About this time each month, the media updates readers and viewers on Denver’s real estate market, based on the “market trends” report released by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR), based on data from REcolorado, our local MLS.
The headline last Friday in the Denver Post was, “Metro Denver home sales tumble in November, taking prices down with them.”
When I worked for daily newspapers, the reporters did not write their own headlines. That was left to the copy desk, which I also worked on for awhile. So, remember to read the whole article and not just the headline!
Real
Estate Market Can Be Confusing or Even Misleading
below. Second, the statistics are based on month-to-month movement, which is not seasonally adjusted like other statistics. So, look at the two charts I printed at right to correct for those two flaws in the coverage.
However, headlines are what most people rely on, leading to a “conventional wisdom” about any given topic.
There are two problems with that headline. First, you need to know that the statistical report for “metro Denver” is based on statistics for an area that is more rural than urban or metropolitan, as I explain
Year-over-year, the number of sales is way up, and although the median closed price for detached single-family homes is down a little from October, it’s actually up fractionally from the prior November. The median closed price for the attached homes is actually up significantly from a year ago and up slightly from October.
DMAR’s statistics for condos and townhomes in its 11-county area were way off from the statistics based on a 25mile radius of downtown Denver. DMAR reported that the median price of attached listings was down 1.2% from November 2023, but you can see that it’s actually up quite a bit — 15.4%. The number of closings was up 51.4%.
According to DMAR, the number of
What’s the Statistical Definition of ‘Metro Denver’?
People often want to know, “How’s the real estate market?” That question is answered each month by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors using data from the Denver MLS, which is REcolorado. But they define “metro Denver” as the 11 counties that touch on the metro area. That map is at left. It would be just as easy to gather statistics (as I do) based on a 25-mile radius of downtown Denver, shown at right. The yellow circle on the left map approximates the 25-mile radius that I use.
active listings was up 39.3% from October 2023. In the 25-mile radius, they were up only 30%. These are just some exam-
Last week’s newsletter from our friends at Alpine Building Performance was on this topic, and some of the descriptions below are from them, but I have added my own content and edited theirs.
Brick or Stone Veneer - It has been decades since builders actually built brick or stone structural walls. Nowadays, homes are almost always wood frame with only a veneer of brick or stone. And that “stone” is usually “cultured stone” (example at right), which is made from concrete with additives to create the look of real stone and molded into different shapes. It’s fun to look at a wall and see if you can find where different shapes are repeated.
Composite Decking - Trex was probably the original brand name for this product, which is a mostly petroleum product. Its first version over 25 years ago was gray and not very wood-like in appearance. It also was prone to sagging if your joists were more than 12 inches apart. Now Trex and its several competitors make versions which look quite wood-like. I like TimberTech’s line.
Balcony vs. Deck - A balcony is technically a structure that does not have exterior stairs to the ground level and can only be accessed from the interior.
Fiber Cement Siding - If you own a tract home built since, say, 1990, and you think you have wood siding, you quite likely have fiber cement siding that looks like wood.
James Hardie® dominates this product line with their “HardieBoard.” This exterior cladding is made from a mixture of cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers. In addition to wood, it often mimics stucco or masonry, offering superior resistance to moisture, pests, fire, and weather. Fiber cement is a popular siding choice due to its affordability and benefits.
Flatwork - Refers to horizontal surfaces made from materials like concrete or pavers, including sidewalks, driveways, patios, and slabs, providing functional and decorative flat surfaces in outdoor spaces. It is not structural! It is slab-on-gravel, and if the earth under it is not properly prepared, it is prone to settling, which is fixed by “mudjacking,” a process in which a concrete slurry is pumped through 4-inch holes in the concrete to raise it. Your basement and garage floors are probably slabs on gravel. I am particularly fond of “stamped concrete,” which is typically colored and can resemble flagstone.
EIFS - (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) is also know as “artificial stucco.” It’s a multi-layered exterior wall cladding that provides insulation, waterproofing, and a customizable finish. It typically consists of an insulation board, base coat with fiberglass mesh, and a decorative finish coat often referred to as synthetic stucco. While EIFS has a bad reputation for moisture issues, it can be a great product IF it is installed properly.
about and experienced in all the
that mountain living entails, whether it be well-
or whatever.
ples of how much stats can vary based on the urban/rural mix of DMAR versus looking at a 25-mile radius of Denver.
