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SPOTLIGHT:
Fourth annual St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway SPONSORED FEATURE BY GINA CRONIN, GINA.CRONIN@GAZETTE.COM
The St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway has returned to Colorado Springs for the fourth consecutive year, giving locals a prime opportunity to get involved in a meaningful cause — while entering to win a beautiful home valued at $390,000. Banning Lewis Ranch, one of the most sought-after master planned communities in the Springs, has graciously donated a plot of land each of the four years. Both this year and last, Covington Homes has dedicated its time, resources and materials to construct a cozy and luxurious ranchstyle home. Ron and Grace Covington, Owners of Covington Homes, have always been aware of and inspired by the groundbreaking research of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Though an international organization, all of the research conducted by these worldrenowned doctors is shared with hospitals worldwide, nationwide and locally,” says Grace Covington. “If it wasn’t for St. Jude, some of our family members, friends and neighborhood kids that we see running around and playing every day might not be here.” Grace has seen first-hand the incredible healing that can take place as a result of the research, care and treatment of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “My cousin was diagnosed with cancer at age 16, but is still alive and cancer-free 15 years later — so we are
honored to be able to actively support the organization.” There’s a good reason why Covington Homes’ slogan is “The builder that gives back,” as they also support Peak Vista and CASA. Over the first three years, the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway has raised more than $2,362,000 in Colorado Springs alone — all of which goes directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. This year’s home is 3,500 square feet and boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a two-and-a-half car oversized garage. Covington Homes’ trade partners have generously allowed them to select the best features — from acrylic stucco exteriors and marble floors to quartz countertops, wrought iron railings and designer carpets. The elegant master suite and a second bedroom are conveniently located on the main level, with the additional two bedrooms in the huge finished basement. The house itself has a concrete foundation, which makes it more structurally sound and leakresistant. The public is now encouraged to buy tickets and/or attend an open house through June 11. All are welcome to register and attend an open house for free each upcoming Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Just for visiting the house, guests can
enter to win a $10,000 shopping spree, courtesy of Furniture Row. Individuals can also choose to purchase a ticket(s), $100 each, which enters them into the dream home giveaway drawing. Other prizes for ticketholders include: • Sony 55 inch 4K TV, courtesy of Xfinity • $1,000 gift certificate for custom framing, courtesy of Ross Studios • Two-night stay in the “Mother Spring” luxury suite and a 60-minute couples massage, courtesy of The Springs Resort and Spa • Brizo Artesso Articulating Kitchen Faucet with SmartTouch technology in stainless steel finish • $1,000 VISA Gift Card, courtesy of All My Sons • Two-night stay at The Grand Lodge and four single day lift tickets, courtesy of Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Those who buy their tickets by June 2 are also entered to win a bonus prize — a Limelight Flair hot tub with cover lift system, valued at $12,399, courtesy of Hanson HotSpring Spas. Those who don’t win can rest assured that their money is going directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — so no matter the outcome, it’s a win-win. “If the children are not healthy, then the community is not healthy,” says Grace. “Everyone participating is truly making
TOUR THE HOUSE: May 6 – June 11 Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays: Noon – 5 p.m. BANNING LEWIS RANCH 7183 Jagged Rock Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80927
a difference. And I want to thank our trade partners, who — with Colorado Springs being the fastest growing city in the state — took time out of their jampacked schedules for this cause.” The drawing will take place on June 16, and will be televised on KKTV 11 News from 4:30 to 6 p.m. A patient family will pick the winner of the dream home. All of the sponsors will be in attendance: KKTV 11 News,
Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Covington Homes, Banning Lewis Ranch, The Gazette, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, Hanson HotSpring Spas, Peoples Bank, iHeartMedia, Furniture Row, imortgage, Brizo, Shaw Floors and Trane. To learn more about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or to purchase your tickets, please visit StJude.org/Give/Dream-Home/ Colorado-Springs.html. ■
