Ken and Sandy Wickham

According to Tom Cooper of Cripple Creek's 2 Mile High Club, this should be a great weekend (September 27th and 28th) to take in the club's Aspen Tour. Even though the tours were also held last weekend, the Aspens didn't quite cooperate as planned. (Some trees were turning along Highway 67, but not so much in the hills surrounding Cripple Creek - the town's elevation drops down to 9494 feet).

As of Tuesday, our leaf-peeping scout noted:

• The scrub oak in Ute Pass hadn't started turning, except for a very few
• The Aspens from Woodland Park to Divide were mostly dark green to light green
• Color was beautiful on the ride from Divide to Cripple Creek, getting more colorful in the higher elevations toward Cripple Creek
• Aspens were turning between Cripple Creek and Victor, but many were still green
• There are more orange Aspen leaves this year than usual, and even a few red!

The most direct way to drive from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek is to take Highway 24 west, then Highway 67 south when you get to Divide. If you'd like to return basically the same way, you can turn at 2nd street in Cripple Creek, and see some different scenery as you head toward Victor; the road is part of a loop that takes you back to Highway 67. Or, for an alternate route, you can take Teller 1 from Cripple Creek to Florissant, and head east back to Colorado Springs on Highway 24. Teller 1 is a very scenic road, but there's not nearly as much color as on Highway 67 (it has pockets of Aspens), although you can take in the rock formations as well as the Aspens on Highway 24 between Florissant and Divide.

Teller 1 is part of the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway.

Conditions will vary widely around the state according to latitude, elevation, and nature's whim. Trees turn at different rates, even on the same hillsides. As of last weekend, we heard that the leaves were almost peaking close to Montrose, CO. Highway 24 near Buena Vista was also very colorful, and there was some leaves turning around Hartsel, CO. Today, near Twin Lakes, Colorado, the leaves are close to peak (some green) and may last about another week. It's a beautiful time of year in Colorado!

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. To contact them, call 800-599-8500 ext. 1120 or 719-534-7919.

www.wickhome.com

The leaves have started changing in the high country; in fact, some of the trees are turning here in Colorado Springs.

It's very hard to predict "peak" leaf viewing time much in advance, as leaf changing is very sensitive to summer and fall conditions, and sudden cold and wind snaps can hurry up the turning. Peak times tend to be short, and vary by area, latitude and elevations. Even on the same hill, you may see dark green, light green, and gold leaves, which provide a nice contrast. The end of September is usually a good time to take in some spectacular fall color near Colorado Springs.

For a wonderful Pikes Peak area leaf peeping drive, try taking a spin to Cripple Creek. Take Highway 24 from downtown Colorado Springs, through Cascade and Woodland Park. When you get to Divide, go south on Highway 67. There are several places to pull off and snap photos. (If you don't have time for the full trip, you'll get to see some beautiful groves of Aspens between Woodland Park and Divide).

If you go to Cripple Creek the weekends of September 20th and 21st or 27th and 28th, you may want to take the Aspen Tours sponsored by the 2 Mile High Club. The excursions are free, but donations are encouraged to provide food for the donkeys the club cares for. Tours leave from the Cripple Creek Heritage Center (right on Highway 67) and start at 9 am, with the last tour leaving at 4 pm. Tours are given on a first come, first serve basis.

For other scenic routes around the state, check out the Fall Foliage Guide from Colorado.com.

To give you an idea of how the leaves turned last year: these pictures were taken on September 24th, on the road between Divide to Cripple Creek.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. To contact them, call 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

During August 2008, the average sold price of a single family home through our MLS was $235,098. Even though it's impossible to gauge an "average" home, we looked for a snapshot.

Seven single family homes sold for $235,000 through our MLS in August. We did a little filtering by:

• Style. One of those was a rather unique Victorian, and another was a 1953 home, that hadn't been updated, in the Southwest area of Colorado Springs
• Days on the market. One home sold in two days. It was aggressively priced, in pristine condition, beautifully decorated and staged, and had impressive landscaping and views. Another was on the market 350 days, had an odd floorplan, and needed updating.
• High dollar amount of concessions; we're looking for a home where the net price was a close as possible to the average sales amount
• Sales price to list price: the home that was on the market for 350 days had an original list price of $272,000.

Our (subjective) winner for the "average" Colorado Springs area home for August 2008:

• Ridgeview at Steston Hills
• Falcon School District 49
• 2748 total square feet; 1851 finished
• 2 story with unfinished basement, built in 2004
• 3 bedrooms (15x13 master) on the upper level
• 3 baths (2 Full, 1 half, and master bath has a garden tub)
• Vaults, loft, and hardwood floors in kitchen and dining
• central air
• average size city lot
• most amenities and landscaping appeared to be average for a newer home
• 88 Days on the market; original list price was $244,850
• $235,000 sold price
• $1,000 in seller concessions (buyer's costs paid by the seller)

As of this writing, there are 31 active single-family listings in El Paso and Teller counties priced at $235,000, and approximately 497 in all MLS areas priced between $225,000 and $250,000. Search for homes in the Pikes Peak region.

