Being Thankful - In Colorado Springs or Anywhere Else

My kindergarten aged grandson had a Thanksgiving program yesterday, and one of the songs the kids sang was about having an attitude of gratitude. I for one, am somewhat prone to thinking of being thankful FOR something. Living here in Colorado Springs, working at RE/MAX Properties, the #1 real estate firm in the city, and part of the #1 real estate system in the state, country and the world, that is usually a pretty great list, so it isn't hard to some up with some good ones. Examples are as simple as the great view of Pikes Peak, or mild sunny weather in the middle of winter, or being a reasonable distance to world class skiing, and on and on. Having our extended family here gives us a lot of other things to be thankful for, such as having our grandkids over last night for a sleepover (complete with banana chocolate chip pancakes this morning!), being able to see them in their school programs, etc. But sometimes, I need to step back from all the things I'm thankful for, and remember that if none of them were available, it is still my job to keep an attitude of gratitude. I'm alive, healthy, I have a roof over my head, plenty to eat, and live in the most prosperous age of the most properous country in the history of the world. That should be MORE than enough to be thankful for, no matter what else is going on.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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People looking to buy a home in Colorado Springs were given a little holiday gift yesterday, with an unexpected drop in interest rates. I got one client locked at 5.5% yesterday, hopefully it won't change much today! For all the attention that things like stimulus checks get, lower gas prices and interest rates really make more of a difference in terms of people's ability to buy things. The difference between 6% and 5.5% on a $300,000 mortgage was $95.28 every month. Over the course of a 30 year mortgage, that is $34,300!

We are also supposed to get another holiday gift on Thanksgiving day, some snow. It has been warm and dry here for almost a month, and it will be nice to have some wintery weather to welcome in the holiday season. For Colorado residents, there are still some season pass deals to be had, Copper Mountain in particular is still available for $369 for the season, a great deal on my favorite mountain.

One of our traditions on Thanksgiving is to go around the room and have everyone share what they are thankful for. One the many things I am thankful for is the opportunity to live in this great state, and sell real estate for a living. While this is certainly not my best year in the business, I am so grateful I get to do what I do!

Today's photo is from Prospect Lake again. This goose is undoubtedly thankful he is NOT part of someones holiday feast!

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period has officially begun. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, especially for family gatherings. It seems a little less harried, expectations seem easier to meet, the food is always good, there is less "uptightness" in the air. Of course all of that changes the next day when the Christmas shopping season kicks in, but it is nice while it lasts.

This year all but one of our kids will be with us, and we lucky enough to have the grandkids join us as well. It is hard to hit all the holidays for some of our grown kids, because their spouses have families too, and they obviously should get a chance to see them. In addition, one of our sons works in a job that requires his presence over the Thanksgiving holiday, so we have had a harder time getting to see him and his wife for this holiday.

Some years we have travelled to see extended family ourselves, and while it is always fun, I have to say that Thanksgiving is a holiday I really like to be home for. Many of my clients and friends have family come here to Colorado for Thanksgiving, and some years it is actually a pretty busy work week as well, as I end up showing property to some who are considering making this their home instead of just a visit.

So the great migration for Thanksgiving begins again, where so many will drive or fly to renew family ties. It's a great thing!

Today's Pikes Peak photo is from the Gleneagle / Northgate area, taken a few years ago from one of my listings there.