April 29, 2013

Vol.5 No.8 www.csrej.com April 29, 2013

Tax Heaven: NAR President Blogs on Taxes

V.I.P Mortgage Gets Dirty

Chicago Title of Colorado Names New President

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PRSRT STDUS POSTAGEPAIDPERMIT 745 COLO SPGS CO

National News ........... Page 2Local News ............... Page 12On the Move ............. Page 21Local Expert ............. Page 22Around the Corner ...... Page 23

Kevin BentBranch Manager(719) [email protected] #251284State Lic #100018895

Aric UlmerLoan O� cer(719) [email protected] #257977State Lic #100011170

Chad DennySales Manager(719) [email protected] #665068State Lic #100037389

Tom SusemihlSr. Loan O� cer(719) [email protected] #208307State Lic #100013573

Rose KellySr. Loan O� cer(719) [email protected] #10326State Lic #100020386

Debbie HavensSr. Loan O� cer(719) [email protected] NMLS #653845State Lic #100018256

Tobi MondejarLoan O� cer(719) [email protected] #241570State Lic #100008696

Honest & Ethical Service from People You Know.5 3 3 3 N o r t h U n i o n B l v d . S u i t e 1 0 0 , C o l o r a d o S p r i n g s , C O 8 0 9 1 8

HELPFUL TIP: Check the license status of your mortgage broker at the Colorado Division of Real Estate’s website: www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/index.htm Regulated by the Colorado Division of Real Estate, Corp NMLS #3113

Number of improving housing markets holding steady in AprilFollowing seven consecutive months

of gains, the list of improving U.S. hous-ing markets remained virtually un-changed in April, with 273 metros on the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released today. Th is total refl ects a net reduction of one market since March and again includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Th e IMI identifi es metropolitan areas that have shown improvement from their respective troughs in housing permits,

employment and house prices for at least six consecutive months. Five new mar-kets were added to the list and six mar-kets were dropped from it this month. Newcomers included the geographically diverse locations of Macon, Ga.; Port-land, Maine; Rocky Mount, N.C.; Eu-gene, Ore.; and Jackson, Tenn.

“Th e stability in the improving mar-kets list this month is encouraging, with three quarters of all metros tracked by our index considered on the upswing as the housing recovery spreads to parts of

every state,” said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder from Charlott e, N.C. “In some markets, the main thing that’s holding back a recovery is a rela-tively thin inventory of homes for sale, which could be resolved if builders had easier access to credit for building homes and putt ing people back to work.”

“Aft er a strong run-up through late 2012 and early 2013, the number of improving markets is holding steady at a high level,” said NAHB Chief Econo-mist David Crowe. “We can expect to see

Colorado's Improving Markets Include:

• Boulder• Colorado Springs• Denver• Fort Collins• Grand Junction• Greeley

FHA continues to get more expensiveAs it looks more likely that the Fed-

eral Housing Administration (FHA) is going to need an infusion of cash from the Federal government for the fi rst time in its history, the agency’s management is taking even more steps to stabilize its fi nancial position to minimize the likelihood of any future taxpayer infusions. Th ese changes have im-portant impacts to homebuyers that could cost them more money in the long term. As an ad-vocate for your clients, it’s important to understand the multiple fi nancing op-tions available to them. Many times an FHA loan is oft en seen as the fi rst choice for homebuyers who have a low down payment; however, it may not be the best or least expensive option. FHA rates are very competitive, but the long term costs associated with FHA loans also need to be factored in to the decision.

Eff ective April 1, 2013, the new an-nual mortgage insurance premiums for 30-year term FHA loans increased 0.10

percent to 1.35 percent. In addition, the upfront mortgage insurance premium is 1.750 percent. Another signifi cant change for case numbers on or aft er June 1, 2013 is that on FHA loans where the loan-to-value exceeds 90 percent, the mortgage insurance will remain in ef-fect for the life of the loan. Th is is a po-tentially signifi cant additional cost for homebuyers.

In contrast with FHA, private mort-gage insurance (PMI) companies are be-coming more competitive on pricing and terms. Th ey are a viable option for home-buyers who can’t make a large down pay-ment. Private mortgage insurance can be cancelled when the loan-to-value drops below 80 percent.

Here’s a review of the general condi-tions for single family residences where private mortgage insurance can be can-celled and benefi t the homebuyer. Th ere may be individual circumstances where these rules don’t apply, but these are the general standards:•UndertheHomeownersProtection

Act (HPA), mortgage loan servicers must automatically cancel private mort-gage insurance coverage on most loans

once the mortgage balance has been paid down solely by regular amortization (no principal pay downs) to 78 percent of the home value at the time of loan origi-nation. Th e borrower must be current on their loan payments at the time the loan reaches this balance. If they are not cur-rent, the servicer will leave the PMI in place but must remove it when the loan becomes current.•Alsounder theHPA, theborrower

has the right to request PMI cancellation at the point the mortgage balance equals 80 percent of the original purchase price of the home, or the appraised value of the home at the time the loan was originated. Borrowers also need to have a good pay-ment history to do this. A good history is defi ned as not being 30 days delinquent within one year of the request, or 60 days late within two years of the request.•Th elendermayrequireanappraisal

or other evaluation (at the borrower’s expense) to ensure the value hasn’t de-creased, and prove that there aren’t any subordinate liens on the property which reduce the homeowner’s equity.

is taking even more steps to stabilize its

By Jon PaukovichEnt

Existing-home sales eased in March from inventory constraints, which con-tinued to pressure home prices, accord-ing to the NAR®.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, con-dominiums and co-ops, declined 0.6 per-cent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.92 million in March from a down-wardly revised 4.95 million in February, but remain 10.3 percent higher than the 4.46 million-unit pace in March 2012.

Sales have been above year-ago levels for 21 consecutive months, while prices show 13 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases.

See Improving Markets | 3

See FHA | 5See Home Prices | 3

March existing-home sales slip, prices maintain uptrend

2 www.csrej.com Colorado Springs Real Estate Journal April 29, 2013

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Colorado Springs Real Estate Journal LLC (CSREJ) is locally owned and operated out of Colo-rado Springs, Colorado. CSREJ is published once a month and dis-tributed through US Mail to nearly all members of The Pikes Peak Association of Realtors® and The Colorado Springs Housing & Build-ing Association and many other industry-related professionals.

CSREJ is not responsible for any opinions or facts expressed by non-staff writers. CSREJ shall not be held responsible for any errors in advertising or editorial content.

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Soaring production of multifamily apartments pushed na-tionwide housing starts beyond the million-unit mark for the fi rst time since 2008 in March, according to newly released fi g-ures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Th e data show that total starts activity rose 7.0 percent for the month due entirely to a 31.1 percent increase on the multifamily side, while single-family production slipped 4.8 percent from a number that was revised strongly upward for the previous month.

“Today’s report is a refl ection of the solid demand that many areas are seeing for rental apartments as young people take that fi rst step into the housing market, which is a very positive de-velopment,” noted Rick Judson, chairman of the National As-sociation of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Charlott e, N.C. “Th e numbers are also in keeping with our latest surveys that show single-family builders are experiencing some diffi culties in keeping up with rising demand for new homes due to increasing construction costs and other factors.”

Calling the latest data a “mixed bag” due to the opposite di-rection of single- and multifamily starts and a somewhat weaker amount of permit issuance, NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe said that nevertheless, the numbers indicate “a continu-ation of the slow, methodical march forward” that character-izes the housing recovery. He also noted that “Th e three-month

moving average for single-family starts remained unchanged at 628,000 units in March – which is right on pace with NAHB’s forecast for a 25 percent gain in new-home production in 2013.”

While single-family starts declined 4.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 619,000 units in March, this was entirely due to a substantial upward revision to the previous month’s data, without which virtually no change would have been re-corded. At the same time, multifamily housing starts surged 31.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 417,000 units – their fastest pace since January 2006.

Th ree out of four regions posted gains in combined sin-gle- and multifamily housing production in March, with the

Housing starts rise on strength in multifamily in March

See Housing Starts | 9

April 29, 2013 Colorado Springs Real Estate Journal www.csrej.com 3

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more gradual gains going forward as challenges related to increased demand kick in – including everything from tightened supplies of developable lots and labor to the rising cost of building materials.”

“With 75 percent of the country seeing measurable improvement in housing market conditions, the outlook is defi nitely brightening for local economies this spring,” noted Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

Th e IMI is designed to track housing markets throughout the country that are show-ing signs of improving economic health. Th e index measures three sets of independent monthly data to get a mark on the top improving Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Th e three indicators that are analyzed are employment growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, house price appreciation from Freddie Mac and single-family housing permit growth from the U.S. Census Bureau. NAHB uses the latest available data from these sources to generate a list of improving markets. A metro area must see improvement in all three measures for at least six consecutive months following those measures’ respec-tive troughs before being included on the improving markets list.

