“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

Celebrate the low-maintenance life and ring in the beginning of summer with us!  Join Boulder Creek Life + Home at Kingsbridge, Boulder County’s best lock-and-leave green townhome community, for a celebration of summer fun on Saturday, June 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We’ll serve burgers, brats, and refreshments and give away tickets to Elitch Gardens, Water World, and Rockies games in addition to iPod Nanos!  Bring your family, friends, and anyone who might enjoy learning more about Kingsbridge’s low-maintenance townhomes, with some of Boulder County’s most competitive pricing for new homes.

Join the fun…we’ll see you by the BBQ!  Visit http://livekingsbridge.com for more information.

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.

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!

Our My First Home Expo at the Kingsbridge townhome community in South Longmont was a wonderful weekend of informative workshops and realtor events…including some fabulous prizes.

Congratulations to Carol Schack with Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors and Ed, our lucky iPod Nano winners!

Boulder Creek Life and Home – More Than a Generation of Green Building in Boulder County

Homebuilder announces My First Home Expo, Saturday, Feb. 27

With roots that go back more than 30 years in Boulder County, Boulder Creek Life and Home was building homes before “green” practices were widely considered in the housing industry.

“A long time ago, we made a commitment to build all of our homes to Built Green standards,” recalls company principal David Gregg, who guides the architecture, project development and community planning. “As we analyzed the requirements, we discovered that in many instances, we were already building to those standards. We tweaked some of our construction specifications, and created some new efficiencies in our methods. Overall, going green was a pretty easy transition for us.”

To understand the full impact of Boulder Creek Life and Home’s commitment to green building, consider this: every home it builds meets or exceeds Built Green standards. And the builder is doing this in six different Front Range communities, every day, across every price point.

“What we do is utilize proven and practical green building techniques and materials, bringing them into the mainstream to create homes that deliver high value and lower energy costs,” explains David Sinkey, vice president and co-owner. “This allows us to do more with each home, and to do more of them.”

Gregg says it all comes down to the details. “The insulation we use, the type of windows, the framing techniques and the way we seal the homes to prevent air leakage, it all requires strong field coordination and the willingness to follow through, to make sure that all the steps are done right.”

Low-E glazed windows and blown-in cellulose insulation make your home easy to heat and a breeze to cool, lowering your annual cost for heating and cooling your home year in and year out. 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 third-party construction observation company inspects each home to ensure it is being built to code and to Boulder Creek Life and Home standards, Gregg says. “They conduct a pre-drywall inspection, checking the ducts, caulking and sealing.”

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 the 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.”

Me? Buy a home? Don’t miss the My First Home Expo on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Are you considering your first home purchase? Boulder Creek Life and Home invites you to an exciting and informative event, designed to help you get the information you need to make an informed home buying decision. Attend free seminars on financial planning, lending practices, tax credits  and organizing your first home – each presented by professionals who are recognized experts in their field.

Enjoy a free barbecue lunch and refreshments, and watch the home energy efficiency demonstrations by Home Performance Solutions (complete with a blower door test and thermal imaging). Register to win one of several iPod Nanos. And you’ll be helping a good cause just by attending, since the event sponsors will donate $20 to the Emergency Family Assistance Association for every registered attendee.

Expo sponsors include Boulder Creek Life and Home, Taylor Moving Company, County Line Lumber Company and Advantage Bank.

My First Home Expo will be held at Kingsbridge Townhomes, 1656 Venice Lane, Longmont. For more information and directions, call 303.502.5338 or e-mail info@LiveKingsbridge.com.

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.

Ever since the federal government extended the first-time homebuyer credit and added a $6500 credit for other buyers, there’s been lots of confusion.  Luckily, there is an abundance of great information, including that provided by Boulder Realtor Jennifer Egbert of Walnut Realty.  In her recent “awesome breakdown” of the tax credit, she reminds us that now may just be the time:

Listen, home prices are stabilizing.  Interest rates are at historic lows.  If you have given ANY THOUGHT to purchasing your dream home, now is a KILLER time to be doing so.

Former homeownership record (you must have owned and lived in your home for at least five out of the last eight years), income (no more than $125,000 single/$225,000 joint), and contract dates (under contract by April 30, closed by June 30) are key to this credit, which covers domiciles from condos to townhomes to single-family homes.

Ready to take the plunge?  Our sales staff can help!  Click here to view our hot homes and contact Boulder Creek Life and Home for information on your new home!

At Boulder Creek Life and Home, we know that home isn’t home without lifestyle…and life isn’t life without home. As we look forward to the new year, what will be the biggest trends in life and home? We venture to make some predictions:

Green: not just a buzzword any more It seems like everyone has been jumping on the environmentally friendly bandwagon, but in 2010 we predict that this trend will gain some staying power. Adopting eco-friendly lifestyle choices like hybrid vehicles, renewable power, and energy-efficiency doesn’t just sound cool…it saves money, which means it fits perfectly into the more financially-conscious decade we’re entering. And maybe we’re biased, but we think our energy-efficient, green building techniques will withstand the test of time.

Kitchen as home So much of the life of a home is in the kitchen, and these cost-conscious times mean the kitchen will be a more important gathering place than ever. Look for increased emphasis on in-kitchen dining and functional, fun kitchens like the ones offered in our patio and townhomes.

Inside/outside We’re lucky enough to live surounded by some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. While interiors become more comfortable than ever, we predict a renewed emphasis on outdoor recreation in 2010. That means hiking, biking, and taking advantage of everything Boulder County has to offer.

Ready to invest in life and home in the new year? Click here to view our hot homes!