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.

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.

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

Boulder, Colo. (January 25, 2010) — Boulder Creek Life and Home, an award winning, Boulder-based homebuilder is proud to  announce that its principal and director of marketing, sales and land procurement, David Sinkey was named to Boulder County Business Report’s 40 Under 40 list of top business professionals. This honor is given to 40 of the top business people in the Boulder Valley that are under the age of 40, yet have achieved great success over the course of their career. Winners have exhibited excellence in both business and community efforts and are likely to be leaders in the community for years to come.

David Sinkey manages the marketing, sales and land acquisition activities of Boulder Creek Builders. Joining Boulder Creek Builders predecessor, Cessna Associates, in 2000, Sinkey has developed and implemented a suite of marketing and sales tools. Sinkey recently shifted focus to research and identification of potential new development sites for the Boulder Creek residential concept. Sinkey is a Boulder native and started in this business as a teen.

“I am thrilled to be included with such an extraordinary group of individuals in the Boulder Valley,” said Sinkey. “I feel fortunate that I am able to fulfill my passion of developing eco-friendly homes that offer more than just bricks and mortar, but also an active Colorado lifestyle.”

Members of the Forty Under 40 group will be recognized during a networking event from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 16, 2009 at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. in Boulder. Honorees also will be profiled in a special section published in the Boulder County Business Report’s February 19th issue. The group was selected by members of the Business Report’s staff from a field of 77 nominees.

“We were very impressed by the quality of the nominations and the caliber of the individuals nominated,” said Christopher Wood, Business Report publisher. “The Boulder Valley is very fortunate to have these dynamic young professionals poised to assume leadership roles – and many who have already done so.”

Boulder Creek Life and 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 to provide a unique living experience designed around how people aspire to live, thus appealing to the active lifestyle. Each of Boulder Creek’s five current communities Calmante, Heritage at Vista Ridge, Erie Village, Blue Vista and Shadow Grass Park, vary in size, price and concept, but have one common thread: they embrace quality craftsmanship, green building practices and provide an unmatched lifestyle. For more information visit www.livebouldercreek.com or call (303) 242-3199.

The past year has seen a virtual reshuffling of the deck in the world of business. Brand-name companies have gone through cycles of downsizing or simply ceased to exist. The housing industry has been no exception, as major homebuilders have scaled back developments or left the marketplace entirely.

Amidst the turmoil, however, local homebuilder and community developer Boulder Creek Life and Home has stayed the course, focused on creating vibrant neighborhoods with innovative, Built Green® homes and low-maintenance living. And more than merely surviving, the builder has actually found this to be a time of growth and innovation.

“I actually like how this market has challenged the traditional ways we manage our business,” says sales and marketing manager Paul Gortzig. “We have remained focused on our core principles, and more so, we have stayed focused on our homebuyers. The challenges we experienced led us to innovative solutions to not only manage our business, but also to find ways to grow our business. In a time when other companies have been downsizing their staff, we have steadily grown our team with talented professionals.” The National Homebuilding industry has taken notice as well, bestowing the company with a Development of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders.

Gortzig reports that the local home market is turning around, evidenced by sustained interest and sales at each of the homebuilder’s neighborhoods. “People are acting with confidence on plans that they had put aside for a while,” says Gortzig. “The activity Boulder Creek has experienced in the fourth quarter of last year supports the confidence and optimism we have moving into 2010. It’s an exciting time.”

Founded more than three decades ago, Boulder Creek Life and Home’s active lifestyle communities now include The Heritage at Vista Ridge in Erie, Erie Village, Blue Vista and Shadow Grass Park in Longmont, and Calmante in Superior.

Announcing a New Active Lifestyle Community in Longmont
Adding to its already impressive portfolio, Boulder Creek Life and Home now announces Kingsbridge, a community in the Renaissance neighborhood in Longmont, which will include 134 townhomes 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, homeowners own both the townhome and the land it sits on.

“This 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.

“We are offering these homes at very attractive introductory prices to the first 10 homebuyers. We have created undeniable value with the intention of making a big splash in the market. When people see this incredible value at Kingsbridge, we are very confident they will respond.”

Like every home Boulder Creek Life and Home builds, each will be constructed to Built Green standards, with 2×6 framing, low-e windows, composite sidings and decks, Energy Star® appliances, centrally located, high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, and air-sealed building envelopes to ensure maximum insulation value.

The company has taken the standard of green building far beyond “concept” and “experimental” homes. “We can build a well-designed, energy-efficient home without having to add 15 or 20 percent to the cost,” says company co-owner David Sinkey. “We know it’s not about living with less – it’s about living better.”

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 Center is open Monday noon to 5 p.m.; Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment.

For more information, call 303.502.5338 or 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.

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!

Great news:  the first-time homebuyer credit has been extended! Here’s what you need to know about taking advantage of this credit to purchase your new home:

• Deadlines:  In order to take advantage of the credit, your home must be under contract by April 30, 2010 and must be closed upon by June 30, 2010.
• Restrictions:  The home must be used as the purchaser’s primary residence and is fully refundable.  Income limits are $125,000 for single persons, $225,000 for couples.  The credit is only valid on residences purchased for less than $800,000.  Primary residences including condos, townhomes, and single-family homes are eligible for the tax credit.
• First-time buyers:  Under the rules, “first-time buyer” is defined as a person who has not owned a home in the last three years.
• Repayment:  Beneficiaries of the credit need not repay itif they live in their new home for three years or more.

What this means for you:  Now is the time to buy!  Boulder Creek Life and Home has plenty of great options for an energy-efficient first home.  Visit our web site for more information our our low-maintenance communities.

Boulder Creek Life and Home Secures Financing to Purchase Kingsbridge Community in Boulder County