\”So I Was Thinking. . . \”

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”  

w w w . k r i s t a i n g r a m . c o m

7 2 0 – 2 8 1 – 0 7 7 9

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”

w w w . k r i s t a i n g r a m . c o m  

7 2 0 – 2 8 1 – 0 7 7 9      

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.

5.   Get Support!

Accountability works wonders!   “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  Choose someone that you can be honest with and who will encourage you on a consistent basis for the remainder of the year.

Here’s to new ambitions, fresh ideas and motivations.  Here’s to 2008!   May it be all and more than you expect it to be!

Krista Ingram – Your Colorado Realtor  

7 2 0 – 2 8 1 – 0 7 7 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRTGeCZNgAs&feature=related

Watch this brief video clip, and get ready to be wowed.   In case you don’t already know this, “failure is not fatal.”   In fact, it’s one of our best teachers!

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.”

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.   Or take ship as as an example.   Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.     Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it  makes great boasts.   Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark!”  

Krista Ingram – Your Colorado Realtor

So it’s 6:15 on Wednesday evening, April 16th, here in the Denver Metro area.   Two days ago the neighborhood kids were out playing with the water hoses, and right now   I’m looking at huge flakes of wet snow.   Sound strange?… Not if you’ve lived in Colorado for any length of time!   There’s a common Colorado saying….”Don’t like the weather?   Wait a few hours…it’ll change!”   And the saying rings true time and time again.

All of our lives hold different “weather changes” if you will.   There is the new job, the new significant other, the new home, the new good news, the new bad news,  the new challenge that just presented itself earlier today, etc…   The list goes on and on.   After-all – that’s what life is.   A series of changes.   The question is then, how will I respond to these changes when they present themselves?

The outcome is yet to be.   It hinges on our responses.   Stop and think about that for a moment…. This morning it was bright and sunny – not even a single cloud in sight.   I heard on the radio that snow was coming and I remember looking at the sky and thinking “really?”   Well sure enough, it’s here. (the change)   I could have gone to my appointment earlier without a jacket (in denial and stupid), I could have gotten upset and yelled at the sky (overreacting and ex-centric), or I could have calmly prepared for it – grabbing a jacket out of the closet, turning off the automatic sprinkler system, and turning up the heat in the house.

Which one do you think I did?  

When the next challenge of a change presents itself, what will your response be?

“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.   And in all of your getting, get understanding.”

“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”

Here’s to embracing changes with a clear mind and open arms!   Oh, by the way, if you’re still wondering if I grabbed my jacket, the answer is yes (but only after yelling at the sky for a brief moment! Kidding!)  

Krista Ingram is a native of Colorado and knows all about the ins and outs of the weather.   Need an excellent Realtor?   www.kristaingram.com

When pondering placing your home on the market to sell, what’s the  BEST thing that you can do to put your  BEST foot forward?   Yes, you  need to hire a Realtor that  will work hard for you.   Yes, the stats on your neighborhood need to be researched thoroughly.   Yes, any deferred maintenance at the property needs to be considered.   But something that is all too often overlooked, is taking a step back from the action as a homeowner, and earnestly asking for an outsider’s perspective.   And by outsider, I don’t mean your mom who loves the way you decorate….after all it’s just like her!   Or your spouse, who really is forced to agree with everything you say or face the punishment of your unique wrath whatever form you favor! (silent treatment, passive aggressiveness, spicy cooking that you know will have a hay-day on sensitive stomachs, etc…)

I’m saying to  give your Realtor permission to tell you the truth!  

1.   Ask if your collections are too distracting.  

2.   Ask if the scent  of your Glad Plug In is  overwhelming, keeping in mind that we become used to the scents that we are around all  of the time.  

3.   Inquire  if changing the shower curtain or towels would make a difference.

4.   Would renting a storage unit for a few months be worth  the investment?

5.   Are the kids bedroom colors too much?

These are all very simple questions to pose, that could very well lead you to a quicker sale…which always means more $$ in your pocket.   Unfortunately some agents hold back their opinions for fear of offending you.   Disarm that possibility by giving permission to tell you the truth!

Competition right now when selling is fierce.   Don’t discount the  easy fixes….seek them out…  be open minded… and get ready to stand out from the crowd!