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REAL ESTATE Q&A:
Condo building’s insurance policy may not cover individual units BY GARY M. SINGER, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Q:
With hurricane season right around the corner, I am concerned about insurance for my beachfront condo. Who is responsible for fixing or replacing the building? And if my unit did get damaged, would I still have to pay the mortgage if I’m not able to live there during repairs? – Alex
A:
Reach out to your community’s management and see what the building’s insurance covers. Remember that there are different insurance policies for hurricane, flood and other hazards and you may need to check all three policies. See if the condo’s insurance will cover the contents of your individual unit, as well as your living expenses, should you have to live somewhere else temporarily. Most people I speak to are under the impression that their community’s insurance will cover their individual needs, but that usually isn’t the case. If your condo’s insurance doesn’t provide the coverage you need, get an individual policy that does. If you have
a mortgage, you will be required to have insurance that at least covers repayment of the loan, but this may not cover your personal things or any equity that has grown with the property. This also could be the case for your building’s hurricane, flood and hazard policies. Remember that the cheapest insurance rarely is the best and that you should never take anything for granted when dealing with insurance companies. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should overpay. Just don’t skimp on important coverage to save money. ■ Gary M. Singer is a Florida attorney and board-certified as an expert in real estate law by the Florida Bar. He practices real estate, business litigation and contract law from his office in Sunrise, Fla. He is the chairman of the Real Estate Section of the Broward County Bar Association and is a co-host of the weekly radio show Legal News and Review. He frequently consults on general real estate matters and trends in Florida with various companies across the nation. Send him questions online at www.sunsentinel.com/askpro or follow him on Twitter @GarySingerLaw.
Who is responsible for repairs during a home sale? METRO SERVICES
Sheri Blakesley joins RE/MAX Properties, Inc. NEWSWIRE
RE/MAX Properties, Inc. is pleased to announce that Sheri Blakesley has joined the Gold Medal Team. Sheri has worked closely with the Gold Medal Team as their Transaction Coordinator and is now a licensed agent on the team. She is happy to be able to broaden her duties on the team to include helping clients buy or sell a home in Colorado Springs and Monument. She also has a working relationship with builders like Broadview Terrace homes and hopes to continue to work with them in her new career as a real estate agent. RE/MAX Properties, Inc. is excited to see what
the future has in store for Sheri and warmly welcomes them to the team! Sheri Blakesley will be working at the North Office, located at 1740 Chapel Hills Dr. RE/MAX Properties, Inc. has been the number one residential real estate brokerage in Colorado Springs since 1989. The company has nearly 200 full-service professional Broker Associates that service all areas of Colorado Springs and surrounding areas in addition to relocation clients worldwide. RE/MAX Properties, Inc. is open seven days a week. More information can be found online at www.HomesColorado.com. ■
Featured Home of the Week STUNNING CUSTOM HOME ON 2.23 ACRES R DE ACT N U TR N CO
13083 Duckhorn | $528,900
Neighborhood: Flying Horse Driving Directions: North on I-25, exit Northgate/156A, head west on Northgate Blvd, Right/South on Old Northgate Rd, Right on Pride Mountain Dr, Right on Spy Valley Rd, Left on Duckhorn Ct. Home on left. Agent/Company: Lenka Martin, (719)205-5248 For more info: Lenka@covingtonhomesco.com
4 bdrms/3baths/3 car garage/ 3441 total sq ft Ranch plan with finished basement, west facing lot on cul-de-sac, with mountain views. Main level living at it’s best! Formal model home with many upgrades. Spacious chef’s kitchen, granite countertops at kitchen, stainless appliances, staggered designer cabinets, large kitchen island w/pendant lights, cabinet pantry. Great room: 12’ ceiling and fireplace w/tile surround. Hardwood floors at entry, kitchen, dining, and great room. Master Suite has a sitting area, coffered ceiling, walk-in closet, and adjacent 5 pc bath. Finished basement with 9’ ceiling, two additional bedrooms, bath, & rec room with full wet bar provides additional space to entertain. Additional features include: 3 car oversized garage, air conditioning, security system, audio system, wrought iron railing at stairs, dual vanities at master; upgraded lighting, paint, hardware, faucets & fixtures; full yard landscaping with concrete stamped patio and much more. This home is part of established Flying Horse community with golf, tennis, private dining and rec center w/gym, pool, & spa.
