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Meritage Homes, with amazingly energy efficient homes at very reasonable prices, has a clear choice waiting for a family that wants to step up to new-home size and features, but that would just as soon pass on the small lots and high pricing they see in many new areas around Denver. At Indigo Trails today, south of Bromley Lane on Chambers in Brighton, you can tour a new Meritage model, and pick out a home site from 7,400 to 9,000 square feet, where Meritage can deliver from as low as the $330,000s.
That’s a real price, lot premium included, for a home that could be ready this fall. If you can stretch to the mid-$360s, Meritage could create a roomy ‘Keystone’ plan, almost 2,000 square feet finished PLUS a full basement, plus a FOUR-car garage showing room for toys and a show car, with 8-foot insulated garage doors and two openers. Meanwhile, Indigo Trails offers a 30-minute commute into downtown or out to the U.S. 36 Flatirons corridor – but has small town feel that may resonate with a buyer wanting more room for the kids to play, and Mainstreet dining and shopping choices in contrast to the big-box stores. (Indigo Trails is five minutes from old-time taverns like Copper Rail and Jerry’s Bar & Grill on Brighton’s Main Street, and is closer still to the new Prairie Center mall, beside Platte Valley Medical Center near I-76). “People always tell me, ‘Wow, I never knew this was here,'” says Meritage’s Liane Wahl, who along with Sharon Staley will show you the model. Both live close by – and can tell you about the lifestyle, Brighton 27-J schools, and attractive charter schools available nearby. With those larger lots to work with, Meritage offers three plans – the Keystone, the Salida, and the Telluride – that all have a third-bay tandem garage included at the standard price. All Meritage Colorado Collection homes show 3-1/4-inch engineered flooring, slab granite kitchen counters with a 4-inch backsplash, front yard landscaping with wing fencing and a weather-sensing irrigation system, and options for full finished basements – something not available on some competing new homes in this part of town. And all have energy features that stand head-and-shoulders above those of typical production builders – starting with 2-by-6 walls with polyurethane foam insulation – not only better insulating, but better control over air leakage, while keeping a home cleaner indoors. Meritage includes a 92%-efficient dual-zoned furnace (single-zone on ranch plans), plus low-E2 windows filled with argon gas; delivering HERS energy ratings (lower scores are better) 20 points lower than Energy Star threshold ratings. Indigo Trails is tucked back in an existing neighborhood; if arriving from the Thornton area, take 120th Avenue east to U.S. 85, turn north four miles to Bromley Lane, then east a mile to Chambers, and south to Wildflower, then east. Or if coming from I-76, take the exit at 136th, head west to 27th near Prairie Center, then north to Bromley and west to Chambers. WHERE: Indigo Trails in Brighton by Meritage, family-sized, affordable homes in neighborhood with small-town feel; 4-car garage option. 1579 Honeysuckle Ct, Brighton; from Thornton area take 120th Ave east to U.S. 85, north 4 mi to Bromley Lane, east 1 mi to Chambers, south ½ mi. to Wildflower Dr. Or from I-76 exit 136th, west to 27th near Prairie Center mall, north 2 mi. to Bromley, west to Chambers, southFollow Mark Samuelson on Twitter:
@marksamuelson