Sat. Oct. 25: 6th Annual Prairie Harvest Fest! Food Trucks, Vendors, & Fall Activities!
Congratulations! You’ve decided to embark on the homebuying journey, and it’s time to get your ducks in a row. As a first-time home buyer, you may be tempted to start hitting open houses, but there are a few things you should attend to first. As a potential homeowner at Painted Prairie, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of mortgage loans and homeowners insurance. These aren’t topics that get most buyers really excited and dreaming, but they are crucial to the process!
When considering a mortgage lender for a new construction home, it’s important to do your research. We reached out to Valerie Cameron, the Senior Loan Originator at Prime Lending to get her expert advice.
Much like finding a realtor that you can work well with, Valerie recommends talking to three different mortgage lenders to start — it is important to choose someone who you communicate well with. Do they talk more, or do they listen more? If they listen more, are they truly hearing what you’re asking?
In addition to great communication, it’s important your lender has significant experience in financing new construction homes. There are many nuances to new construction that are not found in a resale home. Construction schedules can fluctuate, and if your lender is not familiar with the process, it can create unwanted delays.
During your lender interviews, make sure to ask them about rates, loan terms, down payments, and mortgage insurance and compare them. Each lender likely uses different forms, allocating fees in different categories. Valerie shares, “Be sure to ask your potential lender whether or not you’ll be working directly with them or if you will be passed over to an assistant. If they pass you over, are you okay with that?”
As a new construction home buyer, you’ll want to understand that mortgage loan rates can be locked long-term. The larger your loan, the longer you can lock the rate. “I recommend talking to someone who understands and regularly executes long-term locks,” says Valerie.
Remember that there is a fee to lock a long-term loan; however, if you don’t cancel the loan, the fee is then credited to your closing costs. Because of the variables with new construction, you’ll probably not know your closing date until you’re close to it. Make sure to lock your loan in longer than you think you’ll need it — it’s much cheaper to take this route than to extend the lock on your loan.
If you’re considering buying down to a lower interest rate, you’ll want to consider how long you plan to stay in your home. In an ever-changing market, rates can change multiple times each day. Take a look at the math. Here’s an example: If it costs you $2,500 to buy down the rate to save you $30 a month, it will take you 7 years to break even. If you don’t plan on sticking around for that long, it won’t be worth taking this step.
Another crucial part of the home buying process is homeowners insurance. We spoke to Kelly Stewart from Farmers Insurance to lend a little insight.
When choosing an agent, Kelly recommends considering someone with at least 3 years of experience in the industry. Be sure to check their website and social media reviews. Are they personable, knowledgeable, and listen to your concerns? Are they responsive and professional? These are important questions as your agent plays a crucial role in helping protect your assets.
You should engage an insurance agent about 14 – 30 days before closing, Kelly shares. Loan officers like to have the insurance address early in the process and finalized at least 7-10 days before the closing date.
Once you’ve picked your agent and are buying a new home, there are ways to lower your cost on your homeowner’s policy! Kelly helped us understand the risks and benefits to consider:
In the future, be sure to check in with your agent anytime you:
Are you looking for more information about mortgage loans and homeowners insurance? Join us on Saturday, August 13th from 9am – 1pm at the Painted Prairie Home Tours with a Twist event, in partnership with 5280. Valerie Cameron and Kelly Stewart will be there in person to answer your questions on Mortgage Loans and Homeowners Insurance, plus you’ll find experts in other housing industries such as interior design. No RSVP is needed — we can’t wait to see you there!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work with an interior designer on your home? If you’re an avid HGTV fan, it may feel like designers are magicians, right? It seems like designing, purchasing, and executing a vision happens in just a few days — but in reality, it’s a much more complex process!
As a home’s very first owner, you’ll be responsible for making a fair amount of design decisions on your own, and with a new build at Painted Prairie, you’ll want the beauty of your interior home to be just as spectacular as the exterior.
