Category Archives: Colorado Springs CO

Colorado, Colorado Springs CO, Earth Sheltered Homes, Earthship, Eco-Friendly, Push Notification, Sustainable Housing, Unique Homes, Video

Sustainable Earth Home Made From Mud and Old Cans Hits the Market in Colorado for $1.3 Million

Posted on by Mike B
25
May

An eco-friendly, sustainable earth home that is tucked away on a lush, green parcel in Colorado Springs‘ Black Forest has just landed on the market for $1.3 million.

Hand-crafted in 1997 using recycled materials, the residence was constructed from more than 1,500 recycled tires, mud, aluminum cans, and glass bottles. The sellers spent nearly three years constructing their home.

Now, more than two decades later, they are ready to hand over their eco-friendly abode to a buyer who is seeking a self-sustaining dwelling that was designed for comfort.

“It took the sellers just under three years to build the home, and they did 90% of the work themselves,” says listing agent Jennifer Browne of The Fletcher Team & Associates. “It was designed to maintain a 65-degree temperature inside year-round, and all of the windows have rain sensors so you can open and close them.”

Living area of earth home in Colorado Springs, CO, on sale for $1,299,900
An eco-friendly home on a lush parcel in Colorado Springs’ Black Forest has just landed on the market for $1.3 million. (Elite Home Tours)
Open floor plan of earth home in Colorado Springs, CO on sale for $1,299,900
Hand-crafted in 1997, the residence was constructed from more than 1,500 recycled tires, mud, aluminum cans, and glass bottles, a process that took the sellers nearly three years to complete. (Elite Home Tours)
Kitchen of earth home in Colorado Springs, CO, on sale for $1,299,900
Now, more than two decades later, they are ready to hand over their eco-friendly abode to a buyer who is seeking a self-sustaining dwelling that was designed to offer the utmost in comfort. (Elite Home Tours)

The home’s energy-efficient design incorporates both passive and active solar systems, along with slanted windows lining the front of the home and five skylights.

“The home offers energy efficiency through passive and active solar design, an [ethylene propylene diene monomer] rubber membrane roof, stucco exterior, slanted windows lining the front of the home, and five skylights that provide natural light,” the listing notes.

And while the property would be suited to any kind of buyer, particularly those with a penchant for extraordinary homes, Browne notes that it would be ideal for those who appreciate nature.

“The next buyer will be someone who wants to feel connected to nature,” Browne says. “It will be someone who is looking for an experience to feel more a part of the earth.”

An appreciation for nature runs throughout the property, with natural materials used throughout the design—even in the more decorative elements.

The four-bedroom residence boasts custom mosaics, 12 mandalas, and an entry piece that functions as a water feature. Exposed wood ceilings and enormous beams run throughout the living spaces, making it feel as if you’re living in a modern-day treehouse.

“It also has a poured-earth floor,” she notes. “The sellers love feeling a part of the earth and nature. It was a strong labor of love for them.”

Bedroom in earth home in Colorado Springs, CO on sale for $1,299,900
Natural materials were used throughout the design—even in the more decorative elements. (Elite Home Tours)
Home office in earth home in Colorado Springs, CO on sale for $1,299,900
The organic design features rooms with curved walls. (Elite Home Tours)
The 6.81-acre earth home property in Colorado Springs, CO, on sale for $1,299,900
The 6.81-acre parcel offers ample room for expansion or the creation of a compound-style estate. (Elite Home Tours)

The shape of the home also has an organic flow, with several curved rooms that appear to merge with the world around them.

Also found throughout the 4,461-square-foot open floor plan are built-in seating, kiva fireplaces, and a split kitchen with a prep area, pantry, and dining space.

A spacious primary suite boasts dual closets, a spa-inspired bathroom with a heat-retaining tub built with stones, and a walk-out patio.

Two nonconforming bedrooms have exclusive access to private observatories.

The 6.81-acre parcel offers ample room for expansion or the creation of a compound-style estate.

Currently, the lot boasts a two-car garage, cross-fenced acreage designed for horses, a 23-stall barn with hay storage, a heated tack shed with water, storage outbuildings, a fenced dog area, and a pond.

According to Browne, the property is packed with potential for all kinds of buyers—including those who are seeking a sustainable primary residence and those who are on the hunt for an investment opportunity.

“There is a good chance that it could be used as a primary or secondary residence, but it could also be a great rental or retreat space,” Browne adds. “The amount of awe you get from the home and how it’s designed is incredible.”

Cash Sale, Colorado Springs CO, Data Journalism, Durham NC, Homebuying, Mortgage Rates, Seattle WA, Unique Homes

Million-Dollar Home Sales Are Growing—and Affluent Buyers Are Paying in Cash

Posted on by Mike B
18
Feb

The market for million-dollar homes is expanding across the United States, but growth isn’t limited to traditional luxury hubs. The metros of Colorado Springs, CO, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, and Seattle are also seeing significant increases in seven-figure sales, driven by distinct factors.

In Seattle, tech wealth and limited housing are driving the trend, whereas the appeal of Colorado Springs as a military hub and an influx of high-income residents are fueling its growth. Meanwhile, Durham-Chapel Hill’s tech and life sciences industries are attracting investment and boosting demand.

Unsurprisingly, California’s coast continues to draw a steady stream of affluent buyers, many of whom are paying for their homes in cash. Cities such as San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles exemplify this trend, with a high proportion of sales exceeding the million-dollar threshold.

The expansion of the $1 million-plus housing market is largely being driven by rising property values, which continue to push more homes into the luxury category.

“In some markets, particularly in high-priced California metros, $1 million isn’t necessarily a luxury price—it’s just the norm for a typical home,” says Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®.

Nationally, there have been increases in both the number and share of such sales in more than half of the 200 largest metros in the year ending November 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(“div-gpt-ad-INLINE1”); });

And, over the past year, nearly 300,000 home sales surpassed the $1 million mark, up from 275,000 the previous year, according to Realtor.com data.

Many high-end buyers either purchase homes in cash, avoiding borrowing costs entirely, or use financing strategies that help minimize the impact of higher mortgage rates.

Experts point to a combination of rising interest rates and limited inventory as key drivers of this trend. With 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovering between 6% and 7%, many potential buyers are being priced out of homeownership.

“Million-dollar homebuyers are often on their second or third home transaction, with a significant percentage of cash down payment, allowing for greater budgetary flexibility,” says Jay K. Gupta, broker associate at Equity Colorado Real Estate.

(Realtor.com)

Coastal markets lead the way

California’s coastal cities remain at the forefront of the seven-figure home boom. San Luis Obispo recorded the largest surge, with 38.6% of all home sales surpassing $1 million—a 6.5 percentage-point increase from the previous year. The Los Angeles metro area followed closely, with sales over $1 million climbing by 5.9 points, now comprising 47.7% of all transactions.

Other coastal cities, such as Seattle, also saw notable gains. The share of $1 million-plus home sales in Seattle rose by 5.5 percentage points, now representing 27% of the market.

Cash transactions remain a major factor in these markets. In Los Angeles, nearly half of purchases in this category are cash-based—a trend similarly observed in Seattle.

San Luis Obispo, CA, recorded the largest surge, with 38.6% of all home sales exceeding $1 million.

Luxury growth beyond California

While California leads the high-end real estate market, other metro areas across the country are also experiencing a sharp increase in sales of homes above the $1 million mark.

In Colorado Springs, 14.2% of homes sold in 2024 exceeded seven figures, reflecting a 6.3 percentage-point jump from the previous year.

“Colorado Springs is a highly livable city, consistently ranking on livability indexes. With abundant trails, open spaces, and a strong school system, it’s an attractive place to live,” says Benjamin Day, managing broker at LIV Sotheby’s International Realty in Colorado Springs.

In 2024, 12.6% of homes sold in Durham-Chapel Hill surpassed $1 million, marking a 5.5 percentage-point increase year over year.

The Triangle region, which includes Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, is a growing hub for industries such as technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and clean technology. Major employers like Duke University, IBM, and Cisco Systems, alongside hundreds of biotech and research firms, are fueling innovation and job growth in the area.

“The Durham-Chapel Hill area is home to numerous colleges, universities, and medical facilities, which have driven significant migration and employment opportunities. North Carolina has historically been more affordable than many other markets, and it offers a mild climate,” says Cara Ameer, a real estate agent licensed in California and Florida with Coldwell Banker.

Meanwhile, Colorado Springs has positioned itself as a rising tech hub, ranking second among North America’s emerging technology markets. Companies such as Oracle and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have expanded their operations there, attracting high-income professionals. Over the past five years, tech wages in Colorado Springs have surged by 20%, further driving demand for luxury homes.

“The city is home to major industries, from aerospace and cybersecurity to a booming tech sector. With five military installations, a large defense industry, and even a five-diamond resort like The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs has a diverse economic foundation,” adds Day.

Colorado Springs, CO, recorded a sharp increase in high-end home sales, with 14.2% of home sales surpassing $1 million.

A resilient luxury market

The continued demand for luxury properties highlights the resilience of the high-end housing sector, even as affordability challenges persist for the broader market. Realtor.com data shows that the median national list price reached $400,500 in January 2025.

“Buyers in higher price tiers are generally better equipped to handle rising rates and tend to prioritize factors like location or home size,” adds Jones.

According to the Realtor.com 2025 Housing Forecast, existing-home sales are expected to grow by only 1.5% year over year, reaching an annual total of 4.07 million sales.

“The luxury market has been surging, and luxury buyers are largely insulated from high mortgage rates and down payment concerns. They move because they want to, and they often seek change, investment opportunities, or a new lifestyle,” says Ameer.

The growing presence of tech companies in cities like Colorado Springs is another factor expected to sustain demand for high-end properties. As these businesses continue expanding, they attract highly paid professionals willing to invest in luxury real estate—further pushing prices upward.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(“div-gpt-ad-INLINE2”); });

As home prices rise and economic factors shift, the million-dollar-plus housing market remains one of the most resilient segments of the real estate industry.

With affluent buyers continuing to drive demand, million-dollar home sales will likely remain a key indicator of market strength in 2025 and beyond, says Day.