Kudos to Stapleton, an urban neighborhood that was once a pretty crappy airport:

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification for the core and shell design of 3055 Roslyn St., Stapleton’s new office building in the East 29th Avenue Town Center.

Read the full story: Stapleton building ‘Gold’ certified

Just when you think the word “urban” becomes passe, a developer comes along and reignites the urban flame:

Carma, known as a suburban land developer in the Denver area, today unveiled a $225 million, “green” urban-style residential community in Adams County.

Read the full story: Carma unveils $225 million development

Two notes:

1. Colorado == Gateway to the West
2. Colorado <> Urban

The Denver Post is a terrible read Monday through Friday but Sundays they tend to “bring it” and “keep it real” when it comes to real estate. This past Sunday they had a great article on appraising Denver real estate.

Read the full article: The measure of a home

I thought I had it bad until I read this article from the Rocky Mountain News:

It was one of Zach Urban‘s most trying days as a housing counselor: A woman arrived on his doorstep so distraught over the thought of losing her townhome he feared she might harm herself.

Read the full story: Slump adds work, stress for mortgage counselors

when no one’s buying:

The subprime market meltdown is hitting home builders in the Denver area harder than anytime since the 1980s, when the economy collapsed in the wake of an oil and gas bust.

Read the full story: Denver builders skirting bottom

If you’ve ever played Overland you’ve probably felt like a MILLION bucks. My best scores always occurred after 9 or 18 holes at “Overdog.” It’s in a great spot and just like any great spot it’s about to be exploited:

Home prices in Denver‘s Overland Park neighborhood are on the rise as homebuyers and developers realize the centrally located area’s potential, despite being wedged between major industrial parks and bisected by a busy highway and train tracks.

Yogi Berra once coined the phrase: “It’s so popular no one goes there anymore.” Let’s hope that Overland stays a municipal course forever. I like to feel good about my golf game every now and again.

Read the full article: Overland’s industrial evolution

Foreclosure article from the Denver Post:

A third-quarter report on home values in the metro area shows that foreclosures and short sales are still having an impact on Denver-area housing markets – particularly those where homes are priced at no more than $200,000.

Read the full article: Foreclosures slam door on home prices

Article from the Rocky Mountain News: Denver wants to avoid sprawl at Southmoor

The city of Denver wants future development around the Southmoor light-rail station in southeast Denver to avoid the “random, piecemeal” sprawl that exists along nearby Hampden Avenue, Peter Park, the city’s manager of planning and development, said Tuesday.

For all you tech geeks… MICRO CENTER is a stone throw away from Southmoor.

Denver lost the World Series (were we even in it?) and the Broncos lost in OT to Favre and Green Bay but Denver kicked some major tail recently:

Denver squeaked out the No. 1 ranking in a national report on home prices released Tuesday.

The closely watched S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices showed that Denver-area homes gained 0.3 percent in value from July to August.

From June to July, Denver homes rose in value by 0.8 percent, bested only by the 1 percent increase experienced by Detroit during that period.

Read the full story: Denver tops home-price index

Read more on the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices

How?

They followed guidelines set in the book “How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days,” by Bill Effros.

I didn’t make this up, read the full story: DU real estate class, book help couple auction home