Denver Home Buyers - Use the Loan Officer Your Denver REALTOR® Recommends - They Do So For A Great Reason!

I write this to my future Denver real estate clients, and all of the clients of the world out there. In the last year or so, I personally have recognized a growing trend in my own real estate business. Many of my clients don’t seem to want to use the loan officer that I may recommend to them. And for the most part I don’t get it. Because of that, I have been involved in so many internet loan fiascos in the past 12 months than I care to remember, as recalling them just brings back the headaches.

So, just to clear a few things up. I recommend specific lenders for a reason. I like them. Why? Its not that I like them personally (Well, I do, but that’s not what I am getting at). I like them because they are good. They are not only good, they are great. I trust them, and I trust that they are treating you with the ultimate respect and honesty that you deserve. I know that they know their stuff - and these days, that is the ultimate. They are experts and highly knowledgeable. If they weren’t, I wouldn’t be using them.

Have you heard about all of the differing issues in the mortgage industry? I feel confident in my loan officers that you are not going to have to worry about that. Because they will make sure you are not getting in over your head, approved for more than you can handle, or in bad loans to begin with. All of that stuff that will keep you awake at night with a headache. And here’s another very important part of it -I have a great rapport with them. We have done business before and my high expectations are clear.

I know they are going to get me what I need, and when. I know I will have your pre-approval letter to submit with your offer. I know everything else will be in order. I know if there are any obstacles that arise, they will communicate them with me in a very timely manner. I know they are going to keep an eye on everything throughout the life of the contract. And I know they are going to call me back when I need something from them. I also know that they will call you too. I absolutely know they are good and I trust them.

I want to make something clear that I think sometimes people assume. I do not get a cut of anything from any lender I recommend. Do I get a referral fee? No way. Do I get trips to the Bahamas, uh, no. What do I get? I get the distinct professional pleasure of working with a very professional lender that I know will do a very good job for my clients and do everything in their power to get my client’s the best loan for them and make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Just to clarify, every experience I have had with lenders new to me has not been a bad experience. In fact, I have met some of the ones that I now recommend in that way. But for the most part, when someone chooses a mortgage program or loan officer because it just seems so good - too good to be true, it usually is. And I can’t tell you how many times I have heard as we walked out of the closing room, Steve, I should have used your loan guy. Yeah, I wish you had too.

So here’s the bottom line. You hired me and trust me to be your professional. If I recommend a loan officer then understand it is because you hired me to look after your best interests. I believe the lenders I recommend have your best interest in mind and you’ll be thrilled in the end. Of course, you can look at a hundred other lenders if you would like, I would just prefer that you at least call my lender and get their plan as well. I believe that you will be thankful for that

DENVER SUBURBS - Greenwood Village CO - Landmark

The new Village Shops at The Landmark area in Greenwood Village is shaping up very nicely It is an absolutely beautiful area with so much to offer the Greenwood village & entire south metro Denver area community.

It is a stunning luxury mixed-use area including living, shopping, fine dining and entertainment. Located off of Quebec and just south of Belleview, an office I was in a few years back would have been walking distance for me to the Landmark area for quite a nice lunch now & then. As to my current location, it is still very convenient to my Fiddlers Green office, so I do plan on enjoying a lunch or two here. 

Construction is nearing completion on most of the shops and the beautiful Landmark Theatre is now open. I have not been yet but I hear it is a very nice movie-going experience with a bar in the lobby and popcorn & soda is included in the ticket price.

Some of the restaurants that will be in the area include Ted’s Montana Grill, Sparrow, Lime, Slattery’s Irish Pub, Jing - some of which are already open.

The area itself reminds me a bit of the Cherry Creek North area with its very visually appealing pedestrian areas, outdoor patio seating at restaurants and and an overall very upscale look and appeal. And the shops are no exception. Again, very upscale in nature & extremely visually appealing, I see this as becoming a very popular place for strolling and boutique shopping. HW home, Player’s Men’s Shop, Ella Blue & Ella Baby, Moda, A-Line, Bloomfield’s Florist & Aspen Falls Spa - to name just a few.

I have to say the place I am personally the most excited about is Comedy Works. I just don’t get downtown as much anymore as I used to and to have Comedy Works on the south side of Denver is a pure treat & I definitely see my wife & I enjoying a night out at Comedy Works in the near future.

The convenience of the RTD Light Rail station very nearby on Orchard is sure to make the Landmark area a draw for those all over the metro area, not just from the south metro area & suburbs. There are very luxurious residential areas of the Landmark as well - and construction on these is extremely busy right now. Greenwood Village real estate has new luxury options. The Landmark and The Meridian are luxury condo units that have every luxurious and elegant detail one could imagine built into the design with full concierge service.

The European Villas at the Landmark contain The Manor Homes and The Brownstones - both very luxurious high end living options right in the heart of the Denver Tech Center. I am really looking forward to seeing the completion of all of these projects and the impact it has on the south metro area community.

Highlands Ranch Homes & Real Estate - Hillcrest

Hillcrest is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Highlands Ranch and by my client’s past history, I am not the only one.  Over the years I have had numerous clients that have specifically wanted to purchase a home in Hillcrest.  With its more mature landscaping, larger sized lots, excellent location and stunning executive homes, its no wonder.   

