Deb Jones

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope your 2009 is happy and healthy. One of my 2009 goals is to try to reconnect with people this year. So, CALL or EMAIL me, and let’s set up a breakfast (another of my New Year’s resolutions is to eat breakfast!) or coffee date to catch up, review current market conditions, and to answer any of your real estate questions.

My January 2009 blogs will be a review of the gyms/fitness facilities in Pueblo West (yet another resolution!) and report back to you on what I find. I’ll also be giving you a recap of Pueblo West real estate activity for 2008. And I’m investigating what the heck is going on at the end of Oro Grande (are they going to build a school, church, what?).

If you have any suggestions on what you’d like to see in this blog – let me know!

Deb

I know enquiring minds want to know - what was the final auction price on the house at 1223 South Skyline Lane mentioned in last week's blog? Well, first, let me tell you that I went with a couple of friends/clients to take a look at the house. I thought from the pictures in the mailer that there was a lake view but, unfortunately, that was not the case. There was no lawn or landscaping so to speak - the house seemed to be built on a hill of shale. When you first walked in, the foyer and entrance hallway were HUGE (huge as in I could have fit most of the first floor of my house in there). There were three bedrooms (which included the master) on the main level. The master bedroom had an inset/cove ceiling with a large screen TV inserted, so you could watch TV while prone on the bed. There was no formal dining room (maybe you're supposed to put the dining room furniture in that HUGE hallway). There were two bedrooms, a media room, wine cellar, secure room with built-in vault door on the bottom level. There was an exercise room on the bottom level that was bigger than most of the gyms/work-out facilities in Pueblo West. There were too many bathrooms to count. Obviously, I'm not cut out to live among the super-wealthy - I thought the house had some nice finishes but a lot of wasted space and lacked some of the features I would have expected (home office, formal living room, extra large kitchen, formal dining room, etc.)

Per the auction representative on-site, the owner had $3.8 million into the property, the home was previously listed (for over a year) at $3.5million, the county assessor placed a value under $1.5 million. The final sale price - $1,640,000. To the new owners, welcome to Pueblo West.

You may have gotten a glossy brochure in the mail about the December 9^th Absolute Auction of 1223 South Skyline Lane, Pueblo West. There is more info on the auctioneer's website at http://grandestatesauction.com/ (couldn't find the address though) and there was an ad that ran in the Pueblo West View (also without address). The viewing dates and times before the 2:00 Auction on Tuesday are show below. It's not too often (OK, never - all my real estate clients are normal people) that I get to see a 12,000+ sqft home with all the amenities overlooking Pueblo West Dam. So, I'll be checking this house out sometime over the next couple of days.

Viewing Schedule:

Saturday, Dec 6 11am - 3pm

Sunday, Dec 7 1pm - 4pm

Monday, Dec 8 11 am - 3pm

Tuesday, Dec 9 11am - 1:30 pm

Note: Picture from website cited above.

Deb

Hi Everyone,

For my loyal followers, sorry I didn't get to a blog last week. My hubby was sick and I was following behind his every sneeze and cough with a can of Lysol spray. Which should be a reminder to those of you that haven't got your flu shots - it's not too late!

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The Holiday Season can be a difficult time for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Grief over old losses can resurface and recent losses can make the Holiday Season a confusing and difficult time. Come and discuss how to cope with grief during the Holidays.

When: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Where: SonRise Church
421 E. Spaulding Avenue
Pueblo West, CO 81007
Call Sallette Thompson, Psy.D. at 719-547-7418 or 907-590-9468 to reserve a spot.

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With the winter season on its way, here are is a list of items to have in each of your vehicles in the event you get stranded during the winter months:

A candle inside a can

Waterproof matches

Blankets for all passengers

Extra clothes, especially hats, mittens, socks, sweats, coats

Boots

Bottled water

Food, especially high energy bars or other non-perishable food

Flashlight with extra batteries

Medications/spare glasses

First Aid kit

Deck of cards, books

Extra charged battery for cell phone or manual charger

Flares

Knife

Small ax/hatchet, folding shovel, other small tools

Whistle

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I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. Be grateful for what you have, count your blessings! Give thanks if you have family, friends, your health, a roof over your head and food in the pantry. Help those in need; remember our service men and women who are safeguarding our freedoms in far-off lands; and pledge to grow closer as a family, friend, neighbor and nation in the months and years to come.

Deb

I don't usually do this, but this book is the most compelling book I've read in years and I wanted to let you know about it.

"A Matter of Panache", a unique memoir written by Debra Sanders, is an adventure story that takes readers from the most remote corners of Alaska into the isolated canyon lands of southeastern Utah and onto an army post in Colorado. It is also a fascinating, sometimes shocking portrayal of some of public education's greatest triumphs and most shameful failures.

Debra Sanders spent nearly 25 years championing for the rights of children with disabilities in some of our nation's most challenging schools. An award-winning educational psychologist, Sanders was loved and respected by students, their families, the teachers who struggled to help them and the administrators who were in charge of it all. But, in 2003, Sanders was involved in a work-related auto accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury-one initially diagnosed as mild. However, Debra's head injury caused changes in her skills and her personality which were both subtle and profound, ultimately resulting in her own humiliated exit from a career that had shaped her life and that had driven her passions.

Anyone who cares about children, has been touched by the effects of injury to the brain-theirs or someone they know, anyone who has ever had to dig down and grit their teeth during times of enormous stress and/or adversity and anyone who enjoys a provocative story that makes them think and question both themselves and what goes on in our schools (and minds!) will find this a worthwhile read.

Debra Sanders is offering special bonus gifts to readers who purchase her book on Tuesday November 18, 2008. So, purchase this book from amazon.com and then proceed to Debra's website at http://www.DebraSanders.com to claim the bonus gifts.

For the lucky people out there who are my friends and family or this year's clients, you'll be receiving a FREE copy from me!