This originated as an email, but it made me laugh soooo hard, that I just had to share it. If you don't laugh, you must not be a Coloradoan....
A winter statistic:
98% OF AMERICANS SCREAM BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM COLORADO AND THEY SAY, 'HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS.'
You're from Colorado if you'll eat ice cream in the winter.
When the weather report says it's going to be 65 degrees, you shave your legs and wear a skirt.
It snows 5 inches and you don't expect school to be canceled.
If you are a high school girl, you'll wear flip flops every day of the year, regardless of temperature, or shorts if you are a high school boy.
You have no accent at all, but can hear other people's. And then you make fun of them.
'Humid' is over 25%.
Your sense of direction is: Toward the mountains, Away from the mountains, Mountains on the right, or Mountains on the left.
You say 'the interstate' and everybody knows which one, because there is only one in Colorado Springs.
You think that May is a totally normal month for a blizzard.
You buy your flowers to set out on Mother's day, but try and hold off planting them until just before Father's day.
You plan your Halloween costumes around your coat.
You know what the Continental Divide is.
You don't think Coors beer is that big a deal.
You went to Casa Bonita as a kid, and as an adult..
You've gone off-roading in a vehicle that was never intended for such activities.
You always know the elevation of where you are.
You wake up to a beautiful, 80 degree day and you wonder if it's going to snow tomorrow.
**You don't care that some company renamed it, the Broncos still play at Mile High**
Every movie theater has military and student discounts.
Everybody wears jeans to church.
You actually know that ** South Park ** is a real place not just a show on TV..
You know what a 'trust fund hippy' is, and you know its natural habitat is Boulder .
You know you're talking to a fellow Coloradoan when they call it Elitches, not Six Flags.
A bear on your front porch doesn't bother you.
Your two favorite teams are the Broncos and whoever is beating the ..... out of the Raiders.
When people out East tell you they have mountains in their state too, you just laugh.
You go anywhere else on the planet and the air feels 'sticky' and you notice the sky is no longer blue - if you can even see it!
Nancy
The Colorado Springs real estate market is looking pretty good! When comparing November 2009 to November 2008, all the trends are positive.
Total Sales are up 59% with Total Active Homes down 22%. Total Homes Sold YTD is up 3.5%. Average Sale Price is up .02% and Average days on Market is down 7 days. The percentage of homes selling in Colorado Springs is up 6.9% with the absorption rate down 10.3 months.
In summary, November 2009 Colorado Springs Housing Sales are up 59%, inventory is down 22% and this translates to a market shift of 81% from 2008 - towards SELLERS!
Selling your Colorado Springs Home? What is your Curb Appeal?
What is curb appeal? Think back to when you first looked at your home. Was it the kitchen or the floorplan that first peeked your interest? Probably not, unless you found the home online. Chances are it is what we call curb appeal. You liked how the house looked from the street before you even opened the door. This could include the color of the home, the stoop or porch, or even the landscaping.
Curb appeal can be improved in most cases. Some things can’t change, such as your neighbor’s yard or the view. As a seller, you need to look at your house from the eyes of a buyer. What about the outside of the home is going to get the buyer to want to open that door and see the rest?
What can you do to improve the curb appeal of your home? Is the entry inviting? Is it clean and well maintained? Are personal items such as bikes or toys put away? Is the grass green, recently mowed, trimmed, and without weeds? Are the flowerbeds well kept? Is the exterior lighting in good condition and in working order?
When you make a change to the exterior of your home, remember that some day you will be selling this home, so make sure the change enhances the curb appeal. If you are planning to sell next year, it isn’t too late to start now. Add the perennial flower bed in the front that will return bigger and better each year. Or replace the mailbox post with brick to match the home.
What about color? If you are considering painting your home, keep in mind that nontraditional colors in your region are more difficult to sell. If you are considering selling your home in the near future, make sure to consult with an expert before you divert from the norm. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss color choices for the exterior of your home or to provide our list of vendors to help you improve the curb appeal of your home.
For other suggestions on selling your home, visit the seller tab at: http://www.ourdistrict20homes.com.
