Pros and Cons of Living Within a Homeowners Association

from Realtor.com | by Michele Lerner | April 25, 2014

Ask two different homeowners what they think about living in a community with a homeowners association and you may see one of them scowl and another smile. The difference of opinion on homeowners associations, or HOAs, depends on several factors, including individual personalities and preferences and the quality of the particular HOA.

To learn more about HOAs read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Average rent continues to rise in Springs

from Colorado Springs Business Journal | by Cameron Moix | February 28, 2014

Average apartment rent rose in the Colorado Springs metro for the 16th consecutive quarter (year over year) at the close of 2013, according to a report released Friday by the Colorado Division of Housing and the Apartment Association of Southern Colorado.

The report indicated that the average rent for Springs residents rose $9 (or 1 percent) to $799 compared to the same quarter of 2012. Although the year-over-year rate has increased for 16 straight quarters, the report specified that average rent is down from $830 during the third quarter of 2013.

To read the rest of the article at the Colorado Springs Business Journal click here.

Prepare Your Home for Freezing Temperatures

Below-freezing temperatures are coming this week!  Prepare your water pipes to keep them from freezing. Frozen pipes can burst when the temperatures drop, causing extensive and costly water damage.




Here are some simple steps you can take to help ensure your pipes are ready for the cold temperatures.

• Check water supply lines that are located in unheated areas. Check the basement, crawl space, attic, garage, and under kitchen and bathroom cabinets. 
• Insulate hot and cold water pipes in these areas. 
• Drain automatic landscaping sprinkler systems.
• Disconnect all hoses from water supplies around the outside of your home. 
• Set water to drip from any faucet served by exposed pipes. (Running water through the pipe,  even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.)

WSJ: Fall is Time to Prepare the Yard for Spring

Published in The Wall Street Journal | October 20, 2013 | Written by Lindsay Gellman

Simple Chores Done Now Could Save You Cash Next Year

Fall is in the air—which means leaves will soon be on the ground in the colder states, and cooler, drier air is blowing into the South and West.

Now's the time to begin fall yard work such as raking leaves, weeding and cleaning out the gutters. But it isn't just about aesthetics. A few chores now could save you headaches—and cash—in the spring.

1. Rake leaves

If you're in a colder region, make sure to rake the leaves from your yard before the first snow hits or mold could set in and damage your lawn, says Bruce Allentuck, president of Allentuck Landscaping Company in Clarksburg, Md. One option is to bag the leaves for removal.

Check with your town to see whether there is a municipal leaf-composting program, says Margaret Roach, founder of gardening blog AWayToGarden.com in Copake Falls, N.Y.

Programs such as these collect leaves in the fall for composting and provide residents with low-cost or even free leaf-compost material for spring planting (a cubic yard of similar material sells for $25 to $55 plus delivery from a landscaper or garden center, Ms. Roach says).

Or you can create your own compost heap in a corner of the yard that you're not using, she says.

2. Weed and prune

It may be tedious, but a little weeding now will go a long way in the spring, Ms. Roach says. People "spend a lot of their dollars and time trying to get rid of weeds," she says. "Right now is when you can really minimize next year's weed problems."

Your goal should be preventing current issues from worsening, rather than perfection. Target seed-laden weeds and others with runner-like roots, says Ms. Roach.

You should also examine woody plants, like shrubs and trees, to see if there are any dead or broken branches that might give way in winter winds or snow, potentially causing damage, Ms. Roach says. If so, prune them, or for larger trees, consider hiring a professional to do so for you, she says.

3. Clear gutters and drains

Unclogging gutters and outdoor drainage is essential for preventing water damage to your house, says Nicholas Brand, founder of Vancouver-based window- and gutter-cleaning service Men in Kilts.

If you neglect your gutters, Mr. Brand says, you risk water backing up and seeping into your roof or spilling over and down the side of the house, damaging your foundation.

The timing of your cleaning is critical, he says—too early and your gutters will reclog; too late and they'll be filled with frozen debris. Aim for a cleaning right before the first snow, he says.

If you hire a professional, the service typically runs $250 to $300, but varies by house size, says Mr. Brand. Be sure that you have sufficient liability insurance and that the service company has local workers'-compensation insurance, he says.

4. Insulate plants

"When it's cold outside, we can put jackets on, but plants can't," Mr. Allentuck says. So if the temperature in your area dips below freezing, or you know a cold snap is coming, make sure your plants have adequate insulation, he says.

