Million Dollar Babies
How much house can you get in Colorado for $1 million? Here’s a glimpse of what that price tag will buy from Boulder to Edwards.
24 Broadmoor Avenue, Colorado Springs
$1,100,000
5,977 square feet
Catherine Taryle, ReMax Properties, Inc., springsluxe.com
This historic 1910 home (pictured above) resides along the tree-lined avenue that proceeds to the entrance of the swanky Broadmoor Hotel. “This house offers the best of both worlds,” says realtor Catherine Taryle. “It’s been updated, but retains all its charm.” Updated indeed; it has everything you’d expect at this price point, including granite countertops, multiple fireplaces, large bathrooms, custom built-ins, plus the charm of arched doorways, a bookcase-lined den and paved-path landscaping.
127 Lafayette Street, Denver
$1,090,000
3,606 square feet
Jim Rhye, Kentwood City Properties, kentwoodcity.com
This three-bedroom, four-bath beauty pairs an ideal location with exquisite touches. “Spanish tile roofs, divided-light windows, Mediterranean-style architecture, paneled walls and crown moldings,” says listing broker Jim Rhye. Not to mention three fireplaces. But perhaps the greatest asset of all is an address in the Denver Country Club National Historic District. And talk about a bargain: a nearby home sold for more than $700 per square foot; this one lists for just over $300.
491 Timber Drive, Winter Park
$999,000
3,528 square feet
Dennis Saffell, Coldwell Banker Mountain Properties, saffellteam.com
“You have to up to go down,” says broker/owner Dennis Saffell, describing the layout of this modern mountain home. Its unique “upside-down” flow begins with a catwalk that leads to the top of its three floors. Descend from that loft level to the family, dining and kitchen level, then down to the
lowest floor, which features a sunken conversation pit. All these rooms open onto a tall atrium with dozens of windows looking onto the Continental Divide. Plus, comparing apples to apples, Saffell says, Winter Park offers far better home values than Summit or Eagle counties.
2835 Links Drive, Boulder
$989,000
6,112 square feet
Karen Bernardi, Bernardi Real Estate Group, bernardirealestate.com
“It’s different here,” says broker Karen Bernardi of Colorado’s premier university town. “Your one million won’t go quite as far in the Republic of Boulder as it would in, say, Castle Rock.” What it will buy is this comfortable, spacious, remodeled home with hardwood and slate finishes and a manageable backyard. Included in the price is Boulder itself, which has made it through the housing downturn relatively unscathed and offers a health-conscious outdoor lifestyle, high-tech employers and cherished greenbelts.
90 Rowel Drive, Edwards
$985,000
3,071 square feet
Doug Landin, Slifer, Smith & Frampton Real Estate, landinvail.com
Tucked into a hillside and backing onto open space, this four-bedroom, four-bath, Southwest-style home exudes a sense of cozy comfort. Radiant heat warms the Saltillo tile floors, Douglas fir trees form ceiling beams and an open floor plan invites guests to flow easily from space to space. Southwest style in Vail? “There’s actually a good bit of it up here; a lot of folks love it,” says listing broker Doug Landin, 2011 chairman of the Vail Board of Realtors. This home offers the look in spades with its stucco walls and toasty colors. Landin sums up Vail Valley’s million-dollar market in four words: “Bring us an offer,” he says, insisting that there’s a lot of inventory. “A lot.”
