Boulder County Market Report February 2016
I Hope this finds you happy and healthy so far in 2016, it has been busy at Stewart Ward Real Estate since we last checked in. Our Chautauqua Food and Supply Drive yielded two full SUVs of everything from canned goods to toiletries to winter coats and benefitted local charity Boulder Bridge House, we have also grown the company to include a transaction coordinator that will enable us to scale and provide even better service. Thank you so much for your support and to the 42 families in Chautauqua who donated to the drive!
The City of Boulder crossed a milestone in January, the average sales price for a single family home surpassed $1 million for the first time in a single month. Sales were January slow (45 homes vs. 238 in June 2015)(source:IRES MLS) and therefore a skewed sample, but this must be a harbinger of Future Boulder. Or is it? One of the most common questions I am asked is “Have we reached the peak of this market?” First let’s look at supply. In the City of Boulder 45% of available inventory is under contract, roughly 2 months worth(IRES MLS). A 6 month supply is considered balanced. Now let’s look at demand. Over 80,000 people moved to the Front Range last year from out of state in a trend that is expected to continue, and in-state migration to the Front Range from rural areas is trending upward(source: Denver Post). At a little over 4%, mortgage rates remain at historical lows and in affordable categories, bidding wars remain the norm all over Boulder County and Denver. What do you think for 2016? One thing is for sure – even though this seller’s market is still solidly in place it can change quickly and caution backed by research is necessary to understand selling and buying in different neighborhoods on the Front Range. Choose a great Realtor to provide that insight! Online estimates of your home’s worth are accurate within 15% approximately 50% of the time, are you curious what your home is really worth? Do you know anyone who could use my help this year?
Warm Nuts at 2020
One of the highlights of Longmont is the hamlet of Prospect, an architectural unicorn of design and planning. Prospect is the first example of New Urbanism in Colorado, where you will also find food truck icon Comida’s brick and mortar location, Urban Thai, and the Two Dog Diner. You could go to Prospect in daylight, cruise the neighborhood and easily see a Neoclassical house next to a Santa Fe adobe bordering an ultramodern stucco, but if you arrive before 4:00pm for happy hour you will miss dining at one of Boulder County’s gems, 2020 Food and Wine Bar.
With a quality casual vibe chef and wife team Matthew and Sara Koury combine culinary prowess from the Culinary Institute of America and Chicago fine dining with unpretentious and knowledgeable service. What is it about a bowl of warm nuts? Not all are created equal and 2020 does not disappoint with cashews and Marconi almonds, lightly salted yet still crunchy preparing you for the Salumi and Cheese combo. The varying selections of Italian meats guarantee you will try something new among the featured French and American artisans, some stinky, some creamy, and some hard. The country pate’ is made from scratch in-house and has umami in spades; the focus at 2020 is on food complementing wine so take advantage of flights that vary nightly from France, Italy, or more obscure appellations. Keep an eye out for special nights that will please and expose you to new things as with the recent South African wine dinner - I attended the Dux and Tux food and wine pairing in the fall and waddled off to bed like an October penguin in rare form.
Chicken Saltimbocca with Farro, roasted Brussel Sprouts and Acorn Squash at 2020
From the regular menu Napoli style pizza is fired in wood with thin but chewy crust and toppings that resemble their counterparts elsewhere but have more interest on the palate. Chef Matthew often curates savory entrée specials like the Chicken Saltimbocca above, so arrive ready to eat as well as sample the wines. Space is limited, it’s a good idea to call ahead.
2020 Food and Wine Bar, 2020 Ionosphere Street, Longmont (720) 491-3578
Event Schedule: www.facebook.com/eatdrink2020