Ken and Sandy Wickham

The 2008 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes was well attended: over 16,000 tickets were sold, and it's estimated that almost 15,000 people visited the Sony Signature Home in Flying Horse. The participating builders pulled out all the stops to showcase their companies, and garnered a lot of positive interest in their homes. The People's Choice Awards and the Industry Awards of Excellence were announced at the Housing and Building Association's Parade of Homes Awards Banquet last night.

2008 People's Choice Awards

$275,000 - $335,000

Oakwood Homes - The Monarch

$335,001 - $355,000

Richmond American Homes - Chestnut

$355,001 - $400,000

Richmond American Homes - Spruce

$400,001 - $475,000

Keller Homes - The Jackson

$475,001 - $550,000

Classic Homes - The Spring Blossom

$550,001 - $650,000

Classic Homes - The Greenspire

$800,000 - $900,000

Vantage Homes - The Abbywood

$1,000,000 - $1,200,000

High Country Homes - Bella La Casa

$1,375,000 - $1,450,000

Copper Mountain Custom Homes - Mountain Majesty

$1,475,000 - $1,500,000

Tiffany Homes - Colorado Dreamin'

$1,600.000 - $1,700,000

Copperleaf Homes - Trieste

$4,000,000 and up

Moeller Custom Properties - Sony Signature Home

2008 PARADE OF HOMES

INDUSTRY AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

$275,000 - $335,000

Shadow Creek Custom Homes- The Santa Fe

Best Landscaping

Oakwood Homes - The Monarch

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$335,001 - $355,000

Richmond American Homes - Chestnut

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$335,001 - $355,000

Richmond American Homes - Spruce

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$400,001 - $475,000

Keller Homes - The Jackson

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$475,001 - $550,000

Classic Homes - The Spring Blossom

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$550,001 - $650,000

Creekwalk Townhomes, LLC - Creekwalk Townhomes

Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping

Classic Homes - The Greenspire

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$800,000 - $900,000

Vantage Homes - The Abbywood

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$1,000,000 - $1,200,000 Million

High Country International, Ltd. - Bella La Casa

Best Landscaping,

Vantage Homes - The Canyonwood

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Floor Plan

Moeller Custom Properties - Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery Home

Best Architectural Exterior, Best Interior Design, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

$1,375,000 - $1,450,000 Million

Copper Mountain Custom Homes, Inc. - Mountain Majesty

Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Floor Plan, Best Landscaping, Best Overall Home

Robert Scott Custom Homes - Nature's Beauty

Best Kitchen, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Innovative

$1,475,000 - $1,500,000 Million

Tiffany Homes, Inc. - Colorado Dreamin'

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Innovative

Stonegate Homes - Sierra Vista

Best Floor Plan, Best Interior Design, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Overall Home

$1,600,000 - $1,700,000 Million

Copperleaf Homes - Trieste

Best Master Suite, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative, Best Overall Home

Moeller Custom Properties - Walt Disney Signature Home by Drexel Heritage

Best Kitchen, Best Interior Design

$4,000,000 Million & Up

Flying Horse Signature Homes - The Residence at Toscano

Best Kitchen, Best Floor Plan, Best Architectural Exterior, Best Overall Home

Moeller Custom Properties - Sony Signature Home

Best Master Suite, Best Interior Design, Best Landscaping, Best Innovative

Are you thinking of buying or selling a home in the Pikes Peak region? Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. Contact them at 719-534-7919 or 800-599-8500 ext. 1120.

www.wickhome.com

According to Pikes Peak Multiple Listing Service figures, 778 single family homes sold in August. That's 108 fewer than in July, the busiest month this year, and also fewer than in May and June. Through August 31st, 5,962 single family homes have sold through our MLS.

The average single family home price in August dropped to $235,098 and the median price dropped to $199,900, so one-half of all single family homes sold for under $199,900.

Sales of higher priced homes are slow, with only 72 homes selling for $400,000 or more.

Single family Homes in all price ranges and areas averaged 85 days on the market. (Our MLS does include some listings in Pueblo, Douglas County, and other areas.) In El Paso County, that average was 79, and in Teller County 139. Homes in our Northeast and Southeast MLS areas averaged only 59 DOM, where the Tri-Lakes area (generally more expensive homes) came in at 105 DOM. (Some areas had fewer or very high days on market; the small sampling of sales in those areas should be taken with a grain of salt).

The average Sales Price to List Price Ratio was 96.9% in El Paso County, and 95.7% in Teller County.

Another 97 condos and townhomes also sold; with an average DOM of 97, and an average sales to list price ratio of 95.5%

What does this mean for you?
Sellers: Homes in the higher price ranges will generally take longer to sell. If you need to sell your home, patience, realistic pricing, appeal and condition are key.
Buyers: This is a great time for first time and move-up buyers, and for investors - if it makes good financial sense for you. At the time of writing this, interest rates are very favorable!

We always stress that statistics don't tell the whole story. Call us today; we're glad to help you assess your unique situation.

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

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. If you have questions about homes in the Pikes Peak area, call them at 800-599-8500 ext. 1120 or 719-534-7919.

www.wickhome.com

There's another elite international athletic competition taking place in Beijing right now. Although it doesn't receive as much media attention, the athletes are all highly trained, just as motivated, the best in their sports, and have fierce competitive streaks.

Most of us love the stories about the journeys athletes took to get to the top of their games - after all, there's a lot more to winning than just talent. The International Paralympic Games are full of the usual tales, but these stories also include the athletes' physical disabilities.