A complete list of all 273 metropolitan areas currently on the IMI, and separate breakouts of metros newly added to or dropped from the list in April, is available at www.nahb.org/imi.

The above article has been provided to you compliments of the National Association of Home Builders.

Improving Markets from 1

Lawrence Yun , NAR chief economist, said there is more demand than supply in the current market. "Buyer traffi c is 25 percent above a year ago when we were already see-ing notable gains in shopping activity," he said. "In the same timeframe housing inven-tories have trended much lower, which is continuing to pressure home prices. Th e good news is home construction is rising and low mortgage rates are continuing to keep af-fordability conditions at historically favorable levels. Th e bad news is that underwriting standards remain excessively tight, while renters are gett ing squeezed by higher rents."

Total housing inventory at the end of March increased 1.6 percent to 1.93 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 4.7-month supply 2 at the current sales pace, up from 4.6 months in February. Listed inventory remains 16.8 percent be-low a year ago when there was a 6.2-month supply.

"Th e inventory improvement last month results from a seasonal gain, but conditions continue to broadly favor sellers. We need a housing supply of over 6 months to have a generally balanced market between home buyers and sellers, but it's unlikely we'll get there without greater increases in housing construction," Yun said.

Th e national median existing-home price for all housing types was $184,300 in March, which is 11.8 percent higher than March 2012. Th e March increase is the strongest since November 2005 when it rose 12.9 percent from a year earlier, and the last time there were 13 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases was from May 2005 to May 2006.

Distressed homes - foreclosures and short sales - accounted for 21 percent of March sales, down from 25 percent in February and 29 percent in March 2012. Th irteen per-cent of March sales were foreclosures, and 8 percent were short sales. Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 15 percent below market value in March, while short sales were discounted 13 percent.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, con-ventional, fi xed-rate mortgage increased to 3.57 percent in March from 3.53 percent in February; it was 3.95 percent in March 2012.

NAR President Gary Th omas, broker-owner of Evergreen Realty in Villa Park, Ca-lif., said homes are selling much faster. "Th e typical home sold in March was on the market for one month less than it took to sell a year ago," he said. "Multiple bidding is becoming more common, and more homes are selling above the asking price, so buyers need to move quickly and follow their Realtor®'s advice for contingencies when making contract off ers."

Th e median time on market for all homes was 62 days in March, down from 74 days in February and is 32 percent below 91 days in March 2012. Short sales were on the market for a median of 81 days, while foreclosures typically sold in 46 days and non-distressed homes took 66 days. Th irty-seven percent of all homes sold in March were on the market for less than a month.

First-time buyers accounted for 30 percent of purchases in March, unchanged from February; they were 33 percent in March 2012.

All-cash sales were at 30 percent of transactions in March, down from 32 percent in February; they were 32 percent in March 2012. Individual investors, who account for most cash sales, purchased 19 percent of homes in March, down from 22 percent in February; they were 21 percent in March 2012.

Single-family home sales slipped 0.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.32 million in March from 4.33 million in February, but are 9.1 percent above the 3.96 million-unit level in March 2012. Th e median existing single-family home price was $185,100 in March, up 12.1 percent from a year ago.

© Copyright National Association of Realtors. Reprinted with permission.

Home Prices from 1

Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 21% of March sales.


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Sometimes the homebuyer would like to remove PMI based on a potential increase in the value of the home. There are several different requirements for this, but it can be done in various instances based on the seasoning of the loan and the amount of equity in the home. The

borrower would need to contact their lender for the spe-cific requirements.

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client’s unique situation and match them with the most affordable loan that meets their needs.

Mr. Paukovich oversees the direction and management of mortgage lending, including loan servicing, at Ent Federal Credit Union. He can be reached at [email protected]

Tax Heaven: NAR President Gary Thomas blogs on taxesBy NAR 2013 President Gary Thomas

On April 15th, it’s a good time to re-member something Will Rogers once said. He noted that, “the difference be-tween death and taxes is death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.”

~ Thank goodness!

As the U.S. Congress considers action on compre-hensive tax reform, you can be sure that NAR is doing its best to protect the many long-standing tax incentives to home and property ownership. These include the fol-lowing:

• mortgage interest deduction• capital gains exclusion on the sale of a principal

residence• deduction for mortgage insurance premiums on

private mortgage insurance and FHA-backed insurance

• state and local property tax deduction• carried interest on commercial real estate

We’re going to have to stay on top of the action. These are complicated issues that will not be settled with a di-

rect up or down vote that affects only real estate. They may easily be tucked into the language on a larger bill, and things may move very fast when the time comes.

Right now, we’re in the early stages of what we expect will be a long process. The House Ways & Means Com-mittee and the Senate Finance Committee are holding ongoing meetings on the issues. As REALTORS®, we have a seat at the table and are sharing our views.

We tell members of Congress and staff how necessary these incentives are for rebuilding the national economy. Since we’re in the midst of a fragile recovery, additional housing taxes would crush the real estate market just as it is poised to help lift us out of the economic doldrums.

Our goal is to see that the tax code will continue to reflect the fundamental American value that homeown-ership helps build financial stability. Not only is this the right policy for housing, it’s also the best for families, for communities and the entire country.

Our government tax policy should encourage home-ownership while giving more Americans a chance for their little piece of heaven. Support NAR and keep real estate tax incentives alive!


Thomas

FHA from 1


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REALTOR® Magazine and the Good Neighbor Society have announced the recipients of the fi ft h annual Volunteer-ing Works program, which matches Real-tors® who work on small-scale charitable eff orts with mentors and awards them grant money.

Th e fi ve winning Realtors® will receive a $1,000 grant and a year of one-on-one mentoring from a member of the Good Neighbor Society, whose members are past recipients of the annual REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Award for vol-unteer service.

“Realtors® value service and will go the extra mile to improve lives and the communities in which they live,” said National Association of Realtors® Presi-dent Gary Th omas, broker-owner of Ev-ergreen Realty, in Villa Park, Calif. “Th e Volunteering Works program gives Real-tors® an opportunity to learn from men-tors who will help defi ne their paths for growth and success.”

Th e Volunteering Works recipients were selected based on their dedication to the community through volunteer work and the potential for their chari-table work to be expanded or improved with the help of an expert mentor.

“Volunteering Works enabled me to send more packages to the troops, bring in a public speaker to meet with families on ‘Coping with Deployments’ and in-vest in raffl e prizes that will be used at our annual fundraiser to create more in-come,” said Jennifer Wiles, a practitioner

with Real Estate Showcase, in Wooster, Ohio, and a 2012 Volunteering Works recipient. Wiles and her charity, Golden Bear Brigade, send packages to the men and women in the armed services who serve our country overseas. Her men-tors, 2010 Good Neighbor Award win-ners Wendy and John Rocca, of Keller Williams Realty in Newton Highlands, Mass., implemented a cost-eff ective way of mailing care packages to the troops, which stretched her $1,000 grant even further.

“Mentors use their years of experience to teach Volunteering Works recipients new fundraising techniques and help prepare them to prosper through any ob-stacles they may encounter,” said Craig Conant, Good Neighbor Society Advi-sory Council Chair and a 2001 winner of REALTOR® Magazine’s Good Neighbor Award.

Th e 2013 recipients of the Volunteer-ing Works grant and mentoring are:

Robin E. Greenberg, Prudential California Realty, Los Angeles

Greenberg founded the C.A.R.E. Project (Compassion-Acceptance-Re-spect-Empowerment) in 2011 to encour-age Realtors® to become more involved in the community. C.A.R.E serves a dif-ferent charity each month, providing donations and volunteers to help people overcome their day-to-day struggles with food and shelter. Greenberg will seek

guidance from her mentor, 2001 Good Neighbor Craig Conant, Key Realty Inc., Warrensburg, Mo., to implement an ef-fective fundraising plan.

Angel Lubeck, Liberty Realty & Appraisal Services, LLC, Dickson City, Penn.

In 2011, Lubeck founded Finishing the Fight to support U.S. soldiers serv-ing overseas. To date, she has organized two 5K races and has sent more than 450 care packages to troops deployed in Afghanistan. Her mentors are 2010 Good Neighbor Vito Pampalona, Vito

Anthony Homes, Rochester, Mich., and 2010 Good Neighbor Honorable Men-tion Mark Meinhardt, Star One Real-tors®, West Chester, Ohio. Lubeck will look for guidance on how to increase public awareness and raise more money through her 5K events.

Joan Rogliano, Rogliano Real Estate Group, Littleton, Colo.

