LOUISVILLE – Research shows that around 10,000 baby-boomers retire every day in the United States. These are people that are now off to enjoy the adventures and freedoms of a new chapter in their lives. Many are empty-nesters, and find that their once-treasured family home is now too big and too much to maintain. Some are entering the reality of a fixed-income lifestyle, and are learning what that means to them. Said simply, their needs have changed, and they are seeking a new way of life.
For many, a first step in that new chapter is a new home. The large family home is now more of a burden, so a search for a smaller, “right-sized” home begins.
Enter Boulder Creek Neighborhoods – a Colorado-based homebuilder whose award-winning, low-maintenance designs are well-known by those looking to down-size their home and find the free time to focus on the things they’ve always dreamed. Boulder Creek’s homes vary in size and price, but all have one thing in common – a low-maintenance philosophy that makes most exterior home maintenance chores a thing of the past.
Boulder Creek has invested time and energy in thorough market research to understand the needs of this discerning, down-sizing homebuyer. After all, the stakes are pretty high when you are considering buying a home that will suit your needs for a new chapter of life.
What they’ve discovered is that their homebuyers are looking for more than simply a roof overhead. Boulder Creek homeowners seek a home that enhances their lifestyle. They are in search of neighbors who also understand the value of a well-maintained community, and who want to make new connections of their own.
The team at Boulder Creek set out to design homes and neighborhoods that do just that, and buyers have responded. “If you are looking for a new low-maintenance home along the Front Range, Boulder Creek is probably the builder for you,” says the company’s Vice President of Sales Brian Fink.
Fink points to Boulder Creek’s vast array of home styles and locations, with prices starting in the mid $200s to well over $700,000. “Our job is to listen to the needs of the buyer, and then match the right home, in the right location, for the right price,” he says of his Community Sales Teams.
“All of our neighborhoods feature at least one ranch-style home design,” says Fink, noting that many communities offering exclusively that style of home. Especially for the empty-nester buyer, there is an ever-growing desire for main-floor living. Placing all of the daily essentials on the main floor means significantly fewer trips up and down the stairs – a welcome change from the typical two-story home available today.
With homes for sale in Louisville, Superior, Erie, Longmont, Loveland, Aurora, Stapleton, Thornton, you’ll find a variety of architectural designs and neighborhood styles. Boulder Creek offers everything from the sleek, urban feel of the DELO townhomes in downtown Louisville, to the more traditional ranch paired-patio homes at Tramonto in Southwest Longmont.
Fink mentions another popular neighborhood that was introduced in 2016 – Brennan by the Lake. Located in up-and-coming Erie, buyers have been snapping up the “easyHouse” ranch patio homes in this new location. Though the model home was just completed in October, the builder has already sold through almost half of the homes in this neighborhood. In addition to the easyHouse patio homes, Brennan also showcases low-maintenance townhomes. The flexible “yourHouse” series offers both traditional townhome layouts and innovative main-floor master designs, three car garages, and up to four bedrooms.
Bucking a decades-long industry trend of “bigger means better,” Boulder Creek recently introduced the wee-Cottage® series into Loveland. With sizes ranging from 900 to 1100 square feet, this new concept is designed for the true “downsizer,” who prioritizes a low-maintenance lifestyle at a significantly more attainable cost. Currently, wee-Cottages are only available at The Lakes at Centerra (with prices starting around $250,000), but plans are in motion to bring the series to other areas.
While 2016 has been a landmark year for Boulder Creek, 2017 shows signs of being every bit as promising. Several popular neighborhoods, like Calmante and Lanterns, are almost completely sold out. The “Encore” series of attached patio homes in Thornton and Aurora starting around 1200 square feet and $300,000 remains one of their most requested home series. Planned for 2017 are the addition of easyHouse patio homes in Superior, and the wee-Cottage® series in Longmont and Stapleton – an attractive option for those seeking a smaller home at a lower cost than just about any other new home on the market today.
Although it may seem counter-intuitive to buy a new home in retirement, this decision is more common than you would think. Cash proceeds from the sale of a family home often result in little or no mortgage payment, freeing up valuable resources to live life to the fullest.
Further, Boulder Creek Neighborhoods has worked tirelessly to design homes that are low-maintenance, both in terms of routine outdoor chores (like snow shoveling and lawn mowing) and also in the construction of the home itself. Building materials selected for durability and longevity and energy conserving components combine to help keep the true cost of home ownership down.
Right-sized designs, a low-maintenance lifestyle, quality construction, and energy saving features, Boulder Creek has it all.
If a low-maintenance lifestyle and a home that’s right for you sound appealing, now is the time to act. Community managers are happy to answer any questions you may have, and in-person tours really give a sense of what the homes feel like. This is an exciting time to be in the search for a new home, and 2017 will bring even more opportunities to find the perfect home or you.
Boulder Creek’s Online Sales Concierge is dedicated to answering your questions and providing more information – reach them at 720.334.7973 or visit their website at livebouldercreek.com.
By A. Martin, At Home. Photography by Boulder Creek Neighborhoods.
