Snuggle-Up! and Blog

Monument, CO - 10 Great Things to Do (Part 2)

Yesterday's number one place to visit, Garden of the Gods County Park, can be found here...Part 1

Today's number two place is:

2. The Western Museum of Mining Official Website
The museum is located in Colorado Springs, just across Interstate 25 from the Air Force Academy, on the Glen Eagle exit. Which puts it approx. 4 miles south of Monument, CO.

The museum offers many exhibits on mining and mining equipment. The exhibit that gets the most attention is the realistic mine. An old miner, himself, walks you thru the exhibit, where you'll see mining cars, mining tools, and mining gear. You'll even have a chance to go "down" into the mine. Where you'll see the coal on the walls of the mine.

While you might automatically think that miners were mining for gold or diamonds, the most common mineral to mine for, especially in Colorado, was coal. Many homes in America used coal for heat and some still do! In Colorado Springs, we have a coal fired steam plant in the downtown area that's providing electricity to our homes today. From most everywhere in Colorado Springs, when the weather conditions are right, you can see the steam billowing from the plant.

Coal trains up and down the front of the Rockies can be seen all through out the day! A very common site. On their way south, they are full of coal and move more slowly than when they are going back north.

The museum also has a nice collection of steam engines of all sizes. Many of them are vintage, turn of the century machines. And on the hour the staff starts up the biggest one. And it's loud. Some of the smaller ones, you can run yourself.

I highly recommend a vist to the museum if you're in the area of Monument, CO, 80132. It's guaranteed to enterain the kids.

Photo reproduced with permission courtesy of Matt Hannes.

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Monument, CO - 10 Great Things to Do (Part 1)

Monument, Colorado offers a variety of options for you and your family or friend to do. Some are as simple as taking a walk, some are going to require a little bit of driving to get there.

Here's my take on 10 of the top things to do while you are in Monument, CO.

1. Garden of the Gods  Official Website
The striking orangish-pinkish red sandstone formations give the park it's striking beauty.

Garden of the Gods is county park! It's one of the biggest, and arguably the most interesting county parks in the U.S. It offers hiking, biking and climbing. And if you hate to get out of the car, although, I can't imagine why you wouldn't, you can simply drive through.

And don't for get to stop by the Visitor Center to learn more about the beautiful red rocks and their formation, but also to enjoy a great lunch in an fantastic outdoor setting.

History Behind the Park

There is evidence of people in the park dating back over 3,000 years. The park acquired it's name, it is said, because the early railroaders thought it would make a great beer garden, fit for the Gods. From there, it logically mutated to Garden of the Gods.

General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs in the 1870's. He purchased 280 acres in Garden of the Gods for his summer home. He died before he could will the land to the county, but his children, knowing their father's wished, turned the property over to the county with the stipulation, "where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park."

Ecosystems

Garden of the Gods has two distinct ecosystems. The Plains zone, which is cool desert at an elevation of 3,500 to 6,000 feet, and the Foothills-Transition zone that extends from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. The Plains zone typically as prairie grassland and cottowood and willow trees supported by an underground water system. The Foothills-Transistion zone consists of pinyon, junipers, mountain shrubs and ponderosa pine trees. This zone is more drought tollerant, making it easier for the vegetation to survive the summer, when most of the rains come quickly and heavily and just run off.

The rock holes in the face of the sandstone formations offer shelter for a variety of animals. Common are the white-throated swifts, which are probably the most spectacular, swallows, falcons, pigeons, wood rats, and bats can also be found lodging in the rocks.

If you are in the Monument area, you just can't miss this great park!

Tomorrow: The second great thing to do while you are in Monument!

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 Woodmoor, Monument, CO 80132

Monument, CO, is a small town 10 miles north of Colorado Springs, and 50 miles south of Denver. Here are some interesting demographics about Monument:

• Population in Monument, CO, in 2008 was 2,918
• Projected population in 2014 is 3535
• 50/1% of the population are male, making 49.9% female
• The largest percentage of the population, at 20%, are people between the ages of 40 - 49
• A whopping 40% make over $100,000 per year
• 25% of the population has a Bachelor's Degree
• 35% of the households have only 2 residents

One of the largest neighborhoods in Monument is Woodmoor. It lies just east of downtown of Monument. And it encompasses an area in the north to County Line Road, south to Hodgen Road, west to I-25, and East to Roller Coaster Road. Most of the homes in Woodmoor are on a 1/2 acre or more. Most homes in Woodmoor sit in tall stands of Ponderosa Pines. Stunning pine trees who's branches begin at 15' off the ground.

