“I got all the features I wanted in a new home, with everything we need on the main level.”

Gay Kuhlmann, a lifelong, born-and-raised Boulder resident, knew it would take a special kind of place to make her move, if ever. The Kuhlmanns found that special kind of place nestled on the east side of Longmont. A place that allows you to connect back with the country, but also has all the conveniences of what Longmont has to offer. Shopping and restaurants are simply a couple blocks away, and just a few more blocks down is the nostalgic downtown Longmont. That special place is called Shadow Grass Park.

“I’ve never had a brand new home,” she says. The Kuhlmanns, who chose a Woody Creek design, liked the open floor plan and the Low-E glazed windows and loose fill fiberglass insulation help efficient use of space. “I could get all the features I wanted in a new home, with everything we need on the main level.” Two bedrooms and a private study are located on the Woody Creek’s main floor, with the kitchen and laundry area located at the rear for convenient and are more soundproof access to the two-car garage.

“We wanted to personalize our new home a bit,” Kuhlmann says. “I wanted a sitting room off of the bedroom, so we eliminated a bedroom and enlarged the master bedroom. We also reconfigured and enlarged the master bathroom. We have a huge rec room and we added a wet bar, as well.” Working with Boulder Creek was “wonderful,” she reports. “They gave us helpful suggestions and helped us through the whole process.”

“We were excited and honored that the Kuhlmann’s chose Boulder Creek to build their home,” says Paul Gortzig, sales and marketing manager for Boulder Creek Life and Home. “We know there are a lot of choices in today’s new-home environment and Kuhlmann’s selection of Boulder Creek reinforces our efforts to create a unique living experience designed around how people aspire to live today, with our emphasis on Green Building techniques and energy efficiency. These are two big components that went into the Kuhlmann’s selection of Boulder Creek.”

“Our involvement with Shadow Grass Park represents how a builder and a developer team up to provide a consistent lifestyle addressing the needs of the community,” Gortzig adds. “We were able to ‘right size’ our designs with helpful feedback from active homebuyers. Right sizing is utilizing and re-appropriating the square footage centered around how we live today.”

A leading home builder in Boulder County since 1975, Boulder Creek is one of a select few Colorado homebuilders that have been chosen to create the new Shadow Grass Park neighborhood. “We believe in Life first,” says David Sinkey, president, “and Home second to none.” Another key characteristic of every home by Boulder Creek is the quality in design and construction. Every home meets or exceeds Built Green standards for healthy indoor living that reduces the cost of home ownership. Low-E glazed windows and loose fill fiberglass insulation help ensure that these homes are easy to heat and a breeze to cool. Two- by-six framing is standard instead of the two-by-fours you’ll find elsewhere, creating sturdier, deeper walls that hold more insulation and are more soundproof. At two points during each home’s construction, an independent construction observation company inspects each home to ensure it is being built to code and to Boulder Creek standards.

This dedication to quality construction and design earned Boulder Creek Life and Home nationwide recognition in 2008 when the National Association of Home Builders recognized their Blue Vista community in Longmont with a Development of the Year Award for “excellence in green residential design and construction practices, and outstanding green advocacy efforts.”

“I am a real big fan of Boulder Creek Life and Home’s construction,” Gay Kuhlmann says, “and I specifically looked for one of their homes. We care about the comfort and the quality of the air in the house – and we look forward to the savings on the utility bills, of course.”

Shadow Grass Park is located in Boulder County on the eastern edge of Longmont, with easy access to I-25 (north to Ft. Collins; south to Denver) and the Diagonal Highway (west to Boulder). Wide mountain views to the west are crowned by Longs Peak and Mount Meeker. The Jim Hamm Nature Area is just a short walk away, as is the Ute Creek public golf course and Union Reservoir. Homes at Shadow Grass Park welcome you with generous front porches, tree-lined streets and traditional architecture that recalls “small town America” neighborhoods.

Visit Shadow Grass Park

The Shadow Grass Park sales office is located adjacent to the Jim Hamm Nature Area at 1534 Moonlight Drive in Longmont. The information center is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please contact Jill Laudermilk or Noel Zirbel for more information at 303.776.3331, or visit ShadowGrassPark.com.

