List.

One possibility — already evident in some markets — is that first-time buyers are making smaller down payments and paying mortgage insurance or slightly higher interest rates on mortgages.

Excess housing debt roughly a decade ago inflated a housing bubble and then triggered a market crash that led to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression more than 80 years ago.

“A lot of millennials are not saving enough for a 20 percent down payment for a home,” Woo said. “What does that do for our financial system — especially since we had the financial crisis less than 10 years ago? Are we willing to let homebuyers be highly leveraged like they were before?”

Millennials not only entered a job market still healing from the downturn but arrived with high student debt burdens, with averages approaching $30,000. Fifty-three percent of homebuyers under 35 last year said that student loans had delayed their purchases, according to a survey released last month by the National Association of Realtors.

Based of home prices, many millennials won’t be able to buy homes in the next

five years with their accumulated savings.

Assuming a 20 percent down payment, it would take 20.5 years in San Francisco, 11.4 years in Denver, 8.2 years in Seattle and seven years in the Boston area.

Not all areas were so out of reach. In such metro areas as Philadelphia, St. Louis and Cincinnati, the required savings for those who have put aside money would take less than two years.

Some buyers are pursuing alternatives that allow substantially lower down payments. Programs such as Fannie Mae’s HomeReady let buyers put down as little as 3 percent. But only buyers who earn less than 80 percent of a metro area’s median income are eligible.

The program has aided first-time buyers in places such as Washington, D.C., where millennial renters with savings are still almost nine years shy, on average, of having enough money for a 20 percent down payment on a starter home in the region.

“It’s just absolutely critical — people either wouldn’t be able to secure a good rate or able to buy altogether,” said David Toaff, a loan officer at First Home Mortgage in Bethesda, Maryland. 

“A lot of millennials are not saving enough for a 20 percent down payment for a home. What does that do for our financial system — especially since we had the financial crisis less than 10 years ago?

Are we willing to let homebuyers be highly leveraged like they were before?”

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BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

RE/MAX Advantage Realty Inc., founded in 1998, one of the most successful real estate companies in town, ranks among the 50 most productive brokerages in the U.S., based on home sales data in the Prestigious 2016 REAL Trends 500 survey.

RE/MAX Advantage placed 27th out of 50 and was also one of only 3 Colorado Springs real estate offices included among the top 50 brokerages.

“Our agents always put their clients/ customer first,” said Bruce Betts, Broker/ Owner of RE/MAX Advantage. “When your buyers and sellers are pleased, they’re happy to refer you to their friends and family. A referral is the greatest compliment.”

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More older Americans becoming renters

BY GAIL MARKSJARVIS  CHICAGO TRIBUNE (TNS)

CHICAGO — Baby boomers are altering the American Dream.

After having the home in the suburbs, the kids, the two cars, and maybe even the picket fence, a growing number now want to ride elevators to rental apartments and walk out the door to restaurants. When the kids are grown, an increasing number of empty nesters are selling homes and aspiring to live like urban millennials — in rental buildings full of amenities and free of lawn mowing, shoveling, mortgages and property taxes.

It’s not unusual for empty nesters to consider downsizing and avoiding tasks such as yard work. But typically downsizing has meant buying smaller homes or condos. Now, for a generation

with a reputation for setting trends and yearning for freedom, an increasing number want to rent rather than own.

“It’s nice to have freedom,” said Michel Winkelstein, who moved into a downtown Chicago apartment with his wife, Susan, after selling their suburban home about three years ago. Michel Winkelstein now walks to work at his law office, and Susan Winkelstein says she feels like she’s on vacation every day. Apartment living frees up time spent on maintenance and they walk to restaurants, plays, movies and musical events.

“We both feel like we are in our 20s,” said Michel Winkelstein.

The number of boomer renters is still small. But there were just 10 million in CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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ERA SHIELDS

Helping families relocate

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

ERA Shields Real Estate realizes that every relocation, domestic or international, can be a stressful experience for families.

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Elite 25 connects top producers in the industry

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

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Founded by Stewart Title of Colorado, a hand-picked group of Realtors from the Pikes Peak Region come together to form the Elite 25. This group represents the top 1% of their industry and are eligible by invitation only.

Operating as a national referral network for high-producing Realtors in the luxury home market, criteria for the Elite 25 is centered on specific home sales in El Paso County and other factors, including sales volume. The powerful networking group of real estate brokers gathers monthly to communicate information, acknowledge successful tools, and share opinions.

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The group tours homes listed by their fellow-members and complete a feedback sheet offering opinions and guidance regarding the listing. “It’s a very positive experience for the agent as well as being good for their clients and providing more exposure to the listing,” said Clement, who has been a member of Elite 25 since its inception.

Elite 25 embodies some of the most dynamic, productive and successful real estate professionals to be active in the Colorado Springs area. As a powerful force in the industry, Elite 25 provides unmatched opportunities for buyers and sellers as well as working with other Elite 25 chapters throughout the United States. 

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HOME OWNERSHIP AMONG OLDER AMERICANS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

their 50s and 60s in 2005, and in 2015 there were 15 million. They account for more than half of the nation’s renter growth in the last 10 years, according to Jennifer Molinsky, researcher for the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

She calls it a “dramatic increase,” and a trend that’s likely to continue as the giant generation of 77 million people, born between 1946 and 1964, ages and seeks easy living.

At a recent National Multifamily Housing Conference, housing consultant Jeff Kottmeier was surprised by “landlord after landlord mentioning the surprising surge in older renters.” Many of the boomers have sold homes and have been looking for luxury apartments in walking distance to stores and entertainment, said Kottmeier, of John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

In many metro areas, older renters are driving demand, he said.

In Chicago, consultant Lance Ramella, of John Burns, said he can’t quantify the extent of the trend, but it is observable.

There is an increase in people “who don’t see their primary residence as an investment” and don’t want their retirement money tied up in a home, he said. In Illinois, with the state’s unresolved pension problems, people say they are afraid of buying because they fear rising property taxes, he added.

Renting is a unique twist for many boomers, who began their adult lives when the sheer size of their generation starting households drove a sharp climb in home prices in the ’70s and ’80s. For years many assumed renting was a waste of money and a home an essential investment. But after living through the recent housing crash, that assumption has been tarnished and renting now seems fine.

“You aren’t going to get equity quickly any longer,” Michel Winkelstein said. As empty nesters, he and his wife sold their three-bedroom home, for less than they had paid for it in 2002, and considered buying a condo downtown. As they debated location, they worried about buying.

Their real estate agent, Karyn Meyers, suggested renting as a short-term experiment that would allow them to move easily, and without selling costs, if they changed their minds. Now Winkelstein said he has no urge to move.

Still, most boomers are not regarding housing much differently than the generation before them, said Lawrence Yun, economist for the National Association of

Baby boomers are altering the American Dream.

Realtors. The number of boomers renting is impressive simply because the generation is large, but there does not seem to be an increase in the percentage renting compared with the previous generation as they entered retirement, he said.

Eighty percent of boomers own homes and want to be owners, he said. In a study

by AARP, 74 percent said they wanted to continue to live in their homes throughout retirement. Like their parents, boomers are inclined to stay in their homes after the children are grown, and welcome them back around the dinner table they’ve shared for years.

But homeownership among people 50 to 64 slipped 5 percentage points between 2005 and 2013, notes Molinsky. Part was driven by foreclosures and job loss in the recession. Others are “transitioning to renting as a choice,” she said. They want “cost-effective options that demand less time, physical effort and money to maintain.” As people enter their 70s, she expects the desire for ease and safety to intensify.

