Lakewood CO Real Estate

Sitting on the western edge of the Denver city limits, Lakewood, Colorado is in the enviable position of getting the better of two worlds. At once, this lively, independent city of about 141,000, making it the fourth largest in the state, enjoys its own identity and culture, yet is barely recognizable as separate from Denver due to proximity. The western edge of Lakewood has the feel of mountain terrain, yet all the benefits of urban access are right around the corner.

Lakewood is surrounded by an abundance of beauty and recreational facilities. The renowned Red Rocks amphitheater is minutes away in bordering Morrison. Just over a one hour drive will have you on the slopes of some of the finest downhill and cross-country skiing in the world. Those same breathtaking mountains and vistas provide phenomenal fishing, hiking and backcountry camping during the summer months. Served by U.S. Highway 6 and Interstate 70, there is easy access to downtown Denver, the airport, Boulder and the mountains.

Lakewood’s proximity to Denver proper is an attractive aspect of living there. Larimer Square is a historical renovation district where fabulous Victorian architecture has been restored to house art galleries, restaurants, boutiques and a healthy nightlife scene. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is one of the nation’s largest with a capacity of more than 10,000. The Central City Opera Association and Colorado Ballet are other winning artistic options.

W.A.H. Loveland originally established the town in the 1880’s as a place to settle for his retirement. Yet, it wasn’t until 1969 that the city, already with a population in excess of 90,000 was actually incorporated making it the largest incorporation of a municipality in U.S. history.

More than 7000 acres of Lakewood have been set aside in an expansive labyrinth of 99 parks. This includes 36 miles of trails open to bikers, hikers, horseback riders and even those on foot! Bear Creek Lake Park and Green Mountain Park in the western portion of the city provide residents with mountain escapes, literally in their own backyards.

Obviously, the weather is a large part of the magnetism of a place such as Lakewood, Colorado. There is a misconception that the area receives massive snowfalls each winter. That would be expected given the latitude and elevation of 5450 feet. In actuality, since the average high temperature in January is about 45° and the area only receives about 16 inches of precipitation each year, the climate is quite mild. The summers are warm, with average highs in the mid-eighties, but cooling into the mid-fifties each night. The average snow depth throughout the year is one inch! And, believe it or not Lakewood, with 300 days of sun per year, exceeds both Miami and San Diego in that department.

The Lakewood CO real estate market is exceptionally attractive right now. With a median sales price of under $190,000 during mid 2010, the number of homes sold showed a remarkable increase of nearly 19% over the same two- month period of a year ago. That is substantial given the continuation of the downward trend in real estate sales throughout much of the rest of the country.

Lakewood real estate is an appealing option for families and retirees, as well as singles. A healthy buyer’s market is currently available, but will undoubtedly moderate over the coming years.

Without question, as the State of Colorado and specifically, the Denver region including Lakewood continue to grow and prosper, and as the Western region of the country sustains the type of growth it has seen over the last 20 years, Lakewood CO real estate choices will become more limited and expensive. You are strongly advised to begin your research now. Lakewood is obviously a fantastic place to begin.