Colorado Springs Vintage Homes Blog
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Beware, it’s lightening time in Colorado Springs
Did you know that Colorado and Florida lead the way for the most lightening related deaths last year?
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
I work with many people who are looking at relocating to Colorado Springs, and tho
ught it would be a good idea to do a quick blog about lightening in Colorado. Colorado has an average of 16 lightening related injuries a year and 3 deaths a year, all due to lightening. For those statistics people out there, there is a entire web site devoted to lightening to Colorado.
When thunder roars, go indoors!
It’s such a serious problem in Colorado, Governor Ritter has proclaimed a week in June the Colorado Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week. Here’s some facts about lightening in Colorado:
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Thunderstorms are most likely from April to September, peaking in July. Though mountain thunderstorms are most common during mid afternoon, the first lightning strikes can occur before noon.
- Fifty percent of all known Colorado lightning casualties happen in one of four places: on mountain summits, under a lone tree, in wide-open areas and on lakes.
Lighting safety suggestions:
- If you hear thunder, go inside a building or get inside a hard-topped vehicle.
- If you are outside, avoid open spaces. Don’t be the tallest object in an area.
- Stay away from isolated trees, towers, or utility poles.
- Stay away from metal conductors including fences and wires; lightening can travel a long distance through metal.
- Make yourself as small as possible. Never lie flat on the ground.
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Some other articles that could be of interest:
- News Flash – Colorado Springs ranked Fittest City
- Moving to Colorado Springs, check out Zip Skinny
- El Paso County taxes are some of the lowest in the nation!
- Colorado Springs in ratings for Best Places to Start Over
For more information on Colorado Springs, please feel free to call Kathy Torline at 719-287-1049 or email: KTorline@msn.com
6 BIG advantages of VA loans
VA Loans
For a free Buyers Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
Must Read Articles:
- NORAD is still alive and smaller under Cheyenne Mountain
- After fierce competition Colorado Springs finally lands the Air Force Academy
- An early history of Ft. Carson
- History of Ft. Carson part II
- Military relocation? 6 tips to read before you buy a home
- Relocating to The Air Force Academy? Here’s some great info to make your move easier.
I went to a training class last week on VA loans and came across all types of valuable information I wanted to share with our Colorado Springs home buyers. (I’m a strong believer that a Realtor needs to constantly increase and update their knowledge about all things real estate, never can learn too much.)
Since Colorado Springs is surrounded by military bases (Fort Carson, Peterson AFA, Schriever AFA, and the U.S. Air Force Academy 
) ; as well as there are many military retirees in the areas, VA loans are very popular. The stats show that 30% of all loans in the area are VA Loans.
Advantages of VA loans
When a Colorado Springs home buyer is trying to decide what type of loan they are going to use, it’s important for them to understand some of the advantages of VA loans:
- No down-payment requirements.
- There are not many loans left that don’t require a down-payment
- No monthly MIP
- MIP is the abbreviated term for the Mortgage Insurance Premium that many FHA loans and Conventional loans add to your monthly mortgage payment
- Assumable Mortgage
- This could be really important in the future if interest rates start to rise; it could make it much easier to sell a property and have a new buyer assume the existing loan
Read the rest of this entry »
- This could be really important in the future if interest rates start to rise; it could make it much easier to sell a property and have a new buyer assume the existing loan
Moving to Colorado Springs, don’t forget to get your new Driver’s License
Don’t forget to get your Colorado License
For a Free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide, Email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com
Must Read Articles
One of the many things to do when moving your entire house from one state to another is to remember to register your vehicle in Colorado and get your Colorado Driver’s License.
After becoming a Colorado resident, you have 30 days to qualify for a Colorado Driver’s license and 90 days to register your vehicle.
Colorado Driver’s License
When heading to the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), bring the license from your former state 
as you will be required to surrender it in order to obtain the new license. There is no written exam or road skills testing required to change a valid out-of-state license to a Colorado Driver’s license, however you will need to pass the vision test. If your out-of-state driver’s license has expired, you may be required to apply for a STATE learners permit and pass all required testing to receive a driver’s license. The identification requirements are posted on the Colorado Department of Revenue Web site. There are several DMV locations in Colorado Springs:
- 4420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy., Colorado Springs, CO 80918 M-F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (719) 594-8701
- Chapel Hills Shopping Center 1710 Briargate Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80920 M-F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (719) 520-6240 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 »
