Have you ever wished for a neighborhood where it felt like a vacation destination instead of the average cookie-cutter subdivision that pops up overnight? Maybe someplace where some extra attention to detail went into the planning so that real people can live their real lives there? Instead of the make-do for-now house, you could finally settle in and call a place a true home? Look no further, because it's actually here. Maybe right under your nose even!
Southshore in Southeast Aurora was named the National Community Of The Year and hosted the annual tradition to look forward to here in Colorado, The Parade Of Homes in 2007. Since then, many families have discovered that this wonderfully master-planned community is a true hidden gem.
Built right off of the Aurora Reservoir, this community offers buyers the unique opportunity to live by water. If you're from another state where water is everywhere (such as my husband), that might not sound too special. However, if you've been in the Denver Metro Area for any length of time, you understand that water larger than a pre-fabricated backyard pond is very unique!
If you live in Southshore then walking, biking, or jogging to Aurora Reservoir is just a matter of a couple of blocks. Entrances into the park are located right in the community, and once you step into the park, you've stepped into another world! Wildlife abounds and it's not uncommon to hear and see more types of birds than you thought possible in this area. Sailboats pepper the waters here and there, giving even more vibrant color to the already brilliant blue water. Do you like to fish? You won't be alone! Year round you will see others perfecting their fishing techniques.
Southshore boasts an amazing rec center called "The Lakehouse." This 11,000 square foot building holds a state of the art fitness area, an impeccably decorated yet fully functional community room, a gorgeous swimming pool, and cozy fire pit area. After school programs are hosted here, parties, and everything in between!
So you might be thinking, "if the Parade Of Homes was in this subdivision, then it's out of my reach price-wise. " What's shocking is that the answer would most likely be a "no!" Home prices start in the low 300's, making Southshore an area worth looking into.
Is your interst peaked? Would you like additional information or ask some questions? I'm a Realtor who specializes in this area and believes whole-heartedly in the benefits it has to offer.
Contact me today to see how I can help make your real estate goals a reality!
Krista Ingram - "Positive Attitude - Proven Results"
As a Realtor who works a great deal with families with children and have two amazing kids myself, I know that it's on the top of the priority list to find a home within an outstanding school district. I also know that finding that home in a great price point is an added bonus. Dovetail that with being close to brand new shopping areas, restaurants, and easy access to major roadways, and you have a winner!
Where in the Denver-Metro Area could this find be? An area that is only 20 minutes to the Denver Tech Center, 20 minutes to DIA, and a hop-skip-and a jump to one of Colorado's best reservoirs? Southeast Aurora! Surprised? That's okay... read on and learn what others are finding out too!
Many people inadvertently think that Aurora's boundaries are much smaller than they actually are. In fact, Aurora is the third most populous city in the state of Colorado, and the 59th most populous city in America! Aurora stretches through major roadways such as I-70, I-225, as well as E-470. Getting around Aurora is an easy navigation, but that doesn't mean that it's a quick trip! Since Aurora's boundaries are so large, you can easily drive for 30-40 minutes and still be in Aurora!
One of the school districts within Aurora's boundaries is the nationally recognized and highly coveted Cherry Creek School District. Do a google search on this district and you're sure to be impressed. 68% of the teachers employed by this district have earned their Master's Degrees, two-thirds of the schools rank "Excellent" or "High" with no school ranking "Low" or "Unsatisfactory" on the Schools Accountability Report from the Colorado Department of Education. Their standards are high, and they have the results to stand behind. In 2008, the graduating classes collectively received more than $30 million in scholarships including 34 National Merit Finalists, 2 West Point appointments, 3 Boettcher Scholars, and the Martin Luther King Scholarship! WOW!
Aurora is expanding its housing options by pushing east and south. New construction abounds which gives buyers an abundance of wonderful options. Southeast Aurora boasted the site for the 2007 Parade of Homes in Southshore. Beacon Point is right off of the reservoir, and Heritage Eagle Bend is one of the best upper-end, gated age-restricted communities that Colorado has to offer. These communities are just a few of the dozens that are making southeast Aurora the buzz of the real estate community! Oops... did I forget to mention the best shopping experience around... Southlands!