Sales data for June 2009, and current actives stats

A - 51 Properties Found
               Beds      Bths       Gar         Tot SF        Acres         List Price          Sold Price    CDOM
Min       2             1           1            1,058         0.03         $110,000           $                 3
Avg      4             3           2            3,598         0.76         $384,311           $              119
Max      7             5           4            6,536         1.09         $684,900           $              355

S - 14 Properties Found
               Beds      Bths       Gar         Tot SF        Acres         List Price          Sold Price    CDOM
Min       3             2           2           2,878         0.58          $239,000        $195,000          3
Avg      4             3           2           3,788         1.00          $339,100        $329,135       232
Max      5             4           3           4,637         1.14          $450,000        $442,500       657

Summary - 65 Properties Found
               Beds      Bths       Gar         Tot SF        Acres         List Price        Sold Price    CDOM
Min       2             1           1           1,058         0.03          $110,000        $195,000          3
Avg      4             3           2           3,639         0.81          $374,573        $329,135       144
Max      7             5           4           6,536         1.14          $684,900        $442,500       657

We had more properties go under contract in May/June of 2009, than in any of the previous months in 2009. Active listings were down in June from May by 6%. While sales remained the same. 

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3 Great Seller Tips

This is still a buyer's market, even though the market is returning to a more balanced position. So, today's seller needs to be savvy in order to sell the property. Holding out for the last dollar will not get your property sold. Here are some great tips that hopefully will help.

1. Consult with your Realtor(r) to establish a price based on local comparisons of homes sold in your neighborhood. Pricing the home right is the first step, it tells buyers that you are aware of today market and are serious about selling your home. Honesty, knowledge and reasonableness are great selling keys when dealing with today's buyers.
2. If your local real estate market is slow, consider offering buyer incentives. They don't have to cost you a lot, but they will give your home the edge over similar homes on the market.
   1. Offer a home warranty. That is very big to buyers! They love that.
   2. Offer to buy down the buyer's mortgage interest rate. This may cost a couple of thousand dollars, but that's likely to be less than what it will cost you if your house languishes on the market.
   3. Offer to pre-pay a year's worth of association fees. That might only cost $500!
   4. Offer a year's worth of professional lawn mowing. Imagine that one!
   5. Offer credit toward the buyer's closing costs. That frequently is part of negotiations.
   6. Offer a weekend getaway at an attractive lodge or hotel. How much would that cost? $400?
3. And finally, the best tip: Lower your asking price.

Silent Speechless Sunday! (Thank you, Lisa)

 Homes For Sale in Monument, CO 80132

Monument, CO 80132, is a sleepy little town 10 minle north of Colorado Springs, and 50 miles south of Denver. It has a vibrant downtown area, a supermarket, Starbuck's and an assortment of fast food restaurants.

Monument's biggest claim to fame is it's 4th of July celebration, parade and festival. Everyone turns out to be in this very small-town-America parade. After the parade there are vendors selling all types of wares and food. Then around 9:00 pm, the fireworks demonstration begins over Palmer Lake. Come early and save your seat, as it fills up quickly! 

Here's a short list of homes for sale in Monument. Homes start around $125,000 for condo's and townhomes, and go up to over $1M for the large mansions out east.

Thumbnail	Location	Price	Beds	Baths	Footage	Acres	MLS #
	Monument	$ 269,900	4	3	2,560	0.20	486097
	Monument	$ 268,000	4	4	2,432	0.29	469264
	Monument	$ 265,537	3	3	3,376	0.29	537303
	Monument	$ 265,000	4	3	2,604	2.50	565430
	Monument	$ 259,900	3	2	1,600	0.57	494756
	Monument	$ 259,500	4	2	2,385	0.67	562168
	Monument	$ 250,000	3	2	2,565	0.07	477773
	Monument	$ 250,000	2	2	2,142	5.00	595487

If you'd like more information on the Monument market, please feel free to contact me.

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Reverse Mortgage-Is It Right for You?

You've probably heard of it, but what exactly is it. And how will it work for you? A Reverse mortgage is not a new loan product, it's been around since 1988. But, in today's economy many people that cannot qualify for a mortgage refinance, can qualify for a reverse mortgage. In effect, you are putting the equity in your home to work for you! So, is a reverse mortgage right for you?

Requirements:

• You must be at least 62 years old.
• You must occupy the home as your primary residence.
• You must pay your property taxes on time.
• You must keep your home insurance up to date and carry an adequate amount.
• If you have an HOA, you must also keep that current.
• You must maintain the home in good repair.

Things to Know:

• A reverse mortgage is a HUD backed program.
• Government regulations guaranty that all lenders adhere to the same guidelines. So, who you choose for your reverse mortgage doesn't matter if you choose the bank down the street or a national chain, as long as they are experienced in doing reverse mortgages.
• You should never feel pressured to accept any mortgage, even a reverse mortgage. Understand your options, completely. Work with a lender that you know and trust.
• A reverse mortgage gives you access to a portion of the equity in your home. You'll decide how much of that you want to draw on. Interest is access on what your draw on and only when you do.
• When you draw on your funds, you are not required to to make monthly payments.
• When you or your heirs sell the home, the equity you drew and the interest that accrued will be deduced from the proceeds of the sale. And all remaining profits go to you or your heirs.
• Eligibility for this loan is not based on your credit score. But, judgments, will need to be paid off and you can use your reverse mortgage funds to do that.

