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What are my housing choices near Fort Carson?
Colorado Springs Military Relocation Tips
Must Read Posts: Relocating, it’s all about the schools
When relocating to Fort Carson, there are many neighborhoods to choose from including the Cheyenne Mountain area in southwest Colorado Springs, Fountain, Security/Widefield which are close to the base, and the Powers Corridor on the East Side of town. Commute times vary from 5-35 minutes from these areas.
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Fountain, Security/Widefield
Due to its close location to the base and an abundance of affordable housing, Fountain and Security/Widefield are one 
of the most popular choices for Fort Carson Relocation. Directly East from I-25 , Fountain is a vibrant growing community. Fountain is located 10 miles south of Colorado Springs and the Fountain Valley area also includes Security and Widefield; which are located in-between Colorado Springs and Fountain. Commute times to Fort Carson range from 5-20 minutes. Some of my favorite neighborhoods in the area are the Glen at Widefield, Windmill Mesa, and Clearview Estates.
Cheyenne Mountain in Southwest Colorado Springs
Cheyenne Mountain is on the southwest side of Colorado Springs, just north of Post. Part of the area is included in one of the most poplar school systems, District-12, Read the rest of this entry »
Colorado Springs rated in the top 10 on Forbes Best Places for Business and Careers
Colorado Springs Awards
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Congratulations Colorado Springs! You’ve been voted in at number ten for the Best Places for 
Business and Careers according to Forbes Magazine. In Colorado, we came in at number 10, while Ft. Collins came in at number 2. Two other city’s showed up in the top 20, Denver at number 14 and Boulder at number 20. Way to go Colorado!
North Carolina and Colorado are certainly winners here as they managed to capture ten of the top twenty on the list. There are plenty of mid-western cities on the list as well. Interesting was the lack of places in Read the rest of this entry »
NORAD is still alive and smaller under Cheyenne Mountain
NORAD
- After fierce competition Colorado Springs finally lands the Air Force Academy
- Military relocation? 6 tips to read before you buy a home
- An early history of Ft. Carson
- History of Ft. Carson part II
NORAD today, stills sits under the caverns of Cheyenne Mountain, even though its in a warm 
status. It may not be as large as it once was due to the consolidation of NORAD and Northcom now housed mainly at Peterson Air Force Base, but its still there protecting us from not just external but now internal threats with the help of the FAA.
In 1957, both Canada and the United States were reeling from the threats of the Soviet Union, especially after the launch of the first satellite, Sputnik. Everyone was scared and even schoolchildren were drilled on diving under their desks and covering their heads in case of a nuclear strike. Both countries realized the importance of a continental home alarm system. This lead to the creation of NORAD at Ent Air Force Base (now the Olympic Training Center). Read the rest of this entry »
33 Unique things to do- #7 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Cheyenne Mt. Zoo
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sits above The Broadmoor Hotel at 6,800 feet up Cheyenne Mountain.
Spencer Penrose was originally given a bear and then other exotic animals became part of his collection. After a child was bitten, he decided he needed a place to house his menagerie and so he built and incorporated it in 1926. Over the years its delighted young and old alike. Want to feed giraffes? You can certainly do that here.
With its 172 species of wild animals, engaging exhibits and irresistible attractions, The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo serves the citizens and visitors of Colorado Springs Read the rest of this entry »
New help for Colorado homeowners facing foreclosure
f you are interested in a short sale, It’s important to utilize a Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent that specializes in Pre-foreclosures, Foreclosures, and Short Sales; and has a successful and ethical track record. Call Kathy Torline – Nordstrom, 719-287-1049.
Governor Ritter is expected to sign a new bill approved by the state Senate that will give 
homeowners facing foreclosure an 90 day window to try and work out a way to keep their homes. The bill would require the state to post a notice on the doors of foreclosed homes no later than 15 days after the foreclosure notice is delivered. The homeowner would then have five days to contact the state’s foreclosure hot line (1-877-601-hope) and set up an appointment with a foreclosure counselor. If the homeowners can prove they have income then the lender will be required to meet with them to try and work out a payment plan.
