Well, Denver residents were expecting a whirlwind during the DNC! Three tornadoes touched down southeast of Denver yesterday, on the eve of the DNC. One of the tornadoes, which touched down near the Rueter-Hess Reservoir in Parker, was about a mile from my house. The tornado spotting gave my family quite a scare! Two more tornadoes also touched down in Douglas County near Castle Rock and Parker yesterday evening.

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* Photo is courtesy of Leslie Stoops, who lives in Parker’s Antelope Heights neighborhood.

Another Homebuilder Exits Denver Homebuilder Arena

Dallas-based Centex Homes is reportedly leaving Colorado. According to 9NEWS.com, the builder plans to cease operations by Spring 2009. The company, which builds in 10 communities from Castle Rock to Fort Collins, vows to complete all homes under construction in addition to unfinished homes. Denver-area Centex communities include: Highlands at Castle Oaks in Castle Rock, Carriage Hills Castle Rock Collection, Wheatlands in Aurora, Weaver Creek in Morrison, and several other communities north of Denver.

Centex’s departure is in response to Denver’s ultra-competitive homebuilding arena and difficult market conditions. Atlanta-based Beazer Homes has also announced plans to leave the Denver market by the end of the summer. Chicago-based Neumann Homes, who built homes at four Denver area communities, declared bankruptcy last year.

TeamCox Realtors was involved in some tough negotiating for our relocating buyers this past week. We were a bit surprised at how little the sellers were willing to budge in the midst of the Denver buyer’s market. You are probably wondering about the home that was in such demand? It was Highlands Ranch home, priced under $300K.

Highlands Ranch, a popular Douglas County community located only 12 miles south of Denver, continues to thrive in the midst of an overall sluggish Denver real estate market. Homes in Highlands Ranch have held their values well during the Denver real estate market’s slump. The Rocky Mountain News reported in March that 80126, the primary Highlands Ranch zip code, saw a 13.9 percent year-over-year home price increase last year, which was the third largest increase in the entire Denver metro area. Highlands Ranch is also showing signs of improvement more quickly than other areas in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties. Highlands Ranch homes - especially those that are priced under 300K – have recently been selling quickly for at or near full asking price.

It is hard to believe that Highlands Ranch will be celebrating its thirtieth birthday in a few years. The 22,000-acre master-planned community’s popularity stems from its superior quality of life, panoramic views, convenient location, and endless recreational opportunities. Highlands Ranch was also recently ranked 12th among Money Magazine’s, “Top 100 Best Places to Live,” The magazine completed its rankings based on numerous factors, including: financial, housing, quality of life, education, health, meeting the neighbors, etc. Parker, another popular Douglas County community, was ranked high in last year’s report.

For more information on Highlands Ranch real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060.

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The Streets at SouthGlenn will be a major asset to the City of Centennial

The Streets at SouthGlenn is an upscale redevelopment project currently under construction on the site of the former Southglenn Mall, which opened in 1974. Three decades later, this exciting new development will completely revitalize its surrounding Centennial neighborhoods. The mixed-use project, slated for a Spring 2009 opening, is located in the heart of Arapahoe County near the intersection of Arapahoe Road and University Blvd.

Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Staples and a Macy’s Home Store, will be among the first stores to open at the Streets at SouthGlenn next year. A highly anticipated new Whole Foods store is also under construction. Plans for the project don’t end with shopping, though. According to the City of Centennial’s website, the project will ultimately feature a park, fountains, festivals, community events, and concerts.

The Centennial real estate market will be invigorated by this exciting new development. The neighborhoods surrounding The Streets at SouthGlenn will greatly benefit from the added tax revenue and heightened profile. You should also be on the lookout for new residential projects, including Alberta Development Partners’ (the developer of The Streets at SouthGlenn) 200 for-rent luxurious apartment homes, and The Portola, which will consist of both retail space and residential space.

