Joshua Jones - Your Denver Realtor

10/30/2026

Denver is planning to spend $120 million to completely overhaul Boettcher Concert Hall.

It's the home of the Colorado Symphony downtown, and the building hasn't had a major update in over 30 years.

One concept discussed in early city planning surprised a lot of people: shrinking the hall from roughly 2,600 seats down to 1,800. That might sound strange, but it's actually meant to improve the acoustics and create a much better, more intimate sound.

The proposed plans also include brand new seating, updated stage tech, modernized heating and safety systems, better backstage accessibility, and a new patron pavilion connecting to the sculpture park next door.

So who's actually paying for all of this?

The city is covering about $105 million, which includes $20 million from a voter-approved bond, while the Symphony is responsible for raising the remaining $15 million. The Boettcher Foundation even kicked things off with a $2 million lead gift on October 21st.

Construction isn't targeted to start until June 2028, and the Symphony plans to perform at other venues across Denver during the 15-month closure.

I'm Joshua Jones, Your Denver REALTOR®. Follow for more local updates like this.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

10/29/2026

If you've driven past a new construction community around Denver lately, you've seen the banners. Reduced rates. Closing cost help. Upgrades thrown in.

Some of these offers are legitimately worth a look. Builders need to sell homes right now, and with 13,567 active listings across metro Denver at the end of September, buyers have options.

But here's the thing. A builder's promotional rate isn't always the same deal you'd get on a regular 30-year mortgage. It can depend on a big down payment, a high credit score, using the builder's own lender, and closing by a specific date. And some "low rates" are temporary buydowns or adjustable loans that rise later.

A few things I'd look at before getting excited:

✅ Whether a price cut, closing cost credit, or rate buydown actually fits your situation
✅ A Loan Estimate from the builder's lender AND an independent lender
✅ Metro district property taxes (a big one in newer Colorado communities)
✅ The builder contract, earnest money terms, and an independent

Read the full blog post on my website (Link in Bio)

If you're looking at new builds and want a second set of eyes on the numbers, I'm happy to help. Even if we end up deciding the deal isn't as good as it looks.

10/26/2026

Denver's Cherry Creek could be getting a brand-new luxury building with only 42 private residences — complete with a giant 10,000-square-foot rooftop deck and pool.

A development team is planning these luxury condos on Detroit Street under a legendary 5-star hotel brand. The design steps down from 8 stories to 5, and they're even setting up a dedicated sales center right across the street. Since the project is still in permitting, there's no public pricing yet.

Follow me and comment "home" and I'll send you all the details.

On the roof, plans show that 10,000-square-foot deck and pool, plus a private 5,500-square-foot spa and fitness club. On the ground level, you'd have a 6,200-square-foot restaurant, and you'd step outside directly across from Aviano Coffee and Room & Board.

The brand's existing downtown tower is already completely sold out, where a penthouse once went for $16 million. These 42 planned homes aren't open for buyers yet, but getting on the early list is the best way to lock in a spot before they launch.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

10/23/2026

Elon Musk’s brother just sold one of Denver's most famous restaurants.

The Kitchen American Bistro has been a staple in Boulder since 2004 and LoDo Denver since 2012. It famously started after a dog wandered up to a chef on Pearl Street, which led to a dinner, and eventually this farm-to-table icon.

Before this, Kimbal Musk actually helped his brother Elon start the tech company Zip2, before selling it, going to culinary school, and moving to Colorado.

So who actually bought it?

A local restaurant owner named Bryan Dayton just bought the Colorado locations. You've probably eaten at his other spots like Corrida or OAK on 14th.

But what does this mean for your next dinner there?

Dayton isn't planning any major changes. The staff and menu are staying the same, though he does plan to eventually bring in beef from his partner company, Corrida Cattle Company, which sources from local ranches.

I'm Joshua Jones, Your Denver REALTOR®. Follow for more local updates like this.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

10/22/2026

Mortgage rates stopped climbing last week. They didn't come down either. They just sat there at 7.40%.

If you've been refreshing rate headlines waiting for relief, that pause matters, because it changes the question. It's not "how high will rates go?" anymore. It's "what do I do if they stay right here?"

A few things I covered in this week's post: Let's run the numbers. On a $520,000 loan (a median Denver detached home with 20% down), going from last year's 6.27% to 7.40% adds about $390 a month in principal and interest. That's close to $57,000 less buying power for the same monthly payment.

