Arvada, CO

Once again, there's new homes for sale in Arvada Colorado.  Arvada doesn't have much available land, so most of the new neighborhoods are small - some consisting of a single street. There is one large community going in, for those who have no qualms about living near where the Rocky Flats nuclear plant used to be (now Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.

Not long ago, Arvada's western border consisted of 'country' - family farms and such. Well, the farms and grasslands are disappearing under the builder's bulldozers. I am of the opinion that the slowdown in building helped Arvada begin to recover more quickly than she would have, existing-home inventory has definitely dropped. Seeing the builders going again is an indication that they have noticed the turn-around. However, the price range where these new homes are is a difficult one. I hope the builders haven't gotten going a year or two  too soon.

A lot of people don't  even realize there's any building going on in Arvada, and feel they have to move to Broomfield or Westminster to find new homes for sale.  So I stole a couple of hours and went for a drive. First, I found all the sites I could online, planned out a route, then set out with my camera.

From my house, I headed west on 80th Avenue to Pioneer Ridge.  (Simms and 82nd). This neighborhood sides to Pioneer Park, which has some very nice ball fields. New homes in Pioneer Ridge are $500,000 and up. There's a severe lack of trees (par for new neighborhoods), but also has gorgeous views. I actually heard a rooster crow while I was there. Unfortunately, I also heard the raucous barking from a kennel located just down the hill from Pioneer Ridge, and noticed the coal train sitting on the tracks that pass directly south of the neighborhood. So, if views are important enough to you to overlook several trains passing by night and day, and lots of barking, this might be a good choice for you. 

Just across the street is a small development called Tucker's Gate. Six lots available for sale. No dramatic view from here, but it's also farther from the train track and kennel.

Heading west again, I noticed a sign for 13 acres for sale at 86th (Hwy. 72) and Indiana.

Traveling on to 87th and Indiana, I explored Whisper Creek. This is the largest new development in west Arvada, located just north of the Village of Five Parks. This project is about 10% complete, and will have more of a feel of a community unto itself, with a fishing pond and dock, 13-acre park, pool, tennis. They'll build single family homes, patio homes, town homes, and estate homes.  Some walkout lots and view lots are available. Patio homes start at $350,000.

A little farther west to Quaker, and south to 72nd, and I found Spring Mesa. It's pretty large also, with 272 lots total (57 have yet to be released). They're building big, beautiful homes, 2-stories and ranches.  Spring Mesa is closer to all the new shopping, restaurants, etc on 64th Ave. I got a sheet describing seven available homes, the least expensive is 2482 square feet with a 3 or 4-car garage and 1352 square foot basement for $492,450, the the most expensive is 4115 square feet with a 3 or 4-car garage and 2017 square foot basement for $559,950.

Trail Village was the furthest west, at 64th and Virgil. Table Mountain looms up just to the south. There are lots for sale and completed homes. It looked like they're all patio homes. There was no staffed sales office.

Very close by was Boyd Ponds (63rd & Quaker). This is a Village Homes project, and Village filed for Chapter 11 on November 6, so they're just selling off the inventory that is already complete. Maybe you could help them out? This neighborhood is also near Arvada's new commercial area, where you'll find all sorts of shopping, restaurants, etc. Right now, they have a patio home with 2795 square feet and a 2-car garage for $441,153; three townhouses with 1702 to 1982 square feet priced at $339,580, $328,789, and $423,000; and a 1410 square foot condo listed for $280,000.

Heading east again, I found a single-street development at 58th & Ward Rd. It didn't seem to have a name, but there were some homes and some lots for sale.

Finally, I swung by Birch Valley, a subdivision of 28 lots at Kipling and 72nd.

So, there's the tour! I know there's not many details on each place, because I don't like looooong blog posts. So if you'd like more info on any of these neighborhoods just let me know and I'll find out whatever you seek. That way, you don't have to give your name and contact info to half a dozen real estate agents, only 1!

Arvada is a historic town about midway between Denver and Boulder in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Find homes for sale in Arvada.

Check out my website.

Meadowglen is snuggled up against Pomona Lake to the south, and 88th Ave. to the north, with Club Crest and Pomona on its west and east border. That puts it at Arvada's northern border, about in the east-west center.

People like Meadowglen because of the lake, tennis courts, community pool, and heavily-treed, winding streets. Meadowglen has the feel of an out-of-the-way neighborhood, but it's near grocery stores, trails, a national wildlife refuge, bus route, bike paths, and several parks.

There is a homeowner's association, which keeps the community areas pristine and enforces the bylaws. One of the negatives about life in Meadowglen is that many people feel the homeowner's association is overbearing*.

The homes in this neighborhood were built in the late 1970s to early 1980s, which makes them five to ten years newer than the nearby communities of Pomona Lakes and Lake Arbor. Right now, there are only two homes for sale in Meadowglen, priced at $279,000 and $349,000. There are none currently under contract. Four have sold in the past year, ranging from $210,000 to $265,000.

Meadowglen kids attend Weber Elementary , Moore Middle School, and Pomona High School.

*In Colorado, home buyers have the right to inspect HOA documents and financial records, and can terminate a contract to buy based on what they find, at their sole discretion.

Arvada is a historic town about midway between Denver and Boulder in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Find homes for sale in Arvada.

Check out my website.