Rogliano founded Wildfl ower Wom-en’s Foundation in 2010 to improve the lives of women who are struggling

Realtor Volunteering Works Program announces 2013 mentoring and grants recipients

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through diffi cult transitions of divorce or widowhood. Th e organization provides scholarships, legal advice and fi nancial advocacy. Rogliano will seek guidance from her mentor, 2003 Good Neighbor Claudia Deprez, Il-lustrated Properties Real Estate, West Palm Beach, Fla., to increase visibility and build a stronger network of professionals to support women.

Robert Schwartz, LaRosa Realty, Celebration, Fla.

In 2011, Schwartz cofounded Celebration 34747 Cares, a nonprofi t organization that supports 100 local schoolchildren whose families don’t have permanent

housing. Th e organization provides non-perishable weekend food packs and assists families who are transi-tioning to apartments in Osceola County. Schwartz will seek guidance from his mentor, 2006 Good Neighbor David Sonenberg, Th e Sonenberg Company, Roswell, Ga. Schwartz hopes to build a stronger network of vol-unteers and get help in seeking grants to improve fund-raising.

Amber Weitzer, Nathan Grace Real Estate, Dallas, Texas

Weitzer, a member of Th e Princess Alexa Founda-tion, helps seriously ill children escape their realities of the hospital world by maintaining dress-up/play closets

and hosting parties at six children’s hospitals in the Dal-las/Fort Worth area. Her mentor is 2009 Good Neigh-bor Honorable Mention Diana Croteau, Sun Mountain Properties, Williams, Ariz. Weitzer wants to learn how to access grant money to raise $300,000 to build a uni-versally accessible playground.

Volunteering Works is funded by Th e Stuart & Jill Siegel Charitable Foundation. To learn more about Vol-unteering Works or the Good Neighbor Awards, go to www.REALTOR.org/gna.


Volunteers from 7


In Depth

A Tale of Two HouseholdsBy Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D.,GraphsandLaughs, LLC

During the last year and especially the last fi ve or six months, the economic data have been of two minds. On one hand, household net worth is way up, the stock market has been sett ing new highs and the number of millionaires is at 9 million, just below where it was before the recession. At the same time, we read that the amount spent at restaurants, bars, and department stores recently fell as households com-pensate for higher gas prices and payroll tax increases by reining in discretionary spending. Which is it? Is the economy gett ing bett er or are households hunker-ing down? Turns out, it’s both. Behind this seeming paradox is the growing gulf between America’s wealthier households and its poorer ones. And the past reces-sion has put this gap into bold relief.

While suff ering during the Great Re-cession, wealthier households, because they are more likely to own equities and a home, have enjoyed the recent rise in house prices and the stock market, as well as the special year-end dividends that were timed to avoid tax increases that went into eff ect the fi rst of this year. In addition, because they can borrow money at today’s historically low rates, they are spending more on vacations, cars and other high-end discretionary purchases as their fi nancial situation im-proves. Moreover, over the last few years their incomes have been rising, some-thing the majority of the population has not been experiencing.

By contrast, households in the bott om half of the income distribution are hav-ing a tough time of it. Th e combination of stagnant wages in the years before the Great Recession, large job losses during

the recession, current high levels of un-employment, the dramatic increase in those unemployed 12 months or more, high gasoline prices and delayed income-tax refunds are forcing these households to forgo many purchases. As such, re-tailers that cater to lower and middle-income Americans are feeling the pinch. Worse, the payroll tax hike will probably take three or four months before its im-pact is fully felt.

Fortunately, those in the top half of the income distribution are doing well and they pack a lot of retail punch. Th e top 20% of households account for 38% of all spending while the top 50% of all households account for 70% of all spending. By contrast, the bott om quintile is responsible for a tad less than 9% of all spending. And so far, higher income households have been carrying the load, with spending most recently rising at a month-over-month rate of 0.7%, the best level since a 0.8% gain in September 2012.

Despite high-income households fac-ing higher taxes due to the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and everyone facing the vagaries of the sequester, the economy is not on the ropes. A diet of dirt-low inter-est rates, a booming energy sector, and solid improvement in the all-important cyclicals including autos, big ticket items, business fi xed investment, and most im-portantly homebuilding, should translate into increases in middle- and lower-class employment and (hopefully) wages, and thus more household spending among those doing relatively litt le of it now.

Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. is President of GraphsandLaughs, LLC and can be reached at [email protected]. His daily 70 word economics and policy blog can be seen at www.econ70.com.

Midwest registering a 9.6 percent increase, the South posting a 10.9 percent gain and the West noting a 2.7 percent rise. Th e Northeast was the lone exception to the rule, with a 5.8 percent decline.

Following a large gain in the previ-ous month, total permit issuance fell 3.9 percent to a 902,000-unit rate in March. Th at decline refl ected a 0.5 percent re-

duction to 595,000 units on the single-family side and a 10 percent reduction to 307,000 units on the multifamily side.

In contrast to the regional starts re-port, the Northeast was the only part of the country to post a gain in permitt ing activity in March, with a 24.7 percent increase to 101,000 units. Meanwhile, the Midwest, South and West posted declines of 2.1 percent, 6.2 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively.

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SKLD Information Services to digitize all publicly fi led real estate documents back to original land patent for 14 Colorado counties

SKLD Information Services, a di-vision of SKLD Title Service, Inc., has long maintained an extensive image library of publicly recorded real es-tate documents in-house and online at www.SKLDoc.com. Th is compre-hensive and accurate library of real estate documents covers fourteen front range Colorado counties which contains 85% of the state’s population. SKLD opened its doors in 1961 and is known as Colorado’s premier title plant and real estate information provider.

In mid-2012 the company embarked on an even more ambitious project: to extend their online database and have documents back to original land patents immedi-ately available to their customers. Th is scanning project, currently well past its midway point, involves converting over one hundred years of material and over 42 million pages of publicly recorded documents. SKLD antici-pates completing this project near the end of 2013.

“At the onset of the project, the majority of the docu-ments prior to 1989 were stored in our in-house library, on microfi lm,” said David Floyd, president of SKLD In-formation Services. “Th ere were two problems. First, there was a time delay for our customer while they waited for our scanning team to pull the fi lm, scan it and make it available to them. Th is didn’t off er the instanta-neous response that we would like to provide.

“Th e second – and ultimately more serious – problem is that microfi lm isn’t necessarily permanent and can degrade over time impacting the quality of the copies. With digitization, these documents will be both instan-taneously accessible and permanent. Th is project en-sures the preservation of these public records”

Besides the ease of use and having the county docu-

ments available on one website, the other major benefi t allows individuals and businesses to work from any-where 24/7. Th is gives them tremendous effi ciencies in reduced time and travel to county offi ces.

County sections currently completed – and available on www.SKLDoc.com by reception number and year or by book and page – include:• Adams County: 12/24/1947 to present;• Arapahoe County: 12/31/1947 to present;• Boulder County: 1989 to present;• Broomfi eld County: 2001 (date of county forma-

tion) to present;• Clear Creek County: 1989 to present;• Denver County: 1989 to present;• Douglas County: Patent (1864) to present;• Eagle County: Patent (1883) to present;• Elbert County: 8/3/1967 to present;• El Paso County: 1989 to present;• Jeff erson County: Patent (1860) to present;• Larimer County: some in 1939 to 1977, 1977 to

present;• Pueblo County: 1989 to present;• Weld County: 98% Patent (1864 Book 3) to 1929,

90% 1929 to 1962, 99% 1962 to present. Images not yet scanned are still available by request

through SKLD’s internal Scan-On-Demand Depart-ment. As the scanning project continues the newly scanned documents are indexed and added to the exist-ing SKLD online document database.

On an ongoing basis the company purchases all new-ly fi led real estate documents from county clerks and subjects the data to a rigorous verifi cation process. Data is double-checked and verifi ed and entered into SKLD’s database. It’s typically available within three days of be-

ing released by county clerks. In addition to website access, SKLD also off ers cus-

tomized reports, information and mailing lists regarding property information and analysis based on the informa-tion derived from the database.

Among the reports and lists available are (1) New Homeowner direct mail lists providing all the new property owners in an area; (2) Th e Foreclosure pack-age with information from the Notice of Election and Demands, Certifi cate of Purchases and Public Trustee’s Confi rmation Deeds; (3) Lists of Federal, State or Me-chanic Liens issued; and (4) Bankruptcy fi lings. (5) Th e Real Estate Lending Activity report details lender mar-ket activity in an area and provides information such as the loan amount volume, number of loans and type of loans during a specifi ed period of time. (6) By matching or not matching Warranty Deed information with Trust Deed information, SKLD can produce lists which would determine new purchased homes, refi nanced mortgages, second mortgages and owner carried mortgages.

For more information, contact SKLD’s Sales Manager, Kerry Johnson at 303-695-3884; Account Executive, Carl Ashford at 303-695-3883 or Sales Representative, Kelly Mulé at 303-695-3885. They will provide a free guest test-drive of the SKLDoc website or sample report.

