Just wanted to put in a NON-POLITICAL plug for early voting here. GET OUT AND VOTE! And if you are so inclined, I highly recommend early voting if it is available in your local area. My own experience was fantastic - no lines, no crowds, no rush, no bad weather, no drunks (always nice), no parking issues, no crowded booths, no B.O. wafting over from the happy people next to you (there were no people next to me), no broken / shut-down machines, it was in a word - EXCELLENT! On top of that, there were PLENTY of 'I Voted' stickers, which I highly treasure each election season. So, to sum up here, Get out and vote, and vote EARLY if you are able! My guess is many others have had the same positive experience in their early voting - feel free to share it here as well. Thank you for reading, m... 10/27/2008

Last election, regular voting was mess in Castle Rock, Colorado. Waiting, lines, delays, etc. Will it be better this time? Who knows so if you don't want to find out the hard way, vote early. I voted early in Lone Tree. And you can to in Castle Rockat the early voting site: Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock, CO It was a breeze. No lines, no crowds, no waiting. Another thing to consider is that it is a huge ballot, there are many amendments to vote against. Early voting will be available there this week Monday through Thursday, Oct. 27-30 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. They want a picture ID so be sure to bring one along with your yellow signature card. More details at DouglasVotes.com or call the Elections Office at 303.660.7444. 10/26/2008

Investor often ask me what types of real estate investments are available on the market.  Here's what we tell them. This is the first of several postings on the topic. Please offer comments - positive or negative! Assignments.  If you don't have much equity to work with, and/or if your credit power is limited, assignments can be a way to get started in real estate investing.  You will need to have a strong "sales" personality to succeed at it, though.    Rental Condo or Rental Home.  Purchase of a residential property to be rented out to tenants, usually on a 6-12 month lease term.  This is how most new landlords get started.  You can hire out all of the property management functions, but in many cases you will do many of them on your own.  There are smaller down payment requirements th... 09/24/2008

Here’s an analysis of what has happened with home prices in different suburbs around Denver Metro between Jan-May of 2007 and Jan-May 2008: The average home in Castle Rock didn’t actually drop 17% in value. Instead, sales volume of the large, expensive homes (those over 4,000 square feet) plummeted 71%, while consumer instead bought many more mid-size homes in the 2,400 – 3,000 sq ft range. Here, sale volume increased 26%. The mix of selling fewer expensive luxury homes and selling many more affordable mid-market homes drove most of the sales price decline in Castle Rock. The average price of a mid-size home in the 1,800 – 2,400 square foot range declined only 1.7%. This is why it looks like home prices are declining in Denver – there are many factors at work. 09/07/2008

The Meadows offers a little something for everyone.  Below is the community calendar so you can start planning your event. PumpkinFest & Punkin' Chuckin'October 25, 2008 Holidays in The Meadows TMDecember 13, 2008The Grange in The Meadows Easter EggStravaganzaApril 4, 2009Butterfield Crossing Park Kite FestivalApril 2009 Community Wide Garage SaleMay 2009 Community Cleanup DayMay 2009 Old Fashioned 4th of JulyJuly 4, 2009 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monthly Events and Activities: The Second Fifty Women's ClubThe Second Fifty Women's Club in The Meadows has been created to provide women who view their second fifty as the best years of their lives. The club's objectives are to help broaden your circle of friends, expand knowledge of the world around you, and above all, be fun. Women over 50 years of... 08/22/2008

    Every close-knit community needs a gathering place, a soulful center. At The Meadows, this place is called The Grange, a cultural arts center and two outdoor pools that brings neighbors together to learn, play and simply get to know each other better. The Grange offers something for everyone in the community, including a variety of music and art classes, homeowner association board meetings, children's playgroups and story hour as well as a meeting place for several community groups and clubs. Residents of The Meadows also have the opportunity to rent the building for private functions. Click here for our current class schedule The Grange is also a place to learn more about the community, available new homes and area amenities. You can pick up one of our Model Home Tour Guides, a ha... 08/22/2008

And one of the Winners Is: Castle Rock, Colorado Family Circle Magazine set out to find communities across the country that combine big-city opportunities with suburban charm. Those communities had to offer an ideal blend of affordable houses, good jobs, top-rated schools, wide-open spaces, and, plain and simple, just a lot less stress. Castle Rock, Colorado was named among the Top Ten perfect places to call home! Many of us desire the same things: fewer crowds, less concrete, less hassles, more serenity, nature and neighbors we can count on. That's probably why Family Circle chose Castle Rock, Colorado as one of the Top Ten places to raise a family, where living costs, commute times, and crime rates are low, and the educational and cultural scenes are way above average. Moms and dads s... 08/22/2008

