Why Buy A Home in Highlands Ranch?
Find Out Why Highlands Ranch Is One of Denver’s Most Popular Suburbs
As a real estate agent I am frequently asked the question, “So, if you were buying a house right now, where would you buy?” I’ll usually answer light-heartedly with, “Is money an issue? My answer will be different if I have to be realistic.” Truth is, Denver offers several great neighborhoods, so that’s not an easy question to answer. Some days I want a secluded mountain retreat, other days I want a hip McMansion near Wash Park, but most of the time it’s a pretty easy decision – Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton… somewhere in the south suburbs.
So, what makes Highlands Ranch so appealing? Why did CNN Money Magazine rank it #12 in its “Top 100 Places to Live” survey? More importantly, should you consider buying a home in Highlands Ranch?
I am honestly a big fan of Highlands Ranch and the surrounding area. Many conveniences, tons of activities, great place to raise a family, and more bang for your buck in the housing market. I recommend it to all of my clients who are looking for the best suburban lifestyle. I’m certainly not alone either. Highlands Ranch has been very popular with home buyers for some time.
Highlands Ranch Has A Great Reputation… By Design
Great cities are built on their reputation. Once people recognize the distinct advantages of a locale the news spreads rapidly. Growth and development are inevitable. For Highlands Ranch, that was all according to plan.
Back in the late 70’s and early 80’s the original developers of Highlands Ranch set out to design a master-planned community where first rate lifestyle was its top priority. They envisioned a community with plenty of open space, recreation and entertainment venues, safe neighborhoods and excellent schools; an All-American type city where parents would love to raise their family. It was a huge hit.
In large numbers families started putting down roots in Highlands Ranch throughout the 80’s and 90’s. It was such a great success that Highlands Ranch was named the best-selling master-planned community in the U.S. in 1994. As Denver and the urban neighborhoods were filling their geographical borders, Highlands Ranch became the residential neighborhood of choice for thousands of young professional families looking for the best, affordable lifestyle they could find.
Highlands Ranch Has Great Schools
One of the biggest considerations for prospective home buyers is the quality of the school system. It’s common sense that people prefer to live in areas where their children are educated well. Highlands Ranch and other south suburbs are served by the Douglas County School District. A quick glance at the accountability records shows that Douglas County clearly makes the grade. According to the 2008 Student Accountability Ratings provided by Colorado Department of Education over 92% of DC schools has achieved either an “Excellent” or “High” rating.
Highlands Ranch Has Great Neighborhoods
Take a quick drive through most Highlands Ranch neighborhoods and you will see something common to this area: most homeowners display a genuine “pride of ownership” in their homes and neighborhoods. The yards are clean and well kept. The people are friendly. Neighborhood kids are playing together in the streets. The crime is minimal. “The Ranch” attracts the type of people who care about living in a quality community and want a safe place for their children. It really is a top-notch demographic. The residents tend to be family-oriented, financially stable, and educated.
Besides good ‘hoods, the city planners of Highlands Ranch were well aware of other characteristics that makes Coloradons tick… outdoor activities and recreation. Here are a few facts about the outdoors in “The Ranch”:
- 4 Full-service recreation centers
- Over 70 miles of designated trails
- More than 2,000 acres of open space
- More than 20 parks with approximately 25 acres of park land per one thousand residents
- 85% of the homes in Highlands Ranch are within 1/4 mile of a park, open space area or trail
- There are 2 skate parks, an outdoor hockey rink (inline)
- 8 lighted public tennis courts, three lighted ball fields
- 3 community gardens
- 4 off-leash areas for your dogs
In addition to all this, Highlands Ranch has an outdoor community square called Town Center that is a central location for outdoor shopping, countless restaurants, home improvement and a weekly Farmer’s Market. It really highlights a sense of community when you run into your neighbors at Town Center or Civic Green Park.
Are you starting to get the picture? People love Highlands Ranch because it really does offer so much more than most other Denver communities. Everything you need is so close and convenient; you’ll hardly ever need to go anywhere else.
You Get More House For Your Money In Highlands Ranch.
I was recently viewing homes in one of the older, well known areas in southeast Denver. The neighborhood is known for homes that are full of “character” and “charm” and it really was beautiful. The first house on our list was listed at $400,000 and was close to the popular park in the area. It boasted a whopping 987 square feet including the main floor and a partially finished basement. The kitchen had been completely remodeled, however, it was so small that the three of us barely fit. The master bedroom wouldn’t even come close to fitting a king size bed and there was only one tiny bathroom for the house.
In contrast, I held an open house in Highlands Ranch only 3 days later. It was nearly 2,100 square feet with 4 bedrooms plus a study. The entire main level had hardwood floors and a large kitchen with new granite countertops. The basement added another 600 square. It also had a huge deck in the back yard and was more than 50 years newer than the other home in Denver. The price… only $299,900. That is $100,000 less for nearly 3 times the space and updated building technology from the ground up.
That’s a very common comparison.
Highlands Ranch Is A Great Place To Raise A Family.
Everywhere you go, you will see children. They are flying kites in parks, playing hockey in the neighborhood streets, scoring goals at the sports fields, and giggling insecurely at the mall. Perhaps the most notable family characteristics you’ll find – a strong community oriented culture, like-minded families, quick access to shopping and doctors, and plenty of quality childcare. No doubt, Highlands Ranch is suburbia at its finest.
With such a high quality of life offered in the ‘burbs it’s no wonder why couples choose to raise their family here. By the way, a recent study shows that suburban residents are actually more content than city dwellers!
Conclusion
Should you buy a home in Highlands Ranch? Yes! Now is the time to buy and for all the right reasons. The data shows that the high demand for residential homes in Douglas County will continue for some time. That demand is driven by key factors like schools, shopping, entertainment, and an easy commute to areas like the Denver Tech Center. All of these factors truly make Highlands Ranch one of the best areas in Denver for a great quality of life and strong real estate market.
If you are considering buying a home in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton or any DC communities, please know that I would love to help you find just what you’re looking for. I am available to help guide you through the different neighborhoods, spot good deals, and answer all your questions. It’s a fact that working with a local broker who knows the area well is critical to help you make a well informed purchasing decision. Email Jeff today or call directly at (303)506-4052.
Regards,
