Jamie Mades

The 310^th Space Wing activated today at Schriever AFB. It marks the first Space Wing for the Air Force Reserve.

The 310 SW is comprised of several satellite command and control reserve units and fly missions for systems such as GPS, MILSTAR and DMSP.

Col. Jeff Ansted, commander of the new 310 SW was quoted as saying, "This activation is an indication of our continued growth in the Air Force space missions, and it validates the contribution of the Air Force Reserve in the fight against terror."

The wing has reservists across the country in places such as Buckley AFB and Vandenberg AFB in addition to the units in Colorado Springs.

There was little fanfare to ring in the momentous occasion today. The formal activation ceremony is scheduled for April 4^th, 2008 at Peterson AFB.

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The Academy will be closing the base Emergency Room facilities on March 31^st, 2008. It will be replaced by an acute care clinic.

Currently, 95% of Academy ER patients have non-emergency medical conditions. The USAFA acute care clinic will continue to admit these customers by appointment. The new clinic will still provide 24/7 care and access for the base and nearby military personnel, dependents and retirees.

Here are the following numbers you can use to make an appointment:

Normal Duty Hours: 556-CARE or 556-2273

After Duty Hours: 457-CARE

Emergency Conditions should call 911.

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The President recently signed the 2008 Economic Stimulus Package into law. As part of the deal, Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac loan limits were raised from $417,000 to a cap of $729,750. So what does this mean in plain English and more importantly, does it help Colorado Springs?

Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac guarantee loans for investors. When a buyer uses that program, investors know it’s a safer risk. Translation: lower mortgage rates for the buyer.

When a buyer goes above the limits they guarantee, interest rates go up, usually from 1 – 1.5%. For a $500,000 loan, that’s an additional $400 a month.

The government raised the guarantee ceiling to help stimulate the housing market by making higher-priced homes more affordable. This was a real problem in places like San Francisco and New York where housing prices are sky high.

The limit adjustment, however, is area specific. It will only increase to 125% of the city’s median home price. Since the median home price for Colorado Springs was $217,000 for 2007, Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac limits are staying the same here.

The good news is that most homes in Colorado Springs already meet the government guarantee guidelines. And while the market has slowed in the area, we’re not experiencing the same kind of drastic markdowns as major metropolitan areas.

The march through Cordera continues with Keller Homes. They have 3 models to check out...here's a quick peek.

I love the use of natural light here. It's a bit overcast when I took these pictures, but as you can see, the entry way invites you to explore further.

The second photo shows a different model, once again pulling in some great light to the family room. And the last one is the kitchen. Have you been through there yet?

What do you think?

Just got back from touring the new neighborhood of Cordera. It's on the northeast side of town, just across Powers from Pine Creek. It's being developed by La Plata, the same company that did the rest of Briargate and Pine Creek, too. La Plata did a fantastic job with the other two neighborhoods and seem to be on the right track here.

It's an enormous master-planned community, with a recreation center and over 4 miles of walking trails that even link up with Wolf Ranch. The price point to get started is in the upper end. The homes I toured ranged from $320,000-$660,000.

Some of my favorite builders are working in this development, Saddletree, Keller, and Symphony. Pictured is the Saddletree Model Master Bedroom.

It's an apartment-style set up, with a good-sized sitting area and a nice master bath. I loved the feel and layout.

It really gives a sense of privacy and seclusion...I could picture myself sitting down to enjoy a book by the window (if I gave myself time to actually sit and read :)

If you've read my "Meet Me" page, you'll know that I love to cook. It's probably not too hard to guess that one of the first rooms I always explore is the Kitchen. And at the risk of starting a trend, here's the kitchen for Saddletree.