Wrap it up. With Denver’s supply of resales very low, six builders have holiday homes ready at lower costs

The days after Christmas are a moment when shoppers look for bargains that weren’t to be had coming into the holidays — and the place to look for those in the real estate market this year is from homebuilders, who often have inventory heading into the new year that they’re anxious to move.

This month, when resales around Denver are frighteningly sparse (less than 3,500 homes for sale in the 11-county area) and when the average single-family resale sold at well over $600,000, builders are also a place to look for home that are a better cost-per-foot buy—not counting their new technology and fresh design features.

“In the current market, many buyers have made multiple offers on resales and have lost out, and are not willing to pay an elevated price,” says Emily Lonborg, co-owner of Steller Real Estate Group, a company experienced in representing buyers in new-build purchases. “People are turning to new builds because they can pick their own lot and location, and often can find lucrative incentives from the builder.”

Here are some specific opportunities from six builders heading into the new year, some with homes available for move-in right away, all of them offering favorable prices compared to comparable resale homes.

Denver/Highlands

1. Lakehouse at Sloan’s Lake by NAVA, set beside Denver’s Sloan’s Lake and the emerging Sloans Redevelopment community with its new dining and entertainment, is a chance to move right away into a community that’s totally oriented around health and wellness, in a setting with great opportunities for enjoying the outdoors — not just the park and lake with their 2.6-mile trail, but a 26,000 sq.-foot terrace with pool, organic urban farm, and space for outdoor events coordinated by a full-time wellness concierge. Residents have a fitness center, yoga/meditation studio, and a wide-open lounge area opening to the outdoors.

Prices range from just $499,000 for a new-urban-styled one-bedroom, to a penthouse with amazing views of city lights at $1.825 million. In a year when many buyers plan to work from home, over half of remaining homes have dens.
WHERE: 4200 W. 17th Ave, Denver; from Federal take W. 17th west 1 mile to Raleigh St, turn south to free onsite garage parking. Or from Sheridan, take W. 17th east.
PRICE: Move soon $499,000 to $1.825M
WHEN: Sun 10-5, Mon-Tue 12-4, Wed-Fri 10-5
PHONE: 303-974-4663
WEB: Lakehouse17.com

Arvada

2. Estates on Gage Hill in Arvada by Sheffield is a rare opportunity for a new single-family home in one of Denver’s most enduringly popular suburbs, walking distance from The Arvada Center with its highly acclaimed indoor-outdoor performance venues, and situated on a prime hilltop site offering views from downtown Denver to Pikes Peak.

With just 21 available sites and a near-4,000-sq.-foot model that has already lured six sales, you can see two homes ready now; and plans for a choice release of ranch designs that will all provide walkout lower levels. All homes showcase Sheffield’s quality, including Tharp Custom Cabinets. Buyers include families from central Denver who are captivated by a chance to purchase new homes with a view at costs comparable to smaller, dated houses in areas like Highlands; as well as buyers arriving from outside the state, wanting to be close to Colorado grandkids and to have Arvada’s great access to the mountains. The Estates are five minutes from Olde Town Arvada and its Light Rail stop. You’ll see a 4-bedroom/3.5-bath home with gourmet kitchen and 3-car garage, 3,925 sq. feet, at $899,000. And ask about Sheffield’s Carr Estates, now taking lot reservations near 144th Ave. and Huron in Westminster.
WHERE: 4200 6694 Balsam St., Arvada; from I-70 head north on Wadsworth Blvd toward W. 52nd Ave, continue 2 mi to W. 68th Ave, turn left 5 blks to Balsam St.
PRICE: Move now, $899,000
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, noon-to-5 p.m.
PHONE: 720-943-6685
WEB: SheffieldHomes.com

Castle Pines

3. The Village Castle Pines by Brookfield is a newly opened enclave of low-maintenance single-family homes created for 29 sites within the forested, gated expanse of The Village Castle Pines, one of the Denver area’s most exclusive communities, wrapped around a signature PGA country club that’s now seeing a $17 million renovation of its clubhouse (golf and social memberships are available). In a location just 15 minutes south of the Denver Tech Center, you can tour an alluring ranch model, showing lots of depth and premium finishes, along with several homes nearing completion — one of them a ranch design with finished basement space included, headed for early spring move-in at $867,700.

