Although Highlands Ranch has a strong economy supported mostly by management, business, science, sales, and office occupations, one of its main draws is its proximity to Denver. Many residents choose to live in the smaller unincorporated community of Highlands Ranch due to the short commute to their job in the city. In fact, Highlands Ranch is often referred to as the “bubble” of Denver. However, the less than 12-mile distance to Denver isn’t the only reason that many home buyers are curious about real estate in Highlands Ranch.
Homes For Sale in Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch Living
Highlands Ranch was once used for ranch land. It wasn’t until 1870 that it was permanently settled. After the city of Denver began to expand, so did the suburbs around the city. Highlands Ranch is a 22,000-acre planned community that began construction in 1981. The C-470 beltway was built through the area not long after, which made access to Highlands Ranch much easier, thereby allowing the community to expand enormously over the next few decades. In 1991, the population consisted of 17,000 people. Data collected most recently indicates that the current population has grown to around 96,713. Residents occupy around 29,000 single-family homes and 3,289 apartments.
Highlands Ranch Real Estate
One of the things to look for as a buyer is a home that will retain its value or increase its value over the years. This makes the homes in Highlands Ranch a good bet. Recently, the estimated median value of a house in Highlands Ranch was $446,300, which is well above the $314,200 estimated median value of houses in the rest of the state.
A strong economy is also necessary to support the value of these homes. Denver’s strong economy has a big impact on the real estate value in Highlands Ranch, but the community is not without its own economy. In fact, over 1,000 acres of land (out of the 22,000 acres that the community covers) has been designated for corporate headquarters as well as industrial, commercial, office and business use in general. Not to mention that Charles Schwab recently consolidated its Denver-area offices to the area and that UCHealth is planning to build a $315 million hospital in Highlands Ranch by the beginning of 2019.
Highlands Ranch Quality of Life
Of course, the strength of the local economy and the value of the homes within the community shouldn’t be the only reasons for investing in Highlands Ranch real estate. The quality of life in the area is also a big draw. The community has received numerous accolades over the years as a result, including being named one of the “Top 25 Places to Move” by Forbes in 2009. The factors contributing to a high-quality of life include the highly-regarded Douglas County School System, the low crime rate, the average 246 sunny days a year and the abundance of amenities, which include six community parks, four recreational areas, 19 neighborhood parks and countless restaurants, shops and entertainment possibilities.
Your real estate agent is the best source of information about the local community and real estate topics. Give The Sold by Simmons Team a call/text today at 720-308-6035 to learn more about local areas, discuss selling a house, or tour available homes for sale.