Love The Highlands but finding it too expensive?

The Highlands.

The Highlands has been on everyone’s radar for a number of years now. What is not to love? With its quaint neighborhood feel and historic roots, the Highlands has become one of the most sought-after neighborhoods. The Highlands offers superb walkability with 32nd and Tennyson nearby and close proximity to Downtown. This, of course, has increase property values, making the average purchase price (YTD) $600,000. If you are currently looking for a home but finding the Highlands a bit too expensive, consider these options.

Olde Town Arvada: Olde Town may be out of Denver proper but rest assured you can get into the city with an easy 15-minute drive. Additionally, the lightrail will soon connect Olde Town to Denver! Olde Town Arvada features many shops, restaurants and bars and there is truly something for everyone. Take a look here for a map of all the attractions. Olde Town offers more house and more yard with a lower price tag than the Highlands. Year-to-date, the average purchase price in Olde Town is $425,000.

Sunnyside: Just north of the Highlands, you will find Sunnyside. This neighborhood has been up-and-coming for the last few years and you will have your pick of a number of types of homes. You will find bungalows that were built at the turn of the century and modern homes and townhouses. Home of the original Bacon Social House, El Jefe, Common Grounds and Cheese + Provisions are just a few of the neighborhood’s favorites. Similar to the Highlands, Sunnyside maintains a neighborhood feel with shops and restaurants on 44th Ave. The average home price is $550,000, making this neighborhood very close in price to the Highlands.

West Colfax: Close to Downtown, Lohi, Sloan’s Lake and Jefferson Park, this neighborhood is a bit more urban then the rest. A majority of these lots are zoned for multi-unit and you will find a good number of the homes are (new) modern townhouses. Alamo Drafthouse, Sloan’s Lake Tap and Burger and, of course, walkability to Sloan’s Lake are some of the best amenities this neighborhood has to offer.  $470,000 is the average purchase price (YTD) for a home in the West Colfax neighborhood.

Downtown Littleton: A hidden gem southwest of the city. The Main Street is quaint with little shops, spas, restaurants and bars. The Viewhouse, The Tavern. Smokin’ Fins, The Alley, Grande Station and coming March 2019, Bacon Social House are just a few of the hot spots in Downtown Littleton. The lightrail makes it very easy to get to Downtown Denver quickly. In close proximity to Downtown Littleton you will find both single family homes and townhouses and condos and while the average purchase price of a single-family home is $430,000 (YTD), this is certainly a more affordable option than the Highlands.

If you are having a hard time being able to afford a home in Highlands, consider one of these neighborhoods. Each neighborhood offers walkability, easy access to Downtown, a neighborhood feel and charm, similar to the Highlands. Wondering what is currently available in these neighborhoods? Be sure to click on each neighborhood name to see the current homes on the market!

Liz is  broker and owner of Liz Daigle Realty.

Downtown Littleton Project: Smaller Space.

smaller spaces

Excuse us while we cram all our personal items into this smaller space in Downtown Littleton which is why, for the time being, projects have stopped monetarily. Read here and here if you missed the projects thus far. When you are limited on space, you need to utilize every inch of your space. So, how do you proceed when you are moving into a smaller space?

  1. Go through your personal belongings before the movsmaller spacee. Sometimes this one is tough as during a move you may be limited on time. If you are able to organize and consolidate before the move, it will be easiest to unpack and find a new home for items that you need in your smaller space.
  2. Choose multi-functioning furniture (the other function being: storage).
    Buy a couch with room to store blankets, a chest instead of a coffee table, a dresser instead of a console table. When you live in a smaller space, the key is to have LOTS of storage.
  3. Go UP. If you were blessed with heigh ceilings, use them! High shelving, large pieces of art, etc. High ceilings will help draw the eye up and make the room feel bigger.
  4. Stick to a neutral palette. Neutral colors let the space feel open and airy. smaller space
  5. Open shelving. Have a small kitchen? We do! Consider open shelving as a place to store and showcase your dishes.
  6. Natural light. Sunlight makes the smaller space feel bigger. If you are able to, get creative and add in windows to your space. If that is not an option, improvise with mirrors. Mirrors give the illusion of natural light and more space!
  7. Use every space in your home. This is your chance to get creative, is there dead space in your home? Underneath the stairs? An entry way? A mud room? A random room (we have that in Littleton!). Use it. Give the space function with a piece of furniture with storage or built-ins.

