Courtesy of Mark Samuelson, The Denver Post

Two years ago, builder David Sinkey of Boulder Creek Builders was on the phone to the big Denver developers, trying to convince them to work some of his low-maintenance patio ranch designs into their large master-plans. Now a half dozen of those developers are talking with him, wanting to rub some of the same magic into their own communities that just since November has attracted 18 sales in the $400s and $500s.

You can see those sharp, traditionally styled patio models (from the low $4s) today at Steel Ranch in Louisville (they were packed with visitors when I toured Wednesday). And you can tour some Boulder Creek townhomes near the Longmont Diagonal Highway that offer the same low maintenance and high energy efficiency, at half the price.

Kingsbridge Townhomes, off Airport Road in Longmont, is a little hard to find and gets a fraction of the traffic that Steel Ranch does – but has such a high conversion rate that Boulder Creek has already gone through well over half of the 109 townhome sites it took over there from a California builder in 2010.

“We don’t restrict any of our communities to 55-and-older,” said Sinkey — one of four principals in a company that dates from one his father launched in Boulder in 1976. We left headquarters in Louisville’s scenic downtown, surrounded by shops and dining that helped earn Louisville the number-1 national ranking in Money Magazine’s annual ‘Best Places to Live’…and headed for Steel Ranch, a mile north.

Nevertheless, Boulder Creek’s buyers seem to ‘self-restrict’ into that older, downsizing demographic. Along with a few single females, empty-nest buyers dominate sales at Steel Ranch (and are catching the attention of those large developers, anxious to tap into that market).

Those downsizers are also a factor at Longmont’s Kingsbridge (it has four 2-story townhome plans, including one that could go main-floor master)…however, buyers there also find three schools within walking distance including Longmont’s Silver Creek High, rated 9-for-10 stars at GreatSchools.net. The schools and the prices (from the very low $200s for 2- and 3-bedrooms that are nine miles from Boulder, four miles from IBM) also lure single moms and dads, and another demographic you don’t hear much about: ‘never-nesters’ – ones who have rented for years and years, and now have plenty of cash to make a purchase.

What Boulder Creek DOESN’T see at Kingsbridge are first-time buyers; and that, says Sinkey, doesn’t make any sense. After all, these large plans have attached 2-car garages, roomy storage spaces, extra-outdoor private storage for bikes; and optimal energy features (blown-Fiberglas insulation that earn HERS scores under 60, so low they were featured by Channel 9 News). The smallest, a 2-bedroom ‘Florence,’ delivers 1,490 square feet for $205,000 – with a bright-and-light interior that comes standard with wood kitchen floors, nicer birch cabinets in a choice of colors, and ceramic tile bath surrounds.

They also show something all Boulder Creek’s buyers, young and old, agree on: Despite the low-maintenance, they want manageable HOA fees. “Our people say, ‘Give us walking-biking trails; but not a pool, that means higher dues,’” Sinkey added. Boulder Creek keeps track of its buyers’ preferences through a ‘Founders Group’ that reviews new models. When the group was asked what they’d be willing to pay for the new Steel Ranch patio plans, their estimates were so high, Sinkey says, that company planners knew they had a winner on their hands.

You can see Steel Ranch off 95th Street in Louisville; from the Turnpike take Northwest Parkway north, jogging onto 96th, and continue north 5 miles, just past Baseline. Kingsbridge in Longmont is off Airport Road between Diagonal and Nelson Road; from Boulder take the Diagonal north 6 miles to Airport, then left a mile to Venice Lane.

If you go…

WHERE: Kingsbridge Townhomes in west Longmont by Boulder Creek Builders, low-maintenance 2-&-3 bedroom townhomes near trails, 4 miles to IBM. 1656 Venice Lane, Longmont; take I-25 north to Exit 240, Colo. 119; west 7.6 mi., continue west on Nelson Rd. 1.9 mi to Airport Rd.; left 1 mi. to Venice Lane.  Or from Boulder’s Foothills Pkwy take Diagonal north 6.6 mi. to Airport Rd, left 1 mi. to Venice

PRICE: From $205s; Steel Ranch from the low $400s

WHEN: Today & Saturday 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Sunday 11-5

PHONE: 303-772-3063 Steel Ranch, 303-745-1091 WEB: LiveBoulderCreek.com

We love to point out the benefits of Boulder County life…and great jobs is one of the best reasons to make our beautiful county home.  The Boulder Daily Camera just published an article on the area’s 50 top businesses, which include IBM, Ball Corp., Level 3, Oracle, and other nationally-recognized businesses in tech, pharma, and so much more.  It’s a great reminder of the prosperity and prospects of a community that’s not just another pretty face along the foothills. 

