Denver Tops Top Ten Places to Move in US

There are hundreds of reasons why Denver is such a great city to live. Some may love it because of the 300+ days of sunshine and easy access to the great outdoors, while others may be fans of the growing art, music, and food scene. Whatever your reasons may be, you are not alone in your recognition of why this city is so great. In a recent article on HomeownersInsurance.com, Denver claims the spot as the top place to move in the United States.

This list compiles a variety of criteria to judge the ten cities that made the cut. This judgment was made up of five different factors: rent prices, home values, living costs, transportation, and amounts of activities, or fun. Each of the city’s criteria was given a number from 1-10 and the total was tallied. Denver reigned supreme.

Out of the possible ten, both transportation and living costs scored a perfect 10. Those who drive I-25 during rush hour may question this, but compared to Los Angeles or New York traffic (who scored a one and five respectively), we have it easy. Rent prices scored a four, home values scored a five, while fun rounded out the survey with six points. Denver’s total points came in at 35, higher than any other city in the United States. It beat out cities like Charlotte, North Carolina (a close second), Austin, San Diego, and Phoenix.

With the recent news rolling in as overly positive for Denver, those of us who already call it home can sit back and enjoy its rising popularity!

Loft Charm in the Historic Curtis Park Neighborhood

Many of Denver’s numerous neighborhoods have experienced drastic change and growth in the past few years. The area surrounding the namesake Curtis Park is no exception. One of Denver’s most historic areas, the Curtis Park neighborhood is seeing modern town homes, trendy restaurants, and chic renovations take over a vast number of the older houses. With these newer renovations, the classic and charming exteriors remain intact, but the interiors are revamped and modernized. That is exactly the case with our newest listing at 2524 Champa.

This building is located just minutes from downtown and is surrounded by shops and restaurants. The interior boasts an array of excellent details and popular finishes. An exposed brick wall carries throughout the entire space, portraying the typical loft style. The open floor plan connects a newly updated, designer kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a spacious dining room, and a comfortable living room with views out to Champa Street.

There are three bedrooms in this loft, all with big windows that allow in plenty of light. The two bathrooms offer beautiful upgrades and tasteful design. But arguably the best feature of this house is the private, rooftop deck. This deck offers great views of downtown, entertaining space, and a rare private outdoor area in the heart of the city.

As a whole, this unit is 1,334 square feet, but also includes an additional 207 square feet of private storage space and two deeded, off-street parking spaces. This loft is ideal for anyone looking for urban living, yet still like to maintain an air of privacy!

Top of the Line Home in Observatory Park

Who would have guessed that one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods is actually one of the liveliest and most youthful? The Observatory Park area was originally founded in the late 1800s, but today, it houses more students and young adults than any other neighborhood around Denver. Our newest listing is located on a quiet, tree-lined street just steps from the best things the DU area has to offer, making it a rare gem in this real estate market!

Located at 2319 South Josephine Street in Observatory Park, this house is truly breathtaking. It was built in 2006 and has all of the gorgeous features of new construction. The front façade boasts a quintessential, contemporary style, with fully-grown trees and a beautifully kept front lawn. Entering through the front door allows access to the open floor plan, complete with wide plank hardwood floors, towering ceilings, and plenty of light.

The main floor houses a great room, dining room, a bedroom that can double as a study, and a fantastically updated kitchen, equipped with Kitchen Aid appliances, two ovens, a convection microwave, a butler pantry with bar service, and a wine fridge.

The outdoor area is ideal for entertaining, with a built-in grill, stamped concrete, a wood overhang, and mature, extensive landscaping, complete with a drip line and sprinkler system. Additional storage can be found in the garden shed on the north property line.

The upstairs consists of three bedrooms, including the master suite. The five-piece, master bathroom in complete with surround sound, two walk-in closets, a four-nozzle showerhead with steam capabilities, and dual sinks. Two other bedrooms in the house are en-suite, providing ample privacy to everything.

A fifth bedroom and bathroom are located in the finished basement, including space for a game room. This area is plumbed and ready for a wet bar, offers great storage options including a space under the storage, and has an additional unfinished area ideal for a workout zone or a wine cellar.

This house is finished and upgraded down to every detail! There is surround sound throughout the entire space, a three-car attached garage, including a shop powered by multiple 220 outlets. With its amazing location to the shops, restaurants, and bars located in the DU area, this house has it all!

LoHi Ranks as One of America’s Best “Hipster” Neighborhoods

Everyone knows that cultural and fashion styles fade out almost as quickly as they arrive. As soon as you jump on board with the newest fad, it loses momentum and becomes just a bump on the cultural timeline. But there is a current movement that shows strong signs of sticking around and has even transplanted itself into the physical elements of our world. We’re talking about the hipster movement and according to a recent Forbes Magazine list, we have our very own hipster concentration right here in Denver.