Nancy
Academy District 20 home sales. We try pretty hard to track the home sales in Academy District 20, an award winning school district in Colorado Springs, and the school district of where we live and where my two boys go to school. In a previous blog, I discussed how homes in Academy District 20 held their value better than the two other large school districts, districts 11 and 49 (see Housing Analysis by School District). Over all, home values are higher and there are fewer distressed properties in Academy District 20. This makes sense, in that, if property values are higher, it will take more to buy into the desirable neighborhoods of Academy District 20, so household incomes are higher, and home owners are better prepared in the event of a loss of income.
With the recent first time home buyer tax credit, which was originally expected to expire November 30th, we saw that the sales in Academy District 20 were on the lower end of the price range for this area, below $300,000. This is not that surprising, since many first time home buyers have not saved the necessary 10-20% for a down payment and are then limited in their financing options to VA or FHA.
It will be interesting to conduct the same analysis over the next few months, after the dust has settled, to see if the additional $6500 tax credit for "move-up" buyers has made a difference in the price range of Academy District 20 homes sold.
Stay tuned...
Nancy
Why I picked Keller Williams Realty....At the annual Keller Williams Family Reunion in February, the company CEO Mark Willis announced to an over joyous crowd that Keller Williams Realty is now the third largest real estate company in the nation - and we did it without a single national TV ad. How could that be you ask, because we are a company of Culture. I was once asked, "what do you mean Culture?" Well, my only response was "it's difficult to explain, but wonderful to experience" and we are seeing that as more and more agents show up on the door steps of Keller Williams offices around the country.
In a nutshell, the Keller Williams culture is:
WIN-WIN: or no deal.
INTEGRITY: do the right thing.
CUSTOMERS : always come first.
COMMITMENT: in all things.
COMMUNICATION: seek first to understand.
CREATIVITY: ideas before results.
TEAMWORK: together everyone achieves more.
TRUST: begins with honesty.
SUCCESS: results through people.
If you walk into any Keller Williams office you will see the acronym WIC4T2S which is the first letter of each line of our culture statement. We truly believe in this Culture and it is taught to us from our founder, Gary Keller, down to the agent sitting next to you.
I personally found Keller Williams in Colorado Springs to be a second family for me. After retiring from the Navy and obtaining my real estate license, I interviewed with several companies. Keller Williams was the only company where they stated "Our motto is God and Family first, business second. We know that isn't politically correct, but we don't give a flip." I was taken aback by this comment coming from the Team Leader's mouth, but I found it refreshing. The company's motto was my believe. How could I possibly consider working anywhere else?
That was nearly four years ago and I haven't regretted my decision. When I listen to Keller Williams leadership talk about putting your God and your Family before business, I feel like they really care about their agents. And I"m reminded daily that the company was built by the agents and their good work, not by an ad on the TV. When the company logo becomes more important than the agent conducting the work, the agent is lost in the shuffle. Here is an example. Go to www.KW.com, select the agent tab, and search on my name, Nancy Murray, or any other Keller Williams agent's name. It will take you about 30 seconds, if you spell the name correctly. See how long it takes you to do the same at any corporate website for our competitors. It isn't about the agents for them...
Other impressive statistics:
According to REAL Trends 500 Keller Williams Realty was the only franchise that experienced a positive growth in total number of transaction sides, the total number of offices, and he agent count per office on this report. Every other franchise went backwards.
When comparing Keller Williams to the ten largest independent real estate companies in the country over the last five years, Keller Williams grew by 65% more in associates per office, 61% more in transactions per associate, and 32% more in sales per office - The Model Works!
And from 2003 to 2007, Keller Williams Realty increased its U.S. market share by more than 161%, while only one other network gained, and their increase was less than 20%.
With these statistics, Keller Williams must be doing something right! So, if you are considering a career in real estate or a change in company, consider Keller Williams Realty. We have our own bail out program called profit sharing. Call me (719-964-4810) if you have questions or would like more information.
Nancy
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Specializing in military relocation and real estate in the Northern Colorado Springs including Academy District 20, USAF Academy, Pine Creek, Flying Horse, Cordera, Gleneagle, Peregrine
This is our chance to convince you to use Nancy Murray and Associates with Keller Williams Colorado Springs Realty for the purchase or sale of your Colorado Springs home or if you are a real estate agent, to refer your clients to Nancy Murray.
