Lower HIghland's (LoHi) Visionairies

LoHi contiues to grow with new and exciting resturaunts and shops, as well as in new residential developments.  The LoHi real estate market is HOT and nnay of these multi-unit developments are selling out prior to breaking ground!!  Businesses are attracted to LoHi and so are new residents!  It is hard to say what makes a neighborhood take off in popularity.......what makes it the hot spot.  It usually starts with an individual or individuals having the faith and vision to invest in a particular area.  Here is a great article providing some history on the vision of LoHi........and the visionaries behind some of LoHi besr spots!

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2011/06/03/high-times-for-lohi-now.html?ana=fbk 

Sunnyside Music Fest 10th Anniversary

The Sunnyside Music Fest was this past weekend in Chaffee Park in Sunnyside.  Celebrating their 10th Anniversary, this year's event, once again, did not disappoint.  The weather was beautiful and the crowd was large.  Chaffee park was filled with bikes, strollers, dogs, and food and craft venders, as young and old came out to this community event to hangout with friends and neighbors and listen to some great local music.  What makes Sunnyside Music Fest so unique is that it is Denver's ONLY community-owned, grass roots neighborhood event.  The FREE event is held each year the Saturday after Labor Day. Proceeds for this year's event went to the local non-profit Bienvenidos Food Bank.  Check out the link below for more information on the Sunnyside Music Fest, the history and how to get involved next year! 

http://www.sunnysidemusicfest.org/about/our-organization/                      

Monthly Market Snap Shot June 2012

June was HOT, and not just in temperatures.....the Highlands real estate market was HOT as well.  All areas saw an increase in the number of sales from May to June 2012.  Even with low inventory, buyers continue to purchase property at a rate that is higher than this time last year.  There are many serious buyers searching the Highlands for homes to meet their needs.  They search the internet at home and on weekends circle for Open Houses in hopes they are the first to find that home that meets their needs.  Historically low interest rates are keeping buyers interested in the market and low inventory is helping sellers obtain close to asking price for their home.  The HIghlands continues to be seller's market in all areas. 

Interest rates are expected to remain low through 2012.....it will be interesting to see what the next few months bring to the Highlands real estate market.  Will the typical seasonal slow down at the end of the summer effect the market??  Stay tuned!

Highland

# of Units Sold                         32

Median Sales Price            $380,000

Average Sales Price          $452,200

Average PSF                        $254

Average DOM                         79

Average List to Sold Price    97%

Months of Inventory (MOI)       1.25

West Highland

# of Units Sold                           33 

Median Sales Price               $335,000

Average Sales Price             $374,300

Average PSF                            $221

Average DOM                            43

Average List to Sold Price       99%

MOI                                           1.22

Berkeley                                     

# of Units Sold                          34

Median Sales Price              $294,000

Average Sales Price            $331,400

Average PSF                          $223

Average DOM                           53

Average List to Sold Price     98.4%

MOI                                              1

Sunnyside

# of Units Sold                           15

Median Sales Price               $279,000

Average Sales Price             $273,500

Average PSF                             $198

Average DOM                            20

Average List to Sold Price        98.2%

MOI                                              2.26

It's Not Just About the Ice Cream

Saturday night in LoHi is hopping and the line is around the corner at Little Man Ice Cream.  This popular milk can ice cream shop draws people from inside and outside the neighborhood.  The ice cream alone is worth the trek, but the great thing about Little Man is that it is not just great ice cream, gelato and sorbet......visiting Little Man Ice Cream is an experience.  Throughout the summer Little Man offers Vintage Movie Nights, Blue Grass Sundays  and even a hula hoop contest.  Check out their events calendar that offers fun events for the entire family throughout the year http://littlemanicecream.com/calendar/.  It is great to see a successful business in the community go above and beyond for the betterment of the community as whole!  YAY Little Man Ice Cream!!!

Quarterly Market Report - Highlands 2nd Quarter 2012

The Second Quarter of 2012 was extremely busy in the Highlands real estate market.  All areas saw a significant increase in the number of sales from first quarter 2012 to seond quarter 2012.  In most instances the average days on market (DOM) decreased as buyers had to act fast to get the property they wanted due to low inventory throughout the Highlands.  The largest increase in sales can be seen in new construction projects in the Highland/LoHi area.  The number of sales of new construction properties jumped from 3 in the first quarter to 24 in the second quater of 2012.  Many projects reached completion in the second quarter and buyers were able to close and move into their new property.  Developers are having no problem selling their properties in HIghland......in fact it seems as if new properties can not be built fast enough. 