As defined by Urban Dictionary, hipsters are “a subculture of men and women typically in their 20’s and 30’s that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, […] creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.” It is a lifestyle that is sweeping young people across the nation and garnering growing attention. So Forbes Magazine profiled the 20 Best Hipster Neighborhoods in America and LoHi came in at 17. This list is open to interpretation, much like the hipster ideals, but based on certain criteria like the number of coffee shops per capita, the proximity to farmer’s markets, and the number of locally owned bars and restaurants, LoHi clearly deserves a spot on the list.

With its growing popularity, constant redevelopment, and active lifestyle, LoHi is the place to be. Whether or not you agree with the hipster lifestyle, it is hard to argue with the vibrant, outgoing, and progressive atmosphere of this neighborhood. And ranked among some of America’s larger cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, Denver is certainly making a name for itself, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Downtown Denver Earns Forbes Magazine’s Praises

For all of us that already call Denver home, we know what an amazing city it is. Each year, we get over 300 days of sunshine, access to world renowned ski resorts, four distinctive seasons, and up and coming neighborhoods that rival some of even the trendiest US cities. But Denver is a relatively small city and is easily overshadowed by some of the country’s larger metropolises: until now.

In a Forbes magazine article released in the end of March 2013, Denver tops the list as one of 15 US cities with an emerging downtown area. They took into account the 20-year, seven-mega project plan that is sweeping the downtown area, including the revitalization of the Union Station district. These mass-investment, mass-construction projects are sure to define Denver and its future success in the coming years.

According to Forbes and other journals, Denver has ranked 16th among America’s fastest growing cities, fifth among the best cities for business and careers, and seventh among US cities with the best economic index. It may seem like a lot of numbers, but it all comes down to very positive news for our city. It is an exciting time to live in Denver and the future holds even more promise for this Rocky Mountain mecca.

Three New B-Cycle Stations in Northwest Denver

If you have ever tried to get to or from the Highlands neighborhood by Denver B-Cycle, you probably discovered how difficult that is. Of the roughly 80 Denver bike rental stations throughout the city, there is only one located west of I-25, at the corner of 16th and Boulder in LoHi. And with this fast expanding and popular neighborhood, many people have called for more stations and easier access to bike rentals. Well, the wait is over. According to the North Denver Tribune, Denver B-Cycle has announced plans to build three more stations in Northwest Denver.

The eagerly awaited bike stations will be installed around early summer 2013: one in Jefferson Park at 23rd and Clay, one in Highlands at 32nd and Clay, and another one in West Highlands at 32nd and Julian. The addition of these three stations will open up the neighborhood and allow easier access to downtown. Students living in Highlands can enjoy these new stations and the addition of another station on the Auraria campus at 9th and Curtis.

The season for Denver B-Cycle officially kicked off on March 18th, but will not hit its stride until late spring, early summer when the little red bicycles will flood the streets of Denver. The growing popularity of this system has made Denver’s bike rentals the largest in the country and has even prompted city officials to start planning for a permanent bike lane on 15th Street. The benefits of becoming a B-Cycle member are numerous, from their easy, annual passes to avoiding the hassle of parking a car downtown, from their growing number of stations to their user-friendly smart phone app. The addition of stations in northwest Denver is a strong sign that those red bikes are here to stay!

Interested? Check out the Denver B-Cycle website for more information.

New Listing in LoHi!

It is no secret that LoHi is Denver’s upcoming neighborhood. With dozens of bars, restaurants, shops, and new, modern homes, people are flocking to this area for a trendy lifestyle. Our newest listing takes advantage of everything great LoHi has to offer, including the spectacular views of Downtown Denver and modern living.

Located on the quiet Quivas Street, this modern and chic town home is part of the Rue Q town home project, built by the renowned Sprocket Design/Build. Completed in 2008, these homes offer modern amenities and stylish finishes that are fitting to LoHi’s trendy vibe. Our unit, number 3244, is on the end of the row, allowing unblocked views of the Denver skyline and the unrestrained privacy an end unit has to offer.

Unlike the other town homes in this project, one enters 3244 via a private gate and yard, secluded from its neighbors. This front yard area is ideal for those looking for a bit more space in this urban setting. The interior showcases gorgeous hardwoods throughout the main living area, with new carpeting in the bedrooms and travertine tile in the study and entryway. The 1,710 square feet houses three separate bedrooms, a study, a spacious living area, a modern kitchen, two private balconies, and a breathtaking, private rooftop deck.

If the above isn’t enough to sell you on this listing, the unit offers even more convenience. There is an attached, two-car garage, a gas hookup on the private, kitchen balcony, and a water hookup on the rooftop deck, the kitchen balcony, and the private yard. It is also just minutes away from some of LoHi’s highlights, including Linger, Little Man Ice Cream, LoHi Steakbar, and hundreds of others. But with the market as strong as it currently is and a property this unbelievable, this unit will not be on the marketing for long! Hurry and call us for a showing today!