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

Patio Homes Draw Buyers to Steel Ranch in Louisville

By Judy Finman for At Home
Article courtesy of Boulder Daily Camera – At Home

Nancy Patch was doing what she loves – riding her bicycle in Louisville – when she discovered the single-family patio homes designed and built by Boulder Creek Builders at the new Steel Ranch community. “I had no intention of moving at that time. I was planning to wait until my youngest son graduates from high school, and then right-size,” she says. “But I was so impressed with their floor plans – as an interior designer I am very familiar with floor plans.”

An advocate of the “not-so-big-house” philosophy, she related to the builder’s use of “well thought-out spaces that are functional – the opposite of McMansions. I liked that it was aesthetically pleasing, with taller ceilings and how the spaces worked together.”

Before committing to a move, Patch had to sell the Louisville house she was living in. She staged it and worked with a Realtor® to price it right. “I had a contract in less than two weeks. The success of my being able to move on this house at Steel Ranch was my Realtor pricing my home right. [You have to be] realistic and willing to stage your home, and put a little money into fixing it up.”

Patch loves the Louisville area. “It’s so well located to get on the highway to Denver, to the airport, to Boulder. I’m a biker, and there’s great riding here.

“The people at Boulder Creek Builders have been so great. You feel you really matter to them, that they genuinely care about getting you a home that works for you. As a buyer, you get a lot of flexibility in choosing your finishes.”

She chose the Harmony floor plan for her home. “I love it because the common areas – the kitchen and living room – look out on to the park. It’s a good value, especially because of its phenomenal location.” 

Low-maintenance lifestyle 

Another reason Patch was motivated to buy a patio home at Steel Ranch was that the house requires so little maintenance. “I can do something with my Saturdays other than take care of the yard,” she says. Sales Manager Bill Besher agrees. “Our homes allow people to live the Colorado lifestyle that everyone wants – with lock-and-leave convenience, and a low-maintenance lifestyle with no more  weekends mowing the lawn or shoveling snow. All our homes at Steel Ranch are single-family patio homes – everything people need day to day is on one floor, with a finished lower level for company or entertainment.

There’s a shortage of these lifestyle homes in Louisville. “We will have only 68 patio homes at Steel Ranch, and, without doing any marketing, we have hundreds of people with very strong interest. We have written several pre-sales contracts for people who asked early about Steel Ranch, some a year ago.”

The patio homes are priced in the high $300,000s to low $400,000s. 

Functionality plus style 

Boulder Creek Builders has pulled out all the stops at Steel Ranch. Big-ticket items that would ordinarily be considered upgrades are included, like air conditioning, tankless water heater, maple kitchen cabinets, and granite slab or Caesarstone® kitchen countertops.

Six floor plans are offered, with a choice among four architectural designs and nine color schemes. This makes each home unique and promises a visually diverse streetscape. All the homes are built to be highly efficient, based on Energy Star and green building technologies.

With third-party Energy Star inspections, 2 x 6 exterior wall construction, R-23- wall and R-49 ceiling insulation with advanced insulation techniques, lower-energy-usage furnace, tankless water heater, low-E Argon-gas-filled windows, 50-year roof shingles and more, these homes are built for energy efficiency, durability and comfort. 

Steel Ranch is located on the west side of Highway 42 at Paschal Drive in Louisville. Stop by Boulder Creek on November 5th to tour the brand-new model home. For more information call the sales office at 303.745.1091 or visit AtHome.LiveBoulderCreek.com. 

You’re Invited!  Boulder Creek Life and Home invites the public to its Grand Opening and Open House at Steel Ranch in Louisville on Saturday, November 5. Tour the neighborhood and new model home. Boulder Creek will make a contribution to the Louisville Senior Foundation for every person who attends.

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.

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!

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!

This Thanksgiving, Boulder Creek Life and Home has a lot to be thankful for.  This was highlighted last week at a ribbon-cutting sponsored by the Louisville Chamber of Commerce and celebrating our new office space in beautiful downtown Louisville.  Thank you to all who attended the ribbon-cutting and our open house!  What a wonderful welcome to a community that already feels like home.

As a company that believes in life and home, we know just how fortunate we are to be able to have a business home in a place that truly represents how we want to live.  As we develop new design concepts, acquire new developments, discover new ways to build green, and more deeply explore our commitment to helping homebuyers find homes that match their unique style and lifestyles, we know we’re in good company.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours — we are truly grateful for your support.

Boulder Creek Life and Home is delighted to see its new office in the heart of downtown Louisville featured in McGraw Hill’s Daily Journal – Mountain States Construction!

“We are delighted to be celebrating our grand opening and officially joining the ranks of the many great businesses in downtown Louisville,” added Sinkey. “The small-town feel is perfect for us and we look forward to continuing our strong momentum in this outstanding community.”

The recently completed building renovations took 60 days to complete. The building has an entirely new look and feel, with vast improvements to the exterior façade that matches the charm of downtown Louisville.

Read the entire article – click here to download it in PDF form.

At our new post on Front Street in Old Town Louisville, we’ve seen the bustle. Now it’s almost time…WinterSkate will reopen on November 11!

Boasting old-fashioned ice skating, carriage rides, and traditional holiday music, WinterSkate is all about gathering family and friends, wobbling around on skates, and savoring the season.  We’re thrilled to celebrate with the community in our new home (and even though the weather has held up nicely this fall, we know it will be a comfort to have fun winter activities for the family once the air gets nippy).

Why not join the fun?  Click here to learn more about WinterSkate, and we’ll see you on the rink!