Mariana Wagner

About Colorado Springs Category

Who is Milton E. Proby?

If you have ever driven down South Powers Blvd, you have seen the street that leads to the Colorado Springs airport: Milton E. Proby Parkway.

I drive down this stretch of road all the time, and finally my curiosity got the best of me …

Who IS Milton E. Proby?

Well, I did some research and was delighted to learn who this gentleman was.

Per the El Pomar website:

“During his 47 years in Colorado Springs, Rev. Milton E. Proby actively championed the cause of all people facing issues of inequality and injustice in southern Colorado.”  Read the Full Article Here

Because of his great efforts, here in Colorado Springs, “In January 2006, Colorado Springs City Council voted unanimously to honor Reverend Proby by naming the gateway to the Colorado Springs Airport after him.” [source]

What a great memorial to a great man from Colorado Springs’ history!

May 11th, 2010 by Mariana Wagner | 1 Comment »

Habitat for Humanity Dedicated 3 Colorado Springs Homes

On Saturday, April 17 2010, Habitat for Humanity broke ground for new Colorado Springs homes for two local families: The (appropriately named) Greathouse family – currently living in a cramped trailer, and the Simbenga family – an African refugee family who fled the war in Congo.

The homes are being built in the Woodmen Vistas* neighborhood (N/E corner of Woodmen and Powers) should be complete in about 6 months.

The local Habitat for Humanity has made a positive impact on many families – building affordable housing in the Colorado Springs real estate market.

“Since 1986 Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity has built 95 homes in El Paso County. Their goal is to eliminate poverty housing by building simple affordable housing.” Chris Ornelas – ColoradoConnection

More Information:

• How to Qualify for a Habitat for Humanity Home in Colorado Springs
• How to Volunteer to Help with Habitat for Humanity Homes in Colorado Springs

*Woodmen Vistas is a neighborhood in N/E Colorado Springs, offering affordable homes in Academy School District 20.

For more information on homes for sale in Academy School District 20, please contact the Wagner iTeam: 719.434.8346

Check Out:

• Homes for Sale in 80920 – Briargate and Pine Creek
• Homes for Sale in 80924 – Cordera, Wolf Ranch and Cumbre Vista

April 18th, 2010 by Mariana Wagner | 2 Comments »

Cordera Real Estate Market and Neighborhood Information

Search Homes for Sale in the
Cordera Real Estate Market

Cordera Real Estate Neighborhood

The Cordera Real Estate market is located in the N/E part of Colorado Springs. It is a new home, master planned development in Academy School District 20. The Cordera real estate market is east of Powers Blvd. and North of Wolf Ranch.

Cordera Real Estate Market Boundaries:

South Boundary: Wolf Ranch neighborhood
North Boundary: Old Ranch Road
West Boundary: Powers Blvd. (Older Briargate neighborhoods)
East Boundary: Black Forest neighborhoods

Neighborhoods Near Cordera:

• Wolf Ranch real estate market (South)
• Black Forest real estate market (Northeast)
• Pine Creek real estate market (West)
• Flying Horse real estate market (North)
• Cumbre Vista real estate market (East)

Cordera Real Estate History

The first homes in Cordera were built in 2005. “Part of the original Briargate Master Plan, annexed to the City of Colorado Springs in 1982, Cordera represents the third major residential phase of the Briargate project build-out.” – Cordera.com

Cordera Neighborhood Highlights

• Cordera is only partially built-out and there are some great new home builders in Cordera, if you choose to buy a new home.
• All homes in the Cordera real estate market are 100% ENERGY STAR® Certified.
• There is a great Cordera Community Center that “includes a heated outdoor pool complete with kid’s splash zone and zero depth entry, state-of-the-art fitness equipment and fitness classes, multipurpose rooms and a 5+ acre Grand Lawn.” (Cordera.com)
• Learn More about Cordera

Cordera Homes – Academy District 20 Schools

Chinook Trail Elementary School (in Cordera)
11795 Grand Lawn Circle, Colorado Springs  80924
719.234.5700

Challenger Middle School (Across Powers from Cordera)
10215 Lexington Drive, Colorado Springs CO 80920
719.234.3000

Pine Creek High School (Just North of Cordera)
10750 Thunder Mountain Avenue, Colorado Springs CO 80908
719.234.2600

Cordera Real Estate Information

Resale Cordera Homes:
Homes in Cordera have 4-5 bedrooms, 3-4 bathrooms and an average of 3,100 sf. and can be found on one of over 24 streets in this NE Briargate neighborhood.