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Weichert, Realtors - Pikes Peak Group presented with 'Presidents Cup'

Meridian Ranch moving dirt for new home sites

Th e list of reasons to purchase a new home in Meridian Ranch are extensive: Historically low interest rates, ex-ceptional home build-ers, a 30,000 square foot recreation center with outdoor swimming pool, the state’s longest golf course – Antler Creek Golf Course, a neighborhood restaurant where everyone knows your name – Th e CreekView Grill, community parks and miles of paved hiking and biking trails.

And now Meridian Ranch is pleased to announce that we’re giving homeowners 131 one more reasons to love living in Meridian Ranch with the completion of 131 new home sites that range in size from 7,500 to 10,000 square feet.

Available by the end of April, these home sites are surrounded by plenty of open space. Th is new Meridian Ranch neighborhood is located northwest of the existing model home center and within minutes of the award-winning Meridian Ranch Inter-national Elementary School.

For additional information on the new Meridian Ranch Filing No. 7 home sites, visit or contact Campbell Homes, Century Communities and Saint Aubyn Homes.

Pikes Peak Group is pictured receiving the Weichert Real Estate Affi liates “Presi-dent’s Cup” for 2012 production from the franchise organization’s President Martin Rueter. Induction into the President’s Club is one of the top three awards given to agents annually by Weichert Affi liates. Rueter traveled from Weichert® headquarters in New Jersey to make the presentation in person to Mike Berger and to present awards to four agents who earned Sales Achievement Awards for 2012—Marty Chase, George Jury, Gerry Lee, Bill Perry. All national awards are based on a minimum requirement in gross commission income or units earned for the year.

Mike Berger and Martin Rueter. Martin Rueter and Gerry Lee.

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Shea earns Certifi ed Aging-in-Place Specialist designation

Colorado Springs NARPM Hold 6th Annual Landlord Symposium

Nearly 30 ERA Shields Real Estate professionals complete advanced training program

Griffi s/Blessing's Multifamily Volunteer Day

Charlie Shea of C. R. Shea Homes, Inc. has completed the Certifi ed Aging-in-Place Specialist educational course and earned the right for the CAPS des-ignation. Th e CAPS course identifi es building procedures and Universal De-sign needed to accommodate the fastest growing seg-ment for future building needs of the Baby Boomers. Greater than 25% of the US population is 50+ years old and the majority of these people are active and living longer than ever before.

Charlie Shea has been in the new home building in-dustry his entire working life and constructing beauti-ful homes in Colorado Springs since 1985. Charlie has been an active member of the CS Housing & Building Association for over 20 years and served several times on the Board and many other committ ees. Charlie and his wife Nancy both hold the CGP designation as well. Certifi ed Green Professionals incorporate green build-ing principles into their homes while maintaining a com-petitive edge in the market. Builders who hold the CGP, CAPS and other designations must agree to meet ongo-ing continuing education requirements enforced by the National Association of Home Builders.

Shea

Th e Colorado Springs Chapter of the National As-sociation of Residential Property Managers held its 6th Annual Landlord Symposium at the Crown Plaza on March 28, 2013. Ray Scarabosio past national president of NARPM and principle broker of Jackson Group Prop-erty Management in San Francisco spoke on the topics of profi tability in property management, held a inter-active session called Any Day – Every Day, presented a list of property management Do’s and Don’ts and then presented a fi nal session on technology and property management. Ray’s presentation was insightful and full of energy and laughter. Following Ray’s presentation

Mark Tschett er from Tschet-ter Hamrick Sulzer a Denver based law fi rm with local rep-resentation delivered a very in-formative session on Amend-ment 64 and Property Management, then opened up the fl oor to questions. Th e questions could have gone on for a very long time luckily for Mark his time allotment cut the questions short. Denny Snowdon another past na-tional president of NARPM and owner of Select Prop-erty Enterprises Inc of Colorado Springs, then fi nished off the days presentations with ” Keep Your Head Up” a

presentation on dealing with the negative challenges all property managers face. Over 100 people att ended the event and earned 7 hours of Colorado Real Estate Con-tinuing Education Credit. In addition to the att endees 21 vendors presented there services at the event. Th e 7th Annual Landlord Symposium will be held in March of 2014.

Th e Colorado Springs monthly chapter meeting is held the third Tuesday of each month at the Clarion at Bijou and I-25. For more information contact current Colorado Springs Chapter president Alex Yoder of Dor-man Real Estate at 719-213-9100 x104.

Nearly 30 leading local sales associates with ERA Shields Real Estate recently completed the ERA ® Top Gun Academy, an advanced home buying and selling training program off ered by ERA Franchise Systems LLC.

Th e ERA Top Gun Academy is designed to increase productivity by focusing on several skill areas essential to success in the industry. Each session builds on the individual's understanding of his or her customer and off ers techniques for identifying and providing tailored, personalized customer service.

"Top Gun training is designed to help real estate pro-fessionals to continually enhance the level of customer service they off er," said Cathrine Sullivan, Vice Presi-dent of Operations and Finance with ERA Shields. "Our agents pursuit of this training is a refl ection of their pro-fessionalism and commitment to off ering their clients outstanding real estate guidance."

Congratulations to the following agents for complet-ing the ERA ® Top Gun Academy:

Gayle CaldwellBarry CavanaughLynn ClancyElizabeth CobbTammy CockrellDana Del ValleHolly DuckworthRick FlaksToni Hall Gardner

Diane HamiltonCindy HandDonna HatchDoug HendersonCrystal HumphreyVirginia JohnsonColleen MeierPete OlsonAlan Rest

Dave RobbinsMark RudolphTyra SandovalEric ScottDorrie StewartBianca TaylorKarol Vander PloegShannon WilderSu Young

Griffi s/Blessing's Multifamily Property Services group celebrated National Volunteer Month by partici-pating in the company's fi rst ever "Multifamily Volunteer Day" this past Friday, April 12. Staff members from vari-ous sites spent their day working with non-profi t organi-zations in lieu of their normal daily activities. Members of the Multifamily group donated their time and energy to one of four local organizations.

For Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colora-do (www.careandshare.org), Griffi s/Blessing apartment communities and employees held a food drive prior to the Volunteer Day event, allowing volunteers to provide nearly 200 pounds of food and a monetary donation in addition to helping sort and unpack food donations on the day of the event.

For Salvation Army Pikes Peak (salvation-armypikespeak.word-press.com), volunteers spent their day at RJ Montgomery New Hope Center homeless shelter, working to help improve the child care center by building a new ramp into the playground area with supplies donated by Reconstruc-tion Experts, Inc., helping with sanitizing toys and per-forming general maintenance work around the center.

For the Women's Resource Agency (www.wrainc.org), volunteers sorted donations, swapped spring and

See Volunteer Day | 14


Local News

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Changing the way society views the mortgage industry, V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc. continues to sponsor local events to give back to the Colorado Springs commu-nity. V.I.P.’s most recent sponsorship was a team for the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Colorado Springs on April 13, 2013.

Th e team consisted of three V.I.P. em-ployees (Stephanie Saunders, Stephanie Jacobs and Alysha Busch), three Colo-rado Springs realtors, ( Jennifer Lohrig, Kelly Moriarty and Anali Siegle), and eight members from the Fort Carson, Mountain Post Spouses Club; equaling 14 team members total. Th e morning of the race, team Boob’s Deep arrived proudly wearing bright, rainbow colored tutus and neon pink t-shirts for the event. At 10:45am, the team began their batt le over Colorado Spring’s terrain, walls, nets and MUD!

Th e day of the race consisted of fog and lower temperatures but the team pushed forward. “Th e fi rst mud obstacle we went through defi nitely was shock-ing; it was cold but aft erward, we just got used to it.” said Stephanie Saunders, Operation Manager of V.I.P.’s Colorado Springs offi ce.

A few feet away from the fi nish line was the last mud pit of the race. Team Boob’s Deep, no longer in clean, brightly colored clothing but now covered head to toe in mud, entered the pit as a single unit and exploded with celebratory excitement as they crossed the fi nish line together.

Th e Dirty Girl Mud Run is a 5K ob-stacle course that supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation. All regis-tration proceeds go to the NBCF. Th e course was located at Ram Off -Road Park, east of HWY 94.

V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc. gets down and dirty for charity

fall collections off the retail fl oor and organized the clothing supply for the organiza-tion's "Suit Up for Success" program, which provides business and professional cloth-ing to help women in need live with fi nancial independence.

And fi nally, for Christmas Unlimited (www.christmasunlimited.org), volunteers put together "Imagination Kits" which the organization will distribute during Christmas-time to help inspire local children's imaginations.

