When it comes to ranch plans, builders all over town see the same pattern: Buyers – many of them couples whose kids have left the nest – are very anxious to resize into single-level living, but they hold back on pulling the switch because they think they have loads of time to make a move.
“We’re going to be ready in two years,” is a statement that Village Homes’ Ete Rondeau has heard more than once from buyers at Idyllwilde, Community of the Year master plan in Parker.
“The problem with waiting is that we’re not going to be here in two years,” says Rondeau. Village (it’s holding a special open house today and Sunday for two single-level homes ready now) has already sold 38 homes in the scenic area since Jan. 1, and is looking at its last 35 Idyllwilde sites – only a limited number of which are set for ranches.
When I toured Tuesday, Village had three such plans that were ready to deliver, but the largest went under contract the next day at around $500,000. “We can still do a ranch in Idyllwilde from $340,000,” says Nance Meyer, who along with Rondeau will show those homes today. “But the buyers we’re seeing now are taking the ranch situation much more seriously, maximizing the space and the custom features they want.”
Idyllwilde, with its top-grade Douglas County middle school and high school, still sells the bulk of its homes to families with kids – but also attracts more than its share of ranch-type buyers, who want the trails, preserved open space, and recreation offerings Idyllwilde has; and who don’t want a mandated-55-and-older community with no kids. At least one recent ranch sale, Meyer adds, went to a buyer coming out of a 55-and-older enclave that had higher monthly homeowner fees.
You can tour a three-bedroom Valencia ranch, ready to move in – over 2,000 square feet and again as much available in an unfinished basement, at $423,496. Rondeau and Meyer will also show you a Linden that’s been a model show home – main-floor master suite, additional space finished in the basement and upstairs – oodles of room for a big media center, plus study or hobby room. It’s at $460,000, including its lavish landscape, designer upgrades and showplace kitchen; not to mention Village’s construction quality and guaranteed-performance energy design.
“Just because you have school-aged kids doesn’t mean you may not end up preferring a ranch-type plan,” adds Rondeau. You’ll also see Idyllwilde’s splash pool, parks and Grand Hall community center. Take Parker Road south to Hess, turn east 1.4 miles to Canterberry, left to Idyllwilde Drive and follow the signs to Village Homes.
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 at DenverPost.com/RealEstate.
if you go …
WHERE: Village Homes at master-planned Idyllwilde in Parker; special ranch plan open house today and tomorrow; variety of family homes with trails, rec center, master-planned amenities, high-quality energy features with guaranteed heating/
cooling costs. 12118 S. Wanderlust Way, Parker; take Parker Road south to Hess, turn east 1.4 miles to Canterberry, left to Idyllwilde Drive, follow signs to Village Homes.
PRICE: From mid-$200s to low $500s; quick delivery ranch $423,496
WHEN: Today and Sunday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
PHONE: 720-842-0830
WEB: VillageHomes.com
