Colorado Homes For Sale

There is no doubt about it, Colorado real estate is hot!  Home sales all over the state hit record highs last year for the first time since the housing market plummeted and have lead to positive projections for the upcoming year.  With low inventories and eager homebuyers, Colorado is seeing absorptions rates which indicate homes in our state are selling in less time. Although this is a general assertion, some markets are seeing more interest from buyers than others. 

The various housing market sectors in Colorado are different for each city and each price range, but typically speaking homes that are priced under $350,000 are flying off the proverbial real estate shelf and getting seriously competitive offers. In areas where real estate is strong like Broomfield, Arvada, Longmont and Centennial, homes in this range are a great investment and a fair price.  Included in this price range you will find everything from condos and townhomes to modest single family and newly constructed homes.

Homes priced under $500,000 are also seeing great interest from buyers in communities like Denver, Louisville, Boulder, Fort Collins, Castle Rock and Colorado Springs. Many of these cities have been recognized by national publications for being a great place to live and raise a family which has largely contributed to the fast pace of this market.  For $500,000 the kind of real estate you can purchase in the above mentioned areas varies greatly.  For instance in Boulder this price range might buy a luxury 2 bedroom 1 bathroom condo as were it could probably buy you a very nice, updated older home in Denver’s highly coveted Washington Park.  

Although they are taking a much longer time to sell, luxury homes for sale in Colorado which cost $750,000 and more, are still desirable especially in areas like Cherry Hills Village, Boulder, Denver, Niwot, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Aspen.  A large portion of these sales are due to the community’s popularity, reputation and seasonal tourism. Investment and vacation properties are also huge in these and other mountain areas and accounts for a big portion of the luxury real estate market.

  

Colorado: It's a State of Mind and a Way of Life!

If you have recently decided to move to Colorado, we want to say congratulations!  Colorado is an amazing state that offers beautiful scenery, an active lifestyle, forward thinking industries, and a rich American culture. Residents of Colorado come from a variety of backgrounds, which helps to make our community diverse and interesting.   

Despite our differences the one thing most of us Coloradans have in common, is our genuine love for our state and compassion for our neighbors. I personally have never lived in a state where everyone I meet is just happy to be alive, healthy and breathing fresh air.  Moving to Colorado was definitely the best thing I ever did, and I hope you will find the same to be true. In an effort to help make your move as rewarding as possible, here is our guide to being a Coloradan.

Location is key. First of all if you haven’t already selected a city in which to reside, choosing the best location for your family will make a world of difference in how your relocation goes.  Yes it’s true that most cities and towns in Colorado are beautiful and offer similar amenity but choosing the right location is a critical decision. Every one of our top three cities offers a slightly different way of life.  Denver, Colorado is one of the most happenin’ places in American and offers residents a sophisticated urban setting.  This community is great for people who love the hustle and bustle of city life and want to be were all the action and commerce is.  Colorado Spring is Colorado’s second major location and offers residents a more suburban city setting which is centered on family life and military interests.  Boulder, Colorado, or “The Republic of Boulder” as locals call it, is an entity in itself that seems to live outside of traditional constraints and sits on the forefront of modern eco-friendly living. 

Establishing your life. After you have moved and transferred over everything, it’s time to start living like a Coloradan. Coloradans are active, friendly and involved.  The best way to get things started is to exploit what you love and find others who are interested in the same things.  Participation counts the most in this aspect and will help to make your move to Colorado that much more beneficial.  What ever your passion is, there is certainly a social group out there that is dedicated to it in Colorado.  Whether it’s skiing, painting, hiking, being a mom, or loving your dog; Colorado residents love to share what they like with others. So be social and invite other people, especially your neighbors and coworkers, into your life through mutual interests.

Be environmentally conscious. If you didn’t recycle in the last state you lived in, its time to make a change.  Mother Nature and the gifts she has given us, is not something most Colorado residents take lightly.  In places like Boulder and Denver, recycling and composting is not only a means of disposing trash but it’s a way of life.  This is also true when it comes to waste and energy consumption.  The biggest trend in Colorado living is eco-friendly everything!

It’s The Color That Counts: Big and Small Green Improvements for Your Home

As more and more information comes to light about how our technology and modern ways of living have affected the environments, it’s much more common for homeowners to decide they want to try to make their homes as green and environmentally friendly as possible. It’s not just for Boulder "yippies" anymore either! Some people have more of a budget put aside than others for this, but even if you’re a little short on cash, there are small ways you can improve your home that’ll ultimately help make a big difference when it comes to saving the environment. Some might even have the potential to save you some money in the long run too!

