Boulder County Market Report and Classical Boulder Sounds

The Boulder County Real Estate Market is continuing on current trends of low inventory and double digit price appreciation. Incredibly, City of Boulder home values are up 16.5% from August 2015 and Boulder County as a whole is up 15.9%. Compared to historical averages of approximately 5%, this market is still considered “on fire” from a valuation perspective. Sales volume is not so fiery - down 7.4% in Boulder and 13.5% countywide, as inventory continues to tighten and properties become less price-accessible. One noteworthy statistic, average days on market in 2016 for Boulder single family homes in the 2 million plus category has lengthened to 191 days from approximately 100 days last year (all figures IRES MLS).  Canary in a coal mine? We’ll see.

 

It has been a fantastic year so far at Stewart Ward Real Estate and we have a full quarter left to assist anyone you know with their real estate goals. As always, thank you so much for your referrals, I am never too busy to help!  Pocket Listing Alert: A completely updated 4BR/3BA tri-level farmette in East Boulder, 10 minutes to downtown, .7 acres bordering unimproved land.  Large windows, Southern exposure, brand new kitchen. Pocket Listing- Investor Alert: A highly profitable 14 bed assisted living facility in Denver, call for details.

 

Classical Boulder Sounds

 

How many times do you think you’ve heard the “Star Wars” theme music? A hundred? A thousand? It has become so ubiquitous, you might not even register you are listening to it when it comes on. About a year ago, I experienced one rendition that has stayed with me ever since. I attended a fundraiser for the Boulder Symphony just before the new Star Wars movie was released. When the orchestra played the main theme it was a completely different experience- and absolutely magical. Not only hearing, but seeing so many skilled musicians playing that John Williams score live on the floor of Macy’s brought it home in a way that still has impact months later.  

Inspired in 2016, I made a New Year’s resolution that I actually kept – I have been attending classical performances regularly.  I have grown to appreciate modern symphonic pieces as well as pop hits from past centuries. (Don’t forget Mozart was the Bruno Mars of the 16th century)

Devin Patrick Hughes Conducting the Boulder Symphony in Downtown Boulder

Devin Patrick Hughes Conducting the Boulder Symphony in Downtown Boulder

 

We are extremely fortunate to live in Boulder County, where we have so many options to enjoy symphonies, string quartets and chamber music year-round. For our limited population the quality and frequency are impressive. Recently I had the privilege of seeing the Colorado local yet internationally popular Altius String Quartet as they played some string classics and then renditions of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” “Kashmir” and other pieces familiar even to me. Follow them on Facebook and make the effort next time they are in town, I’ll probably be there and I’d love to share it with you. 

If it’s been awhile since you last heard the randy call of a French horn, the bright play of an oboe or the neurotic range of a cello, take advantage of Boulder County’s musical wealth in person by attending an upcoming performance of the Boulder Philharmonic, Boulder Chamber Orchestra or Boulder Symphony, which ramp up in October and continue all the way through May. Let me assure you there is no substitute for seeing it live and wide-eyed; even if you don’t consider yourself a classical fan, you owe it to yourself to experience the richness of this great music in person.