The combination of 8 million foreclosures and a 10 percent unemployment rate during the housing crash and Great Recession sparked a surge in rentals among all age groups during the last few years and has caused rental rates to soar.

There are 19 million renters who previously owned homes, according the Urban

PH 12 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

Institute. But older boomers were not as hard-hit in the housing crash as people ages 36 to 55, because people in their 50s and 60s tended to have purchased homes before the housing peak and therefore had more equity to absorb losses, the Urban Institute has found.

With a tight rental market now, given the increase in renters, Molinsky notes there has been little interest in developing affordable housing for those who need to rent due to economic weakness. Rather, the interest in potential boomer renters is coming from developers seeing opportunity in the luxury market.

Boomer parents are also being tempted to rent as they see the housing their children are considering in new luxury buildings, said Randy Fifield, vice chairman of the Fifield Companies, which develops apartment buildings.

“They see the light and the view, and they are jealous,” said Fifield. “They want a vibrant life” instead of isolation in empty homes in quiet suburban neighborhoods. “They are busy with their phones and iPads, and can live in a new building for less than a mortgage and stop writing checks to the handyman and the landscaper. They don’t have to worry about the snow.”

Attorney Howard Pearl was attracted to that life after his children left home. The family home in suburban Chicago “was

a great place to raise a family,” he said, but when he was alone he didn’t want “a sleepy family town. There were no restaurants or theaters.” So he moved into the E2 Apartments in the more-bustling suburb of Evanston, which he says is vibrant like the theme song from TV’s “Cheers”: “Everybody knows your name.”

Now rather than trying to figure out how to get home for a package or delivery, there’s a concierge, he said. When he wants to leave town, he simply locks the door and leaves, and he notes “rather than paying thousands for insurance, I’m paying $300 to $400.”

Although luxury buildings in downtown Chicago have been especially popular with empty nesters craving activity, Ramella said boomers are also renting near suburban areas where they raised families.

They want to continue ties with churches and communities, he said.

Renting in Chicago’s downtown is beyond the typical boomer’s budget.

The new luxury buildings in Chicago run about $2.81 a square foot, or $2,800 for 1,000 square feet, according to Appraisal Research Counselors. Many units are 700 to 800 square feet and are geared toward single millennials. Boomers typically want larger apartments so their children can visit and they can entertain. Boomers seeking two-bedroom rentals in downtown Chicago will face rents averaging $2,670, according to Jay Board, national market analyst for MPF Research. Three bedrooms average $3,587.

Yet the average household income of people 55 to 64 is about $75,240, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That means rent of about $1,880 a month would be affordable.

The recent trend in building in Chicago and other areas of the country has been to construct luxury rentals. And the trend is likely to continue, with more development geared toward affluent boomers, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies.

As vacancies remain low, prices have been climbing sharply. Nationally, prices in new apartment units climbed 26 percent over the last two years, and that’s made it “relatively easy” to get capital for new construction, the Harvard researchers noted. But they have raised concerns too. As boomers age, even those who aren’t being drawn to apartments now may need them, more for accessibility and ease of living. Presently, that type of housing at moderate and low prices is in short supply. 

STRATEGIC INSURANCE AGENCY

Tailored insurance coverage for individual needs

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

routinely not included in a standard policy.

In fact, helping consumers get the right insurance coverage for their home and property is the strength of choosing an independent agent.

Strategic Insurance Agency is talented in shopping a multitude of insurance companies on behalf of the insured in order to present more options, a wider scope of coverage possibilities, and sometimes greater savings.

“We can focus on the customer’s best interest because we don’t work for the insurance company,” Burlingame said. “Our goal is always to build the best coverage for each customer’s specific needs.”

Tiny homes have become a sweeping trend across the nation, but they are certainly in a class by themselves. Insuring these homes is not as straightforward as you may think, most insurance agencies consider there to be a wide range of risks involved.

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from different insurance carriers, they are not bound by the policies offered by a single company, and they can do all of the comparison shopping for you.

“We work to provide our clients with the most effective, reliable, and affordable coverage for their needs,” Burlingame said.

“Because we don’t work for the insurance companies, we are able to focus on our customer’s needs.” 

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“Is it a home or is it a trailer?”

Burlingame said. “Most of them are towable, but they are also the primary home for many people.”

Not knowing where a risk will be located, along with other factors such as: availability of water, distance to a fire department, and construction quality can cause underwriters to hesitate on providing coverage.

“I have become an expert on tiny houses,” said Burlingame. “Our agency has carefully developed a custom insurance program purposely designed for tiny homes.”

With over 60 years of combined experience in the insurance industry, Strategic Insurance Agency can tailor insurance coverage to fit each individual family’s needs and provide quality support and guidance if a claim does happen to occur.

With the opportunity to write policies

“

While the Pikes Peak region is grateful for rains lessening the risk of unruly wildfires, the same heavy rains have been making headlines for a different type of danger lately.

Costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, the recent landslides in Colorado Springs caught many homeowners unaware. Typical homeowner insurance policies don’t cover landslides, and though it varies company to company, some folks might be denied based on their proximity to a steep slope, or soil studies that show the earth is soft. But coverage can be found.

“We specialize in niche insurance products,” Martin Burlingame, CEO of Strategic Insurance Agency said. “Such as tiny home coverage, flood insurance, landslide insurance, earthquake insurance and more.”

Because Strategic Insurance Agency is independent, they are able to help homeowner’s acquire protection for risks

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SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 13

SMARTMOVES

How to agree on the right home

BY ELLEN JAMES MARTIN  THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Sid Davis, who’s been selling real estate since 1984, rarely encounters homebuying partners who both want the exact same type of house.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re long married or just living together, more than 80 percent of people will have a different conception of the ideal size, style and features of the perfect place to buy,” says Davis, author of “The Survival Guide For Buying a Home” and other books on real estate.

Why so many disputes? Davis theorizes that many buyers develop their housing preferences early in life. And the odds of those preferences being in perfect alignment are low.

He says one reliable way for couples to identify what each partner likes most and then to synthesize those expectations is to first look at a mix of properties in more than one target neighborhood.

“Realistically, many people don’t know what they want until they see it in person.

First-time buyers have a particularly tough time figuring out what they want,” he says.

Here are a few pointers for buyers: GET TO THE CORE ISSUES THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR SPENDING PATTERNS

Many couples approach marriage with more focus on the wedding than their fundamental attitudes toward money and other basic values.

“Money is a kind of taboo. Because it’s not romantic, people are often afraid to bring up the subject before they get married, or even after, for fear of upsetting the apple cart,” says Eric Tyson, author of “Mind Over Money: Your Path to Wealth and Happiness,” a book about money and emotions.

Before a solid housing compromise can be reached, a couple, whether married or simply living together, needs to unearth their underlying beliefs about money, says Tyson, whose book offers paper-and-pencil exercises to help people explore their unspoken values on financial topics.

“Go away for an hour or two to a quiet place … and talk things over. Do this before you get absorbed in the particulars of a given property that one of you two really wants to buy,” he says.

TRY TO AGREE ON THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC HOUSES

A couple’s discussion about money gives them a broad framework that serves as a solid basis for their homebuying choice. Early on, you should decide whether you’d both feel at ease maxing out your mortgage eligibility.

After that, it’s time to pick one or more neighborhoods that suit both of you, says Tom Early, who twice served as president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (naeba.org).

Early advises that neighborhood choices should be made systematically.

