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Best Realtor to Sell Your Downtown Colorado Springs Victorian

By
Real Estate Agent with Falcon Property Company

Why Mimi Foster is the Best Downtown Colorado Springs Realtor

For over a decade, my husband Dave and I restored more than a dozen Victorian homes in Downtown Colorado Springs. Most of them were Colorado College rentals that oblivious students who did not understand the treasures they were destroying had used and abused.

We started on our own block. Night after night they disturbed us with street parties that lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. There were two college rentals across the street from each other a few doors down. One was the keg house, the other the pot house.

Back and forth the lines continually flowed - school nights and weekends alike. No amount of politely asking for consideration or resorting to calling the police would quiet the music and loud voices at all hours.

So we bought the houses (the same man owned them and gave us a screaming deal; it thrilled him to get rid of them). We waited until the school year finished and began the challenging yet satisfying task of restoring these painted ladies to their former glory. 

Why Experience Makes the Difference

Some of my happiest memories are the times we would take a home that my daughters wouldn't even enter and make it a breath-taking object of beauty. We lovingly restored long forgotten details, and over time our girls were so fascinated they wanted to be part of the discoveries.

Dave and I did most of the work because there's not much he can't do. He spent years teaching and guiding me in how to hang sheetrock, fix plumbing, run electrical, do painting - you name it, we did it. Subsequently, not only did I learn untold lessons about Victorian homes, I also learned the inner workings of a house. I learned what was acceptable and safe and what was not worth tackling.

We tore out walls and found doors in perfect condition that had not seen the light of day for decades. We fixed plumbing and found newspapers from the late 1800s that were serving their purpose as insulation. I became a Downtown Colorado Springs Realtor during this time so I could have a foot in the door when older, run down homes were coming on the market.

Behind boarded over walls we found untold treasures that were hidden long before we were alive. In addition to knowing the inner workings of many Downtown Colorado Springs Victorians, I am also a fifth generation Realtor. I grew up tagging along with my mother and grandfather working in a profession I would grow to love. It's in the blood and is my passion.

doors off a long victorian hallway

If you'd like to know what your Downtown Colorado Springs Victorian home is worth, call, text, or write. I'll gladly discuss the details with you.

 

Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Mimi, Wow impress for sure with you and your husband.  I would sent you clients if I have some looking in your area.

 

Mar 29, 2020 10:25 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Thanks, Will Hamm! I appreciate the vote of confidence! Hope you're staying well!

Mar 29, 2020 10:27 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Mimi,

There is no doubt that your expertise in Victorian homes is vast, and your post illustrates that.  A

Mar 29, 2020 11:14 AM
Mimi Foster

Thanks so much, A! Everytime I drive downtown I yearn to get back there.

Mar 29, 2020 11:40 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Now if I was going to buy a downtown Colorado Springs Victorian I would look for some young realtor who has experience renovating them.

Gee, should I call young Miss Mimi?  I've heard she's the best!

Mar 29, 2020 11:32 AM
Mimi Foster

You know what I realized yesterday??? WE'RE GOING TO BE 67!!! How did that happen??? I'm too young to be that old! Hugs to you, old man.

Mar 29, 2020 11:41 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thanks for the update!  I'm kinda sorta not able to count that high so I did not know. 

But to know you have that many fingers or toes is disconcerting.  I'm going to assume you used marbles or beans to figure it out.  You are better than I, Gunga Din!

Not everything on me is that old.  My left knee is only 2 months of age, so be nice to the baby.

Oh, unless they are related to you, in which case they look like lovely young people and budding WalMart greeters, tell me that couple above doesn't come with a downtown Colorado Springs Victorian home...

Mar 30, 2020 02:27 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I learned a lot about the fascinating work done to restore James Madison's Monpelier home.  Inside the thick walls they found cellulose insulation!  It's kind of an 18th century version of it - grass, weeds, broken sod, clippings, etc.  In short, termite bait!

