This new concept of "Wee Cottages" by Boulder Creek Neighborhoods is helping desperate home buyers penetrate the competitive Colorado housing market. Priced at the low $300k's, these homes are helping new families, first time home buyers and seniors have a home that is manageable, priced well and new! Wee Cottages started in Loveland and now are entering the Stapleton and Longmont areas. 


Watch the CBS story on Wee Cottages to learn more!

Choosing the right roof can be quite the process. Not only do you want something that will last against sun and inclement whether, but you want something that will resell well and look great with your style. Below is a guide of different roofs from Roof Cost Estimator to help find the perfect roof for your home. Visit Roof Cost Estimator for an even more in-depth look at these roofs. 

The Dome Roof: Dome roofs look like a bowl. They are unique, aesthetically pleasing and durable. 

The Gable Roof: This triangular, peak shaped roof is found very often in the U.S. They are simple designs that are generally cheaper to build and are advantageous for getting rid of water and snow. However, they don't perform as well in high wind areas, as wind can take a major tole on these roofs. 

The Hip Roof: This type of roof slopes on four sides. They are all equal and connect to a ridge-like top. They are stable and resistant to wind and snow. This type of roof, however, can be more expensive and lend itself to more leak potential. 

The Mansard Roof: This French style roof has four flat or curved sides sides with a double slope on each side. Because they lend themselves to extra living space potential, this roof is great for resale. They are also aesthetically appealing, so using a cool, long lasting material such as zinc or copper can help with resale as well. 

The Grambel Roof: This barn-style roof has two slopes. These roofs can be quite attractive and lend itself to a Dutch Colonial or Georgian style homes. Much like the Gable Roof, the Grambel is not recommended for high wind areas and can be less expensive. Make sure, however, to maintain these roofs, as leaks can occur. 

The Flat Roof: Flat roofs are essentially flat with only a small pitch to allow for drainage. Long term expenses and maintenance can become a problem, as the lack of a steep pitch can lead to water damage in areas of lots of rain and snow. These roofs are mostly found in commercial areas. 

The Skillion Roof: This roof has a single slope that leans so that water and snow can run off. They are mostly used for sheds or porches, but are becoming a popular style for modern homes.

The Jerkinhead Roof: This Gable, Hip Roof combo is expensive, but allows for more stability against wind and rain. It also allows for additional living area: a great resale incentive. 

The Butterfly Roof: This roof is found in modern, eco friendly designs usually in tropical areas. With V's sloping up and down and meeting in the middle, the roof looks like a butterfly's wings. Having the roof angle upward away from the home allows for more light, more natural warmth and an open feel. The slope and valley-like collection area also makes for an environmentally smart water collector. These roofs can be expensive to build and maintain, but save costs in other areas. 

The Bonnet Roof: Reverse of a Mansard roof, this roof has two slopes, the lower slope at less of an angel than the upper slope. This roof is great for an outdoor porch that you hope to utilize, as the lower slope conveniently hangs over the home to allow for shade. Plus this overhang protects walls from water damage. 

The Saltbox Roof: This roof has two slopes, one of which is flatter and leaning and the other a more normal slope. You can find these in Cape Cod. They are good for allowing water runoff but can be costly. 

The Sawtooth Roof: Found in modern design, these roofs transition between vertical and sloped roofs, lending itself to the look of the blades on a sawtooth. They are great for an eco-friendly house, as more sunlight is let in. However, leaks can cause for costly maintenance. 

The Curved Roof: These roofs are curved and very popular in modern design. With the arch shape, this roof is not only aesthetically pleasing, but very wind resistant. 

The Pyramid Roof: This roof, like a Hip Roof, has all four sides coming together. They are extremely wind resistant and can keep energy bills down as well. 

And of course, a combo of all of these roofs is great as well! Mix and match to make the best roof for your home!

Google is moving to Boulder and it's presence is becoming more and more known. Buildings are starting to take shape and this tech-savvy community is getting excited. Phase I, which accommodates 1,000 workers, opposed to the 340 current Boulder employees, is expected to be done this year. Phase II includes the construction that is starting to take place at the intersection of 30th and Pearl, but does not currently have a set end date. This phase will contribute to the total project which includes four acres and 330,000 square feet. By then end of the project, there will be three four-story buildings with underground parking. 