During the next 90 days, foreclosure proceedings would be suspended, although the homeowner would have to keep paying 2/3 of the mortgage payment. Mortgage brokers support the plan as they’re more interested in saving the investment than taking possession of the homes where it would show up as bad debt and that doesn’t help the lenders.
This new bill would certainly help many Colorado homeowners though not everyone would benefit. If the homeowner has no income due to a loss of a job, and they have no ability to repay the mortgage, there’s no help for them in this bill . The lenders are only required to meet with these homeowners, not come to an agreement with the owners, but many are willing to try, given all the foreclosed homes they’re carrying on their books.
Must Read posts:
If you enjoyed reading this article, why not Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com
New rules make condo buying harder
Colorado Springs Condos — just got harder to buy
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Fannie Mae has instituted new rules when it comes to giving loans for condos. If the building is brand new, they want to make sure there 
are enough owners to pay for maintenance and preserve the value of the property. These new rules are designed to protect the buyers and lenders but they could also make it harder for the owners to sell them.
Fannie Mae will only guarantee mortgages in new or newly converted condos if 70% of the units are sold or under contract. That 70% could be hard to reach if buyers cannot get financing. In older units, Fannie Mae will not guarantee a mortgage if more than 15% of the other owners are delinquent on the HOA fees.
Fannie Mae wants to reduce the risk for lenders and protect buyers from Read the rest of this entry »
Some Irish fun on St. Patrick’s Day in Colorado Springs
St. Patrick’s day celebrations
Like the warmth of the sun
And the light of the day, 
May the luck of the Irish
shine bright on your way.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to one and all! I’m thinking we’re all a little Irish today. Want to know of some places to hang your hat tonight and have a little bite and some great beer? Here’s a few suggestions that will bring out the Irish in all.
No Irishman will ever turn down a request to head to Jack Quinn’s, a nationally recognised pub and alehouse in downtown Colorado Springs. The restaurant offers a full menu of Irish fare along with all your favorite brews. Better get there early as they are full up most of the day.
In the mood for something a little more upscale? How about Mackensie’s Chop House located in the historic Alamo building. You can find some of the finest and freshest steaks and seafood Read the rest of this entry »
Honoring Colorado Springs founder on the 100th anniversary of his death
General William Jackson Palmer
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For other information on the General check out these articles:
- The Founder of Colorado Springs, William Jackson Palmer
- The Young Years of Colorado Springs
- Tea and crumpets in Colorado Springs
- The End of an Era in Colorado Springs
Today marks the 100th anniversary of General William Jackson Palmer’s death. He died on March 13, 1909. He fell off a horse in 1906 and was paralyzed from then until his death. He wanted no fuss made about his death and his family had him cremated. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, but the town would not forget their favorite founder. They had a parade that went from Pikes Peak Ave. to the cemetery. Today, we still value his foresight on designing this beautiful city that we call home.
To honor his life, there are many activities being planned from now into next week. I hope you’ll take a look through and maybe plan on attending one or two of them. Read the rest of this entry »
Relocating to The Air Force Academy? Here’s some great info to make your move easier.
Moving to the Air Force Academy?
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
Are you preparing for a move to the Air Force Academy? If so, I hope you find these sites 
helpful. The Academy is celebrating its 50th graduation in May and it continues to educate young men and women for service with The United States Air Force. The Academy has approximately 4000 cadets and graduates about 1000 per year.
If you are moving here with your family, there are four housing areas located on the grounds of the Academy. You can also live off base where there is plenty of housing located in the northern part of Colorado Springs, Monument or Palmer Lake.
Anyone being transferred to the Academy is assigned a sponsor to make your transition easier, but here is some arrival information that will also help make your move go more smoothly.
If you have children of school age, they will be attending the award winning District 20 school system, Read the rest of this entry »
33 unique things to do in Colorado Springs — #4 Air Force Academy Chapel
Air Force Academy
- After fierce competition Colorado Springs finally lands the Air Force Academy
- An early history of Ft. Carson
- History of Ft. Carson part II
Located on the grounds of The United States Air Force Academy, sits Colorado’s top man-made tourist attraction. It’s the cadet chapel and along with the Academy itself was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2004.
