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Laramie, WY Real Estate News

By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
              Like many markets around the country, the Laramie market most certainly has a seasonal component - with most sales taking place from May to August in any given year.  If you are a home seller, don't despair! While not as many homes sell in the winter months, home sales ARE stilll occuring.  Talk to your real esate professional to improve your home's odds of being one of the ones that does. If you are a home buyer, take advantage of the reduced inventory and working with sellers who are motivated to sell. Either way, it can be a win-win situation for buyers and sellers alike!
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
       Last summer, while trekking around Ames Monument and Vedauwoo, my curiosity was aroused by these pipes sticking out of the ground.  They emerged periodically across the prairie and though I'm sure they've always been there, it was only this time that I really noticed - and wondered - what they were.  At certain intervals the pipes were accompanied by a sign like this - even then, I really didn't believe there could be a water pipeline clear out there.  After all, where would it be going? Imagine my surprise when I googled  "B.O.P.U." and  found not only was it, indeed, a water pipeline but also a major source of water to the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, 40 miles to the east. (http://www.cheyennecity.org/MediaCenter.aspx?CID=Water-Department-1#player) Though this explanation doesn't...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
                                                                                                                  Tuesday morning's MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour is the place to be if you are a REALTOR member of the Laramie MLS.  Tuesday's are the day we all meet then head out and view the newest listings from all the cooperating real estate agencies. If you are not familiar with the concept of MLS, it is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold.  If a property is listed on the MLS, no matter who the Brokerage is that is selling the home, any active member of our ML...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
The names of most streets, avenues, roads, etc. are as varied as the reasons behind the names themselves.  We have numbered streets, lettered streets, streets named after people and streets named after regional landmarks. Most towns are sure to have a street or two named after a president.  Laramie's president streets are Washington, Madison, Van Buren, Fillmore, Harrison, Taylor, Hayes, Polk, Jefferson, Johnson, Grant, Cleveland, Monroe, Truman, Franklin, Garfield,  Kennedy and Lincoln.  Eighteen in all! Then there are names based on regional history.  I wonder how many western towns have a Lewis Street and a Clark Street, as well as a Custer or a Sherman Street.  I know Laramie does. Popular animals or birds of the area are also common for street names.  So....  I shouldn't have been ...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
  Tuesday's are the day we have our weekly MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour - which is when we head out and view the newest listings that have been added to the Laramie MLS.  The MLS is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold faster.  If a property is listed on the MLS, no matter who the agency is that is selling the home, any active member of our MLS can show and assist you in purchasing an MLS listed home. Homes on today's tour (January 31, 2012): 4417 Cheyenne $210,000 ( no MLS# ....yet) I always wanted to get a peek inside this home!  With 5 bedrooms and 2 baths -...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Tuesday's are the day we have our weekly MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour - which is when we head out and view the newest listings that have been added to the Laramie MLS.  The MLS is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold faster.  If a property is listed on theMLS, no matter who the agency is that is selling the home, any active member of our MLS can show and assist you in purchasing an MLS listed home. Homes on today's tour (January 17, 2012): 5109 Quarterhorse Drive- $429,000 (MLS# 1100089) This is the nicest home!  With 5 bedrooms and 3 baths - it is huge, has ch...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
  If you clicked on this post to see just what spelunking is then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed - its not nearly as tawdry as it sounds! ; )   It merely means the hobby or practice of exploring caves.  A caving purist would certainly not consider our guided tour as "spelunking", but too bad!   Touted as the third longest cave in the U.S. and the fourth in the world, Wind Cave holds a nostalgic place in my heart.  My first visit there was when I was a kid.  I remember how awed I was at the complete and utter blackness when they turned out all the lights-  which I know now is a standard of any cave tour. Admittedly, there are sparklier, prettier caves but I always find myself back at Wind Cave. And even better it is only 4 1/2 hours from Laramie!              
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
After a rainy hike around Devil's Tower and some time in their very old visitors' center, we were off again.  Two hours later we arrived at the second destination of our trip - Mount Rushmore! It is always amazing that because of the hilly, forested terrain and the twisty roads you can't see the monument until you are nearly upon it.  What fun it is to drive around the last long curve in the road and there it is!      Yes, it was raining, colder and windy... and our umbrellas kept blowing inside out.  Yet, it was still awesome!   Funny how when you're with your favorite people nothing else matters....
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Yep, Wyoming is smack in the middle of the Rocky Mountain west. Thus, there are miles and miles of open space. Once you get on the road, it easily can be 60 miles or more to the nearest gas station. But don't let that scare you - just plan ahead.  With virtually no traffic you can get places quicker than you think.  It was with that in mind that our family embarked on a weekend whirlwind tour of the Devil's Tower/Black Hills.      First stop, Devil's Tower.  Five hours from Laramie, raining, cold, gray... but still glad we came!  Maybe not everyone's idea of family vacation, but I loved being able to share the experience with our kids - no matter how cold and shivery!
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Tuesday morning's MLS (Multiple Listing Service) Tour is the place to beif you are a REALTOR member of the Laramie MLS - which of course, I am!   Tuesday's are the day we all meet then head out and view the newest listings that have been added to the Laramie MLS. If you are not familiar with the concept of MLS, it is a members only organization whose members agree to share information on their listings with one another to better facilitate finding a buyer for the properties more quickly than they could on their own.  In other words, working together to get properties sold.  If a property is listed on the MLS, no matter who the agency is that is selling the home, any active member of our MLS can show and assist you in purchasing an MLS listed home.Homes on today's tour:                  ...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
One of my closest friends is a quilter extraordinaire.  When she started quilting 5 years ago, entering quilt competitions was the furthest thing from her mind … but after much prodding by the ladies at Quilt Essentials, she gave it a go - I’m glad she did!  I am inspired by the craftsmanship that goes into each and every one of her projects.  But more importantly I'm inspired by the person that she is!  "You go, girl!"      For more views of this amazing work click on any of the links below: http://godutchbaby.blogspot.com/2011/10/america-let-it-shine-quilt-by-sherry.html http://faithquilter.blogspot.com/2011/10/on-saturday.html http://www.quiltfest.com/activities_detail.asp?id=56 http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog.php/blog_id/4239
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Recently I posted about the flowers all over the University campus that finally come full bloom in August and September.  Here are a few more pictures from our walk around campus on that sunny, September Saturday:                     . . . further evidence that summer does, indeed, pass through Laramie.
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
As you may have guessed, the University of Wyoming is an integral part of Laramie.  Besides being impacted by all the students that come to study, the University employs a significant  portion of Laramie's workforce.  Nearly everybody knows somebody who teaches, works or attends school on campus. Since the University's campus dominates the middle of town, it is impossible to miss.  By August and September this is a good thing since that's when the hard work of the University's landscaping crews finally springs to life!  All over campus the trees are trimmed, grass is green and the beautifully, maintained  flower beds erupt into full bloom.  It is a wonderful time to be in Laramie....      Though I sometimes wonder if people from out of the region aren't tricked into staying by this incr...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Over the short course of my blog, which I started in January - the heart of winter - much ado was being made over the harsh weather all over the U.S.  My intentions back then were to make up for this during our perfect summer since, in my humble opinion, Laramie has the  best summers on earth . . . once they finally get here! Well, summer was busy and now here we are on the cusp of fall (we had our first hard freeze last night) and I barely made mention of the unique beauty of our little town on the high Wyoming plains!  So without further ado... here is the first of a few pictures from our glorious days of summer....      I love how blue the skies are and all the shades of green....
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Yesterday, I came across a fun website called The Imagination Prompt Generator via the blog of Donna Foerster.   After remembering all the prompts I was given as a  student I was curious to see what this site could possibly have to offer.  Curious, and a wee bit skeptical.... Ha!  To my surprise the prompt of the day when I visited was "What is/was your favorite cereal?"  Seems like an ordinary question . . .   an ordinary question that will evokes a very personal and different response from every person who reads it! So.... my favorite cereal?  Why, Quisp, of course!  Who wouldn't love those golden, little saucers that got ever so smooshy in milk?!      And even better, when I went searching the internet for a picture of my all-time-favorite sugary breakfast treat, I discovered that Ge...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Fortunately, watching the Laramie river rise over the last month and a half has been anti-climatic.  After all the uncertainty and speculation, the spring run off came at a slower than expected pace.  Now, it looks like the river may have peaked and be on its way to returning to it's usual low level.  (remember here out west we really s-t-r-e-t-c-h the definition of what a river is!)It is ironic that the town seemed way more prepared for the possibility of flooding this year. The river banks were reinforced with big dirt piles and at least one homeowner down by the river pre-emptively stacked sandbags around their home . . .  Smart move, I think.Last year, the river rose even higher with the water creeping into some city neighborhoods.  Then it seemed like there was a huge last minute s...
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Our version of spring flooding has been  mild compared to all those towns across the United States in the big river valleys,  thank goodness! Lucky for us, it was merely interesting to watch the river slowly rise through the month of June. We had a cool transition into summer so the snow pack melted slowly and even though the river washed out a few county roads, our area for the most part was spared.          And yes, I think most people around here do appreciate how lucky we are!  
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Another thing I absolutely love about summer in Laramie is the skies full of fluffy, white, summertime clouds framed in bright cerulean blue.  Yes, yes, I know we aren't the only place that exhibits this summertime phenomenon, but for me it is pretty much the only place I know. . .  and I love it!  Summertime skies are full of color, hope and movement.  Each day comes with a brilliant, new palette that changes constantly as the winds blow it through. Our 9 year old daughter saw a seahorse kissing a bunny in this ever so temporary fleet of clouds floating by.  Me?  . . .  I just can't see it!     
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Yay!  Summer in Laramie is definitely here!  This is the season that tricks people into living here on purpose - even after the winter never seems to end.  Yesterday's high was 88 degrees, the skies were blue and filled with fluffy white summertime clouds.  Today's high was around 85 degrees and since it's Laramie, we don't have to worry about it getting too much hotter. . . And even better - after my adventures in the house next door, the skies provided a wonderful opportunity for that airy outdoor picture full of sky and the green of summer I was hoping for...    
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By Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate, Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming
(Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming)
Yesterday, I posted about the "house next door".  Granted it has been a source of humor for me over the last few weeks but the reality is - what a shame!  As I watched people go in and out, checking into this "once-in-a-lifetime bargain," I began to wonder about how safe it is for anyone to be wandering about inside this house, despite the warning written in ball point pen on a paper attached to the front door that says "Danger, extreme mold.  Enter at your own risk."  I also wondered about what will happen to the air in the neighborhood when somebody buys the home and goes about correcting the huge problem. So I made a few phone calls, the EPA being one of them, and found out that pretty much no standards or guidelines exist in regard to mold (as opposed to asbestos, radon and lead pai...
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