The Nancy Murray No Risk Guarantee:
Buyer Guarantee: Colorado Real Estate Commission requires all buyers to be represented in writing before viewing the first property. This protects the buyer, seller, and the agent. A buyer agency agreement allows the buyer’s agent to provide fiduciary responsibilities/advice to the buyer while viewing properties. But have no fear, if the buyer is not satisfied with our service the buyer can cancel the agreement with Nancy Murray and Associates as long as the buyer is not under contract with a property.
For our buyers that purchased their property with Nancy Murray and Associates, we provide a six month guarantee. If you are not happy with the house or the neighborhood where you purchased, we will list your house for sale and only charge you the 3% buyer agent commission. (Owner occupied properties.)
Seller Guarantee: If after three months, you are not happy with the Nancy Murray and Associates listing and marketing efforts for your house, and we are not currently under contract nor negotiating an offer, you may cancel your listing agreement in writing.
My Certifications and Credentials: Senior Real Estate Expert (SRE), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Certified Home Rescue Expert (CHRE), Short Sale Certification (NAR), Electronics Professional (ePro), and Internet Marketing Specialist Designation (IMSD).
If you spent a few minutes reading my blog, you probably noticed that I don't write about myself very often, because I believe it is about our community, Colorado Springs, Academy School District 20, the neighborhoods, or our co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors.
Well, my Active Rain profile is my chance to tell you my story.
Nancy Murray and Associates is a real estate business owned by me, Nancy Murray. I am the talking head of the group. I work closely with several agents that help me service the buyers that register on my website. I have a technology background from the Navy and have continued to expand on my knowledge which has come in very handy when marketing a listing or blogging for future clients. Quite often I solicit the help of another buyer's agent to assist with showing homes and writing contracts. This allows the buyer to have the focus of a fully trained and qualified agent from the time they start to look at homes until we have a successful closing. All agents that work with me, agree with my business philosophy that it is about the needs and desires of the clients and it will be a win - win for everyone at the closing table.
I received my real estate license in January 2006, after retiring from the Navy as a Commander and immediately started working under the Keller Williams umbrella. I have truly been "Kellerized." I love the company and everything it believes. With my military background, it was important that where I hung my hat continued with the teaming philosophy of helping others to succeed. I also wanted to build a business, but not at the expense of my wonderful family life. That is the model of Keller Williams.
I decided from day one to focus on helping families moving into Academy School District 20. Why? Well when I was transferring to Peterson Air Force Base in 2002, everyone at the base told me we need to live in Academy School District 20, "that was the best school district in the area." Not knowing much about the area, of course, that is where my husband and I focused at the time, and with no regrets. It proved to be the right decision. Academy School District 20 homes maintain their values better than the other neighboring districts. (Check out our Housing Analysis by School District )
Focusing on Academy School District 20 proved to be a very successful strategy. This is where we live and where our boys go to school. We know the neighborhoods and the schools. Many of the agents that assist me also live in Academy School District 20. It allows me to work at home, work more efficiently, spend more time with my family, and work in the northern part of town (most of the time). I work in an area where the average sales price is about $120,000 per home above the Colorado Springs MLS advertised average sales price.
Academy School District 20 includes many popular neighborhoods in northern Colorado Springs including Black Forest, Bison Ridge, Briargate, Charter Greens, Cordera, Cumbre Vista, Flying Horse, Gleneagle, Highland Park, Northgate, Peregrine, Pine Creek, Pleasant View Estates, Rockrimmon, and Wolf Ranch.
Giving Back to the Community. I am a firm believer in supporting our local community, that is why if you use Nancy Murray and Associates to buy or sell a home, we will donate $250 in your name towards your favorite charity or non-profit organization at the closing table. This could also include Academy School District 20 parent organizations, bands, sports, or other activities at any Colorado Springs school.
