Two Colorado Springs residential brokerages merge

Two Colorado Springs residential real estate brokerages, Keller Williams Premier Realty and Hope Realty, have merged to create Keller Williams Hope Realty. “The merger helps us better serve our agents as well as our clients,” said Robert Edgin of Hope Realty. Said Gary Keller, founder and board chairman of Keller Williams International: “We view the Colorado Springs market as a market with a tremendous amount of growth potential…The union of these two companies is a step in the right direction.” Rick Guthire, team leader of the new Keller Williams Hope Realty, said the group's ownership plans to "develop and train agents to a high state of professionalism in Colorado Springs. " Guthrie added that the new Keller Williams Hope Realty plans to open a downtown office to better serve agents and clients. More information about the merger or the new downtown location, call Guthrie or Edgin at 576-5432.

Banning Lewis Ranch rec center honored

The Northtree Ranch House (right), the first recreation center constructed in the massive Banning Lewis Ranch development that makes up most of Colorado Springs' east side, was recently honored as a 2008 Gold Nugget award recipient in the category of Best Public/Private Recreational Use Facility. The Gold Nugget awards, sponsored by the Pacific Coast Builders Conference trade association, have been given out annually since 1963 and recognize architectural excellence in design and land use planning for residential, commercial and industrial projects. The 7,500-square-foot Northree Ranch House serves residents in Northree, the first residential area being developed in the more than 21,000-acre Banning Lewis Ranch, southeast of Woodmen and Marksheffel roads. The Northtree Ranch House recreation center was designed by Danielian Associates of Irvine, Calif., and built by Golden Triangle Construction of Colorado Springs. “It’s an attractive, club-like setting,” said John Cassiani, vice president of project operations for the Banning Lewis Ranch development. “This facility is much more than a rec center, it’s a community gathering spot with fresh design and modern comforts set against the backdrop of Pikes Peak and the front range.” Northtree, which covers 321 acres and which will have more than 1,000 homes, opened in September 2007. More information: www.banninglewisranch.com.

MAME Awards scheduled for April 19

The 25th annual MAME Awards, which honor members of the Pikes Peak region's housing industry, will take place from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 19 at The Broadmoor hotel in southwest Colorado Springs. The awards, sponsored by the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs, recognize several different categories of work by builders and developers, including new home, architectural and landscaping designs; company Web sites, logos and advertising; and remodeling projects and interior design. The event includes dinner, the awards presentation and an auction to benefit HBA Cares. More information and to attend: 592-1800 and http://www.cshba.com/.

Advice on home selling and open houses

Selling a house can be a challenge because so many sellers are competing for buyers in a soft market. Open houses are one tried-and-true technique for helping to promote homes on the market. Here's a link to some suggestions from a real estate veteran on how to get the most out of your open house:
http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-01-24/re-inventing-the-open-house/

7th annual on-line real estate convention starts Feb. 11

What to be in the same room with Microsoft's Bill Gates, Re/Max International co-founder Dave Liniger and other top business leaders? It's easy; just sign onto your computer. The seventh annual National Real Estate Cyber Convention and Exposition takes place Feb. 11 through Feb. 17. The free event, which attracted nearly 38,000 on-line participants last year from around the world, will feature several nationally known business leaders and experts as speakers and presenters, including Gates, Liniger, real estate author Dirk Zeller and eNeighborhoods chief executive officer Stu Siegel, among others. In addition, attendees can see the latest ideas at hundreds of booths and even visit the convention's "virtual lounge." To register, and for more information, go to www.cyberconventions.com/realestate

No more Room at the Inn

Room at the Inn, a Victorian-style bed and breakfast at 618 N. Nevada Ave., has been sold and will no longer operate as a B&B. Owners Dorian and Linda Ciolek, who operated Room at the Inn for nine years, sold the property to a software developer who will relocate his offices there next year. They did not identify the business.

A Gazette story in 2006 said the B&B was for sale at $1.2 million. Dorian Ciolek said it sold for “close to that.” The three-story building, built in 1896, has also served as a single-family residence and an apartment building.

Home builders to look ahead to 2008 and 2009

Metrostudy, a real estate research and analysis firm, will present an overview of the Pikes Peak region's new home market during a members-only breakfast hosted by the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs. The look at the current market, and what's ahead for 2008 and 2009, will take place from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Dec. 12 at the Marriott hotel, 5580 Tech Center Drive, in northwest Colorado Springs. The cost is $20. More information or to register: 592-1800, ext 18, or www.cshba.com. Metrostudy, based in Houston, tracks housing data in 10 Front Range counties in Colorado, as well as several other markets around the country.

Lennar sells Colorado properties

Lennar Corp., a new home builder with five communities in Colorado Springs, has sold some of its land and homesites to Morgan Stanley Real Estate, as part of a new investment venture between the two firms.

