Four Colorado Cities Among Forbes.com's "Best Places" List

Anyone who lives on Colorado's Front Range should be proud (and relieved) at Forbes' release of its latest "best places" list titled "Best Places for Business and Careers." While Raleigh, North Carolina, snagged the list's top spot, Colorado is well represented in the Top 20. In fact FOUR out of the Top 20 cities ranked by Forbes are located on Colorado's Front Range (that puts Colorado second only to North Carolina, which had 6 cities among the Top 20).

In order of ranking, Colorado's honorees are:

• No. 2 - Fort Collins - 55 miles northeast of Boulder
• No. 10 - Colorado Springs - 96 miles southeast of Boulder
• No. 14 - Denver - 26 miles southeast of Boulder
• No. 20 - Boulder

The rankings were determined by each city's collective ranking in four major categories: 1) the cost of doing business; 2) projected job growth; 3) educational attainment; and 4) metro area population.

Click here to read Forbes' data that led to Boulder's 20th place ranking.

Boulder Area Horse Properties Rare But Not Obsolete

With land at such a premium in and around Boulder County, properties that have substantial acreage, a sophisticated home and equestrian amenities are few and far between. But they do exist, and I have some fantastic horse properties listed in various price ranges. Here's a brief snapshot of a few great opportunities to own luxury equestrian properties in or just outside Boulder County:

5310 Caribou Springs Trail sits on more than 6 acres within the esteemed Caribou Springs Ranch, a gated luxury community just north of Boulder in east Longmont. In addition to great views and a spectacular 6,230-square-foot home with incredible Colorado-style interior finishes, the property also offers multiple fenced pastures to accommodate horses. There's a guest house, too. What draws a lot of horse enthusiasts to Caribou Springs Ranch is the community's optional shared horse barn with ranch manager who can care for your horses while you're away. There also is an extensive network of recreational trails that encircles the community...and phenomenal views of Boulder's foothills. It's a horse haven with convenience and security all rolled into one. Priced at $2.495 million. Click here for more details.

The Phoenix Ranch, just east of Caribou Springs Ranch, is more than a fabulous horse property. It's an "everything" property. For the truly discerning luxury buyer, there's not a finer estate in Boulder County. With 40 lush acres, an exquisite 10,000-square-foot residence, a 5,000-square-foot heated barn, a custom in-ground pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and county approval to add even more equestrian amenities, The Phoenix Ranch is among the most rare luxury properties in Northern Colorado let alone Boulder County. I've created a separate website for this property. Visit it at http://www.thephoenixranch.com/ to view a slide show and get more details. The Phoenix Ranch is offered at $8.195 million.

Just east of the Boulder County line in western Weld County is 1767 WCR 20.5, a charming acreage that offers 11+ acres with mature landscaping, a large private pond, superb

mountain views and completely fenced horse pastures. The property includes a 2-story home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, covered porch & many interior updates. Outbuildings include a separate office/studio, equipment shed and oversized 3-car garage/workshop. Offered at $989,000, and owner carry is available with negotiable down payment and terms. Click here for details.

These are just a few among the collection of properties I have in my inventory of luxury homes and estates that currently have or could easily accommodate horses and equine amenities. Looking for the perfect land/home package to suit you and your horses' needs? Email me or call me at 303-443-6161.

New To the Market: Boulder Home Features Priceless Views, Stunning Location

Thanks to everyone who came out for yesterday's open house tour in Niwot and Boulder. It was great to get a taste of Spring activity and experience some momentum heading into the busiest season of the year!

There's one special listing that wasn't on the tour but certainly is worthy of a luxury buyer's attention. I just listed it week and it is spectacular. It's located at 2695 Lafayette Drive in south Boulder, a thriving area where pop-tops and scrapes are revitalizing the neighborhoods once reflective of the 1960s and '70s. This home, just shy of 7,000 square feet, rests on a .63-acre lot perfectly positioned to capture unobstructed views of Boulder's cityscape and mountain range...Flatirons included. Anyone who knows anything about Boulder real estate understands the rarity and value of such a view corridor, and this home has one of the best in the city of Boulder.