The restored colors are truly Williamsburg in nature.  We think of those as pastels and they are not!  Montpelier and Mount Vernon are repainted the original "Williamsburg" colors and are garishly bright greens, blues, pinks, reds, and yellows!  I've been in the big room under the dome of Monticello, Jefferson's home, and it's a huge room the children used to play in and painted the original very bright yellow.

You can see the dome on the nickel.  Talk about a fabulous house for a home inspector to walk through!  He was so ahead of his time.

Mar 30, 2020 02:32 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

By the way, I like the exterior colors chosen for that home above.  Very stately. 

The second photo looks a tad foreboding.  Does that door lead to the Inquisition room?

Mar 30, 2020 02:34 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

On the counting scene, I am almost half way through the second hand - seven times over!! Those young 'uns are the ones we worked hard to get rid of. 

I love both Monpelier and Mount Vernon. When I (we) were in 6th grade, my family lived on Old Mt. Vernon Road in Alexandria. Across the street from us was the fence surrounding Mt. Vernon. Mt. Vernon sat on the top of the hill and we were able to wander the grounds (probably can't do that any more). I was fascinated.

That door can lead wherever you want it to, Jay Markanich  

How is that young knee feeling these days?

 

Mar 30, 2020 12:31 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It is amazingly pain free.

Still stiff to bend I ride an incumbent bike every day and do other exercises to get better.

A robot was programmed based on information obtained in CT and MRI scans.

It cut off exactly the amount of diseased bone that was then replaced with implants made to exact specifications based on what bone would be removed.  The implants are made of titanium and chromium and will last forever and are accurate to within a millimeter.  The glue and polypropylene pad (my new cartilage) will last for 30 years or more.  The staples to close up the wound are visible in the Xray.  They were removed after 10 days.

It's incredible technology.  The Xray was taken while I was in the recovery room, on the bed, an hour after surgery.

Next to get done is the right knee.  You can see the bad bone and that there is no cartilage in the Xray above.  Hence the pain.

So there!  You're up to date!  I've been working since about 4 weeks after the surgery.  They said 2-3 months, but I have recovered quickly.  I can't do crawl spaces by crawling though - I move about on my hiney.  But I'm doing very well.

Amazing the personal stuff we put on line!

And hopefully that foreboding door leads to the Super Bowl, although I'm not exactly optimistic...

I go on Old Mount Vernon road often.  It's a pleasure and honor to simply drive by Mt. Vernon.  And you can wander the grounds for a fee.

Real estate question -- at Mt. Vernon what's the cupola on top of the house for?

Mar 31, 2020 12:42 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Jay Markanich ~ isn't it amazing what they're doing these days? Cartilage is such a necessary component, right? I love the xrays. I have one of my husband's hands where there is NO cartilage and he works with his hands all day. Not much they can do for him.  

I am quite familiar with cupolas and their uses, but wondered about Mt. Vernon's when you asked the question so I looked it up. Fascinating! Washington and Jefferson were such interesting people. I would love to have known them. 

Take care, my friend. My birthday usually starts today and lasts for two weeks. Looks like I'm going to ignore it this year. 

Apr 01, 2020 09:22 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I once heard that you can tell a lot about a person's life by looking at their hands.  They are so difficult to fix when bad!  My knee apparently loves my new cartilage - such a change from the past many years without it!

My birthday starts at dinner when I fix my annual favorite meal - beans and franks.  No kidding!  It's the only time I eat that meal!

If I don't see you I give you a one-armed birthday hug now.

Apr 01, 2020 10:25 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Walking around Mt. Vernon and experiencing how the cupola works is quite an interesting thing.  These are people who understood the physics of convetion and, um, air conditioning!

Apr 01, 2020 10:26 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

When I was appraising years ago, I was lucky enough to gain entrance into many of our area's oldest homes.   An amazing experience and history lesson all rolled into one.  I think I could sit and listen to you share your knowledge and experiences forever, Mimi Foster ...

Your restorations are truly a gift back to the Colorado Springs community and its residents ...

Gene

Apr 04, 2020 08:48 AM