Article courtesy of Boulder Daily Camera – At Home

…but only a few sites remain.

As confidence returns to our market, attractive pricing and record low interest rates have created the ultimate time to invest in a new home.

“We had been looking for several months, but we fell in love with the ranch floor plan the first time we stepped into the show home,” says Ken Mason, who together with his wife Jean chose the Nantucket plan at The Cottages at Erie Village. “It has plenty of useable space, and a dormer window that allows plenty of natural light and a spacious feel in the kitchen area. Our home is next to open space and has a nice view of the Front Range. It’s still in Boulder County, but the drive has a nice country feel to it.”

“We couldn’t be happier for the Masons,” says community manager Bill Besher. “They are another fantastic addition to a wonderful community that’s full of friendly neighbors. Ken and Jean have already met a handful of their neighbors and I see them sharing laughs almost every time they stop by to check on the progress of their home.

“The best part of what we do at Boulder Creek isn’t just building great homes,” he adds. “It’s building great communities, and that’s exactly what we have at Erie Village.”

Residents at The Cottages at Erie Village enjoy classic, colorful Craftsman homes, each with a welcoming front porch, set-back garage and private patio space. Mature trees and picket fences line the streets and pedestrian trails wind through the neighborhood. The location provides semi-rural living that is still just minutes from shopping, recreation and enticing city amenities.

Erie Village’s low-maintenance living takes care of all exterior maintenance, snow removal and lawn and landscape care, allowing homeowners to enjoy their free time.

“I’m used to doing all the maintenance, but this ‘lock and leave’ lifestyle is going to be nice,” Mason says.

The Masons needed to sell their current single-family home to make the move. Despite perceptions that it is difficult to sell a home right now, Ken says that their experience was very positive. “We made sure our house showed well. Working with the Realtor recommended by Boulder Creek, we had a solid offer within the first week.”

Like each of the communities that Boulder Creek develops, all homes in Erie Village are constructed to Built Green standards, with 2-by-6 wall construction, Low-E Argon-filled windows, advanced insulation package with R-23 walls and R-38 ceilings, Energy Star appliances and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.

One of the benefits of buying a home “from dirt” is the opportunity to choose the features and finishes that turn a new house into a home. “We had a few special requests,” Ken Mason says. “We asked for a wider window on one wall. We needed a wider garage door to accommodate our boat. And we added a pocket door for the bathroom, and every step of the way Boulder Creek has been very accommodating.” Mason says they have been quite satisfied with the cost and very pleased with the craftsmanship.
Choosing their own finishes and fixtures was also a delight. “The design center was a lot of fun to work with, very helpful. We could bounce things like color combinations off them. They helped us narrow down our choices but it didn’t feel overwhelming. We got to pick out our hickory hardwood floors, alder cabinets, and granite countertops. And of course we got to choose all the wall colors.

“We’ve watched other models like ours being built, and now we’re seeing ours, and it’s exciting.”

You Need to See This for Yourself

Find out for yourself why The Cottages at Erie Village community is such a special place. From Boulder: Arapahoe east to 287. Left (north) on 287 to Isabelle Road. Turn right (east) on Isabelle Road to County Line Road. Turn left (North) and drive through Erie to Bixler Road. Turn left on Bixler and look for the flagpole. From Denver: I-25 to Exit 229, drive three miles west on Highway 7 to County Line Road, north through the Town of Erie to Bixler Blvd., look for the flagpole on the left.

The sales office (303.772.3063), located at 1111 Village Circle, is open Monday noon to 6 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information on other innovative communities by Boulder Creek Life and Home, visit www.LiveBoulderCreek.com.

Article courtesy of Daily Camera – At Home Section.

Here at Boulder Creek Life + Home, we talk a lot about “low-maintenance living.”  But what does that really mean?

