Mariana Wagner

About Colorado Springs Category

Woodmen Vistas – Update on New Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity Neighborhood in N/E Colorado Springs, CO

This is an update to my previous post: New Habitat for Humanity Neighborhood at N. Powers Blvd. and E. Woodmen Rd. (Colorado Springs, CO).

• Woodmen Vistas will consist of about 10 acres and 67 home sites. This land will be combination effort of two organizations: Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity and Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust.
• Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust will have the other 5 acres and have various plans for that land that include:
  • 11 Low Income Houses for families living at or below 80% of the City’s mean income. These homes will be mortgaged for the amount of the home only – not the land that it sits on.
  • Moving in 5 pre-existing homes to Woodmen Vistas
  • Possible sale of several lots to other home builders
• Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity will have about 5 of those acres dedicated to homes for families living at or below 50% of the city’s mean income.
  • These homes will be developed, built and mortgaged by PPHFH.
  • Families that qualify for a PPHFH Home will help build the home and will get a zero-interest mortgage for the appraised value of the home, but only be held to the actual COST of the home. This means that if the home COST $100,000 to build and it appraised at $200,000, the purchase price would be $200,000 but the homeowner would only make payments on a $100,000 zero-interest loan. Once the $100,000 was paid off the remaining difference between the appraised value and COST would be forgiven.
    This ensures that the homeowner would remain a homeowner and for neighboring appraisal purposes, market value would be retained.
  • A family that owns a PPHFH home would not be able to sell the home for a profit at any point. If, for some reason, the homeowner HAD to sell the home, PPHFH would have 1st Right of Refusal. The mission of PPHFH is for low income families to reap the benefits of home ownership – not to exploit the purpose of PPHFH for monetary gain. In fact, over 98% of all Habitat for Humanity Homeowners remain in their home and never sell.
• Woodmen Vistas WILL have an HOA. Plans are in place that would have the HOA maintain the front yards, take care of the trash removal. These plans are still being drafted.
• All the streets in Woodmen Vistas will be city streets and maintained by the City of Colorado Springs.
• Children living in Woodmen Vistas would attend Academy School District 20 Schools.
• PPHFH plans to “break ground” in Spring 2008. (Rocky Mountain Community Land Trust may begin earlier than that.)
• If all goes as planned, the new Woodmen Vistas neighborhood will be complete by 2011.
• This neighborhood will be the largest PPHFH development to this date.

• If you are interested in donating, they are always in need of QUALITY BUILDING SUPPLIES.
• If you are interested in sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity home, the sponsor fee is about $55,000 per house. Local real estate companies, churches and other coalitions have co-sponsored several homes in Colorado Springs already, but there is always need for more sponsors.
• If you are interested in volunteering, PPHFH is in great need of a Licensed Labor force: Electricians, Plumbers, Cement and Curb pourers, and laborers for ditching among others are in high demand.

August 28th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | 2 Comments »

New Habitat for Humanity Neighborhood at North Powers Blvd. and East Woodmen Rd. (Colorado Springs)

The city of Colorado Springs has approved a new Habitat for Humanity development in Northeastern Colorado Springs. This new neighborhood will be called Woodmen Vistas and will consists of a little over 9.5 acres and have 3 building phases totaling 67 single family detached homes on lots between 3,325 sf 13,210 sf. It will be located just north of Woodmen Road, east of Tutt Boulevard and south of Sorpresa Lane, and to the south of the neighborhood of Cumbre Vista.

August 27th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Colorado Springs Parks – Dog Parks!

Colorado Springs offers many places for dog owners to hike, play and have fun with their dogs. Dogs are welcome in any city park or on any city trail as long as they are leashed.

Some “off-leash” parks are also around town. These include:

Dog Runs “Hiking areas where dogs are allowed off-leash if kept under control“

Dog Parks “Fenced areas where dogs are allowed off-leash if kept under control”

• Cheyenne Meadow Park – Native grass area off Charmwood Dr. and Canoe Creek Dr.
• Palmer Park – Old baseball field, .3 miles from Maizeland entrance
• Rampart Park – Just east of the baseball diamond.

