It's fun to look.

Our Residential Spotlight feature, which includes multiple photos and a brief description of a high-end home on the market in the Boulder Valley, has turned out to be one of the most popular features of Distinctive Homes of the Boulder Valley, a new special section to the Boulder County Business Report that we launched in April.

Distinctive Homes, which will run through September, highlights the high-end residential market in Boulder and Broomfield counties, with articles of interest to buyers, sellers and homeowners.

Realtors have been anxious to have homes featured in Residential Spotlight, and it's fun to examine various properties online, identify key features and select one that we believe will be of particular interest to readers, both "window shoppers" and those actively in the market for a new home.

Distinctive Homes represents the most ambitious — and sophisticated — coverage of the Boulder Valley residential market ever attempted. In addition to standards such as Residential Spotlight, readers can find in-depth analysis of the local market, features on new-home developments, articles on green living, advice on home finance, and much more. We've aimed this section at the high-end market, those homes that sell for at least $700,000.

We've been thrilled at the reception for Distinctive Homes — from Business Report subscribers, Realtors and those who have picked up copies at coffee houses, other retail locations and at real estate offices throughout the Boulder Valley. The section continues to grow, both in page count and in advertising support, which makes that page count possible.

This edition includes a look at the process one should consider when planning construction of a new home, from scope of work to design, schedule, construction oversight and more. Some of the Boulder Valley's top builders of custom homes offer advice for individuals planning to build a new home — valuable advice that will help avoid costly mistakes and adhere to a budget.

We also help homeowners look "Beyond Solar" to identify other ways to conserve energy, either in conjunction with a solar system or as an alternative.

On the home-finance front, writer Jeff Thomas examines changes in federal loan guarantees for high-end homes. Local experts differ on how changes to these "jumbo loans" will be felt in the Boulder Valley market.

Anyone who has tired of a commute, either within the Boulder Valley or beyond, will be interested in Michelle LeJeune's profile of Arista Live/Work Lofts in Broomfield, where buyers can slash their commute to minutes or even seconds.

Writer Valerie Gleaton also discusses some of the region's highest-priced home sales — and highest-price homes on the market currently.

Homeowners looking for new landscaping or gardening ideas should read Joel Reich's column on fruit-bearing landscaping, such as grapes, berries, red currants and more. Reich is Colorado State University Extension's horticulture expert for Boulder County, so he's in a great position to know what works in this climate.

Open houses have been a staple of residential marketing for decades, but what should sellers know about ensuring that an open house is a success? Michelle LeJeune interviews some of the region's top real estate agents to identify the top things that Realtors — and sellers — should know.

We're also adding more residential data of interest to readers, including top home sales and breakdowns of sales statistics for each community in the Boulder Valley, focusing on sales of $700,000 and up.

Finally, back that this edition's Residential Spotlight: The Tudor home at 703 11th St. in Boulder is listed for about $2.9 million, includes spectacular views of the Flatirons and sits just steps from Chautauqua Park. Be sure to use your mobile device to scan the QR code on page 8C to link directly to more information on Wright Kingdom Real Estate's website.

For all that we've accomplished thus far with Distinctive Homes, we need your feedback and ideas. We want to continue to improve this publication to provide you with the information you need and desire. Whether you're a Realtor, buyer, seller or homeowner, drop me a line at the email address below to offer suggestions.

Have an idea for an article in Distinctive Homes of the Boulder Valley? Contact Christopher Wood at 303-440-4950 or via e-mail at cwood@bcbr.com.