Getting your player ready...
While prices climb in Denver area communities designed for age-55-plus buyers, some of those buyers are finding that their ranch-plan dollar goes further 45 minutes north in Northern Colorado. “Active adult communities are getting very expensive now,” says Oakwood Homes Sales Manager Mike Welty, as he showed off the creative ranch designs you can tour today at Thompson River Ranch – fastest selling community in Northern Colorado — up I-25 just this side of Loveland.
With prices starting under $300,000, Oakwood’s Brian Wallace and Kris Ceretto will show you two ranch models at Thompson River that have ‘Smart Space’ second levels that can be additional entertaining area, or a library/retreat, or an added guest bedroom. Nearby, you’ll see an attractive pool and picnic pavilion set on a historic farm site beside a cottonwood-line canal – and Ceretto and Wallace will tell you about a second pool/rec center that’s on the drawing board for the community. What they WON’T show you is anything restricted to age-55-plus buyers. Although Oakwood has an ‘Enclave’ at Thompson River that’s exclusively for ranch designs, buyers of any age can purchase. “We see plenty of buyers in that 40-to-54-year-old demographic who want the lifestyle of active adult, but aren’t old enough for it yet,” Ceretto says, adding that younger families like the community’s location in Larimer County, with Loveland schools. Meanwhile, Ceretto says that buyers are comparing prices they see at age-55-restricted communities further down I-25, with these Oakwood ranches. He showed me listings for a new ranch from around $440,000 near I-25 at E470 that’s comparably appointed with one Oakwood shows from $299,150. Both offer just over 2,000 finished square feet. And there are lots of other attractions that buyers like about this setting. There’s good access for occasional trips to Denver and or to DIA; and Thompson River Ranch has mountain recreation behind Loveland nearby, much closer than from most of Denver. All of the new-urban attractions of Fort Collins – the breweries, dining, cultural attractions, and Budweiser Ranch event center, are icing on the cake. Despite its fast sales (already 53 homes sold this year), you may find a ranch you can actually move into faster here than at communities further south. Today Oakwood will show you three for early delivery – including one in the ranch-only Enclave, MLS 756015, ready now, with two bedrooms plus a study, and added finished space both in the overhead Smart Space and in the basement, totaling 3,373 square feet finished. It has a full-wide 3-car garage included, at $457,732. I made the drive all the way from DTC in mid-morning in 50 minutes. Take I-25 north past 470, another 27 miles to Exit 255 (just past Johnson’s Corner); jog east onto the frontage road and north a half mile to River Ranch Pkwy; watch signs for the Ranch House models. WHERE: Ranch House series at Thompson River Ranch by Oakwood, 4 models including 2 ranches to tour; choice of neighborhoods, one ranch/main floor master only. Trails, resort pool, outdoor amphitheater, disc golf course. 4820 Silverwood Dr., Johnstown; take I-25 north, past 470, 27 miles to Exit 255 (just past Johnson’s Corner); head north on frontage road, ½-mile to River Ranch Pkwy; east 0.7 mi. to Silverwood