Ideally, both partners will itemize and rank their priorities in terms of the selection of a community and then compile a unified list.

“After you’ve established one or two neighborhoods that work for both of you, you can focus intensely on a few properties that appeal to you,” Early says.

PH 14 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

USE “I DON’T LIKE” LISTS TO HELP IN YOUR HOUSING SELECTION PROCESS

Years of experience as the owner of an independent realty company have taught Early how to help clients develop criteria for screening property. In doing so, he discovered a powerful tool: the “I don’t want” list.

The idea is for each partner to indicate the elements of their current property that he or she doesn’t like. “Reverse the elements you hate now and you’ll easily see what’s truly important to you. This could set the stage for compromise,” Early says.

REQUEST THAT YOUR AGENT INTERVENE IF THE TWO OF YOU ARE DEADLOCKED

As Tyson notes, a couple can be happily married and yet have major differences in architectural tastes.

In cases where the gulf in tastes runs wide, Tyson says it’s sometimes wise for a third party to step in to help bridge the gulf.

This could be the real estate agent you’ve

chosen to represent you as buyers.

“Sometimes it helps if the agent enters the discussion as a referee who encourages compromise,” Tyson says.

LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME WHEN SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT HOME.

Suppose one homebuyer in a couple wants a sparkling new house on a small lot with state-of-the-art electronics while the other aspires to ownership of a charming older home with high ceilings and built-in cabinetry. In a case like that, some buyers draw their children into the discussion to help settle the matter.

But Tyson urges buyers to avoid soliciting the opinions of their kids — at least until the final stage of their housing search.

“Your children shouldn’t be the primary deciders. You know your tastes and have vastly more knowledge of your money situation than they do. Also, you have more at stake because you’ll probably live in the house longer than your kids will,” he says. 

From Firefighter to...

Professional Realtor ®

“Helping People is my Passion”

Ryan Graham

Photo Credit: Franz Hankins My “Commitment to You” video http://thebanetgroup.com/commercial/

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Since medically retiring after 11 years of firefighting, I redirected my passion into Real Estate. There are many hazards in the real estate transaction and it is my duty to lead you safely through the process.

Accountability, Communication and Transparency… that is my commitment to you!

“Ryan knows the meaning of customer service and keeping your best interest in mind. He has great attention to detail and ensures the process is as simple as possible for you. He is very responsive and does a great job keeping you informed throughout the transaction. In addition, he understands the process thoroughly. I would recommend everyone use Ryan whether trying to sell or buy a home!”

-- C.B. “Mr. Ryan Graham is an outstanding realtor and a great person. He helped me sell my house last year during a very difficult time personally.

Ryan was able to make that a very easy and quick sale and closing. We looked at just a couple of houses before we found the perfect house to meet my family’s needs. We made an offer based off of his knowledge of this very competitive local market and the offer was accepted within a few hours. I feel we got an outstanding home and a great deal.”

-- J.B.

Cell: 719-351-4014 SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 15

RYAN GRAHAM

Accountability, communication and transparency

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

This is one of the biggest investments most people will ever make. I want to do everything in my capacity to assure a positive experience for each client.

– Ryan Graham, The Banet Group

After 11 years as a firefighter, Ryan Graham was compelled to retire due to an injury. Harnessing the same passion and dedication he drew from as a firefighter, he is eagerly embarking on his profession as a real estate broker with the Platinum Group, Realtors.

Real estate is a natural transition for Graham because it’s also about providing a service to others. “In both professions it really comes down to doing the right thing,” Graham said. “My service to my clients is demonstrated through accountability, attentive communication, and transparency at all times.”

While in firefighting poor communication can result in significant loss, Graham recognizes that good communication is fundamental in real estate too.

“Deficient communication in real estate can lead to transactions falling apart and customer’s lives being disrupted,” he said. “That’s why it’s paramount in each transaction.”

Along with carefully listening to his client’s needs and expectations, Graham vows to keep them well-

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informed throughout the process. His number one focus is being a trusted advisor while helping each family successfully achieve their real estate goals.

“You get one opportunity to get it right,” Graham said. “Which personifies my pursuit of perfection in leading my clients. There can be many hazards in buying or selling a home. It’s my duty to lead my clients safely through the commotion.”

In the end, Graham earnestly wants to provide the utmost knowledge and commitment in bringing his clients the best possible real estate opportunities, while also relieving the stress and frustration that can come with buying or selling a home.

“This is one of the biggest investments most people will ever make,” Graham said. “I want to do everything in my capacity to assure a positive experience for each client.”

Graham is happy to provide a free consultation to anyone contemplating buying or selling a home to help you make an informed decision.

Call 719-351-4014, or visit TheBanetGroup.com for more information. 

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KELLER HOMES

Engineered to perform

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

New homes are built to be more efficient than they used to, yet not all new homes are as efficient as they could or should be. Some homes are only built to the minimum code standards, which doesn’t require the greatest energy-efficient construction methods.

“The point of difference in our homes is taking home efficiency seriously,” Sharon Curdy, Sales and Marketing Manager at Keller Homes said. “The term ‘energy efficient’ is a commonly used term in home building, and it comes with a broad scope of descriptions.”

In fact, there are increasing numbers of homes constructed with energy efficient features that are attractive to new home buyers.

“Energy efficiency is one part of a triad of factors,” Charles Manly, Purchasing Manager with Keller Homes said. “Comfort, durability and efficiency are designed to come together throughout the construction process to build a high performance home.”

The attention we put into making sure we’re doing the best we can in high performance homes reveals the mindset that goes into our entire home building process. We don’t take shortcuts.

For instance, a high efficiency furnace is a great start. However, without the right fan, high quality duct work, and correct insulation the furnace can’t perform at its best.

“In a tightly constructed home, a high efficiency fan is a more important factor than the furnace because the furnace is used more for air circulation than for providing heat,” Manly said.

Optimizing home energy efficiency requires a whole-house approach to ensure that all of the variables and interactions are addressed.

“From the design phase, the construction process is centered on choosing the right

products that work together to elevate efficiency,” Manly said. “From framing and insulation, windows and doors and appliances, to the entire HVAC system.”

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index marks the industry standard in energy efficiency and every Keller Home is measured according to this index. The lower a home rates, the more energy efficient it is.

In 2016, the average Keller Home rating is 62 on the HERS Index, or 52 percent more efficient than the typical resale home, and 27 percent more efficient than a standard new home, (as estimated by the US Department of Energy).

While it's evident energy efficiency saves homeowners money on utility bills, with Keller Homes the advantages carry on through better comfort, healthier indoor air, and overall superior durability.

“We have every new home tested by an independent third party and rated by a nationally-certified professional energy specialist to ensure we are exceeding codes,” Curdy said. “Not many home builders invest in testing by an independent party.”

By selectively choosing the right combination of features and undergoing rigorous testing and inspections, Keller Homes is proud to craft top-quality homes that will give their home buyers a solid investment for the long term.

“The attention we put into making sure we’re doing the best we can in high performance homes reveals the mindset that goes into our entire home building process,” Manly said. “We don’t take shortcuts.” 

A sk to da y ab ou t free in -h om e de sig n

Let us help you turn your new home into your dream home COLORADO SPRINGS 7087 N. Academy Ph: 719.593.7888 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30-8 • Sat. 9:30-7 • Sun. 11-5 www.lazboy.com/coloradosprings SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 17

2016

Featured Inventory Homes

Keller Homes

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Built to Last | Since 1983

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Browse by Community

Cordera

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PH 18 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

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SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 19

Sensational growth continues at Meridian Ranch

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

Now is the perfect time to buy a new home in Meridian Ranch from one of six Signature Homebuilders.

