Getting your player ready...
In a year of fast-rising prices, are there still many deals to be had around Denver? “It’s chaotic in the move-up market, but there’s still huge opportunity in luxury homes,” say Louie Lee, top-selling Coldwell Banker agent in the entire state – who has 14 homes open tomorrow, from Castle Rock north to Cherry Creek, all of them at prices still way, way below the top of the market in 2007-2008.
He’ll show you what $1.095 million buys in Keene Ranch, eight minutes south of Castle Rock: At 2830 Ballard Court you’ll explore a sprawling colonial walk-out ranch with 4-car garage, built in 2009 on six acres of rolling Gambel oak. “It’s covenant-controlled with peace and quiet, views, and no light pollution,” says Lee. The walkout level has guest suites wrapped around added entertaining spaces with their own kitchen – a perfect setup for bringing in grandma and grandpa. Close by, you can get inside the Golf Club at Bear Dance, for a look at a Colorado lodge-styled 6,100 square foot custom home with elaborate decks and terraces to bring in the views, at $2.89 million. Just 15 minutes south of where Charles Schwab is arriving at Lone Tree, Lee and wife Melanie (she’s a certified appraiser for 22 years) will show you ten homes in Castle Pines Village – likely the prettiest residential setting in metro Denver. You’ll get behind the gates, into its 3,000 acres of gorgeous topography, protected by 24/7 security, with club amenities and award-winning schools that lure a growing number of families with kids. Listings there, open 1-4 p.m., range from $699,000 (for a 5-bedroom-plus-study, wine cellar and wet bar, over 4,000 feet) — to $2.75 million for 622 Cliffgate Lane, a huge walkout ranch perched on a view-swept promontory. Other Castle Pines Village homes range from only $785,000 to the mid $1-million range. “This is typical coming out of a weak market into a strong one,” Lee notes. “The high end lags behind, and that creates opportunities for buyers to jump up to a much higher quality home and neighborhood.” Such as a traditional custom home on a vast 35-acre site east of Castle Pines in Castle Park Ranch (open noon-3 tomorrow) – with 365-degree view, in a community that’ll have its own access to the Rueter-Hess Reservoir under development. The price is $1.390 million. Or for a tad more, you could make a move into Cherry Creek, walking distance from the most alluring shopping and dining in Colorado. You’ll see 126 Garfield, a luxurious townhome of over 5,000 feet spanning four levels, only $1.450 million, down from $1.675. “It’s all about lifestyle,” Lee says, noting that the home shows a possibility for using the top level as a full-story home office, with balcony mountain views and room for a studio – even for staff. The full tour is at LeeTeamOpenHouse.com. Homes, open Saturday 1-to-4 p.m., are in Castle Pines Village (take I-25 south past 470 7 miles to Exit 188/Castle Pines Pkwy; turn west a half mile to Lagae Road, then left a mile to Gate 5 for a map); also Keene Ranch (exit I-25 at Plum Creek Pkwy in Castle Rock, turn west down the frontage road five miles to Tomah Rd, then west 1.5 mi. to Castle Butte Dr.); also Bear Dance Golf Club, west off I-25 frontage road onto Tomah Rd, then first left onto Bear Dance Dr; also Castle Park Ranch (open noon-3; exit I-25 at Exit 184/Founders Pkwy, east 1.4 mi. to Crowfoot Valley Rd. then left 2.5 mi. to Lemon Gulch Rd.); also in Cherry Creek (from Colorado Blvd. take First Avenue west 3 blks to Garfield, north).
