For those paying attention to real estate in Colorado, it’s no surprise that the housing market continues to evolve. The frenetic pace that became the new norm over the last several years has relaxed into a more balanced state of affairs. We sat down with David Sinkey, President and Founder of Louisville’s award-winning homebuilder, Boulder Creek Neighborhoods, to get a local perspective on Front Range housing. Boulder Creek Neighborhoods was founded in 2006, in the months leading up to the beginning of the Great Recession. Though perhaps not the ideal time to start a homebuilding company, Boulder Creek has prevailed in the years since its inception through a clarity of purpose. “Since the beginning, it has been a goal of Boulder Creek to create a broader diversity of housing solutions to the Colorado market,” says Sinkey. “The market is continually changing, and it is our job to be ahead of that.” Fast forward to 2019, and we find ourselves in one of the longest housing recovery periods in history. Demand for homes has increased, and prices have risen steadily. “I spend a lot of time thinking about the longevity of our current economic run and doing my best to understand what that means for Colorado housing moving forward,” says Sinkey. “I look at all the indicators in our local market. We have some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, steady wage growth, and continued low mortgage rates.” While those are healthy figures for the local economy in general, Sinkey adds a key component for housing, “The indicator that brings me the most excitement is that Colorado continues to be in high demand for housing.” Addressing Affordability It’s a well-known economic principal that as demand increases, prices often follow. The ongoing unmet demand for housing in Colorado has continued to drive the price of homes. The median cost of a home in the Denver Metro area is in the neighborhood of $450,000; for new homes it’s significantly higher at almost $550,000. Sinkey says “everything from costs associated with land, materials, and labor, to the increasing municipal fees create challenges for homebuilders across Colorado.” While the rise in prices can be a boon for home sellers, it creates discomfort for some home buyers. “There’s no doubt that affordability is the elephant in the room,” says Sinkey,”but we view the affordability hurdle as an opportunity to reevaluate ‘standard’ housing formulas.” Indeed, Boulder Creek is on the forefront of innovation, rethinking housing sizes and neighborhood layouts, and bringing new, non-traditional floorplans to the market. “I do not believe that we have hit the peak of the market,” says Sinkey, “but what I am interested in today is not just bringing more homes to the market, but instead the ‘right’ kind of homes to Colorado.” What does Sinkey see as the ‘right’ types of homes? He goes on to explain that he believes gaps exist in a few areas: senior-focused housing, designed for the aging population seeking to downsize, and housing opportunities that allow homebuyers to build equity. “Boulder Creek is uniquely poised to evaluate these types of housing. We have always been a lifestyle focused builder,” says Sinkey. True, the Company has made a name for itself delivering a signature-style of low-maintenance living across the Front Range, in communities featuring patio homes and townhomes. “We know that many homebuyers have dreams and aspirations for their lives that don’t include outdoor maintenance chores, and we’ve been organized around that idea from the start,” Sinkey says. Innovative Housing “As we consider the many hurdles to home ownership, one of our answers is our wee-Cottage home series,” says Sinkey. By Sinkey’s definition, the wee-Cottages are a “non-traditional” type of housing. “They’re not what immediately comes to mind when you think of a single family home,” he says. The wee-Cottages are smaller floorplans designed to be incredibly functional and extremely economical in comparison to many ‘typical’ new homes. “The wee-Cottages were designed with efficiency in mind from the very start,” says Sinkey. The attention to efficiency is clear in the floorplans, the smallest of the six is just under 900 sq ft, the largest scales to right around 1400 sq ft. It’s also clear in the price. Currently offered at Blue Vista in Longmont, and at Riverdale Ranch in Thornton, wee-Cottages are priced in the low- to mid- $300s, a rarity in the Front Range new home market. The appeal of wee-Cottage spreads wide. From downsizers to first time home buyers, the home collection speaks to those who seek to maintain less square feet, who desire to make less of an impact on our environment, or the busy professional that does not have time to maintain a large yard. “We work with many folks interested in owning a home who are currently living in a condo or apartment,” says Sinkey.