"We're very proud to support these organizations," said Patricia A. Stanforth, CPM®, Senior Vice President of Griffi s/Blessing Multifamily Property Services. "Working with them during our Volunteer Day was an incredibly rewarding experience. I would also like to say a big 'Th ank You' to all of our employees who volunteered their time."

In Denver, Griffi s/Blessing will be volunteering with the Apartment Association of Metro Denver's "Spring Clean" day on May 10th, performing maintenance and general upkeep for Family Homestead's Transitional Housing program, which helps transition homeless families into apartment homes in the Denver area.

Volunteer Day from 13


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Which means if you’ve been waiting for the right new home to come along, now’s the time to jump up, pack your bags, and get a move on!

Rolling hills? Dreamy mountain vistas? Spectacular properties up to an acre in size? Promontory Pointe has them all! Start living the dream. Discover true, a�ordable luxury in this dramatic new, picture-perfect community.

Promontor yPointeColorado.comElevate Your Standard Of Living. Come To Promontor y Pointe

All inventory pricing and availability subject to change.

Featured Inventory

Pricing and availability subject to change.

*Design Studio selections have not yet been �nalized. Price does not include pending design upgrades.

The Paradise ..................... 15777 Old Post Dr .............. Ranch, ....$426,629,...... May 2013 .......................................

The Cuchara...................... 15737 Old Post Dr .............. Ranch .....$422,996....... May 2013 .......................................

The Ashton........................ 15787 Old Post Dr .............. Ranch ....$456,281....... Ready Now! ...................................

Classic Homes – Stephanie Davis/Craig Esterle (719) 481-9828Model Location: 15530 Short Line Court (80132)

The Appaloosa II ..... 15516 Colorado Central Way..... Ranch ......... $369,900 ...... Now! .............MLS #778135

The Palomino............ 15604 Soo Line Way...................... Ranch ......... $374,900 ...... Now ..............MLS #752322

The Palmer................. 15640 Soo Line Way...................... 2-Story ....... $395,636 ...... Now! .............MLS #792754

Vantage Homes – Jan Childs (719) 494-8112Model Location: 15542 Short Line Court (80132)

Choice Location.Big Lots. Gorgeous Views.

Affordable Elegance.You Call It A Wish List. We Call It Home.

Priced from the upper $300s

Priced from the $280s

Baptist Rd.

Gleneagle D

r.

Local News

Reunion Homes is pleased to an-nounce the grand opening of their two new model homes in Colorado Springs!

The Cascade in Lorson Ranch – This traditional two-story home is now open at 6925 Alliance Loop off Markshef-fel and Fontaine. A Parade of Homes award-winning home plan, this freshly designed Cascade includes a grand-great room with extra large eat-in kitchen and study on the main level. The upper level

includes three roomy bedrooms with HUGE walk-in closets, large laundry room, and an incredible loft perfect for homework, entertaining, and more. To schedule your tour of this award-winning home, call Vanja at 719.392.4012.

The Pikes Peak in Wilshire Ranch – The Pikes Peak is full of flexibility and is located at 2264 Reed Grass Way. This traditional two-story home features a spacious family room, an eat-in breakfast

nook, an impressive kitchen with butler’s pantry, and flex space for a home office or a formal dining room. The upper level of this home is awe-inspiring with a roomy loft with plenty of built-in space, three large bedrooms with equally awe-inspir-ing walk in closets, and a luxurious (yes we said luxurious) laundry room. To see this home for yourself, call Dzelal at 719.203.5448.

Reunion Homes opens new model homes in Lorson, Wilshire Ranch

The Platinum Group, Realtors garners multiple awards at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World Conference

The Platinum Group, REALTORS® was the recipient of multiple Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Member Achievement Awards presented February 27th at the network’s Annual Conference at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The event was part of the network’s Confer-ence Week, which attracted a sell-out crowd of nearly 2,000 top real estate pro-fessionals from 17 countries.

The Platinum Group received Leading RE’s Member Achievement Awards for Outgoing Referral Production, Outgoing Sales Production and Incoming Conver-sion Rate. The referral award is presented to a member firm that has introduced the largest number of clients per sales asso-ciates to other affiliates within the net-work; the sales award is presented to the member firm that has introduced clients to other affiliates resulting in the highest number of closed transactions per sales associate; and the award for the highest incoming conversion rate is presented to the member firm with the highest in-coming conversion rate based on closed transactions resulting from client referrals received from other affiliates. Addition-ally, Platinum was honored with the pres-tigious 2012 Crown of Excellence Award recognizing the firm with the highest level of relocation performance overall within their company-size category.

“Earning a Member Achievement Award is a true distinction, signifying an exceptional level of real estate expertise and professionalism,” LeadingRE Presi-dent/CEO Pam O’Connor said. “To be acknowledged among this elite group of market-leading firms is a notable accom-plishment, and we are delighted to honor The Platinum Group for being among the top real estate firms in the world. And to be the recipient of multiple awards is truly an amazing accomplishment.”

The Platinum Group, REALTORS® was selected for membership in Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a

See Platinum | 18


Local News

F L Y I N G H O R S E W E L C O M E C E N T E R2 4 0 9 F L Y I N G H O R S E C L U B D R I V E ,C O L O R A D O S P R I N G S , C O 8 0 9 2 1

www.FlyingHorseColorado.com

DAZZLING NEW MODELS, GORGEOUS NEIGHBORHOODS,

ATTRACTIVE NEW PRICING.

Luxury living has come a long way in the past few years. But you don’t have to look hard (or far) to discover how much more home your money can buy in today’s competitive marketplace.

Just come to Flying Horse. With five new, fully-furnished models, (and three new neighborhood village areas), we’ll show you the best and newest that contemporary Colorado living has to offer.

Finished homes, ready for immediate move-in? Newly released homesites? Golf course views? You’ll find them right here—along with custom floorplans from award-winning builders, and a dizzying choice of lots in any of our eight neighborhood villages. And, all new homes come with Membership in The Club at Flying Horse—the crowning jewel in our much-celebrated community, and one of its most compelling features.

So don’t wait. If you’re looking for a new direction in life, follow your impulses.

Come to Flying Horse today.

PREFERRED COMMUNITY BUILDERS: *Bella Vita Custom Homes, *Classic Homes, Copperleaf Homes, Elevation Homes, *Goetzmann Custom Homes, *Hammer Homes, Majestic Custom Homes, *Saddletree Homes, Saint Aubyn Homes, Symphony Homes, *Vanguard Homes

For more information on newly released lots – Call Flying Horse Realty(719) 886-4800 or visit the Flying Horse Welcome Center:2409 Flying Horse Club Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921

* Builders listed in italics showcase fully decorated model homes in Flying Horse.

PATIO HOMES | TOWNHOMES | SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES CUSTOM HOMES & HOMESITES | ACTIVE-ADULT LIVING | TEN NEIGHBORHOOD VILLAGE AREAS

** Pricing and availability subect to change.

AVAILABLE HOMES

Classic Homes - (719) 495-72972445 Veneto Way - The Village of Encore3 bed / Study / 2.5 bath / 3 car garage$399,900 - Available Now - MLS #745221

Saint Aubyn Homes - (720) 320-49591538 Yellow Tail - The Village of Messina5 bed / 3 bath / 3 car garage$407,400 - Available May - MLS #738859

Classic Homes - (719) 495-72971168 Old North Gate Road - The Village of Messina4 bed / 4 bath / 3 car garage$434,269 - Available May - MLS #721644

Vanguard Homes - (719) 487-89572015 Turnbull Drive - The Village of Verona4 bed / 2.5 bath / 3 car garage$569,988 - Available Now - MLS #781871

Elevation Homes - (719) 237-823513497 York Creek Grove - The Village of Calistoga4 Bed / 5 Bath / 3 Car Garage$649,000 - Available July - MLS #795286

Bella Vita Custom Homes - (719) 499-212213494 Drytown Grove - The Village of Calistoga4 bed / 4 bath / 3 car garage$679,900 - Under Construction!

Chicago Title of Colo-rado today announced that James K. Hall has been named President. Mr. Hall will oversee all manage-ment of personnel, produc-tion, fi nancial results and market penetra-tion for escrow and title related services.

“Timing is everything, it is a great honor to join this already impressive leadership team”, noted James. Th is move comes as an addition to the current leadership team of Janice Schwab, Escrow Manager and Sandra Kuhlman, Sales Manager.

Mr. Hall has an established and solid background in both title and escrow. Most recently as Senior Vice President, Ticor Title California and manager of their Commercial Division. James launched his title career aft er establish-ing himself as a commercial lender and construction loan specialist. James has held senior management positions for upwards of 15 years, of which 3 years were held in Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Hall’s knowledge of real estate coupled with his time in the unique Colorado market will enhance Chicago Title of Colorado’s value proposition to their partners.

