Rick Springfield Concert :: Hudson Gardens :: Littleton Colorado Date:  Sunday July 18, 2010 Time:  Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Concert scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Venue:  Hudson Gardens & Events Center Address:  6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, Colorado Directions:  3 Miles North of C470 - Located on the west side of Santa Fe Parking:  Plenty! Admission:  $35.00 Adults  $32.00 Members  $10 Kids 3-12 Tickets:  Available through the Hudson Gardens Website, by phone at (303) 797-8565 ext. 321, or by visiting the Hudson Gardens gift shop Monday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Okay, I know this is going to date me but I was a big fan back in the '80s.  I still love Jessie's girl and turn it up whenever I hear it (the last time was Monday during my physical therapy... 07/15/2010

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient :: Part 5 Hope you enjoy these heating and cooling energy efficiency tips.  There were several I had never thought about, so I'm headed off to the backyard to inspect my AC when this blog is done! 12.  Clean or Replace Filters at Least Once a Month - Dirty filters make your system work harder and run longer than necessary. 13.  Shade Outside Air Conditioning Units - A/C units shaded by trees or other means work more efficiently and use up to 10% less electricity. 14.  Clean Your A/C's Condenser / Evaporator Coils at the Beginning of the Season - Clean coils lower your energy costs, extend the unit's life and provide cleaner air for you to breathe.  The fi coils on the outside A/C unit can be washed with a hose.  Coils on the inside units may be diffi... 07/15/2010

Money’s annual “Best Places to Live” is out. Drum roll please… Fort Collins – ranked #6 - traditionally does very well in this report, but we are glad to see that a community a little closer to home is also on the list. Highlands Ranch is ranked as the country’s twelfth “Best Place to Live,” along with several Denver-area cities including: Arvada (58) Broomfield (19), and Loveland (33). What is so appealing about Highlands Ranch, Colorado? The list is endless. Let’s start with 8,100 acres of open space and its top-notch recreational facilities that make Highlands Ranch a recreational enthusiast’s dream. It is also part of the well-regarded Douglas County School District, which is appealing to families with children. Highlands Ranch also boasts panoramic mountain views, beautiful natural... 07/14/2010

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient :: Part 4 10.  Tankless Water Heaters - Tankless or "on-demand" water heaters provide hot water only when it's needed, and so they remove the need for a big tank of hot water waiting in the basement (and the energy use that comes with that).  The tankless heaters are anywhere from 8% to 50% more efficient than the old-school tanks, depending on a home's needs, the government says.  Read more about their pros and cons in Mother Earth News. 11.  Energy-Efficient Windows - New, energy-efficient windows are a great way to save money over time, and they do it in lots of ways: They stem unwanted heat and cooling loss int he winter and summer, respectively; they block harmful UV rays that fade carpets and furniture; and they even can reduce the size of the ... 07/14/2010

Free Concert :: Buckstein :: Highlands Ranch Colorado :: Community News Date:  Thursday, July 15, 2010 Time:  6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Location:  Highland Heritage Regional Park Admission:  Free! Sponsored by:  Littleton Adventist Hospital Straight from seasons 6 and 7 of American Idol and over 200 million TV sets worldwide, Matt Buckstein and his band have put together a show with a vengeance.  The 6-foot-4 bass baritone lights the fuse and the band explodes. Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy.  Sorry, no dogs or glass containers are allowed at Highland Heritage Park. ******************************************************************************************* Realtors Carrie Sampron and Kathy Sampron, Your Highlands Ranch Realtors, specialize in residential real estate in Highlands Ranch, Col... 07/14/2010

Highlands Ranch Colorado Number 12 on Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live" List Money Magazine has come out with it's annual list of the 100 "best places to live"  Five Colorado cities are on this year's list including Fort Collins at #6, Broomfield at #19, Loveland #33, Arvada #58, and Highlands Ranch coming in at #12. As for Highlands Ranch, Money says that the Douglas County community has “over 8,100 acres of open space, 22 lush parks and activity possibilities that span from hiking to golf. This unincorporated area outside Denver offers the best of the Colorado outdoors.” Highlands Ranch is a beautiful community and it's always nice to have the public recognition of what its citizen's already know.  With so much going for it, aren't you ready to move to Highlands Ranch?  Give Samp... 07/13/2010