Olde Town Arvada's historic neighborhoods sprang up in 1870 along the tracks where trains passed through twice a day. Back then, life was all about gold and farming. These days, people love Arvada's town center for its historic flavor, and long-established neighborhoods.

Beautiful homes built just before and after the turn of the century - many of the old Victorians are now zoned commercial, and enjoy a new life as businesses such as shops, restaurants, and the Arvada Historical Society. But people looking for that historical neighborhood without the hassle and expense of living in Denver can find many farm houses and cottages, and even a Victorian will pop up every now and then.

Olde Town Arvada residents enjoy proximity to arts, entertainment, shopping, future light rail (expected in 2015), farmer's markets, and parks. Many people fall in love with Olde Town when they come out to one of the many events planned by the Festivals Commission, and many others want to return to the neighborhoods where they grew up.

Arvada's Urban Renewal Authority has some big plans, and the train overpass was recently completed. This has reduced the traffic congestion on Wadsworth Parkway due to the many train crossings, plus provided a really nice-looking welcome to the Olde Town area. (I voted for this project, even though I rarely vote for tax increases. But the time that I was stuck on Wadsworth for nearly an hour with a car full of teenagers that I used to transport home every day is a memory I won't soon forget!)

However, Arvada's suburbs do offer some things that Olde Town doesn't - such as lakes, more and larger parks, and (some would say) better schools.

Most Olde Town homes sell in the $100,000 through $200,000 range, although the remodeled beauties fetch prices will into the $300s.

The historic center of Arvada is roughly bordered by Ralston Rd., Teller Rd., Grandview Ave., and Yukon St.

Arvada is a historic town about midway between Denver and Boulder in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Find homes for sale in Arvada.

Check out my website.

The Village of Five Parks is located in the northwestern quadrant of Arvada, Colorado. It is bordered on the west by Indiana St., on the north by 87th Parkway, and on the south by the Union Pacific Railroad.

People like the Village of Five Parks because of its five parks, community events, main street-style small retail shops, and views of and proximity to the mountains. Negatives include some isolation from major shopping amenities, relatively high homeowner's associaton* fees, the high prices for the homes themselves, and the lack of tree canopy due to the newness of the neighborhood (building started in 2002).

The Village of Five Parks has a mix of home styles, but still mainly single family detached (94%). Over half of the residents identify themselves as 'married with children'.  The average income in the Village is $143,165 for those households with children, which is the 96th percentile for the state.  The average age of residents is 37.

Yes, residents do hear the trains, which is a common sound to Arvadans. The homes south of 86th Parkway are closest to the tracks.

Right now, there are twenty-six homes for sale in the Village of Five Parks, asking prices start at $310,00 and go up to $650,000. There are three homes currently under contract, priced from $375,000 to $438,000. In the past six months, seven have sold, ranging from $293,000 to $450,000. It's still a tough market in the Village, read my post about it here.

Village of Five Parks kids attend Meiklejohn Elementary School, Wayne Carle Middle School, and Ralston Valley High School

*In Colorado, home buyers have the right to inspect HOA documents and financial records, and can terminate a contract to buy based on what they find, at their sole discretion.

Arvada is a historic town about midway between Denver and Boulder in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Find homes for sale in Arvada.

Check out my website.

West Woods Ranch is located in the affluent 80007 zip code of west Arvada, Colorado.It is between 64th and 72nd Avenues, and mostly west of Quaker. There's easy access to Interstate 70 (Colorado's main east-west route), and someday C-470 (Denver's bypass route, still missing the last leg after about 20 years).

People like West Woods Ranch because the western location affords a proximity to a more 'country' setting, rather than that 'lost in suburbia' feeling. It's an easy drive to the foothills and mountains (although watch your speed, as I found out while 'touring' with a friend in their new car!).

West Woods Ranch contains seventeen smaller communities, which are served by three homeowners associations*. Residents enjoy both mountain and city (Denver) views, trails, West Woods Golf Course, and the proliferation of new amenities such as the YMCA, restaurants, and shopping.

Currently there are seventeen homes for sale in West Woods, starting from $359,900 up to $799,500; six homes under contract priced between $375,000 and $845,000; and in the past six months fourteen homes sold between $295,000 and $412,000. There are mostly single family homes, with a small percentage of condos.

West Woods kids attend West Woods Elementary School, Drake Middle School, and Ralston Valley High School.

West Woods Golf Club lavishes views of both the mountains and the city of Denver on its players, and Ralston Creek runs through it. The club house has a popular restaurant with outdoor patio. There's also a pro shop and practice facilities. My hubby has golfed there several times, and here's what he has to say:

"Westwood’s Golf Course has 27 holes, the most pleasant to golf is Cottonwood (9-18), and the most challenging is Silo (19-27) with the fifth hole having a severely, uphill fairway. Sleeping Indian is the first 9 holes and it too has an uphill fairway on the fifth hole. There is a large putting green and two chipping greens. Views from any number of locations are amazing. Pro shop and restaurant are fully equipped and the food is very good. Special events can be scheduled."

The average income for West Woods households with children is $98,069, which is in the 91st percentile for Colorado.

*In Colorado, home buyers have the right to inspect HOA documents and financial records, and can terminate a contract to buy based on what they find, at their sole discretion.

Arvada is a historic town about midway between Denver and Boulder in Jefferson County, Colorado.

Find homes for sale in Arvada.

Check out my website.