• It means no weeding.  Ever. No more stooping down to get that nasty weed that likes to grow…and grow again.  Your landscape is taken care of by our professionals!
• It means no snow shoveling.  Ever. Count on your sidewalks to be well-maintained all the year round.
• It means sturdy, reliable construction…that’s eco-friendly. Forget constant repairs and unsound structures.  Our green building practices build houses to last.
• It means more time to live, work, and play. So get out there and hike, bike, run, and indulge in all the recreation our communities have to offer!  At your Boulder Creek home, you’ll have plenty of time to devote to the things that matter.

Ready to leave your lawnmower, gardening gloves, and snow shovel behind?  Visit our website to find out more about our green, low-maintenance homes.

When Boulder Creek Life and Home brought its high-value homes and low-maintenance lifestyle to Kingsbridge in Longmont, this was a community waiting to happen. Now, after considerable planning and effort, the first townhomes are complete and new homeowners are eager to move in.

Kingsbridge’s first homeowners, Michael and Toni Monticello, are just days away from moving into their new home. “We had been watching this location for a while, and in December we saw the Kingsbridge sign,” Michael Monticello says. “We’ve looked all over at townhomes, but for the money, the value and the floor plan, we fell in love with Kingsbridge.”

But there was just one catch: the Monticellos had to sell their current single-family home first. Working with Charles Souza, broker/owner of Metro Brokers – Team Lassen in Broomfield, the home was under contract in just eight days. “We emphasize three factors when selling in today’s market,” Souza explains. “Price correctly, market aggressively and stage the home to accomplish the ‘wow’ effect. You hear stories about how the market is a scary proposition. You just need to be smart about how to make the transition work for you. Analyzing one’s specific situation is the key to success.”

Souza says that the opportunities for buyers right now are tremendous. “With the current low interest rates and attractive pricing, your buying power is much greater than it will be in a few years or beyond.”
The Monticellos, who are downsizing from a single-family home, chose The Milan floor plan, a two-bedroom-plus-loft or three-bedroom design that includes a main floor laundry, optional family room with fireplace, center kitchen island and generous storage room.

Besides the home’s features, the Built-Green construction was an important factor in the Monticellos’ decision. Their home is framed with 2×6 lumber (instead of the standard 2×4) and equipped with low-e windows, composite sidings and decks, Energy Star® appliances, and a centrally located, high-efficiency furnace and water heater. An air-sealed building envelope helps to ensure maximum insulation value – and keep utilities bills low. “When I saw the home and how it was built, I thought, ‘this thing’s built like a fortress,’” Michael says.

Homeowners enjoy a year-round, “lock and leave” lifestyle, with all exterior maintenance and services taken care of by the HOA. “Having all the snow removal, maintenance and lawn care taken care of, that’s definitely the way to go,” says Monticello.

The Monticellos report that working with Boulder Creek Life and Home made the home buying experience a pleasure. “It was great,” Michael says. “They were extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and they weren’t pushy. They showed us the home, and the product sold itself. We got to pick out all the finishes and trim, working with the design center, and there was a good range of choices. We’re very excited about moving into our new home.”
Located in Longmont’s Renaissance neighborhood, Kingsbridge will include 134 residences at build-out. Four floor plans offer two or three bedrooms with 1,400 to nearly 1,800 finished square feet. Each residence also includes a private two-car attached garage. Unlike condominiums, residents own both the townhome and the land it sits on.

“Our location in southwest Longmont is ideal for people working in Boulder, at IBM or other tech jobs along the Diagonal Highway corridor,” says Brent Patterson, sales manager for Kingsbridge. “And it’s just minutes from retail centers and community amenities.”

Visit the models at Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge is located in West Longmont just off Airport Road in Boulder County. Three models are now open for your visit.

From Boulder: Head Northeast on CO-119 (Diagonal Highway). Turn left (North) on Airport Road. After 1 Mile turn Left (West) onto Venice Lane. Look for the blue flags. The Sales Center is on the North side of Venice Lane.

From Longmont: Head Southwest on CO-119 (Diagonal Highway). Turn Right (North) on Airport Road. After 1 Mile turn Left (West) onto Venice Lane.

From Denver: Head North on I-25 to exit 240. Turn Left (West) on CO-119. Head West through Longmont for 10 Miles. Turn Right (North) on Airport Road. After 1 Mile turn Left (West) onto Venice Lane.