One way to do so is to put down a one-layer inch of mulch to protect roots, he says. In addition, it's a good idea to cover frost-sensitive plants with burlap, a sheet or a cardboard box, he says. You can move potted plants indoors or close to the house for extra warmth, he adds.

But be sure to remove those coverings once the sun comes up and temperatures rise. "Otherwise, you'll end up with a baked plant," says Tom MacCubbin, host of a gardening radio program in Orlando, Fla.

5. Plant new perennials

In many regions, late fall is the perfect time to plant new perennials—and in warmer climates, most trees and shrubs as well as cool-season annuals, says Lili Singer, director of special projects and adult education at the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants in Sun Valley, Calif.

Garden centers often have steep discounts this time of year, says Ms. Roach. Ask a local garden professional which plants typically thrive in your area if planted now.

And in some southern states, where lawns can really take a beating during the summer months, this might be the right time to aerate, reseed and fertilize your lawn, says Mark McAuliffe, vice president of operations at Cross Creek Nursery and Landscaping in Richmond, Va.

Read the article on The Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304864504579139320312957410

Fire Safety in Your Home

Stay safe in your home this Summer and throughout 2013. Every year there are around 11,000 house fires and sadly, many people continue to lose their lives instead of taking some simple precautions.

Your Home

• Test that smoke alarms are working 
• Be alert when cooking and never leave food unattended 
• Never leave candles or incense to burn unattended 
• Never leave children unattended with candles, matches, or lighters 
• Have a locked cupboard for combustible materials and dangerous tools 
• Don’t overload electrical circuits with too many appliances 
• Develop and practice an escape plan with household members 
• Know what to do if a person’s clothing catches on fire; Stop, Drop, Cover & Roll.
• Get rid of items cluttering your home which no longer have any use: old documents, newspapers, clothing, furniture, appliances and rubbish.  When these items block exits and narrow hallways, they block escape for the occupant and access for fire fighters.

Your Garden

• Cut long grass
• Regularly rake up leaves, bark and twigs
• Clear any dead branches and undergrowth near your home
• Prune lower tree branches
• Keep mulch and woodpiles away from walls
• Carefully place any flammable matter including boxes, cartons, and paper in trash can
• Remove any timber and old junk lying around

Share the Work

To get ready for the summer months, why not invite your friends, family and neighbors over for a busy bee? Work is always quicker, easier and more fun with more people involved!

Don’t gamble with your lives. With a little preparation, it’s easy to help prevent your home from going up in flames.

Who Says Money Doesn't Grow On Trees?

The Realty Times, in an article published on April 2, says that having trees on your property adds value to your home. They emphasize that though having trees on your property is important, it is just as important to have the right tree for the right location.

Arbor Day Foundation sells saplings for $15 or less. The price is smaller if you are a member.

They go on to say:
"

• HomeLogic reports the USDA Forest Service says a single tree on a property adds about $630 to the value of the property, provided the right tree is used in the proper location. 

• Over time, three well placed trees can save even more in energy savings - from $100 to $250 every year, due to cooling shade and winter windbreaking. 

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says strategically planted trees and vegetation that block the sun's rays and reduce heat transfer to a home can reduce cooling energy consumption by up to 40 percent annually.And then there's the reduced carbon footprint that helps save the planet. It's tough to put a price tag on Mother Earth.

• HouseLogic reports the Trust for Public Land estimated that one mature tree takes 48 pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere each year and returns enough oxygen for two human beings .For the return on your money, trees are a cheap investment. 

"

Read the whole article on RealtyTimes: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20130402_moneytrees.htm

Gazette: Pace of Local Homebuilding Doubles

In an article published on March 1, 2013, the Gazette says that homebuilding in Colorado Springs has doubled from a year ago at this time. Single-family homebuilder permits have increased from 220 in February of 2012 to 398 this February.

This is really good news for Colorado Springs real estate, as the numbers of permits can reflect the future economic outlook builders have for the local economy.



The Gazette says:

         "The number of permits issued for housing construction is a key barometer of the local economy,  employing thousands of people and generating millions of dollars in taxes on the purchase of building materials. That tax revenue helps fund basic services such as public safety, roads and parks."

Other good news is that foreclosures are down, in fact, they are the lowest in monthly total since December of 2006.

The data definitely shows that economic recovery is beginning in Colorado Springs.