Steps to Obtaining Your Reverse Mortgage:

1. Do some fact finding. Talk to your lender, find out all the details about a reverse mortgage and if it's right for you.
2. You are required by HUD to attend a counseling appointment of approx. one hour. They want to be sure that you understand this product. Family members and attend with you, but not the lender. And there is a small charge for this appointment of about $125.
3. Loan application is next, and you will need to provide supporting documents
4. With completion of the application, title insurance will be ordered and an appraiser will visit your home to provide an evaluation of market appraisal.
5. With title insurance, a completed appraisal, and your loan docs done, underwriting will be started.
6. After underwriting approval, you will be ready to close on your loan.
7. Then closing, you will receive copies of all your loan documents, plus your options for withdrawl of funds and who services your loan.
8. You'll have three days after closing to change your mind, if you wish.
9. After the rescission period is over, the title company will pay off any existing mortgage loans and disburse to you any funds that you required upfront. And the following month, you'll start receiving your monthly statements.
10. Lastly, enjoy your new reverse mortgage, that pays you instead of you paying it.

So, Reverse Mortgage-Is it Right for You?

If you'd like to know more about a Reverse Mortgage, I'd be happy to talk with you, or more importantly, put you in contact with a lender that has successfully completed many reverse mortages.

Open House Today in Pine Creek (Briargate)!

Please stop by and see this stunning ranch style home in Pine Creek, today at the Open House, July 25 and tomorrow, July 26, between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Refreshments will be available.

This home boasts granite tile countertops, maple cabinets, berber carpet and hardwood floors, formal dining room, huge rec room with wet bar, and main level living! Must see at Today's Open House!

For more information about today's Open House, contact Marianne Snygg, 719-964-9682

Are You Planning to Use Your VA Eligibility? Ft. Carson, Peterson, and AFA are are Colorado Springs' local military bases.

Little Known Facts About Obtaining a VA Guaranteed Loan...

There are Fantastic Advantages to use a VA Guaranteed Loan. They include no down payment, negotiable interest rates, no monthly PMI/MIP, ceiling on closing costs, and your choice of mortgage products. Plus all VA loans are assumable by ANYONE.

What Type of Home Can You Purchase? You can purchase an existing home, in good condition, a brand new home built to your specifications, a multi-unit (as long as you live in one of the units, you can rent out the rest). Or you can refinance your current mortgage, or refinance it and get cash out.

Did You Know? Your lender can obtain your certificate of eligibility , online, for you. It'll take 10 days to receive your certificate, so plan early.

Caveats, Buyer Beware. You can only have one VA loan at a time. You cannot use a VA loan to purchase a rental property. If your loan is assumed, until that loan is repaid and you are removed from ownership, you eligibility will be tied up, and occupancy is required. you must live in the home.

Do You Know about Adapted House Grants? SAH has a maximum grant of $60,000; SHA has a maximum grantof $12,000; and Temporary Grants are available to be used if your going be in a location for only a short while.

Important Information to Know...An Escape Clause allows for return of earnest money, if the loan is not approved. The Option Clause is used in the case that the house does not appraise at purchase price, and again, the earnest money is returned. Seller concessions cannot exceed 4% of the reasonable value of the home, and closing costs are NOT part of the 4%. Mortgage fees cannot exceed 1% of the loan amount, and no additional junk fees are allowed. Loan amount limits are any reasonable amount plus the VA funding fee. Your eligibility certificate will tell you how much you qualified for.

How's Your Credit? It Does Matter. Credit scores are not determind by VA, but by the lender. Bankruptcy can usually be disregarded after 2 years; chapter 13, after 13 months; chapter 7, 24 months; foreclosures after 2 years. Debit to income ratio should not exceed 41%. Most recent 12 months monthly obligations should be paid as agreed. And child care must be considered as part of your monthly obligations.

So, do you qualify? Are you prepared to buy your first home with a VA loan? I work with all military personnel and my closest bases are Ft. Carson, Peterson AFB, and AFA. Call me and I can get you started.

Marianne Snygg, GRI, ABR, ASP
Herman Group Real Estate
719.964.9682

Home Sales Stats for Colorado Springs, Y-T-D, M-T-D

For the 5th consecutive month, pending home sales have increased!

Year to date sales are quickly reaching the same totals we saw in 2008.

• Y-T-D sales totals in June 2008, were 4296, and Y-T-D June 2009, sales totals were 3894. A 10% difference between the two years.
• Average sales prices are down from 2008 by 12%, and median sales price is down by 13%.
• Actives for the month of June 2009, are up 2.3% over May 2009's numbers
• Sales for the month of June 2009, are up 6% over May 2009's numbers.

The sub-prime market crashed in the summer of 2008. To see numbers this good is really encouraging for a recovery soon. Even though some of the activity has been stimulated by the New Home Buyer Tax Credit that will end December 2009. 

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR(r) Services Corp. (RSC), for the period June 008 through June 2009.  RSC does not guarantee or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by RSC may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

If you're planning to buy or sell your home this year, now is the best time to jump into the market! All real estate is local, call me and I'll tell you about your perfered area of Colorado Springs.

Marianne Snygg, GRI, ABR, ASP
Herman Group Real Estate
719.964.9682