HIGHLAND

Single Family

# of Sales                                       33

Median Sales Price                    $314,000

Avergae Sales Price                   $401,000

Avergae PSF                               $239

Average DOM                              59

Average List to Sold Price           94.1%

MOI           

                                    1.9

New Construction

# of Sales                                      24

Median Sales Price                     $540,500

Avergae Sales Price                    $569,800

Avergae PSF                                $255
Average DOM                              109
Average List to Sold Price           98.6%
MOI                                              1.14

Condos/Town Homes

# of Sales                                         21

Median Sales Price                      $315,000
Avergae Sales Price                     $315,250

Avergae PSF                                  $267

Average DOM                                 57

Average List to Sold Price             96.4%

MOI

WEST HIGHLAND

Single Family

# of Sales                                      82

Median Sales Price                  $353,750

Avergae Sales Price                 $363,350

Avergae PSF                             $230

Average DOM                             41
Average List to Sold Price         98.5%
MOI                                            1.4

New Construction

# of Sales                                      1

Median Sales Price                   $605,000
Avergae Sales Price                 $605,000
Avergae PSF                               $206

Average DOM                             324

Average List to Sold Price          97.7%

MOI                                              18

Condos/Town Homes

# of Sales                                     6

Median Sales Price               $232,250
Avergae Sales Price              $265,500
Avergae PSF                            $194
Average DOM                         56
Average List to Sold Price       94.1%

MOI                                          2.5

BERKELEY

Single Family

# of Sales                                  66

Median Sales Price              $299,200
Avergae Sales Price             $297,950
Avergae PSF                          $213
Average DOM                        72.6
Average List to Sold Price      98.5%

MOI                                           2

New Construction

# of Sales                                   11

Median Sales Price               $415,000

Avergae Sales Price              $444.750

Avergae PSF                            $209

Average DOM                           89

Average List to Sold Price      96.1%

MOI                                           3.5

Condos/Town Home

# of Sales                                      2

Median Sales Price                  $479,950

Avergae Sales Price                 $479,950

Avergae PSF                             $189

Average DOM                           79

Average List to Sold Price        98%

MOI                                            5

SUNNYSIDE

Single Family

# of Sales                                   53

Median Sales Price                $250,000

Avergae Sales Price               $248,500

Avergae PSF                            $177

Average DOM                         41.5

Average List to Sold Price       97%

MOI                                          1.81

New Construction

# of Sales                                     0

Median Sales Price                     0 

Avergae Sales Price                    0

Avergae PSF                                0

Average DOM                             0

Average List to Sold Price          0

MOI                                             0

Condos/Town

# of Sales                                   2

Median Sales Price                $179,500

Avergae Sales Price              $179,500

Avergae PSF                           $209

Average DOM                         27

Average List to Sold Price       98.6%

MOI                                          2

Highland 4th of July Parade

This year was the 5th Annual Highland 4th of July Parade and once again the event drew many families, nieghbors and business owners to the parade and picnic in the park.  The festivities began with an old fashion parade led by a vintage fire engine from the Berkeley Gardens fire department.  Scores of children and adults on decorated bikes, wagons, roller blades and scooters followed behind.  The parade route went down W. 32nd Ave. ended in Hirshorn Park for live   music, hotdogs, a bouncy castle and games.  Children lined up to participate in the three legged, potato sack and wheel barrow races while their parents cheered them on and awaited their chance to participate in the races as well.  The Firemen from Station 7 stopped by to provide a surprise cool down to the crowd by spraying us all with their fire hose which then kicked off the water balloon fight (2,500 water ballloons!!!).  The event wound down with a 60 foot ice cream sundae provided by Little Man Ice Cream.  Children lined up for an opportunity to dig into the giant sundae topped with whipped cream, spinkles and chocolate sauce.  This is a great family event that has grown in attendance year after year.  It provides a fun and safe environment for the kids and allows friends and neighbors to gather to celebrate the holiday.  As the neighborhood continues to draw more trendy bars and resturants, and as Highland is touted in news papers and magazines as the "hip" and "hot" neighborhood in Denver, it is nice to experience the sense of small town and community which originally drew many of us to Highland before it really took off.



2012 Highland Farmers Market

The 2012 Highland Farmers Market is well underway with many venders selling fresh fruits and vegitables, flowers, crafts, doggie treats and much more.  The market is located in a perfect spot in LoHi, between 15th and 16th on Boulder Street, right in front of Lola, Vita and Shangrila Cafe.  This year's market brings many more food trucks and, along with the live music and umbrella tables......is a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy some specialty food from items. 

The Farmers Market draws many neighborhood regulars, as well as shoppers traveling in from other areas.  It is a great gathering spot to meet up with friends and neighbors and provides much fun and entertainment for the whole family!  The Highland Farmer's Market is sponsored by the neighborhood association, Highland United Neighbors, Inc (HUNI) and runs Saturdays, June through October 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.