Getting your player ready...
Just how good is Poudre Valley’s Bethke Elementary School in Timnath Ranch, east of Fort Collins’s Harmony Road high tech corridor? It rates ten-for-ten stars at GreatSchools.com; gets all five-for-five stars from commenting parents, and has a ‘Core Knowledge’ back-to-basics option that draws families from miles away. What it DOESN’T have is a lot of new homes walking distance from the campus – Ryland Homes is down to its final eight of those; and you can see them today.
“When you figure we had our grand opening in summer 2010 and now we’re down to eight, you can see where this is going,” says Robin Schneider, who’ll show you a ‘Chablis’ ranch with 3-car garage, kitchen in granite tile with oil-rubbed bronze hardware, opening to a huge great room with fireplace, 2,146 square feet plus full basement. “This is the last chance to get in around the campus for quite some time.”
Kids in Timnath Ranch not only have their elementary years squared away; they’re also on track for Preston Junior High and Fossil Ridge High School, both 9-for-10 stars. “They’re not going to have to move again,” Schneider adds. “Our buyers tell me they’re looking to put down roots; something I haven’t heard for a long time.”
You can tour three homes ready now, including a Baccarat family-sized 3-bedroom 2-story with a master retreat, and the Chablis ranch; plus a choice of other homes and sites (five are specked for ranches). Ranch plans lure some older buyers, coming to be near grandkids (Fort Collins was picked Money’s 12th best place to retire in the U.S. in 2010); but also some younger families that are trending toward ranches.
At Timnath Ranch, they get a master plan designated for a large park/community pool; and a country setting close to restaurants along Harmony, a bit further into Fort Collins’ other dining – more seats-per-capita than anyplace else in the nation. Homes ready now are loaded with extras — a 3-car on most, plus full front-and-backyard landscaping with fence. On homes far enough out to pick options you can take three $4,500 options free, including for closing costs.
What you can’t do, Schneider says, is wait until after the Super Bowl to look (she sold two in the normally dead month of December). “The longer you wait, the less chance you have to be within two blocks of Bethke.” From Fort Collins, take Harmony east past I-25, two miles to Club Drive; from Denver take I-25 north to Exit 265 and east. For even lower Ryland prices near a school, visit Pioneer Ridge in Johnstown, east of I-25 at the Johnstown exit, to Parish and south.
If you go…
WHERE: Final close-out of Timnath Ranch by Ryland Homes; 3-&-4 bed homes, 3-car garages on most, ranch plans, large sites. 5369 Carriage Hill Ct., Timnath, Colo.; from Fort Collins, take Harmony Rd. east, past I-25, 2 mi. to Club Dr., then right; from Denver take I-25 north to Harmony/Exit 265, and right.
PRICE: From $265,070; Pioneer Ridge in Johnstown from low $2s
WHEN: Today, noon until 6 p.m.; Mon. 1-6; daily 10-6
PHONE: 970-482-1842 Johnstown 970-587-4214 WEB: Ryland.com
Mark Samuelson writes on real estate and business; you can email him at mark@samuelsonassoc.com. You can see all of Mark Samuelson’s columns online at DenverPostHomes.com