The properties acquired by the venture consist of about 11,000 homesites in 32 communities throughout the country. A spokesman for Lennar would not confirm what communities were included but did say some were in Colorado.

Lennar has a 20 percent ownership interest in the investment venture. The venture acquired the property, with a $1.3 billion net book value as of Sept. 30, for only $525 million.

The sale helps Lennar, which is struggling like many new-home builders, by giving it an infusion of cash, said Stuart Miller, president and CEO.

In the Pikes Peak region, Lennar's communities include Four Mile Ranch in Canon City, Meridian Ranch in Peyton, Mesa Ridge in Fountain, Misty Acres Estates Collection in Monument and Morning View in Colorado Springs. They represent about a third of the company's communities in Colorado.

Re/Max co-founder makes History Channel

Dave Liniger, co-founder of Denver-based Re/Max International, addressed the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce in early November. Now, he's appearing before a bigger audience. "History's Business," a weekly half-hour series on The History Channel, has completed an episode that discusses the launch and growth of Re/Max. The broadcast will air at 6 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Liniger, chairman of Re/Max, was interviewed in The History Channel's studios by program host Geoff Wawro. Liniger explained Re/Max's start in 1973 as a small office and how it's grown to a global real estate franchise network, with offices in more than 65 countries. In addition to telling the story of Re/Max, Liniger discusses his philanthropy efforts and his adventures as a NASCAR driver, balloonist and pilot. Liniger and his wife, Re/Max co-founder Gail, oversee day-to-day operations of the organization. Additional broadcasts of the Re/Max episode of "History's Business" will be listed on the cable channel's web site, www.history.com.

Real estate group convenes economic forecast breakfast Jan. 24

Want to know the outlook for the local economy and real estate market in 2008? The Southern Colorado chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management will hold its 17th annual economic forecast breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly the Sheraton), 2886 S. Circle Drive on Colorado Springs' south side. The breakfast, usually attended by several hundred business people, will include a look at Colorado Springs' economy as well as the commercial, single-family and apartment markets. Speakers include Mike Anderson, assistant Colorado Springs city manager and a longtime local economist; Doug Carter, a commercial broker with Sperry Van Ness and who specializes in the apartment market; Brian Maecker, a real estate agent with the Maecker Team and Re/Max Advantage; and Kent Mau, a commercial broker with Sierra Commercial Real Estate. The cost is $35 before Jan. 16; afterward, the cost is $45. More information: Linda Littlefield at the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, 633-7718, ext. 110 or http://www.irem53.org./

Chuck Asay unplugged at the HBA

Former Gazette political cartoonist Chuck Asay will discuss the building industry and politics during a luncheon to benefit the political action committee of the Housing & Building Association of Colorado Springs. Asay will speak at noon, Thursday, Nov. 1 at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, on Colorado Springs' southwest side. Attendees should RSVP to 592-1800, ext., 21. The cost is $50 per person. More information: 592-1800 or www.cshba.com.

Hispanic real estate association to meet

The first general meeting of the Colorado Springs chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Sept. 10, at the East Library, 5550 N. Union Blvd.

Lunch will be served and a complete description of the organization's purpose and goals will be presented. Participation is not limited to professionals of Hispanic descent or Spanish-speaking individuals.

The local chapter of the national trade association seeks to increase Hispanic homeownership rates by empowering those in the real estate industry to better serve Hispanics through education, advocacy and networking opportunities.

RSVP for the luncheon by Sept. 6 to Gloria at 494-2707 or gloria.mendoza@wesellmore.net.

A Denver real estate company likes us, it really likes us

Why does a Denver-area real estate company invest in Colorado Springs? For DPC Development Co., which on July 5 paid $25.2 million for the downtown Colorado Square building, the company is bullish on the Springs for several reasons, said president Chris King (right). While the Springs' commercial real estate market is growing, several national investors still haven't made purchases here, which leaves the field open for a mid-range investor such as DPC Development, King said. In addition, the company believes the Springs has a diverse economy, what with tech companies, defense contractors and service sector businesses, King said. DPC also believes downtown Colorado Springs is poised to make "a pretty good turnaround," King said. The Colorado Square building was especially attractive. Constructing a similar building in downtown probably would have cost the company twice as much, he said. DPC hopes to keep two subsidiaries of Houston-based El Paso Corp. as tenants; they occupy about 90 percent of the building. If not, the building would be attractive to a wide range of tenants, King said. "Hopefully, they'll stay," he said.

Home builders gearing up for next year's trade show

The 2008 International Builders’ Show is eight months away, but home builders already can register online. Billed as the housing industry’s largest annual trade show and exhibition, the show is produced by the National Association of Home Builders and is expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees from 100 countries. The show will feature more than 1,900 exhibitors representing more than 300 industry categories and displaying the latest in home and building products and services, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Nearly 300 educational seminars -- on topics such as construction standards, green building, economic trends and senior housing -- also will be part of the event. The show takes places from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., and builders can register to attend at www.buildershow.com. The show is not open to the general public, however.

