Boulder Real Estate

 Boulder, Colorado, is a pristine little city located right by the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The Flatirons, a group of majestic rock peaks, provide the town with a scenic backdrop. The University of Colorado, the states largest college, is located in Boulder. Denver is about 35 miles to the southeast. The city’s scenic location has made it a mecca for all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts, including rock climbers, mountain bikers, runners and hikers. About 95,000 people live in Boulder, making it the 8^th largest city in Colorado. It is actually very compact, with a population density of over 3,800 people per square mile, one of the highest in the state. Many triathletes and Olympic runners train in Boulder because of the scenery and high elevation – about 5,400 feet above sea level. Over 31,000 acres of recreational open space have been set aside for outdoor enjoyment. By Colorado standards, Boulder is known to be a rather liberal-leaning town. At any rate, it is definitely home to a variety of lifestyles and cultural interests.

  The naturally desirable location of the Boulder Valley means that people will always want to live there. Because of strict zoning laws within the city proper, the statistics don’t accurately reflect the growing nature of the Boulder area, which actually is up to about 280,000. Within the heart of Boulder, prices have skyrocketed and homes may not be affordable to many people; however, as one moves away from the high-demand downtown area, real estate prices become more reasonable. The drop-off in prices away from the prime spots is rather precipitous. Locations just 15 minutes away from downtown may cost half as much. The southwestern half of the city, which is snuggled right up against the Flatirons, tends to have the most expensive neighborhoods. The cheapest neighborhoods tend to be further north and east of BoulderBoulder in particular features much lower prices. proper. The Gunbarrel area of northeast

  Due to the housing boom in the late nineties, there are still plenty of available homes even in this highly desirable area. In fact, there are several fine subdivisions still being built to expand the community. The North Boulder housing district, for example, features some distinctive and attractive upscale housing for decent prices. An interesting variety of home models are available, including Cosmopolitan, Manhattan, Hollywood, Lemon Drop, John Collins and Long Island Parker. This eclectic neighborhood has Holiday right next door, a new urban district that has cafes, restaurants, art studios, galleries, parks, gardens, stores, farmer’s markets and offices. Many of the homes in NoBo, as it is now being called, have great views of the plains or mountains. All houses incorporate the outdoors as much as possible with courtyards, rooftop decks, porches and balconies. Most of the homes in North Boulder are between 3000 and 4000 square feet, and the selling prices are generally $450,000 to $650,000. 

 There are currently over 1,600 homes for sale in the Boulder area. The median home price is $485,000.

 Northwest Boulder is home to the Dakota Ridge subdivision, which is nestled right against the foothills west of town. These newly constructed homes boast easy access to neighborhood parks and trails, and breathtaking views of the Flatiron Mountains and Boulder Valley. Dakota Ridge features both town homes and detached single unit homes, and contains single-family lots, multiple unit lots, apartments and commercial pads. Prices range from $535,000 for a 1928 square foot home built in 1994 to just over a million for a 3500 square foot house built in 2000.

 The Devil’s Thumb subdivision in south Boulder offers spectacular mountain views. Most of the homes here were built in the 1960s and 1970s. This neighborhood features mountain architecture, tennis courts and a fine pool. Homes sold here last year ranged from $650,000 for a 1900 square foot home to $1,100,000 for a 4000 square foot home. Palo Park is another neighborhood in North Central Boulder that offers much lower prices for homes. An 1800 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, single family home is on the market for $299,000.

 Vista Ridge, a neighborhood in the eastern edge of Boulder, offers some high quality homes for less money than you might expect. Bedrooms in these homes range from 2-4, bathrooms are 2.5-3.5, and square footage is fairly big – 2100 to 3200 square feet. Select homes are located next to the golf course. Prices generally range from $350,000 to $420,000.

 Central Boulder, especially near the University Hill and downtown district, is one of the more expensive places to live in the city. The benefits to living in this area are great, though. Parks, world-class shopping, the university and excellent dining options are all within a 5-minute drive. But it will cost you. In Old Town Boulder, for instance, dwellings that are 500-1500 square feet sell for $300,000 to $600,000; ones that are 1500-2500 square feet go for $500,000 to $900,000; and for a 3000 or larger square foot house, you will have to pay $800,000 to $2,000,000.

 Southeast Boulder is kind of the middle ground price-wise, as the homes here are less expensive than central and west Boulder, but more than north and east Boulder.