Ruthie's Corner

Monthly Real Estate Market Stats for Cripple Creek Victor So, January is the start of the year and in real estate many people list their homes with the thought that might not get much traction until spring. In Southern Teller County we have a unique January. Some of the Properties listed at the start of the year sell quicker than the seller expects. My goal is once a month post the stats for Southern Teller County housing market to keep you informed on what is moving and what is not. Let’s start with Active listings on the market in January 2018. There where 46 active listings on the market which is up two from 2017. This January the average Days on Market was 37. The median sales price was $157,500. Which is up from 2017 where the median sales price was $155,375 with Days on the Market of 28. In January 8 properties sold in the Cripple Creek Victor Area, with a 93.9% chance of selling at listing price . Stay tuned for February 2018 stats which I will post at t...

Thank you!!!  I wanted to send a huge thank you to everyone who helped this weekend with the benefit for Meagan and her fight with ALS. It was a great turn out and a true showing of how great our community is!!! 

7 Tips for a Profitable Home Closing Be sure you’re walking away with all the money you’re entitled to from the sale of your home. Read Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. Copyright 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Hmm, this has taken some thought on my part to answer. I like to think positive about myself and not focus on my weaknesses, however, I am finding that thinking about it I see some areas that need to change. One of my strengths is I am a people person! I enjoy talking and listening to people, learning about them and how I might be able to help them out. I enjoy being a social butterfly when my body allows it. However, I also like to be a homebody, the internet and email helps with that since most people have email or Facebook. I feel that this strength helps me in the real estate business since people know me and are comfortable talking with me. I can learn what they are looking for and help them achieve that goal. Not all the time is the conversation about real estate, some days the conversation is about their children. These conversations give me great insight and I might come across an activity the children would love to attend. Anot...

The Gold Camp Bakery in Victor The Gold Camp Bakery in Victor Colorado has been a local staple for years. Family owned and run they have been filling the locals with delicious baked goods and sandwiches . They also offer fresh baked bread, German desserts, cookies, soup of the day, and pot pies. Located at 112 South Third Street in Victor come enjoy some of the best food on the mountain in a cozy small-town atmosphere.  

Insurance is a necessary evil. When you buy a home, you get to buy home owners insurance. Which sounds like a great deal, however it is important to make sure that you get the right coverage for your area. In Southern Teller County, it is important to make sure the property you are buying is not in a flood plain. If it is you must by Flood Insurance .   Also, another component of home insurance that we see up here is Fire coverage . We do not have a lot of fires here due to great fire mitigation that the residents do, but some of the larger fires have impacted our area and insurance companies are wanting fire coverage on their policies. We are a desert tundra so we do get cold but when we are in a drought it can get rough. Recent storms have brought some much-needed moisture but the fire danger changes every day depending on the winds. Keeping up on knowing what you will need as far as home owners insurance is going to be helpful in making sure you do not get hit with a big...

Home Buyers Want to Know Your Home Inside-Out While home buyers are as individual as the home they plan on purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to insure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be. “Will the roof leak?" “Is the wiring safe?” “What about the plumbing?” These and others, are the questions that the buyers looking at your home will seek professional help to answer. According to industry experts, there are at least 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection. We've identified the 11 most common of these and, if not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items you dearly in terms of repair. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself, if you know what you’re looking for.   And knowing what you’re looking for can help prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones. 11 Things That You need to Know   to Pass ...

3 Home Staging Mistakes to Avoid According to the latest statistics, a home that is staged sells 73% quicker. And for nearly 20% more money than a non-staged home. In fact, it’s been said that for every $100 a homeowner spends on staging, he will typically see a $250-400 return on that investment on the sale of the home – definitely worthwhile. Many homeowners try their own hand at staging. If you’re interested in staging your own home, you’ll want to avoid these staging mistakes: 1.  Too much furniture & too much clutter.  Take a look at the picture above. Think about a recent model home you toured. What is it that makes those spaces stand out? One thing is that the furniture is well placed, creating conversation areas in the living spaces. Another is there is no clutter. When staging, take a hard look at your rooms. Remove furniture you don’t need. Remember: the less furniture in the room, the larger the room will appear. 2.  Dark rooms . Cheery and ...

4 Tips for Saving Money for your 1st Home Saving money is never easy. When you’re hoping to purchase your first home, saving is a necessity! Try these cost-saving tips and soon you’ll have a nest egg to put toward your new place. 1.  Make a budget and stick to it . Consumer.gov has tips for making a budget. Create your budget and then commit to sticking to it (knowing that hard work will pay off when you find that beautiful home to call your own)! Be sure to track what you spend. And make sure to avoid any unnecessary spending – this is not the time to be buying a new car or making any similar large purchase. 2.  Talk to a lender about what you can afford . I know it’s exciting to go out looking at homes. But before doing so, you owe it to yourself to speak to a lender. Your lender will ask about your income and expenses and, within about 10 minutes, will be able to calculate what you can afford. Your lender can also help lay out all expenses associated with ...

Happening in Cripple Creek and Victor  Cripple Creek Feb. 9th-18th Cripple Creek Ice Festival This years theme is Renaissance in Ice!  Victor Feb 10-11th and 17-19th Free Ice Skating at Brian's Park!  Saturday, Feb. 17 Teddy Roosevelt at the Gold Coin Club PRESERVATION OF OUR NATURAL WONDERS....the use of the ANTIQUITIES ACT Presented by the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum Only 50 Tickets! $20 each plus 6% booking fee. Ruthie Grainger-Starr - providing AWESOME real estate adventures in Pikes Peak!