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. (RSC) for the period of August 2008. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Interested in buying or selling a home in the Colorado Springs area? Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO, who can help you find the just-right home for you. You can reach them at 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

For August, 2008, the median sold price of single family homes was $199,900, according to the Pikes Peak Realtor Services Corporation. So, technically half the homes sold for less than that price, half for more. What could that exact figure buy you in August 2008 in the Colorado Springs area? We found three homes that sold through our MLS for $199,900:

Home number one:

• Briargate
• 4 level built in 1980
• 2689 square feet, all finished
• 4 bedrooms (15x13 master)
• 4 baths (2 full, 1 three-quarter, and 1 half)
• Eat-in kitchen, upper level loft, and lower level family room
• Needed carpet and paint, updating and minor repairs
• Wood fireplace
• Central air
• 2 large decks plus large patio
• Masonite siding and brick exterior
• Attached 2 car garage
• .29 acre lot
• Mountain and city views
• Academy School District 20
• Seller concessions (buyer's cost paid by the sellers) were $3,000, so an appraiser would actually consider the sales price to be $196,900

This home was only on the market one day. So, it was probably a really good deal, (a good-sized single family home under $200,000 in District 20!) or the seller (who is an agent) had a buyer lined up ahead of time - or both!

Home number two:

• Landhuis sub-area of Fountain
• 2 story with unfinished basement built in 2001
• 2621 total square feet (1745 finished)
• 3 bedrooms (16x15 master has 2 closets)
• 3 baths (1 5 piece master bath, 1 full, and 1 half 1 half)
• 25x16 living room
• Light and bright with an open main level
• Vaulted ceilings
• Gas fireplace
• Excellent cosmetic condition
• Masonite siding with brick trim
• .17 acre fully lot
• Fountain/Fort Carson School District 8
• $5,500 is seller concessions

This home was on the market for only nine days.

Home number three:

• Sand Creek sub-area (Southeast MLS area)
• 2 story without a basement built in 2000
• 1839 square feet, fully finished
• 4 bedrooms (15x13 master)
• 3 baths (a 5 piece master, one full, and one half)
• vaulted ceilings and decorator paint
• newer appliances
• central air
• no fireplace
• masonite siding
• attached 2 car garage
• .16 acre landscaped lot
• mountain views
• Harrison School District 2
• $6,000 in seller concessions

This home was on the market for 50 days.

Based on information from the Pikes Peak REALTOR Services Corp. (RSC) for the period of August 2008. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Interested in buying or selling a home in the Pikes Peak region? Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Colorado Springs Realtors. They welcome your inquiries; contact them at 719-534-7919 or 800-588-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

With the summer Paralympics in full swing, and the 2008 summer Olympics just a few short weeks behind us, we'd like to highlight the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. While much of the nation devoted two weeks on their couches to watch the games, most of the athletes have year round, years-long training schedules.

Olympic Strength sculpture; see detail below

The Colorado Springs center sent 45 of their resident athletes to the summer Olympic games, and 12 of their resident athletes to the Paralympics. Many other competitors passed through the Colorado Springs OTC at some point, for the quality of the training and the chance to practice at high altitude. The complex can house up to 557 athletes and coaches at one time. Twelve sports also have their national headquarters at the complex.

Our city hosts one of just three national traning centers - the others are in Lake Placid, New York, and Chula Vista, CA, although the Colorado Springs Olympic Complex is also home to the U.S. Olympic Committee and is the headquarters for the national Olympic training programs. These training centers are an integral part of our country's success at the Olympic games.

Approximately 140,000 people visit the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center each year, and it's a very worthwhile outing. Sports buffs shouldn't miss the Olympic Hall of Fame (and everyone should check out the hall's rooftop terrace). Try to make it Monday through Saturday, when free guided hourly tours start at 9am (last tour at 4 pm). Even on Sundays, when there aren't any tours, you can stroll the Irwin Belk Olympic Path and enjoy the beautiful Carol Grotnes Belk Sculpture Garden. The Olympic Spirit Store is open daily until 6pm, so you can stock up on unique gifts and gear and support the Olympic efforts.

The Olympic Complex is located east of Downtown, at 1750 E. Boulder St., at the corner of Union Blvd. by Memorial Hospital. Groups of 10 or more need to call 719-866-4656 for reservations. Visit the tour web page or call 888-659-8687 for more information. Sunday visitor hours begin at 11 am, and tours are held more frequently during the summer months.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. They welcome your real estate inquiries; to contact them call 800-599-8500 ext. 1120 or 719-534-7919.

www.wickhome.com