Nicole Hembling

One of the interesting places to consider in Transit Village is The Peloton. This is a group of new, modern lofts and condominiums that were originally planned to be owned by the residents, but some are now available to rent. This project is situated on Arapahoe Avenue and 33rd, so it is close to the 29th street mall and not far from Pearl Street and the CU campus. In addition to this, it has easy access to Foothills Boulevard, which means it is easy to leave town and avoid traffic. One of the major draws of this complex is its rooftop pool with amazing views of the Flatirons which is only accessible to residents. There is also a very nice clubhouse and gym facility right in the center of the complex. Parking is underground for residents, which is nice in winter as well.

Mountain Laurel Place is quite unique in the aspect that it is a cul-de-sac on the top of a big hill with amazing views of the Flatirons from several of its large and beautiful homes. There are only five homes on this street, so there is never any traffic making it a peaceful little retreat from Broadway to the East. Homes start at a million dollars as there are only a few of them and they are in a very desirable location.

The homes on the North side of Quince Circle face the Wonderland Lake trail and look out over some of the best views in Boulder. Wonderland Lake is a gorgeous natural lake surrounded by a 1.5 mile walking trail and serves as one of Boulder Open Spaces best local destinations. To live in a home with a deck facing a view of Wonderland Lake is truly special. Homes vie for space on this circle, so parking is at a premium, but there is a parking lot that visitors can use, which makes access to the trail and lake a bit easier.

Most of 5th Street in Dakota Ridge has single family homes which are all quite new construction. One block is a series of town-homes which all face a beautiful large park with a playground. These homes are more affordable than the single family homes and are one of the best locations in Boulder for a home in a great family neighborhood and right across the street from the park.

Utica borders Wonderland Lake on its Northern side and many of the homes on this street, especially those on the South side of the street have some of the best views in Boulder. At the East end of this street there is a collection of cottages that border the lake and they cost in the 500k range depending on their views. The bigger homes on Utica have nice sized lots and are mostly beautiful homes, some of which have been remodeled. The West end of Utica is a cul-de-sac that has a pathway to Foothills Community Park which is adjacent to Wonderland Lake. You can also hike up into the foothills and get amazing views down into the neighborhood, over the lake and out over the plains. All sorts of wildlife frequent this area and bikers, runners and walkers are on the trails from dawn to dusk every day. This street has some of the nicest homes you can find so close to town and yet immersed in nature.

If you want an easy, relatively traffic free route to ride you bike from North Boulder to Pearl Street, 4th Street is one of the best ways to go. From Linden Ave, there is a gateway and path that does not allow cars, so there is no thru way except for bikes and pedestrians. At the intersection of 4th and Linden there are a couple fabulous estates that sit just below the foothills with views of Mount Sanitas. As you travel South, down 4th street, most homes are in the 800k and up range. Residents of 4th street can stroll or bike down to Pearl Street without too much traffic flow, so it is a very nice location for easy access to downtown. They also have easy access to Boulder Community Hospital, so it is a good choice for doctors and hospital employees.

As you head North on Broadway, there is a traffic light and bus stop at Linden Avenue and after turning left onto Linden Avenue, make an immediate right into Linden Circle. This a cul-de-sac with five homes on nice-sized lots. Two of the homes back to Linden Avenue, so they will be a bit noisy, but the other three have lovely quiet large lots. From Linden Circle, it is simple to take the Skip bus to town, so no need to drive and park. In addition, you can hike up to Mt. Sanitas off of Linden Avenue or you can bike, run or walk around nearby Wonderland Lake, so there is lots of nature nearby. This neighborhood is also convenient to both Lucky and Ideal markets and the many stores and restaurants in those two areas.

Homes in this neighborhood are considered the best of Boulder. The reason is their proximity to the gem of Boulder, Chautauqua park. This park, which was established in 1898, is comprised of the original 84 acres where the Auditorium and Dining Hall are the main attractions and where Boulder residents flock throughout the year for community gatherings and cultural events galore. Flagstaff neighborhood sits at the base of the Boulder Flatirons and some of the best hiking trails in Colorado start at the Chautauqua parking lot. Flagstaff is also bordered to the East by the University of Colorado and to the North by Pearl Street. All of this is within easy walking distance of this prime neighborhood where homes range from 900k and up. This is not the quietest neighborhood again due to the proximity to the University and as you travel North or East from Flagstaff you come into the prime student housing which is in the midst of frat houses and party central for CU-Boulder which is known as the Hill. This area does tend to have a bit more petty crime due to its proximity to the Hill, but the closer you go to the base of Flagstaff and Baseline Road the quieter and more exclusive the neighborhood becomes.

The homes that line Linden Park Avenue are situated around a little pond that is called Maxwell Lake. This street backs up to Linden Avenue, so the homes that have their backyards to Linden will have a bit of traffic noise, more than most of the homes in Wonderland Hill neighborhood as they are on the edge of the neighborhood. The homes that back up to Maxwell Lake have an amazing location as they enjoy a very peaceful location and ideal views of the little pond. This street has very easy access to downtown Boulder and can also access the Skip bus within a couple minutes walk. This is a fabulous location for bikers and walkers as bike paths run all through the surrounding neighborhoods and have easy access to downtown via 4th street.

If you are looking for a spacious lot with views of the foothills to the West and sunrise over the plains to the East, but only a 5 minute drive to downtown Boulder, this is really an ideal location. Houses on this road are 900k or more due to their proximity to town combined with zero traffic and surrounded by nature on all sides. Several homes on this street have been totally torn down and rebuilt and are now worth over 2 million. Should be one of the most sought after streets in Boulder, but due to the lack of through traffick, it can be an over-looked gem.