“I thrive on the opportunity to identify the potential in others and help them es-tablish long and short term plans to estab-lish their goals” said James. Mr. Hall’s new role as President of Chicago Title Colo-rado will give him the platform to do what he does best through pairing the right cli-ent with the right title and escrow team.

Chicago Title of Colorado names James K. Hall new PresidentHall brings 20+ years of experience to the Chicago Title of Colorado team

Courtney Kline, branch manager of V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc., announced the newest community outreach program to be launched by V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc. - the fi nancial sponsorship of Th e Home Front Cares.

“With over 50% of our home loans go-ing to those with VA benefi ts, we felt it

was the right thing to do to partner with Th e Home Front Cares by donat-ing $270.00 for every VA loan that closes with V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc. in Colora-do Springs, Woodland Park, and Canon City.” Kline said.

Financial contributions will begin with loan closings as of April 1, 2013. It’s estimated that over $4000.00 will be donated monthly to this outstanding or-ganization.

“We are so grateful for V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc.’s support,” said April Speake, Execu-tive Director of Th e Home Front Cares.

“V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc.’s kindness will di-rectly impact the lives of Colorado vet-erans and military families, helping them fi nd the security and liberty they have fought to give us.”

V.I.P. Mortgage, Inc. sponsors The Home Front Cares

Kline

Hall

global network of 500+ market-leading, locally-branded fi rms producing over $234 billion in annual home sales. Th e network is represented by 4,600 offi ces and 140,000 associates in more than 30 countries worldwide. In addition, Lead-ingRE affi liates hold the Number One position in sales in nearly 40% of the top 103 U.S. markets, more than any national network. Th e Platinum Group can assist home buyers and sellers worldwide and can access LeadingRE’s full range of bro-kerage services.

Platinum from 17


Local News

Charming new homes in a friendly community with maintenance-free living are waiting to be discovered. Come to the Vistas at Nor’Wood by Century Com-munities in Colorado Springs today and claim one of several gorgeous condomin-iums ready for move-in within the next 60 days. The Vistas at Nor’Wood is a small, inviting enclave with a light and friendly atmosphere. You will enjoy meeting the neighbors at the community pool and spa which will be opening for the first time this summer. And if you are looking to step out on the town, the location can-not be beat. The Vistas at Nor’Wood of-fers easy access to Powers Boulevard and several other main thoroughfares. Enjoy convenient access to schools, shopping, outdoor recreation, major employment centers, and more. Visit today to tour one of 4 homes available this spring from $136,881 to $142,114. Don’t miss out on the rare opportunity of home ownership in a truly care-free community!

The Vistas at Nor’Wood features 3 unique, 2-3 bedroom condominium de-signs from the low $100,000s. Home-owners will enjoy the loft-living feel, and most units provide amazing city or

mountain views. Expect architectural distinction and premium functionality with recessed entry doors, rounded cor-ners, bar height kitchen island counter-tops, a gas fireplace, covered patios, and luxurious master bathrooms. In-building garages are also available but are going fast! There is no better opportunity for homeownership in Colorado Springs, priced so attractively with so many in-cluded features and the assurance of a new home warranty than The Vistas at Nor'wood.

Visit the Vistas at Nor’Wood today and experience the Century Commu-nities difference. For over 13 years, the locally owned and operated builder has been helping Colorado homebuyers realize the dream of home ownership. Known for building quality homes in superior locations, Century has quickly become a Top 5 Colorado Homebuilder and Top 100 National Homebuilder. Vis-it today and see for yourself that beyond building a house, Century Communities delivers a home.

The Vistas at Nor’Wood is located at 4790 Wells Branch Heights, #107, Colo-rado Springs, CO 80923. Take I-25 to exit

149 for Woodmen Rd., then go east to Rangewood Drive, South to Saddlerock Rd., left on Saddlerock Rd., Right on Stone Bluffs Point, and the community will be on the left, follow signs to the sales center and to your new home.

The Sales Center is open Monday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun-day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more in-formation please visit www.centurycom-munities.com, or call 303.426.0835.

CENTURY COM

MU

NIT

IESCol

orad

o’s H

omebuilder

Luxurious Century Communities condos ready to move inAn Advertorial:



NEW LOTSNow at Banning-Lewis Ranch!!

Featuring:NEW LOTS available now!

Ranch and 2-Story Homesfrom the Low $200s!!

Contact us Today at719-559-3770

Or Visit us At8047 Briarthorn Lane

Colorado Springs, CO 80951

*Prices, included features, availability and delivery dates are subject to change without notice or obligation. Measurements are approximate. Exterior elevations shown may vary from elevation built. See salesperson for details. Terms and conditions subject to credit approval, market changes and availabil-ity. © D.R. Horton, America’s Builder, Inc. 2013

Homes Readyto Move-InNOW!


On the Move

Julie LopezReal Living Select Properties

Please join Real Living Select Prop-erties in welcoming a new agent to our team; Julie Lopez. Julie and her family moved from California 9 years ago. Th ey love it here and are proud to call Colora-do Springs their home! She and her hus-band have been married for 23 years and have two grown children who now have successful careers of their own. Her back-ground is with non-profi t organizations. Julie is excited to enter into the world of Real Estate. She looks forward to helping people and is committ ed to using hones-ty and integrity in her business. She feels the only true measure of her success in Real Estate will be her client's happiness and satisfaction with her performance.

MacRae, DommerERA Shields Real Estate

Terry MacRae is a 30-year resident of the Colorado Springs area – a transplant from California. She has a background in the high tech industry, having been a human resources administrator, facili-ties manager, and telecom manager for several Fortune 500 companies. In 2004 she formed a Virtual Assistance business, partnering with small business owners across the U.S. with their websites, shop-ping carts, marketing and more; she has also been successful leading a team of representatives associated with the Di-rect Selling Association.

Terry has also been involved in the in-terior design fi eld for years and is certifi ed through APSD®, Association of Property Scene Designers, as a professional stager. She provides sellers with the total pack-age. She can “dress your home for success and sell it too!”

Megan Dommer has joined the ERA Shields Real Estate Team as a Broker Associate in the Pikes Peak Region. She was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas and later lived in Chicago where she became a fl ight att endant for SkyWest Airlines. Aft er a few years Megan moved to Col-

orado Springs to begin a family of her own. Her decision to join ERA Shields was unanimous as her home buying ex-perience through Shields exceeded her expectations. She is excited to start her new career in Real Estate and looks for-ward to serving the local community.

Carbonell, Wagner

Merit Company, Inc.Mayra Carbonell: I was born and raised

in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I have been part of the Colorado Springs community for 22 years. I began my real estate career in 2006. Prior to my career, I worked in dif-ferent fi elds. First, as a paralegal for a pres-tigious law fi rm in Puerto Rico. Once in Colorado, I worked as an administrator/manager for a large local storage facil-ity, specializing myself in giving excellent customer service to my clients. I have also worked in the auto insurance fi eld. As a Puerto Rican native, and being fully bilin-gual, I pride myself in assisting the Span-ish community with their biggest decision of their lives, their home.

When not working, I enjoy very much dancing to all the Caribbean beats, espe-cially, salsa. I love music! I enjoy reading and working out, when time permits. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business! Buy or sell, I am here to help! “Le ayudamos con todas sus pre-guntas de bienes raices”!

Kristi Wagner: I was born and raised in the great state of Tennessee, making me a country girl at heart. My husband and I both severed in the military, me in the Navy and my husband currently in the Army. When we have time, we love to hunt, fi sh, and enjoy everything the out-doors has to off er. When we are not out-doors, we spend time with our children and grandchildren.

Stowell, Berle, Pickett

Keller Williams PartnersSarah Stowell: We are pleased to an-

nounce the newest member of the Keller Williams Partners Family, Sarah Stowell. Sarah off ers a Bachelors Degree in Inter-disciplinary Studies. She worked for six years as a Victim Advocate and Diversion Counselor before joining the world of Real Estate. She is very active and loves training with her triathlon team, playing Brazilian Capoeira and volunteering with Teller County Search and Rescue.

Ericka Berle: Keller Williams Partners is pleased to welcome Ericka Berle into our family. Ericka is a new agent, but has experience in real estate investing. She has lived in Colorado for six years and takes advantage of the beautiful land-scape. She is a mountain biker who en-joys the climb more than the downhill.

Sylvia Pickett : Please welcome Sylvia Pickett to the Keller Williams Partners Family. She is brand new to Real Estate and is excited to begin her career. She has lived in Colorado Springs for four years is amazed by the beautiful mountain views. She loves being a mom and enjoys spend-ing time at home with her two-year-old.