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/year-151666-february-last.html#ixzz2NGjzgRVL

InsideRealEstateNews: Both Rents & Vacancies Rise in Colorado Springs

Published in Inside Real Estate News | February 14, 2013 | John Rebchook

Highlights: 

• Average rent in Colorado Springs approaching $800.
• Vacancy rate at 7.1%.
• Far Northeast has highest rents.

The average rent in the Colorado Springs metro area rose year-over-year for the 12th consecutive quarter during the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a report released today.

The average monthly rent at the end of last year was $790, according to the Colorado Division of Housing and the Apartment Association of Southern Colorado. Apartment Realty Advisors, or ARA, also is a major sponsor of the report.

The average rent was $775 reported during the fourth quarter of 2011 and  $787 in the third quarter of 2012.

“The average rent hit a new all-time high for the region during the fourth quarter, but there are nevertheless signs of softness in the market,” said Ryan McMaken, economist for the Colorado Division of Housing. “The rental increases were not large during the fourth quarter, but vacancy rates inched up in the fourth quarter, possibly in response to rent growth.”

The median rent rose year-over- year to $766 during the fourth quarter, rising 3.2 percent from 2011’s fourth-quarter median rent of $742.

The average rent increased year over year in the Northwest, Southwest and Central regions.

All other submarkets reported drops in the average rent in the fourth quarter, on a year-over-year basis.

The largest drop in average rent was found in the Northeast region where the average rent dropped 2.9 percent.

The largest increase in the average rent was found in the Central region where the average rent increased 2.6 percent, year-over-year.

The Far Northeast was the submarket with the highest average rent at $880 during the fourth quarter of 2012.

During the same period, the lowest average rent was found in the Security/Widefield/Fountain submarket where the average rent was $598.

Average rents for all market areas during the fourth quarter of 2012 were:

• Northwest, $841.
• Northeast, $721.
• Far Northeast, $880.
• Southeast, $704.
• Security/Widefield/Fountain, $598.
• Southwest, $808; Central, $718.

The apartment vacancy rate in the Colorado Springs metro area rose year over year to 7.1 percent during the fourth quarter of 2012, rising from last year’s fourth-quarter vacancy rate of 6.7 percent. Last year’s fourth-quarter rate also rose from the third-quarter rate of 6.1 percent.

From the fourth quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2012, the vacancy rate fell in the Northwest, Southeast, Central and Security/Widefield/Fountain submarkets. During the same period, the vacancy rate rose in the Northeast, Far Northeast and Southeast submarkets.

Vacancy rates for all market areas were:

• Northwest, 4.2 percent.
• Northeast,5.6 percent.
• Far Northeast, 6.6 percent.
• Southeast, 10.1 percent.
• Security/Widefield/Fountain, 2.6 percent.
• Southwest, 4.7 percent;.
• Central, 6.5 percent.

Read more at: http://insiderealestatenews.com/2013/02/apartment-rents-in-springs-rise/

2013 Colorado Springs Housing Market Looking Good

The January 2013 statistics from the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors shows that local housing sales in the Colorado Springs metro area are off to a good start, reinforcing that recovery in the local housing market will continue, and even grow, in 2013.

Some of the January Statistics are:

• 1,206 new listings of Single Family/Patio homes
• 1,543 total listings under contract
• The average sale prices stayed above $205,000 and below $250,000

The total sales--some think this is the bottom line--came in at 660 Single Family/Patio homes for January 2013.

A January 31st Gazette article quotes Bruce Betts, owner of Remax Advantage in Colorado Springs, as saying, "We're going in the right direction."

On February 4th, The Gazette reported that other industry positive indicators are:

• It took an average of 87 days for homes to sell in January, down from 101 days during the same month last year.
• There were 2,930 homes listed for sale in January, down 7.2 percent from a year ago and one of the lowest monthly inventories of homes for sale in 12 years.

With mortgage rates at all-time lows and a stable supply of homes for sale, this is a good time for investors in Colorado Springs to buy homes. Contact All Seasons, LLC to find the perfect house for you!

Gazette: Winter Watering of Landscape Especially Important This Year in Colorado Springs

Published by The Gazette | January 28, 2013 | Written by R. Scott Rappold

Trees Need Water All Year

Drought — you can see it everywhere.

From the bare hills of the Waldo Canyon burn scar to half-full reservoirs to the mostly snowless face of Pikes Peak, there’s no denying this winter is shaping up to be even worse than last year.