“They enjoy living a lower maintenance environment, but crave the ability to be in a single-family home where building equity is an option, and we believe wee-Cottage is a very attainable alternative.” Lifestyle First, Home Second to None “We continually see an absence in the senior focused, main floor living home collections across the Front Range,” says Sinkey. “This type of housing has been part of our vision since the inception of Boulder Creek, and it continues to be a relevant segment in the market today.” Many of Boulder Creek’s floorplans introduced 10+ years ago are still being built today, simply because they are continuing to be relevant and functional for home buyers seeking to downsize and take their free time back with a low maintenance lifestyle. “It’s pretty amazing to see how our legacy home collections have evolved with the times, but still remain true to what we originally set out to accomplish,” comments Sinkey. “We certainly could not have done it without a great cast of employees, always willing to innovate and make these homes relevant throughout the years.” Of course, Boulder Creek has also introduced new plans in that timeframe as well. Sinkey highlights the main-floor focused “easyHouse” series, currently available at Denio West in Longmont. “The patio homes in Longmont have been a great solution,” he says. “So many homebuyers want to stay in the neighborhood they love, but are simply ready to downsize to an easier way of living. A smaller home, main floor living, a maintained yard are core elements of our patio home communities.” What’s Next “During Boulder Creek’s early years, I attended every home closing. It was a way for me to listen and understand the motivations of people who were buying our homes. I would often hear a similar story; these homeowners were buying something very different than what they thought they wanted, or very different than what they had initially set out to purchase. But they ended up being very comforted to know this was what they were truly after,” says Sinkey. “If I had to give a word of advice for the folks concerned about making a buying decision, it would be this: regardless of your personal interpretation of today’s market conditions, there’s not enough evidence or a compelling reason to stay on the sidelines and let that stand in the way of having the lifestyle that you’re seeking,” says Sinkey. Whether that’s downsizing, main-floor living, or purchasing a home with the intention of building equity, we continue to seek innovative housing solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of today’s market. Boulder Creek Neighborhoods is currently building homes across the Front Range – Longmont, Louisville, Superior, Thornton, Stapleton, and Littleton with prices from the $300s to $1 Million and up. For more information, to see floorplans, photos, and more, visit www.LiveBoulderCreek.com , or contact 303-309-0088.

What is a patio home? We often hear people ask us, “What is a patio home, really? Isn’t it just another ranch-style floorplan?” To us here at Boulder Creek, a patio home is a home that sets your best intentions free – something that no typical ranch-style home on the market can do. A Boulder Creek patio home boasts three key features – main floor living, private outdoor living space (typically a patio, deck or courtyard), and a low-maintenance lifestyle. With a growing population of active adults, there are so many folks interested in Denver patio homes that will support their dynamic Colorado lifestyle. Why owning a patio home is so popular Homebuyers seek patio homes throughout Denver for lots of different reasons, but the most common is freedom. Patio homes deliver all the modern amenities homeowners have on their wish list in the most convenient package, and a Boulder Creek patio home offers a signature style of low-maintenance living that is the cherry on top. Here are just a handful of reasons why owning a patio home in Denver continues to rise in popularity: Designed to fit your lifestyle —From open layouts to the luxury of leaving yard work behind, patio homes meet the needs of the active adult who would rather spend their time on family, friends and fun instead of doing home-maintenance At Boulder Creek, that’s something that we call Lifefullness®, and we believe it can’t be found anywhere else. Main-floor living —When everything is within reach, you