About 2 homes in Cordera sell each month. The average sale price is about $400,000, and prices range from the lower $300k’s to the upper $500k’s. Homes for sale in Cordera stay on the market about 3 months (91 days) before selling. [2009 PPMLS data]

New Home Builders in Cordera:

• Campbell Homes
• Keller Homes
• Saddletree Homes
• Vantage Homes
• Symphony Homes

Search Homes for Sale in the Cordera Real Estate Market

For more information on buying a new or resale home in the Cordera real estate market, or for more information on selling your Cordera home, please contact the Wagner iTeam: 719.434.8346

January 23rd, 2010 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

New York’s Skinniest Home Sells for $2.1 Million

The Colorado Springs Real Estate Connection’s Mariana Wagner grew up in New York City. So when interesting real estate sales pop up in the New York Real Estate market, we like to share them, here…

This is an interesting story about the sale of New York’s skinniest home.

“A town house dubbed New York City’s skinniest house has sold for $2.1 million.

The red, 9 1/2 foot wide, 42 foot long brick building in Greenwich Village was built in 1873 on land used as an alley between homes. The town house was listed for sale last August at $2.7 million. The two bedroom, two bath home last sold in 2000 for $1.6 million.”

- MSNBC.com – Sold: NYC’s ‘skinniest’ house, 9.5 feet wide: ‘Edna St. Vincent Millay’ house listed since August goes for $2.1 million

It is nice to learn about this “little” piece of New York history!

Now, the Colorado Springs real estate market has some historical homes and buildings, but since we were only founded in 1871, we will never have as deep of architectural history as New York, which was one of the original 13 American Colonies.

Most of Colorado Springs historical homes are found in the Downtown Colorado Springs real state market and the SW Broadmoor real estate market.

• Search All Downtown Colorado Springs homes for sale
• Search All SW Broadmoor Area homes for sale

We also have some luxury homes for sale in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas – Homes over $1 Million. Most of these homes can be found in the S/W Broadmoor real estate market and the Black Forest real estate market.

• Search All Luxury Broadmoor Real Estate Over $1 Million
• Search ALL Colorado Springs Luxury Homes for Sale Over $1 Million

**Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hairygrumpy/ / CC BY 2.0

January 15th, 2010 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Moving To Colorado Springs … or ANY New City? Check The Local Cost Of Living First.

Thinking of moving from or to Colorado Springs? Well, you are not alone. 24% of our population is transient every year – meaning that 24% of our population moves in or out of Colorado Springs each year.

It’s not only the real estate markets that differ from town to town — the Cost of Living does, too.

Insurance costs, tax bills and just plain, day-to-day living will dent a household budget differently depending on where that household is.  It can be a nerve-wracking fact for families moving across state borders.

For example, if you compare Denver to Colorado Springs, you can make 9.81% LESS in Colorado Springs and still maintain the same standard of living as you would in Denver.

As an aid for the budget-aware, Bankrate.com keeps a Cost of Living Comparison Calculator on its website.  The calculator asks 3 questions: (1) Where do you live now, (2) To where you are moving, and (3) What is your salary.  It then spits out a detailed, 58-item cost comparison list between the two cities.

Some of the key costs compared include:

• Everyday groceries (like T-Bone steaks, Ibuprofen, pizza …)
• Energy bills
• Routine health care (and common prescriptions)
• Home ownership (…and rent)
• Clothes
• Sporting goods

The Cost of Living Comparison Calculator is thorough, with data culled from the ACCRA. You’ll be surprised at how granular the list can get. On the ACCRA website, you can buy a similar report for $5.

On the Bankrate.com site, the data is free.

Great News! According to BestPlaces.net, “Compared to the rest of the country, Colorado Springs’ cost of living is 8.52% Lower than the U.S. average.”

When it comes to comparing Denver and Colorado Springs real estate, check it out:

In Colorado Springs (compared to Denver), homes are cheaper, mortgage payments and rent are lower and energy bills are lower, too!

How does Colorado Springs (population 380,307) compare to other like-sized cities across the US?

Moving to Colorado Springs CO from …

• Raleigh NC (pop.392,552) - You may take a 8.33% decrease and still maintain your standard of living.
• Tulsa OK (pop. 385,635) – You will need a 7.55% increase to maintain your standard of living.
• Minneapolis MN (pop. 382,605) – You may take a 19.64% decrease and still maintain your standard of living.
• Honolulu HI (pop. 374,676) – You may take a 44.46% decrease and still maintain your standard of living.
• Wichita KS (pop. 366,046) – You will need a 1.13% increase to maintain your standard of living.

If you are looking to take advantage of the lower cost of living by moving to our area, check out the homes for sale in Colorado Springs, or give us a call at: 719.434.8346

We love where we live and we love what we do!

Partial content and idea for this post compliments of Bring the Blog – Real Estate and Mortgage Blog Content.

December 29th, 2009 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment