If 9800 square feet, 35 acres, five bedroom suites, a gourmet kitchen and an oversized “man cave” with a home theater, pool table and bar aren’t enough, Brad and Kim Oaster are ready to throw in a little something else to lure a buyer for their $2.5 million home.

They’re offering a 2001 collector’s edition red Ferrari convertible. Free.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

The rickety economy is causing home sellers in all price ranges do a little more than go the extra mile to seal a deal.

Sellers have for some time offered perks that include covering closing costs, cash-back offers and lease-to-own options. But as the economy has worsened, the offers have gotten better.

Sellers are now offering things such as:

Trips to Europe.

Payment of Home Owners Association dues.

Free landscaping.

Cash bonuses.

With trends like that, it’s hardly surprising that one inventive seller at the new Flying Horse community in the northern part of the city offered to pay the Flying Horse Club’s $7,000 initiation fee.

Another Kissing Camels’ home owner knew his upscale community attracted golfers, so he bought a used golf cart to leave in the garage — and included a year’s worth of lawn service. His house sold in less than 60 days.

The Oasters knew a golf cart wouldn’t do it for their  $2.5 million abode north of Monument.

“We’d had it on the market before at a higher price, but it didn’t draw the attention we were hoping for. By adding the car, we hope we’re differentiating ourselves,” said Ken.

Alan Wilaby, a veteran broker selling the Oasters’ home, said he’s “seen it all” but was amazed at the prospect of including a Ferrari, that, by the way, has just 4,800 miles on it.

The tactic might be working.

“We already have two showings set up,” Wilaby said. “At most we might see one or two sales in that price range every month or two, so it pays to stand out.”

Others, however, don’t think gimmicks will help.

Prudential Professional Real Estate managing broker Becky Gloriod, like Wilaby, has been selling million-dollar properties for years.

“The Ferrari is a nice touch. But I really don’t think that will sell the house. It’s all about price, even for buyers at that level,” she said.

Still, that hasn’t deterred sellers and brokers, who are watching the list of the highest-priced homes on the market grow longer each year.

There are about 600 homes in the area listed for $500,000 or more.

Wilaby said there are 27 homes in the million-dollar price range listed on the realty board’s multiple-listing service and that only two sold last year.

“We’ve got 33,000 brokers and they see all kinds of seller incentives,” said ERA Franchise Systems CEO Charlie Young. “Some offer trips to Paris or sell homes furnished. So far in 2010, we’re up 16 percent in sales closed compared to 2009. Prices are starting to stabilize or are slightly on the rise.”

So, how are the incentives working for homes on the market for $500,000 and up?

“Not so much,” he said.

by Becky Hurley, The Colorado Springs Business Journal

Published: March 5, 2010

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Theater Room, Billiard Room, Wine Room & Huge Wet Bar.  Travertine flooring and lots of hardwoods, extensive knotty alder crown molding.  Mahogany 8′ custom front door with leaded glass surrounded with massive trim detail.  Main level Study with leaded glass doors and crown molding.  The lighting package is a must see!! Oversized covered deck with 6th fireplace…this home is for that discriminating Colorado lifestyle!

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A close friend of mine has a corporate attorney
friend who sent the following out to the employees in
his company.

It’s worth reading and doing.

1. The next time you order checks have only your
initials (instead of first name) and last name put on
them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not
know if you sign your checks with just your initials or
your first name, but your bank will know how you sign
your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards.
Instead, put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED.”

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit
card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number
on the “For” line. Instead, just put the last four
numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the
number, and anyone who might be handling your check as
it passes through all the check-processing channels
will not have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your
home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of
your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use
your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your
checks, (DUH!). You can add it if it is necessary.
However, if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy
machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card,
etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all
of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and
cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry
a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here
or abroad. We have all heard horror stories about fraud
that is committed on us in stealing a name, address,
Social Security number, credit cards.

6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for
keys (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn
the “keys” in. Take them with you and destroy them.
Those little cards have on them all of the information
you gave the hotel, including address and credit card
numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card
reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all that
information with no problem whatsoever.

Unfortunately, as an attorney, I have first hand
knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month.
Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive
monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit
card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway
computer and received a PIN number from DMV to change
my driving record information online. Here is some
critical information to limit the damage in case this
happens to you or someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards
immediately. The key is having the toll free numbers
and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.
Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction
where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves
to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a
first step toward an investigation (if there ever is
one). However, here is what is perhaps most important
of all (I never even thought to do this.)

3. Call the three national credit reporting
organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on
your name and Social Security number. I had never heard
of doing that until advised by a bank that called to
tell me an application for credit was made over the
Internet in my name. The alert means any company that
checks your credit knows your information was stolen,
and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new
credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost
two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been
done. There are records of all the credit checks
initiated by the thieves’ purchases, none of which I
knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no
additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw
my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It
seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact
about your wallet and contents being stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just
about everything. So don’t stop now. Pass this on!

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Main level master retreat features a sitting area with fireplace, custom California Closet Shelving, 5-piece bath with granite counter, glass block shower and soaking tub with picture windows.

Hearth room off kitchen is a great place to enjoy your morning cup of coffee by the wood stove!

Finished basement has large game room with a wet bar area, media area, excercise room and a bathroom with steam shower.  Water purification system, water softener, 2 insulated water heaters, 4 car attached garage and so much more you have to see to believe!

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