Development is currently underway on 181 new home sites in the Longview neighborhood, some of which are up to one half acre in size. Twenty-nine new oneacre custom home sites are also coming to the Estates neighborhood which features stunning mountain views and natural rolling hillsides.

The already expansive 30,000 square foot Meridian Ranch Recreation Center just opened its brand-new indoor pool addition. The new indoor pool actually encompasses four pools: a lap pool, spa, lazy river and kid's play area pool. The indoor pool joins an outdoor pool, full-size gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, aerobic programs, weight-training area, multipurpose rooms, and on-site child watch making the Meridian Ranch Rec Center one of the premier facilities in Colorado Springs.

To add to the excitement, the opening

The opening of the 215-acre Falcon Regional Park is taking place in June. Once complete, it’s planned to feature six baseball fields, pavilions, a playground, four multi-purpose fields, a splash park, a dog park and trails. of the first phase of the 215-acre Falcon Regional Park is taking place in June and once all four phases are complete, it’s planned to feature six baseball fields, pavilions, a playground, four multi-purpose

fields, multi-purpose courts, splash park, restrooms, a dog park and trails.

Also coming this summer is the threeacre Longview neighborhood park with inline hockey and basketball courts, a

playground, a pavilion and a multipurpose play field.

In addition, construction is underway on the new Shops at Meridian Ranch, a 30,000-square-foot retail center. The first tenants include Papa John’s Pizza, Nana’s Kitchen, Meridian Ranch Liquor, Splash Bath pet grooming, and the Meridian Service Metropolitan District offices.

Meridian Ranch is proud to offer a diverse selection of high quality homes priced from the $200s to $500s. Encompassing over 2,600 acres, the sprawling landscape offers sweeping views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range and award-winning builders who are committed to delivering expertly crafted homes on spacious home sites.

This unmatched community keeps families close to life’s necessities but feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life. At Meridian Ranch, it’s not just about stylish, expertly crafted new homes, it’s also about a high quality of life and a strong sense of community. Learn more at MeridianRanch.com. 

the year-round staycation

HOMEBODIES NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD. It’s just another day at Meridian Ranch when you can play golf on an awardwinning course. Spin at the rec center. Swim at indoor and outdoor pools.

Bike on miles of trails. Or walk to the Shops at Meridian Ranch, coming soon.

Explore 11 home collections, including two in Stonebridge, an exclusive enclave within Meridian Ranch.

MeridianRanch.com

PH 20 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

MeridianRanch.com MeridianRanch.com

NEW HOMES FROM THE $200s TO $500s.

JUST NORTH OF WOODMEN RD. ON MERIDIAN RD.

The Reardon Partners Real Estate Team Kelly Reardon

Debbie Reardon

Kim Reardon Kingston

Celebrating 22 Successful Years In The Pikes Peak Region!

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SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 21

REARDON PARTNERS AT THE PLATINUM GROUP

Strong marketing and groundwork achieve the best results

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

Economic growth and low mortgage rates are driving demand and boosting home sales.

“This is one of the best markets for sellers I’ve seen in 22 years working in Colorado Springs” said Debbie Reardon, with Reardon Partners at The Platinum Group.

Reardon and her partners, Kelly Reardon and Kim Kingston, (who are also her daughters), have a proven 4-step process to guide sellers in the best practices for merchandising and marketing a home.

“If you’re thinking of moving, it’s important to have your house ready for sale when it goes on the market,” Reardon said.

“Our Listing Enhancement Program and list of vendor partners assists sellers with successfully preparing a home for sale.”

“We have found the more attention sellers devote to preparing their home, the better the end result is,” Kelly said.

With information right at buyer’s

year, they have maintained a 100 percent customer satisfaction rating.

Recent clients had this to say: “The overall professionalism, communication and team Debbie has assembled is the best I have worked with in 30 years. Debbie is my go-to girl from now on...perfect by every measure” – Robert K., Briargate Seller, May 2016

FROM LEFT: Kelly Reardon, Debbie Reardon and Kim Kingston

fingertips, only skillfully marketed and presented homes achieve the best outcome.

As part of the Listing Enhancement Program complimentary services include carpet cleaning, home cleaning, and a staging consultation.

“It’s better not to leave anything to chance,” Debbie said. “Experienced

professionals guiding sellers is paramount in protecting their largest financial asset — their home.”

Customer focus has always been the foundation of the Reardon Partners, which is why nearly all of their business comes from previous customers and referrals. Even while averaging a sale every 2 ½ days this

“Debbie, Kim and Kelly did a great job getting our home sold and closed. I have been a Custom Home Builder and General Contractor for over 31 years and the Reardon Partners are the best I’ve worked with.”

– Rob S., Flying Horse Seller, April 2016 Call the Reardon Partners at The Platinum Group, for a private consultation at 719-955-8525. For more information, visit www.reardonpartners.com. 

GOLD HILL MESA

Focus on friendships, family and free time

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

A rewarding way of life with an emphasis on family, friendships and free time is the attitude at Gold Hill Mesa. Families embrace walkable streets, smartly designed homes, and a community that promotes a fulfilling lifestyle, rather than squandering time maintaining big yards.

During Colorado’s incredible summer months, the Gold Hill Mesa community comes alive. Throughout the summer the community center, The Exchange, is bursting with events and activities for families to indulge in, from picnics to potlucks, concerts in the park and more.

Kicking off August 13 and running every Saturday through September, the annual concert series is the highlight of summer.

Welcoming people from all over the Pikes Peak region, the outdoor concerts create an idyllic occasion to listen to great music while enjoying a variety of food vendors in PH 22 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

the dynamic atmosphere at Gold Hill Mesa.

Along with a new art exhibit — Dog Days of Summer, the list of events also includes fundraisers, biking and hiking adventures.

Masterful home builders have crafted a wide range of unique design plans to seamlessly complement the community.

A collection of specialized floor plans and architectural styles balance the qualities that make Gold Hill Mesa a sought-after community, and new model homes are set to be unveiled this summer including: Hi Point Homes (374 Eclipse Drive); CreekStone Homes (1577 Gold Hill Mesa Drive); and JM Weston Homes (257 IronClad Lane).

For more information about the dynamic and innovative lifestyle at Gold Hill Mesa and the expertly crafted, stylish new homes, stop by the model homes located throughout the neighborhood. You can also go online at GoldHillMesa.com, or call 719-633-2202. 

SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 23

THE WHEATON TEAM

THE

WHEATON TEAM Exceptional Service, Extraordinary Results!

Award Winning Real Estate Team Selling A Home on Average Every 2.5 Days...  Top Real Estate Team in the Tri-Lakes Area Since 2007...  Ranked in the Top 1%, Pike Peak MLS... 

More than just a business COURTESY OF THE WHEATON TEAM

The Wheaton Team is one of Colorado Springs leading real estate groups known for its professionalism, outstanding marketing and proven results. Real estate is more than just a business to us. It is about building long term relationships based on trust and taking a sincere interest in our client’s needs.

We will treat your home buying and selling experience as if it were our own by providing exceptional service and extraordinary results! We bring buyers

and sellers to the closing table with our expert negotiations, knowledge and experience.

In 2015 The Wheaton Team assisted 142 families buying and selling real estate throughout Colorado Springs and the TriLakes area making us the #1 Team in the Tri-Lakes area since 2007 and ranked in the top 1 percent in our Pikes Peak MLS. For more information, please visit www.TheWheatonTeam.com or call 719-536-4581. 

Making your house a home

BY PAUL HODGINS  THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Jean & John Wheaton Zane Whitfield www.TheWheatonTeam.com

719-536-4581 Each RE/MAX is Independently Owned & Operated

PH 24 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

Newspapers like this one are full of advice about what’s hot in home design. We all like to give a nod to trendiness; some of us dive enthusiastically into it.

But often, in our headlong rush to embrace the latest floor covering or Pantone color, we forget to consider our home’s most important function: as a personal sanctuary. It should make us feel comfortable, snug, relaxed and right where we belong.

Frances Schultz, a well-known journalist and tastemaker, wrote about the “home as sanctuary” concept in her popular book, “The Bee Cottage Story: How I Made a Muddle of Things and Decorated My Way Back to Happiness.” After some major personal setbacks, Schultz bought and renovated a small home in East Hampton, N.Y., to refocus her life. Her book, based on a series of House Beautiful columns she wrote during

the experience, examines the meaning of home and suggests ways of meaningfully customizing your space. “(A personalized home) should be visually pleasing to you. It’s comfortable and CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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Jade Bobbi Price 719 201 The Team with theTeam Platinum Realtors is proud to announce the The6749 Bobbi Price with theGroup Platinum Group Realtors is proud to announce theexclusive exclusive representation of two very special interactive builders knownfor fortheir their integrity, Stephanie 719 210 0480 very special representation of two interactive builders.builders.

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quality, professionalism, and their personal interaction with the families who build homes with them.

Dave Gray has been building homes for over 12 years in Colorado

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Crystal Park —

Colorado Springs’ best kept secret

BY BOBBI PRICE  THE BOBBI PRICE TEAM

Imagine building your dream home on a 1/2 to 3/4 acre lot surrounded by acres of open space. This gated boutique community was created with only 360 home sites resting on 2,000 acres overlooking Colorado and Manitou Springs.

Towering pines, aspen groves, magnificent rock outcroppings, dramatic city and mountain views, abundant wildlife, peace and serenity can be your lifestyle.

Imagine feeling like you are worlds away but only 10 minutes from your private security gate to shopping, restaurants, entertainment, in either downtown Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs.

Family friendly social activities for all ages and interests throughout the seasons.

Imagine a private community minutes from all the amenities of a city surrounded by national forest and peaceful open space. Stable building soils, no hillside ordinance or landslide issues, with a fire mitigated paved main road leading you up to a stocked community fishing lake, club house, pool, tennis and basketball courts, a playground and even 3 helipads for your private playground!

Imagine yourself hiking to the waterfall, following the creek, searching for hidden crystals in your own back yard, or following one of the many trails throughout the park that guide you into the only access to the secret areas of Pike National Forest.

Imagine a self-managed community where your roads are maintained year round, including snow removed by full time employees with up to date equipment.

Award winning fire protection provided not only by Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs fire departments, but by the onsite volunteer crystal park fire department.

Imagine living in your home in this community rich with romantic Colorado history including the oldest tourist road west of the Mississippi river that thrills visitors with spectacular views of the city and towering forests filled with wildlife written about in western newspaper stories. See the old turn-style designed by Teddy Roosevelt at the turn of the century,

or visualize the old log cabin where John Moore, Abe Lincoln’s secretary, wrote Lincoln’s autobiography after his death.

Check out this fascinating legacy at crystalparkhoa.org.

We currently have 10 lots available (9 with capped wells already drilled) and all with their distinct own personalities.

Priced from $70,000 to $145,000. For a private tour of the park and lots please contact Bobbi Price at 719-499-9451.

We have experienced builders familiar with the area that can build for you or you can bring your own builder if you choose.

Crystal Park — Colorado Springs’ best kept secret! “Pssst, please don’t tell anyone!” 

Zil ow’s ‘Zestimate’ not what you think

BY MIKE MACGUIRE  BROKER/OWNER, THE PLATINUM GROUP REALTORS

Promoted as “the leading real estate and rental marketplace dedicated to empowering consumers with data, inspiration and knowledge,” Mike MacGuire Zillow has rapidly become a go-to source for buyers and sellers alike. Zillow does an amazing job displaying photos of homes for sale with the ease of a simple search. Regrettably, the real estate data provided by Zillow is notoriously inaccurate and inconsistent.

What many consumers don’t realize however, is that Zillow is first and foremost a lead generation tool for real estate professionals. Under the perception that they are “invisible,” buyers and sellers eagerly surf through “Zestimates,” while at the same time Zillow is capturing whatever

data is entered during these searches and selling it to local realtors.

When a property is listed for sale, the data hits the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), in a matter of minutes. But, it can take as long as nine days to populate on nationally syndicated sites like Zillow or Trulia. A study

by Redfin found that brokerage-sourced listings displayed 100 percent of the MLS homes listed for sale, but Trulia displayed only 81 percent, and Zillow just 79 percent.

In fact, when questioned about the reliability and accuracy of information available, the CEO of Zillow, Spencer Rascoff, made a statement last year that “while Zestimates are a good starting point, nationwide Zestimates have a “median error rate” of about 8 percent.”

So, on a $500,000 home, that disparity would be $40,000 … a significant gap.

Furthermore, the localized median error rates regularly exceed the national median.

National syndicators like Zillow, gather information not only from MLS

PH 26 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

systems, but also from third party sites, meaning they can host information that has been posted by anyone, regardless of authenticity. Furthermore, national syndicators don’t have the same extensive and strict standards required by the MLS, so the information tends to be very misleading with virtually no accountability.

And interestingly, similar to data found on Wikipedia, the public has the opportunity to make updates to Zestimates, adding another level of fallibility to the information.

Local real estate markets can change from month to month, and specifically from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Many factors are taken into consideration when assessing value, such as the location, condition, and improvements in a home. It is simply not reasonable for an algorithm like Zillow’s, to quantify the value of a kitchen that was just remodeled, or a yard that is poorly maintained, among other variables.

For perspective, I looked at 15 random

sales in Colorado Springs and 100 percent of Zillow’s values were inaccurate. In one case, a home that recently sold for $575,000, had a Zestimate of $322,960.

That’s a difference of $252,040 — or 56 percent! Another recent example is a home listed in Colorado Springs for $3,200,000.

The Zestimate assigned to this home was $1,800,000 — a substantial difference.

As the CEO of Zillow has indicated, the data provided on Zillow is a good starting point. Period. It is a great place to look at photos of homes. But if you are interested in knowing “true real estate value” of your home; or if you are looking for real time information in our highly competitive real estate market, I encourage you to contact a local real estate expert.

Anyone looking for an accurate assessment of their home’s worth should give me a call. Whether you choose to buy or sell with me, I am always happy to give you a realistic value for your home at no cost you. 

Peak Producers: Literally Your TOP Choice For Real Estate

Courtesy, Peak Producers The Peak Producers represent an extraordinary collection of real estate professionals. Made up of 100 agents within the top 10 percent of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, this year’s Peak Producer agents were solely responsible for closing 15 percent of the total transaction sides in 2015, with an average of 47 transaction sides each - nearly five times as many as the average for all real estate agents in the Pikes Peak Multiple Listing Service (PPMLS).

A standard real estate closing normally consists of two transaction sides: the seller as one and the buyer as another. The total number of closed transaction sides last year through the PPMLS equaled 31,087 – an 18 percent increase over the top from the year before.