What started out in England, as a post World War II competition of veterans with spinal cord injuries, has evolved over the years; over 160 countries now participate in the Paralympics. Nearly 4000 athletes competed in the 2004 summer games in Athens. (The games are now held in the same venues as the Olympics.)

The Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center trained 12 resident athletes who are competing in the International Paralympics Games, and the Olympic Training Center is home to the United States Paralympic Committee. Also, just about every U.S. paralympian competing in Beijing passed through Colorado Springs to do some high altitude training before the games.

Another Colorado Springs Paralympian connection: Meliissa Stockwell, a U.S. swimmer who trained at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, is also a graduate of the University of Colorado, an Iraq War Veteran, and the niece of our friends Barry and Gwen Weber. Find out more about her on her website. Melissa's best event is Friday September 12th, so visit her blog to keep up with Melissa's journey and leave some comments to cheer her on!

We'd like to say hi to Andy Wise, of the Powerlifting Team, and the members of the Wheelchair Rugby Team, who were kind enough to take a few minutes to talk with us when we visited the Olympic Training Center. The Rugby team plays their first match against China on Friday September 12. (Wheelchair Rugby is also known as "Murderball", so it should be fun to watch.)

Watch Paralympic Sport TV for live and taped coverage of the Bejing games. Also check out the U.S Paralympics Team's site and the International Paralympics Committee site for more information about the organizations and the games.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long time realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. They welcome visits to their website. You can contact them at 800-599-8500 ext. 1120, or 719-534-7919.

An unexpected delight at the 2008 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes was the Disney Signature Home, by Moeller Custom Properties. Discard any notions you may have about Mickey Mouse bedspreads and Donald Duck faucets. While there are several, mostly subtle Disney character touches, the main Disney theme is the Art Moderne furniture. Furnishings are from the Walt Disney Signature Furniture Collection by Drexel Heritage, inspired by Walt Disney's own designs.

Features include:

• Beautifully landscaped
• Front courtyard
• A contemporary feel
• Rotunda entry with soaring ceiling and beautiful art glass chandelier

• Flowing floor plan
• Spacious great room opens to a generous deck with views

• Dining room with crystal chandelier
• Butler's pantry
• Kitchen with beautiful granite counters, two stainless sinks in neat shapes, and a custom glass black splash. The kitchen is open to the great room with a large pass-through, and has plenty of cabinet space.

• Roomy, sunny eating nook with fabulous views that add a special touch to casual meals

• Main and lower level studies/offices
• Master bedroom with deck access and fireplace
• Master bath with steam shower
• Access to the laundry room from the master dressing area/apparel room
• Lower level entertainment area with a unique mohagany wall with cantilevered shelves. The lower level also hosts a wet bar and a wine room.
• Downstairs powder room with glass tiled walls and "stars" (tiny lights) in the ceiling
• Boldly used some cool colors - grays and blues
• Three car garage
• 5,195 finished square feet out of 5,585 total square feet
• Four bedrooms and five baths
• $1,677,000

Photos taken with permission.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. Please call them with any questions you may have about Moeller Custom Properties, Flying Horse, or homes in the Pikes Peak region. They can be reached at 800-599-8500 ext. 1120 or 719-534-7919.

www.wickhome.com

The Residence at Toscano is a spectacular estate created by Flying Horse Signature Homes. This home is designed to wow, and is one of the highlights of the 2008 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes. It's ideally situated on a prime 2.66 acre lot on the Flying Horse Golf Course. Enjoy the mountain views and the sight of the award-winning Flying Horse Golf Club. Flying Horse is a guard-gated community just north of Colorado Springs, known for their expansive Athletic and Golf clubs.

Features include:

• 200 feet setback from the street for privacy
• Auto Court with a fountain. The garages face each other, not the street, for maximum curb appeal. There's a detached 2 car plus shop (shop area would be great for the golf cart) and an attached 3 car garage.
• Side entry off the auto court lets you access the kitchen and panty easily
• Back stairway to lower level from side entry
• 20 cast stone columns, some interior, some exterior

• Soaring 2 story foyer
• Spacious great room with warm hardwood floors and and fireplace with cast mantle, surround and hearth

• A parlor/study has a wet bar, and shares the two sided fireplace with the great room. The carved wooden fireplace complements the travertine surround.

• Kitchen will every amenity
• A step-down Chef's Office off the kitchen, complete with granite desktops and bookcases for your cookbooks. It's sure to enhance your culinary skills, and when you're not planning your next dinner party, it doubles as a great home office.

• Wet bar/refreshment center in the master retreat perfect for the morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine
• A separate laundry room in the master retreat
• Fabulous, unique, multi-level master closets and retreat/exercise room

• Elevator
• Lavish lower level guest suite with 5 piece bath
• Large home theater
• Lower level wet bar and wine cellar
• Children's game room that would also make a wonderful study space or home-school area
• Radiant in-floor heat
• Two mechanical rooms with plenty of unfinished storage space
• Outdoor living room with fireplace
• Expansive outdoor space - try 3500 square feet, both covered and uncovered, so you can enjoy the outdoors snow, rain, or shine.
• Five bedrooms and eight baths
• 9,304 finished square feet, out of 10,627 total
• $4,400,000

Photos taken with permission.

Ken and Sandy Wickham are long-time Realtors in beautiful Colorado Springs, CO. If you have questions about Flying Horse, Flying Horse Signature Homes, or homes in the Pikes Peak region, call them at 800-599-8500 ext. 1120, or 719-534-7919.

www.wickhome.com