Basic rules for taking your dog out and about:

1. Please keep your dog on a leash unless you are in one of the “un-leashed” areas mentioned above.
2. Please pick up after your dog. All neighborhood parks have “doggie-bag” dispensers and trash cans for your convenience.
3. Please make sure that your dog is under control – whether on a leash or not.

For more information on Dog Parks in Colorado Springs or Monument, please visit the Parks and Rec. Homepage.

August 26th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Understanding the Chateau at Antelope Ridge

The Chateau at Antelope Ridge is a community of single family homes located in the eastern part of Colorado Springs, (South of Barnes and East of Marksheffel) with sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains, and is close to parks & schools, just minutes from the Powers Corridor- shopping, movies, restaurants, recreation and just a short drive to the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.

In a Colorado Springs MLS search, the homes for sale in this neighborhood are quite enticing, as 3 Bed 2 Bath 1300+ s.f newer homes, in nice condition and in a popular part of town are priced at between $40,000 and $150,000 – Almost $100,000 LESS than the average sales price in Colorado Springs.

Why are these homes priced so low?

We, personally, answer this question all the time. We have done a lot of research and really understand both the pros and cons of this neighborhood. Here’s the Scoop:

The homes located in this community are modulars and there are two types currently available. The older homes (built before 2005) were built as HUD modulars and the financing is limited. From our research, these homes all require at least 20% down. The newer homes (2005 and newer) can be purchased with traditional financing, as they are constructed differently. (In fact, there is still a sales office in the neighborhood that is offering new build homes in the mid-$100′s.)

Also, homeowners who live in the Chateau at Antelope Ridge do not own the land that their home is on, but the homeowners are responsible for the maintenance of their immediate yard. Homeowners “lease” the land that they are on. Some homes are on a 99 Year Land Lease, and some are on a 30+ year land lease. This “lease” and HOA’s cost the homeowner about $400. a month – on top of whatever mortgage that the homeowner has. For example, a home purchased for $100,000 would be making the same TOTAL monthly payments that a homeowner with a $130,000 mortgage on a traditional home would make. However, residents do not pay real estate taxes – as they do not own the land. The community is currently owned by BaseCamp Communities LLC.

What’s more, the appreciation values on these homes are drastically lower than “traditional” homes in Colorado Springs. Someone looking to buy a home in Chateau at Antelope Ridge must be willing to live in it for 5-7 years to see any noticeable appreciation.

No. This neighborhood is not for everyone.

However, it IS a great opportunity for someone looking to live in a quiet, peaceful community with great amenities and would be willing to hunker down and call this low maintenance “Resort-Like” community “home” for several years.

So, now that you understand the nuts and bolts of the pricing, let’s take a look at what the HOA fees cover and the benefits the Chateau at Antelope Ridge has to offer its residents…

Amenities for Homeowners:

• 4,000 s.f. private community center
• Private 9-station fitness center
• Private 24-hour business center, which includes:
  • Internet Access
  • Fax Machines
  • Copy Machines
• 2 Outdoor swimming pools
• Playground
• Planned social activities- year round!
  • Movie Nights
  • Tuesday Coffee
  • Bingo
  • Holiday Parties

Other Homeowner Benefits:

• Pet Friendly (about a 40 lb. weight limit)
• No Renters- All homes are owner occupied.
• Homeowners pay NO Real Estate Tax.
• On-Site Management
• Privately maintained roads
• Snow Removal
• Community landscaping
• Green Areas
• Mature landscaping
• Well-cared for community

Schools: Falcon School District 49

• Springs Ranch Elementary School
• Skyview Middle School
• Sand Creek High School

They are still building homes (Genesis Homes) and have some great lots with stunning views to choose from.

** HOT TIP for Internet Home Surfers **
To quickly identify homes in this community while searching for homes for sale in Colorado Springs… here is a list of the streets that make up the Chateau at Antelope Ridge: Black Bear – Crested Jay – Grey Fox – Grizzly Bear – Grosbeak – King Fisher – Marmot – Pika – Pine Marten – Valley Quail – Whip Tail

March 8th, 2007 by Mariana Wagner | 1 Comment »