At the end of 2015, the number of active real estate agents registered with PPAR topped 2,981 – 165 more than the previous year, and 254 more than two years earlier. The top 10 percent of those agents closed about 46% of all the transaction sides last year, with a minimum of 27 transaction sides for each of those agents.

Meanwhile, 44% of the agents closed three deals or less; 28 percent of the agents closed a single deal; and, 13 percent of the agents didn’t close any.

For proven experience and results, it’s hard to top a Peak Producer in handling your real estate needs.

www.thepeakproducers.com SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 27

VANGUARD HOMES

Homebuilding is a family affair COURTESY OF VANGUARD HOMES

The homebuilding business is very much a family affair.

No other product is produced with the family in mind more than a house.

At Vanguard Homes we are profoundly aware of this- that is why we are very proud of the number of our Home Buyers that have referred their family members to us to build another home for them. Any referral is greatly appreciated, but it’s truly an honor when families want their kids, parents, siblings, etc. to also experience living in a Vanguard Home. This has happened quite a lot in the few years since we have started. It almost makes us feel like part of the family.

Families like to share the best that they have with each other. So it makes perfect sense for them to want each other to have the best that the local Homebuilding Industry has to offer- tight construction, high quality, energy efficiency, and stylish details — both inside and out. And the best part is that it’s easy to share Vanguard Homes — we strive very hard to make the process of building a semi-custom home smooth and seamless for our new family members.

So come out and see for yourself what is so good that other people are making sure that their family gets in on the action.

Good days start here!

Pe Sa nd le in g

2016

9358 Prairie Clover Drive 5BR, 4BA 3CA $384,500

3327 Springridge Circle 4BR, 4BA, 3CA $445,000

3594 Cherry Plum Drive 4BR, 4BA, 3CA $600,000

17255 Colonial Park Drive 5BR, 5BA, 3CA $749,000

A Tradition of Sound Advice...A Reputation for Results Mike MacGuire

Broker/Owner The Platinum Group, Realtors 719.660.6793 (Text/Cell)

mike@buywithmike.com • www.buywithmike.com PH 28 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

JM WESTON HOMES

2015 HBA Builder of the Year COURTESY OF JM WESTON HOMES

Since founding in 2009, JM Weston has quickly become Colorado Springs’ premier new townhome builder. The JM Weston Homes team is proud of our track record of excellence, and is honored to have been recognized over the years with numerous Parade of Homes awards including: “Best Craftsmanship,” “Best Overall Design,” “Best Kitchen,” and “Best Interior Design.” We are also very excited to have been named Colorado Springs HBA “2015 Builder of the Year”!

Our team relies on collaboration between individuals who are passionate about building a top-quality product and providing outstanding customer service. We believe strongly in building relationships with our buyers, and what we enjoy most is the celebration that takes place around

the closing table with each of our new homeowners.

JM Weston Homes can be found in two rapidly developing Colorado Springs communities; Wolf Ranch and Gold Hill Mesa. Each offers unique amenities such as community centers and shared open spaces designed to enhance quality of life and convenience for residents.

We offer three distinct models for today’s lifestyle — that means open floor plans, fabulous kitchens, and a main level master option incorporated into an energy efficient design. Our models include a two car attached garage, 9’ ceilings and kitchen islands, all standard. With these great choices and sales prices starting in the $190s, it’s hard to find a better value anywhere. 

T TownhomesTownhomes Townhomes from the the from the from low $200s $200s low $200s low

JMWestonHomes.c JMWestonHomes.com JMWestonHomes.com tonHomes.com SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 29

LOKAL HOMES

A superior home buying experience

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

Every home buyer is unique and their homes should reflect that. From home sites and floor plans, to finishes and fixtures, a home should reveal your personality. Lokal Homes emboldens your individuality while ensuring each home represents quality, style, and master craftsmanship.

Lokal Homes is owned, managed and operated by industry leaders with over 60 collective years of experience. Colorado is home to the entire team, conveying a wide perspective on the market and product, as well as the highest level of customer commitment. Lokal Homes is dedicated to delivering the best new home experience along the Front Range, and invites everyone to visit their community, Promontory at Northgate.

Offering paired patio homes and townhomes, Promontory at Northgate boasts 5 spacious and well-designed floor

plans. Featuring 66 new homes, priced from the $200’s to $400’s, three different floor plans are available for townhomes, while patio homes offer two distinctive floor plans, walk out basements and incredible views.

The HOA includes full maintenance of the front and rear yards and common areas, for easy living.

With many new businesses moving in, like the Great Wolf Lodge with world class hotel and water park, Northgate is one of the fastest growing areas in the Springs.

And, within a few minutes families can enjoy great food, shopping, hiking, biking, golfing or take a ride on a dirt mountain road.

Building homes with character while upholding timeless designs, Lokal Homes prides themselves on uniting their homes to the best communities, select materials, and proven trade partners.

Their extensive experience brings a

unique sales philosophy to the table, believing each home should include valuable standards, features, and craftsmanship that may be “optional” with other builders. Lokal Homes has assessed the most desired home features and includes them in every new home purchase.

Using low maintenance products from respected manufacturers, knowledgeable and skilled tradesman, and thoughtful design and function, Lokal Homes delivers high-quality homes and a remarkable home buying experience.

The latest technology is used throughout each step, from designing floor plans to coordinating construction schedules, Lokal crafts stunning homes with attention to detail, at a very competitive price. Whether a first time buyer or empty nesters looking to downsize, Lokal can help you find the right plan to suit your needs.

Comfortable living without high energy bills is a key factor for home buyers. Lokal Homes are engineered to meet the demands of Colorado’s changing weather. The NEST learning thermostat, part of every new Lokal home, helps maintain a low cost of ownership by studying your schedule and programming itself, and it can be controlled from your phone. Gathering information as it is used, it can lower your energy bills up to 20 percent.

Exclusive relationships with leading manufacturers who are thoughtfully chosen through years of experience, Lokal Homes has a lineup of proven partnerships with a commitment to producing the best possible new homes.

We invite you to experience the Lokal difference for yourself. Stop by Promontory at Northgate, or go to LokalHomes.com for more information. 

Daily routines every organized person follows for a tidy house

BY GABRIELLE SAVOIE  TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES

If you lead a busy lifestyle, you know the drill. You start off the week with a mostly clean and tidy house (depending on how many chores you achieved over the weekend). By midweek, though, you realize you haven’t put away your dry cleaning and haven’t folded your laundry. There’s a growing stack of mail in the hallway, a used gym bag by the door, a pile of fresh laundry on the bed, dirty dishes in the sink (and clean ones in the dishwasher that didn’t just finish its cycle). To top it off, your vanity looks as if a bomb went off in the beauty aisle at Saks. By Friday, the house is a fullblown disaster zone — that is, until you rest from your week, and tackle the massive (and much-needed) tidying up job. Then, the cycle

starts all over again. Do yourself a favor, and adopt these clever daily cleaning tricks so you never have to spend precious weekend hours tidying up. We promise it’s quicker than you think!

BEDROOM

IN THE MORNING: Make the bed as soon as you get up.

Making the bed first thing in the morning will kick-start your productivity levels and make it that much harder to crawl back into bed.

Wipe your bedside table each morning.

Keep wipes in your bedside table, and give your bedside table a quick wipe when picking up your phone in the morning. That’s one less chore to tackle on the weekend.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

PH 30 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

Come home to

Promontory at Northgate Quick move-In townhomes available, priced from $265,990

Promontory at Northgate offers paired patio homes and townhomes. These modern designs are spacious and create fluid movements between living spaces. Several offer full walk out basements and incredible views.