Sure, it is easy when you have a lot of space and all your personal belongings fit into your home. But when you start to look for a home, often some of your criteria has to be amended. As we know, space is limited in ANY city. If you enjoy the walkability, sometimes you have to compromise on space. That being said, it can be done and it’s fun to get your creative juices flowing with this challenge!

We bought a home in Historic Downtown Littleton! Are you considering buying a home in Littleton? Here are a few homes currently on the market:

Liz is  broker and owner of Liz Daigle Realty.

 

 

Downtown Littleton Project: Interior Doors.

Looking for an update on the Downtown Littleton Project? Here it is! The past few weeks were full of…. painting. The living/dinning room and two bedrooms are now painted, leaving just the kitchen and bathroom left to complete. For both the walls and trim, we chose Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. This is one of my favorite whites because it isn’t as stark as some of the whites available and is a little “warmer”.

If you remember it was a more of a peach color when we moved in. Check out the video here. By just paining the interior, you can change the whole feel of the home. Now the home looks bigger and feels more crisp and modern. The interior doors have not been painted yet and that is because as I was painting the second bedroom, I got the idea of painting the doors black. I just love the contrast of white walls and trim with a black door.

Photos found via Pinterest. Sources can be found here.

I have browsed countless shades of black and have decided on Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams. Does anyone else love looking at different shades of the same color? At some point your eyes just glaze over but there is something so thrilling about finding the perfect shade (after analyzing the differences for what seems like forever). I love Tricorn black because it is simple and stark, the perfect contrast to white walls and antique doorknobs, as we have in the Downtown Littleton project.

We are at a crossroads in this Downtown Littleton project currently and we need your help! We can continue painting the doors Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or we can paint the doors Tricorn Black. What are your thoughts? Do you love the contrast of black doors with white walls and the simplicity of white doors and white walls?

As always, follow the project on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

Considering buying a home in Littleton, as well? Start your search today!

 

Liz is  broker and owner of Liz Daigle Realty.

Downtown Littleton Project.

Downtown Littleton

We bought a house in Downtown Littleton and plan to remodel it! Click here for the video tour of the “before” with appearance from Hank, the Aussiedoodle.. Don’t worry, we will keep you in the loop of our work.

The Details:
2 bedrooms.
1 bathroom.
1018 sq. ft.
unfinished basement.
8,000 sq. ft. yard.
1 car detached garage.
7 minute walk to Downtown Littleton and Lightrail Station.
Open living/dinning room.
Built in 1917.
Gorgeous hardwood floors throughout main level.

 

The Projects:

 

  • Paint, everything.
  • Finish the basement, adding another bathroom, living room and bedroom. (roughly 600 sq. ft.)
  • Refinish the front porch floor.
  • Make the kitchen more user friendly – not sure what yet but right now the fridge is in a separate room.
  • Replace air registers.Downtown Littleton
  • Add central A/C.
  • Remove cat smell (three cats resided here before us).

The Goal:

 

The updates will work to preserve the character of the home and the year in which it was built. Once finished, we will evaluate the highest and best use of the home: short term rental, long term rental or selling it. Follow along as we make these changes!

 

Why Downtown Littleton?

Historic Downtown Littleton has a number of shops, restaurants, coffeeshops and bars and with a walk score of 40, they are easy to get to on foot. Close by are parks and trails for walking/running and biking, including the High Line Canal. Home values have increased steadily over the past five years and as Downtown Littleton continues to grow, we saw the potential for more appreciation. As Downtown Denver continues to get more expensive, many people are finding Downtown Littleton as an affordable option. In recent years, the Viewhouse and the Tavern have moved into Downtown Littleton, attracting millennials, one of the largest groups of consumers right now. Additionally, a few of my favorite places in the city have announced they are opening a location in Downtown Littleton – Bacon Social House and Fierce45.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information provided by Recolorado. Average Sales Price in Downtown Littleton over the past five years.