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient :: Part 3 Here we go with Part 3 of our Energy Efficiency system.   Hope the tips have been helpful. 7.  Insulated Ducts - "If you've got a forced-air heating system, make sure that you have your ducts insulated," says Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy home editor for Consumer Reports.  Why?  Lots of hot air (and air-conditioned air in the summer) is lost through uninsulated metal tubes, or through gabs int he ducts.  "It costs around $500 or so (to wrap the ducts), but you ca save around $400 or so a year," she says.  8.  An Energy Audit - A home energy audit is like a physical for your house - it pinpoints all the ways it's using, and losing, energy.  You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, but a prof will use more advanced techniques and to... 07/13/2010

 Highlands Ranch Colorado rank # 12 best city in America! According to CNN money MagazinePopulation: 98,000 With over 8,100 acres of open space, 22 lush parks, and activity possibilities that span from hiking to golf, this unincorporated area outside Denver offers the best of the Colorado outdoors. Visit Highlands Ranch Mansion! a historic structure, or one of the town's four state-of-the-art recreational facilities. A strong school district and steady home prices appeal to families. Highlands Ranch's Colorado is a great place to live, work, and play! This is just FYI only! Thanks.   07/12/2010

Mortgage Lenders Helping Realtors Get Their MOJO Back! As all of us know, we have to always market ourselves and try and build business to bring in new clients. This in itself can be a full time job! With all the different ideas and strategies you can pursue there is no end to what you can do to promote your business. The difficult part is coming up with a strategy and sticking with it to see the results. Often times we will get really excited for some new campaign or promotion and then if it doesn't work within a couple of weeks we become discouraged and give up on it. Recently, I was speaking with some of my collagues and the topic came up about co-marketing with Realtors. The conversation was eye opening for me and I thought I would share it with all of you to see if this is happenin... 07/12/2010

Highlands Ranch Ranked #12 as Best Places to LiveIn the August 2010 issue of CNN Money a list of the 100 Best Places to Live was published and Highlands Ranch CO was ranked as #12.  The blurb on Highlands Ranch highlights factors such as over 8,100 acres of  open space, the parks & community activities as a draw as well as the school districts.  As someone that very much enjoys the amenities of the area, I would agree – I enjoy the open space, trails and parks on pretty much a daily basis. And as a Highlands Ranch Realtor®, I know that when folks are interested in seeing Highlands Ranch real estate with me, it is generally those same factors that they mention as their drawing points. Location I would also add the location – getting in & out of downtown in several manners in very easy (a... 07/12/2010

Fabulous Open House This Weekend :: Highlands Ranch Colorado :: Westridge Knolls Join Sampron Sisters Saturday and Sunday, July 10, 2010 and July 11, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at 9725 Sun Meadow Street, Highlands Ranch, Colorado and tour this beautiful Highlands Ranch home. Located in the highly desireable Westridge Knolls neighborhood, where Kathy Sampron resides and is an expert in the local real estate market, this lovely two-story Richmond American home was built in 1998 and recently completely remodeled.  The largest model built by Richmond in the neighborhood at 2095 square feet, this home has four bedrooms upstairs as well as one on the main which can also be used as a fantastic office or study space.  A half bath on the main as well as a full and 5 piece upstairs compleme... 07/10/2010

Giddy Up Ya'll It's Time for the Highlands Ranch Colorado Rodeo Ye Haw - It's time for the annual Highlands Ranch Colorado Rodeo! Saturday, July 10, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (grounds open at 9:00 a.m.) Sunday, July 11, 1:00-3:00 p.m. (grounds open at 11:00 a.m.) Experience Colorado's western heritage at its best at the Annual HRCA Rodeo. Witness Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bull Riding, visit exhibitors, and much more right here in the Ranch! Kids can get into the spirit with two fun and hilarious events: Mutton Busting and Chicken Scramble. Tickets: $10 Adults; $5 Children, ages 3-12; $12/$7 day of the rodeo, if not sold out. (2 and under FREE) Saturday the grounds open at 9:00 a.m., Rodeo starts at 11:00 a.m. Sunday the grounds open at 11:00 a.m., Rodeo starts at 1:00 p.m. Must p... 07/10/2010

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient :: Part 2 Hope you enjoy Part 2 of our series on ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient.  Thanks again to Consumer Reports for many of the ideas. 4.  Low-flow Toilet - Toilets gulp a lot of water.  Buy a low-flow toilet and atch your bill drop.  Consumer Reports' Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman says the Koehler Cimarron Comfort Height Toilet (K3609) "did very well in our tests," swallowing just 1.6 gallons per flush.  And with a retail price of $369, it won't break the bank. 5.  Insulation - Heat loss through walls, floors and the roof accounts for about 45% of heat loss (or cooling loss, in summer) in a typical house, says Amanda Lowenberger, researcher for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.  Attics are often the easiest thing to i... 07/08/2010

