The Colorado Springs Real Estate Connection would like to introduce another great article from our friends at Bring the Blog. This article talks about the possible signs of recovery in the housing market.

Using data compiled in December, Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index Tuesday.  The report shows home prices down just 2.5% on an annual basis, a figure much lower than the 8.7% annual drop reported after Q3.

According to Case-Shiller representatives, the housing market is “in better shape than it was this time last year”, but some of the summer’s momentum has been lost. 15 of 20 tracked markets declined in value between November and December 2009.

Meanwhile, it’s interesting to note the 5 markets that didn’t decline — Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Diego.  Each of these metro regions were among the hardest hit nationwide when home prices first broke.  Now, they’re leading the pack in price recovery.

For some real estate investors, that’s a positive signal.  But we also have to consider the Case-Shiller Index’s flaws because they’re big ones.

As examples:

1. Case-Shiller data is reported on a 2-month lag
2. The Case-Shiller sample set includes just 20 U.S. cities
3. There’s no “national real estate market” — real estate is local

That said, the Case-Shiller Index is still important. As the most widely-used private sector housing index, Case-Shiller helps to identify broader housing trends and many people believe housing is a key element in the economic recovery.

If the markets that led the housing decline will lead the housing resurgence, December’s data shows that full recovery is right around the corner.

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

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

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

… which is great news for Colorado Springs home sellers!

Find the Value of Your Colorado Springs Home

As the housing market improves across the country, certain cities are emerging as relative bargains.  Some areas, like Miami, were hit hard by the recession, and other areas are buoyed by good school systems and strong labor markets.

In this 5-minute video from The Today Show, 10 cities are highlighted for their home prices.  And they’re not “small towns”, either.

Among the featured cities:

• Miami, Florida
• Akron, Ohio
• Tuscon, Arizona
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Trenton, New Jersey

Now, this piece is about finding gems on a national scale.  They exist locally , too.  You just need to know what to look for.

With mortgage rates low and tax credits available, it’s not likely that bargains will last.

Of course, there still are some great deals out there for Colorado Springs foreclosures, but apparently the Colorado Springs real estate market is holding pretty firm in home values – which is great news for folks looking to sell their home.

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

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

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.

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525