The Hillcrest neighborhood is located in Highlands Ranch, CO - Douglas County off of University Blvd between along White Bay Drive.  You can also enter the neighborhood on the other side of White Bay Drive off of Colorado Blvd as well.  Here is a google map of Hillcrest. if trying a zip code MLS search for Hillcrest, the zip code is 80126. 

One of the reasons why Hillcrest has continued to be so interesting to Highlands Ranch home buyers is the actual size of the neighborhood.  It is a much smaller community that some of the other Highlands Ranch neighborhoods and it does happen to have many more streets that are cul-de-sacs than some other areas.  In fact, only one street in Hillcrest is not a cul-de-sac and all the others do have cul-de-sac endings. 

The homes in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Highlands Ranch are built by Richmond Homes and were mostly built in the early to mid 1990’s.  The homes in the neighborhood have a wide price range depending on many factors but currently range from approximately $600,000 to $900,000.  Some of the determining price factors are size of lot, upgrades & updating in the home, finished basements, cul-de-sac location, backing to open space or the Highlands Ranch trails, and of course any mountain view possibilities.  

As I already mentioned, these Highlands Ranch homes in Hillcrest continue to be very appealing - the bedrooms are a very generous size for the most part - even the smaller of the secondary bedrooms are very accommodating.  The kitchens are generally very open & built for entertaining and the yard sizes are among some of the largest in Highlands Ranch.  The homes are still competing with some of the new home builds in Highlands Ranch, so the homes in Hillcrest that have been well maintained and updated fair very well in the housing market.  There are some that I have seen in the past that could use a little updating, but if things are in generally great condition, a Hillcrest home should do quite well in this market.

The schools that are within the boundaries for Hillcrest are quite nearby.
Schools:  Cougar Run Elementary ;   Cresthill Middle School ; Highlands Ranch High School
For more information about schools visit the Douglas County School District Web site or view Colorado School Accountability Reports or the School Annual Reports. 
In addition to these public schools listed, there are close by educational options, includidng the brand new Valor Christian High School, Platte River Academy (K - 8th - public charter) and Denver Christian School (K - 8th) and Cherry Hills Christian School (Pre K - 8th), and there are several Catholic School options available in the area as well. 

Highlands Ranch is a community that is filled with nearly endless recreational opportunities, and Hillcrest is no exception. There is very easy access to the Highlands Ranch trail system on the Vista Trail (it runs through many of the homes in this neighborhood’s backyards) and is only minutes away from both the Eastridge and Northridge Recreation Centers.  The Southridge and Westridge Recreation Centers are only 10 minute drive.  Nearby parks are maintained by the Highlands Ranch Metro Districts. 

Hillcrest is a part of the covenant community of Highlands Ranch, governed by the Highlands Ranch Community Association.  

Shopping is also plentiful from Hillcrest  -  some stores are within walking distance if you needed to and & other shopping options  are less than 5 minutes away.

In addition, with easy access to C470 at the University Blvd exit, Park Meadows Mall is only about 10 minutes away from this part of Highlands Ranch, CO.  This mall can also be accessed very easily without the highway by continuing to travel south east on University Blvd or east on County Line Rd. 

As are most of the Highlands Ranch homes and neighborhoods, Hillcrest is an approximate 40 - 45 minute commute from Denver International Airport.  

Hillcrest is one of the more stately looking neighborhoods with large inviting front yards, long walkways and quite a bit of exterior brick.  Most folks will find that commuting from this neighborhood is a breeze.  If you need to go downtown you can use University Blvd or the highways or go a bit west to continue downtown on Broadway or Santa Fe Drive.  You are also just minutes to the RTD bus commuting center and there are additionally RTD Light Rail lines on both the far east and west sides of Highlands Ranch.  The entrance to C470 at University Blvd is only moments from Hillcrest, providing easy access to the entire DTC area, Lockheed plant and more.  The Meridian area is very easily reached via University Blvd which becomes Lincoln Avenue as it continues into Lone Tree and Parker. 

Ready to find your home in Hillcrest? 

The Highwoods is one of the more higher-end neighborhoods in Highlands Ranch. Many home buyers of the Denver luxury real estate market that wish to live in the south Denver suburbs consider The Highwoods.

It is one of the few gated communities in town and is absolutely beautiful. Much of the area sits high affording commanding views of the Front Range.

A community swimming pool & tennis courts are just part of what makes this luxuirous high-end neighborhood so special in Highlands Ranch. This is executive living at its best in Highlands Ranch - close to commuting to DTC, Downtown Denver, Meridian, the Lockheed Plant and more. Denver International Airport is about 45 minutes away.

The Highwoods is served by the Douglas County School District. The feeder schools are Bear Canyon Elementary, Mountain Ridge Middle School and Mountain Vista High School. In addition there are numerous private schools within close proximity to The Highwoods.

If you are interested in real estate in The Highwoods, or anywhere else in the Metro Denver Area, it would be my pleasure to assist you.