You may be thinking, can I afford to hire an interior designer? Is it even worth it? Truthfully, you can’t afford not to hire an interior designer! Why? An interior designer can save you money. Have you ever purchased a piece of furniture that blew your mind in the store but looked entirely out of place in your home? What about painting a whole room a particular color for it to turn out completely different than what you were picturing? An interior designer will help you navigate the design process, avoid costly mistakes and make decisions that will increase the value of your home.
“By collaborating with an interior designer, you’re gaining a partner in your overall building process. You’ll have someone to present new ideas you may not have thought of before. Design fatigue is REAL, and having someone to listen to you and help organize your thoughts who also understand the scope of the project is really helpful,” shares Jocelyn Verano of Ellis Design Studio.
So when should you get an interior designer engaged in your process? Truthfully, as early as possible, even in the architectural phase of building. Our experts tell us, “An interior designer can help you communicate with your builder. Many people don’t understand adjusting to a new scale in a new home. Interior designers can help you choose fixtures that complement your home’s architectural design and adjust to the scale of furnishings.”
We spoke a little more in-depth with Jocelyn to gain insight into design trends for 2022. “Warm color palettes and earthy tones are very on trend right now,” Verano states. “Camel, linen, and naturals. And don’t forget about texture! Texture is huge and can help make a contemporary style feel timeless. If you’re looking to add a little color to your neutral spaces, try a saturated deep teal or olive green. Remember, less is more. A reduced volume of accessories can make a big impact.”
Jocelyn also shared her top three recommendations for people moving into a new space regarding interior design:
1. Hire a professional. In a new living space, the scale of your home is going to be completely different. An interior designer can help you navigate through this.
2. Get settled in and take inventory of what you have and love. A great interior designer will help you find the perfect places for your favorite things.
3. Take the time to decide your aesthetic and how the space will work for you. You want your everyday living space to be not only beautiful but functional as well — something that feels like home.
Are you looking to get a little more information about interior design? Join us on Saturday, August 13th from 9am – 1pm at the Painted Prairie Home Tours with a Twist event, in partnership with 5280. Jocelyn Verano of Ellis Design Studio will be there in person to answer your questions on interior design, plus you’ll find experts in other housing industries such as mortgages and insurance. No RSVP is needed — we hope to see you there!
New Home Build at Painted Prairie Community Will Provide Opportunity and Hope for Individuals Living with Disabilities
Last month, nearly 100 people gathered under the pavilion at High Prairie Park at the Painted Prairie community in northeast Denver. They were there to learn more about the 2022 Inspiration House, a collaboration between KB Home, a Denver area homebuilder, and its trade partners, whose donations or discounted services and materials significantly reduce the cost of the home build. The proceeds from the sale of the new home are then donated to Home Builders Foundation (HBF), a nonprofit organization that completes free home modifications year-round to help elevate the lives of individuals with disabilities.
The house being built by KB Home at Painted Prairie is the eighth Inspiration House undertaken since the program began in 2003. The previous seven homes have together raised more than $700,000, which has helped HBF complete home modifications for nearly 2,000 individuals living with physical disabilities.
Among the speakers was Chris Layne, Miss Wheelchair Colorado 2020–21. Layne, a former nurse who was paralyzed while hiking in Clear Creek Canyon, shared the importance of the work done by HBF. After undergoing months of rehabilitation and adjusting to life in a wheelchair, Layne experienced true anxiety when she learned she was about to be discharged from Craig Hospital. Picturing the steps that led into the home that she’d lived in for more than 20 years and the second-floor bathroom, Layne was concerned that she’d never be able to live independently again. Fortunately, her family contacted HBF, who built ramps leading into the house, installed a stair lift, replaced flooring and created an accessible bathroom so that the home was ready for Layne when she was discharged. Layne explained how the modifications elevated every aspect of her life, saying, “With Home Builders Foundation allowing me to get that independence with my disability, I am able to do so much. I look at it as not what I can’t do, but what I can still do with my independence and my life.”
Randy Carpenter, President of KB Home’s Colorado division, has been involved with HBF for years and shared that being the sponsoring homebuilder for the 2022 Inspiration House is the perfect fit for the company’s values.