Carnival :: Highlands Ranch Colorado :: Community Information Dates:  July 9, 2010 through July 17, 2010 Time:  Saturday & Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.            Monday - Friday 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Minor's Curfew:  11:00 p.m. weedays; 12:00 a.m. weekends Location:  Mountain Vista High School Tickets:  Daily Passes - Advanced tickets $25.00 At the Carnival $30.00 Tickets available at any HRCA Recreation Center (303) 471-8859 HRCA hours of operation:  M-F 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. No phone sales.  No will call.  Single-ride tickets for children are available at carnival box office.  No Pets. Please enter and park on the west side of Mountain Vista High School.  Please do not enter or park at the main entrance. A Real Carnival!  Bill Hames Shows is... 07/08/2010

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient :: Part 1 Energy Efficiency is a real catch phrase these days.  Not only do we want to help the environment, we also want to find ways to save money, especially in these trying times.  Here are a few tips to help you on your way, many courtesy of Consumer Reports: 1.  Programmable Thermostat - "A programmable thermostat can save you a couple hundred dollars a year on your heating and cooling costs," says Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy home editor for Consumer Reports.  You can program it to a lower temperature in the house while you sleep, and warm up the house just before you wake.  "The only catch is that you actually have to program the thing," Kuperszmid Lehrman says.  That's why Consumer Reports liked Lux's Smart Temp Touch Screen TX9000TS.  "... 07/07/2010

Free Concert :: The Nacho Men :: Highlands Ranch Colorado :: Community News Date:  Thursday, July 8, 2010 Time:  6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Location:  Highland Heritage Regional Park Admission:  Free! Sponsored by:  Littleton Adventist Hospital The unique combination of dance music, costume changes, choreography and humor makes The Nacho Men Colorado's favorite musical performance group.  The band has played from coast to coast int he U.S. and in Europe.  From Las Vegas casinos to luxury cruise ships, from Mile High Stadium to Red Rocks Ampitheater (where they opened for the Doobie Brothers), The Nacho Men are a hit.  They have been the opening act for groups like The Temptations, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and many others.  From the moment they step on the stage until their crowd raising g... 07/07/2010

Life in Suburbia Gains Credibility :: Highlands Ranch Colorado :: Real Estate News Life in suburbia is beginning to get some respect. Hofstra University on Long Island, home to Levittown, the original suburb, runs the National Center for Suburban Studies, aimed at advancing public consideration of suburban living. Additionally, Johnson County, Kan., is planning a National Museum of Suburban History. Officials behind the effort say that with 50 percent of Americans living in suburbia, it is time to take it seriously. Robert Lang, a University Nevada-Las Vegas sociology professor who studies suburban life, says, "The United States is the first suburban nation. In the end, these are the places ... where we are going to live, no matter what." Source: Associated Press, Alan Scher Zagier (07/... 07/06/2010

Free Concert - Highlands Ranch Colorado - Community News Date:  Wednesday - July, 7. 2010 Time:  6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Where:  Town Center North Wednesday the spotlight is going to shine on the Mangy Old Dirt Dogs.  This fun band will present an electric mix of old and new songs, thoughtful originals and unique covers that will lift your spirit and leave you saying "Woof"! Bring your favorite seat and picnic dinner to enjoy the great music and view. ******************************************************************************************* Realtors Carrie Sampron and Kathy Sampron, Your Highlands Ranch Realtors, specialize in residential real estate in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, as well as in surrounding communities in Metro Denver. Contact Carrie Sampron at 303-931-3629 or Kathy Sampro... 07/06/2010

Those of us going out to view the Highlands Ranch fireworks show last night were in for a surprise. Rain caused the fireworks to be postponed and many soggy onlookers to be disappointed. The good news is that the fireworks show will still go on tonight (July 5th, 2010) at approximately 9:30 PM (Town Center) weather permitting. See you there! 07/05/2010

Gleneagles Village & The Villages of Gleneagles, Highlands Ranch, CO Gleneagles Village & The Villages of Glenagles, Highlands Ranch, CO is an over 55 age restricted gated golf course community in the heart of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. This secluded neighborhood boasts a private clubhouse and pool and features The Links Golf Course. Homes range from paired homes to single family detached homes lining gently curved streets in this master planned community nestled around The Links. This small but beautiful neighborhood is perfect for discriminating active adults who want to get away from it all, but still have all the conveniences within a very short drive from their community.This is a fave of ours and is located near Quebec and C470.    Builder: Mission Viejo, Richmond American, Storck... 07/05/2010