As of last week, mountain snowpack was at 62 percent of average and Colorado Springs had received less than half its normal winter precipitation. Forget about your lawn. Experts say, in such times, people need to act to save their trees from what one local company called the “horticultural cliff.”

“Winter watering right now is just critical,” city forester Paul Smith said. “Boy, when we get those 50-degree days, people should drag that hose out and let it run slow on their trees.”

* * *

Myth: Colorado Springs is a natural environment for our many trees.

Fact: The city was a tree-less prairie when founded in 1872.

* * *

The Pikes Peak region has been in and out of drought for more than a decade, which has led the city to remove hundreds of dead or dying trees from medians and rights-of-way.

“We always live in a drought area,” Smith said. “We’re a semi-arid to an arid high plains desert, so we’re always in a water deficit.”

Still, the elm, spruce, oak and other trees that have been planted over the years usually can survive, if not thrive, in this climate.

But when stressed by persistent drought, they become vulnerable to pests and disease.

Smith said ips beetles have been killing spruce and ponderosa pine at a higher-than-normal rate. Scale insects have been killing older elm trees. While the mountain pine beetle that has decimated the northern part of Colorado isn’t here in great numbers, other insects such as weevils are. There is also the threat of disease, such as Dutch elm disease and pine wilt, which attacks Austrian and Scotch pine.

* * *

Myth: Trees go dormant in winter and don’t need water.

Fact: While the tree’s functions slow, it does not shut down.

* * *

“Think of yourself sleeping at night. You’re not burning a lot of calories. You are still burning some calories because those internal functions are still happening,” said Barbara Bates, El Paso County horticulture agent for the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. “Trees are still burning some sugars. They’re still doing respiration. They’re still doing maintenance.”

That’s why she said at least once a month, when the temperature is in the 40s or 50s and the ground isn’t frozen, people should water their trees.

Pines should be the highest priority because they stay more active in winter, as well as trees on south- and west-facing slopes that receive more sunshine. And the time to do it is now, to help the trees produce more and healthier buds in the spring.

“If you can do some preventative watering and try to keep those trees out of the stress zone, you’re saving yourself money in the long run and that’s the best thing you can do to try to ensure the survival of the tree,” Bates said.

* * *

Myth: You should water the trunk of a tree.

Fact: Watering is most effective at the “drip line,” the edge of the canopy.

* * *

When you’ve dragged out the garden hose on a warm winter day, Bates suggests finding a way to water slowly, to ensure that more water sinks into the cold ground. Use a low sprinkler setting or pour from a bucket with holes in the bottom.

Around the tree’s canopy, drop enough that each area gets at least 2 inches of water.

In city parks and medians, crews use water trucks to irrigate trees whenever the temperature is high enough. But trees in the rights-of-way along streets are the responsibility of residents to water.

But watering might not be enough, especially if the dry winter becomes a dry spring.

“The typical customary March and April, you get some decent heavy, wet snow. That’s the bulk of the moisture, our snowiest months,” said Tony Hahn, landscape care consultant with Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care, “Last April we didn’t get it. And last March we didn’t get it.”

By June, the city was parched and the foothills were a tinderbox, a perfect storm for the outbreak of the Waldo Canyon fire, the most destructive in Colorado history.

As spring arrives and insects get more active, he said residents should keep a close eye on conifers such as spruce and Austrian and ponderosa pine, especially if they are on a south- or west-facing slope. Signs of poor tree health include slow growth, change in needle colors, needles dropping and small, nonproducing buds.

Holes in bark, sawdust, yellow or red spots and the presence of woodpeckers are indications of insects. Older, larger trees are most susceptible, Hahn said.

Concerned tree owners can hire a company to spray preventively or after-the-fact for insects, at a cost of about $70 for two trees and $8-$15 per additional tree, Hahn said.

Bates, the horticulture agent, was asked how worried she is for the health of Colorado Springs’ trees.

On a scale of one to 10, she said, “We’re all at about 10 right now, maybe between 9 and 10. We’re all very concerned.”

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/watering-150275-winter-age.html#ixzz2JOM6W6Pa

Developers to Bring on New Lots in 2013 in The Pikes Peak Region

Published by The Colorado Springs Business Journal | December 27 2012 | Written by Amanda Miller

New home construction heated up in 2012 and most in the industry expect that the building will continue into 2013.

