Getting your player ready...
If you’re planning a move to a low-maintenance ranch this spring, you’re looking at a bright picture for putting your old place on the market; but your chances are slipping away on finding the new one. “My home sold before I even had a chance to buy signs,” one Longmont seller told me, as he was checking out the new Pinehurst ranch that Latitude at Vista Ridge has under construction for him, off Highway 7 about two miles west of I-25, where ranches are priced from $252,000.
He’d seen his older Longmont home sell in a week without even enlisting a real estate agent’s help (don’t try this yourself). Meanwhile, the new place is still months from completion – signs of a market where builders have virtually NO ranch inventory left, as they come into what is always the hottest month for low-maintenance ranch sales. “You can’t afford to wait a few more months to see what’s out there,” says builder Ward Ritter of Chartered Homes, builder of Latitude, who watched more than two-thirds of his 124 lots in Vista Ridge disappear to contracts – most during the past year of rapid sales. At this moment, as April looms closer, the remainder still includes eight lots that back to the course, including two primo sites that have views across the rolling terrain and water features of Colorado National Golf Club, to a view of the Indian Peaks beyond. There would be three of those left, but Ritter grabbed one of those for a second home for himself, after seeing how nice a St. Andrews 3-bedroom-plus-den ranch would work on it, showing off the view from the master as well as the entertaining area. He’s extensively customizing (double-sided fireplace between master and bath, and 3-car garage) – but that’s something that Chartered Homes does for ALL of its buyers. In addition to the 3-car garage option, Chartered does finished basement space standard on all of its ranches – prompting purchasers to get creative about entertaining space, guest suites, well cellars, etc. Today you can visit the grand opening of a new model of the Augusta plan (from $310,000); see three other homes (one furnished), including a rare inventory home that’ll be ready by June; and tour Vista Ridge’s amenities Latitude residents get for an amazingly low HOA – right now only $128/month – two pools, trails to the clubhouse, PLUS landscape maintenance and snow removal. There’s no age requirement on Latitude’s ranch lifestyle. To reach, take I-25 north from 120th, seven miles to Highway 7 (the first exit past E470); then west two miles to Vista Ridge’s entry at Mountain View. Or from Boulder, take Baseline east 13 miles. WHERE: Latitude at Vista Ridge, grand opening ‘Augusta’ ranch model; low-maintenance plans by Chartered Homes, golf & amenities; 8 sites back to fairways; lock-n-leave lifestyle; no age restriction; 3-car garage option, finished basement standard, willing to customize. 1913 Windemere Ln., Erie; Hwy 7 at Mountain View Blvd (Vista Ridge entry nearest I-25). Take I-25 north one exit past E470 to Hwy 7, west 2 mi. to Mountain View; from Boulder take Baseline east to Mountain View PRICE: From $245,000, on golf lots from the very low $300s10 a.m. until 6 p.m. PHONE: 303-828-5442 WEB: 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. Follow Mark Samuelson on Twitter: @marksamuelson