So, does any of the above sound appealing? Yes? You're not alone! Aurora is pushing forward and offering its residents more value than ever before. Are you curious to learn more about your current home value in Aurora or about the options available in southeast Aurora? Contact me today. I'm more than happy to help! Not only do I believe strongly in Aurora's future, but I'm also a southeast Aurora resident!
Krista Ingram - "Positive Attitude - Proven Results"
One nice thing about For Sale By Owner (FSBO) homes is that the owners advertise to the general public, which makes them easy to find! Most of these sellers will include their address in ads they put out, which means we can do some extremely targeted marketing.
Another important thing to know about these "do-it-yourself" types is that most of them fail in trying to sell their own homes, and end up needing the services of a Real Estate Agent. We just need to make sure we're the first agent on their mind!
To that end, I recommend giving the FSBOs in your area a small kit, or if you prefer, weekly mailings you can call the "FSBO Assistant." There is actually a two-fold reason to give out these kits. The first one is obvious: You have to give in order to receive. By presenting value up front, you are earning the trust of the homeowner, and making it much more likely that they will choose you should they decide to use an Agent.
The second reason is a bit more subtle: By introducing them to the piles of paperwork and material that FSBOs need to understand, you show them what you get paid for, and why it's worth it to use you rather than try to do it themselves!
What you might include:
sample of sales contract and disclosures
recent homes sales of the area
data on # days on the market
sign in sheets for open houses
staging tips
safety tips
your information on how you market and sell properties
anything else that is considered an item of value
Most importantly, include an offer to help them should they feel overwhelmed! This will give you more opportunities to sell them on your service later on. Be sincere in your desire to help them, and they'll be more receptive to you becoming their agent.
Another tip.... consider sending the items in a large legal envelope or even in a first class envelopoe! This will ensure that your communication is received!
Did you know that your cell phone is also your own personal handhelp copy machine?
Quick Tip: All cell phones these days include a built in camera. Do they take the best pictures? Usually not depending on your brand. But in a pinch, they work great for a simple copy machine.
If you need a copy of a receipt, deposit slip, or a number of other things.... just grab your camera! Not only will you have the image saved, but you can then upload to your computer and save in an appropriate file. This also comes in handy when you would normally get out a pen and paper to copy something down. Just snap a quick picture instead!
Each year it amazes me how quickly the calendar pages flip, and how it seems like just the other day we were celebrating the beginning of another twelve months. Here we are, days away from May, and almost halfway through 2008!
So, how are your goals for the year going? You know.... The ones you made with great enthusiasm in January. Are you still hanging in there? Here's 5 Quick Steps To Success With Goal Setting that can help you get back on track for the remainder of 2008.
1. Keep It Simple!
There's a temptation to generate a list of everything you've ever wanted to change. Don't fall for it! You'll have better success fulfilling one or two goals than you will with a list of fifty. You can always add new goals to your list later. Take one thing at a time.
2. Be Specific
The more specific and detailed you are, the easier the next step will be.
3. Make The Plan
Once you know what your goal is, plan it out in clear steps. Your plan doesn't have to be a complicated one. Begin with answering the question, "What is the first step I need to take toward accomplishing my goal?"
4. Write It Down
Write down your goal and your plan of action. Post it on the fridge or in your office. Write you goal in you day-timer or wherever you know you'll see it. This way you'll have a constant reminder of what you're striving for.
39% of REALTORS own at least one residential property other than their primary residence.
13% own three or more
17% of REALTORS own at least one vacation home.
11% of REALTORS own at least one commercial property.
I read these brief "facts" this morning, and am just wondering if they hold true to our Active Rain community. I'm working to get into the 17% for the vacation homes! For those that own other residential properties other than primary residence, do you manage your own rentals, or do you have a company do that for you?