It has 17 silvery spires, which are three dimensional, elongated triangles that sweep upward from the building. Stained glass bathes the interior in natural light. Some people complained in the 1960’s when it was completed that it “looked like upended fighter wings and that worshiping there was like going to church in a B-52″. The architect, Walter Netch, wanted the effect to convey the appearance of the great cathedrals of Europe, although done in the modern elements of Read the rest of this entry »
Mona Lisa Restaurant… a perfect romantic dinner
Mona List Restaurant in Colorado Springs
In the mood for a truly romantic getaway? Come to The Mona Lisa in Manitou Springs and you won’t be disappointed.
Mona Lisa is a fixture of West-Side Colorado Springs cuisine. The restaurant is in an old building with small rooms, creaky, crooked floors and steep stairs (check out the bathrooms where you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time about 100 years). It was originally built as a hotel in the late 1800’s. Old, signed wine bottles from previous guests line the walls and cubbies where a few of mine are there somewhere.
The food is magnificent. The four course meal includes salad; your choice of a regular salad, Caesar or their salad of the day (which when we went was a spinach with goat cheese, yummy), Read the rest of this entry »
Air Force Academy is finally built in Colorado Springs
Air Force Academy
- An early history of Ft. Carson
- After fierce competition Colorado Springs finally lands the Air Force Academy
- History of Ft. Carson part II
The Federal Government and the Air Force considered the Academy’s design extremely important. Air Force Secretary Talbott stated, ” We want our 
structures to be as efficient and as flexible in their design as the most modern projected aircraft.” The Air Force chose the nationally-recognized architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Associates (SOM) to make its vision for the Academy a reality.
Ground was finally broken in 1955 and as many as 5000 people were needed to build the largest single education facility ever built in the United States
The Academy had a new style of architecture that used glass, aluminum, steel, and concrete rather than traditional materials like stone, marble, or brick. The design sparked heated debate and severe criticism from citizens and politicians alike. Read the rest of this entry »
USDA has money to lend for home buyers in rural areas of Colorado!
Are you searching for a home in Colorado that’s perhaps a little out of the way? Perhaps an area like Peyton or Rush (even parts of the Springs may qualify). Do you have a good credit rating but lack a big down payment? (only requirement is $100 down). Perhaps you only make a small amount of the median income in the area, which might prevent you for qualifying for a conventional
USDA has MONEY to lend for home loans
loan. There’s help out there for you in the form of a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) home loan! That’s right, the USDA has a home loan program geared to help people with a low to moderate income purchase homes in rural areas (you may also be surprised at what rural means). These loans are backed by the US government and unlike FHA loans, USDA loans do not require the borrower to qualify for monthly mortgage insurance premiums.
To see if you qualify based on the income limits, visit Colorado USDA office adjusted income limits which can provide you the limits based on the county that you want to purchase your home in.
USDA loans offer competitive rates and also allow seller concessions to be used towards closing costs. There’s no Read the rest of this entry »
New FHA limits increased again for 2009 in El Paso County
FHA has new loan limits
One of our favorite guest writers, Harry Venick sent me an email yesterday stating that the FHA has increased the loan limits for El Paso County!
According to Harry, “FHA loan limits have been increased for 2009 again: El Paso County $ 325,000(1unit ), $ 416,050 (2units), $502,900 (3units), and $ 625,000 (4units).”
Harry Venick is a Sr. Loan Officer with Adams Mortgage, LLC. He can be reached at (719) 955-3674 or his cell is: (719) 338-3879.
