Kristal Kraft ~Denver Real Estate~303-589-2022

Denver Area Colleges and Universities

100 Real Estate & Relocation Tips in 100 Days (Day 71)

Colorado's two largest Universities are located outside of the Metro Denver, with Fort Collins, a 90 minute drive to the north serving as host for Colorado State University, and Boulder, just 45 minutes from central Denver, being home to the University of Colorado, the largest campus of higher learning in Colorado.

Although the state's two largest Universities are located outside of Metro Denver, there is an abundance of higher education opportunities located all over the Metro area. Starting with Metropolitan State College, located adjacent to Downtown Denver on the sprawling Auraria Campus, Metro State is the 3rd largest college in Colorado. Sharing the Auraria Campus with Metro State, the University of Colorado at Denver serves also as the administrative headquarters for the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center located at Fitzsimons.

The University of Denver is located in south Denver, bordered by I-25 to the north. The beautiful campus has undergone an extraordinary renaissance in recent years, with new facilities for the law school, fine arts, and student housing being just a few of the beautiful buildings gracing the campus of this private university. Another private university, Regis, is located in extreme northwest Denver. Regis is known for not only is Jesuit principles, but also operates a large adult learning center, with outreach locations all over the Front Range of Colorado.

The Colorado School of Mines, located in suburban Golden, Colorado, is considered among the foremost geological engineering schools in the world. Johnson & Wales University, located in east Denver, offers education in the culinary arts and business. The University of Colorado's Health Science Center, the states medical university, is located on the Anschutz Campus at Fitzsimmons, the former Army General Hospital in north Aurora.

The state's community college system has many campuses serving Metro Denver, with the largest being Front Range Community College located in Westminster, provided Associates Degrees to students in Westminster, Thornton, Arvada, and Adams County. Community College of Denver is the third institution sharing space on the Auraria Campus in Downtown Denver. Arapahoe Community College, located in the southern suburb of Littleton, serves students in that city and Englewood, Highlands Ranch and southern Jefferson County. Aurora Community College, located near Buckley Air Force Base, serves the community college needs of Aurora, while Red Rocks Community College is located to served Lakewood, Golden, and central Jefferson County.

Of course there are a variety of outreach colleges and universities, such as the University of Phoenix and Webster University, and many others, providing the adult learner with many degree opportunities.

Home Builder Warranties

100 Real Estate & Relocation Tips in 100 Days (Day 70)

Colorado does not have any statutory law requiring a new home builder to provide a construction warranty. There is, however, considerable case law that provides for common law warranties for specific issues:

There is a warranty that the home has been built according to local building codes, and A warranty that the home has been built for its purpose as a residence, and that construction has been completed in a workmanlike manner.

These "implied "warranties are considered to be valid for up to two years, and never more than six years in certain circumstances. Any buyer of a new home is well advised to speak with an experienced real estate attorney before agreeing to purchase a new home. Remember that most builders draft their own contract to purchase, and, while those contracts must contain legislatively mandated buyer protections, are still drafted to favor the builder.

Beyond the common law warranties implied in Colorado, builders provide product warranties for mechanicals, appliances, and any materials that have a manufacturer's warranty. The wise home buyer will take the time to have at least a cursory understanding of those warranties.

It is also true that most builders provide an "express" warranty for their product. The purpose of such an express warranty is multifaceted, but in simple terms such a warranty is specific about service terms, excluded conditions, and potential waivers of responsibility. Again, a copy of such a warranty should be reviewed by an attorney skilled in Colorado real estate law. Such a review is well worth the investment of the attorney fee, and, the consumer is cautioned that the consumers licensed real estate agent cannot legally offer advice on the specifics or value of such warranty issues.

The best "warranty" is, of course, the implied one of public opinion. Any potential new home buyer should perform some personal due diligence and knock on the doors of both recent and longer term owners of the builder's product. While one may find the occasional displeased homeowner, a consistent pattern of frustration should give a buyer pause for consideration.

It is important to note any new home warranty should not be confused with a "home buyers warranty", sometimes purchased at the time of the closing of a previously owned home. Such warranties are usually effective for one year, and cover mechanical breakdowns and sometimes appliances in the resale home.

Denver does Basements, not Dungeons!

100 Real Estate & Relocation Tips in 100 Days (Day 69)

Coming from the East Coast where basements are less than wonderful, I was delighted to learn the same is not true in Colorado. Yes, the west has the luxury of newer housing, much of which is on the side of a hill or mountain. When this occurs not only does a home have expanded space, but it is nice sunny, usable space for the family to enjoy.

Denver does basements up right. The trend now is leaning toward "Man Caves" of opulent game rooms with wet bars, wine grottos, gaming tables and the most popular option, the media room. Media rooms have gone over the top, the come complete with comfy, individual lazy-boy recliners, many times laid out on graduated height floors, just like at the movies! I've even notices a real live pop-corn popping machine in some.