The Sales office is open Monday from noon to 6 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment. For more information, call 303.502.5338.

Article courtesy of Daily Camera – At Home Section.

As a new home builder, we specialize in brand-new building…but often notice a disconnect when buyers wonder why they’d go for new construction.  Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits of a new home:

Freedom of Choice:  New home construction means that you can choose many facets of your home instead of having them handed down to you.  From the homesite to the finishes in your kitchen, new construction means plenty of choice and customization.

Green Construction:  Each of our new homes is built green…a feature you simply can’t buy in older homes.  Building green up-front means you won’t have to upgrade later…and can significantly reduce your impact on the Earth’s carbon load and pollution while saving you money in the short term.

Low-Maintenance:  Let’s face it…structural and landscaping issues are the name of the game when you buy an existing home.  But Boulder Creek homes are new and under warranty, which means that repairs are our problem, while our lock-and-leave, low-maintenance commitment forever frees you from shoveling snow and mowing lawns.

Ground-Up Communities:  New homes allow you to be truly invested in your up-and-coming neighborhood, creating community from the ground up.  And with our reasonably-priced homes with access to so many recreational opportunities and amenities, there will be plenty of ways to enjoy your new lifestyle with your new friends.

Did you know that new home construction through Boulder Creek Life and Home starts at under $200,000 in Boulder County?  Visit our website http://livebouldercreek.com for more information…and consider new home construction as you prepare to invest in a home!

ERIE VILLAGE EXPERIENCES UNPRECEDENTED SALES SUCCESS THANKS TO ITS ACTIVE, LOW-MAINTENANCE LIFESTYLE
Boulder Creek Community Combines Green Building Techniques with Quality Design

(Boulder, CO) – Despite a near stagnant real estate market for most front range builders, green home builder Boulder Creek Life & Home www.livebouldercreek.com continues to beat the odds, growing its business last year by adding two new communities, several new employees and making strong sales within their current inventory. Erie Village specifically, one of their five communities, has experienced unprecedented success recently with a strong second half of 2009 and blazing start to 2010. Boulder Creek started in June ’09 with seven inventory homes and by end of year they had only one remaining, which has since been sold. Erie Village has continued to be successful in 2010, selling another eight homes since the start of the year for a total of 43 homes sold within the community.

“Erie Village has remained viable in the current economy because we appeal strongly to the baby boomer market and the discerning buyer who recognizes quality design,” said David Sinkey, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We offer a carefree, low maintenance lifestyle, perfect of the intrepid traveler or on-the-go grandparent looking for a lock-and-leave lifestyle.”

The Cottages at Erie Village are colorful, low-maintenance patio homes, perfect for those interested in the convenient yet active lifestyle found in Colorado. Located in Erie, Colorado, Erie Village is a unique community that emphasizes green building techniques and a strong lifestyle offering. Hiking and bike trails abound. Local shops and quaint restaurants are a mere one mile south. The Erie Community Center offers water sports, fitness classes, a climbing wall, park concerts and special events. Plus, the community is just an hour from fresh powder at Winter Park Ski Resort. Homeowners at Erie Village don’t have to rake leaves, clean the gutters, shovel snow or worry about seasonal maintenance – ever. Owners can take a trip for the weekend or for several weeks and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with low maintenance living.

“You can just close the door and leave,” says one resident, who says she was attracted to Erie Village for its low traffic, location and housing options. “You don’t just see a bunch of beige houses. And we can hear coyotes from our porch at night; it’s so quiet.”

Homeowners at Erie Village report that the sustainable construction of their new homes was important to them in choosing their new neighborhood. “There’s a real broad selection of Built Green enhancements and finishes to choose from nowadays,” says one resident. “This is an efficient house, easy to heat and cool.”

“Our final offering includes four homesites available that offer impeccable views and unmatched lifestyle,” said Paul Gortzig. “We anticipate selling out by May of this year due to the high demand and unmatched quality and price of this offering.”