“Through our KB Cares program, we strive to invest in the communities where we build, work and live. We believe that we can drive change and have a positive impact on the lives of others,” stated Carpenter. “Last year, we donated more than $1 million, and our employees volunteered over 1,200 hours in communities across the country. We are proud to partner with HBF and lead the efforts to make a real difference for individuals and families living with long-term disabilities.”
The 2022 Inspiration House, which has already been sold, is expected to be completed in late fall. The new home blends attractive design features and includes three bedrooms, a loft, spacious den and large great room that flows seamlessly into the open kitchen. The 2,300-square-foot, two-story home sits on a corner homesite and offers breathtaking mountain views.
As with all KB homes, the Inspiration House will be ENERGY STAR® certified and include WaterSense® labeled fixtures, which will help to deliver significant savings on utility bills. Additionally, the home will be designed to deliver an enhanced indoor environment and include high-performance ventilation systems, low- or zero-VOC products and other features guided by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor airPLUS standards.
During the gathering, the Developers of Painted Prairie generously announced that they would be donating the entire cost of the homesite to the 2022 Inspiration House. Other trade partners in attendance eagerly joined in; to date, more than 20 partners have already signed on to donate or discount their labor and/or materials for this year’s Inspiration House.
Dave Highfield, Principal of Fortress Framing, announced his company’s commitment and encouraged others to join by saying, “Because we’re all in this together, our donations and contributions multiply. By the end of the project, we’re not just helping one family, we’re helping scores of families living with a disability.”
HBF has seen a significant rise in demand as more people with long-term physical disabilities are requesting services. The funds raised from this year’s Inspiration House will help HBF complete an estimated 280 projects this year — all of which will enable individuals with disabilities to live more comfortably, safely and independently.
Local real estate professionals were the focus on May 17 at the Second Annual Painted Prairie Spirit of Excellence Awards. More than a recognition event, the Spirit of Excellence Awards celebrated the spirit, dedication, and achievements of the members of the Prairie Partners Program, Painted Prairie’s national award-winning broker recognition program.
The night featured several recognition categories for our Prairie Partners. Congratulations to the nominees and winners in each category: Kearns Team, Realty ONE Group Five Star, Leaderboard Club; Kari Cummings, TJC Real Estate, High Five Club; Angie Hunt, McStain Neighborhoods, Broker’s Choice; Liz Thompson, eXp Realty | Art of Home Team, Social Advocate; Kari Cummings, TJC Real Estate, Million Dollar Club; and Ashley Faller, Focus Real Estate, Builder’s Choice.
Leaderboard Club: Monthly top five ranked brokers featured on Painted Prairie’s social media channels
High Five Club: Brokers who sold five or more homes
Broker’s Choice: The only non-broker category, this recognition goes to goes to the top Painted Prairie onsite sales team member as selected by the Prairie Partners.
Social Advocate: The broker most engaged with Painted Prairie on social media and events.
Million Dollar Club: Top performance of brokers who closed homes totaling more than one million dollars.
Builder’s Choice: Top Leaderboard broker, as selected by Painted Prairie builder sales team members.
Each year, Painted Prairie selects one broker who stands out in our community. This broker has consistently engaged and goes above and beyond to support Painted Prairie’s programs and the community’s success. This real estate professional is also well represented in numerous Spirit of Excellence recognition categories. The 2022 Prairie Partner of the Year award was awarded to April Denmon of Denmon Realty.
Denmon received a custom Prairie Hawk sculpture by world-renowned wildlife artist, Stephen LeBlanc. LeBlanc’s work can be seen throughout the United States and Colorado, and in Painted Prairie’s own High Prairie Park.
Held at the prestigious Schlessman Lobby at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Spirt of Excellence awards reception was sponsored by several industry partners. We thank the following sponsors for their support of the Spirit of Excellence Awards and the Prairie Partners Program: Heritage Title Company, Denmon Realty, Closet Factory, New American Funding, and 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
About the Prairie Partners Program
The Prairie Partners Program is Painted Prairie’s national award-winning broker recognition program. The program rewards and recognizes area real estate brokers for their dedication and support of Painted Prairie and the development of the community. To learn more about the program, visit: https://paintedprairie.wpengine.com/painted-prairie-broker-resources/.
