Solterra - Parade of Homes 2008 (Colorado)

I took the opportunity this weekend to check out the 2008 Parade of Homes at Solterra (put on by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver) and was pleasantly surprised.  Now, it is sort of assumed that the Parade of Homes is going to have beautiful homes.  That wasn't my concern.  My concern was the theme.  The Solterra development, as the developer claims, was inspired by European hilltowns, places like Tuscany, Andalusia and Provence .  Don't get me wrong, most everyone can see the appeal of a Tuscan hilltown.  My fear wasn't related to this particular theme, it was more that "themes" in general can can miss the mark or be overdone.  For instance, if an entire area is based on a theme, that theme better be done very tastefully or in 10 years you could find yourself in an area that lacks appeal and feels artificial.  Themes are a fact of life in new developments, and as stated before, if done tastefully they can actually add a great deal of appeal to an area.

Now that you understand a little bit how I approached Solterra and the Parade of Homes, here's my review.

 

The Location

As you enter the development, there are two things that strike you.  First, the location.  I don't know of a lot of really nice large parcels of land left in the metro area, but the developer (Carma) certainly found one here.  Situated just east of the hogback that separates the town of Morrison from the metro area and perched on the side of Green Mountain, Solterra has a very grand entrance with some great views.  Some other perks of the location include: great access to C-470; being unbelievably close to legitimate open space, with hiking/biking/horseback trails (not just glorified greenbelts); and sweeping views across the southwest metro area, including the foothills -- all of which will make this area very appealing in my opinion to many who appreciate the beauty of Colorado's topography, but want to stay somewhat close to the city.  It is tough to find a setting like this, this close to the city.

The second thing that struck me was "The Retreat", a community center and the focal point of the development.  The tower of The Retreat rises high, directly in your line of sight, with Red Rocks amphitheater and the foothills as its back-drop, immediately giving the impression that this is not a typical suburban development. 

The Parade Homes

The actual Parade homes were spectacular.  Not a real shocker here, they usually are, but these definitely lived up to expectations.  It certainly helps that the Tuscan theme is one that incorporates tasteful use of color, lots of masonry and a sort of casual elegance.  My personal opinion was that a few of them went a touch over the top, but for the most part they were very tasteful and quite beautiful.  It's hard to be critical of homes like these in any way, but if I had to critique them, my one criticism would be that a couple of them over-did it (just a little).  That being said, several of them were right on the mark, blending high-end luxury with good taste.  While all the homes incorporated outdoor spaces that most people would love to have on their dream home, some took it to a whole new level with multiple courtyards and outdoor spaces that you would have to pry yourself away from.  One trick with multi-million dollar homes that many people overlook is that it is tough to make a huge home cozy at the same time. With high square footage properties, it is very easy to find yourself with spaces that aren't functional -- where they made a room, just for the sake of having a room (often that will never be set foot in).  Sometimes too, properties of this size can lose warmth just because of the raw size.  My opinion was that most of these homes did exceptionally well in this area and there were very few spaces in the homes that I felt were just there to add to the square footage. 

The Parade runs through Labor Day and if you haven't seen it, I would suggest you do.  As a Real Estate Consultant, I need to go for work, but on a personal level, it was an enjoyable afternoon with my family as well.

The Non-Parade Homes
Two builders have models available, Cardel & Infinity.  The Cardel homes start in the 500s and the Infinity homes in the 600s.  Both builders have done a nice job of keeping with the theme, but not over-doing it.  The models and the plans for the homes were very nice and, as I found with the Parade homes, did a very good job of creating functional and visually appealing space.  

If you've ever been in a model home, you know that they are very well decorated and usually incorporate all the bells and whistles.  Often, model homes end up being nothing like the base homes (where prices start).  Knowing this, I spent a good deal of time reviewing what's included and what's optional.  It was nice to find that in many instances here, the inclusions with the "base" home were better than I have often seen in the past.  Meaning, even the "base" package home would likely be quite nice (assuming good taste was applied when picking colors, etc.).  Another thing I liked is that the custom builders' lots and the tract builders' lots were mixed together, which will help the overall area's value and appeal over time, in my opinion.

Summary
Overall, I was very impressed with Solterra as a development.  The location is very nice in my opinion, especially for those who desire to be close to, but not in the city.  Without bad traffic, it took me about 20 minutes to get back to heart of Denver. The "theme" issue I was so concerned about, actually turned out to be a positive in my book.  The Parade homes were all I expected and more and the tract builders' homes have the potential to be very nice in my opinion.  From what I see, Solterra will likely be a very successful development, and it would benefit the entire Denver area if it is.

One other thing that was nice to see in both the Parade and the Non-Parade homes was an emphasis on green buidling practices. I think most would agree that making the best and most efficient use of materials and resources is good for everyone.

This has been a pretty glowing review.  To be clear, I have no skin in this game.  I don't work for or have any business ties to anyone having anything to do with Solterra.  I do however, as a Real Estate Consultant, have opinions on housing and developments that I see.  Of course, I am rooting for anything in the Denver Metro area to be a success when it comes to homes as it benefits all property owners the better the market does, and I am excited about this development as I think it will be a positive for the Denver metro housing market. As far as cons related to Solterra, I have heard a few and actually, I tend to disagree with them. Here's what I have heard:

1) Too far out-there --  My response to this is that, that depends on who you're talking to. Often to find a nice new development, you have to be willing to drive long distances from Denver itself.  I found the commute to be pretty easy.  It may be too far out for some, but that is a different type of buyer. The person who will likely find Solterra most appealing is, generally speaking, not the person looking for an urban setting.  They are two different things.  This is a suburban area, with good access to the city as I see it.

2) The lots are too small --  There may be some legitimacy to this claim, but welcome to new construction in the Denver metro area. Actually, from what I saw, I felt the lots were relatively pretty reasonable.  Do I wish they were larger? Sure. Many people, myself included, would love to live in a great home on a huge lot.  However, during the housing boom, we pretty clearly sent the message that oversized lots aren't top priority for buyers when we bought up every tiny lot that builders put homes on. Unfortunately, that genie is going to be tough to stick back in the bottle.  Frankly, I don't see that happening and if it did, would likely be on a pretty limited scale. The lot selections I saw at Solterra seemed relatively reasonable to me and in line with much of the new construction in the metro area.  

There you have it.  I would love to hear your comments on this blog and your reviews of Solterra as well.  To view active listings in Solterra or get information on new construction properties, visit my website's Solterra page.

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