win. Imagine a late-night snack just steps away from your bedroom, rather than taking the stairs. Got laundry going? Get it out of the dryer and into your closet without schlepping it up or down floors. That’s the beauty of main-floor living. Top-notch design and construction —Buying new with Boulder Creek means you get the benefits of the latest and greatest construction techniques and energy saving features. From the floorplan designs to construction material selections, every detail of a Boulder Creek patio home is finalized with low-maintenance living in mind. Community living —We see it time and time again – Saturday afternoon barbeques, weeknight bookclubs, even neighborhood walking clubs. Living in a patio home neighborhood means that you’re included in a thriving community of like minded folks – all looking to get the most out of life – often in a location that tops your wish list . You can expect the best. Easy living for a carefree homeowner experience We always say that our patio homes offer no more than you need and no less than you deserve. With communities of patio homes in Longmont , Stapleton , Aurora Loveland, and Thornton , there are plenty of opportunities to live the active life you love in a home that perfectly complements it. Located in a selection of ideal locations across the Front Range , Boulder Creek patio homes make the most of the Colorado landscape, while providing you with all you need to celebrate, relax, be free and love life. The feeling of being close to nature but with modern conveniences at your doorstep. The security of knowing that with so much taken care of, you can simply enjoy life. Good for you, good for life Low-maintenance patio homes are good for all ages. In fact, they only become more desirable as time goes by. If you are a busy working professional, we put time on your side by taking care of the things you’d rather not be spending your weekends doing. Everyone puts a premium on free time, and a low-maintenance patio home in Denver puts your loved ones at the top of your list instead of yard work. Retired? Welcome to the good life. Now that you’ve escaped the daily grind, we fully expect you to get out there and enjoy the fruits of your labor, not weed the yard or rake the leaves. Welcome home to Boulder Creek Neighborhoods With patio homes in Denver and Longmont, Boulder Creek Neighborhoods has the right home for you in the location you want. We can’t wait to show you all the reasons why a patio home is the perfect choice for your next home. You’ve done the research, now come see for yourself how a patio home can help you make the most of every minute. To learn more about our communities throughout Boulder County and Denver, visit http://www.livebouldercreek.com/ or drop by and visit us, we would love to show you around.

More than a Home, a Lifestyle When Boulder Creek Neighborhoods announces new communities, home shoppers throughout Boulder County take notice. Already well-known for popular neighborhoods like Steel Ranch in Louisville and Erie Commons in Erie, Boulder Creek Neighborhoods is setting out to offer their signature style of low-maintenance living to new locations in Boulder County and throughout the Front Range. The local, Louisville based homebuilder has an almost cult-like following of homebuyers seeking a new lifestyle. Boulder Creek has made a name for themselves locally and in national circles for providing unique homes that are different from just your “typical” floorplan. The Boulder Creek homebuyer is someone that is looking for something different, something specific, and something not found in most homebuilder lineups. Whether that’s a low-maintenance lifestyle, main-floor living options, or the appeal of “downsizing” from a larger family home, folks are able to find something special in Boulder Creek that they can’t find elsewhere. David Sinkey, President of Boulder Creek Neighborhoods, puts it best, “We bring something atypical to the market. What we offer is more than a home, it’s an opportunity for a change in lifestyle.” Just a quick tour through a Boulder Creek neighborhood proves that the builder has brought something different to the market – and the success of their current communities proves that they’ve nailed it. In searching for a home, many buyers look for so long that they finally give up on finding the right home for their particular set of criteria. Notes Sinkey, “Buyers often tell us that they can finally end their years-long home search – they find a home with us that they didn’t know even existed in the market.” All too often, homebuyers resign themselves to purchasing a lesser home that