At a moment when only a small fraction of homes built in the Denver area offers a sticker price under $300,000, you can tour a grand opening for new townhouses off East 104th Avenue near Chambers Road in Commerce City priced from $279,550 — a real price that will deliver you a three-bedroom, 2-1/2-bath home right now.
Buyers who’ve had an early look at Aspen Hills Townhomes before the event — Saturday, Aug. 25 — have already scooped up 12 of the 22 homes available.
“We expected buyers to be coming from Denver, headed for the suburbs, but instead we’re seeing people from Thornton and from outlying areas wanting to be closer in,” says Tres Morley of Scout Realty, who will have Jimmy John’s sandwiches out when you tour a newly opened Shepherd model today.
Aspen Hills models all have dog breed names. Playing up that along with attached garages, each home has a private fenced area that works for outdoor living or for a labradoodle to step outdoors. But itap the pricing, says Morley, that is the factor spurring early sales.
“Lots of the people we’re meeting have been through the trials of being outbid on older homes, and they’re not finding new homes at this price point,” adds Andrew Schiff, managing broker at Scout. “They tell us they love these floor plans with their 9-foot ceilings and wide-open feel.”
That includes a popular Golden Retriever ranch plan, 1,420 square feet plus a garage, base-priced from $309,000. Aspen Hills builder Antero Homes has sold a number of those, and has four more ranches on track for pre-holiday move-in, as part of the next phase.
Morley says prices would be lower still, but early buyers have shown a clear preference for gas fireplaces, engineered plank floors across the main-floor entertaining area, slab granite, stainless steel appliances and recycled stone bath trim. Those are being included now on homes for early move-in.
Schiff says the location, across from a new King Soopers Marketplace superstore with a Starbucks, works for commuters traveling downtown and to employers on U.S. 85/I-76; as well as for newly arrived employers at DIA like Gaylord Rockies Convention Center.
With the quick growth of single-family homes at Reunion and other areas near DIA, the community also gets older buyers, wanting to be close to kids who’ve moved to the area.
What WON’T work is waiting to see what prices do.
“Building costs are going through the roof now, and lumber will rise further,” says Scout broker associate Raoul De Sota. He adds that Scout is providing buyers of remaining first-phase homes with a $3,000 closing cost incentive.
To reach the grand opening, take 104th Avenue east from U.S. 85, 3.5 miles to Altura Street, just before Chambers Road, and turn right.
The news and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had no role in this postap preparation.