If you are looking to buy a mountain home, Keystone is definitely a place to consider. You can buy a home or condo here within walking distance of the ski-lifts and restaurants, or if you want to ski other great mountains you can drive 10 minutes to Arapahoe basin or 20 minutes to Breckenridge or 35 minutes to Vail or Beaver Creek and all of these locations are on the Epic Pass ski ticket. In the summer, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world and you can hike or mountain bike from your doorstep to just about anywhere. There is also great golfing in Keystone as well as in the neighboring towns. Dillon and Silverthorne are minutes away and there you can find the Dillon Dam Brewery and the outlet malls as well as plenty of other dining options. For a mountain home, Keystone is the closest option to A-Basin and is also very close to Denver, so you can easily fly in to Denver and be home in a little over an hour and a half
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Pine Street runs parallel to Pearl Street, just two blocks north. It runs from the base of the foothills in the West to 28th street on the East. I have rented houses at 14th and Pine and at 25th and Pine for college students, so there are many options for students along Pine if they prefer a quieter location that is still easy walking/biking distance to CU and Pearl. Rent is about $700 per room in one of the historical homes that have not been renovated at all. West of Broadway (at 12th and Pine) the houses are all gorgeously restored Victorian homes and certainly one of the most beautiful streets in Boulder at a premium price. I love the old churches and hotels that are on Pine in the 12th to 14th blocks.

As you turn onto Dakota Boulevard from Lee Hill Drive there is a lovely walking/biking trail on the West side of the street. This trail will take you North to Hogback Ridge Trail, a nice little loop that provides amazing Flatiron views, or South to Wonderland Lake, a hidden gem in Boulder. There appears to be new construction that may impact the views that these million dollar homes now have, so that will be something to keep an eye on over the first months of 2013.

Lakebriar drive is one of my favorite streets in Boulder. It ends in a cul-de-sac off of Linden Drive, so there is never any traffic. As you enter this road on your right you will see a little green park area dotted with magnificent trees where neighbors convene for "yappy hour" in the evening. The neighborhood dogs chase each other around this quiet park while their owners sip a beverage and chat about the latest news. It is a quick bike ride to Pearl Street along a practically traffic free 4th street, so it easy to get downtown for a weekend brunch or to catch the Farmers Market on Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning. There are homes ranging from 650k to 2 million lining this delightfully quiet street at the base of the foothills.

Nestled in the shadow of the majestic Flatirons in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a scenic refuge for nature-loving, athletic, liberal-minded people. With its 300 days of sunny weather, you will find the majority of its inhabitants outside doing something every day. Cycling, walking, hiking and running are year-round activities, and the seasons lend themselves to those special pursuits like skiing, snowboarding, rock-climbing, snow-shoeing that Boulderites are addicted to.

Boulder is considered a high desert climate, usually sunny and dry and it sits at an elevation of 5400 feet with the foothills to the West and lots of beautiful farmland to the East. It is a real University town, home to the University of Colorado at Boulder, or CU that covers 786 acres of downtown, with 29,000 students and one of the most beautiful campuses on earth. The University hosts activities all year and one of the many highlights of living in Boulder is going to a Buffs football game at Folsom Field or a basketball game at the Coors event center.

Boulder's population is around 99,000. It is not very diverse ethnically, but people are super liberal and certainly welcome and celebrate diversity. Per capita, Boulder is considered on of the fittest, best-educated, foodiest towns in America and is consistently voted best town in America to live for many of these reasons.

Because so many people want to live here, it is expensive to rent or to buy. Boulder can have some traffic issues during special events and at certain times of the day. Many people commute to Boulder, so it can be difficult to get in and out of town at rush hour. It has relatively low crime, but the campus is known for a high rate of bike theft, probably by gangs that come from out-of-town to prey on the students who bike to school. You will also see a large vagrant and homeless community who take advantage of the town's tolerance and generosity. These are some of the downsides to Boulder and are pretty well out-weighed by the huge number of positive attributes that living in Boulder offers.

One of the highlights of the North Boulder neighborhoods is the plethora of newly constructed homes ranging in price from 350k up to 1.5 million. Both Dakota Ridge and the Holiday neighborhood have new homes being built as well as newer homes back on the market by their owners. Buyers will be impressed with the quality of the home designs and construction that really appeal to some younger professional families, so there are always lots of kids to play with at the local parks and loads of people of all ages out walking, running and biking the many beautiful trails that criss-cross these neighborhoods. Open space surrounds this area on all sides and there are breathtaking views of the foothills from all angles. Cyclists really flock to North Boulder on a daily basis and there are several great shops and restaurants serving the area. Upslope brewery and BookCliff vineyards are located here and always have bands and food-trucks stopping by which provides a great place to stop off after work to meet with friends and have a drink.

This quiet street is ideally located at the base of the foothills in North Boulder. Walking and biking trails surround the street and lead around neighboring Wonderland Lake, and either North up to Dakota Ridge and the Hogback Ridge Trail or South down to town. We ride our bikes to Pearl Street, the Boulder Farmer's Market or down to CU for a football game in a matter of minutes. The neighborhood has arguably the best pool and tennis courts in town with an amazing view of the foothills. Lucky Market is a few blocks East.

Nestled in the foothills just North of downtown Boulder is a magical neighborhood area known as Wonderland Hills. Criss-crossed by miles of walking, hiking and biking trails beautiful homes sit at the edge of scenic Wonderland Lake. This area is so quiet and serene, animals visit the lake daily and neighbors convene by the lake or at the neighborhood pool or tennis courts to exchange news of the day while children run and play at the neighborhood parks, fish in the lake or ride their bikes along the trails. This is truly Boulder's hidden secret.