The entire home was restored in 1998, thus giving it modern appeal and amenities while maximizing its views from the inside out. Today the home boasts 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, a state-of-the-art home theater, 2 offices, a sauna, a basement-level rec room with bar and salt water aquarium, a large craft room, luxury master bath, a 2-sided fireplace in the master suite and bath, a wood burning fireplace in the great room, a sun room and so much more. The home is enveloped in lush landscaping, flower gardens and expansive outdoor entertainment areas.

This home and its stunning location are offered at $3.499 million. It's truly one of the most view-oriented residences in Boulder County. View more photos or email me to schedule a private viewing of this masterpiece Boulder home.

A Look at Homes Sales in the Boulder Mountain Areas

I'm back to sales stats today...this time taking a look at Boulder mountain properties. There's one word that really sums up mountain sales: stagnant. From January 2008 to this January, nothing really changed in the Boulder mountain market. Sales volume and price dropped slightly while inventory rose slightly. The only dramatic difference was the decrease in 'days to contract' for mountain properties, but with only 10 sales included in the average, I have a hard time drawing any real conclusions or predicting any trends from the data.


Here are the sales statistics for residential sales in the mountain areas of Boulder (January 2008 compared to January 2009):

• 10 homes sold in January 2009 compared to January 2008 (a 9.1% decrease)



• Inventory increased 2.2% from 272 active listings in January 2008 to 278 in January 2009



• Median sales priced was down 3.2% in January 2009 compared to a year prior. The median sales price in January 2009 was $324,500 compared to $335,115 in January 2008



• Average sales price fell 1.1% in January 2009 compared to a year prior. The average sales price in January 2009 was $391,100 compared to $395,601 in January 2008



• The average 'days to contract' decreased by 40% from 207 days for homes that went under contract in January 2008 to 124 days in January 2009.

Historically Boulder mountain properties have required a little extra time and effort to sell compared to their urban counterparts. Their location off the beaten path and the threat of those rare Colorado winters when mountain residents are 'snowed in' make the buyer pool for Boulder mountain properties smaller than for city properties. But for those who crave the mountain lifestyle, one can certainly get a lot of home and land for their money compared to city properties. One of my most unique and pristine luxury mountain properties, 355 Mountain King Road, offers 115 acres of protected forest land and an impeccable 5,600-square-foot custom mountain home with incredible views from every direction all for $2,995,000. Click here to view photos and read more about this rare and incredible property.

Wineglass Ranch Offers a Rare Opportunity to Build in Boulder

As I discussed in my last blog entry, vacant buildable land in Boulder, Colorado, is scarce due to the city's growth limitations and Boulder's aggressive open space programs. The very thing that makes Boulder such a great place to live also makes it a more difficult place to get established if your dream is to build from the ground up.

There are a few exceptions in and around Boulder, however. I recently listed three amazing Boulder home sites collectively known as "Wineglass Ranch." Sited in north Boulder just southwest of where Broadway meets Hwy 36, these lots are rarities in terms of their size, view corridors and quick access to downtown Boulder. Two of the three lots are roughly 7 acres while the remaining lot is +/- 5 acres. The views are spectacular. From Boulder's Flatirons to the south to the craggy rock formations toward Lyons, Colorado, to the north and even Boulder Reservoir, these sites offer a true feast for eyes. And they are a trailblazer's delight with easy access to the veins of public trails that traverse across Boulder's northern foothills.

Another distinction that makes these lots so prime is their access. Each site has paved driveways off of Lee Hill Road (also paved), and each lot is serviced by city utilities. The lots range in price from $960,000 to $1.39 million each and can be purchased individually or together. They certainly are a blank and marvelous canvas for someone seeking to create their Boulder masterpiece.

Happy Birthday to Boulder, Colorado...150 Years and Thriving

Boulder, Colorado, officially turns 150 years old this Tuesday, February 10th. If you're in Boulder for the celebration of its sesquicentennial, you'll hear bells ringing (150 times) from Macky Auditorium on the University of Colorado campus to some of Boulder's most historic churches in all corners of the city. It's another milestone for Boulder, which 100 years ago was home to only 9,000 residents.