doesn’t meet their needs because they simply can’t find what they are looking for. Big Plans for the Year Ahead Fans of Boulder Creek as well as anyone who is in the market for an exceptional home are in luck. The company has recently announced a full lineup for 2016 throughout Boulder County and the Front Range – including new floorplans, new model homes and new communities just starting development. “It’s always exciting open new communities and launch new designs,” says Sinkey. Boulder Creek’s communities have long been a presence in Boulder County, and the company is based in Louisville. Currently under construction are two communities just a hop, skip and a jump from their headquarters in Old Town. Offers Sinkey, “It’s something special to be building in our own backyard. Louisville is such a desirable location for so many different reasons.” Just on the north end of Old Town Louisville, Boulder Creek’s DELO townhomes have introduced a newly finished model home, and the extensive community development that will bring the retail and office space to life is well underway. Also under construction in Louisville are the very final homes in the ever-popular Steel Ranch neighborhood. The ranch patio homes at Lanterns homes are selling quickly and are expected to sell out before the end of the year. The Calmante neighborhood, located directly across from 10,000 acres of Boulder County open space has been wildly successful since opening in 2014. “Homeowners, especially those coming out of Boulder, are finding Calmante to be a tremendous value. There’s simply nothing else like it in Boulder County,” says Sinkey. Boulder Creek has also started construction on the model homes for Tramonto , in south west Longmont. About 30% of these ranch patio homes have already found owners, even though the community is still in pre-sale mode. That’s not stopping interested buyers,though, as Boulder Creek already has sign ups for a Tramonto floor plan and pricing release event slated for the end of February. Perhaps the most exciting announcement for the Boulder Creek fan is the brand new community in Erie, Brennan by the Lake . Located at the corner of 119th and Erie Parkway, Brennan by the Lake is one of Boulder Creek’s most highly anticipated neighborhoods. Sinkey’s team recently held an informational open house, gathering feedback on floorplans and design features from more than 60 interested and potential homebuyers. Patio home sales at Brennan are expected to begin this spring, with models following later this summer. “The notion of low-maintenance living resonates with folks all over Colorado,” said Sinkey. Boulder Creek is offering both townhomes and ranch patio homes at The Lakes at Centerra in Loveland, as well as patio homes in Stapleton in Denver. A recent addition to the lineup includes the Encore series, smaller paired ranch homes, staring from just under $300,000 in Thornton and Aurora. Say Goodbye to Home Maintenance The locations, floorplans and price points might vary across these neighborhoods, but they all have one thing in common. “ Lifefullness ,” says Sinkey. He describes “Lifefullness” as the guiding philosophy of the company. It’s about building homes that help owners embrace full lives, focusing on the things that matter most to them. “We hear from our buyers that they’ve been searching for a way to lead a fuller life,” Sinkey said. “They don’t always realize how much a new home can be a part of that solution.” Owning any home has plenty of perks, but a typical home comes with a definite downside – exterior maintenance chores like yard work, landscaping, snow shoveling, upkeep of the home’s exterior, and more. Homeowners can say goodbye to these chores and more in a low-maintenance Boulder Creek home, as the majority of outdoor maintenance is handled on their behalf. That leaves time for the activities they love, whether that’s hiking or skiing, reading a good book, or catching up with friends and family. No matter what it is, that’s what Boulder Creek means by “Lifefullness.” If you’re looking for a new lifestyle, or have been in the market for a while searching for a home that you didn’t think existed, now’s the time to check out Boulder Creek Neighborhoods. With home prices from the $300s to the $600s, there’s a diversity of floorplans and price points to meet your needs, and the company’s 2016 lineup is sure to please. To learn more, take a tour, or sign up for future events, contact Jennifer Edewaard at 303.309.0088, or visit LowMaintenanceColorado.com . Article originally featured in At Home, a publication of Colorado Home & Real Estate. Written by Adam Martin.