About Boulder Creek Life & Home

Boulder Creek Life & Home www.livebouldercreek.com is an award winning, Boulder-based homebuilder, that creates innovative communities across the Front Range of Colorado that embrace green building practices, energy efficiency and a true sense of place. The company’s mission is to build homes that are more than just bricks and mortar, but are actually modeled around how people aspire to live, thus appealing to the active lifestyle. Each of Boulder Creek’s six current communities Calmante in Superior, Heritage at Vista Ridge and Erie Village in Erie and Kingsbridge , Shadow Grass Park and Blue Vista in Longmont, vary in size, price and concept, but have one common thread: they embrace quality craftsmanship and green building techniques and provide an unmatched lifestyle.

Our My First Home Expo at the Kingsbridge community of townhomes in South Longmont has been a huge success!  In fact, we were able to donate over $2000 to EFAA (Emergency Family Assistance Association) with the help of our sponsors Advantage Bank, County Line Lumber and Taylor Movers.

Thanks to our sponsors and to our presenters:

• National Association of Professional Organizers / Liz Canavan – Alchemy of Order
• Connor Morganti – JoMo Financial
• Tristan Samuels – Wealth Strategies Group
• Brandon Dwight - Boulder Cycle Sport
• Home Performance Solutions
• Lonny Jenkins - Cherry Creek Mortgage

…and all who attended!

Want to find out more about a community perfect for first-time buyers?  Kingsbridge Townhomes are built with efficient green building techniques, are close to recreation and shopping, and start at just $205k!  Drop in or visit us online at http://livekingsbridge.com.

This week has been rife with news on green building techniques finally, finally! hitting the mainstream.  The New York Times reports that several significant commercial real estate investors have decided to “green” their portfolios, green building expos are on the rise, and some of the country’s largest builders are finally jumping on the green bandwagon.  Of course this news makes us smile…because at Boulder Creek Life and Home, green building practices have been a part of our business as long as we’ve been in business.

So what does green building mean here at Boulder Creek?  Are we bowing to popular trends when we tell our homebuyers about our energy-efficient techniques and Earth-friendly building materials and construction practices?  No way.  Here’s a quick rundown on our green commitment…one that, like our commitment to building quality homes that combine the best in life and home, has never wavered.

• Green building techniques save money:  There’s a common misconception that a green home is an expensive one.  But we find that using green building practices and installing eco-friendly components actually saves money, increasing a building’s longevity and efficiency without a backbreaking up-front cost.  And once a homebuyer moves into their new green home, the costs of living are significantly smaller than the costs associated with inefficient, poorly insulated and energy-wasting structures of a similar size.
• Green building techniques create homes for the long haul:  Not many people realize that many of the very techniques that make a home eco-friendly also increase its durability and “shelf life.”  Properly sealed homes resist degradation from air and water; tough, energy-efficient exteriors require less maintenance and last longer; quality roofing and outdoor components will endure for decades.  This long-haul approach means that your Boulder Creek home is a good investment…not a cheaply-built liability.
• Green building techniques add life to home:  When a home is efficiently lit, properly heated and cooled, well-sealed and decorated with safe, eco-friendly materials, it just feels better.  So you can focus on the things that count.

Learn more about Boulder Creek Life and Home’s commitment to green building techniques (and learn more about the eco-friendly features of our unique communities) by clicking this link.

Realtors are reporting that new home sales are picking up across the Front Range as buyer confidence gradually returns to the marketplace. But these buyers, having witnessed the recent dramatic declines in real estate prices, have a keener eye than ever for value. They want quality-built, efficient homes with innovative design, in well-planned neighborhoods that will preserve the value of their investment.

For many new home buyers, The Cottages at Erie Village is exactly that kind of community. Residents enjoy a quiet neighborhood with open space in Boulder County that is just minutes from shopping, recreation and city amenities. Mature trees and picket fences line streets of colorful Victorian and Craftsman homes, each with a welcoming front porch, set-back garage and private patio space. Pedestrian trails wind through the neighborhood, which is punctuated by pocket parks that invite you to linger while visiting with neighbors.