Considering buying a home in Littleton? Search your search here!

Liz is  broker and owner of Liz Daigle Realty.

 

The Tables Have Turned.

buying a home

Transitions have been a constant theme in my life lately; babies being born, marriages, relationships starting and ending, new businesses… I suppose transitions are just part of LIFE. I am sure I am noticing them more because I am in the midst of a major transition: buying a home.

I am not sure about you but I struggle with change. I spiral. I unravel. It is certainly not a good look but it is usually my first response when I get nervous. There are a lot of moving pieces to manage and plan for with this change. Not only am I combining two households, I am downsizing and have to be very strategic with what I take into my new space. Upon buying a new home tomorrow, I will sell another home and this is where the stress starts to creep in…

Even though I had a quick closing, the hardest part of this transition is the waiting. With nowhere to put my packed things, I have put off packing. Knowing that once I close, the chaos will start.

So yes, the tables are now turned. I am going through exactly what my clients go through when they buy and sell a home and it is hard! According to a recent survey, selling your home is more stressful than getting a divorce. Buying a home is just slightly less stressful.

buying a home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change is inevitable and as much as I hate going through it myself, I do enjoy being able to aid my clients through change while they buy or sell a home. Typically a purchase and/or sale of a home is prompted by change.

Some are downsizing because their babies have grown up.
Some are buying their first home on their own (at many different life stages).
Some are buying an investment home.
Some are moving in with a loved one.
Some are having babies and need a bigger home.
Whatever the reason, I enjoy being with my clients and helping navigate through these big transitions.

Going through this experience recently has reminded me of the stress that a life change, like buying and/or selling a home, can bring. As with any stressful experience, be sure to offer yourself grace, practice self care, such as yoga, meditation and/or exercise to help manage stress and keep everything in perspective and get excited for your new home!! I am here to say – I understand, it IS stressful and chaotic but well worth it.

 

Liz is broker and owner of Liz Daigle Realty.

 

Looking for a good book? Here are a list of four….

book

I will let you in on a little secret, I am a bookworm. Truth be told, I am more like a full-time nerd. As a kid, I used to carry multiple hardcover books to the beach on vacation. To say the least, my parents were excited to buy me a Kindle when they came out. My recent goal is to read at least one book a month and I wanted to share some of my favorites recently.

Habit. I became interested in habits recently, especially after seeing how successful people seem to have a high level of self discipline and committment. When I saw this book I was incredibly intrigued. This book creates a framework of how habits function and how to create a habit. A habit consists of a loop that contains a cue, a routine and a reward. By manipulating that loop, you can work to stop bad habits or create new good habits. Threaded in the book are useful sorties of how people have changed their own habits, ultimately, changing their life.

 

 

The War of Art. This book is one of my favorites. It is a quick but powerful read. This book works to break your internal resistance and barriers. It makes the case that the only way to success is by breaking down these mental barriers. It gives tips on how to channel your creative energy and work towards your goals to reach your fullest potential. Currently, I am reading this for a second time. It is a great book to read when in a lull or as the seasons change.

Mindshift. This book is about pushing past your mental obstacles to discover your hidden potential. At first glance, it looks a lot like The War of Art, although, it contains a lot more science and real life examples. My biggest takeaway from this book was a powerful technique called pomodoro, it is a useful way to process tasks. The concept is easy, work hard at one particular tasks for 25 minutes. After the 25 minutes, take a 3 to 5 minute break, allowing your brain to relax. This relaxation state is helpful for your brain to absorb the information. This technique has helped me stay on track and concentrate better.

Tell to Win. This book changed my marketing and conversations in my business. This book works to show how crucial it is to tell emotionally charged stories. If you are able to move others, they will be more apt to remember you and like you. The goal to storytelling is to elicit an emotional response allowing people to connect. Real estate agents are constantly marketing both themselves and their listings and have plenty of opportunities to tell a story. After reading this book, I take every opportunity to tell a story, whether about myself or the homes I am trying to sell.

 

There you have it, some of my favorite books that I have recently read. All four have a underlying personal and/or professional development because that is what interests me as we approach a new year. What books have you read recently?

 

Liz works full-time as a Real Estate Agent with LUX. Denver.