INCLUDED FEATURES:

PLUS:

• Slab Granite Countertops • Hardwood Floors • Maple Cabinetry • Energy Savings Features

• Full basements • Attached 2-car garages • 2 – 3 bedrooms • 1,500 – 1,800 finished square feet

Now is the time to make Promontory at Northgate your home. Visit us today!

1538 Promontory Bluff View, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 (North of InterQuest on Voyager)

LEARN MORE AT WWW.LOKALHOMES.COM | 719.208.4037 All information is assumed to be accurate, but not guaranteed. Not all options are available at all communities; please consult a Lokal Homes Community Manager for more information. © 2016 Lokal Homes, LLC. No reproductions or other use of these plans may not be without the express written consent of Lokal Homes, LLC

SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 31

DAILY ROUTINES FOR A TIDY HOUSE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

Edit your closet as you go. Keep a hamper or bag in your closet where you can throw items of clothing that don’t work anymore as you’re getting ready in the morning. Sort through it once a month, and toss, donate or sell.

AT NIGHT: Immediately rehang items you wore.

Don’t just throw clothes on a chair if they can be worn once more before laundry day — hang them. Keep dry clean-ready items in a separate section of your closet.

Have a dedicated hamper for every person in your home. One hamper is not enough. Have a laundry basket for each person in your house, plus an extra one for linens. If you’re feeling extra organized, use hampers that have two baskets in each so you can separate whites in advance.

Start a wash cycle as soon as you get home. If you have enough laundry, start a wash cycle first thing in the evenings so you have time to dry and fold. Don’t ever let unfolded laundry make it into your bedroom. Keep a folding area near your washer/dryer, and be ruthless about folding/ironing as soon as the drying cycle is done.

BATHROOM

IN THE MORNING: Spray your shower with cleaner after each shower. Give your shower a quick clean daily by spraying it with cleaner, quickly wiping surfaces, and letting it rinse out.

Hang towels on bars and robes on hooks.

Your towels need to properly air-dry in order to be able to reuse them two to three times.

Make sure they are properly hung to dry. If you’re a bathrobe person, a dedicated hook for it in the bathroom will make your space feel a little more like a hotel room.

Keep a laundry hamper in your bathroom for towels. Your bathroom is not a hotel; don’t leave towels on the floor or in the tub.

If they’ve gone past their three-day use, quickly throw them in the hamper.

AT NIGHT: Clear your countertops of clutter. We get it, mornings get busy. Make a point at night to clear out and put away every product that was used to get ready in the morning.

Clean your toilet during your nighttime routine. The time you need to brush your teeth and wash your face is probably the exact time you need to let an average toilet cleaner product work before giving it a quick

ERA Shields Real Estate

Bianca Taylor

Bianca Taylor, GRI 130 E Cheyenne Mtn Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Office (l719) 576-3600 Cell (719) 229-6488 btaylor@erashields.com

If you are thinking of selling your home or purchasing a home, contact me for a free market analysis.

• Colorado Springs resident & Community volunteer since 1987 • USAA Relocation Specialist • Corporate Relocation Specialist • Serving Buyers & Sellers since 2004 WORKING HARD TO MAKE YOUR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION EASY!!!

PH 32 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

scrub. Use a wipe to quickly clean the seat.

Doing this every other day will keep your toilet neat in between deep cleans.

Wipe down countertop after getting ready for bedtime. Once your nighttime beauty routine is done, give your bathroom countertops a quick wipe. Keep a stash of cleaning products in your vanity to make this process seamless.

KITCHEN

IN THE MORNING: Empty the dishwasher while you brew your coffee. It should be ready for your breakfast dishes so they don’t pile up in the sink and sit there all day.

When you notice a spill, clean it right away. It’s easier to notice tiny spills in broad daylight, so inspect your countertops and floors in the morning. While it’s easy to tell yourself “Oh, I’ll just take care of that when I clean this weekend,” actually getting it done will get you into the habit of cleaning as you go.

Swap out your dish towel. It turns out that dish towels should be changed more often than we think, so get into the habit of swapping them out in the morning and tossing the old ones into the laundry basket.

AT NIGHT: Clean as you cook. There are two types of cooks in this world: those who clean as they cook and those who don’t. Learn to be the former by starting with your prep work and cleaning that before you start cooking. Once your meal is ready, quickly rinse utensils before sitting down to eat. It will make it much easier to clean up after a meal.

Fill and start the dishwasher at night.

Don’t leave it until the morning, no matter how tempting it is to go lie down in front of “Game of Thrones.” Do it during commercials if you must, but get it done.

Wipe countertops and cooking surfaces.

Wipe down your counters and stove each night before you go to bed. Get into the habit of wiping the microwave after each use.

You’ll love waking up to a spotless kitchen.

LIVING ROOM

IN THE MORNING: Keep baskets in every room. Once a day, do a quick walk-through of each space. Fill up your basket with accumulated clutter, and leave it by the door. Put each item back in its place first thing when you get home.

AT NIGHT: Wipe down your coffee table and side tables during commercial breaks. While watching your favorite show, there’s bound to be a moment when you have to endure the inevitable commercial break.

Take the time to quickly wipe down your living room tables.

Fluff your pillows after each use. Get into the habit of fluffing your pillows when you turn the TV off. You wouldn’t leave your TV on all night, so why would you leave your pillows deflated?

ENTRYWAY

IN THE MORNING: Keep your bag, keys and coat in the same spot. Make it easy to get out the door in the morning by having everything you need organized in the same spot.

Take out the trash and recycling when you leave the house. You can alternate days between the two, but getting into this habit will prevent from having garbage pile up at home.

AT NIGHT: Keep a mail sorter in the entryway.

Drop your mail in when you get in your house, and empty your tray once a week when paying bills. Unless you’re waiting for something urgent, most mail can wait a few days. That way you’ll keep everything in one spot and address it in bulk. Store paperwork immediately — or even better: Go paperless and scan everything.

Immediately launder and store workout gear. Don’t leave your gym bag to linger.

Sort the dirty clothes, and store away the rest. 

When it comes to building a business that has been successfully based on repeat customers, and customer referrals, Trust is the cornerstone. Always.

Our professional team prides itself on having integrity, education, an incredible work ethic, creative marketing and negotiating skills, and a desire to take your experience to a whole new level. Expect Excellence.

719-332-8569 bill@teamhourigan.com www.teamhourigan.com We sell more than just homes...we sell lifestyles! “Whether you are thinking of Selling a home or Buying one, let our team of experts help guide you through the process! “ -Bill and Pam

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Team Hourigan brings the total package to the real estate industry

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

A comprehensive understanding of the industry and a trusted advisor are crucial for buyers and sellers in the type of robust market the Pikes Peak region is experiencing.

Team Hourigan, with The Platinum Group, pledges to provide each client with the individual care and attention necessary to make educated decisions that will bring about the best results. Along with a balanced and confident approach, their aggressive marketing skills are a proven asset in the real estate industry.

As a top-producing real estate broker in Colorado Springs, Monument and Castle Rock for more than 25 years, Bill Hourigan’s knowledge of real estate,

contract law, marketing and negotiation skills, remarkable client focus and unsurpassed integrity has facilitated a successful and rewarding business.

Hourigan has merited membership in both the Elite 25 as well as Peak Producers, invitation-only industry groups of top producing agents in the Colorado Springs area. He has received advanced training in real estate becoming a Certified Residential Specialist, Certified Negotiations Expert (CNE), and GRI, and strives to continuously develop his education.

