Segment #1 begins at Waterton Canyon in Denver.  (Ask about our Colorado mortgages for the splendid homes in Denver’s popular neighborhoods.)  The trail extends 16.5 miles and rises 2,346 feet in elevation as it winds towards the South Platte River.  This first segment of The Colorado Trail is fairly close to civilization. 

However, subsequent segments pass through Lost Creek Wilderness and into the Rocky Mountains where it is accessed at many points marked by signs in Park and Summit counties.  It is also accessible via the Summit Stage bus which runs between real estate in Silverthorne, Breckenridge homes, Frisco, Dillon, and Copper Mountain. 

Segment #8 in Summit County runs underneath the Eagle Lift at Copper Mountain Resort and runs a hefty 24.33 miles and 3,823 feet in elevation.  The premier long-distance trail system continues past the diverse ecosystems, lakes, and creeks of Holy Cross Wilderness, Mt. Massive Wilderness, Collegiate Peaks Wilderness as it moves south past Buena Vista.  It continues past the La Garita Wilderness and Weminuche Wilderness and moves close to Durango.

Each of the segments ranges from 11.4 to 32 miles and include rugged elevation climbs spanning 1,040 to 4,520 feet.  Trails ranging from easy to hard ribbon through 8 mountain ranges, along 5 river systems, and traverse 6 national forests and 6 wilderness areas.  Whether you are hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, riding and horse or leading pack animals, because of the length and altitude of the segments, it’s wise to tag along with an experienced guide while gaining expertise in the folds of the Rocky Mountains. 

Another great way to acclimate to the Colorado Trail is by volunteering.  The Colorado Trail Foundation organizes Volunteer Adopters and Helpers to build, improve, and maintain the trail.  Volunteers like meeting others who take an interest in caring for the Trail.

Above Lake City in the open meadows and lofty peaks, a secluded Education Center offers rustic facilities and provides classroom instruction and projects.  Parents and grandparents may accompany children to programs such as Kids’ Natural World 2 in a setting surrounded by tall Aspens and Engelmann Spruce is a secluded Education Center.  Oil and Watercolor Painting, Mountain Club Hiking, Learning Your Wildflowers, Music in the Mountains, and other courses are beautiful opportunities to bask in the Rocky Mountain experience along the Colorado Trail.

ShareThis

These nine steps taken in order are a recipe for success. Mix them up too much and you will probably bump into setbacks and frustrations.

1. Figure out how much you can afford,
2. Know your rights,
3. Shop for a loan,
4. Learn about home-buying programs,
5. Shop for a home,
6. Make an offer,
7. Get a home inspection,
8. Shop for homeowner’s insurance, and
9. Sign papers. Notice that “Shop for a home” is number 5 on the list.

Companies such as Paragon Loans offer customers assistance with several of these steps. We can help you weigh the benefits of owning a home, encourage zero credit-card debt, help repair credit, find options for too-so-perfect credit, determine what you will qualify for, find a monthly payment that is comfortable and affordable, review types of available loans in the marketplace, and steer you toward down-payment assistance programs, if necessary.

Is your timing right? Maybe you are renting now and have a serious credit-card or student-loan debt load. Your relatives are telling you to invest in real estate and to stop paying someone else’s mortgage. However, it is expensive to carry that debt load and your greatest investment right now may be to put all of your extra money into becoming debt free.

Afterwards, you want to put away money into a short-term savings vehicle so that you will be able to come to the bargaining table with resources. With more money available for a down payment, more options will be available. For example, according to SmartMoney.com, Fannie Mae allows borrowers who can put down 5 percent to qualify with a smaller salary than if they only put 3 percent down. Other lenders have programs to wrap mortgage insurance and closing costs into loans if a sufficient down payment is put up.

Did you know that there is a difference between how much you qualify for and how much you can afford? Buyers need to be realistic about their lifestyles and needs. If you do not want to forego family vacations, ski passes, nice clothes, and electronic gadgets, then please do yourself a favor and leave enough monthly discretionary income to cover these “necessities.”

Getting approved ahead of time will give you quite a bit of bargaining power when you shop. First of all, pre-approval causes you only to look at properties that fit your budget and will save you time and money in the long run. Secondly, you can move quickly to make an offer on “your” home when you find it. Any other interested parties may not have that type of on-the-spot leverage.

Of course, it is essential to have the home inspected before signing the papers so you are not surprised with major problems and expenses after moving in. And, after you find the right home and the right price, you can purchase the homeowners insurance to fit that exact property. Signing the papers will be a celebration—if you’ve gone about all this the right way.

ShareThis