Downing, Bridgeford

The Platinum Group, RealtorsTom Downing has been a full-time Re-

altor since 2003 and is proud to be part of Th e Platinum Group, REALTORS! Tom is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), Certifi ed Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), and Quality Service Certifi ed QSC. He takes the time to re-ally understand his clients’ needs and goals and works, to educate them as part of the process of fi nding them a home. His confi dence and capability puts him clients at ease. Customer service is him fi rst priority. He enjoys spending time with him clients, oft en developing long-term friendships with them.

Tom graduated from Wayland Baptist University with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He also com-pleted his Master’s Degree in Organiza-tional Management from the University of Phoenix. Tom served as a fi re fi ghter in the Air Force for twenty years, and moved several times so he is an expert in helping people with their relocations!

In 1997, Tom moved to Colorado Springs with his wife beautiful wife La-cene of twenty fi ve years and their two children. He is community servant as he is active with the Lions Club, Soft -ball, and is currently the President of the School Board for Fountain Fort Carson School District Eight.

Brian Bridgeford joined the Downing Group team in June 2007 when he re-tired from the Air Force aft er serving his country for more than 27 years as a Fire-fi ghter. Brian enjoys meeting people and you'll be hard pressed to fi nd an agent with more enthusiasm or more positive att itude than him. From the fi rst time you meet Brian, you will feel at ease with his professional and personable working style and confi dent in his ability to rep-resent your best interest throughout the Real Estate Transaction. He is exclusive-ly dedicated to serving his clients' needs by working hard and working smart and is committ ed in both time and eff ort to take you from the beginning to the end of your Real Estate transaction with att en-tion to every detail. Working with Brian, you can expect honesty with the highest standard of integrity! Your House, Your Home, Your Dream.

Alice SweatmanNextage Pikes Peak Properties

I am excited be a part of Nextage Pikes Peak Properties- and also a new paradigm in Real Estate! I have been a Realtor® since 1995 having been fi rst licensed in WV, before moving to Colorado Springs in 2004. I grew up in Tanzania, E. Africa, of pioneer missionary parents, and cher-ish my upbringing in a godly family. I be-came an RN and eventually a director of a Home Health Agency before changing careers and entering the real estate fi eld. Similarities in the medical and real estate fi eld are many, believe it or not, because one always has to interact with people with needs, oft en on the spur of the mo-ment! I have designations of ABR, GRI, CHRE, and SRES and enjoy working with people of diff erent backgrounds. My husband Tom and I have been mar-ried over 50 years and have 3 sons and 8 incredible grandkids who share our time and love.

CommerCial & residential

Visit our showroom at 2812 n. Prospect st.

WeDoGarageDoors.com

New Garage DoorSales & Service

Call for Realtor® Special

Call: 538-9900


Local Expert

By Bill McAfeeEmpire Title—

5755 Mark Dabling Blvd., Ste 110

Colorado Springs, CO 80919

Phone: (719) 884-5300 - Fax: (719) 884-5304

WWW.ETCOS.COM

350 N. Pine St., Woodland Park, CO 80863

P.O. Box 9004, Woodland Park, CO 80866

Phone: (719) 686-9888 - Fax: (719) 686-8208

WWW.EMPIREWP.COM

Buyers who are sitt ing on the fence today are waiting for a sign. Th ey want to make sure they are buying at an optimal time; they want a great price; they want fantastic interest rates; and, they want what they want. In other words, they want it all and they want it now.

Today’s real estate market has home prices we haven’t seen since 2009 on the way down and 2005 on the way up. Interest rates are at historic lows...

Active listings are lower than we have seen in a decade...

2008 and 2009 were abysmal years in real estate. Real Estate prices were dropping like a rock as the fi nancial meltdown had taken its toll. Prices bott omed out in 2009 and again in 2012. Th e reason we had two lows was because of the home buyer credit. It falsely stimulated the market in 2010 and 2011. A buyer in today’s market can see the bott om in the not too distant past, and have confi dence he or she is buying at a price that fl ushed out the peak prices.

When we look at the past, interest rates are something we have to take note of. Due to foreign demand and government manipulation our interest rates are at historic lows. How long can they stay there? Why would anyone take a chance when rates are as low

as they have ever been?Th is brings us to the number of listing available and the sales pace at which homes

are selling. Listings are at a 12-year low and homes are selling at the best pace in fi ve years. Th is has created a shortage especially in the $250,000-and-below market. Buyers are having a hard time fi nding what they want because of very low listing inventories which are being scooped up. We are seeing multiple off ers and homes go under con-tract in days, not weeks or months.

Buyers in today’s market of $250,000-and-below can buy homes at prices that are 7.5% higher than the bott om and 11.6% lower than the peak. Buyers should also track where home prices are heading. Interest rates are phenomenal but have trended up since October of 2012. Th is leads us to the fi nal question of “Can they get what they want?”

In the lower end it is becoming more and more diffi cult to fi nd what you want as the demand is out-pacing supply. We are even hearing phrases like: bidding wars, multiple off ers, and homes under con-tract in hours. Buy-ers you can get fair prices, great interest rates, and hopefully the features you want in a home. As the song says, “Two out of three ain’t bad”.

Remember: conditions vary in price ranges and location. Sellers should evaluate all factors when selling a home and realize that rates, pent-up demand and lack of sup-ply are driving the market. World events can change dynamics relatively quickly. Th e $750,000-and-above market has inventory levels that are in some cases three times higher than normal. Th is is where three out of three IS bad. It is still a buyer’s market and sellers will have to price aggressively and have the property in great condition.

Bill McAfee is President of Empire Title of Colorado Springs. This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

“TWO OUT OF THREE AIN’T BAD”

Quarter over quarter review

By: Bill McAfee, President of Empire Title of Colorado Springs, LLC

Buyers who are sitting on the fence today are waiting for a sign. They want to make sure they are buying at

an optimal time; they want a great price; they want fantastic interest rates; and, they want what they want. In

other words, they want it all and they want it now.

Today’s real estate market has home prices we haven’t seen since 2009 on the way down and 2005 on the way

up. Interest rates are at historic lows ...

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Fixed Rate Mortgage

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

16.0%

18.0%

20.0%

Jan - 1971 Mar- 2013

Active Listings

Previous 12 Month Average

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

May-0

3

Au

g-0

3

No

v-0

3

Fe

b-0

4

May-0

4

Au

g-0

4

No

v-0

4

Fe

b-0

5

May-0

5

Au

g-0

5

No

v-0

5

Fe

b-0

6

May-0

6

Au

g-0

6

No

v-0

6

Fe

b-0

7

May-0

7

Au

g-0

7

No

v-0

7

Fe

b-0

8

May-0

8

Au

g-0

8

No

v-0

8

Fe

b-0

9

May-0

9

Au

g-0

9

No

v-0

9

Fe

b-1

0

May-1

0

Au

g-1

0

No

v-1

0

Fe

b-1

1

May-1

1

Au

g-1

1

No

v-1

1

Fe

b-1

2

May-1

2

Au

g-1

2

No

v-1

2

Fe

b-1

3

Active listings are lower than we have seen in a decade...

Number of Sales

Previous 12 Month Average

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

May-0

3

Au

g-0

3

No

v-0

3

Fe

b-0

4

May-0

4

Au

g-0

4

No

v-0

4

Fe

b-0

5

May-0

5

Au

g-0

5

No

v-0

5

Fe

b-0

6

May-0

6

Au

g-0

6

No

v-0

6

Fe

b-0

7

May-0

7

Au

g-0

7

No

v-0

7

Fe

b-0

8

May-0

8

Au

g-0

8

No

v-0

8

Fe

b-0

9

May-0

9

Au

g-0

9

No

v-0

9

Fe

b-1

0

May-1

0

Au

g-1

0

No

v-1

0

Fe

b-1

1

May-1

1

Au

g-1

1

No

v-1

1

Fe

b-1

2

May-1

2

Au

g-1

2

No

v-1

2

Fe

b-1

3

2008 and 2009 were abysmal years in real estate. Real Estate prices were dropping like a rock as the finan-

cial meltdown had taken its toll. Prices bottomed out in 2009 and again in 2012. The reason we had two

lows was because of the home buyer credit. It falsely stimulated the market in 2010 and 2011. A buyer in

today’s market can see the bottom in the not too distant past, and have confidence he or she is buying at a

price that flushed out the peak prices.

When we look at the past, interest rates are something we have to take note of. Due to foreign demand and

government manipulation our interest rates are at historic lows. How long can they stay there? Why would

anyone take a chance when rates are as low as they have ever been?

This brings us to the number of listing available and the sales pace at which homes are selling. Listings are at

a 12-year low and homes are selling at the best pace in five years. This has created a shortage especially in

the $250,000-and-below market. Buyers are having a hard time finding what they want because of very low

listing inventories which are being scooped up. We are seeing multiple offers and homes go under contract in

days, not weeks or months.