Many questions arise during the homebuying process. Buyers looking at homes that require a good deal of TLC may wonder who is responsible for the home’s repairs, particularly if such repairs are needed to secure a certificate of occupancy. There is no clear-cut answer. Elements that are acceptable to the current owner may not be acceptable to the buyer who is looking to become the next owner. The homebuying process is typically a careful cooperation between buyer and seller to find a middle ground. The buyer may have to make some concessions, as will the seller. Ultimately, it is this cooperation that often determines if the sale goes through or is terminated. Before any negotiations can begin regarding repairs, it is advisable for a buyer to have an independent inspector come out and look over the home and property. Most real estate agents will suggest this be done as a first priority – even before a contract is entered on the home. An inspection will unveil any potential problems in a home and indicate things that the buyer may not be aware of, including items that do not meet with code or could be unsafe. An inspector also may point out problems that could cause a mortgage lender to give pause. This may mean the lender will deem problems unsafe and refuse to fund the mortgage until repairs are made. A copy of this inspection report should be sent to the home seller to review with his or her attorney and real estate agent. The buyer working with his own real estate attorney and agent can petition for certain repairs to be made. Many sellers will make such repairs to ensure the purchase goes through, or they will accept a lower purchase price to compensate for the needed repairs, which the buyer will then make.
Buyers might want to hire a good real estate attorney to write clauses into the contract to protect their interests. This allows the buyer to forfeit the sale and walk away from the contract should an issue arise. The rules often change when buying a home that is a short sale or in foreclosure. A home that is in distress is typically in this situation because the current owners cannot afford to pay their mortgage, and thusly, are not able to afford repairs. According to Think Glink, a money-management Web site, buyers may try to negotiate repairs with the seller, but they shouldn’t assume that sellers are responsible for the repairs. Generally speaking, most short sales and foreclosures are sold “as is” and may even specify that repairs and requirements for the certificate of occupancy are the buyer’s responsibility. A buyer also can ask to have the home price reduced to cover the repairs. But foreclosures are often already discounted. Buyers should know that, for a home that is not in foreclosure, there are some repairs that should ultimately be the responsibility of the seller. If these repairs are not made, a buyer should think strongly about walking away from the deal, according to Why6Percent.com, a real estate marketing site. Such repairs include: • Lender-required repairs that could impact home safety • Leaky pipes • Water penetration issues, including a bad roof • Unsafe decking or handrails • Wet basements or crawl spaces • Insecure foundations or obvious structural damage • Poorly functioning sewer lines or septic system. ■
Featured Open House Breathtaking Colorado Custom Home! 17623 Cabin Hill Lane | $819,900 Hours: Sunday May 28th 1-4pm Neighborhood: Walden Preserve Driving Directions: From Hwy 83 head East on Hodgen, Left on Timber Meadow Dr, Right on Pond View, Left on Cabin Hill. Agent/Company: Ryan Graham 719.351.4014, The Platinum Group ryangrahamhomes.com
Enjoy Pikes Peak views from this 6BR/4BA/4.5C craftsman style home in the Walden Preserve community! Open floor plan w/gourmet kitchen that opens to great room & dining room w/3-sided FP. Main level bedroom w/separate entrance. Amazing 2nd floor master suite w/Pikes Peak Views & luxurious 5pc bath. 3 additional bedrooms one w/FP & private balcony completes the UL. Entertaining headquarters in the lower level w/family room, home theater & 6th bedroom! Superb upgrades throughout too many to mention! Incredible outdoor living spaces including the 950sf wrap-around composite deck overlooking a pond & private back patio that will be your summer haven! Located on ½+ acre lot, 45 minutes from DTC and near Fox Run, Flying Horse, shopping, dining, trails & golfing!
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Job-hopping can boost your salary — but timing plays a big role. Here’s what to consider before handing in your notice.