“I like the rural feel at Erie Village,” says new home owner Jim Ely. “I retired recently, and was looking to upgrade from my condo to a home where I could do some entertaining. I chose the New Haven for its efficient, open floor plan. I liked the fact that I could pick my design in a nice, quiet neighborhood. And I like the low-maintenance living here.”
Ely says that he has been out of the home market for a while but had been looking, “on and off. I was very pleased with the assistance I received from everyone at Boulder Creek Life and Home (developers of Erie Village). I got the floor plan I wanted, at a price I liked. I guess you could say I got lucky.”

For some owners, it seems to be love at first sight. “We liked the layout of the Nantucket floor plan from the moment we walked in,” says Janis Tracy, who with her husband Jim is relocating back to Boulder County from Arizona. “We didn’t know about Erie Village, but we were driving down County Line Road and saw the ‘Patio Homes’ sign and decided to take a look. It only took us two days to make our decision.”

“We like the home styles and colors, and the small size of Erie Village. It’s also close to our family, very convenient,” Janis Tracy says.

Like each of the communities that Boulder Creek Life and Home develops, all homes in Erie Village are constructed to Built Green standards, with 2-by-6 exterior wall construction, Low-E Argon-filled windows, advanced insulation package with R-21 walls and R-38 ceilings, Energy Star appliances and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.

Sales at Erie Village are outpacing many communities, and with only seven remaining home sites, the opportunity to choose your new home here won’t last long. These sites, which feature popular western exposure and are adjacent to open space, are some of the most desirable in the community. And with 15 homes closing in the past seven months at Erie Village, availability is clearly limited.

“It has been exciting to see families like the Tracys and Jim Ely act on their desires to move and make something happen for themselves” says Bill Besher, community sales manager for Boulder Creek at Erie Village. “We have had a very busy fall and winter. Our sales activity has outpaced the market activity, and our available seven sites are some of the best sites to choose from. If you’re looking for low-maintenance living in a quiet neighborhood with open space, you will find Erie Village a pretty special place – don’t miss this opportunity!”

You Need to See This for Yourself

Find out for yourself why The Cottages at Erie Village community is such a special place. From Boulder: Arapahoe east to 287. Left (north) on 287 to Isabelle Road. Turn right (east) on Isabelle Road to County Line Road. Turn left (North) and drive through Erie to Bixler Boulevard. Turn left on Bixler and look for the flag pole. From Denver: I-25 to Exit 229, drive three miles west on Highway 7 to County Line Road, north through the Town of Erie to Bixler Boulevard, look for the flagpole on the left.

The sales office (303.772.3063), located at 1111 Village Circle, is open Monday noon to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For information on other innovative communities by Boulder Creek Life and Home, visit www.LiveBoulderCreek.com.

At Home Article Provided by the Daily Camera

Sluggish consumer confidence, slow-as-molasses sales cycles…2009 wasn’t exactly a banner year for huge economic growth.  But there’s great news for buyers in the Denver/Boulder market:  economic indicators are pointing to increased recovery and more cash flow in the new year.  Here’s a selection of recent great news in economic indicators:

Colorado to gain jobs in 2010: “Colorado should see job growth returning and home prices start rising again this year as the U.S. economic recovery gains traction, according to a forecast Wednesday from Vectra Bank Colorado.  The U.S. economy should grow 2.5 percent to 3 percent this year, adjusting for inflation, predicted economist Jeff Thredgold at Vectra Bank’s 17th Annual Economic Forecast Breakfast.”

CU-Boulder economist:  financial recovery is on the way: “The past couple months have shown some bright spots in relation to employment, he said, and it is expected that job growth should come in the second half of the year.”

Forecast 2010:  Let the recovery begin: On the flip side, “If you’re in a position to buy, with access to credit or cash, this is the best time to buy,” Hotard said. Low interest rates, discounted prices and the extension of the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit through April are all in the buyers’ favor.

Here at Boulder Creek, we’re optimistic for the new year…and we’re seeing great growth in our custom communities like Erie Village, Vista Ridge, and Kingsbridge.  As the year picks up, remember that time is running out for your $8000 first-time or $6500 homebuyer credit.  Now’s the time to invest in Colorado’s growth in the coming year!  Click here to learn more about Boulder Creek communities.