Nancy Murray
And Associates
Nancy Murray - I am in full swing into my second career — real estate sales and services. Before I got my license, I was a Navy Commander helping establish the new War on Terrorism Command – US Northern Command — in Colorado Springs. Making the switch to real estate was natural for me, I guess, since I worked so many years in the information technology field as a program manager and financial manager. I understand negotiating, how to get the best economic results, and I am very adept at using the technologies that support effective communications among buyers, sellers, lenders, title companies, appraisers and all the other contributors to a successful real estate transaction. I am a NAR Short Sale Certified, Certified Home Rescue Expert (CHRE) and a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) which I believe are a critical designations in this market for buyers and sellers since there is such an abundance of short sales. My greatest pleasure is seeing everyone walk away from the closing table totally delighted with the results.
My business model is to team with other agents within the office on transactions. This works out very well, allowing me to share my real estate experience and technical knowledge with other agents that I respect and trust.
My husband, Jim, recently received his license to assist me when he isn't flying with American Airlines. We have two great sons, Michael, a Senior at Pine Creek High School, and Ryan an 8th grader at Challenger Middle School.
What they are saying about us:
Dear Ann and Nancy,
We can’t begin to thank you enough for your excellent service to us in helping us purchase just the right property for our family. There is nothing we would change about our experience with you both! From our first experience with your online listings through closing on the house, you made every step easier. Your commitment to helping us find what we were looking for coupled with your knowledge and experience resulted in us moving into a fantastic place that the whole family is enjoying immensely. Beyond that, your kindness and patience with us made what can be a very emotional experience just a pleasure!
We are so grateful for you both and look forward to recommending your services to anyone we know who may be looking to buy or sell a house in northern Colorado Springs.
With much gratitude and affection,
Patrick and Sue Hoeffel
(Buyers 3/2011)
As a team, you were both very thorough in your evaluation and marketing position in the sale of our home. The CMA material was accurate and informative. Most importantly, your price positioning for the sale was spot on. The staging advise and support were excellent and, as all the feedback from other showings supported, the house showed very well. Finally and most importantly, you both were very supportive during the selling period, and, in the end, found us the perfect clients to purchase our home.
In terms of buying our new home, you listened to what our interests were at all times and adjusted the showings of all the homes to what our input suggested. You were particularly attentive and supportive of our unique interests and adapted the selection process to accommodate our needs. In the end, both the purchase of the new home and the sale of our old home were extremely well managed and all questions and details were handled with the utmost professionalism. Both my wife and I feel that you and your company provided the most professional and complete service available. Susan and Graham Smith (buyer 8/10, seller 11/10).
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Nancy and Ann initially explained everything that was going to happen. They set a reasonable initial price based on existing comps. In spite of the changing market, they worked with us to keep our price realistic and in range of existing comps. They gave constant feedback on showings and met with us when necessary to set goals and adjust the price based on the market. Nancy and Ann were VERY patient with us with our constant requests for information and clarification. Made working with you a distinct pleasure. Judy and Mike Magill (seller 2/11)
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You were patient and understanding of our needs... and allowed us to take our time. This helped us feel comfortable and not rushed. You also payed attention to all of those little details that we would have never thought to consider - which made all the difference in the end. Lastly, you had an opinion and shared it with us which was much more helpful than simply agreeing with us at every turn. The Bloomfields (buyer 12/10)
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You have a great partnership. Nancy comunicates via email on trying to establish our wants and needs in our home search. Then she continues to update our own personal website, which she put all of the listings of what we are looking for, on a weekly basis, sometimes even more if need be. Then when we got to Colorado Springs, we were taken around by the other partner, Ann. Ann listened to our wants and desires as she took us through a few of the homes, and then took more charge of the our home search by showing the location, that we absolutely love, and then the home. By listening and caring about your clients needs and wants are what you guys do "right"!
My daughter and I are both Realtors from another state and we have very high expectations from our fellow Realtors. Ann and Nancy far exceeded our expectations and we so thoroughly enjoyed our experience. When we move out to the Springs, we plan to recommend them to everyone. Pam, realtor from Florida (buyer 12/10)
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Ann’s staging was very well done – favorable comments were made as to how the town home showed. We were promptly informed of all showings and the feedback. Nancy is knowledgeable in every detail of real estate regulations. She is thorough in explaining details when we did not understand. Being out of state during most of this listing, Jim was helpful to satisfy some of the requirements from the inspection report. They are a great team to work with. Don and Jean Gruenhagen (sellers 8/10)
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