This Boulder townhouse is where your home shopping will end!  A villa-style 3bd/4ba, 3200+sqft home shows like a model. This home was made for entertaining. Bright and open floorplan with sparkling maple and lhickory wood floors. Vaulted ceilings and huge windows. Thick walls for extreme quiet. 3 private decks, front porch and professional landscaping. Gorgeous gourmet kitchen w/ maple cabs and tile accents. Center island cooktop. Study nook. Formal dining and eat-in opens to outdoor dining and court yard. Huge master suite w/ luxury 5-pc bath. A bath for each bedroom. Custom paint and tile throughout. Finished daylight basement w/ huge family room and bedroom & bath. Ideal layout for guests or home office. Air conditioned. Downtown Boulder buyers will flip head over heels at this value. Unique and semi-private courtyard w/ huge trees. 2-Car garage. Close to grocery, easy Denver commute, close to Chautauqua Park, Universtiy Hill, CU and Downtown Boulder. The best in quality craftsmanship built in 2001 by I.S.T.  Builders of Boulder.  4312 Clay Commons Ct  Boulder, CO  $649,000 To schedule and appointment to see this home contact Gregg Ashburn @ RE/MAX of Boulder, Inc.  303.875.4907  Listed by Jon Hatch at GoodAcre Properties, Boulder #558464

So you want to live in the mountains?  Here is a Bobcat enjoying the comfort of Jim and Angela’s deck on Sugarloaf Mountain.  Sugarloaf is one of our mountain communities just minutes from downtown Boulder. Human’s are in little danger from the big cats in our Colorado Rockies.  Be careful when letting your pets outside at night.  We’ve had many mountain lion sightings and a few missing dogs in the City of Boulder is year.  Watch out for your little critters. 

Remember the old “$20,000 Pyramid” game show, wherein one player would recite a list of things in hopes of getting his or her partner to blurt out the correct answer?  Would you be able to guess this answer correctly?  Fairies, Carnival Rides, Rubber Duckies, Tulips, Music, Runnning…  The answer, of course, is “Things you’d find in Boulder in the month of May!” (And, it’s only a partial list). There are lots of good reasons to celebrate living in Boulder every day of the year, but the month of May could very well be the best of the best.  Crisp mornings, warm days (with occasional sprinkles), see-for-miles air quality, and explosions of color courtesy of Mother Nature, are just the beginning.  The month of May in Boulder is a chance to welcome Spring with open arms!  One truly original and unique Boulder event, The Downtown Boulder Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade, takes place on Sunday, May 4.  Dress your little ones as adorable Fairies or mischievous Elves and show up at the Pearl Street Mall by 2:00 p.m. to take part in the block long parade.  Each child will be christened by the Tulip Fairy and receive delicious chocolate treats from Belvedere Belgian Chocolate Shop.   Additional activities for the kids will be provided by Color Me Mine and others.  There’s no fee and no registration required.Boulder’s signature event – The Boulder Creek Festival – takes place May 24-26.  If you’re planning a house hunting trip to Boulder, this would be the weekend to schedule it!   This three day event packs music and entertainment on five stages, carnival rides, over 500 vendors, and excellent food and shopping in ten separate event areas.  Wrapping things up in a spec”quack”ular way, the city of Boulder Parks and Rec Foundation presents the EXPAND Duck Race on May 26^th.At 4:00 p.m., festivities kick off with the “Duck Derby” – a colorful, quirky parade of floats down the Boulder Creek with the first to cross the finish line earning year-long bragging rights.   Floats are sponsored by local businesses, supporters and sponsors.  Following the Derby, the main event takes place when thousands of little yellow rubber duckies are dropped into the creek from the 9^th Street Bridge. Racing toward the finish line at Peace Park, the first several ducks will win prizes for their “owners.”  Ducks may be purchased for a mere $5 donation (but, feel free to pay more!).   All proceeds benefit the city’s EXPAND program (Exciting Programs Adventures and New Dimensions), which provides recreational opportunities for individuals with various disabilities.  Go to www.greatduckrace.org for all the info.  Finally, the 30^th annual 10K race known as “Bolder Boulder 2008,” takes place on Memorial Day, May 26^th.  There’s a race day sports expo, plenty of entertainment along the way and a great course for professionals and hobbyists alike. A Memorial Day tribute (one of the largest in the country) at Folsom Field prior to the professional races, and the post race party and BBQ, “BashBASH,” round out the festivities.  You can find all the information you need, including how to register for the race, at www.boulderboulder.com.  I encourage you to get out there and enjoy all Boulder has to offer during the month of May. As a realtor, I’m happy to sell you the perfect home. But, as a resident, I know you’re buying more than bricks and mortar – you’re buying a great community!

Retirees, who are as equally interested in staying healthy and active as living well on a fixed income, are finding Boulder to be a highly desirable place to live out their golden years.  Perhaps it’s the baby boomer desire to “never grow old” that leads so many to our community.  In Boulder, seniors blend right in with their younger counterparts as they meet on hiking paths, ski trails or cycling all over town.  Ranked #1 “Best Place to Retire in Style” by Fortune Magazine, Boulder offers retirees an excellent alternative to conventional destinations like Florida, Arizona and California.  You’ll get more bang for your buck when it comes to housing, of course, letting empty-nesters choose larger homes (for visiting kids and grandkids) or no fuss condos or townhomes for those seniors who like to do their visiting on the fly.  With over 300 days of mild, sunny weather, Boulder can hold its own against damp coastal climes or scorching hot desert environs (complete with dramatic cooling bills).  And, don’t forget: the temps drop very low – snow low – in the desert, also.   And, Boulder scores an 89% on number of days air quality is rated “very good.”  And, speaking of ‘very good,’ the state income tax rate is 4.63% - and offers a tax break to retirees.  Other quality of life issues that make Boulder especially attractive to seniors are things like low crime rates.  The average national rating for “personal crime risk” is 100. Boulder’s is 46.   Forty Six!According to CNNMoney.com, there are 6 movie theaters, almost 1000 restaurants, 54 public golf courses, 27 libraries and 6 museums – all within Boulder or within 30 miles or less.  And, of course, we cannot forget the magnificent ski resorts.  Sure, there’s snowfall in Boulder, but who cares… you’re retired! (And, what’s a little snow compared to earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes in those other retirement destinations?) Boulder seniors even have a local television show dedicated to them!According to their mission statement, “Senior Spotlight,” broadcast on Boulder’s channel 8, is designed to: Celebrate the life and contributions of seniors and boomers; Provide timely information on services, programs and resources; Offer a forum for the discussion of issues of interest and importance to seniors, boomers and the community.  The program also streams on the city’s website. (Check it out now by clicking on this link: Watch Senior Spotlight Right Now.  Or, log onto www.bouldercolorado.gov, and go to Senior Services).Boulder also offers two Senior Centers, one on Arapahoe and the other on Sioux Drive, that provide a wealth of services, information and – best of all – social opportunities and classes. So, if you (or someone you love) is looking to retire in style and start the next phase of life in a healthy, happy and safe environment, come visit Boulder, and give me a call!   I’ll be happy to show you property and be your personal tour guide!  (And, if any Boulder residents reading this blog have further information on how retirees benefit by moving to Boulder, please post a comment).