Today Boulder (population 103,000+) shines as a progressive and thriving city that has claimed some remarkable 'firsts' in U.S. history. One 'first' that has helped preserve the communal beauty and quality of life for Boulder residents (and in turn help preserve Boulder real estate values), was when Boulder became the first U.S. city to have a publicly funded open space program. In 1967, Boulder voters made history by approving 4/10 of a cent sales tax specifically to buy and maintain open space. It was the first time citizens in any U.S. city had voted to tax themselves specifically for open space. That was just the beginning of a community-wide commitment to preserving Boulder, which today has 45,000 acres of open space and mountain parks in and around the city.

The high percentage of open space in Boulder means fewer opportunities for developers, and the limited supply and high demand of vacant buildable parcels means the prices are at a premium. Buyers can rest assured, however, that even when you pay a premium, the value of the land is directly tied to a very finite supply and always be. Thus, Boulder land values are likely to hold steady or climb for years to come.

Boulder, Colorado's Neighboring Cities Capture Media Accolades

It's great to see Colorado among the few states that still gets some positive press in real estate reports these days! Denver, which is just 30 minutes from my office in Boulder, Colorado, was recently spotlighted in a Yahoo! News article as the No. 1 big city where Americans would prefer to live. A new survey by the Pew Research Center showed that when Americans were asked which big city would be their choice city to call home, Denver garnered 43% of the votes followed by San Diego and Seattle.

Boulder, with a population of just over 100,000, of course didn't make the 'big city' list. But that is precisely what's makes living in Boulder so great. Those who choose to live in Boulder have the very best that a mid-sized, urban college town could ever offer yet just a short 25-mile trek down Hwy 36 and suddenly the city lights of Denver (America's favorite city) come into view. It's truly the best of both worlds.

I also noticed this week that Longmont, located just 16 miles northeast of Boulder, was ranked by AOL Real Estate as the nation's #7 town for 'best education bargains", meaning the quality of its educational system is very high while its housing market is still quite affordable. Longmont, home to major employers like Amgen and Seagate, has always been much more affordable than Boulder but its outskirts are dotted with some of Boulder County's finest high-end residential pockets and equestrian estates.

Still, the difference in median home price between Boulder and Longmont is quite astonishing, and while Longmont's home prices are fairly stagnant, Boulder's continue to climb. This chart show each city's media home price trend over the last 180 days (Boulder is the black line, Longmont is the orange line):

The Phoenix Ranch is Epitome of Boulder, Colorado Luxury

Having sold luxury properties in and around Boulder, Colorado, for more than 20 years, it takes a special property to really make me say 'wow.' The Phoenix Ranch, rising from a lush 40-acre parcel in east Longmont, is one of those 'wow' properties. I'm very proud to have this listing among my portfolio of pinnacle properties. It's named "The Phoenix Ranch" but don't let the name deceive you...this stunning residence and its many amenities are very 'Colorado'. From the hand-carved native stone gracing the interior and exterior of the 10,568-square-foot home to its massive picture windows that frame Rocky Mountain peaks, The Phoenix Ranch is a special property for someone desiring the finest in Colorado luxury. There's something very unique about how this home merges various materials and textures --metals, stones and woods -- to give each room a dimension that you can feel as much as you can see. And that's just the home. The 5,000-square-foot barn complete with radiant heat and drive-through custom overhead doors makes for a functional yet lavish set-up for horse hobbiests and the serious equestrian. While its features are many (visit the website for details and photos), here are just a few of the jaw-dropping highlights:

• 10,568-square-foot 'Colorado contemporary' main residence with 8 bedrooms and 6 baths


• Equestrian center with 5,000-square-foot barn


• Gated 40-acre parcel sheltered among hundreds of trees


• Tennis courts


• Basketball courts


• Custom commercial grade pool and water feature


• Prime location with easy access to Boulder and Denver

Luxury Home Tour

On Friday, June 15 Legendary Properties Sotheby's Realty hosted a luxury home tour, featuring three of Boulder County's most equisite homes.

The Niwot properties 6359 Snowberry Lane, 6324 Snowberry Lane, and 6541 Legend Ridge, were showcased for hundreds of visitors on this gorgeous night.

Each home featured live music and refreshments. Carla Morrison Fine Jewelry Design displayed her work in one home, an art collection by Mary Williams Fine Arts of Boulder as well as luxury auto display from Stevinson Lexus.

More photos can be found here.