When to switch jobs to maximize your income BY MOIRA LAWLER MONSTER.COM
Think of job hoppers, and you likely think of the just-out-of-college crew. But data shows that switching jobs at the right time can be a smart move no matter where you are in your career. According to the Workforce Vitality Report from ADP, full-time workers who switched jobs in Q1 2017 saw a 5.2 percent increase in salary, compared to a 4.3 percent bump for those who stayed put. These days, leaving a job before you’ve hit the 18-month mark is seen as job-hopping, says Jessica Holbrook-Hernandez, president and chief executive officer of Great Resumes Fast. So you should probably hang on for longer than that if you don’t want to be seen as a fickle employee. But besides an arbitrary length of time, there are other factors you need to consider before leaving your current job. Here’s how to time your next job change in order to maximize your income. WHEN THE SALARY INCREASE IS HIGH ENOUGH People who go from one job to another generally only see a $5,000 to $10,000 increase, says Kelly Brooks, executive director of human resources at the talent-solutions firm Atrium. That kind of pay bump might not be a big enough incentive for higher-level executives. “If you’re at $40,000, [$5,000 to $10,000 is] a lot of money,” says Christy Hopkins, PHR, a recruiter and HR consultant with 4 Point Consulting, “but it’s not as significant if you’re at $100,000.” So before you start plotting your exit strategy, make sure the jobs you’ve got your eye on will increase your salary enough to make it worth taking the chance on a whole new work situation. WHEN THE MARKET SHOWS YOU’RE UNDERPAID While you’ve been settled at your current gig for the past several years, the market may have been changing right under you. Brooks says it’s a situation she’s seen before. “Employees who have been in the same position for 10 years are getting yearly raises, but find out that someone right out of college is making more than they are,” she says. That’s why it’s important to track what’s going on in the market. If you’re underpaid, it may be time to take your talents elsewhere. Use sites like Salary.com, PayScale.com, or SalaryExpert.com to check out the going rate for your job. Then, when it comes time to make the interview rounds, you’ll be armed with data about how much you’re worth. WHEN YOU’RE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A “SUCCESS GRAPH” Sure, you could talk about how you helped your current company grow profits, but showing the
results could have a much stronger effect on the salary you’re offered. If you can quantify your achievements, you’ll be better positioned to actually lobby for a pay increase. Say you helped generate $3 million in revenue in the first quarter. Put together a graph to make it easy for your interviewer to digest how big an impact you made, HolbrookHernandez suggests. “Employers assume if you can do something once, you can do it again,” she says. “By showing the prospective employer how you create value, that offsets the costs of your salary, and you’ll be putting yourself in a position to be able to ask for and get more money.” WHEN YOUR 401K AND STOCK OPTIONS ARE VESTED Dig up the benefits details you likely filed away on your first day on the job and see when your 401k or stock options are vested. Most vesting schedules start at year three, Brooks says. Leaving before that could give you a financial sting. “That’s money you’re losing, really,” she says. WHEN YOU’VE GOT YOUR BONUS IN HAND If your company gives a once-a-year bonus in February, leaving in January means you’ll miss out. “That’s cash in your pocket you’d be losing,” Brooks says. Unless your salary increase will be significantly more than your bonus, it makes the most financial sense to stick it out in your current position until after the bonus payday. WHEN YOU’VE FINALLY NAILED THAT PROMOTION Here’s a classic job-hopping strategy: Land a promotion (and a fancier job title). Apply for next-level jobs. Start a new job within a month of that promotion. It can work, but be prepared to explain why you’re leaving. “When I look at a resume and someone who’s just been promoted is choosing to leave, it makes me question their loyalty,” Hopkins says. “If you’re the top performer, the top dog, and you earned that [promotion], I’d be curious to know why you want to jump ship.” Plenty of explanations will do – you feel you can’t grow anymore, for example — but make sure you can make a case that your interviewer will buy. Think the timing is right to start looking for greener pastures (and better pay)? See what jobs are available on Monster.com right now that could help you take that next step up. ■
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