This past September, Colorado Biz Magazine recognized Boulder Creek Neighborhoods as one of 2014’s top Real Estate/Construction/Contracting Businesses. We are humbled and excited by this incredible recognition and would like to thank our amazing homeowners for allowing this award to happen. Without their support, we would not have achieved this level of success and would be unable to continue to grow as a company. Committed to providing low-maintenance homes in Louisville, Castle Rock, Loveland, and other desirable Colorado locations, we have focused on building low-maintenance homes for active adult empty nesters, busy professionals, and those who value the time savings of owning a low-maintenance home. Following our philosophy of “ Lifefullness , ” or living life to the fullest, the chores of maintaining a home, like lawn work and snow removal, are actively managed on behalf of the homeowner, which allows residents to enjoy new found free time. “Today’s baby boomers are getting to a stage in their life where they want a different house,” says David Sinkey, president of Boulder Creek Neighborhoods. “They want a low-maintenance home because they prioritize the Colorado outdoors, traveling, and enjoying all that life has to offer.” Because our homeowners love Boulder Creek’s low maintenance homes, the company has experience growth on all levels. In addition to our outstanding homeowners, much of our success must be attributed to our dedicated employees. “We’ve been gelling as a team,” says Sinkey. “We’re taking all these experienced people and we are inventing this newer company almost every day.” Committing to constant improvement is one of the things that sets us apart from our competitors. Not content to settle, we strive to create new neighborhoods and models that allow our homeowners to enjoy more “ Lifefullness .” We want our homeowners to relish in Colorado’s natural beauty and indulge in quality time with friends and family–maybe even take that dream vacation. When you live in a Lifefull Boulder Creek home, you don’t have to worry about the chores of home maintenance and can rather worry about what exciting activity to dive into next. In addition to Colorado Biz’s incredible recognition, Boulder Creek was ranked No. 556 on the Inc. 5000 list- up from No. 2,207 in 2013.The Inc. 5000 list distinguishes the fastest growing private companies in the U.S. “This national award celebrates the entire Boulder Creek team and our commitment to “lifefulness” of our homebuyers and employees alike,” says Sinkey. “We are thrilled to have our company recognized for our hard work and dedication to the active adult homebuyer in Colorado.”

Colorado’s Boulder Creek Builders Is Geared For Growth This Front Range builder expects to surpass last year’s record sales and closings. By John Caulfield Posted January 15, 2013 on Boulder Online. Last week, Boulder Creek Builders had its first-ever all-company meeting for its 30 employees. That gathering was, no doubt, celebratory, as this Louisville, Colo.-based builder had just completed its most successful year. Boulder Creek is capitalizing on its niche building patio homes and townhomes for downsizing empty nesters in markets along Colorado’s Front Range that didn’t teeter on the brink during the housing recession. The number of people who visited Boulder Creek’s model centers last year nearly tripled, to 3,500 from 1,031 in 2011. Consequently, the builder’s sales revenue increased by more than 200% to $41 million, closing revenue jumped 264% to $31 million, unit sales more than doubled to 106 from 51, and unit closings increased by 81% to 78. David Sinkey, Boulder Creek’s principal and co-owner, points to Boulder Creek’s “innovations” in aging and place and universal design as factors contributing to this customer surge. “There’s always been plenty of demand for what we build,” Sinkey explains. “What restricted us was access to capital.” So last year, the company–which dates back to a general contracting business Sinkey’s father started in the 1970s–explored new ways to get things financed. It now has solid bank relationships for construction and what Sinkey calls “a robust, well-cultivated group of investors” for land deals. In 2013, Boulder Creek expects to increase its active communities to seven, from three. A few of the new communities would feature townhouses whose prices–starting in the $280s–will be lower than the $390,000 average that Boulder Creek has been fetching for houses ranging from 1,450 to 2,500 square feet. This year, the company is projecting sales revenue of $55 million to $60 million. And if market conditions really take off, Sinkey says he has 32 other land deals “that are ready, and we could pull the trigger on.” However, he is quick to note “we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves” in terms of expanding faster than its operational infrastructure allows. To accommodate its anticipated growth, Boulder Creek a few years ago scrapped its “homegrown” ERP system for a new system that could handle more velocity. Last year, the builder also more than doubled its workforce. Sinkey says he’s been impressed with the quality of available talent that has gravitated to Boulder Creek from other companies, such as Dave Oyler, the former president of Melody Homes (once one of Denver’s largest builders), who left retirement to join Boulder Credit as its director of special projects. Boulder Creek takes a different approach to marketing than most builders in that it relies on intimate, face-to-face meetings with potential buyers before it breaks ground for a community. Sinkey concedes this kind of marketing is more time-consuming than traditional ways of reaching customers. But “by the time we’re ready to open a community, we’ve come into contact with more than half of” the buyers, whom he says are “highly convertible” to owners at that point. John Caulfield is senior editor for Builder magazine.

Boulder Creek welcomes Elitia Schwaderer to its team as Stapleton Community Sales Manager. Read about her here in the Denver Business Journal .