👉🏻 Not all of it is bad news. Denver had more active listings this September than any September since 2011, and closed sales were down more than 21%. More homes and fewer buyers means leverage.

👉🏻 Ask about a rate buydown, not just a price cut. Depending on the numbers, seller or builder money toward your rate can do more for your monthly budget.

👉🏻 Sellers: buyers are doing payment math on every listing. Pricing right from day one matters more now than it did in the spring.

And a lot of people still think the Fed sets mortgage rates. It doesn't. I explain what actually drives them in the post.

Read the full blog post on my website (Link in Bio).

If you want to see what today's rates actually mean for your situation, I'm happy to talk it through. No giant sales pitch.

10/21/2026

Denver is about to get a huge $70 million park — and it's going to be the city's largest in over a century.

We're talking about Park Hill Park in Northeast Denver. The 155-acre property opened for limited walk-in use in late 2025, but the city's now planning its full transformation using that $70 million bond.

To design it, the city selected the world-class firm behind Brooklyn Bridge Park. The contract still needs City Council approval, but the firm's founder is already planning to personally commit 20% of his working time to it.

So what's actually proposed to go inside? Early concepts include sports fields, a destination playground, an off-leash dog park, and saving the old clubhouse as a community hub.

But they're also designing specifically for Colorado's dry climate. Plans call for cleaning 100% of stormwater on site and using drought-resistant native plants so it doesn't become a water hog.

The city's target is to finish designs in 2027, start construction in June 2028, and open the fully built park in 2029.

I'm Joshua Jones, Your Denver REALTOR®. Follow for more local updates like this.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

10/20/2026

Picky buyers with a lot of questions are some of my favorite clients. Questions mean you’re paying attention, and that’s how good decisions get made.

A big thank you to my Wheat Ridge buyer for trusting me with your home search and for taking the time to leave this review. “Cool as a cucumber” might be the best compliment I’ve gotten all year.

Know someone thinking about buying in the Denver metro? I’m always happy to be a resource, questions and all.

10/19/2026

Thornton is getting a huge 800-acre neighborhood, and the first phase is built entirely around 22 distinct pocket parks — complete with its own pool and walking trails.

They've already finished nearly 1,000 home lots in this first part, and they've got about 40 homes available or coming soon. Two builders are putting up everything from 1,100-square-foot townhomes to huge single-family houses, with prices starting at $339,900 and going up past $700,000.

Follow me and comment "home" and I'll send you all the details.

Instead of squeezing houses right next to each other, it's a garden-inspired master-planned community built around 22 distinct pocket parks. And it's got planned amenities like a recreation center with a pool, pickleball courts, playgrounds, and walking trails that'll connect to the Todd Creek trail system. Since it's the very first phase, the earliest buyers are getting the best choice of lots before they build out the rest of the land.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

10/16/2026

A massive new 900-acre neighborhood is coming to southeast Aurora with its own private 18-hole golf course and miles of scenic trails.

This project almost didn't happen because of a legal fight over water. The developer fought the city in court over water rights, and right after they settled, Aurora banned all future golf courses. That means this is the very last golf community Aurora will ever get.

They're planning more than 1,600 homes here, from paired homes up to 1-acre estate lots. Early prices are expected to start in the $600,000s and go over $2 million, but nothing's built yet. Sales won't start until early 2028.

Follow me and comment "home" and I'll send you all the details.

When you live here, your neighborhood trails will connect directly to the Cherry Creek Trail. That means you can bike from your front door all the way to Cherry Creek Reservoir without ever sharing the road with cars. They're only taking names for the early interest list right now.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed

10/15/2026

Are Denver condos a good buy right now? For the right buyer and the right property, I think they deserve a serious look.

But I wouldn't buy one simply because the price has dropped.

You're buying the unit AND buying into an association. HOA dues, reserves, upcoming repairs, special assessments and financing can change whether that “bargain” actually makes sense.

And the lowest HOA payment isn't automatically the best one. I'd rather know what it covers and whether the association is preparing for future expenses.

I put together a guide to the opportunities, the questions worth asking and how to look at the whole deal:

https://yourdenverrealtor.com/blog/are-denver-condos-a-good-buy-2026

Considering a condo or townhome? Reach out. We can talk through the numbers and the HOA without turning it into a giant sales pitch.

Are Denver condos a good buy in 2026? Explore falling median prices, HOA fees, financing risks, and buyer negotiating opportunities.