As longtime residents of Centennial, we couldn’t be more excited about The Streets of SouthGlenn. For more information on Centennial real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060. Happy Shopping!

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Stapleton, Lowry, and the Geos Neighborhood Among Denver’s Eco-Friendly Communities!

Since we are at the midpoint of a two-day Eco-Broker seminar, I am truly inspired to recognize a few environmentally friendly neighborhoods in the Denver metro area. TeamCox Realtors commends these communities for their true dedication to our environment.

• Stapleton: It is hard to believe that Stapleton, the site of Denver’s old airport, is the largest urban-infill redevelopment project in the country. The trendy community, recently ranked third among Natural Home Magazine’s, “Best Green Housing Developments,” is truly committed to green building and energy preservation. One of the highlights on Stapleton’s lengthy “green” resume is that all homes are Energy Star certified, meaning that Stapleton builders must adhere to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stringent guidelines. In addition, Stapleton implemented a prairie habitat restoration project, completed an extensive eco-restoration of Westerly Creek, showcases 1,100 acres of parks and open space, and boasts many homes with solar panels. 

• Lowry:  Lowry’s new EastPark neighborhood, by McStain Neighborhoods, will focus on water efficiency and preservation. A joint project between Denver Water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and McStain Neighborhoods, the project will feature approximately 40 homes with high-efficiency packages, ultimately saving approximately 28,000 gallons of water per year that will significantly lower residents’ utility bills.   

• Geos Neighborhood: The nation’s largest zero-energy, master-planned community will be located in Arvada. Construction on the 250-unit project is slated to begin this fall, and the homes will be start in the $200’s. According to a statement issued by the developer, the Geos Neighborhoods’ “on-site solar and geothermal systems are designed to supply 100 percent of the community’s energy needs and work in conjunction with energy consumption patterns that are markedly lower than those found in the nation’s average homes.” This is a truly amazing project, and will hopefully be a model for future developments.

For more information on environmentally friendly Denver real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060.

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Aurora, Recently Named an “All-American City,” Recognized for its Affordability and High-Paying Jobs

TeamCox Realtors would like to follow up on our March blog post, regarding Aurora, Colorado’s nomination for the National Civic League’s prestigious “2008 All-America City Award.” We are happy to report that Aurora has won the award! According to the City of Aurora’s website, its delegation delivered a compelling presentation, encompassing the redevelopment of the Fitzsimons Life Science District, its Immigrant Integration Project and the COMPASS-Coalition of Many Providing After School Success (an after school program). According to the National Civic League, the All-America City Award distinguishes communities for collaboration, inclusiveness, and successful innovation. All-America Cities demonstrate community-wide civic accomplishments, cross-sector cooperation, grassroots participation, and creative approaches to issues.”

And, Aurora’s good fortunes just keep coming. According to a recent column in by Al Lewis of The Denver Post, Aurora was ranked second in a new Salary.com survey that compared salaries and living costs in 69 cities. Colorado Springs and Denver were ranked 11 and 22, respectively. Aurora landed at the top of the list because of its affordability and plethora of high-paying jobs in the medical and engineering fields, including those at the thriving Anschutz Medical Center. Aurora added 2,400 jobs last year in a variety of sectors.

Congratulations to Aurora, Colorado! For information on Aurora real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060 or click here to e-mail us..

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Cherry Creek School District Boasts the Most “Top” High Schools

Since TeamCox understands the high importance of a child’s education, we constantly monitor reports that indicate which Denver metro area schools are the best. The recent release of Newsweek’s “Top High Schools,” includes several Denver metro area high schools that were recognized for their superior performance, including a high number of advanced programs and strong graduation rates. Not surprisingly, the Cherry Creek School District did particularly well with a whopping five high schools included in the list.

