New Master Planned Communities in/around Denver (Aurora, Arvada: real estate, new home)

[jmedelman]

Originally Posted by denverian

You might want to check out Bradburn Village (just Google it). It's in Westminster, I believe, so not that far from Denver. It's like a mini-Stapleton (new urbanism, many of the same builders), but prices are cheaper there.

Bradburn looks real nice, its just slightly too expensive for the single family

[jmedelman]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Brand new construction can also suffer from shoddy workmanship and unknowns like whether or not there's a big vein of expansive clay running under the opposite end of the house from the soil sample the builder took.

That seems like an oddly specific critique. Did that happen to you?

[xeric]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Brand new construction can also suffer from shoddy workmanship and unknowns like whether or not there's a big vein of expansive clay running under the opposite end of the house from the soil sample the builder took.

So can old construction (remember the 70s?). I used to think I was an old house person until I realized that I'd rather spend my weekends doing stuff I enjoyed rather then constant repairs. Plus newer houses (in Fort Collins at least, because of city codes) are much more energy efficient then non-retrofitted old houses.

[cowboyxjon]

Originally Posted by xeric

So can old construction (remember the 70s?). I used to think I was an old house person until I realized that I'd rather spend my weekends doing stuff I enjoyed rather then constant repairs. Plus newer houses (in Fort Collins at least, because of city codes) are much more energy efficient then non-retrofitted old houses.

I've noticed this in my neighborhood, too. I appreciate older houses and would love to have one -- someday. In my neighborhood, however, most of the 'older' homes are from the '50s, have old/inefficient windows, and honestly don't seem any more sturdy than my townhouse that was built in 2006. I went with the newer place and like the fact that it's solid and energy-efficient.

[2bindenver]

Originally Posted by jmedelman

I want:

Walkable
Young Families
Commutable to downtown Denver (<20 minutes)
Good construction from reputable builders
House for <$250,000
Growing community with town center, stores, shops, restaurants
Parks, community green areas, moderate sized lot (~.25 acre would be nice)

Where have they started pulling permits?

That's funny! You could get a condo for that, but not on a quarter acre lot!

Average price in Denver is $270,000 for a SFR. You are not going to find new, better, on a larger lot for less within a half hour of downtown.

You can find entry level housing in Stapleton for $335,000.

[jmedelman]

Originally Posted by cowboyxjon

I've noticed this in my neighborhood, too. I appreciate older houses and would love to have one -- someday. In my neighborhood, however, most of the 'older' homes are from the '50s, have old/inefficient windows, and honestly don't seem any more sturdy than my townhouse that was built in 2006. I went with the newer place and like the fact that it's solid and energy-efficient.

My parent own a house in MA that was built in 1988 and followed building standards of the day.

The house is ~2700 sf finished and they pay >$600 a month in heating and cooling...

Not something I look forward to with an older house.

David Weekly in Stapleton said their new houses they are building has a guarantee that you won't pay more than $97 a month for the first 3 years!

[jmedelman]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

That's funny! You could get a condo for that, but not on a quarter acre lot!

Average price in Denver is $270,000 for a SFR. You are not going to find new, better, on a larger lot for less within a half hour of downtown.

You can find entry level housing in Stapleton for $335,000.

The quarter acre lot is important because if this is something I am going to be paying off for 30 years, I want some room to grow and raise a family.

[2bindenver]

I don't make the real estate market, I just report on the stats. Don't you think if I could make a house for $225,000 on a half acre, 4 beds 3 baths, wrap around front porch, white picket fence, a half hour from downtown Denver, I would?

Brighton you may have some choices, Elizabeth, Lochbuie, Sedalia, Parker, but now you are getting closer to $300,000, and an hour from Denver.

If you are going to be paying for it for $30 years - have you considered what water, tax and gas prices will be in 5 years?

[woob]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Brand new construction can also suffer from shoddy workmanship.

Agreed. I would rather trust the sturdiness of a house that has been standing for 120 years (like mine has been) rather than one that was built 5 years ago and not stood the test of time.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by jmedelman

I am looking for new communities that are starting up.

We know of Stapleton (end date of 2025). We went out to Aurora/Centennial to check out Copperleaf and I was VERY depressed to see about 10000 homes that looked exactly the same.

Anyone know of other communities that are under construction (or will start construction int he next 24 months) closer to Denver than Copperleaf with prices less than 300k for a single family home with nice amenities like Stapleton?

Thanks!

I have been reading all your post. I would not necessariy restrict your search to a planned community. The reason is you will being much more for homeowners fees for services and amenities that are already met by the local city.

Why pay for a private developed park, recreation center, open space, pools etc. when the city already provides these amenities which are the really the some fo the best available and you have paid for them in your property taxes.

Your other post:

"I want:

Walkable
Young Families
Commutable to downtown Denver (<20 minutes)
Good construction from reputable builders
House for <$250,000
Growing community with town center, stores, shops, restaurants
Parks, community green areas, moderate sized lot (~.25 acre would be nice)

Where have they started pulling permits?"

It is going be mostly impossible to find alll these requirements for under 250K. You would have to go farther out from Downtown Denver. You could find that acreage in an older home because lots were bigger in the past. In addition, in the newer areas you would not necessarity find town centers, shops and restaurants.

You have to compromise. I would suggest you look at some nice areas that are within your commuting range and find a new home that in part of an in-filled development in an already established area. Then you will have the nice parks, city centers and shops, nearby; with all these walkable amenities, you would not necessarily need a larger size lot. It does not necessarily have to be a developers planned community. Cities by their nature with modern urban planning and development are planned communities. Denver and all the suburbs are progressive and well served with extensive parks, open space and recreation centers.

Young people and young families are everwhere--if there an elementary school, then there are young families. Neighborhoods go into transition with young replacing old. Old people, like myself, are not a danger or an eyesore to your environment. Old, Young, Disabled, Different Ethnicity and Races all make a community a better vibrant mixture of life.

Livecontent