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• District 11 continues to be the biggest

There are many different ways to evaluate Colorado Springs schools, but one measurement is the graduation rate.    The percentages are based on a federal formula that takes the number of students receiving a regular diploma  divided by the number of students who started 9th grade + students transferred in – students transferred out.  Graduation rates are one indicator of whether the local Colorado Springs public school system is doing what it is intended to do: enroll, engage, and educate youth.

The complete reports are on the Colorado Department of Education web site, and you can download the data into an Excel Spreadsheet.    For someone who loves statistics (which is me),  it’s full of amazing information including the graduation rates by gender and by race; and you can even pull data by each High School in the districts.   As an example, in District 11, Mitchell High School has a 74.4% graduation rate vs. 81.2% for Coronado High School vs 61% for Wasson.   Also, it’s interesting to note that the average graduation rates in Colorado is 73%.    For another take on the information, check out the article in the Gazette, the Local Colorado Springs newspaper.

There is another web site that I’ve recently been seeing television commercials for called www.coloradoschoolgrades.com, where you can search for schools by many different ways including by district, by zip code, by address.  It grades the schools (A-F); and breaks down the grades by different subjects including Reading, Math, English and Science.  It rates the Cheyenne Mountain Grade School an A+, and Chipeta in District 11 in Mountain Shadows is also rated an A+.

Here’s a quick recap of the Colorado Springs Schools High School graduation rates:

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To find out more information about buying a home or an investment property in Colorado Springs area, call ….

Kathy (719-287-1049) KTorline@msn.com

Search for Colorado Springs Homes

With school now officially back in season, I thought it’d be a good time to provide you with the some general information about the local Colorado Springs school districts.  Also, While driving, don’t forget to watch out for all our little citizens as they make their way back to their local school after their summer vacations.

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Academy School District 20 

• Schools:  31
• Students:  22,229

• Schools:  7
• Students:  4,508

• Schools:  58
• Students:  30,000

• Schools:   23
• Students:  15,000

• Schools:   12
• Students:  7,365

• Schools:  2
• Students:  289

• Schools:  25
• Students:  10,100

• Schools:  10
• Students:  5,800

• Schools:   17
• Students:    9,043

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Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

Search for Colorado Springs Homes

One of the many factors involved in relocating to a new area are the schools and the quality of education.   There are many good schools districts in Colorado Springs, but I often have people ask me about the private schools; hence I thought I’d put together this info to share.   This is only a partial list, but it does include the larger Private Schools in Colorado Springs.  Also, as part of the research of putting together this article, I found a great web site on Private Schools, www.privateschoolreview.com.  The site includes info on the number of students, number of teachers, teacher-student ratio, tuition cost; and much more.

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Colorado Springs School

• Age 3 – grade 12
• www.css.org
• Location:  Southwest side of town

Catholic Schools of Colorado springs

• St. Mary’s High School 
  • Location:  Central
  • www.smhscs.org/
• Corpus Christ Catholic School  Pre-k – 12
  • Location:  Central/Downtown
  • corpuschristicos.org
• Divine Redeemer Catholic School  Pre-k – 12
  • Location:  Central
  • divineredeemer.net
• Pauline Memorial  Pre-k – 12
  • Location:  West
  • ucsppr.org

Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind

• Location:   Central
• csdb.org

Evangelical Christian Academy

• Pre-k thru 12
• www.ECAEagles.Org
• Location:  Central and East

Pikes Peak Christian School

• Pre-k thru 12
• www.pikespeakchristianschool.org/
• Location:  Northeast

Fountain Valley School

• www.fvs.edu/default.aspx
• Location:  South

Colorado Springs Christian School

• Pre-k thru 12
• cscslions.org
• Location:  North and Woodland Park

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To find out more information about buying a home or an investment property in Colorado Springs area, call ….

Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

Search for Colorado Springs Homes

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In today’s age of Internet savvy buyers, the pictures of a property that are posted online are everything.   And lately it seems like more and more buyers focus just as much on the outside of the property, including the landscaping, the backyard, the deck, the hot tub, the views, the front porch; just as much as they focus on the inside of the property.   They are buying more than a home, they are buying a lifestyle.

Many buyers moving to Colorado Springs are doing so because they want to enjoy the beautiful views and the outside space; yet over and over I see listings that don’t include any outdoor pictures.   Too bad for the sellers, as the outside can be just as important as the inside.

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To find out more information about buying a home or an investment property in Colorado Springs area, call ….

Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

 For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com

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Trulia recently purchased a mapping technology that draws statistics and inputs this information into a map.  One of the many challenges of being a Realtor that specializes in Colorado Springs relocation, is that people coming into the city want to know where it is safe to live; and where are the major areas of crime.    Since I’m bound by Fair Housing Laws, I have to be extremely careful of what type of information I share, as I’m not allowed to “discriminate” against particular neighborhoods.  But I can certainly direct potential buyers to different web sites that will help them gather their own information and make their own informed decisions.

Trulia new acquisition draw statistics from 3 different data sources that report to most the police agencies in the country, SpotCrime, Crime Reports, and EveryBlock.  This data is then used to power the results in the maps.   The Crime Map is still in currently in beta form and currently only covers 50 major metropolitan areas.   It will eventually be a great resources for people moving to Colorado Springs.

Here’s a list of some of the other web sites that I share with potential buyers:

• CBI website http://cbi.state.co.us/ — Gives you everything from registered sex offenders to crime stats.
• http://www.neighborhoodscout.com — When you put in an address for a Colorado Springs neighborhood, it gives you all types of information about the area, including crime stats, a general overview of the area, as well as school information.
• http://www.NeighborhoodScan.com – This site gives you extremely detailed information about sex offenders.
• http://www.spotcrime.com – Maps out crime occurrences, and allows you to pull up details on specific crimes.
• http://www.crimereports.com — Also gives you extremely detailed information about sex offenders.
• http://www.relocationessentials.com — Compares crime in Colorado Springs vs. the national average.  As an example, it shows you that Colorado Springs has less homicide and burglaries than the national average.

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Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

Search for Colorado Springs Homes

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Since I’m a statistic fanatic, I read every article I can that talks about pricing and comparing home prices in Colorado Springs with other parts of the U.S.   Caldwell Banker does a home listing report that compares pricing in 2300 cities across the U.S.    The report includes a list of the top 10 most expensive markets and the top 10 least expensive market.    6 of the most expensive cities were in California, and some of the least expensive homes were Georgia and Ohio

According to the report, In Colorado, the average four-bedroom, two-bathroom home is $357,556.    The national average price is $293,251.

The top five most affordable Colorado markets were

• Pueblo at $141,160
• Alamosa at $186,890
• Montrose at $208,875
• Colorado Springs at $222,936
• Thornton at $234,856

The top 5 least affordable Colorado markets were:

• Evergreen at $922,183
• Boulder at $860,671
• Durango at 472,147
• Broomfield at 470,345
• Golden at 470,244

The prices come from the average home listing price between September 2010 and March 2011 in more than 2,300 North American markets.

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To find out more information about buying a home or an investment property in Colorado Springs area, call ….

Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

Search for Colorado Springs Homes

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As a Buyer’s Agent in Colorado Springs, I work with many buyers from all parts of the world looking to relocate to Colorado Springs.   The Internet is a wonderful tool for buyers, as they can find out so much information about the Colorado Springs area as well as check for potential homes.  BUT, not every home listing they find on the Internet is correct.

Each Realtor is typically responsible for inputting their home listings in the local MLS system, which is called PPAR in the Colorado Springs area.    Many Realtors have office administrators or assistants that input the data for them; but the Realtor is ultimately responsible for the the information.   Even though most Realtors strive to have the information correct, it’s extremely easy to get something wrong.   I’m guessing that the average listing has 100 to 150 fields of data that need to be filled in; which leaves alot of room for error.   

But even more important than the initial input of all of the data about a home, is all of the places the information gets distributed to line.  Every web site has a different way they get their information and different ways their information gets updated.    As an example, as a member of PPAR, my listings get distributed to Zillow and Trulia and Realtor.com.   But there are many, many other web sites out there; and some of them get updated more often than others.  According to a recent quote in the Wall Street Journal, “21% of the data agents individually submit for posting on real estate websites isn’t updated when changes are made to the price or when the property is sold, according to a report released last month by listing web sites, Trulia.com”

Remember, just because it is online doesn’t make it accurate

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To find out more information about buying a home or an investment property in Colorado Springs area, call ….

Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

Search for Colorado Springs Homes

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If you are interested in buying a Historic Home in Colorado Springs, here’s a quick listing of some of the neighborhoods you may want to check out:

1. Old Colorado City
   • Location:   Historic West side of Colorado Springs
   • Year Built:  1890 to 1920
   • Currently 59 properties for sale built before 1940
   • Price Range:  $41,000 to $495,000
   • Average Price:  172,766
2. Old North End
   • Location:  Central Colorado Springs
   • Year Built :  1910 – 1930
   • Price Range:  $129,900 to $999,999
   • Average Price:  $482,190
3. East End Addition
   • Location:   Central Colorado Springs
   • Year Built:  1920 – 1940
   • Price Range:  $175,000 to $264,000
   • Average Price:  $217,425
4. Ivywild
   • Location:  Southwest Colorado Springs
   • Year Built:  1900 – 1940
   • Price Range:  $85,000 to $195,000
   • Average Price:  $157,190
5. Cheyenne Canon
   • Location:  Southwest Colorado Springs
   • Year Built:  1920 – 1960
   • Price Range:  $180,000 to $459,000
   • Average Price $305,625
6. Broadmoor
   • Location:  Southwest Colorado Springs
   • Year Built – 1920 – 1940
   • Price Range:  $239,900 to $2,500,000
   • Average Price:  875,240
7. Manitou Springs
   • Location:  Manitou (West of Colorado Springs)
   • Year Built:  1880 – 1940
   • Price Range:  $123,555 to $795,000
   • Average Price:  256,000
8. Hastings
   • Location:  Central Colorado Springs
   • Year Built:  1900 to 1932
   • Price Range:  $59,300 to $309,900
   • Average Price:  179,487
9. Corona
   • Location: 
   • Year Built;  1890 to 1920
   • Price Range:  $177,900 to $429,900
   • Average Price:  249,725

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Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

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HUD sent out a press release last week about their new web site, www.hud.gov/datamap.   The new site uses data from the Census Bureau, Labor Department, state and local governments, housing industry sources, as well as HUD’s own field economists.  

One of my my favorite features is that it has an interactive map, where you can click on particular sections of the country.  Colorado is in Region VII.    Once you get into the market at a glance section, there is an amazing wealth of information, all in easy to read charts.  Here’s some of the info I picked up from the site about El Paso County and housing in the US.

• As of 2008, 32% of the population is renters. vs 68% were owners.
• The population in El Paso County as of 2008 was  616,975
• The average rent for apartments in the area was $695
• In the United States, the average price of a house in 2009 was 172,500.
• Homeowner rates increase by the age of the homeowner.  As an example, 80% of people over the age of 65 own their own house, vs. 52% for homeowners between the age of  30 to 34.

What I didn’t like about the site is that there are Comprehensive Market Analysis Reports, but the report for Colorado Springs was from 2007, and market conditions have changed immensely from 2007 to 2010.

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To find out more information about buying a home in Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs, call ….

Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com

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Research who you are working with

Occasionally I work with a buyer who is overseas and is intersted in Relocating to Colorado Springs and buying a property that they won’t be able to see in person.   Wow, scary stuff for everyone involved.   Even with all of the amazing info now available on the Internet, it still doesn’t take the place of seeing the property in person.  Here’s some of the additional steps I take, as a Colorado Springs Realtor, to help make sure the buyer gets the most accurate information possible.

• Pictures, pictures and more pictures (and then even more pictures)

I take pictures of everything I can see, including the roof, the furnace, the hot water heater, everything in house.    I take pictures of the neighborhood up and down the street, the next door neighbors, the neighbors across the street, the neighbors behind the house, the parks, the schools, the shopping areas that are close by.   I try to create the same experience for the buyer that they would have when they actually came visit the house.

I make sure they check out a view of the property from Google Earth so when I explain to them the location they’ll be able to see what I’m talking about.  (Google Earth is amazing!)

• If there is a friend (or a family member) in town or close to the area, I suggest they also come preview the house.  The more sets of eyes the better.
• I give the buyer many different web sites for them to check out and research different things.    Including web sites on the schools, the area, the crime stats.   I send them information from the El Paso Assessor’s office and information from Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.
• If the buyer gets a contract accepted, I’ll also recommend 3 or 4 different inspectors; and again furnish all of the inspector web sites to the buyer so they can choose an inspector they are most comfortable with.  Then I make sure the inspector takes pictures of any problem areas noted in the report.  If the inspector doesn’t take picture, I’ll take pictures of these areas.

Also, if a trusted friend or a family member can be there during the inspection, I strongly suggest this happens.  Again, the more sets of eyes the better.

• I also give them web sites on the Title Company that the Listing agent is going to use.  
• I coordinate with them to schedule phone appts to talk through the details on the home.  The more conversations the better.

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Kathy (719-287-1049)   KTorline@msn.com