The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department issued 2,022 single-family building permits in the first 10 months of the year. There were more single-family permits issued in El Paso County this year than in any other county in the state, according to a report from the Colorado Division of Housing. El Paso and Douglas counties accounted for a third of the 9,261 single-family building permits issued in the state through October.

It was a great year for Colorado Springs homebuilders, said John Bissett, CEO of JM Weston Homes and new president of the Colorado Springs Housing and Building Association.

“It was about 50 percent better than 2011,” Bissett said.

New home construction has been up across the country, he said, and it seems like the increased activity will continue, though 2013 is unlikely to climb another 50 percent ahead of 2012.

“The buying public has been sitting on the sidelines long enough,” Bissett said.

He said there has been pent-up demand and people are now coming out to buy new homes. Bissett said most of the activity has been in the lower and mid-range homes priced less than $300,000. That’s likely to continue, though Bissett said there could be increased interest in higher-priced homes as the market continues to improve.

“What you’ll see in 2013 that you haven’t seen for years will be developers working on bringing more lots online,” Bissett said.

He says it will start with Cordera, a luxury development on the northeast end of town, which is preparing to bring new lots online early in the new year. While developers will be finishing more lots, Bissett said he doesn’t expect to see developers breaking ground on any new communities in 2013.

“Developers are still pretty constrained in terms of obtaining financing,” Bissett said.

Read more on CSBJ.com: http://csbj.com/2012/12/27/developers-to-bring-on-new-lots-in-2013/

Gazette: COSprings Foreclosure Picture Continues to Brighten

Published by The Gazette | December 21 2012 | Written by Rich Laden

Colorado Springs-area foreclosure activity declined again in October — the latest in a series of positive signs for the local single-family housing market, a national report showed Thursday.

The Springs-area foreclosure rate — measured by the percentage of properties in some state of foreclosure — fell to 1.16 percent in October from 1.53 percent during the same month last year, according to CoreLogic, a California-based housing research firm. The local foreclosure rate has seen year-over-year declines each month since April 2011, the report showed.

Meanwhile, the percentage of properties with mortgages that were delinquent for 90 days or longer fell to 3.62 percent in October from 4.11 percent a year earlier. The delinquent rate also has been in a steady decline for much of the past two years.

“It’s on a track heading in the right direction,” said Joe Clement, owner of Re/Max Properties in Colorado Springs. “Now, is it going to stay that way? I don’t know.”

While foreclosure activity has waned, and home construction, sales and prices all have improved for much of 2012, Clement said he worries that federal spending cuts could lead to layoffs in the local defense industry. Likewise, he wonders if some employers will reduce payrolls to avoid mandates in the nation’s federal health care law.

Fewer jobs for a local economy where the unemployment has been above 9 percent for months will only hurt gains made this year in housing, Clement said.

“It seems like it’s on the mend, but I don’t think we’re fixed,” Clement said of the single-family housing market. “There are too many question marks about 2013.”

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/springs-148796-foreclosure-continues.html#ixzz2FizETA1a

NAR: More Real Estate Pros Optimistic About Home Values

Published by RealtorMag | December 18 2012 | In The Daily Real Estate News Section

More real estate professionals are optimistic about the direction of home prices, according to a fourth-quarter survey by HomeGain of more than 200 practitioners and brokers. 

Sixty-five percent of real estate professionals say they expect home values to rise in the next six months, up from 51 percent in the previous quarter.  In the fourth quarter of 2011, only 15 percent of practitioners said they expected home prices to rise. 

“We are seeing a continued increase in optimism about the direction of home prices,” says Louis Cammarosano, general manager of HomeGain. “Real estate agents expect the recent pick up in the real estate market to continue in the coming two years.”

Indeed, the optimism in home values increases even more the further the outlook: Seventy-nine percent of real estate professionals and 62 percent of home owners say home values will likely increase in the next two years, according to the survey. Eleven percent of real estate practitioners say they expect home values to fall in the next six months. 

Here are the 10 states where real estate professionals are most confident about rising home prices over the next six months: 

1. Idaho
2. Michigan
3. Arizona
4. Texas
5. Indiana
6. California
7. Florida
8. Virginia
9. North Carolina
10. Colorado

The following are the top states where homeowner confidence about home values over the next six months is highest: 

1. Arizona
2. Nevada
3. Texas
4. Colorado
5. Wisconsin
6. Washington
7. Michigan
8. Virginia
9. Massachusetts
10. Tennessee

Read more at: http://ow.ly/gcKHB