Builders are peering into their crystal balls and seeing a 2018 that looks pretty much like 2017 — not enough homes to meet demand, and lots of buyers who will come into the market as the weather warms. If you’re imagining yourself in that crowd, Meritage Homes suggests you get a jump on the year now, while you can find homes ready to deliver— with extra goodies that may be distant memories after things warm up.
Builders are peering into their crystal balls and seeing a 2018 that looks pretty much like 2017 — not enough homes to meet demand, and lots of buyers who will come into the market as the weather warms. If you’re imagining yourself in that crowd, Meritage Homes suggests you get a jump on the year now, while you can find homes ready to deliver — with extra goodies that may be distant memories after things warm up.
At Meritage communities in all corners of metro Denver, you’ll find a Toast-to-2018 program for homes ready to go — some of them discounted as much as $15,000 from their original 2017 price. In addition to any discount, buy any move-in-ready home now and Meritage will allow you to pick a package of pre-designated extras, from window treatments to appliances to entertainment options, for up to $10,000 in added value. You can opt for $5,000 toward closings costs, if you use Meritage’s lender for financing.
And you’ll get Meritage’s one-of-a-kind energy package — something that sets Meritage apart from any other Colorado builder. “Our energy savings make a huge difference,” says Eryn Spencer, who’ll greet you today at Meritage’s show homes at Inspiration, south of E-470 at Gartrell, near downtown Parker. Some of Meritage’s designs outperform other new homes by a two-to-one margin, she says; based on their polyurethane insulation and other features (you’ll tour an Energy Information Center in one model).
Meritage’s move-in-ready homes are unlikely to last — such as an ‘Apex’ you can tour at Inspiration — a 3-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath plan with 2,772 feet of finished space, plus 3-car garage. It was priced last year at $594,722, but you can pick it up now for $579,990, along with some packaged extras at no charge. When I toured the day after New Year’s, I ran into two other parties getting an early look, including agent Lorrie Lucero of Luxury Homes Realty — showing it to sisters from California, wanting to live close together. “Meritage makes a great house,” she said, noting she’d sold several.
Kids at Inspiration attend Douglas County Schools and are connected by trails to a pool club, as well as other amenities already in place; and residents take advantage of a short commute to the Denver Tech Center and Lone Tree via E-470.
Meritage also has move-in-ready homes at Highline in Aurora, south of E. Mississippi at Fulton, a rare new home location close to Anschutz and to Cherry Creek — one super-energy-efficient home at $499,990.
In Parker at Stonegate, Jordan Road between E-470 and Lincoln Avenue, you can tour a ranch ready $574,990 — over 3,000 square feet including finished basement space, a close commute from Lone Tree.
In Thornton, you can tour two Meritage neighborhoods with Toast-to-2018 savings and good commuter access to the north I-25 corridor and DIA. At Aspen Reserve, north of 120th on Quebec, you’ll find several homes ready, one at $484,990; and a mile northwest at Lewis Pointe, west of Holly on 144th, you’ll tour a Granby ranch, three bedrooms with 2,389 feet plus a 3-bay garage, priced at $582,544.
Energy Information Centers are at all sites, where you can see all that Meritage does to make homes sustainable. To qualify for Toast-to-2018 savings, you must be under contract by Jan. 31, set to close by March 31, 2018. To reach Inspiration, take E-470 to Gartrell and head south two miles to Minnow Drive; or from Parker take Pine Drive to Inspiration and head east. For Highline, take Mississippi east from Parker Road 1.5 mile to Fulton. For Stonegate, from I-25 take Lincoln Avenue east four miles to Jordan, then north. For Aspen Reserve, from I-25 take 120th east four miles to Quebec, then north. For Lewis Pointe, from I-25 take 144th east three miles.
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 online at DenverPost.com
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this postap preparation.