Some homes have the luxury of having what we call a "walk-out" basement, meaning part of it is open to the back or side yard, with no steps, just a level exit to the outside. When a builder offers this option in a newly built home, you can be assured it will come with a premium price. It only makes sense, because the materials to finish are more expensive as is the popular walk-out lot.

Another variation is the "garden level" basement. This style typically has windows looking out at about ground level. It is not possible to walk out into the yard, but the extra light available is highly desirable and often a very far alternative to the walk out basement. A garden level will also have premium pricing in a new home.

The last option is the simple basement. New home builders learned several years ago how to make this ordinary option more extraordinary by digging it deeper. By giving more height to the basement, it created a very desirable space for not much more costs.

Home buyers are always please to learn that a home has a basement. Most often they would like the basement to be finished, but it is not unusual for a buyer to prefer to do the basement to their own specifications. Some prefer to do nothing at all, but they insist on having the extra storage space.

Whatever your preference, you will find Colorado basements to be a welcome addition to your living space. They stay cool in the summer and need little heat in the winter. There is nothing like a big basement for extending the family's space for a reasonable fee.

Shopping and Malls in Metro Denver

100 Real Estate Tips in 100 Days (day 68)

As is true with most major American cities, Denver has no shortage of shopping opportunities. Because of the way the area's street are laid out, routine day to day shopping is seldom further than a mile. In most suburban areas, shopping can be found on every corner of section line intersections. That can mean 2 or 3 large grocery stores, a half dozen small eateries, and all many of convenience shopping. But, you ask, what about the big, fancy malls?

Perhaps the biggest and fancies mall in Denver is the Cherry Creek Mall. Laying on the north side the Cherry Creek about 4 miles southeast of downtown Denver, Cherry Creek Shopping Center is the most visited destination in the City of Denver. Anchoring a bevy of top drawer retailers is Nordstrom's, Saks, Niemen-Marcus and Macy's, along with a selection of great restaurants. The 20 block area just north of the mall is Cherry Creek North, a great mixed neighborhood of shops, restaurants and luxury housing, and the host of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, held annually in July. Other shopping in Denver includes a variety of specialty shops in, and the new Northfield Mall in the Stapleton neighborhood in northeast Denver.

Looking north, the power shopper will find Flatirons in suburban Broomfield, and The Westminster Mall, both malls housing major department stores and hundreds of smaller specialty stores. The Southwest Plaza can be found in southern Jefferson County, with the newly rebuilt Southglenn Mall serving Littleton and Centennial.

Park Meadows Mall located at Interstate 25 and the C-470 Parkway completed a new "lifestyle" addition in late 2008. Serving Lonetree, Highlands Ranch, Centennial and shoppers from as far away as Albuquerque, the largest mall in the area houses Nordstrom's, Penny's, Macy's, and Dillard's.

Aurora boasts two malls, the recently remolded Aurora Mall, and the new large "lifestyle" center at Southeast Crossing.

Denver's Cultural Scene

100 Real Estate Tips in 100 Days (Day 67)

It hasn't been that long ago that the biggest cultural event in Denver was the National Western Stock Show, with the Grand Champion bull being displayed in the lobby of the Brown Palace Hotel. While both of those things are still a big part of what makes Denver such a very special place to live, there have been a few stellar cultural additions in the past 50 years or so.

The crown jewel of Denver's cultural scene is The Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPCA) or, just "The Plex". This extraordinary facility, located in Downtown Denver, boasts 10 separate venues, including the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, and the Buell Theatre. The Plex serves as the home for the Colorado Symphony, The Denver Center Theatre Company, Opera Colorado, and the Colorado Ballet. A significant contributor to Denver's nightlife, something is always happening at The Plex.

There's more. Lannie Garret's Clocktower Cabaret has become a downtown favorite. The Arvada Performing Arts Center hosts excellent productions during the season, and various local theaters offer productions literally every night of the year.

With the opening of Hamilton Wing of the Denver Art Museum and the new Museum of Modern Art receiving visitors, Denver now has world class art with facilities to match. Favorites such as The Children's Museum, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science continue to provide Denverites with the best in educational culture.

Metropolitan Denver's unique Scientific and Cultural District distributes funds to all manner of cultural organizations and venues, bringing art, music, and dance to every corner of the Metro area. From Jazz bands to Irish Step dancers, or The Cherry Creek Arts Festival to The Colorado Railroad Museum, writer's guilds to pottery makers, the SCFD brings all manner of the arts to every citizen of Metropolitan Denver.

Denver is considered one of the top ten creative cities in the United States. That creativity blossoms from citizenry well acquainted with the arts, just one more reason to that Denver is truly a great place to live.