New to Boulder County?  Ready to own instead of renting?  Boulder Creek has many great options, from breezy townhomes in Longmont to ranch-style patio homes in award-winning Louisville and so much more.  Click here to learn more about our Boulder County offerings and the benefits of Boulder Creek’s green, right-sized homes. 

Recognize the view from this time-lapse video of the Louisville Downtown Street Faire?  That’s right…it was filmed at Boulder Creek’s Louisville offices!  We’re proud to be a sponsor of the Street Faire, which runs Friday evenings right in front of our office!

It’s close to all the Rocky Mountains have to offer, and boasts an unparalleled food scene, recreation opportunities galore, and plenty of high-tech job opportunities.  But it’s not the town you’re thinking of….it’s Louisville, Boulder’s neighbor and one of Colorado’s up-and-coming gems!

This recent article in Sunset points out what we already knew by heart…after all, there’s a reason we recently moved our home office to historic downtown Louisville!  Check out reasons why Louisville could be worthy of a day trip…or a permanent relocation in this recent article.

Considering a move to Louisville?  Our patio home community at Steel Ranch is garnering headlines and plenty of buzz.  Click here to learn more.

At Boulder Creek, it’s all about Relationship, Respect, and Reciprocity.  That’s why Paul Gortzig headed out to Wright Kingdom Real Estate this morning armed with cherry and apple pie, balloons, breakfast burritos from Santiago’s and reusable Boulder Creek grocery bags…all while wearing a We Heart Realtors sticker and a big smile.

Want to learn more about pi(e) and the We Heart Realtors program?  Visit realtors.livebouldercreek.com today!

Everything’s coming up Longmont…but why be intrigued by a Boulder Creek community at Kingsbridge, Creekside or Shadow Grass Park?  Here are ten great reasons to hang your hopes and dreams on a home in Longmont, CO:

• Location, location, location:  Longmont is conveniently located with access to Colorado Route 119, US-287, and I-25.
• Open space:  Longmont maintains over 1,500 acres of parks and open space, not to mention the over 80 miles of trails in close proximity in Boulder!
• Shop ’til you drop:  With major retailers, a mall, and convenient access to groceries and specialty stores, Longmont will never leave you hanging when it comes to a day of shopping.
• Yum: Longmont has three craft breweries and a great set of distinctive restaurants to tempt your tastebuds.
• Community:  Longmont may be an up-and-coming area, but it hasn’t lost its community charm.  Join your neighbors for athletic events, community service, the county fair, even art festivals and exhibits!
• Schools:  Longmont is conveniently located in the St. Vrain School District, which accommodates 26,000 Colorado students and is known for low drop-out rates, great school amenities, and quality teachers.
• You’re in business:  Longmont’s thriving business community provides great high-tech opportunities, and the proximity of the University of Colorado and other local schools mean the nearby population is well-educated and ready to get down to work.
• Awards and accolades:  You won’t be the only one who appreciates life in Longmont!  The city has been called an All-America City and called one of America’s Best Places to Live by Money Magazine.
• Elevation: Longmont sits at 4,979 feet above sea level…and is mere miles from 14ers, ski opportunities, and winter sports galore.
• Freedom:  Find a sense of liberty…and not just from the spectacular mountain views.  Longmont is perfectly situated to give you access to the lifestyle that’s right for YOU, allowing you to express your individuality.