Google has also made a huge investment in an affordable housing project in Boulder. This project will help renovate hundreds of apartment buildings and offer a less expensive solution for those looking for housing in Boulder. This type of project is not new to Google, as their goal is to provide affordable, high quality, safe housing options for its community members and workers. These programs also allow Google to build large office space in exchange for bringing betterment to the area. In Google's founding city, Mountain View, CA, the company implemented a multi-million dollar project to invest in trails, a science center and affordable housing. In total, the company has invested in these types of projects in 44 cities across the US. There is some controversy in Boulder, however, how an affordable housing project may affect the current market. With prices so high, offering lower prices could drive down the market in order to keep it competitive. However, the pro is that Boulder get's the benefits of a large company's resources and their investment into Boulder.  

One of the first apartment complexes set to begin it's renovation is Nest in South Boulder. These units will be more energy efficient and improved at the end of renovation. Osage and Thunderbird, also in South Boulder will also be apart of this project. To learn more, visit Boulder County Business ​

Green Magic Homes are innovative, earth concious and spectacular to look at. 

A Green Magic Home is defined as: A home "composed of prefabricated vaulted panels manufactured with composite laminate materials, confined laterally by walls in reinforced soil, with a high index of stabilization and protection from climate meteorological harmful effects change and UV radiation. The technology is designed to adapt to any type of topography, either flat, with moderate land slopes or steep slopes."

Green Magic Homes is a prefabricated modular building system, with structural components made in FRP (Fiber Reinforced Polymer), which are specifically designed to fit together to provide infinite design possibilities for spaces, access, lighting, ventilation and room connections. Shipping world wide is made easy with modules that are sized and packaged to fit into one or two shipping containers.

These homes are easy to install, lightweight, waterproof, mold resistant and have a long-lasting designs that stands up against natural disasters like tornados and earthquakes. They are exstremely easy and quick to build. This is attrivuted to the "perforated flaps that screw and seal together and are anchored to the foundation." The structure's geometry and curves allow for extra stablility "adding thermal mass and providing carbon recycling, oxygen production and airborne pollutant removal."

Homes are covered with earth and vegitation. Traditionally soil, sand and adobe is used to seal the structure. This allows for a natural insulation. 

Goals and Uses for these homes include:

• Development of Eco-Hotels or Ecological Cabins for Rent
• Development of Ecological Condos
• Ecological Communities or Eco-Villas
• Camping areas with Cabins embedded in the mountain
• Cabins in areas of Ecological Reserve, where traditional buildings are forbidden, but where our technology is accepted because it blends completely with nature.
• Projects in the desert with our homes covered with sand desert.
• Projects in the snow with our technology covered with snow.
• Floating houses on the water with our technology, which is not affected by water or moisture.

Learn more about these amazing structures on Green Magic Homes
​

When buying a new construction property, it is important to remember that this process is slightly different than buying a used home. While it is easy to get swept up in the idea of having a custom home that has never been lived in and won't have unwanted costs for old appliances, pipes or furnaces, you must remember that there are hidden costs in a new build as well. Remember to stay in budget!

Some extra costs that show up are property taxes, furniture, insurance, window coverings, landscaping and maintenance. While the model homes make it look like the house comes ready to live in, most of the nice touches come at a pretty penny. Window coverings, for example, are not included with the windows that you are buying. This goes for most lighting as well. While the electrical is all set up and ready to go, the light fixtures themselves are up to you to buy. Landscaping is another huge expense. Most new builds will landscape the front yard and a portion of the side. But, unless you want a pile of dirt in your backyard, it is up to the buyer to landscape the back. This can be extremely costly, especially when not even a deck is in place. Most times, a few concrete steps are included, but that is it. 

Another good thing to remember is that the neighborhood is not as grown up and grand as most old, historic neighborhoods are. While your home will maintain its value simply by the fact that it is newer as compared to the houses around it, it will take years for trees to mature and your community to feel well-established. Planting trees will be another expense to you and a perk that you may not get to enjoy during your time in the house. 

Finally, make sure you know the builder. Be certain that they have a good reputation and their other communities have maintained  the test of time. Any home can look nice in the model, but not every home has the quality finishes that will keep maintenance expenses down.