LIFESTYLES
Center for the Arts Evergreen Celebrates
50 Years of Inspiring Creativity and Community
FEATURE OF THE MONTH
In 2025, the Center for the Arts Evergreen (CAE) marks an extraordinary milestone: its 50th anniversary. From its humble beginnings to its current role as a vital cultural hub, CAE has grown and thrived, o ering an ever-expanding array of opportunities to explore, create, and celebrate the arts. As CAE re ects on the past ve years, the organization celebrates a period of signi cant growth and accomplishment—culminating in the excitement of 2025, its rst full year of programming in its expanded facility.
CAE’s roots date back to 1975, when a group of passionate art enthusiasts forged a plan to provide mountain-area residents with an avenue to pursue high-quality art instruction and view a wide variety of art. In 2003, the organization leased a small building
and was renamed Center for the Arts Evergreen (CAE) to signify its transformation into an o cial community venue. A pivotal moment came in 2017 when CAE purchased and renovated the historic Bergen Park Church. is new space, the log-sided front half of the current CAE, provided an 1,800-square-foot exhibition gallery and allowed for a signicant expansion of educational and community programming, laying the foundation for the vibrant organization CAE is today.
Now, under the leadership of new Executive Director Sara Miller, CAE kicks o 2025, its anniversary year, with the same enthusiasm and momentum that have made it such an important part of Evergreen. Miller and the
entire CAE sta bring dedication and a passion for the arts, ensuring that CAE remains a cornerstone of the community while charting a course for the future.
e past ve years have been nothing short of transformative for CAE. e culmination of a successful capital campaign allowed CAE to break ground on its long-awaited addition. Over months of anticipation, the Evergreen community watched as the building took shape—brick by brick. In June 2024, the new addition opened its doors, welcoming the community to a state-of-the-art space that ampli es the organization’s ability to inspire and engage.
In 2025, CAE is proud to o er a full year of programming in its newly expanded space. e center continues to serve as a meeting place for the community, hosting groups like Rotary and Leadership Evergreen, as well as o ering an extensive catalog of classes for adults and kids. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, there’s something for everyone:
• Ceramics: Enjoy hands-on experiences in a fully equipped ceramics studio.
• Writing and Poetry: Hone your storytelling and creative expression.
• Specialty Classes: Explore the unique mediums of glass art, jewelry-making, and more.
is new addition represents more than just additional square footage; it’s a symbol of CAE’s commitment to serving the community. With expanded classrooms, meeting spaces, and artist studios, the facility is designed to accommodate the growing demand for diverse programming, exhibitions, and events.
• CAE’s classes nurture creativity, build skills, and foster connections within our
community.
In addition to its on-site programming, CAE is deeply committed to outreach e orts that bring the arts to underserved communities. In partnership with local organizations like EChO, EPRD’s INSPIRE program, Easter Seals, Resilience 1220, and the Boys and Girls Club of Park County, CAE o ers enriching arts experiences to those who may not otherwise have access. Building on these successful initiatives, 2025 also introduces new outreach programs tailored to veterans, o ering creative outlets for CAE-expression and healing. Additionally, CAE is bringing back its Share the Moment program, designed to provide meaningful art experiences for individuals in the memory loss community.
e gallery at CAE remains a centerpiece of the organization, hosting nine diverse exhibitions in 2025. Highlights include:
• CAE’s Annual Teen Show: A celebration of the next generation of artists
• Studio Artists Retrospective: Honoring
the talents of those who create in CAE’s studios
• Blue Silo Studios: Showcasing a renowned collective of Denver-based artists
• 130 for $150: e beloved fundraiser that o ers accessible art for all
• Glass Show: Highlighting the luminous beauty of glass art
• Sculpture Walk Weekend: A celebration of three-dimensional creativity
• Pop-up Exhibitions: From a LEGO show to a creative look at CAE member artists
• Rocky Mountain National Watermedia: A prestigious showcase of watermedia masterpieces from across the U.S
• Member Show: Honoring the incredible artists who form the backbone of CAE. With each exhibition, CAE invites visitors to explore new perspectives, celebrate creativity, and connect with the local art scene. CAE’s Artist in Residence program is a
By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles
If
West Virginia Avenue, Suite C o ers Single or Bundle Nutritional B12 Injections
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In addition to Nutritional B12 Injections, Any Lab Test Now® o ers uninsured and self-pay individuals thousands of tests that are private, a ordable and convenient including: STD, DNA, TB, Celiac/Chron’s/IBS, and A1C. e lab is sure to have the test for your speci c need—and it provides the doctor’s order; no insurance needed or ever accepted.”