Landscaping is installed and maintained in a combined community/HOA fee that provides access to The Village’s Canyon/Summit Clubs and pools, and 24/7 manned security services. And homes are a short walk from Castle Pines’ boutique-scaled shopping plaza with Tony’s Market and several 4/5-star dining options. Brookfield Residential also has a collection of paired homes launching construction, with prices starting from the low $600s.
WHERE:7002 Homeplace Point, Castle Rock; take I-25 south past Park Meadows, continue 7 mi. to Exit 187/Happy Canyon; turn right 2 miles to the 2nd roundabout; turn right onto Castle Pines Drive to Gate 3.
PRICE: From mid-$700s; move soon $867,7900; paired homes coming soon from low $600s
WHEN: Daily from 10-5, Sundays from 11-5
PHONE: 303-619-7658
WEB: BrookfieldResidential.com

Castle Rock

4. Age-55-plus ranches by Toll Brothers are fast sellers in two south/southeast metro master-planned communities — including new Regency at Montaine, near Castle Rock’s highest point, where six model ranches share a spectacular view of the Rampart Range. Early sales are attracted by 13 miles of planned trails; 548 acres of open space; and a planned 10,700-foot clubhouse with resort pool, tennis and pickleball courts. Prices start in the $480s, and you can see premium sized Boulder Collection ranches with full-wide 3-car garage, starting in the $655s.

If you want to move now, you can tour Toll Brothers’ popular Hilltop at Inspiration, with a location off E-470 near Parker that already has its clubhouse, pool and a calendar of activities in place — along with one ranch that will be ready for February move-in; 1,714 finished sq. feet, with gas fireplace, $539,995—way below the average Denver area single-family sales price last month.
WHERE:Montaine, head south on I-25 past 470, 13 mi. to Plum Creek Pkwy, turn east 1 blk to Wilcox, turn south 2 mi. to Crystal Valley Pkwy, east 1/2 mile to Plum Creek Blvd.  Inspiration: Exit E-470 at Gartrell Road, turn south 1 mile to Inspiration Lane.
PRICE: From upper $400s, quick move-in spring $796,000
WHEN: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PHONE: 720-649-5644
WEB: LiveMontaine.com

Parker

5. Independence, near Parker featuring 2 builders, offers a gigantic contrast to prices in the Denver area now — not just to resales, but also new-built homes in other new areas of Southeast. Twelve minutes east of Parker, Independence promises to become Colorado’s most conservation-oriented neighborhood, with a full complement of planned amenities; scenic open space comprising 40% of its 1,011-acre expanse; and very affordable single-family homes from Richmond American Homes and Lennar from the low $400s.

Both builders provide basements as standard features on everything built here. You can tour appealing models by both builders and see a ‘Hopewell’ family-sized home ready for move-in right away — 2,680 sq. feet in a 3-bedroom 2.5-bath plan, with a garden level basement, priced at just $541,865 — barely over the median sales price for resales in the Denver area last month. Builders have additional incentives available now, including if you choose to start a home from scratch, with more time to save your down payment. And Independence qualifies for special USDA financing, with 100% financing for qualified buyers
WHERE:1113 E. Witherspoon Dr., Elizabeth; take Parker Rd south past town of Parker 2 miles to Hess Rd, turn east on Hess (becomes Hilltop Rd) 5 miles, then angle left on Hilltop 3 more miles.
PRICE: From the mid-$400s
WHEN: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PHONE: 720-649-5644
WEB: IndependenceDenver.com

Thornton

6. Age-55-plus Heritage Todd Creek by Lennar creates a rare opportunity in Denver’s north-metro suburbs to downsize or re-size into an all-ranch single-family lifestyle in a setting that’s close to Arvada, Westminster, and Thornton. Lennar’s newest neighborhood at Heritage Todd Creek is on an ‘island’ wrapped by the fairways of the Arthur Hills golf course, close to its attractive clubhouse, center for a wide array of community clubs and social activities.

You can tour attractive ranch models and see an ‘Oxford’ ready for move-in now—2-bedrooms/2-baths plus a study, at $549,750, with Lennar’s ‘Everything’s Included’ features as part of the package. Lennar has other ranches nearing completion; if you’d rather take a virtual tour or arrange a ‘Safe and Simple’ self-guided tour, those are available via the website.
WHERE: 15345 Willow St., Thornton; take I-25 north past 470 to Hwy 7; east 5 mi. to Yosemite St., turn south to Heritage Dr., then west 3 blks to Willow.
PRICE: Move now $549,750
WHEN: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PHONE: 720-836-5195
WEB: Lennar.com/Denver

A real estate company that helps you navigate a new-built home purchase is offered by The Steller Group — a real estate firm with agents experienced in helping buyers make new-build home purchases. Steller has six buyers under contract now on new builds, as low inventory and bidding wars prompt families to weigh the advantages of touring builder communities.