Woodmoor - Easy Access, Mountain Resort-Like Atmosphere

There are places you can live in the greater Colorado Springs area that do not feel like you are near a town of 600,000, and the Woodmoor area in Monument is one of them. I listed a home this past week that is kind of an anomaly, in that it is an almost brand new home in an area that is pretty much completely built already. Woodmoor started in the 60's, but most of the homes tend to be from 90's, when our big construction boom snatched up the remaining vacant lots. Woodmoor is one of the only single family residential areas to my knowledge that has full time staff for the HOA (the Woodmoor Improvement Association), and offers a security patrol to augment the El Paso County Sheriff's Department. Dues are $209 / year. It is 1/2 to 1 acre density, with lots of trees, greenbelts running through it, and plenty of foxes, deer and squirrels for neighbors. Woodmoor is one of those places that feels like you on vacation when you are home, and yet it is very convenient for freeway and shopping access, making it popular among those who have split commutes (one going to Denver and the other to the Springs). Drive time is almost the same to the south end of Denver (30 minutes) or downtown Colorado Springs. Prices start in the mid 300's for smaller 70's built homes, but can approach a million for newer, larger, well equipped luxury homes. The home pictured was completed in 2007, and with 4200 square feet, almost all finished area, it is listed at an extremely good price for $499,900.

Take a tour of 18360 Sloan Lane.

See more photos and the MLS information for 18360 Sloan Lane.

Got questions about living in Colorado Springs? Call me at 719-590-4768 or 888-568-6784! Visit me on Facebook to see even more photos!

Monument / Tri Lakes Area Offers Lifestyle and Convenience

Just 10 miles north of Colorado Springs (as measured from Chapel Hills), lies a small community called Monument. Many also also refer to the general area as Tri Lakes, named for the 3 lakes of Palmer Lake, Monument Lake, and Lake Woodmoor. None of these are large bodies of water, but it sounds good! This area is at a little higher elevation than the Springs (Monument Hill is around 7400 ft), and also tends to have a little cooler, wetter weather, but offers a lot of lifestyle amenities. Prices for town homes start under $200,000, but there are homes for well over $1,000,000 as well. The average list price of single family homes for sale in the Tri Lakes area as of 6-29-09 is $559,563, although there are 154 homes below $400,000.

To start with, being smaller (15,000 residents for the general area?), it tends to have a lot more laid back feel. It is a popular area for families whose jobs are split between Denver and Colorado Springs, being only 40 minutes from Denver, and 20 minutes to downtown Colorado Springs. Airline pilots and frequent travellers find it convenient for Denver International Airport.

The lots tend to be larger and more treed, with neighborhoods like Woodmoor, Kings Deer, and Bent Tree. The Forest View and other neighborhoods west of I25 tend to have lots of wildlife, including bears, deer, mountain lions, among others. Foxes and deer are very common east of I25. More affordable neighborhoods such as Jackson Creek and Santa Fe Trails make this area accessible to more than just the wealthy.

There has been a lot of commercial development in the last several years, bringing a Super Walmart, Home Depot, Staples, and lots of restaurants, including a Chili's and a Texas Road House, among some other smaller fast food places.

The school district for the Tri Lakes area is Lewis Palmer, District 38. They have a brand new high school, and the test scores are for D38 schools are always near the top of the range for the Colorado Springs area.

Recreationally, access to the Pike National Forest via Mt Herman Rd and Rampart Range Road opens up a universe of hiking trails and other outdoor possibilities. Fox Run Regional Park marks the south end of the area, with some of the nicest views in the region. The New Santa Fe Trail is a north - south trail that is part of a huge network of hiking and biking trails, and runs through the center of Monument up to Palmer Lake in the north, and the Pikes Peak Greenway and the Air Force Academy in the south. The new Monument YMCA and the Colorado Sports Center ice rink offer another genre of recreational possibilities.

Today's photo is of a new listing I have in the Santa Fe Trails / Peak View Ridge area for only $249,500. Click the following link to see more details on this great 4 bed 3 bath home! 17205 Snowwood

Got questions about living in Colorado Springs? Call me at 719-590-4768 or 888-568-6784! Visit me on Facebook to see even more photos!