Most tests take less than 15 minutes, and many results are ready within 24-72 hours. For lab hours/test information/fees and appointments, contact Any Lab Test Now® of Lakewood (720-543-2280 / https// www.anylabtestnow/lakewood-80226).
By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles
Because Grant Brewster of Edge Home Finance Corporation is a Mortgage Broker and not a bank employee or a liate, he represents YOU—not the lender. As such, he can o er borrowers access to a broader selection of loan types.
All mortgages require you to meet the loan’s funding requirements. Public-sector guaranteed Conventional loans (with or without gi money) tend to have stricter requirements than government-backed loans. Governmentinsured loans include FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) $0 down loans available to low-income borrowers in speci c designated rural areas to help improve rural areas› local economies.
Terms of loans can be Fixed Rate ( xed for the entirety of the loan) or Adjustable Rate (with uctuating interest rates). Many ARMs will start at a lower interest rate than xed rate mortgages but can go up or down based on market conditions.
For over thirty years, Colorado Foothills native and Mortgage Broker Grant Brewster of Edge
Home Finance Corporation has been providing his customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. His Evergreen o ce is conveniently located at Flow eory Coworks, 3540 Evergreen Parkway.
Contact Mortgage Broker Grant Brewster today for all your home nancing needs 720-668-4183 grant.brewster@edgehome nance.com www.grantbrewster.com.
Give Your Home A Gift This Holiday Season!
e holiday season is full of quality time spent around the replace with family and friends. Do you picture a roaring yule log with the snap, crackle and pop of burning wood? Or a gas replace you can turn on with the push of a button? Or that runs on a thermostat to keep your home perfectly warm?
Mountain Hearth & Patio specializes in helping families like yours create a cozy home for your holiday memories. We o er an array of replace, stove, and insert options that will bring warmth, beauty, and safety to your home. Whether you want to burn wood or gas, our Nationally certi ed technicians and sales sta will help you experience the comfort that a new replace can bring.
If your replace brings you headaches instead of joy, it’s time to improve your replace to be the centerpiece of your home. Our experienced technicians can resolve most replace issues, and our National
Fireplace Institute Certi ed Installers and Hearth Design Specialists can help you have the new replace of your dreams!
Our most popular project is putting an insert into an existing woodburning replace. Our customers most commonly choose the convenience of a gas insert, that is entirely controlled by remote and with thermostat settings. Gas inserts also have the most choices for styling your new appliance; di erent species of wood for the log sets and metal nishes on the fronts to match your décor.
Inserts are also available for the high-efciency burning of wood or pellets, with a large view of the beautiful real ames. e smell and sounds of burning wood make sentimental moments all the more poignant. ere’s even a tax credit going on right now for the highest e ciency wood and pellet appliances, so you can give a future gi to yourself next tax season too!
Adding a freestanding gas, wood, or
pellet stove for zone heating is increasingly common. A freestanding hearth appliance can concentrate warmth in a chilly addition, basement, or a room that is frequently used so the homeowner doesn’t have to rely on more expensive electric baseboard heat or central heat to warm unused square footage. Freestanding hearth appliances are easy to install because they don’t require any framing or nishing materials, they can simply be installed against a wall or in a corner.
If thinking about the holiday season brings visions of stockings hung on the mantel above a ickering replace- we will make sure you have that! We regularly add a replace where there was none before, or swap out an ine cient, ugly, outdated replace! We can even change the size and shape or fuel type for your dream replace. Most replaces in our foothills communities are just installed into framing and nished with a stone veneer or tile. at replace is surprisingly easily changed! We can
remove the nishing materials and change some of the framing to create a space for a new replace that has improved aesthetics, e ciency, and technology.
One more reason our customers are updating their hearth appliances for the winter season is for an e cient and reliable source of back up heat during a power outage, or an especially cold day. Nearly all of the hearth appliances we sell can be used when the power is out so your family can stay warm during the storm!
Let us help you be surrounded by moments of joy and peace with your family during the holiday season with a safe, beautiful, reliable replace. Whether you’re looking for a new replace or you just need annual service or repair to keep your current unit running safely and e ciently, we can help. Call our o ce at (303) 679-1601, email us at O ce@MtnHP. com , or visit our website to get in touch and see our portfolio. Happy Holidays!
