SpringsHomes Blog

It seems that almost every year MEN'S FITNESS magazine ranks Colorado Springs the fittest city in the nation.  We have a huge population of bikers, runners and hikers here, probably because of our mild weather and terrific outdoor trails.

One of my favorite running trails is the Pike's Peak Greenway.  The trail is 16 miles long, and starts just South of Woodmen Road and I-25.  It hugs Cottonwood Creek heading South all the way through downtown Colorado Springs.

The scenery is beautiful from the creek water down below to the mountains up above.  The entire length of the trail is paved in asphalt, and occasionally it intersects with rustic wooden bridges to cross over. The runners and bikers on this path are usually friendly, offering smiles and hellos in passing.

How fortunate are we to have such a trail system right in the heart of town!

If you are getting ready to come to Colorado for house-hunting in the area or just to visit, you might experience altitude sickness. Just the altitude isn't the entire problem, it's less oxygen and VERY dry air. One of the best things you can do is take at least a half day to relax and breathe in the fresh Colorado air... aaahhh, refreshing. Also drink LOTS of water! We all know water is one of the best, most natural things for our bodies, but especially when you change climates and visit higher altitudes. If you are flying into a local airport, I'd recommend staying in the city for a little bit before heading to the mountains to ski... and watch that alcohol intake! Altitude sickness is not specific to gender or healthy lifestyle.

Altitude sickness includes feeling light-headed or having headaches and dizziness... and can be mild to severe. Check out more details and symptoms from WedMd here - http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/altitude-sickness-topic-overview

And come to Colorado!!... just keep yourself hydrated!

For clothes shopping I like an alternative to the big department stores with crowded parking lots, escalators and impersonal customer service.  That is why I shop downtown Colorado Springs!  Tejon Street, in particular, has much to offer. Tejon has a nice variety of locally owned stores with everything from cookware to clothing. One of my favorite clothing stores is REGINA'S UNIQUE BOUTIQUE.

At Regina's parking is right in front, but you will need a few quarters to feed the meter.  The staff is wonderful. Knowing what styles I like, they will often call ahead and let me know of a new shipment they have in. They always remember my size and usually pull the clothes for me in advance so that I don't have to waste time picking through the racks.  Of course they ask about my family and real estate business, and are always helpful with letting me know which pants fit me best. The personal touch is great!

You can find just about anything there...jeans, jackets, work attire, boots and shoes. They carry cool brands like David Kahn, Jag and Cosabella.

But I must warn you.  When that phone call comes in and they plant that seed about the cool new clothing they've just gotten in, it's hard to resist that urge to shop!

My favorite place to buy coffee in Colorado Springs is COLORADO COFFEE MERCHANTS.  Located on Filmore, just east of Nevada Avenue, in a funky little stucco building, this place is fun and eclectic!  They call themselves a small batch specialty coffee roaster that exclusively roasts for the Umpire Estate brand coffee.

On any given day you may walk in and find them roasting the coffee beans on site, a very cool thing to watch.  But, be prepared.  The aroma is intense and you may just walk away smelling like fresh roasted coffee all day.

Harry is usually behind the register.  He always remembers what I bought last and what my favorites are.  Angela often greets me with a warm hello and asks how the real estate business is going.  There are tables for sitting, and they have WiFi for internet access.  They do monthly coffee tasting events, and there's even a local guitarist who comes to play and sing on weekends.

I don't profess to be a coffee expert, but I will say this coffee is wonderful, a far cry from that bitter stuff sold by those national chains. I highly recommend this place, both for the coffee and for the experience!

Here in the Pikes Peak area there are many homes without air conditioning.  "What?" you say.  That's right.  Not every home here has built-in a/c.  I have found this information most shocking to the out-of-town buyer who comes from a humid climate, where air conditioning is just as essential as running water. 

Here's what I tell them: Air conditioning here is more of a luxury, not a necessity.  About 1 in 5 homes have it.  Yes, we do get some warm days in the summer.  But that warmth usually tapers off in the afternoon when our thunderstorms roll in.  It may be 85 degrees in the morning, but around 3 or 4pm there is usually a cool breeze blowing in as the storm clouds form and we get our daily dose of rain.  Open up the windows and run a few ceiling fans, and your home will cool down nicely.  The cool air brought in by these storms will often drop outside temperatures by about 10-15 degrees.

I'm not saying a/c isn't nice to have.  It's great on a super hot day to instantly cool things down without waiting for Mother Nature to do it for us.  I'm just saying that if a home doesn't have it, it's not the end of the world.  And besides, you can add it later if you find it's a can't-live-without.

According to the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation, here are the top 10 reasons to locate in Colorado Springs:

• Quality of life! - Outdoor, healthy lifestyle. Fittest city in America. Restaurants, nightlife, recreation. Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, trails, open space, wildlife.Dry, sunny mountain climate - No extreme temperatures. Average high in January is around 45 degrees. Average high in July is around 75 degrees. Little precipitation. More than 300 days of sunshine per year.

• Low cost of living - It’s affordable to live here. Housing is moderately priced. Cost of living is below the national average.

• Strong corporate environment - 27 Fortune 500 companies have a presence in Colorado Springs.

• Educated workforce - As a metro area we have one of the highest educated workforces in the country.

• Exceptional talent - Thousands of electrical engineers, software engineers, aeronautical engineers, systems administrators, executives, creative artists, business consultants....we have it all.

• Low Taxes - Colorado Springs and El Paso County offer the lowest tax burden in Colorado. Lower taxes than most of the country.

• Excellent Colleges - The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is one of the best master’s degree institutions in the country. Colorado College is one of the top liberal arts schools in the nation. Pikes Peak Community College has more than 125 programs of study, offering associate’s degrees and various certifications. Colorado Technical University offers technology-driven degrees for every stage of a career. The Air Force Academy is one of the most demanding and rigorous institutions in the country.

• Excellent Schools - Colorado Springs school districts are among the best in Colorado and in the nation.

• Low Utility Rates - Colorado Springs Utilities, a public utility, offers some of the lowest rates West of the Mississippi.