By Mark Samuelson

Berkeley Homes and Harvard Communities, two of Colorado’s most creative builders, could give you a whole new way of looking at the landscape south of Park Meadows this weekend; and a new way of looking at solar energy, too.

Builders John Keith and Rich Laws show their new, contemporary model at ParkSide, where a team from Solar City installs a leased solar-electric system with every home.

They’ve joined forces in Lone Tree to design an enclave of 31 single-family residences (9 are already reserved) showcased by an eye-catching, family-sized model with finished walkout basement, and a solar power system that you lease rather than buy. more »

By Mark Samuelson

What could make for a better way to celebrate Earth Day than visiting a new Stapleton home that uses absolutely no energy at all? You can come tour New Town Builders’ Zero-Energy Home Sunday (Apr. 22) in Stapleton’s Central Park West neighborhood; get Earth Day treats for the family including SunChips and Coke Zero; and see all of Stapleton’s other attractions that draw buyers the other 355 days-a-year, including big values on new home space at attainable prices.

Stephen and Jenny Sanderson and kids Jayla, 7, and Weston, 4, were the first buyers to contract on a zero-energy-use home from New Town Builders at Stapleton.

That’s what first lured Stephen and Jenny Sanderson to Stapleton in 2005, when with a baby on the way and their Uptown condo looking tiny, they compared Stapleton to older areas such as Park Hill. more »

>By Mark Samuelson

Orchard Hills, within walking distance east of the Denver Tech Center, has a secluded ambiance that wraps a trace work of ponds and trails; with half-acre and larger home sites that were left unfenced from its original 1960s development plan – creating the semblance for residents of even more treed open space.

Broker Carol Baker of The Denver 100 shows off remodeled, chalet-styled raised ranch in Orchard Hills, Greenwood Village

Denver 100 agent Carol Baker will show you a raised ranch in there that has what doesn’t come standard with most Orchard Hills homes – complete makeover of its 60s-era architecture with entertaining areas and alluring outdoor spaces. more »

By Mark Samuelson

As agents look over the metro area this spring, the Ken-Caryl Valley west of Littleton is particularly interesting to watch. Enclosed by 6,000 acres of open space west of C-470, it has no homes in the ‘affordable’ range that analysts say should sell quickly this spring – plenty of homes in the mid-range where recovery should be slower. Yet agents are seeing much brisker sales there.

Roze Team members Becky Berzins, left, Rachel Schroeder and Sandra Rozeboom sold this Ken-Caryl Valley home that had been its lowest listing. It received three competing offers.

“We haven’t seen this activity in years,” says Denver 100 agent Sandra Rozeboom, who has specialized in Ken-Caryl Valley since the 1980s when its 1,668-home master plan was first launched. From Jan. 1, Rozeboom notes, the Valley has seen 18 homes closed and another 18 go under contract. Only three of the sales were in the Valley’s lowest price range of $300,000 to $400,000. more »

By Mark Samuelson

With Denver’s market showing fresh signs of a turnaround, The Denver 100 Real Estate is staging Economic Symposium 2012, to be held at Colorado Golf Club, 7:30 a.m. April 17, featuring nationally known economist Patty Silverstein and market analyst Jack O’Connor, Broker Owner of The Denver 100.

Economist Patty Silverstein

Admission, including a continental breakfast, is free and is limited to 100 attendees. more »