His wife, Pam keeps the office running smoothly handling the administrative details for the Team.

Pam’s extensive work history uniquely

benefits Team Hourigan as a licensed agent as well as a home stager/faux artist, in addition to a knowledge of the title process from having worked as an escrow assistant. Helping to ensure every transaction run as smoothly as possible, Pam brings even more to the Team Hourigan total package.

Friendly and professional front desk personnel are available seven days a week, as well as an all-encompassing list of reliable professionals that will help to make the experience an easy one.

Call for more information about their marketing programs, or a free market analysis of your home! Contact Bill Hourigan: 719-332-8569 or the Team Hourigan Office: 719-955-8523. 

MAKING YOUR HOUSE A HOME CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

personal,” Schultz said. “And it should reflect who you are, what your life is about: your values, your loves and family and travels.

Your hobbies are around you. Everything should be arranged in such a way that it not only validates who you are and what you care about, but it supports you in those things.”

The concept sounds wonderful. But how and where do you start? Schultz’s primary rule: Be pragmatic. That begins when you’re shopping around for your perfect home.

“You have to be able to afford the thing.

And you have to be practical about location.

If your child is in school and the house is 40 miles away from the school, that won’t work.”

Schultz’s second rule: Decide what kind of architecture suits your personality and lifestyle.

“Architecture is a very powerful force in our lives, whether we realize it or not. The way houses are put together and the rooms are arranged, that’s all part of a very carefully orchestrated, though unconscious, melody.”

Pay attention to your emotions as you walk through a home you’re considering, Schultz advises.

“Do you get a good vibe in the rooms? Are there places where you can imagine cozying up, places that feel open and expansive? It can be a cottage or a castle — if it triggers the right feelings, then that’s it.”

DON’T LEAVE THINGS STATIC Schultz prefers places that have been lived in over new homes. She bought an older cottage that showed the effects of years of living. Then she began to renovate without eradicating the magic. But Schultz has an unusual approach to that often onerous task.

“The standard advice is if you’re thinking about resale, then spend your money on the kitchen and bathrooms. But if you’re thinking of staying, start with the master bedroom.

It’s often the redheaded stepchild of a home renovation project. But consider that your bedroom is the place where you begin and end each day. It’s the nucleus of your haven.

Having a wonderful, calming bedroom is crucial.”

The transformation of your bedroom into a domestic cocoon doesn’t have to be expensive, Schultz said. “It could be as simple as a nice, soothing color for the walls,

PH 34 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016

or a painting or poster or two that mean something to you. I like really lovely, crisp bedding and beautiful pillows. Those things are not expensive — you get a lot of bang for the buck.”

Schultz says you shouldn’t be afraid to alter your home’s look as you change. Don’t leave things static.

“My changes tend to be subtle; they have to do with objects and paintings, colors and slipcovers and a pillow here and there. But if you go through a major transition in your life then you’re ready for your environment to change as well. I’ve gone from taupe and beige to pink lacquer and patent leather.”

For Schultz, history and a veneer of age are important contributions to the feeling of sanctuary. “I love gracious Georgian proportions. I love the look of a crumbling old Palladian villa. I like things with soul. I like things with a patina that are rusty and peeling and hand-painted and hand-carved — things that have a hand in them, that have a provenance and a story. Objects do have an energy that everyone can feel.”

While Schultz is emphatic about staying within a budget, she advises not to scrimp,

either.

“If your home is going to be something that you really care about, something that you love as much at 60 as you did at 40, don’t get cheap things to tide you over.” A “just for now” piece might linger around for 20 years, Schultz warns. “Hold out for the best thing you can buy, the best quality you can afford, whether it’s a light fixture or a couch.”

Schultz has met her share of doubters, and she understands her philosophy isn’t for everyone. “There are some people who could live in a cardboard box and they’d be just fine.”

But even people like that can be pleasantly surprised when they spend time in a pleasant and welcoming home, Schultz has found.

“Let’s pretend for the sake of argument that this bachelor has a wretched couch and a big TV and that’s about it. One day he marries someone who wants a beautiful house. He is going to be shocked by how nice it is to come home to a place that’s beautiful and harmonious. A harmonious environment helps to create harmony in your soul.” 

BUY SELL IMPACT

Real estate for good

BY LESLIE MASSEY  LESLIE.MASSEY@GAZETTE.COM

A new independent real estate firm in the Pikes Peak region is putting the focus on helping local non-profits while continuing to deliver the same high-quality home buying and selling services they always have.

“We provide experienced, knowledgeable, and comprehensive real estate services to both home buyers and sellers,” Managing Broker of Buy Sell Impact, Paula Lydon said. “We’re just a little different than other firms because 100 percent of our net profit goes to a group of non-profits.”

Owned by a group of four local non-profit agencies, The Children’s Literacy Center, the Energy Resource Center, the Colorado Springs Conservatory, and REACH Pikes Peak, Buy Sell Impact is determined to make a difference in the Pikes Peak region.

“John Tighe, a former real estate agent and marketing executive in Colorado Springs, is the CEO of REACH Pikes Peak,” Lydon said. “And he decided he wanted to

find a way to blend both worlds.”

Joining forces with Employing Broker Bryan Seale, real estate brokers Gary Peacock and Marla Crane, as well as Lydon, Buy Sell Impact was launched with a clear-cut ambition to better the community while helping families achieve their real estate goals.

“Even though the company is new, collectively we have widespread experience and extensive knowledge of the Colorado Springs housing market,” Lydon said. “We are full service Realtors who genuinely work to provide the utmost customer care and support to our clients.”

The Children’s Literacy Center is a nonprofit organization endeavoring to foster literacy among children in the area. The organization, founded and headquarter in Colorado Springs, has been helping kids build successful lives through literacy since 1991.

Helping families keep their homes safe,

Marla Crane

Paula Lydon

warm and energy efficient since 1979, The Energy Resource Center helps incomequalified families maintain a safe and healthy quality of life by making energy efficient improvements to their homes. In the end, families save money to use towards medicine, food, and other vital needs.

Lending assistance to students who aspire to realize their highest potential as artists and human beings, the Colorado Springs Conservatory works to inspire, motivate, and challenge them through arts immersion studies and community arts advocacy. With a combination of classroom instruction, performance experience, and collaboration, students have gained confidence as well as awareness of their own creative capabilities since 1994.

Gary Peacock

Bryan Seale

Offering comprehensive services and programs to reduce the effects of poverty, REACH Pikes Peak aims to increase the abilities of families and individuals to become self-sufficient. Through programs including emergency services, long-term intensive job skills and education, and matched savings programs for selfsufficiency asset acquisition, REACH Pikes Peak has been providing supportive services for over 50 years.

Anyone in the market to buy or sell a home, and ready to make a positive impact in the community at the same time, should explore the opportunities with Buy Sell Impact. For more information visit BuySellImpact.com, or call 719-345-2300. 

Come visit our nursery staff of Colorado Certified Nursery Professionals and Horticulturists. We strive to give our customers individual assistance when sharing our knowledge of plants and flowers that thrive in Colorado’s challenging climate.

Family Owned Since 1957

HOURS: Mon thru Sat: 8am to 6pm • Sunday: 9am to 5pm

719.596.5712 •

721 N. Powers Blvd www.hardingnursery.com

2016 SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016 I THE GAZETTE I PH 35

PH 36 I THE GAZETTE I SUNDAY, JUN 12, 2016