Areas that will hold/increase in value

[HeatMiser]

I have lived here for 2 years. Prior to moving to the area I was looking at purchasing a home in either of these two cities. Housing prices have definitely dropped since then, but right now is definitely the time to be purchasing real estate if it makes sense to your financial plan. Alot depends on what type of investment you are looking for? Fix-n-flip or a rental? Long term investment or short term? I really think Parker is a great area because I have seen the development plans from I-25/Lincoln and Parker(mainstreet). Good Luck!

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Katiana

If you're only going to live there for five years, it probably wouldn't be the greatest investment. It's going to take a few years for the area to gentrify, if ever. 1/7 acre is small even for here, roughly 6000 sq ft, with the house taking up part of that. Maybe not small for the neighborhood, though.

I don't know about this area being a good investment. The housing stock is small and ugly. Sort of like the area between Stapleton and Lowry. I'd say the only way some of these areas will ever really turn around is when scrape-offs start happening on a massive scale. You can rehab a 100 year old Victorian into a desireable home, but a 2 bdr., 1 bath '60s ranch?

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by denverian

I don't know about this area being a good investment. The housing stock is small and ugly. Sort of like the area between Stapleton and Lowry. I'd say the only way some of these areas will ever really turn around is when scrape-offs start happening on a massive scale. You can rehab a 100 year old Victorian into a desireable home, but a 2 bdr., 1 bath '60s ranch?

What is wrong with a small ranch???

A small ranch is the most energy efficient, economical home you can buy--especially if it has a full basement. It requires less heat because of less cubic feet and a small ranch does not have a second story to get too hot or too cold. With a basement these homes will stay even cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

A small ranch is ideal for a single person or a small family, much better than an equally small condo. It is great for an elderly person because all rooms on the same level without steps.

A small home on a small lot requires less maintenance; the advantages of a condo with the advantages of a single family home.

A small ranch is much friendly to the environment because it uses less resources to serve housing needs, water and utilities, and consequently is less expensive to own. It requires less of city services to run sewer and utility lines and less roads to maintain--lessen taxes.

A small ranch is better for walkable neighborhoods because housing, public transportation and shopping can be closer and make it a nice Transit Oriented Community (TOD).

A small ranch with a small lot allows cities to have more open space and public parks.

A small ranch is good for people like me who do not have a need for ostentatious comsumption; buy only what I need, not what I need to show to others.

Yes, a neighborhood with small ranches are a great resource in cities. Yes, some people require larger homes because of needs of families. Housing needs are served in an area with multiple types of housing for all needs. However, it is not economically and environmentally sustainable to continue to built larger homes than we need---we need less McMansions and more Mcbungalows.

Yes, there are many areas of the Denver metro area where small ranches are being maintained, refurbished and are not considered ugly, but most attractive, and many people have found them as a place to
livecontent

[denverian]

Originally Posted by livecontent

What is wrong with a small ranch???

A small ranch is the most energy efficient, economical home you can buy--especially if it has a full basement. It requires less heat because of less cubic feet and a small ranch does not have a second story to get too hot or too cold. With a basement these homes will stay even cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

A small ranch is ideal for a single person or a small family, much better than an equally small condo. It is great for an elderly person because all rooms on the same level without steps.

A small home on a small lot requires less maintenance; the advantages of a condo with the advantages of a single family home.

A small ranch is much friendly to the environment because it uses less resources to serve housing needs, water and utilities, and consequently is less expensive to own. It requires less of city services to run sewer and utility lines and less roads to maintain--lessen taxes.

A small ranch is better for walkable neighborhoods because housing, public transportation and shopping can be closer and make it a nice Transit Oriented Community (TOD).

A small ranch with a small lot allows cities to have more open space and public parks.

A small ranch is good for people like me who do not have a need for ostentatious comsumption; buy only what I need, not what I need to show to others.

Yes, a neighborhood with small ranches are a great resource in cities. Yes, some people require larger homes because of needs of families. Housing needs are served in an area with multiple types of housing for all needs. However, it is not economically and environmentally sustainable to continue to built larger homes than we need---we need less McMansions and more Mcbungalows.

Yes, there are many areas of the Denver metro area where small ranches are being maintained, refurbished and are not considered ugly, but most attractive, and many people have found them as a place to
livecontent

I'm all for living smaller and you make total sense. I guess the neighborhoods I drive through just look depressing and a little run down. And most of the small houses are on big lots (I'm talking about between Stapleton and Aurora) and not within walking distance of anything interesting (that stretch of Colfax). If they're kept up, and there are some here and there, they don't look bad.