"What we can easily see is only a small percentage of what is possible. Imagination is having the vision to see what is just below the surface; to picture that which is essential, but invisible to the eye."
What we see with our eyes is not 100% of reality. Have the courage to look beyond, to use your imagination, and grab hold of what's 'just under the surface!"
Give yourself permission to go after what has been out of your reach. Make a decision, stick with it, and get ready to be amazed!
!!!ATTENTION WOMAN IN BUSINESS!!!
A NEW ACTIVE RAIN GROUP HAS FORMED, AND IT NEEDS YOU!
I just received an email containing this story. It's a good one that easily applies to our everyday lives and interactions with people. Thought it was good enough to share...
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one."
Hello ActiveRain! I wanted to share a recent experience with my fellow real estate agents to see if you can relate....
I had a great set of pre-approved homebuyers. We finally found a property that they could see themselves starting their family in. It was beautiful. Turn-key ready. Staged with all of the latest "pottery barn" styles of furniture and accessories. From first glance it looked like the agent had really outdone themselves. I knew I was going to have to opportunity to work on this transaction with a true professional. Wait....where is the disclosure packet that is suppose to be left at the property at all times? Not here? Honestly, it wasn't too big of a surprise. If I were to show 10 listings today, maybe 1 would have the disclosures on site. And that's a big maybe. So, I gave the agent a phone call. No answer. I left a very polite message saying that I needed the disclosures faxed to me ASAP, as it looked like my buyers wanted to proceed with an offer to purchase. It ended up taking this agent 2 days to get the information faxed to me, with numerous phone calls by me to her office, cell, and emails to finally make the difference!
In the meantime, we found another home. Here's the lesson.... listing agents, please have all of the information ready to correctly receive an offer for your listing!Being unorganized not only is a HUGE key as to how you run your business, it could very well in the end cost you a transaction, and muddy your reputation!
Krista Ingram is a Colorado Realtor selling homes in ALL of the surrounding cities. Know of someone moving to Colorado? Give her a ring or shoot her an email!
!!!ATTENTION WOMAN IN BUSINESS!!!
A new ActiveRain group has just formed. We need you!
Check it out! Make sure to sign up and share your 1st blog!
Simple words on the subject of productivity... from someone who is on a continual journey to remain productive! In a world where the "easy way out" calls our name and the "do it later" sits on our shoulders, here's something that might help. It has for me! We're all at the "start"....who will get to the finish....and how did they do it?
BEGIN.
That's it. One word.
If you don't begin, you'll never finish. You'll miss every shot you never take. Just Do It (you know, like Nike). The journey of a thousand smiles starts with a single step!
BEGIN.
I don't care if you don't know where to begin - pick somewhere, and start there. Even if it's wrong, you've made progress, you've learned something, you know where not to start next time.
BEGIN.
If it's too big, then break your project down into smaller pieces that you can understand.
There. You just started.
Now you've got a pile of little projects to do.
BEGIN ON ONE.
Which one doesn't matter.
BEGIN ON THE NEXT ONE.
Repeat.
If you get suck somewhere, there's a future starting point for you.
Begin there some time.
Start by selecting the music to listen to while you work. Once you've done that, move on.
Start by clearing your desk of distractions. (Can I get an "amen" to that one?!)
Start by clearing your mind of distractions. (So much easier said than done, but try this by taking a few minutes of calm breathing to help focus your thoughts.)
Clear the way for starting well by finishing well. Make tomorrow an easy start by leaving something easy to get started on, an easy win to kick off the day. You just helped yourself start again. (Mine feel-good-start is sending out a certain number of letters that have already been printed. I just have to add my finishing touches, address the envelopes, and drop in the mail. So simple, but sure makes me feel productive!)
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
One nice thing about For Sale By Owner (FSBO) homes is that the owners advertise to the general public, which makes them easy to find! Most of these sellers will include their address in ads they put out, which means we can do some extremely targeted marketing.
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