Want to live in a place where you have the opportunity to enjoy ample and open green spaces, AND enjoy an easy commute?
Our editors found future and current residents who fell in love with the quality of life that living at Painted Prairie affords. Take a moment and learn why they chose the nation’s best master-planned community to build a home and a life.
We are sure you will agree that loving where you live makes all the difference in the world for a happy, balanced life.
Taylor and her fiancé, Joshua, are future Painted Prairie residents who chose the community after spending a year hanging out with their best friends who are early residents. The couple fell in love with the neighborhood, its parks, the views, and the variety of house options.
“My favorite part of Painted Prairie is definitely the mountain views,” she said. “I feel like you can see them from almost anywhere in the neighborhood! We have always wanted to live in a neighborhood we could grow into and really feel like we are a part of, and we’ve definitely found that at Painted Prairie.”
The couple are under contract for a KB Home Villas model. The home is the perfect fit for the young couple who are busy planning their wedding and working. It was important for Taylor to grow into a community as they begin their lives together.
“We just knew we wanted to be a part of the community,” said Taylor. “We quickly fell in love with the beauty of the neighborhood, and the location, as it’s not too far from my job at Children’s Hospital. My fiance works from home, which allows him to get out and enjoy the parks on his breaks. We love and believe in Painted Prairie’s vision. We can’t wait to watch it come to life and be a part of all the fun to come!”
Was it love at first sight at Painted Prairie? For Liz and her husband, Paul, well, actually yes!
As a former Central Park resident and Realtor, Liz was already familiar with the community. As she researched Painted Prairie’s location, amenities, and builders, for her real estate clients, Liz began to daydream about living in Painted Prairie herself.
On a whim, Liz and her husband Paul, a Southwest Airlines employee, walked into the Washburn model at David Weekley Homes to ask about current inventory. The couple instantly fell in love with the layout and the surrounding amenities in the neighborhood. A day later, they learned a Washburn home was up for grabs after the original buyers canceled their contract.
“We were under contract the next morning,” said Liz. “We had no plans to move, but when the home became available, we knew it was a good decision. The floor plan checked so many boxes for our family, including a larger kitchen, dedicated office, larger bedrooms and closets, with the opportunity to design the basement in the future. With two teenage girls, we needed more space!”
The family loves the current parks and future amenities such as the dog park and Town Center – which will all be within walking distance. The added bonus? Paul’s commute is less than 15 minutes to DIA. The location, current and future amenities, and the design of the neighborhood all solidify Liz’s decision to move to Painted Prairie.
“We lived in Central Park for eight years and experienced firsthand the excitement of new parks, builders, building a home from dirt, and the idea of a community coming to fruition,” said Liz. “We were able to visualize the future of Painted Prairie and knew it was the right place for our next move.”
Painted Prairie is located near many of the major employment centers in the area, with more coming as employers move to the area. Only 17 minutes from downtown Denver, nine minutes from Anschutz Hospital, and eight minutes from DIA, the community is approximately a 15 to 20 minute drive from anywhere in the north and central Denver Metro area.
First it was Denver Metro’s Community of the Year – Now, it’s the NATIONAL Community of the Year. Painted Prairie takes the Gold for Community of the Year, Best Landscape of a Community, and Best Signage at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s The Nationals awards competition.
Well, It’s official! Painted Prairie is the national Community of the Year. The neighborhood won seven awards at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s “The Nationals.” The gold awards were presented at the International Builder Show on February 8, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.
“To be recognized locally, and now nationally as the Community of the Year is a tremendous honor,” says Chris Fellows, President of Painted Prairie. “Out of nearly 1,200 entries a mere 12% earn Silver Awards and less than 6% earn Gold Awards. To take home seven awards at a competition of this caliber is incredible. We are extremely honored and humbled to be named Community of the Year and to bring this best-in-class community to the City of Aurora – and the state of Colorado for our current and future residents.”