Gas Fireplace Installation by Mountain Hearth & Patio
cornerstone of its mission to bring fresh perspectives to the Evergreen community. Designed to attract artists from across the country, this program introduces new voices, fosters innovative conversations, and enriches the local arts scene with unique works created during each residency. rough their time at CAE, resident artists inspire both audiences and fellow creators, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Beyond its vibrant programming, CAE has become a sought-a er venue for gatherings of all kinds. Whether hosting corporate team-building events, weddings, birthday parties, or community celebrations, CAE o ers a beautiful and unique space surrounded by art and inspiration.
Beyond the gallery walls, CAE o ers a vibrant calendar of events that appeal to art enthusiasts and casual participants alike. In 2025, there truly is something for everyone:
• Art Bars and Date Night Experiences: Sip, create, and connect in a fun, relaxed setting
• Exhibition Openings: Mingle with artists and explore new works
• Culinary Arts Pairings: Discover the art of food and drink through curated experiences
• Live Music Series: Enjoy concerts amidst the gallery art or under the stars during the summer Back Porch Concert Series
July brings Summerfest, CAE’s signature arts festival, which promises to be bigger and better than ever. In September, CAE will host a Day of the Arts, a daylong party celebrating its 50th anniversary with interactive activities, performances, and surprises for the whole family. And in December, everyone’s favorite, Winterfest, will be back for holiday shoppers who want to support local artists and artisans.
For 50 years, CAE has prioritized keeping much of its programming free for the community. is commitment to accessibility is made possible by the generous support of individual and corporate donors. As a nonpro t, CAE relies on our community’s incredible network of supporters to continue its mission of enriching lives through the arts.
As CAE embarks on its 50th anniversary year, it does so with gratitude for the support of the Evergreen community and excitement for what lies ahead. e dedicated team at CAE invites you to join them in celebrating this milestone year. From classes and exhibitions to events and community outreach, CAE o ers countless ways to engage with the arts and connect with your neighbors.
Make 2025 a year to remember. Visit the Center for the Arts Evergreen, join a class, attend an event, or simply stop by to see what’s new. Together, we’ll continue to build on CAE’s legacy of creativity, community, and inspiration for the next 50 years. For more information about upcoming events, exhibitions, and classes, visit CAE’s website at www.evergreenarts.org
A BOOK MAKES A GREAT GIFT.
A womanizing US president. Gin-drinking, poker-playing, skirt-chasing Cabinet members. And a plot from the inside to usurp control of the Navy’s oil reserves. Wild and juicy stuff this. And all of it a true chapter of America’s history.
There may not be another US scandal that is so heavy with corruption and criminality that weighs so lightly on our collective consciousness as the Teapot Dome Scandal. From 1920 to 1922, power-hungry politicians and corporate tycoons boldly schemed to steal the nation’s newest energy resourcel. In so doing these crooks put a black mark on the pioneering work of those who gave birth to Wyoming’s incredible bonanza.
With a deft researcher’s hand and the heart and attention of a creative writer, Constance Bierkan has written a rst-of-its-kind ctionalized recounting of what led up to this nearly forgotten nugget from the past, the Teapot Dome Scandal. Like No Place on Earth is a spirited coming-of-age story set in Wyoming at the start of the madcap Roaring Twenties and the birth of the oil industry. As much a love story as it is a historical deep-dive, Like No Place on Earth will be irresistible to book clubs and history buffs alike.
Constance Bierkan grew up in Zürich, Switzerland and London, England. She sat her Ordinary and Advanced Level exams administered by the University of London while in high school at Francis Holland and earned a BA in English Literature with a minor in Semantics from Skidmore College and Goucher College. She also worked toward a Master’s at Fair eld University in Psychology. Bierkan’s debut novel, Alone In A Crowded Room - An Adoption Story, published in 2017, received a Kirkus Star and was named Kirkus Best Book Indie 2018. Free To Breathe is her second outing and it captures one boy’s struggle to emerge from an abusive family and nd authentic loving relationships. Her third, In Spite of It All, is a historical ction piece, wherein the history of Hitler’s propaganda art is married to a race of high jinks to rescue it from the wrong hands. Fluent in French and German, Bierkan loves to read, people watch, work puzzles, travel and off-road in her badass Jeep Wrangler. She and her best friend-husband-Naval-Aviator-veteran-airline-pilotgentlemantree-farmer, live at 8,200 feet in the Rocky Mountains.
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