[USAEconomy]

Thanks so much for all the honest replies! I'm in agreement with just about everyone, both the good and the bad. I should stress that this isn't a dream home situation--more of a professional student & techs, single, first home, on a budget, urban, no car needed community. While I'll be graduating before I anticipate the home prices will rebound, I'm confident that I'll be able to rent out my house to students. I personally know about 10 students (certainly not a comprehensive list) that live in my neighborhood and I'm hoping that number will continue to rise as amenities are added within walking distance. Although these homes don't have any Victorian character & fit nicely into a cookie-cutter, I see a lot of major work being done and pride in ownership--more so than I see in surrounding neighborhoods that probably are not benefiting directly from AMC. I certainly am proud of my first little brick ranch. Most of the people on campus will rent and the ones who buy, like me, have small stipends that will balloon after graduation. I'm concerned about the economy and what it means for my future selling price. I got my house for a great price in '04 and could still sell for a profit, but if I'd have waited until now, wowzers, I could have gotten a great deal... I just hope once Fitzsimons Village & the Fitzsimons Promenade open on Colfax views will change. Gotta see it to believe it!

Thanks for the feedback!

[livecontent]

USAEconomy,

I would like to add another thought. I have attended numerous meetings for the Fastracks project. The cities, in many meetings, introduced proposals that rezone the neighborhoods around the rail stations to allow multiple housing development. That is because they are interested in creating denser housing to help establish TODs around the stations. This allows them to develop in areas where stations are located in established neighborhoods.

As you said, some of these small homes are on large lots--I would expect Denver to zone this area for this multiple housing. So, your investment can make more sense because you can have an option to develop the multiple rentals or owned housing, either condos or split the lot into separate single family homes. I think, in this area, this would make more sense to provide more housing for the Medical Center vs. scraping and building a larger Home.

Livecontent

Livecontent

[steveindenver]

They are really sucking the character out of Colfax near Fitzsimmons. Knocking down blocks of buildings to develop more Subways and Quiznos.

It makes you wonder, we pushed the lower economic brackets out there from the core starting around 15 years ago. Where will they go next?

Maybe Highlands Ranch. There are some fascinating writings about the downfall of the suburb and exurb lately.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

They are really sucking the character out of Colfax near Fitzsimmons. Knocking down blocks of buildings to develop more Subways and Quiznos.

It makes you wonder, we pushed the lower economic brackets out there from the core starting around 15 years ago. Where will they go next?

Maybe Highlands Ranch. There are some fascinating writings about the downfall of the suburb and exurb lately.

I have read much of your posts and I am very impressed with your knowledge of Denver and you really love your city and I know that you are very familiar with the Colfax area.

Do you not think, this area on Colfax is better served by this redevelopment? I think the area, near Fitzimmons was always trashy, and it needed some help.

Now with the medical school there, they are developing with businesses that best serve the area. That would be a number of fast food restaurants because that is what students would need, like and prefer. It is certainly better than the prostitutes and the no-tel motels. Over time, though, I would think that independent better restaurants and shops would develop--to serve the multiple economic levels that will work, live nearby and get services at this campus.

I did visit the area and I was impressed because I was not in favor of the movement of the school to this location. However, by putting it there, it will stimulate a renewal of decayed inner core of the northeast metro area. If it was put south, like Douglas County, as some suggested, it would not have benefited the core and would not been able to service the people in the City of Denver Better.

I was against it initially because I use the VA hospital and it will eventually move to this location and I could not see myself going to that area. However, now when I look at it, with the transportation options of Fastracks, it will be very easy to get there and perhaps the area will be more inviting.

Yes the city of Denver, like many improving American cities may go the way of many European cities. In Europe, the elite and wealthy live in the cities and the poor live in the suburbs. A good example was the riots in France, recently, were outside Paris, in the poor suburbs.

I think we are a far away from that happening in Denver. There are still many areas of Denver that will take decades to change or may never change. Even, NYC, which is extremely expensive, with increasing population of the elite, still has areas where the poor can still live, even in Manhattan.

Livecontent

[denverjoe04]

I think Highlands Ranch will be the new Montbello in 25-30 years.

[2bindenver]

Originally Posted by denverjoe04

I think Highlands Ranch will be the new Montbello in 25-30 years.

Why would you say that?