Today, the average Denver homebuyer is different than they were a few years ago - their needs and lifestyles are changing.  Prompted in part by a struggling economy, homebuyers have reprioritized their lives and are scaling down, including the size of their home, and home builders are responding.  Many builders are introducing new designs, featuring smaller, simpler homes created to appeal to younger, more mobile buyers - many of them first-time buyers.

For example, Shea Homes Colorado is rolling out its first new community at Reunion, in the northeast Denver metro area, in four years, with a focus on less expensive and less expansive houses.  Another Colorado builder, KB Home, has launched a new line of paired homes at Stapleton called The Open Series, priced from $204,995 for a 1,159 sf, 2 bedroom, 2 bath home, to $229,995 for a 1,667 sf, 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. 

And while their prices and square footage are dropping, the quality of materials remains high.  All Shea Homes come with a 42-inch plasma television, stainless steel appliances and a charging station for an electric vehicle in the garage.  These new designs no longer contain the traditional elements like formal dining and living rooms, but instead feature a large great room, where the homeowners will do most of their living.

It seems that the combination of catering to the changing needs of homebuyers as well as keeping an eye on market trends has paid off.  Traffic for Denver area homebuilders has picked up lately, with November new net sales in new home communities of 10 units or more increasing to 31% higher than the same month a year ago.  Some builders are reporting that they’ve seen more customers come through their models in the first two weeks of 2010 than they’ve seen in the same period for the past two years. 

Are you thinking about scaling down or buying your first home in Denver and mindful about the value of a smaller, well-designed home?  Did you know that the Bandy Team has proven expertise in helping buyers with negotiating with home builders?  Give us a call and let us help you find your dream home in Denver or any of our surrounding communities.  We are your local Denver area real estate pros!

Marianne Bandy
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