It began as a way to share their feelings about Colorado. When the Vickers family discovered the land that has today become Castle Pines, they envisioned it as a special place for those who truly appreciate the sheer beauty of nature. Bringing together the best and brightest development team, they created an internationally acclaimed community recognized for its award-winning architecture, its sensitivity to the natural environment, its commitment to careful planning, and its national caliber amenities. The vision of Castle Pines Village continues today, as residents come together to create a community unique for its superlative design and active lifestyle. There is commitment and dedication here, real people caring about their neighbors and the spectacular place they share...the place ... 08/22/2008

CPR classes will be held at the Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department on the following dates and times: Wednesday 09/10/08 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm Saturday 09/27/08 8:00 am - 12:00 noon.  To sign up please contact Debbie Stanley at 303.660.1066.  It may well give you the confidence to respond in an emergency situation with skills that can save a life! Click Here for Directions to the Castle Rock, Colorado Fire Department Thanks for stopping by, Mark & Wendy Richards Principals/Realtors The Richards Group, Inc. Keller Williams Real Estate, L.L.C. Castle Rock, Colorado Office Cell: 303.204.2688 (Wendy) Cell: 303.204.8949 (Mark) Home: 720.733.1548 eFax: 303.785.9169 Search for Homes: www.SearchinDenver.com Email: TheRichardsGroup@kw.com   08/21/2008

Did You Know This About Castle Rock, Colorado? Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department is a finalist for the Gold Medal Award, one of the highest national honors that can be bestowed on a parks and recreation program. Thanks for stopping by, Mark & Wendy Richards Principals/Realtors The Richards Group, Inc. Keller Williams Real Estate, L.L.C. Castle Rock, Colorado Office Cell: 303.204.2688 (Wendy) Cell: 303.204.8949 (Mark) Home: 720.733.1548 eFax: 303.785.9169 Search for Homes: www.SearchinDenver.com Email: TheRichardsGroup@kw.com 08/19/2008

It's time for another edition of Castle Rock's Town Talk. The August 2008 edition can be found online, at Town Hall or, if you are already a resident and get a water bill, it comes with your bill each month! This month's edition of Castle Rock's Town Talk includes the following topics: Bright Banners Serve as a Signal of Downtown's Sizzle Council Confirms Boundaries Design Standards Ordinance to Ensure Quality Development Green Fleet Policy Will Help Reduce Emissions Kick back, relax and take some time to read about our town, Castle Rock. Thanks for stopping by, Mark & Wendy Richards Principals/Realtors The Richards Group, Inc. Keller Williams Real Estate, L.L.C. Cell: 303.204.2688 (Wendy) Cell: 303.204.8949 (Mark) Home: 720.733.1548 eFax: 303.785.9169 Search for Homes: www.SearchinDenv... 08/19/2008

The Castle Rock Museum Unlike many parts of the west it was not gold that put Castle Rock, Colorado on the map, but rather, it was the discovery of rhyolite stone.  Used for building exteriors, rhyolite was abundantly found in the butte countryside surrounding Plum Creek. In 1875 the Denver & Rio Grande Railway built the new train depot using rhyolite. The depot building is now home to the Castle Rock Historical Museum, where visitors can relive the 125 plus year history of Castle Rock, Colorado. By the way, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, Noon to 5:00. Admission is free. It is a really cool place and you can't beat the price! Thanks for stopping by, Mark & Wendy Richards Principals/Realtors The Richards Group, Inc. Kel... 08/18/2008

August 8, 2008 Wendy and I had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Castle Rock earlier tonight. She had the salmon and I had a designer pizza. Both were awesome!  We highly recommend this fabulous restaurant!   :-) Siena at the Courtyard Restaurant333 Perry StreetCastle Rock, CO303-688-2622Located at the SW corner of 4th and Perry St. in Castle Rock, Colorado. Restaurant is just across the street from the fire station. Look for the big stone fountain in The Courtyard.  Thanks for stopping by, Mark & Wendy Richards Principals/Realtors The Richards Group, Inc. Keller Williams Real Estate, L.L.C. Cell: 303.204.2688 (Wendy) Cell: 303.204.8949 (Mark) Home: 720.733.1548 eFax: 303.785.9169 Search for Homes: www.SearchinDenver.com Email: TheRichardsGroup@kw.com   08/08/2008

D is for Duplex - Real Estate Dictionary Colorado Real Estate -- Use this glossary to make yourself more prepared What is a deed?  A deed is a document used to transfer ownership in a property.  There are many types of deeds, but the most common type in Colorado is a General Warranty Deed My neighbor is trying to sale their house in  a short-sale, and he said he is concerned about a Deficiency Judgement, what is this?    The bank who owns the mortgage on the property, may get a judgment against your neighbor for the loan deficiency, and they call this a Deficiency Judgement. I was reading my lease over and it has a demolition clause in it, what is this?  Some landlords who own older buildings, will put a demolition clause in their lease, which allows them to cancel the lease with proper... 06/15/2008

Castle Rock Homes For Sale - New Listings When searching for the latest Castle Rock Colorado homes for sale it is helpful to have a way to search the brand new listings. If you ready to buy your next home, you definitely want to know where the latest listings are so that you are able to view them first if you desire. This tool will help you do just that. It is not unusual for the best of the best listings to be Under Contract very quickly in the Denver area. This interactive map will help you stay on top of what is new at all times. The map below shows you the properties in Castle Rock that are new real estate listings in the last 3 days. It is constantly updating. Come back tomorrow and if there are additional new homes for sale, they will be added. And on a listing 4th day of being on... 06/14/2008

Castle Rock Homes and  Neighborhoods - Single Family Home Subdivisions COhomefinder allows you to browse or map all the neighborhoods in Castle-Rock. Some of the top Castle-Rock neighborhoods include Castle Pines Village, Castle Pines North, Castlewood Ranch Filing 1 Par, Meadows The Filing 16 Parcels, Bell Mountain Ranch, Founders Village, Castle Pines Village Filing 1, and The Meadows, Meadows . See all the Castle-Rock neighborhoods below and browse, map or sign up for email alerts for any Castle-Rock neighborhood. See All Castle Pines Village Homes for sale in Castle Rock - Real Estate Listings See All Castlewood Ranch Filing 1 Par, Castle Rock - Real Estate Listings See All Castle Pines North, Castle Rock - Real Estate Listings See All Bell Mountain Ranch, Castle Rock - Real Estate ... 05/19/2008

Here are the DCW Douglas County West - Homes in Castle Rock, Castle Pines and Sedalia - For Sale & Sold Home Numbers for April 2008. Inventory in this area of the Denver real estate market is up a bit - and the level of homes sold and pending sales is actually down just a little - not exactly what we want to see.  As always, this pocket of the market shows repeating trends that are consistent with the average price point (currently $755,710 for homes for sale) - luxury homes are going to take longer to sell.  Price and condition remaining critical components of your marketing strategy.  If you are not going to get real on your price, your home will stay for sale. One look at the average price of homes sold ($457,508) and that shows the higher priced homes bringing up that average just a... 05/17/2008

Allergies can be the cause of sleeplessness, pain, asthma and many other unwanted discomforts. Eliminate one of the biggest allergy “hosts” in your house. What is it? Carpet! How often do you wash your clothes, sheets, blankets, etc? How often do you wash and clean your carpet? Not very often, just like rest of us. Nevertheless, even if you did clean your carpets often, allergens like pollen, pet dander, dirt, dust and so-on, may still reside in those little fuzzy strands of carpet. Eliminate the problem at its source. Replacing your old, worn out and dirty carpet with hardwood, not only enhances the look and feel of your home but it can drastically reduce the concentration of allergens. Consider these facts from the EPA’s Website: Health Problems Caused By ANIMAL DANDER, MOLDS, DUST MI... 05/16/2008

I live and have my office in Castle Rock Colorado, so naturally I do alot of flooring installations in the area. Whether it's hardwood, laminate, or even wood repair and restoration, I do it all. Here is a testimonial from one of my happy customers in Castle Rock: "Hi, I just wanted to say a few words about Jason's work and his flooring business. My wife and I live in Castle Rock and decided that we needed a harder flooring surface because our 2 year old was destroying our carpet. We needed something that was easy to clean and maintain... but also something very inexpensive. We called Jason based on a referral, and he helped us pick out just the right flooring product (which ended up being laminate for us because of how easy it is to take care of). He came and set up early one morning a... 05/16/2008

Colorado Springs is one of our primary areas of business. With many historic homes similar to Denver, we do alot of refinishing work in the area, but mostly we perform new installs. The northernmost part of Colorado Springs is one of the fastest growing areas in Colorado, and we work directly with builders to provide great custom work for the new home owner. But our favorite kind of installations in Colorado Springs are hardwood new installs in pre-existing homes. That way, we can work directly with the customer to achieve the desired result. And it is especially rewarding to be able to work with happy home owners to make their homes beautiful. The custom work we do can even include difficult obstacles that other flooring companies won't touch (and that your local Home Depot will turn a... 05/16/2008