As part of the selection process, The Nationals Silver Award winners are the top vote recipients in each category and are the finalists for the Gold Awards. In total, Painted Prairie received three Gold Awards – Community of the Year, Best Landscape of a Community, and Best Signage; and four Silver Awards – Best Brochure, Best Realtor/Broker Program, Best Special Promotion (Event Series); and Best Use of Technology (Painted Prairie App).
In 2021, Painted Prairie took top honors as Community of the Year at the Denver Marketing and Merchandising Excellence Awards (MAME) awards ceremony. As a finalist in 10 of the 11 categories entered at MAME, Painted Prairie took home Best Innovative Use of Technology (Painted Prairie App) and Best Signage. The MAME Awards are typically seen as the precursor to the NAHB’s The Nationals, the largest and most prestigious awards competition in the home building industry.
The Nationals showcases the most exciting trends in New Homes Sales and Marketing throughout North America. The competition honors the best in the building industry – including home builders, developers, associates, and consultants – for their determination, integrity, creativity, and endurance. A diverse panel of industry professionals selected the 2022 Gold Award winners from almost 1,200 entries.
These wins at The Nationals competition solidify Painted Prairie’s reputation as the best-of-the-best communities in the nation. With eight world-class builders and hundreds of residents happily calling Painted Prairie home, and with more residential options and a state-of-the-art Town Center coming soon, this community is taking the Northeast Market to new heights.
We invite you to stop by and see what makes us the Community of Year – locally AND nationally.
The weather may have been frightful, but the company was delightful! A cold front couldn’t stop the holiday cheer on December 5 when neighbors came together to celebrate the start of the holiday season.
Residents enjoyed hot cocoa and coffee drinks, smores by the fire, The Original Dickens Carolers, and a special guest who stole the show — Santa!
From all of us at Painted Prairie, we wish you holidays filled with laughter, love, and treasured memories.
Painted Prairie also takes top honors for Best Innovative Use of Technology and Best Signage
AURORA, COLO., Dec. 6, 2021 — Earlier this year, Colorado’s home building community came together at the MAME Awards on November 6 to celebrate the accomplishments of their peers and colleagues throughout the state. Painted Prairie took top honors in three categories to solidify its position as one of the best neighborhoods in Colorado.
During the event, Painted Prairie was awarded the coveted 2021 Community of the Year Award along with the Best innovative Use of Technology for its app, and Best Signage. In total, Painted Prairie walked away as a finalist in 10 categories. The MAME Awards are typically seen as the precursor to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) The Nationals Awards. The Nationals Awards event is the largest and most prestigious awards competition in the home building industry. Last year, Painted Prairie brought home two Silver Awards from The Nationals for its Prairie Partner Broker Program and its socially distanced Grand Opening Event.
“The Community of The Year recognition is one of the most sought-after awards for new communities in Colorado. These recognitions represent a year of passionate commitment from the Painted Prairie team to continue to deliver a best-in-class community for the City of Aurora and current and future residents here,” says Chris Fellows, President of Painted Prairie. “Our team works tirelessly throughout the year to create this amazing neo-traditional community and to offer a unique and captivating experience for homebuyers.”
About Painted Prairie
Painted Prairie is a neo-traditional master-planned community in the Denver Metro area featuring eight world-class builders. Hundreds of residents are already happily calling Painted Prairie home and with more residential options and a state-of-the-art Town Center coming soon, this community is taking the northeast market to new heights. Painted Prairie is situated across the street from the Gaylord Rockies Resort and located halfway between Anschutz-Fitzsimmons and Denver International Airport, with easy access to the A-Line rail, E470, DIA, 56th Avenue, I-70, Downtown Denver, and I-225. To learn more about Painted Prairie, visit lifeatpaintedprairie.com.
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Media Contact:
Michelle Tripp
michelle@hipcatmediallc.com
303-319-9669
