Eileen Liles ~ Cedaredge, CO Macht-Liles Real Estate Group

Delta, Colorado, will host our annual Independence Day Fireworks Display on Monday, July 4th at Confluence Park (behind City Market).

July 4th, Independence Day...we tend to think about cookouts, parades, and American flags waving in the breeze. This year I have my two oldest granddaughters here, ages 13 and 10. We are going to focus on giving thanks for our wonderful country and for the strong, God-fearing men who wrote our Declaration of Independence from Great Britian and the others who had the guts to sign it. Actually, the Continental Congress voted on the "resolution" on July 2, 1776, but adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 - the date we still celebrate this great event.

Over the years, we may have forgotten much of the patriotic aspect of this event but even the parades and "fireworks" were written about by John Adams to his wife, Abigail on July 2, 1776, saying this day "will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival" and that the celebration should include "Pomp and Parade...Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other". This year, just like many years past, we will be treated to a huge fireworks display in Delta Confluence Park on Monday, July 4th at dusk. Dusk...usually means just about 10:00 PM.

For a fairly small town, I am always amazed at the fabulous fireworks display Delta hosts. It is huge and an incredible sight to behold. Haven't you ever wondered how in the world people pack that powder down in a tube so that when it shoots up in the sky and explodes it makes a flag or six different colored balls of sparkles that fall in fiery glitter?

There is a new phenomena slipping into our midst - have you seen it? It is happening all over the country, Cedaredge and Delta County, Colorado, are no exceptions. It is the cash home buyer - actually not just homes, but land, commercial and ranch properties as well. I discovered this trend while doing my routine analysis of our Delta County, Colorado real estate market.

Well, this piqued my interest - I immediately went into "Penelope-mode" as in Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds... Now if you aren't a Criminal Minds fan, this will not make any sense to you, but those that are KNOW what I'm talkin' about. I was Googling the heck out of all the different areas of the country, Florida, California, Las Vegas the way Garcia pounds that keyboard looking for the "un-subs" !

Here is what my detective work revealed: Delta County, Colorado, has had 83 total real estate transactions since January 1, 2011 (according to CREN MLS) - 38 of those were CASH sales - 45% of the buyers came to the table with cash. Interesting... then I found this about the South Florida market, and the Las Vegas market and Orange County, California....

Wow, could it be that these buyers are dumping their stocks, CD's (that are paying less than squat in interest) and possibly money market accounts and putting the money into good old real estate? Sure appears like it to me. Inflation is fast approaching and we have some savvy buyers out there right now who are ready to buy real estate. We are ready to help you find that great place for your cash.

Western Colorado is the perfect place to put some of that cash. We have good fertile land, beautiful views, and great weather as well as some really great homes. No tornadoes, earthquakes (at least not yet) or hurricanes. This is an exceptional place to live, work and play - or just invest your money.

Now just may be the perfect time for a Cedaredge, Colorado cabin/vacation home! Have you always thought about having that special cabin in the woods? Western Colorado is the perfect location for fulfilling that dream. Cedaredge, Colorado and the Grand Mesa make a beautiful choice for a cabin by the stream, right on a lake, nestled among the aspens and spruce trees.

With our first snow on the way in the next couple of days, a cozy cabin with a warm, glowing fire, hot cup of tea or hot cocoa, a good book - can you get any better than that? That's enough to make me want to take a couple of days off and do just that.... And this place is just as wonderful in the summer!

Maybe you rather have something a little closer to town, but close to fall and winter sports - snowmobiling, ice fishing, some of the best hunting in the country... we have that, too. The best part is...right now there are some really great real estate deals in Cedaredge and the Grand Mesa area. There are several incredible bank-owned properties currently available. Looking for those really good buys? Sign up to receive a list of all the bank-owned homes in the Cedaredge, Grand Mesa, Eckert, Paonia, Hotchkiss, Delta and all Delta County here.

Don't let this great opportunity pass you by.

NEXT SUNDAY IS THE OFFICIAL "COLOR SUNDAY" ON GRAND MESA IN DELTA COUNTY, COLORADO. Fall is in the air and the aspen leaves have begun their dramatic change to the shimmering gold of autumn. The oak brush is beginning to blush crimson. The apples are ready and you can enjoy all of these next weekend.

Actually, the beautiful drive begins by turning off Interstate 70 about 15 miles east of Palisade and take the Grand Mesa Scenic ByWay (State Highway 65) through the town of Mesa and then up and over the Grand Mesa and into our wonderful Cedaredge. By taking Highway 65 on down to Highway 92 then go west into Delta, then back north to Grand Junction you can make a loop.

"Color Sunday" was started here on the Western Slope several years ago to encourage everyone to get up on Grand Mesa and enjoy the incredible golden aspen leaves as they begin the journey into winter. Have you ever wondered why you see a whole clump of aspen trees turning yellow and then right next to one bunch you see a cluster still green? Apsens, members of the Poplar family, grow from a single seed and develop into a "colony" from sucker coming up from the single seedling. That whole colony will turn in the fall at pretty much the same time. So you have an array of different color displays depending on which colony the trees belong to.

Here in Delta County, Colorado, we refer to the aspens as "Quakies", shortened from the term "quaking aspens". This comes from the stems and leaves twisting and bending in the breeze. Especially beautiful is sitting in the aspens when the golden and red leaves begin to fall from the trees. It is a sight that should be experienced for yourself - words can't really describe the peacefulness of it.

So play your weekend now, pack a picnic lunch and get away for a few hours. You will be SO glad you did

The First Annual Cedaredge Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament is coming up on Saturday, September 25, 2010 - 4 person Scramble, $65.00 a person. Larry Murphy, Golf Pro, of Deer Creek Village Golf Course, right here in beautiful Cedaredge, Colorado, is helping us coordinate the tournament.

Your $65.00 includes green fee, lunch and a cart. This will be a Shotgun start with a minimum of one female per team and only one player with a 15 or lower handicap. Mulligans for $5.00 (maximum of 2).

You also have a chance to win $20,000 for a "hole in one" plus two "hole in one" prizes on two par 3 holes. For more information call the Cedaredge Chamber office at 970-856-6961.

Also, don't forget to mark your calendars for AppleFest 2010, October 2 and 3 in Town Park, Cedaredge, Colorado.