In its very first year, Kingsbridge Townhomes in Longmont has achieved some coveted milestones. According to Metrostudy, which provides market information to the housing industry, in 2010 Kingsbridge ranked fourth in sales in the Front Range territory that stretches from Longmont to Castle Rock. With 25 sales for the year, Kingsbridge sold just three fewer than the leader, which had 28 townhome sales in the Front Range.
And, in Boulder County, Kingsbridge captured first place in townhome building permits and sales.

“These are amazing numbers,” says Paul Gortzig, sales and marketing manager of Boulder Creek Life and Home, builder of the Kingsbridge Townhomes. “Our buyers choose Kingsbridge as their place to live because of the wonderful location, superior construction practices and attractiveness of the architecture. We are very excited for 2011 as we continue to lead the region with great values and low-maintenance, energy-efficient living.”

Location is first

Rachael Roberts moved from Littleton to her Kingsbridge townhome in mid-December. She was starting a new job as an operating-room nurse at Boulder Community Hospital and needed to settle in quickly. “I have to live within 30 minutes of the hospital because I am on call,” she says. “Convenience is one of the reasons I picked Kingsbridge; I am only about 20 minutes away from work. I just go across the Diagonal Highway.”

The move went smoothly. “Brent Patterson and Bill Besher in the sales office and Boulder Creek Builders made everything quick and easy for me. I even used the mortgage lender they recommended.”
Roberts knew what she wanted. “My four reasons for choosing Kingsbridge were first, location; second, price; third, they’re brand new; and fourth, the great designs. You pay your monthly HOA fee, and they take care of the exterior. I am not an outside, yard- work person. I never know when I’m going to get a call to go to work, and here I don’t have to shovel snow.”

She is pleased with her energy savings, too. “I think it’s good that the homes here are built green and energy efficient. I like the idea of not depleting the environment. My current heating bill is only about a third of what I paid when I lived in Denver, in a place half the size of this place.”

For recreation, Roberts spends time outdoors with her poodle, Sailor, and newly adopted Koa, a retired greyhound. “I like that it’s not completely built-up here – there’s countryside less than a mile away. I can take a five-mile walk with the dogs. Vic’s coffee shop is a mile up the road, and Sailor and I love to sit outside.”

Built for the way you live

With four floor plans to choose from, Roberts selected a Milan model, a home built on the end of the building. “The townhomes are brand new and very nice. I got everything on my wish list – a two-car garage, two-bedroom home, 1,500 square feet, not too small, not too huge. The garage is oversized, and I have a truck, an oversized vehicle. I have a storage room in the front of the garage, with an additional 340 square feet. My home was a really good value. If you buy early enough in the building process, you can choose everything you want.”

The townhomes range in size from 1,400 to 1,793 square feet, each with three bathrooms and either two or three bedrooms, and a private attached two-car garage. The architecture is stylish and imposing, with attractive stonework and columns, and a courtyard concept.

Among the many included features are maintained landscaping throughout the community, 8-foot to 11-foot ceilings on the main floor, Tharp oak hardwood cabinets, and low VOC paints for healthier indoor air.

“Homebuyers get excited about the quality of the homes, especially compared to other new construction in the area,” says Bill Besher of the sales team. “Their choices in West Longmont are often limited to older, less efficient homes with no opportunities for personalization. These are not your typical townhomes. People need to come inside and take a look at the single-family living that’s available in these high-efficiency homes. I hear it all the time, ‘Wow, I didn’t expect all this in here.’”

Kingsbridge is set in a quiet area, within a mile of shopping and restaurants, with amazing recreational opportunities nearby – trails, hiking, skiing and tourist activities. Besides all that Longmont has to offer, residents love the proximity to Boulder, whether for work or leisure.

“Business is very good,” says Brent Patterson of the sales team. “People love the low-maintenance lifestyle, the freedom from maintaining a house, the time it frees up in their schedule to pursue their own activities and desires.”

Quality-built, green and efficient

Kingsbridge townhomes are constructed to Built Green standards and qualify as Energy Star® homes. Each home boasts dozens of green features, such as an Advanced Insulation Package that goes beyond the building code to provide a more comfortable home and results in lower energy costs; and certified composite wood trim and decking materials to reduce the use of natural materials. Homeowners never cringe when their electric bill arrives. In fact, they look forward to seeing how much they saved on energy costs.

