CNNMoney recently released its Best Places To Live 2011 list.

The annual survey is based on data from Onboard Informatics. Using Quality of Life factors such as education, crime and “town spirit”, and focusing on towns with between 8,500 and 50,000 residents, the CNNMoney survey ranks the country’s best “small towns”.

To be eligible, towns must be have a median household income greater than 85 percent, and less than 200 percent of the state median income; must not be a categorized as a “retirement community”; and must be racially-diverse.

From a list of 3,570 eligible towns nationwide, Louisville, Colorado was ranked #1.

The complete Top 10 Best Places to Live as cited by CNNMoney, and their respective average home listing prices :

1. Louisville, Colorado ($383,569)
2. Milton, Massachusetts ($577,008)
3. Solon, Ohio ($291,162)
4. Leesburg, Virginia ($486,018)
5. Papillion, Nebraska ($218,520)
6. Hanover, New Hampshire ($643,500)
7. Liberty, Missouri ($177,678)
8. Middleton, Wisconsin ($347,770)
9. Mukilteo, Washington ($345,487)
10. Chanhassen, Minnesota ($418,607)

Rankings like these can be helpful to home buyers nationwide, but it’s important to remember that the Best Place To Live survey is subjective. You may find none of the above towns to be to your liking.

You may also find the lowest-ranked city to be your favorite.

In other words, before making a decision to buy, connect with a real estate agent who has local market knowledge. That’s the best, most reliable way to make sure you get the housing data that matters to you.

Louisville ranked #1 for its low crime rate, availablility of diverse jobs, abundance of outdoor activities, low sales tax (2.9%) and steady real estate market. Colorado Springs was not included in this study, as it is not considered a “small town”, but Black Forest (an area within Colorado Springs and Monument) was included and made #66!

But even given the size difference, how does Colorado Springs compare with the #1 city, Louisville?

• Colorado Springs actually has a higher job growth, at 9.6%, compared to Louisville at 3.7%.
• The median home sales price in the Colorado Springs real estate market is $179,500, compared to Louisville’s at $342,000.
• Colorado Springs median income is about $30k less than Louisville’s.
• Colorado Springs has a higher crime rate but also has a higher air quality.
• Colorado Springs and Louisville get to enjoy the same awesome Colorado weather and low sales tax.

For more information on living in Colorado Springs,
please contact the Wagner iTeam: (719) 434-8346

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.

THE LAW:

“A PERSON EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER SHALL NOT USE A WIRELESS TELEPHONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENGAGING IN TEXT MESSAGING OR OTHER SIMILAR FORMS OF MANUAL DATA ENTRY OR TRANSMISSION WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.”

As of December 1, 2009, Colorado drivers MAY NOT TEXT while driving.

Anyone UNDER 18 is NEVER allowed to use a cell phone (not for texting OR calling) while driving.

Read More: Colorado House Bill 1094

THE FINES:

• First Offense: $50.00 + $6.00 surcharge
• Second Offense: $100.00+ $6.00 surcharge

This violation of law is a secondary offense. This means that you must FIRST be violating another primary enforcement law, such as reckless driving , speeding or running a red light before you can be ticketed for violating Colorado’s new Cell Phone Law.

THE EXCEPTIONS:

In the case of an emergency, where the driver,

“has reason to fear for such person’s life or safety or believes that a criminal act may be perpetrated against such person or another person, requiring the use of a mobile communication device wireless telephone while the car is moving; or Reports a fire, a traffic accident in which one or more injuries are apparent, a serious road hazard, a medical or hazardous materials emergency, or a person who is driving in a reckless, careless, or otherwise unsafe manner.”

BE SAFE.

We spent a half day in Canon City, CO on a rafting trip down the Arkansas River. It was affordable and a lot of fun for our whole family! (Our kids are 14 and 6 years old.)

There are half-day and full-day rafting trips for all levels and all ages.

Canon City is about an hour away from Colorado Springs (S on 115 and W on 50), and if you keep traveling along Hwy 50, you will see TONS of rating companies ready to gear-you-up and take you through the different levels of rapids on the Arkansas River.

Wheeee!

Local Area Rafting Companies:

• Raft Masters
• River Runners
• Royal Gorge Rafting

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Connection
719.434.7525

But here are some pictures from our trip to the Manitou Incline. However, before I continue, here are some info on the Manitou Incline:

• The Manitou Incline used to be a railroad track. The rails are no longer there, but most of the ties are still in place.
• The average grade is about 40%, and the steepest grade is 68%!
• The complete hike is 1 mile long and ascends over 2,000 feet in altitude.
• The first 1/4 of the incline is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and the last 1/4 is owned by the Forest Service.
• The middle section is PRIVATE PROPERTY and to cross the signs and continue the hike is TRESPASSING … and  ILLEGAL.
• Regardless of this fact, DROVES of people (athletes and non-athlete’s alike) trek up the Manitou Incline every clear day.

Read More: About the Manitou Springs Incline

For as steep as the incline is, the hike TO the incline (from the parking lot – or where we parked …. further down Ruxton Avenue) is QUITE the workout as well.

Okay … Onto the Pictures: