Monday, December 14, 2009

WE'RE #1

For the 2nd time in the last 5 years the Fort Lewis Men's soccer team is the NCAA Division II National Champion. That's NATIONAL CHAMPION!!! Forget the Broncos. Forget the Nuggets. Forget the Rockies and Avs. These guys belong to us. It was wonderful to see the community support the team. The championship game was televised and carried in the restaurants and local bars. Locals cheered and celebrated with a parade down Main Aveunue when the team arrived back from Florida. This "feel good" happening is only the latest example of what makes our small corner of Colorado a special place.

"National Champions" - now that's cool!

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Wednesday, November 04, 2009

TAX CREDITS:

"Last night the Senate voted cloture on a bill that includes the extension of the first time home buyer tax credit.

While this is not the final vote, it effectively seals the deal on the plan to extend the $8000 first time buyer credit through April 30th and expand said credit to move-up buyers on a smaller ($6500) scale.

A few weeks ago the Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement at the IRS, Linda E. Stiff, testified before Congress that between January 2009 and September 2009 the IRS has processed claims from more than 1.5 million individuals or families who have purchased homes....Now granted, the extension is also an expansion, giving some move up buyers $6500 more in purchasing power, but that's only up to the income cap of $150,000 for single filers and $225,000 for joint filers...again, covering an awful lot of Americans, but not everyone. Contracts must be signed by April 30th and, yes, they can close by June 30th."**

**Quoted from Diana Olick - CNBC Real Estate Reporter

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Saturday, September 12, 2009

Press Release


Charles and Mary Rigby Selected as Leading Real Estate Professionals of the Western United States

Durango, CO, September, 2009: Charles and Mary Rigby, leading providers of real estate services, today announced that they have been selected by Goldline Research as leading Real Estate Professionals of the Western United States for 2009. The list of leading Real Estate Professionals of the Western United States is scheduled to be published in the September 21st issue of Forbes Magazine.

“To be selected to this list of top real estate professionals is very gratifying,” said the Rigbys. They added, “The real estate business is about more than houses. It’s the people inside the house that we focus on. That’s why we place such an emphasis on understanding our client’s goals, needs and expectations. Our clients deserve only the best – we work to give them exactly that!”

“Those selected provide extensive client service that exceeds the industry standard,” said Dana Mahoney, Analyst, Goldline Research. “We believe that they are setting the benchmarks for the industry as a whole.”

Goldline Research recently completed its annual evaluation of real estate professionals in the Western United States. The Goldline Research study was conducted from July 2009 through mid-August 2009. The Western United States encompasses a nineteen state region that stretches from Texas to North Dakota and west to the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii and Alaska.

About Charles and Mary Rigby
As one of the area’s leading real estate teams, Charles combines his more than 25 years in the title insurance business with Mary’s nearly three decades of experience as a Realtor. Together they provide each and every one of their clients with a simply unparalleled level of knowledge and service they can depend on.

About Goldline Research
Goldline Research is a leading marketing and information services company. Goldline Research’s mission is to empower consumer choice by identifying leading professional services providers. Goldline Research has evaluated professional services firms and providers throughout the United States using a rigorous, proprietary research methodology. The company has helped thousands of consumers find high quality service providers. Goldline Research was recently named to the 2009 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing privately-held companies. Founded in 2004, Goldline Research is headquartered in Novato, California. For more information, please visit www.goldlineresearch.com.

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Monday, August 10, 2009

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One of the most important things to families relocating to an area are the schools. Data released last Friday shows fairly strong academic performance in both Durango and Bayfield while Ignacio lagged behind. The Colorado Student Assessment Program, a series of tests given to children in grades three through 10 each fall, form the backbone of how the state measures public schools performance. In both the Durango School District and the Bayfield School District 97 percent of 10th graders kept up with reading standards. The statewide average was 93 percent. Our schools measure up.

While important, school statistics are not the only measurement of the suitability of a community for raising a family. In small towns it seems that youth programs are a larger part of the overall lifestyle. Young people and their achievements are recognized. Last week, for example, the La Plata County Fair featured 4-H and FFA exhibitors. The Durango Herald's Friday front page was a photo and article of the sheep competition. Saturday's front page was a photo and article on the market swine grand champion and Sunday's front page was the market beef grand champion. We're talking FRONT PAGE. Our youth are important.

In a small community the kids get coverage. When the Durango swim team competes, it's news. Football, basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer - girls and boys, its all supported by the community. Whatever the activity, from sports to high school theater and musicals, our kids are recognized and supported. A "good education" is more than just school stats.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

DURANGO - Statistics for the 2nd quarter have been released by the Durango Area Association of Realtors and, as expected, they indicate our real estate market continues to suffer from the nationwide housing slowdown.

The median sale price of Durango homes dropped 12 percent from $405,000 to 355,000. The number of sales fell by half, from 70 to 35. Homes in the La Plata county also saw declines. The median price of sold properties dropped 16 percent, from $344,975 to $288,300. The number of sales fell from 127 to 102.

With prices declining and favorable interest rates it appears some buyers are coming back into the market. We have been busy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the first-time homebuyer credit to $8,000, providing some incentive to stimulate real estate sales.

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Tuesday, July 07, 2009

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4TH OF JULY in a small town - there's nothing like it. An outdoor breakfast in Rotary Park, arts and crafts in Buckley Park, patriotic readings on Main Avenue, and a KCBS sanctioned BBQ Cookoff; downtown was packed.

The BBQ cookoff, sponsored by the Kiwanis as a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs, drew 29 cooking teams from as far away as Florida. These were some of the guys you see on the Food Network specials. We spent 2 days preparing and serving chicken, ribs, pork shoulder and brisket to the public and judges. Our team raised over $3,200 for the area clubs.

The celebration was completed by a terrific parade lead by the Westwind Piper Band. Uncle Sam, Clydedales, Freemasons, Harleys and the Ladies and Gents of the Historical Society rounded out the spectacle that ended with a brilliant fireworks display.

Oh, by the way - we placed 6th in Pork Shoulder and 2nd in Brisket. Now THAT'S COOL!

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

This morning's headline in the Durango Herald is "County Pulls Plug on Land-use Code." WHAT!!!!!

After more than five years of having the new land use code shoved down our throats by the County Planners and Commissioners we're now told that the code is not "the best path to the community we want to see," by Planning Director Erick Aune.

Under previous planning director Nancy Lauro the planning department told us the new land use policies would control and limit urban sprawl. Now under planning director Erick Aune the planning department tells us the new code would actually increase sprawl rather than combat it. Aune says the county should focus on a comprehensive plan - "a central guiding document that would inform all functions of county government" - and from that a land use code would flow relatively easily. What a bunch of *#@^(*.

We have spent untold hours of effort and only God knows how much money to develop a land use plan for the county and now we're going to start over? These people need to take their educated rear ends and head back to Boulder or wherever it is they came from. ( And take the Commissioners with them.)

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