Great first time home buying experience
Paul is very knowledgeable about the Denver market in which I ended up purchasing a home. He was able to provide valuable insights into neighborhoods, and the homes we looked at. He was great to work with, and I found a great first home to purchase. The process was all very smooth.
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10 Best Things About Living in Littleton Colorado
10 Best Things About Living in Littleton Colorado
Littleton, Colorado has a relaxed atmosphere and tons of fun events and attractions, making it an ideal place to put down roots. Lots of people are moving in to call Littleton home and finding that it’s a great place to live. So, let’s take a look at the ten best things about this local gem.
1. Enjoyable Eats Abound in Littleton
Foodies love Littleton. Restaurants flourish here, especially smaller, locally-owned joints with their own take on their distinctive cuisine.
Harley’s a Hot Dog Revolution is a quaint mom and pop eatery with delicious and inventive franks. The Holy Guacamole Dog brings out the fire with a chorizo hot dog topped off with homemade guacamole, lettuce and bits of tortilla chips.
Toast is a cozy spot with exceptional breakfasts worthy of royalty. The deliciousness is embodied in items like the smoked salmon benedict, banana walnut french toast, and honey fried chicken & pancakes.
2. Littleton Breweries Bring On the Beer
With brews locally concocted, bringing distinctive flavors that are only available in Littleton, beer lovers find a lot to enjoy in the city’s neighborhood breweries.
At Locavore Beer Works the specialty is handcrafted beers. They have 20 rotating taps with everything from imperial stouts to India pale ales. Pets are welcome, and the ambiance is friendly and comfortable.
Living the Dream Brewing produces an eclectic mix of beers, like their Cherry McGuire fruit beer, Festivus Fireside barleywine, and Plaid Pants Irish dry stout. They also offer gluten reduced beer options.
3. Biking and Walking in Littleton — Follow the Trail
Colorado is known for its connection with nature, and the trails making their way through Littleton provide a bit of the outdoors in the city, or they can transport you to the close-in other local cities and countrysides.
High Line Canal biking trail connects Littleton to areas to the northeast as far as Aurora. The trail stretching through the Littleton area draws bikers, hikers, and horse riders. Breathtakingly beautiful on some stretches, it’s an excellent ramble whether you’re just ambling along on foot or pushing your limits on your bike.
4. Making Your Way With Ease on Littleton’s Light Rail
The D and C light rail lines cut through Littleton at Littleton Station to transport riders to the heart of Denver or any of its suburbs. Littleton is far enough into the rural countryside for you to enjoy nature on a short trip out of town, or you can use the light rail to get into the gridlock of Denver. It’s the best of all worlds, depending on your plan for the day.
Denver’s light rail transports soon-to-be-airborne commuters from downtown Denver to the runway at the Denver International Airport with a 45-minute ride.
5. Your Mountain Retreat is Only a Drive Away
Colorado is known for its mountainous terrain. Littleton has beautiful panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains to the west. High altitude vacation escapes are nestled throughout the mountains to the west.
Whether they’re staying in warm cabins among the trees, or in ski lodge accommodations alongside the ski slopes, the mountains are the second home of many Colorado residents. Littleton residents refresh themselves in the mountains.
6. A Climate with Perfect Summers and Fun Winters
With average highs in the 80’s in the summer and comfortable temperatures in the spring and fall, Littleton’s climate is perfect for outdoor enjoyment in the city or the mountains. In Summer residents hit the streets and lounge in outdoor seating at local restaurants and breweries.
Wintertime makes for great sledding, and fun in the snow in the Littleton area. Littleton is just a short drive to some the best skiing on the planet, places like Breckenridge, Vail, Winter Park and many more. Every season has something to offer in the high Rockies.
7. Concerts Bring in the Tunes at Hudson Gardens
Hudson Gardens is an outdoor venue showcasing concerts and events throughout the year.
The Summer Concert Series goes throughout the Summer with concerts held on Sunday evenings. Bands usually center around 70’s and 80’s classic rock. Past performers have included the B-52’s, Joan Jett, Gladys Knight, Creedence Clearwater Revisited and Chris Isaak.
8. Littleton’s Parks Provide Abundant Greenery
Littleton abounds with green areas, with 1,500 acres of parks and natural areas within city limits. Chatfield State Park, just southwest of Littleton, includes a campground and lake complete with a marina for boating enthusiasts.
The South Platte river meanders through Littleton, and it has been a significant focus of parks development in the city. South Platte Park and the Mary Carter Greenway are both excellent green areas abounding with plant life, trails, and nature.
9. It’s Party Time — City Party Events in Downtown
Western Welcome Week has fun festivities to celebrate the community and city of Littleton. It begins with a concert and fireworks. One of the mid-festival highlights is the Stick Horse Stampede, a race for the kids. The celebration concludes with the Grand Parade, a succession of marchers like school bands, pipe bands, tractors, floats and equestrians.
The Main Street Block Party is a family event that fires off with two fireworks shows, live entertainment, street performances and great food. Admission is free.
10. Old Time Charm in the Historic Downtown Area
The ambiance of Littleton’s downtown area hearkens to simpler times with buildings constructed at the turn of the century and businesses owned by locals who value Littleton’s old-time charm and character. Also, farms that have been in operation since 1860 are near the city limits.
The Historic Downtown Littleton Merchants Association provides an online interactive map with old-time photos and information about the history of Littleton, making for a trip back in time for visitors.
Use the Services of Your Expert Littleton Realtor
With 20+ years of experience in real estate, I am an expert on local property values and neighborhoods. If you are considering buying or selling property in Littleton, give me a call at 303-886-5991 or email at paul@theedgegroup.net for the most professional service in the area.
Paul Gruber
Denver Metro Housing Market
According to REcolorado, the housing market in the Denver metro and surrounding area continued its cooling trend in September. As inventory levels and prices remain steady, the market is seeing a slow shift to one that is more pleasing to the buyer.
Obamacare Tax on Real Estate: Just the Facts
There is a new fear among those selling real estate. The fear is that there is a tax on all real estate transactions under Obamacare. There’s no need to worry; not every transaction will be taxed. Let’s look at what this tax really will be.
The tax affects investment properties, and only after certain income requirements. It’s not a sales tax, but a levy tax. The tax was created as a Medicare tax of 3.8% for high income households. Not all real estate transactions are subject to this new tax, nor will all investment transactions be subject to the additional rate.
The first hurdle that needs to be cleared for the tax to apply to your transaction is your household has to earn a combined income of $250,000.00 or greater, and individuals must earn more than $200,000.00. Clearly, this stipulation alone doesn’t apply to the average home seller.
Next, the investment property must have a return on investment above the capital gains threshold of $250,000.00 for an individual or $500,000.00 for a couple.
So, basically you have to earn $200,000.00 individually, or $250,000.00 combined and sell the investment property for more than $250,000.00 individually, or $500,000.00 combined for the Obamacare tax to affect your real estate deal.
Hopefully, this clears up some confusion about the new tax. If you have any further questions regarding selling real estate we will be happy to help you, so give us a call.