The schools were given a score that was calculated by dividing the number of students taking Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and/or Cambridge tests, by the number of graduating seniors. The top 1,391 schools were included on the list, indicating that they scored in the top five percent. The top-ranked Denver area high schools were as follows: Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette (40), Lakewood High School (108), Fairview High School in Boulder (235), Boulder High School (237) and Denver’s East High School (241).

The following Denver area high schools made Newsweek’s list of the “top” high schools:

Cherry Creek School District:
Cherry Creek High School (Greenwood Village)
Eaglecrest High School (Aurora)
Grandview High School (Aurora)
Overland High School (Aurora)
Smoky Hill High School (Aurora)

Douglas County School District:
Chaparral High School (Parker)
ThunderRidge High School (Highlands Ranch)

Denver Public Schools:
East High School (Denver)
George Washington High School (Denver)

Jefferson County School District:
D’Evelyn High School (Lakewood)
Lakewood High School (Lakewood)

Littleton Public Schools:
Littleton High School (Littleton)
Heritage High School (Littleton)

Boulder Valley School District:
Boulder High School (Boulder)
Farirview High School (Boulder)
Monarch High School (Louisville)
Peak to Peak Charter School (Lafayette)

Adams 12 Five Star Schools:
Legacy High School (Broomfield)

Are you looking for a home in a specific school district? TeamCox’s cutting-edge Denver MLS search system allows you to search by school district, which is extremely helpful to many prospective homebuyers. For more information on Denver area schools, please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060 – We are your Denver real estate specialists.

Castle Rock named a finalist for the most coveted parks and recreation award in the country

TeamCox Realtors would like to congratulate Castle Rock, Colorado, on being named as one of the four finalists (with a population between 25,000 and 50,000), for the most notable parks and recreation award in the country, the National Recreation and Parks Administration’s 2008 Gold Medal Award

The award, which honors communities excelling in “long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition,” will be awarded in October. This coveted nomination is no surprise, considering the fact that Castle Rock boasts a variety of recreational amenities, thousands of acres of open space, over 200 acres of park space, 34 miles of trails, and a state-of-the-art recreation center.

Recreation isn’t the only thing that Castle Rock has going for it! Castle Rock is a scenic, family-friendly community that attracts all types of homebuyers – from bustling professionals – to young families – to empty nesters. Castle Rock residents enjoy living in the charming Douglas County town while being nearby Denver’s renowned shopping, dinning and cultural opportunities. Castle Rock real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors - your Denver real estate specialist.

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The scoop on new businesses coming to Parker, Colorado

Welcome to TeamCox’s new blog series, “Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You.” Since the number of conveniences, including stores, recreational facilities, roads, etc., is a huge factor when choosing a new neighborhood, TeamCox keeps abreast of all of the happenings in the Denver area’s most popular communities. This week, we are going to cover what is coming soon to Parker.

Costco - After a long negotiation process, Costco Wholesale is coming to Parker’s Crown Point Development! Ground has already been broken on the 152,000 sq. foot facility, to be located near Parker Adventist Hospital at E-470 and Parker Road. The warehouse is anticipated to open in August 2008. For those of who regularly shop at Costco’s ultra-crowded Park Meadows location, this is truly exciting news!

Circuit City -  A new Circuit City is opening at the old Target location (Parker Rd. & Lincoln Ave.)

Sprout’s Farmer Market – One of Colorado’s three new Sprout’s Farmer Markets, a national grocery chain, will be opening at the old Albertson’s location at Parker Rd. & Lincoln Ave. We could all use some more fresh veggies!

The Egg & I – The popular breakfast spot will be opening soon at 18901 E. Main St., at the site of the former Parker LePeep. Yum!

Kinko’s – Parker businesses can breathe a sigh of relief - the new Parker Kinko’s is now open near Parker Rd. & Lincoln Ave.

Do you know of any other new businesses coming to Parker (or to other south Denver communities)? Please contact us, and we will post the information in our blog. For more information on Parker real estate, please contact TeamCox Realtors at 303-400-6060.