Highlands Ranch vs. Lone Tree (Denver, Eagle: sales, real estate, renting)

[gjeppesen]

I'm looking at Highlands Ranch or Lone Tree to buy a house. I've been here since April 2010. Can you all lay out a comparison of the two (quality of life, snootiness, HOA fees/hassles, taxes, bang for buck for house purchase, appreciation, neighborhoods, etc., etc.)?

They are both nice neighborhoods. I lot of locals I know bash Highlands Ranch and I'm not really sure it's warranted.

Thanks!

[2bindenver]

Currently....Lone tree is a city. Highlands Ranch is a neighborhood. Lone tree has more expensive price per square foot. Lone Tree has a mall. Lone Tree has higher property taxes. HR has 4 rec centers, 8 neighborhood pools, 2 skate parks, one stadium, two tennis bubbles. Lone Tree has SS Rec, and a hospital. HR has 4 King Soopers, a Whole Foods and a WalMart. There are several HOA's in LT. Only one master association in HR.

[Melanzana92]

Lone Tree is much closer to the Park Meadows area, so you're closer to shopping and restaurants. Almost all are chains, but it's still food and you're closer to it than if you lived in Highlands Ranch.

Although with Highlands Ranch you're never very far from the C-470 highway which is lined with retail similar to what you'd find in the Park Meadows area.

Lone Tree, like the above mentioned, is more expensive, and from what I've seen, you do get what you pay for. The houses in LT seem to be overall nicer than in HR and some of the subdivisions more established with older, more grown-up trees rather than barren yards.

If you want to be closer to the mountains, then Highlands Ranch is a better bet. Close to the light rail? Lone Tree. For now at least. I'm not sure how far south the Santa Fe line currently stretches towards Highlands Ranch.

[ucbedge]

My wife and I moved to the very very southern part of Highlands Ranch (where Quebec turns into Monarch) about 1.5 years ago. We love it here...but if there was one place we'd move to if we could afford it, it would probably be Lone Tree.

Lone Tree and Highlands Ranch are very similar IMHO. Youre really only talking about three major points of differentiation:

1) Proximity to I-25. This is HUGE if you are going to commute I-25 daily. The closer you are to it, the better. Being close to C-470 really doesnt help because it often has more traffic than I-25. On weekends, my wife and I both take Quebec to C-470 to I-25 while running errands. But on weekdays, C-470 between Quebec and I-25 becomes traffic-logged and its much quicker to take Lincoln all the way to I-25. The closer you are to the Lincoln/I-25 interchange, the quicker your commute will be. If your job is on the western part of Denver though, Highlands Ranch would be better because youre closer to C-470 and Sante Fe.

2) Cost of living. We live in one of the more expensive parts of Highlands Ranch, but Lone Tree is a definite step above us. Real estate, taxes...they are higher in Lone Tree as a general rule.

3) HOA. Highlands Ranch runs a HOA that covers things like gyms/recreation centers, community activities, etc. Highlands Ranch gyms are incredible IMHO....often crowded, but really nice. The fees are reasonable too - I believe its $125 per quarter.

I dont think you can go wrong with either place.

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

Currently....Lone tree is a city. Highlands Ranch is a neighborhood. Lone tree has more expensive price per square foot. Lone Tree has a mall. Lone Tree has higher property taxes. HR has 4 rec centers, 8 neighborhood pools, 2 skate parks, one stadium, two tennis bubbles. Lone Tree has SS Rec, and a hospital. HR has 4 King Soopers, a Whole Foods and a WalMart. There are several HOA's in LT. Only one master association in HR.

Although the way the HR Wal-Mart is situated it's closer to most of Lone Tree than it is to most of HR since its barely into HR (and that also helps with sales tax being lower than if it were in LT).

Odd that Lone Tree has higher property taxes considering the massive amount of sales tax they get from the mall and surrounding areas.

[Cupcake77]

I currently live in HR. Only renting for 6 months because I am still making payments on my house in another state. My cousin lives in Lone tree and I think it's nicer there vs HR. But I prefer greenwood village or some of the areas off arapahoe road ( probably because I grew up there). For me it comes down to the schools, less traffic and the houses are not on top of each other.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by TonyVaz1009

Lone Tree is much closer to the Park Meadows area, so you're closer to shopping and restaurants. Almost all are chains, but it's still food and you're closer to it than if you lived in Highlands Ranch.

Although with Highlands Ranch you're never very far from the C-470 highway which is lined with retail similar to what you'd find in the Park Meadows area.

Lone Tree, like the above mentioned, is more expensive, and from what I've seen, you do get what you pay for. The houses in LT seem to be overall nicer than in HR and some of the subdivisions more established with older, more grown-up trees rather than barren yards.

If you want to be closer to the mountains, then Highlands Ranch is a better bet. Close to the light rail? Lone Tree. For now at least. I'm not sure how far south the Santa Fe line currently stretches towards Highlands Ranch.

They are working on extending the light rail to Lucent. Currently it stops at Mineral.

I like Lone Tree but I live HR because I think it is more friendly to families. Lots of parks. Very dog friendly too. You will pay less and will still live in a great area.

[EricCarterDesigner]

Are Lone Tree schools as good or better than Highlands Ranch? I think LT feeds into HR for middle and high school? Has anyone heard good things about the two elementary schools in LT: Eagle Ridge and Lone Tree elementary? Thank you for your feedback and help all!