Krista Ingram is a Colorado Realtor with an educational background in interior architecture and design, giving her a cutting edge when selling properties.   Put her experience to work for you!   720-281-0779

In a society that is focused on instant gratification and the notion that “image is everything” the reality that your credit score plays a starring role in the quality of your life gets pushed down to the bottom of the pile.   After all, if you receive offers for credit cards and lines of  credit all must be fine, right?   NO!   You, as the consumer, need to be aware of the breakdown of your credit score.   Why?

A credit score is an extremely important financial tool. It provides access to the financing you need in order to buy a car, a home, or pay for college tuition, among other things. Since higher scores equate to lower costs and vice versa, it’s vital to understand the factors involved in calculating your score. Here are the five elements that make up a credit score, in order of importance:

Payment History: 35% impact. Paying debt on time and in full has a positive impact. Late payments, judgments, and charge-offs have a negative impact. Missing a high payment has a more serious impact than missing a low payment. Delinquencies that have occurred in the last two years carry more weight than older items.

When applying for a mortgage, every point in your credit score can make a big difference. So don’t make any major financial or credit decisions – even paying off an old debt or delinquency – without first discussing it with your mortgage professional.

Outstanding Credit Balances: 30% impact. This factor marks the ratio between the outstanding balance and available credit. Ideally, consumers should make an effort to keep balances as close to zero as possible, and definitely below 30% of the available credit limit when trying to purchase a home.

Credit History: 15% impact. This marks the length of time since a particular credit line was established. A seasoned borrower is stronger in this area.

Type of Credit: 10% impact. A mix of auto loans, credit cards, and mortgages is more positive than a concentration of debt from credit cards alone.

Inquiries: 10% impact. This quantifies the number of inquiries (or requests for credit) that have been made on a consumer’s credit history within a six month period. Each individual inquiry can cost from 2 to 50 points on a credit score, but the maximum number of inquiries that will reduce the score is 10. In other words, don’t start the loan process until you’re ready to act. Otherwise each individual credit inquiry could cost you. However, scoring models have now been adjusted to count multiple “hard” inquiries within a 14-day period as a single request. So, when you’re ready, your credit will be too.
Do you have questions about your credit score?   You are entitled to a free report from each of the credit reporting agencies once a year, or if you’ve been denied credit recently.  

Visit Experian  ,

Transunion ,

or Equifax for a free copy to see where your credit stands.

With all of the negative press that surrounds real estate these days, how is it that anyone can have a positive outlook?   If we are to believe what is reported in newspapers everyday and talked about on the evening news, we would have absolutely no hope for moving ahead with either buying or selling!   As a Colorado  REALTOR, if I believed this, then my outlook would be complete “doom and gloom.”   Whew…who wouldn’t want that attitude underlying in their REALTOR?!   (just a joke of course)

What do I believe?   It’s really quite simple.   People buy and sell real estate every single day of the year.   That is a fact.   In strong buyers markets it means that sellers MUST be aware of their competition and present themselves in the best condition, at the best price, from the very beginning!   If you are a buyer, then make sure you are working with a REALTOR that has strong negotiating skills and is able to supply  you with ample information for you to  make the best choice possible. (not just a quick sale)   Just because you’re hearing that it’s a buyers market does not mean that every home available for sale is an amazing deal.   That’s very important!

I was at Barnes and Noble this afternoon and picked up a book that looks quite inspiring.   How can a book look inspiring?   Two reasons:   1.   The title “The Success Principles…How to get from where you are to where you want to be”screams “read me!”   2.   The length of the book (435 pages) must have some life changing revelations within the pages!   I’m a chapter in, and very impressed.   Look for future blogs on what I’m learning.   Here’s a quote that I’m filing in my memory from today’s reading:

“The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.”   LOU HOLTZ

(The only coach in NCAA history to lead six different college teams to post-season bowl games, and winner of a national championship and “coach of the year” honors.)

Are you thinking about buying or selling a home in the Denver-Metro Area in the  next six months?   Do you know someone who is?   REALTOR Krista Ingram takes great pride in offering the highest level of professional real estate services to all clients.   Call 720-281-0779 to learn how she can help you realize your real estate goals!  

Welcome to Krista Ingram’s Blog! This blog will provide you with valuable information, tips, and general insight into the real estate market in Littleton.