The number of sales is at a pace we hadn’t seen since 2008 ...

2013 YTD vs. 2012 YTD

• Average Price 8.7%

• Median Price 14.5%

• Residential Units Sold 28.1%

• Inventory Levels 16.5%

• Number of Listings 6.6%

• Foreclosures 36.2%

• Interest Rates are at historic lows

Buyers in today’s market of $250,000-and-below can buy homes at prices that are 7.5% higher than the bot-

tom and 11.6% lower than the peak. Buyers should also track where home prices are heading. Interest rates

are phenomenal but have trended up since October of 2012. This leads us to the final question of “Can they

get what they want?”

In the lower end it is becoming more and more difficult to find what you want as the demand is out-pacing

supply. We are even hearing phrases like: bidding wars, multiple offers, and homes under contract in hours.

Buyers you can get fair prices, great interest rates, and hopefully the features you want in a home. As the

song says, “Two out of three ain’t bad”.

Remember: conditions vary in price ranges and location. Sellers should evaluate all factors when selling a

home and realize that rates, pent-up demand and lack of supply are driving the market. World events can

change dynamics relatively quickly. The $750,000-and-above market has inventory levels that are in some

cases three times higher than normal. This is where three out of three IS bad. It is still a buyer’s market and

sellers will have to price aggressively and have the property in great condition.

“Two out of three ain’t bad” Quarter over quarter review� e number of sales is at a pace we hadn’t seen since 2008...


Around the Corner

* Events subject to change. Due to space, please check with event/class holders early for more detailed information on cost, CE credits, sponsors and registration dates.

send

eventus your

[email protected]

Thursday, May 2 Masterminds Networking Group7:30am – 9am @ Canon National BankRSVP to David Alley, 719-632-3526 [email protected]

B.L.E.E.P. (Black Forest & Eastern Marketing Group)8:30am – 10am @ The Grill at Latigo Trail Equestrian Center. Roxene, 495-6213

Wednesday, May 8Intermediate eContracts 10am – 12pm @ Empire [email protected] 719-884-5300

Thursday, May 9Farm and Land8:30am @ The Peak GrilleGreg Wolff: 719-590-1711

Advanced Foreclosure 9am – 11am @ Empire [email protected] 719-884-5300

Women's Council of Realtors11am – 1pm @ Clarion Hotel (I-25 & Bijou)Michele: 719-633-7718

Wednesday, May 15New Agent Seminar 9am – 12pm @ Empire [email protected] 719-884-5300

Thursday, May 16Commission Update 8:30am – 12:30pm @ Empire [email protected] 719-884-5300

Sat-Sun, May 18-19HBA Home Show 10-6 Sat, 11-4 Sun @ Freedom Expo Centerwww.cshba.com

Tuesday, May 21NARPM Meeting11am – 1pm @ Clarion Hotel (314 W. Bijou)Alex Yoder, 719-213-9100

Wednesday, May 22Finding Deals Before, At & After the Foreclosure Auction 12pm – 2pm @ Empire [email protected] 719-884-5300

Renav Services Leads, Market Reports & Tools 2:30pm – 4:30pm @ Empire [email protected] 719-884-5300

Monday, June 3HBA PAC Golf Tournament 12pm – 6pm @ Kissing Camels Golf Clubwww.cshba.com

Thursday, June 6 Masterminds Networking Group7:30am – 9am @ Canon National BankRSVP to David Alley, 719-632-3526 [email protected]

B.L.E.E.P. (Black Forest & Eastern Marketing Group)8:30am – 10am @ The Grill at Latigo Trail Equestrian Center. Roxene, 495-6213

Sat-Sun, June 8-9HBA Remodeled Homes Tour Pikes Peak Regionwww.cshba.com

Thursday, June 20PPAR YPN 80's Party 4pm – 7pm @ Blondie's Rooftop Barmembers.ppar.com

Beautifully Designed, Undeniably Unique

Charming New Homes from $200’s - $700’s

with Custom, Solar & Geothermal options

Stylish New Townhomes from the $170’s

An Incredibly Smart Way to LiveAn Incredibly Smart Way to Live

• Low-Maintenance , Stress Free Liv ing

• Award Winning Spa – Genes is MedSpa

• S ta te of the Art Fi tness Fac i l i ty

• Shared Community Green Spaces

• Centra l Locat ion, Minutes From Downtown

OUR BUILDERS

IS NOW BUILDING IN

GOLD HILL MESA!

Commission?Angling

The “Hooked on Classic” Realtor Recognition Program is back by popular demand! And that means we’ll be paying out more than line when we say thanks to all of our hard-working sales partners out there for promoting our properties!

With each qualified closing, we’ll be handing out cash. Cold hard cash, along with a handsome 4% commission. And as your closings increase, so will your bonuses—from $1,000 to $3,000!

The catch? You have to qualify to participate.

So don’t wait. Call or visit your nearest Classic Homes Sales Model today and get outfitted for the biggest adventure ever.

Here’s how it works—by the numbers…

The 2013 Hooked on Classic program applies to all sales and closings for Classic Homes new construction and speculative inventory. Qualifying Realtors will have a chance at other special prizes throughout the year!

Announcing the 2013 Hooked on Classic Realtor Recognition Program.

Program Terms and Conditions:

1) Hooked on Classic 2013 Bonus Incentives will be paid on all contracts originated between 1/1/2013 and 12/31/2013. Contracts must close to receive bonus. 2) You must be an active Colorado licensed real estate agent and must

have actively participated in the sale, to include being present at the initial client meeting, contract signing, and other relevant homebuyer/builder meetings. 3)

All bonus commissions will be paid at closing. 4) Employees of Classic Companies and Flying Horse Realty are not eligible for this program. 5) Bonus commissions

are earned on an individual REALTOR basis, team sales are not cumulative. 6) Bonus incentives will be awarded to the individual agent listed on the

contract. 7) Program subject to change without notice.

1st Closing4% commission on base price and qualify for the Hooked on Classic Program.

2nd Closing4% commission on base price + $1,000 Bonus

3rd Closing4% commission on base price + $2,000 Bonus

4th Closing (and beyond)4% commission on base price + $3,000 Bonus

www.ClassicHomes.com/Hooked

FeaturedInventoryALL ReadyFor QuickMove-in!

For a BigIT’SBACK

FOR 2013!

NORTHPROMONTORY POINTECall 719-481-9828

15787 Old Post Dr - $456,281Ready Now! 4 bed, 4 bath,3 car gar., 4,528 sq.ft.Ranch plan, MLS #786169

15648 Old Post Dr - $414,1964 bed, 3 bath, 3 car gar3,748 sq.ft. Ranch PlanMLS #748827

FLYING HORSECall 719-495-7297 The Village Of Encore2445 Veneto Way – $399,900 Ready Now! 3 bed, study, 2.5 bath, 3 car garage 3,242 sq. ft. Ranch, MLS #745221

The Village Of Encore13242 Penfold Dr - $523,8034 bed plus study, 3 bath, 3 car gar., 4,659 sq.ft.Ranch, MLS #722093

The Village Of Turin12737 Mission Meadows Dr - $374,9093 bed plus study, 2.5 bath,3 car gar., 3,242 sq.ft. Ranch,MLS# 728743

WOLF RANCHCall 719-282-16506046 Harney Dr - $315,7674 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 car gar., 3,430 sq.ft. 2-Story

MLS#731238

EASTINDIGO RANCH AT STETSON RIDGE Call 719-574-6610

7771 Renegade Hill Dr – $301,383

Ready Now! 4 bed, 2.5 bath,

2 car garage 3,443 sq. ft. 2-Story

MLS #741101

6574 Diamond Hitch Dr $296,129

4 bed, 3 bath, 2 car gar., 3,287 sq.ft.

2-Story, MLS #754643

BANNING LEWIS RANCHCall 719-886-4995

7169 Spring Linden - $349,900


2-story, MLS #734812

MERIDIAN RANCHCall 719-494-1101

12579 Handles Peak Way - $275,896



10460 Mt. Columbia Dr - $277,002

4 bed, 3 bath, 2.5 car gar., 2,744 sq.ft.

Ranch, MLS #787766

SOUTHLORSON RANCHCall 719-390-6200

6869 Alliance Lp – $262,355

Ready Now! 4 bed, 3 bath, 3 car garage

2,911 sq. ft. 2-Story, MLS #768581

6854 Alliance Lp – $284,042

Ready Now! 4 bed, 3 bath, 2 car garage

3,176 sq. ft. Ranch

6885 Alliance Lp - $267,260

4 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 car gar., 2,770 sq.ft.


*Pricing, availability, and program terms subject to change.

SOLD

Documents

April 29, 2013