This week Forbes Magazine rated Colorado Springs the 9th Best Bang for the Buck city in the United States. The top city was Omaha NE. This is more good news for our little city. Last week Forbes rated us 14th most likely city to rebound from the housing slump.

I believe Colorado Springs is a good value. In affordable housing, most of our prices hover between $90-$110 per feet. In the heyday it rose to $130-$150 per foot. The one golden thing that has happened with the housing slump is that it’s made housing affordable again. In Colorado Springs you can find decent housing around $100,000. In markets like Florida, Arizona, Las Vegas and California home prices dropped 50-70% from the peak. Now there is value in owning a home.

I also think now is the time to buy and invest in real estate. Many people catch it when its on its way up. Almost always people buy into the frenzy when it’s peaking. Now is the time. We have been at bottom for about 8 months. I think we will stay here for only a couple more months before we start increasing values. Fact is, sales this year in 2009 are equal to 2006 and inventory is down 1800 units. That spells relief and increasing values.

Yes, buy into the fact that Colorado Springs is a good value. Say yes that Colorado Springs is rebounding. Get on board the bus before it passes you by.

Thanks,

Brian

Did you see the article by Forbes Magazine listing Colorado Springs as the 14th fastest recovering city in America? Do you believe it? Are we really in for a rebound? Well, let’s see!

Forbes online produced a list yesterday that names Colorado Springs the 14th most likely place in America to Rebound. It ranked Omaha NE #1 most likely. It took into account Gross Metropolitan Product (measure of city economy) foreclosures, home prices, and sales rates. They ranked based on statistics compiles through the month of September.

I think this is great news but is it really true? Now that Doug Bruce has gotten his way in raping our city dry, are we really going to be a quality place to live? By voting for his anti tax measures I feel our city is going to dry up and die. You don’t need to look far to see it.

1st check out our infra-structure and roads. Why do we waste money on a bridge overpass at Woodmen & Academy but vote down public transportation? Why are we closing inner city schools and not putting money into educating Dist 11 kids. Today Dist 11 can’t make ends meet and those of you who don’t have kids in school you keep voting down amendments. That is why your home values don’t climb like other areas. How many of you were fooled by Doug Bruce’s amendment for abolishing storm water. Soon, you will figure out when curb gutter and sewer systems don’t work it was your vote that caused it.

People you need to be more long term thinking! You need to look past the slight increase and look at the big picture. No real airport, bad schools, no public transportation, brown grass parks, broken curbs, gutters, sewers, pot holed streets and slow fire and police protection does not make us an appealing place to live. If we are not appealing you won’t get good prices for your homes. People you need to think beyond today and look to tomorrow. If you don’t we certainly won’t be a top place to live.

Thanks,

Brian

Have you heard about the new law requiring carbon monoxide detectors to be in all homes by July 1, 2009? In Colorado that bill was signed into law on April 7, 2009. Whether you live in Colorado or elsewhere this law will be widespread.

Here in Colorado, there have been 9 deaths attributable to carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is emitted usually from gas furnaces and it’s odorless. The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning is a head ache, dizziness and general sleepiness. Death rates are high because furnaces usually work most of the night while we are sleeping. The effects are not noticed and the victim just sleeps into death.

The law says that all homes for sale or rent that change occupancy after July 1, 2009 must have a carbon monoxide detector. I am advising our clients to use plug in detectors with battery backup. The proper place to install these detectors is close to the ground near furnace vents. In Colorado, it’s required to have one unit per household. In other states the lobbyists want one per bedroom. What it will do to the real estate industry is add another cost. New construction will have to upgrade their smoke detectors into dual carbon & smoke detectors.

Those of you in other cold weather states, this law is coming. In general, it’s probably a good law. It also applies to rentals. Any person who has an investment property needs to take care that furnaces are serviced and certified. In addition these carbon monoxide detectors will lessen the liability of property owners.

Don’t wait, get these detectors and save yourself a ton of liability.

Take care,
Brian