Sandra Corrigan

Changing Me, Changing You, Adding the "Who" in Your Plans!

Time to make changes. New Year's Resolutions and setting goals, the start of a new year lends itself to evaluating life and often making changes. I am no exception.

In 2010 we experienced great change. We lived with friends, traveled abroad, hired additional agents and marketing staff, bought a house and moved 5 days before Christmas. This would seem like enough change for a while, but New Year's weekend I decided to make plans for more change.

Armed with good music, journal and the Bible, I turned to Psalms 1 and Proverbs 1 to gain some guidance. I often look to great business books for help. Looking to words from great men and women of God through this book could prove helpful.

In the commentary in Psalm 1, the writer commented on influence. In my own words, the writer cautioned me to consider who I allow to "influence" me. Proverbs 1 then spoke about how valuable Wisdom is. It says that "she protects and keeps us safe".

1. Select the people you want to influence you and 2. Use wisdom to protect you and keep you safe. This seems to be pretty good advice to start the new year.

Time to make my personal and business written strategic plan for 2011. As I filled in blanks with my desired objectives, my thoughts kept coming back to Psalms and Proverbs. I started asking my self more "who" questions. Questions like "who" do I want to learn from and spend time with? Who do I admire? Who could I partner with? Who is already where I want to be? Using Wisdom as my guide, who will "guard my back", "be a champion for me", have my best interests in mind?

In the past, I have found that the most real and lasting changes always happen best with others, never alone.

Do you want your goals to really stick this time? My best advice is to think about the "whos" you can take on your journey with you. Who can you glean wisdom from? Who will help you when you need encouragement? Who will not let you rest on past accomplishments? Who will challenge you to be everything you are meant to be? Who has a great track record? Who will share both the successes and learnings with you? Who can you invest in too?

I am inviting you to take a risk and try something new. As you make your written plans, add a "who can assist me, coach me, help me, teach me, love me" column. Choose "who" you will allow to influence your time, money, energy and thoughts, Wisdom says if you chose wisely, you will be protected and kept safe!

New Life, New Adventures and New Year's Gratitude!

New Year's Eve Thom and I celebrated with close friends. Toasting champagne at Ya Ya's, savoring delicious food, our server appropriately named "Hope", we reflected on the year 2010.

Early in 2010 I debated whether I could take another year of heartaches and headaches that real estate had become. My passion had waned. I found myself considering hanging it up like so many others have.

I am not a quitter.

In the summer our daughter and our buyer's agent, decided to get married. Funny how something like a big responsibilty and the associated expense could refocus me back into our business. Being "mom the wedding planner" was a blast. On a perfect Colorado September day, we witnessed two people we love so much commit themselves to one another in the most gorgeous setting imaginable amidst the red rocks of Arrowhead Golf Club .

The business was heating up. Our team was growing. I attended Rain Camp, (which was incredible) was so blown away and somewhat overwhelmed by the magnitude of the world of communication and social relationship opportunities. Our online lead generation machine was really starting to produce. (Thanks Ben Kinney!).

The house we were living in sold. We had to find a place to live! Trusted friends encouraged us not to "settle" and offered for us to come and live with them. Our car lease was up and we turned that car in. Thoughts about where to live, now empty nesters, brought us freedom to dream differently. Living anywhere was possible.

Never doing things status quo we moved in with loving friends for 4 months and drove one car. This was an adventure, breaking the rules and living outside the box.

After the wedding my "real estate blues" returned. I had to figure this out. We were introduced to a business coach, author of "Making Money is Killing Your Business" and great man, Chuck Blakeman and Crankset Group creator. Attending the coaching lunch at Del Friscos in the Denver Tech Center each Tuesday, we loved what we experienced with this group of small business owners. The Double Your Income class and starting a business owner's group in Highlands Ranch (3-5 Club) has changed me, my perspective and passion for our purpose in the world through the vehicle we drive called real estate.

I found I loved working with International clients. December 6th Thom and I took a trip to Brazil. We returned home to buy and move into a new home at Tresana, acquire a new Elantra, and celebrate Christmas.

Last night surrounded by friends in our new home, my heart was so full of the goodness and kindness of God as we worshiped, prayed and encouraged one another. Listening to each other's stories of hope and perseverance inspired me to write again. My theme is gratitude, love, forgiveness and hope. I am reminded again, how much we need one another and how we can't do life well -alone.

'My LIFE!, By DESIGN' with Sandra Corrigan-What is at Risk to.........?

Tom Ferry's new book, 'Life By Design', is full of great exercises for personal and professional growth.

At times in my life I have sensed that there was something that was going on that i could not quite see or put my finger on, a kind of 6th sense in knowing something is not right and it might have something to do with me.

My husband Thom will ask me , "What is at risk for you to...........?" What is at risk for me to deal with a conflict, say what is on my mind, make a change in an area? I hate that question sometimes. This question pricks and pokes holes in the shadows of the false reality that I am hiding in. I find that the thing I have not wanted to face, when faced, sets me free to live differently and changes the relationship that I have with others and myself. The true reality creates real and lasting change and allows me to create a Life By Design, instead of a life by default.

One Life by Design exercise is to ask 5 people; 1. What do you admire about me? 2. What do you see that I do that really works for me? 3. What actions do you see that I do that don't really work for me? .

I chose to do this exercise and chose a friend I knew would tell me the absolute truth. I was nervous. I knew that the conversation could be life changing. My friend said great things about my leadership, talent and skills. Yet what I knew that I was looking for was someone who had the courage to help me open the door to a blind spot in an area of my life. I was really seeking to have a Life by Design for me, Sandra Corrigan, a life I designed.

We came to the third question, What actions do you see that don't really work for me? and the space between us suddenly got very small. She looked me in the eye and said, "You come across as cold and unapproachable." What! You have got to be kidding! Tell me what you mean?" I asked. "Please paint me a picture of what that looks like so I can understand how I do that?" As we talked (and I cried) I felt the kindness and love of my friend sharing the path to a better me that day. Honesty and truth, shared in a relationship of grace, love and trust set me free to not take myself so seriously and to let others in.

We all want a Life by Design. We hunger for a life of dreams realized, great friends and relationships. meaningful work and personal and spiritual growth. And so my question to you is, What is at risk for you to ask those questions? The answer is maybe...... everything!

This post is to help promote Tom Ferry's upcoming book, LIFE! By DESIGN. The contents of my post are the result of some self reflection the preview chapter of the book asks us to do about ourselves.

You can Pre-Order the book now by visiting TomFerryBook.com. You can also participate in the promotion being done by ActiveRain for a chance to win some great prizes and 2500 points by visiting the promotional post here.

Everyone that orders a copy of the book between now and April 23rd, 2010 will also receive one ticket to attend Tom's Success Summit, August 24-26th and the MP3 audio role play program: Objection Handling for Buyers, Sellers and Short Sales.

In exchange for writing this post, I could win an iPad or other cool prizes, and this is to let you know so the FTC doesn't fine me.

Highlands Ranch, Colorado Home Statistics for the areas of Mansion Knolls, Mansion Point, and parts of Westridge and Indigo Hills in Map Section 404 saw a total of 88 homes sold over the past 12 months.

According to statistics taken from the Denver Metro List through March 25, 2010, the average original list price for the 88 homes sold was $322,879.00, while the average price that sellers actually netted was $302,997.00.

Home Statistics for Mansion Knolls, Mansion Point and other neighborhoods in this map area for the past 90 days reported 12 homes sold with a average list price of $324,204.00 and a average net sales price of $300,410.00, a slight decrease compared to the 12 month statistics.

Average days on market for Mansion Knolls, Mansion Point and this map section for the 12 month period went from an average of 81 days on market (DOM) to an average of 89 Days on Market for the past three month time period.

Both home prices and days on market for the past 90 days do not measure up to the 12 month average. However it is an improvement over the past 6 months. Home Statistics for Mansion Knolls, Mansion Point, six months ago for the 22 homes sold, were on the market an average of 97 days, average list price was $315,705.00 and netted sellers an average of $295,069.00.

Seven to twelve months ago the 54 sold Mansion Knolls and Mansion Point area homes including the homes in the above mentioned sections average list price was $325,508.00 with an average net sales price of $305,949.00. Days on market during this time period averaged 76 (DOM).

Current actively listed homes in this map section of Mansion Point and Mansion Knolls, Westridge and Indigo Hills total 25 with an average list price of $335,636.00 and Days On Market of 53. Under Contract homes total 11 with average list price of $299,090.00 and average days on market of 102. The area currently has 6.25 months of housing supply.

Median Year of construction of homes in this area is 1994. Many of these homes have been updated or are in the updating process. Homes located in Mansion Point and Mansion Knolls are close to the Award Winning Blue Ribbon Bear Canyon Elementary School. Many of the homes are located on green space and open space with views of the Colorado Rockies. An extensive trail system for hiking and biking runs through the community allowing homeowners wonderful outdoor living and playing, a hallmark of Colorado life.

Highlands Ranch, Colorado is a master planned community. Having been a real working ranch for over 100 years, we think it's fun to still see cattle and even horses across the street from the Highlands Ranch Town Square.

The Corrigan Group loves living, working and playing in Highlands Ranch, Colorado! We would love to talk to you more about our great town! Get a free market snapshot of your home's value or search for homes in Highlands Ranch and Denver.

Snow and more snow in the Highlands Ranch Golf Club!

It took me an hour and a half to drive to the HR Golf Club for what normally takes about 24 minutes last night. After taking the lead to pave the way in my four wheel drive for a friend who was following me, we had to abandon her station wagon in a parking lot! In a matter of about 30 minutes we had about 5 to 6 inches of snow, making driving and visibility tough.

Once home in my HR Golf Club neighborhood, the real challenge was trying to drive over the snow bank in front of my garage. I finally made it after the third try.

In spite of the snow, living in the HR Golf Club has its pleasures.

The HR Golf Club has over 700 homes, some of which are semi and custom single family properties, as well as beautiful townhomes. The neighborhood boasts a beautiful year round public course. Many of the homes have spectacular mountain views, are located on the HR Golf Club Course and the Highline Trail.

In 2006, we bought a foreclosure in the HR Golf Club and gave the home a face lift and finished basement. After our last daughter left for college we decided to downsize into an HR Golf Club Town Home Community called Birkdale. The neighborhood has two Town Home communities, Birkdale and Turnbury.

The HR Golf Club Town Homes are spacious and have extra storage and over-sized two-car garages. Both the HR Golf Club Town Homes and HR Golf Club single family properties are located close to award winning schools, shopping and local Highlands Restaurants, like our favorite wine bar, Indulge.

Future plans are in the process for the light rail system to be built close to the HR Golf Club making for an easy commute to downtown Denver.

"I love living in Highlands Ranch. This town has a unique brightness and friendliness to it", says Stephanie, a local resident.

The HR Golf Club is a great neighborhood in Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Money Magazine's Number 12 Top City to live in. Great homes at great prices make the HR Golf Club a perfect neighborhood for move up Buyers right now. To get a list of homes for sale or for home values for Highlands Ranch, Colorado contact The Corrigan Group today!