Your Guide to Buying a Home in Denver, CO

Buying a Home in Denver, Colorado

(The capitol building stands proud)

Denver is located in Denver County

The present-day city of Denver can trace its roots back to the discovery of gold in the area. In fact, without this resource settlers would have had no reason to come here, for the Rocky Mountains, impressive though they may be, offered very little in the way of valuable resources. Aggressive leadership sought to drive out the native peoples and quickly develop the area's commercial potential. The city built a network of railroads that made their town the banking, minting, supply and processing center not only for Colorado, but also for neighboring states. Since these early times, Denver has developed a very diverse economic foundation, which now includes skiing and tourism, electronics, computers, aviation and the nation’s largest telecommunications center. However, it remains a city in isolation and has come to depend heavily on various modes of transportation - Denver has one of the highest per-capita motor vehicle ownership rates in the country. Much of the area growth has occurred in the city's suburbs, including Aurora and Lakewood. However, with a full slate of new developments and new housing the growth is beginning to shift back towards the city itself.

Denver has maintained itself as an important center of commerce in the state of Colorado. The Metro Denver Network (MDN) has been the guiding force in the city's planning and is composed of 70 of Colorado's leading corporations and 48 economic development organizations representing the six-county Denver Metropolitan area. Denver has benefited greatly from the efforts of this organization and is currently home to AT&T Broadband, Qwest Communications, Lockheed Martin, and Sun Microsystems. Denver has successfully attracted such business due to its strong infrastructure and availability of highly skilled workers, not to mention the quality of life that Denver can offer its residents.

Speaking of this quality of life, visitors to Denver will quickly notice the city's position near the foot of the Front Range Mountains, behind which are the Rocky Mountains. Plenty of outdoor leisure is available, and runs the gamut from mountain hiking to kayaking. First-time visitors will be impressed with the snow-capped, 14,000-foot plus peaks of Longs Peak and Mt. Albers, as well as the seemingly endless wall of behemoths that cover the state from north to south. Remember to bring your camera and several rolls of film.

Natural is not the only draw in Denver, though it is certainly the most visible. Denver is proud to maintain its early heritage with numerous local museums and historic districts. The Byers-Evans House & Denver History Museum, and Colorado History Museum both feature interesting photographs and other pieces of history that aim to celebrate the richness of this area's ethnic diversity. For visitors much more interested in Denver's more modern attractions, the Denver Zoo showcases animals from around the world and very elaborate miniature eco-systems. Water World is America's largest outdoor water park, and Elitch Gardens is Denver's biggest theme park. For sports fans, the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Rapids are sure to provide an exciting time. The Denver Mint is also an attraction of interest, as this is where more than 5 billion coins are stamped yearly.

Denver offers something everyone, whether it is the scenic setting, the abundance of employment opportunities, or the excellent educational facilities. The city of Denver is located near the center of the state of Colorado and is situated at the intersection of I-70, I-25, and I-76.