Also make sure you know what is included. Many new builds now a days are including community amenities. This means a clubhouse, pool and maybe even gym are being included for housing complexes. Remember though to buffer in the HOA fee that will come along with those perks. As for finishes, it is important to know what the standards are. New builds come with standard finishes for cabinets, floors, countertops, appliances, etc., but, most times, you are going to want to upgrade. And that means more money. Try to find a builder where their idea of standard finishes meets your own standards. Guaranteed you are going to want to change some things up, but it would be nice if you found a new build that had the options and quality finishes that you are looking for.

Good luck with your search, and feel free call or email with any questions that may arise. 

Across from Sloan's Lake, a new 12-story condominium building is ready to start selling units. Though condos have not been built in Denver for years, this new development is expected to cater to the vast numbers of people moving to Denver and looking for urban living. The development is going to have high end finishes and amenities that include a pool, gardens and  a state of the art fitness center. 

The new development is selling their beautiful views of the mountains and lake. This, however, has caused some conflict for current residents in the area. While those moving into the new condos may get quality views, others will loose their pristine views of the mountains and now have to look at the large 12-story building instead. 

To read more about the new construction click the link or read the Denver Post article below:

http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/08/sloans-lake-condo-tower-lakehouse-sales/

Sloan’s Lake condo tower Lakehouse to launch sales this week
12-story condo project in St. Anthony Hospital redevelopment drew earlier neighborhood ire over building’s height

By EMILIE RUSCH | [email protected]
PUBLISHED: August 8, 2016 at 5:20 pm 

One of the first large-scale condominium developments built in Denver in years will launch sales this week.

The cost of getting a slice of 12-story luxury tower across the street from Sloan’s Lake: Units in Lakehouse will start in the mid $400,000s and go up past the $1 million mark.

“We feel the condo market is strong,” NAVA Real Estate Development CEO Trevor Hines said Monday.
“People are still moving to Colorado. They’re used to a certain standard of urban living and as Denver grows, there’s just not enough condos for everybody. We want to meet that demand.”

Denver-based NAVA plans to break ground in the fourth quarter on the 206-unit  project, which at 17th and Raleigh streets anchors the northwest corner of Sloans, the seven-block redevelopment of the former St. Anthony Hospital campus.

An on-site sales center — equipped with a model kitchen and bathroom — will be open regular hours starting Friday. On Monday, crews were busy putting the finishing touches on the center, which sits on what will later become a public plaza in front of the tower.

“There’s a solid demographic of people who want this type of product — flexible, low-maintenance, beautiful, well-built, urban — but cannot find that product,” Hines said. “A lot of the interest we’ve had is from people who are paying a lot of money to live in apartments downtown, high-end apartments, but they’d rather own.”

Resident amenities at Lakehouse will include a 18,000-square-foot  outdoor deck on the third level, with an urban farm, pool, hot tub, cabanas and gardens; and a “fitness lab” with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, yoga room, sauna and juice bar.

Finishes in the one and two-bedroom condos will be modern and natural — hardwood floors, Italian cabinetry, Kitchen Aid or Jenn-Air appliances, soaking tubs and stone and tile accents. Units will range in size from 675 square feet to 2,473 square feet, and just under half the one-bedroom condos will have a den.

Designed by Denver-based RNL and Houston’s Munoz + Albin, the project is also seeking WELL certification, a third-party building standard focused on health and wellness through “air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.”

About 70 percent of the building’s skin will be glass, Hines said.

“We’re going to sell fabulous views — lake to the north, mountains to the northwest through southwest and downtown to the east,” Hines said. “This location is pretty top notch for views.”

Of the 206 units, 13 will be street-level “row homes” along 17th and Stuart streets, buffering the primarily single-family residences to the west from the main 12-story tower at Raleigh Street.
That height has been a past source of neighborhood heartburn. A group of residents challenged the Denver City Council’s approval of a rezoning to allow 12 stories fronting Sloan’s Lake in court, but a judge sided with the city earlier this year.

As for the construction defect issues that have sidelined most large-scale condo development in Denver in recent years, NAVA president Brian Levitt said the company is taking the risks seriously and will not shy from making any necessary repairs.

“We’ve selected the best consultants in town and we’re really trying to build the best building we can and we’re going to document it to show we’ve done it right,” Levitt said.

That approach, however, comes at a cost reflected in the condos’ final price tag. “Being that conservative, there is an expense, but that’s how you do it,” Levitt said.

“It’s the expense of a belt and suspenders,” Hines said.

The Lakehouse sales center, 4202 W. 17th Ave.,  will be open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday or by appointment starting Friday. The listing agent is Kentwood City Properties.