Northwest side Colorado Springs office building changes hands

WA Corporate Centre Acquisitions, a Bellevue, Wash., group, recently paid $7.1 million for the 45,157-square-foot Corporate Centre office building on Colorado Springs' northwest side. The building, southwest of Woodmen Road and Corporate Drive, had been owned by CS Corporate Centre, a California group. Constructed in 1984, the building sits on 3.8 acres and is 100 percent leased; its largest tenant is the Platinum Group, a Springs residential real estate company. Dean Corey, Suni Devitt and Troy Meyer of the Denver office of commercial brokerage Sperry Van Ness represented the seller in the deal, while the buyer represented itself.

Retail project to join office complex on Colorado Springs' north side

A late July groundbreaking is planned for the 24.3-acre, 340,000-square-foot Powers Office Park at Briargate Crossing. Now, the project's developer wants to add shopping, restaurants and a pair of hotels south of the office complex. The office project, southeast of Powers and Union boulevards in the Briargate subdivision on Colorado Springs' far north side, will be developed as office condominiums -- individual spaces that users purchase much like a homeowner buys a house. The project is being built by Powers Group LLC, headed by Scottsdale, Ariz., developer Harvey Salkow. The group also has a deal to buy 15.9 acres south of Powers and Briargate Parkway for a retail project, to be called the Summit at Briargate Crossing. No plans have been submitted to city officials, but the developer envisions 130,000 square feet of shopping, a pair of hotels, four restaurants, a bank and a pharmacy, said Bill Elder of Bennett Shellenberger Realty Inc. in Colorado Springs, who's marketing the project. Construction on the retail project could get underway next year, Elder said.

Students check out real estate industry

Two Junior Achievement Inc. students from Emerson Middle School won the chance to spend a morning on the job with real estate agent Gloria Mendoza of Re/Max Properties Inc. The prize is in honor of June being "National Homeownership Month."
On June 12, eighth graders Curtis Williams and Marcus McCoy will go to work with Mendoza, founder of the Pikes Peak Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, and learn what's involved in buying and selling homes.

McAfee home a good buy for the money, if not the location

Woodland Park and Teller County are beautiful areas. But they're not The Broadmoor -- neighborhoods near the internationally known, five-star hotel in southwest Colorado Springs. So, the sale of software magnate John McAfee’s mountain estate (right) near Woodland Park generated mixed comments from a trio of veteran Colorado Springs real estate agents who handle their share of high-end properties. Chicago commodities trader Patrick Wu paid $5.72 million at auction May 10 for McAfee's 10,000-square-foot main house, three guest houses, nine cabins and 280 acres.

But real estate still is about location, location, location. Many Broadmoor-area properties fetch higher per-square-foot prices for land and homes because of their proximity to the hotel, said Stuart Scott of Stuart Scott Ltd. "Woodland Park is Woodland Park, and the Broadmoor is the most expensive area in this part of the country,” Scott said. “There’s no comparison.” Trish Ingels of Gloriod & Associates questioned whether McAfee would have gotten $5 million if he attempted a straight sale. For somebody from Chicago, however, the $5.72 million price probably was a steal, she said. Kevin Patterson of The Patterson Group said McAfee’s property has great value. A summer retreat would be nice, but if Wu sold portions of the 280 acres for future development, he should make out fine, Patterson said. “Even if it’s only 35-acre tracts, he’ll do well,” Patterson said. “If he could go smaller, he’ll do very well.”

Mall teams up with Habitat for Humanity

Chapel Hills Mall is partnering with Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity to highlight the need for safe, affordable housing in the area. The partnership kicks off Saturday with “Family Portraits,” an interactive exhibit representing the 40,000 families living in substandard housing in the community. Shoppers are invited to donate $1 to Habitat for Humanity. Each donation removes a dot representing a family from the exhibit; donors can sign a message of hope in place of the dot. The exhibit will be displayed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Planning underway for HBA's Parade of Homes

The 2007 Parade of Homes isn't scheduled until Aug. 17-Sept. 2, but the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs is gearing up for the event now. An information session for builders and developers who might want to participate will take place at 3 p.m. March 27 at the Silverwood Hotel and Conference Center, 505 Popes Bluff Trail, northwest of Interstate 25 and Garden of the Gods Road in northwest Colorado Springs. The HBA has a Parade of Homes site planned for the Black Forest Reserve, in unincorporated Black Forest north of the Springs, with at least three builders and five custom homes; another 15 builders are considering individual Parade of Home sites. To attend the March 27 meeting, RSVP to the HBA's Trish Sorvald at 592-1800, extension 16, or trish@cshba.com. For more information about the 2007 Parade of Homes, contact Jim Stiltner at MasterBilt Homes at 481-1129 or jimstiltner@msn.com.