May brings stunning vistas to the Boulder Valley: mountain peaks still capped with white, foothills green from spring snow and rain, wildflowers beginning to bloom and crops emerging from rural landscapes.
Among the most stunning views is that seen from the 4RockinG ranch west of Longmont, a property featured in this edition of Distinctive Homes of the Boulder Valley. Writer Sally McGrath interviewed the owners of the 144-acre property, which includes a 10,600-square-foot main house. The price? A cool $16.9 million, offered by James Simpson of Fuller-Sotheby’s International Realty.
“The property includes an Olympic-size riding arena and fully equipped horse barn with 12 stables,” McGrath notes. A ranch manager lives in a cottage on the site, which also includes a 7,000-square-foot prairie house and a guest cottage.
McGrath’s article is just one of many that highlight the current state of the Boulder Valley’s high-end home market.
Writer Jeff Thomas also provides a look at Boulder’s University Hill area, long a haven for University of Colorado students, with its proximity to campus, rental housing, downtown and shops on the Hill. These days, owners of single-family homes want to bring a more family-friendly atmosphere to the area, and many opportunities abound for buyers.
Thomas also provides readers with a glimpse at an increasing phenomenon in the Boulder Valley: “pocket listings.” These are homes sold before ever reaching the market. With a scarcity of listings, many sellers simply don’t want to mess with hordes of would-be buyers traipsing through their property. A pocket listing enables them to sell a home quietly, sometimes by word of mouth, to a friend or associate. (And they can do it on their own schedule.)
Looking at the market overall, Re/Max of Boulder’s Tom Kalinski provides a snapshot of residential numbers, including some healthy sales increases during the first quarter compared with the same period a year ago, along with some dramatic sales increases from February to March of this year. (No wonder real estate agents seem especially cheerful these days.)
Dave Scott of Colorado Landmark Realtors writes that, although April was not as strong as March, inventory numbers remain low, with Boulder driving the market overall. Low inventories mean higher prices ahead.
Other articles feature landscaping ideas and our recurring Residential Spotlight, highlighting a luxury home on the market.
Distinctive Homes of the Boulder Valley publishes from March through September. The section is inserted in the Boulder County Business Report and is distributed separately at dozens of real estate offices and coffee shops throughout Boulder and Broomfield counties.
If you have an idea for a future article — or questions or comments — please let me know at the contact information below.
Christopher Wood can be reached at 303-440-4950 or cwood@bcbr.com.
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