One of my favorite things about real estate is seeing just how dramatically your buying power can change by driving 15-20 minutes away.
So, let's play a little game.
You have approximately $750,000 to spend on a home. Where are you buying?
No, I'm not giving you another $250K, so don't ask. 😂
For this little experiment, I looked around Boulder, Broomfield, Erie and Thornton — four communities that aren't terribly far apart geographically, but can give a buyer VERY different options at roughly the same price point.
OPTION #1: Boulder — Location, Location, Location
Let's start with Boulder, where $750,000 and "single-family home" don't always appear in the same sentence.
But I found one! Check out 905 36th St, Boulder, CO 80303 -- a 3 bed / 2 bath single-family home with approximately 1224 square feet and a 1-car garage, listed at $750,000!
* Listed by: Kathryn Ruhl, RE/MAX Alliance-Boulder
Is it enormous? Nope. Are you getting five bedrooms, a finished basement and a three-car garage? Also nope.
But...you're in Boulder. And that's exactly what buyers here are paying for: location, access to trails and outdoor recreation, restaurants, CU, Pearl Street, and the whole Boulder lifestyle.
This is a perfect example of the tradeoff buyers make all the time. If Boulder is where you really want to be, you may happily sacrifice square footage, a newer kitchen or an extra bathroom to get the location.
Typical $750K Boulder buyer: "I don't need 4,000 square feet. Give me Boulder and a place to put my hiking boots."
OPTION #2: Broomfield — The Middle Ground
Now let's head southeast to Broomfield, just about 15 minutes down Highway 36. This is where that same budget starts stretching quite a bit farther.
Current homes around this general price range include options with four bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, 2,500+ square feet and two-car garages — depending, of course, on the neighborhood, age and condition of the home.
Check out 14241 Waterside Lane, Broomfield CO 80023 -- a 4 Bed / 4 Bath single family home with 2630 finished square feet AND a 2 car garage!
* Listed by: Kathleen Haas, Colorado Realty 4 Less, LLC
Broomfield has always been an interesting middle ground for buyers because you're positioned between Boulder and Denver, while generally getting more house for your money than you would in Boulder proper.
You may also get the things on a lot of buyers' wish lists: a bigger yard, finished basement, home office, guest room and — hallelujah — more than one bathroom.
$750K Broomfield buyer: "I'd like some space, please...but I still want Boulder and Denver within striking distance."
OPTION #3: Erie — Hello, Square Footage!
Keep heading east/northeast and things get interesting.
Check out 497 Gold Hill Drive, Erie CO 80516 -- a 5 bed / 4 bath single family home with 2700 finished SF for $750K. Yes. $750,000. Let that sink in.
*Listed by: Tiana Estrada, Estrada Real Estate Group
This is one of the reasons I've seen so many buyers consider Erie over the years. If square footage, newer construction, an extra bedroom or two, a bigger kitchen and neighborhood amenities are higher on your priority list, your money can go considerably farther here.
And Erie isn't exactly the middle of nowhere anymore. The community has grown tremendously, while still retaining its historic downtown and small-town feel.
$750K Erie buyer: "Wait. I can have five bedrooms AND I don't have to share a bathroom with anyone? SOLD."
OPTION #4: Thornton — Don't Forget About Me!
Thornton sometimes gets overlooked when buyers start rattling off their dream locations, but I think that's a mistake.
Depending on where you look, $750,000 can put you into a substantial single-family home with good access to both Denver and Boulder, DIA and Light Rail.
Check out 12489 Lafayette St. Thornton CO 80241 -- a SIX bed / 4 bath single family home on 1/4 acre with a 3 car garage and over 3600 FINISHED square feet!
*Listed by: Michael Flynn, Cornerstone Real Estate
You've got established neighborhoods with mature trees, newer developments, areas close to open space and trails, and locations that make commuting toward either Denver or Boulder pretty darn convenient.
For someone who doesn't need a particular ZIP code but wants house + location + accessibility, Westminster can be a really smart place to look.
$750K Thornton buyer: "I'd like a real house in an established neighborhood, a big yard and money left over to actually have a life."
So...Which One Would You Pick?
And THIS is why I always tell buyers not to begin their home search with a list of houses.
Begin with a list of priorities.
Is it location?
Square footage?
Walkability?
A huge kitchen?
Schools?
Trails?
A yard for the dogs?
A shorter commute?
Do you need four bedrooms — or do you really need three bedrooms plus a home office?
Because there isn't one "Colorado real estate market." What $750,000 buys you can change dramatically from one community to the next — sometimes within a 20-minute drive.
And sometimes the neighborhood you hadn't even considered ends up giving you exactly the lifestyle you wanted.
That's one of my favorite parts of working with buyers. My job isn't just opening doors. It's helping you figure out which doors are actually worth opening.
So, you're holding the imaginary $750,000 check.
Boulder, Broomfield, Erie or Thornton — where are YOU buying?
Sally Heldman
Broker Owner
Metro Brokers / Heldman Real Estate
303.475.4508 CELL
sally@sallyheldman.com