First, if you do have a bit of money saved up to put to this specific purpose, consider changing your roofing or siding materials to Plywood, OSB or paneled siding that helps reflect a great portion of the sun’s reflective energy. You want siding that does this because it will ultimately end up saving you money in electricity costs since your house will stay cooler in the summer and keep your electricity costs down. The same goes for specific types of insulation that will help keep heat in during the winter.

If you have some money saved up but are a little worried about spending it all on energy efficient materials that’ll improve your home, there are also options that might cost a bit more upfront but will ultimately pay off the next time you do taxes. Look for Energy Star label shingles for your home. The federal government offers a 30 percent rebate come tax time, which comes to about $1500 of savings when it comes time to filling out your taxes.

Lastly, if money is a big concern right now, there are small ways you can chip in to help the environment, while not taking a chunk out of your bank account at the same time. If you already have blinds or shades on your windows, for example, remembering to keep them closed over your windows during daylight hours will add up in terms of saving money in electricity costs over a period of time. And instead of turning your heat up higher in the winter, just open up your window’s shades and let the sun naturally heat up your home. Also make sure your windows don’t have any cracks or drafts in them. This can be a fast way to help your energy bill too, since you won’t end up having to pay more in heating or cooling if your windows and doors are properly sealed to the outside elements.

Top 5 Things To Do in Denver

According to various online resources, Denver is considered the most popular big city in America, and if you live here, you already know why!  Being the envy of other major cities’ like Manhattan and Los Angels, Denver offers its residents a high-quality of life, safe neighborhoods, breathtaking views and tons of things to do. Whether you are planning a move to Denver or just a trip, there are several attractions in the area that are a definite must-see. 

Denver’s Capital Building is the jewel in the city's skyline, literally.  Construction of this Corinthian Style masterpiece was completed in 1896 and is still one of the main highlights of the city. Two of the most distinguishable characteristics of the Capital Building are its gold dome, which features more than 200 ounces of pure 24 carat gold leaf, and its one of a kind Colorado Onyx wainscoting and pillars.   

The Denver Zoo is not only a great place for kids but it's also attractive to older generations as a fantastic place for a date or to host an event.  From a very modest beginning, Denver’s Zoo is now one of the most extravagant zoos in America with over 80-acre and 4000 animals.  Not just a popular warm weather attraction, the Denver Zoo hosts tons of events like Boo at the Zoo and Zoo Lights which brings in visitors year round. The Toyota Elephant Passage is a half a billion dollar Asian Tropic exhibit which is powered by an eco-friendly biomass gasification technology that utilizes human trash and animal waste to produce energy.

A longtime symbol of excellence and notoriety in Denver is the world famous Brown Palace Hotel.  This elegant triangular shaped Italian Renaissance building features an eight-story stained-glass atrium, Colorado Red Granite and Arizona Sandstone, 12,400 surface feet of Onyx and a variety of semiprecious quartz.  Truly stunning in appearance the Brown Palace is also hot spot for dining and entertainment.

If you are looking for fun in Denver, LoDo is the place to be.  The Lower Downtown side of Denver is one of the liveliest areas in the city.  Here you will find dozens of restaurants, nightclubs, local business, and the Coor’s Baseball Field. A great place to walk about during the day, LoDo really comes alive once the sun goes down.

Antique Row is the official antique district of Denver located over an 8 block stretch from 1100 to 1800 S Boradway in Southwest Denver.  With over 400 antiques dealers in the district, many antique buffs consider Antique Row to be the Mecca for old western and cowboy artifacts. You can also expect to find many dealers here that specialize in silver, porcelain, Depression glass, dolls, jewelry and furniture.  There are also several great restaurants in the area which makes it very easy for visitors to enjoy a whole days worth of antique shopping.

3 Things Every Parent Should Know About Keeping Young Athletes Safe

Our friends at Alliance Insurance have provided a few tips to help keep your kids safe during the upcoming season.

Your child should get his or her heart checked.
More than 75 young athletes succumb every year to sudden cardiac death due to undetected heart defects. The American Heart Association recommends that kids who play sports get a thorough physical exam every two years. Check whether your child’s school has automated external defibrillators (which can deliver a lifesaving shock during cardiac arrest), and make sure the devices are present at school athletic events.

The brain needs rest after a head injury.
When recovering from a concussion, kids should get “cognitive rest,” which can mean refraining from thinking activities such as challenging schoolwork. Talk to your child’s doctor and school about easing him back into his studies, and monitor his symptoms.

One-sport athletes should take extra precautions. As more youths play one sport practically year-round, overuse injuries like pitcher’s elbow have begun to spike. To help prevent such injuries, underage athletes should follow the 10 percent rule: Don’t increase training intensity, frequency, or duration by more than 10 percent per week. Kids should take at least 10 weeks off from their sport each year.

To learn more about Alliance Insurance click here.