Confidence is rising. It wasn’t that long ago that Realtors — along with would-be home sellers — were lamenting severe drags on the housing market: foreclosures, depreciation, huge inventories, lack of financing, etc. Boulder and Broomfield counties weren’t hit as hard as other parts of the country, but local real estate agents still had a much tougher time than before the housing crisis began.

Now, as housing markets across the nation are showing positive signs, the Boulder Valley is showing real strength.

I’ve been talking about this in a couple of recent columns — and on our radio partner, KUNC 91.5 FM — and the positive news continues to mount. In this edition of Distinctive Homes of the Boulder Valley, writer Heather McWilliams reports on a “rising tide” of home sales — and home prices. Inventories are tightening, prices are increasing, and foreclosures are falling.

Real estate agents are quick to caution that prospective sellers still must be realistic: They shouldn’t price their homes too aggressively. But trend lines are going in the right direction.

“Now, people are just ready to go,” Re/Max of Boulder managing broker D.B. Wilson told McWilliams, “and they have the confidence to move forward.”

It is all about confidence — and financing. Banks seem to have opened the taps a bit, making it somewhat easier to do deals (although many real estate brokers will say that banks need to open those spigots a bit more).

But agents throughout the Boulder Valley tell us that deals are getting done, and that they’re extremely busy.

And confident.

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Our popular “What You Get …” feature, in which we compare properties listed in a certain price range, this issue begins to approach stratospheric levels, comparing properties at roughly the $6 million level.

As writer Elizabeth Gold notes, homes in that range “seem to be uniquely spectacular.” Some buyers come from out of state, and some properties are as much works of art as dwelling places.

As James Simpson, managing broker with Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty, said of a property in west Boulder: “Buying this will be like buying a fine painting.”

Hmmm … if that’s not in the marketing material for that house, it should be.

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It’s been fun in Distinctive Homes to feature different loft projects throughout the Boulder Valley. New projects spring up frequently, and some that have been around awhile still have a good story to tell.

That’s the case with Iron Flats, located east of downtown Boulder and first designed in 2001. One of the first mixed-use projects of its type, Iron Flats includes commercial space (such as the Nature Conservancy’s Boulder office) and residential.

More than a decade after its launch, Iron Flats continues to experience solid occupancy. This project began with great detail to urban planning. Read Elizabeth Gold’s article in this edition for more on this project.

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Sustainability is pretty much synonymous with the Boulder Valley. That’s why “Green Living” is a recurring feature in Distinctive Homes. This edition focuses on green cleaning, and how homeowners can tell the difference between that and the occasional “green wash.”

Many home-cleaning companies have embraced use of environmentally sensitive products, but consumers need to be able to evaluate companies and choose one that will not only be environmentally friendly but will also get their home clean. Writer Jeff Thomas provides information to help consumers make that decision.

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Have a story idea for Distinctive Homes? Contact me via email to suggest a trend story, a feature or news article —or if you just have a question about the local market.

Christopher Wood can be reached at 303-440-4950 or via email at cwood@bcbr.com.