Boulder Creek Life and Home

With roots dating back three decades, Boulder Creek Life and Home has pioneered residential development for the “active lifestyle” homeowner. It designs and builds high-quality, low- maintenance, single-family and multi-family residential products to accommodate people’s desire for active, easy lives.

Visit Kingsbridge Townhomes

Learn more about Kingsbridge Townhomes at www.AtHome.LiveKingsbridge.com. Kingsbridge is located at 1656 Venice Lane in West Longmont just off Airport Road in Boulder County. The sales office is open Tuesday though Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Monday 12 noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 303.502.5338.

Article courtesy of Boulder Daily Camera – At Home

We love Realtors…and we were delighted to deliver delicious, deep-dish apple pies with crumble toppings to our Realtor friends today!  Three pounds of apples per pie, folks…now that’s Realtor Love!

Learn more about our Realtor Love at http://livebouldercreek.com/we-love-realtors … and visit Indulge Bakery in Lafayette for a delicious pie of your own!

It’s been a year since we announced the Kingsbridge Townhomes community in a coveted South Longmont location.  Since then…

• Kingsbridge community in Longmont has exceeded sales expectations, garnering 25 net sales and 15 closings in 2010
• Kingsbridge ranks second in gross sales and fourth in net sales for all of the 26 metro area townhome communities in the 11-county area, which includes Longmont, Boulder and Denver.
• Boulder Creek Builders is number one in all of Boulder County and 14th in the entire Denver / Boulder / Longmont Metro Area for total sales.
• Kingsbridge has enjoyed ongoing traffic, with almost 400 visitors touring the community in 2010.
• This lent itself to a conversion rate of 6.3 percent, while the city average was only 4.3 percent.
• The Kingsbridge community as a whole has enjoyed an increase in overall appreciation from two percent to four percent, during a time in which the city saw a 1.3 percent drop in pricing.

We know you’re more than a number…come in and show us your face! Join the Kingsbridge success story:  drop by our sales office or visit http://livekingsbridge.com for more information.

We’ll admit it…even though the weather has been warm, we can’t help but get into the holiday spirit!  As the year winds to its conclusion and we prepare to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s, we can’t help but reflect on the year that’s been.

Without further ado, here are 12 reasons we’re grateful this year:

1. This year we were grateful to contribute to a handful of well-deserving local charities, including Make a Wish, EFAA, Byrne Urban Scholars, The Cancer League of Colorado, Home Builders Foundation of Metro Denver, and local food banks.
2. We’re in great company, with membership in the Erie, Boulder, Superior and Louisville Chambers as well as the Colorado Home Builders Association and National Home Builders Association.
3. We were proud to continue with our We ♥ Realtors initiative and to sponsor the Boulder County Real Estate Expo and other informative events to help realtors build their businesses and sell new homes.
4. We were able to transition to a new headquarters in downtown Louisville, purchasing and renovating the building we now occupy.
5. We were privileged to meet homeowners who value a lifestyle that’s second to none!  Nothing compares to seeing dreams turn into real homes built with green savvy and serving as the cornerstone of Colorado communities.
6. Speaking of Colorado communities, we had the privilege of launching neighborhoods at Kingsbridge Townhomes in South Longmont, taking on a select offering at Creekside, stepping up our involvement at Shadow Grass Park, and planning for new developments that bear Boulder Creek’s signature lifestyle touch.
7. We’ll admit…we love community recognition, from national news coverage of Boulder Creek’s distinctive communities to a 40 under 40 award for principal David Sinkey.
8. Our local partnerships and relationships make us grateful.  We couldn’t offer our unique mix of life and home without being firmly rooted in the community.
9. Our exemplary staff is reason enough to be grateful!  With their help, we run smoothly and give homebuyers the exceptional homebuying experience they expect and deserve.
10. Don’t forget about fun…we’re grateful for our participation in Colorado Music Festival and Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts in 2010!
11. We’re grateful for growing awareness of the green building techniques that are an integral part of our philosophy and our business.
12. Finally, we’re grateful for Colorado…where life comes first and home is second to none…where we are privileged to serve an extraordinary community.

Happy New Year!