If you’ve been holding off because you haven’t been able to get a large enough loan with the FHA, it might be a great time to revisit Read the rest of this entry »
After fierce competition Colorado Springs finally lands the Air Force Academy
Air Force Academy History
Search for Homes in near the AFA in Colorado Springs
Must Read Posts:
After WWII, the Air Force decided that they needed their own military school. A board was formed in 1950 that recommended the Air Force Academy be established without delay and also proposed that no less than 40% of their officers be academy graduates
But where to put it? Many cities and towns were lobbying for it, as it would bring an economic boom to whomever finally was able to call it their own. Colorado Springs really wanted it. After the war, with the soldiers all leaving Ft. Carson, the Springs was noticing a decline in population which meant apartments, homes and stores were vacant. Colorado Springs formed a chamber of commerce committee. The committee was led by John Love (later a three term governor). It also included Thayer Tutt, Read the rest of this entry »
Charles Tutt, one of Colorado Springs Pioneers
Search for Historic Homes in Colorado Springs
I came across an article that stated the original Marion House Soup Kitchen located at 14 W. Bijou, once belonged to Charles and Josephine Tutt. The home was a three story victorian built about 1890. The Tutt’s and their heirs were pioneers here in Colorado Springs and I’ve often 
heard how important they were, but who exactly was Charles Tutt Senior, friend and business partner to Spencer Penrose?
Charles Leaming Tutt was born in Philadelphia and was a school friend of Spencer Penrose. His father died when he was twelve and he had to leave school to earn a living. He was always on the sickly side and therefore, decided to locate to Colorado Springs in 1884. He actually had a ranch in Black Forest until he met and married Josephine Thayer in 1887. She refused to live in the country, so Charles sold his ranch and moved into Colorado Springs and started a real estate and insurance business and occasionally trying to get rich in the gold mines. His offices were located at 14 E. Pikes Peak, which is now unimproved land. Apparently, at some point there was a building there which is now gone.
Tutt had purchased the COD mine in Cripple Creekbut until Spencer Penrose showed up to get it Read the rest of this entry »
Resources for building a Green Home
Green Homes
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Are you considering building the home of your dreams this year? The newest trend is to build green by using materials that are environmentally friendly, designing your space to use energy 
more efficiently, furnishing your home with Energy Star rated appliances, avoiding waste and using natural resources as much as possible.
There’s also the advantage of doing your bit to help the environment while cutting back on your own utility bills.
Here are a few websites that offer help while you’re in the planning stages of building green: Read the rest of this entry »
Fun stuff for Valentine’s Day in Colorado Springs
Valentine’s Day
With Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought you might like to know of some fun things to do or buy for the special someone in your life.
Want to have a special dinner and maybe a stay overnight? How about a night at The Broadmoor and then stay for one of their wonderful Sunday Brunches the next morning. What could be better than that? They even add chocolate and champagne at bedtime. Yummy!
Want a romantic dinner? How about trying the Briarhurst Manor where they are offering romantic dinners all week with a six course prix fix meal. They definitely spoil you there, so give them a call.
If dinner isn’t in your plans, don’t forget the flowers! We have one of the best floral shops around Read the rest of this entry »
Moving to Ft. Carson? Here’s some info for our new soldiers and their families
Moving to Ft. Carson soon?
Here are some helpful sites and info to make it as smooth as possible.
- look for the statue of Kit Carson also located by the main gate
Ft. Carson Army Base is also known as The Mountain Post and is located in the southwestern part of Colorado Springs. The main gate is located at I-25 and South Academy, though there are many gates to the base. The base extends past Fountain, where they are building a new improved gate (Gate 20) for all the new soldiers and their families who will be relocating here.
Quite a few of you will probably live on base and you might like to know what the housing it like. Feel free to check out the housing page. Don’t forget to check out the wonderful info located on the about page. If you plan on living off base and would like to purchase a home or get more info on the possibility of owning a home, please take a look at searching for homes.
Children on Ft. Carson attend Read the rest of this entry »
Make a difference in Colorado Springs on January 19,2009! King Day of Service
Make A Difference
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
A wonderful characteristic of the people of Colorado Springs is their willingness to serve others. Tomorrow, people of all ages and backgrounds will be donating their time and talent to benefit a great many churches, 
schools and other community nonprofit causes. These actions are critically important because volunteering today is a necessary aspect of meeting the many needs facing us and our country.
On Monday, January 19,2009; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day thousands of Americans across the country will commemorate his legacy through service, instead of just another Monday holiday. Will you help in Colorado Springs? You may ask yourself, how can I help? Check out this site to make a difference here in Colorado Springs. Read the rest of this entry »
