Welcome to Thunderbird Estates

Driving into Thunderbird Estates, a secluded neighborhood located near Woodmen Road and Interstate 25, I received three waves and two welcoming nods from complete strangers. People walking down the streets, working in their yards and cruising out the development's only outlet were generous with their greetings. And that kind of welcome keeps this 1970s-era neighborhood always in fashion.

Unless you're a real estate agent or a lifelong resident of Colorado Springs, you may not know about Thunderbird Estates. It's a pocket of about 100 homes featuring mature trees and big, private lots. The neighborhood is fewer than five minutes from the interstate, but it seems miles away from anything.

This week's showcased home, a four-bedroom, three-bath residence listed at $439,000, is a perfect example of Thunderbird Estates' unique offerings. The home sits on .67 acres with Monument Creek running right through the property. Lush shade trees edge the creek and the Santa Fe Trail lies just beyond it.

Between the creek and the home is the backyard's large expanse of grass, perfect for playing children. And grown-ups get a spot to mingle, too; the backyard features a large brick patio with room for barbecuing and socializing. The front drive extends into the backyard, so extra parking is available during large gatherings.

All in all, it's the kind of atmosphere that's very difficult, if not impossible, to find in a newly built neighborhood. And the listing agent, Dianne Meyer of FSBO Find USA, is eager to point that out.

"You can't get this kind of setting with a newer home," she explains. "You almost have to go the mountains to get this kind of feel."

The seller agrees. "I'll desperately miss the magic of this place," she says. And while most of the magic comes from the surroundings of the home, the interior offers potential, too.

Coming in the front door from a wide front porch, you arrive in a standard-size living room with a gas fireplace. Just off the living room, visible through glass doors, is a hot tub room. It's easy to imagine a creative soul taking the two rooms and jazzing them up, perhaps with decorative curtains to seclude the hot tub room or the addition of mirrors across from windows to bring more of the outside in.

A few steps up from the main living room is another room, which currently holds dining room furniture. But this room also has other possibilities. It could become home to a piano and some comfortable chairs for the pianist's audience. It could also be used as a computer room for kids in the family, or perhaps an office for a home-based business.

Off this jack-of-all-trades room is another eating area. This one is intended for dining and makes perfect sense for that purpose, since the kitchen is immediately adjacent. The kitchen itself is smallish compared to newer homes, but there's a sunroom next to it that adds more space. With a little money and elbow grease, it's possible the sunroom could become an extension of the kitchen.

Up a few more steps and you'll find the main sleeping area, with three decent-sized bedrooms, one of which is the master. The master includes a small bath, and there is a second bathroom also included on this level.

On the lower level of the home are two rooms. These could serve as television and game rooms, or exercise and hobby rooms. Meyer recommends using the back room as a fourth bedroom. A big window brings light in, and though the room doesn't offer a traditional closet, it does have built-in storage space. Again, this home offers a lot of options. And that's something the seller says she will truly miss.

"There's so much character here," she explains. "There are unique areas in the home. Every room has its own special quality. There are endless possibilities, I think."

The endless possibilities, outdoor Colorado atmosphere and quaintness of the area are all key, according to Meyer. "Thunderbird Estates is a nice little pocket community," she says. "People keep their homes maintained nicely, there's not a lot of traffic. People buy here and they want to stay."

Again, the seller concurs. "This was the 31st year this neighborhood had its annual parade and picnic," she recalls. "After the parade, everyone met at someone's big yard to get together. It's nice."

And being nice is always in fashion.

Open house
Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24
129 El Dorado Lane
Dianne Meyer, FSBO Find USA, 719-233-4005