If you found the perfect place but haven’t submitted your rental application, Boulder based 8z Rentals advises you to submit an application then and sign on the dotted line.

Denver metro vacancy rates are low, as frustration builds for those needing a place to rent soon.

The lowest vacancy rate reported in a Colorado Division of Housing report for second quarter 2012 was in Denver at 1.4%. Boulder/Broomfield counties were reported to have a higher vacancy rate of 2.6%, but also had the highest average rent of the five metro counties that include Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson. Average rents across the Denver metro area ranged from $1007 to $1570.

Even with a higher vacancy rate, renters in Boulder and Broomfield don’t have a lot of options. 8z Rentals office manager, Lindsey Wolters-Houtz said that you may drive through several neighborhoods in Broomfield and nearby communities along the Denver-Boulder corridor without seeing a for rent sign.

For renters who are moving for the first time in five or more years, it is a different rental environment. Gone are the days when you could tour a property, think about it for a few days, mail in an application, and get the property. 8z Rentals owner Forrest Noble said that clients who are touring rentals may be too late to get the property as sometimes multiple rental applications are submitted for a property before that client returns to fill out an application. Their advice at this time is to submit your application and application fees as soon as you find the place you want to live.

Noble explained that the reported vacancy rates now reflect the true vacancy rate. Five to ten years ago, when vacancy rates were much higher than they are now, many apartment managers and landlords used incentives like ‘first month free rent’ or a free flatscreen TV to drive up their occupancy rates. In the past vacancy rates would have been reported higher without such incentives. Without the move in incentives the rental rates reflect what renters are paying. In the same Division of Housing report average rent in Colorado increased 7.4% from Q2 of 2011 to Q2 of 2012 with Colorado renters paying an all-time high average rent.

8z Rentals staff said they would not be surprised if, when 2012’s third quarter data is released, the vacancy rate is lower than the second quarter 2012. In the meantime, if you see a for rent sign come up in the neighborhood you want to live, you may not want to wait to pick up the phone.

8z Rentals is headquartered in Boulder Colorado and provides leasing services, property management and resident services. Visit 8zRentals.com to learn more about their services and browse available rentals. The latest rental market news is shared on blog.8zrentals.com and facebook.com/8zrentals.

The final portion of E-470 and the Northwest Parkway has hit another road block. The segment of highway that will be named Jefferson Parkway, has been under discussion for over a year. Jefferson Parkway would be the roughly-11 mile length of road that would close the E 470/ Northwest Parkway circle that runs around the Denver-Metro area.

The latest detail to this long planning process was the announcement this last week that Superior residents have filed a lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service. The suit is based on the premises that the Fish and Wildlife Service did not provide a complete environmental impact report of how the segment of highway will impact the area and adjacent wildlife refuge. As 8z’s David Pennington reported in an article titled, ‘Another potential roadblock for Jefferson Parkway planners,’ “The lawsuit is directed at violations of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act as well as many parameters in the National Environmental Policy.”

Many environmental impact studies take years, requiring public funding to study, observe and analyze the current environmental conditions of the area to suggest several ways new construction could impact the area. Locals can already point to the impact the road would have on rare prairie tall grasses which grow in the area, as well as the habitat for he already-threatened Preble meadow jumping mouse – not to mention the four lane highway would block animal migration to the west.

Currently, the proposed toll road would be built along the eastern edge of the wildlife refuge. Funds from the sale of the easement would have gone towards expanding the refuge in another direction.

Now the environmental impact will be weighted against other pros and cons for the new highway. Superior residents were concerned about the increase of traffic the parkway would bring to McCaslin Boulevard. Yet there are advantages to the highway; the road would likely bring more business to the town of Superior.

So now the economic impact is being contrasted against the environmental impact. Keep an eye on RockCreekPulse.com and share your opinions about the plans for Jefferson Parkway. 8z’s Superior Colorado and Rock Creek team is invested in keeping you up to date as this story develops.

We recently learned of a really cool fundraiser that is in it’s second year to benefit a couple of Superior Colorado schools.  Brad Klein, an 8z Real Estate broker in Superior is organizing this spring lawn aeration school fundraiser.  Not only can you have a healthy water efficient lawn, but you can support your local schools.  Read more from Brad…

Hi Folks, I am always looking for ways to serve this community. Last year I started a lawn
aeration program that also served as a school fundraiser. The program was incredibly suc-
cessful. The beauty of it is that it is so simple. Each spring most of us hire someone to
aerate our lawns as a way to ensure great looking and healthy turf all season long. By
scheduling this service through my program you get the job done professionally and help
our local schools. I want to double last year’s success but to do so I need everyone’s help. Read the rest of this entry »

At HighRGround we’re fans of Colorado and the Colorado lifestyle.  One city along the Denver-Boulder corridor that allows residents to enjoy the best of Boulder and Denver is Westminster.

Westminster Colorado has over 100k residents and nearly 40k homes as reported by city-data.com.

Not just a commuter’s town Westminster has luxury neighborhoods too which draws residents in, including The Ranch Reserve and Lexington Shores.

According to COhomefinder data there are 978 properties listed in Westminster ranging from  $32k to $2.69-million.

But Westminster is still more than just homes, its about the community. A few popular highlights to Westminster for families include:

The Butterfly and Insect Pavilion which is entertaining for family of all ages.

Westminster also has several golf courses including Legacy Ridge, Hyland Hills and Heritage at Westmoor.  (For those who want to live on or near a golf course, there are lots of homes that add convenience for golfing too)

As Westminster has grown in the past several years so have the number of trails, recreation centers and shopping for everyone in the family.

And if Westminster is right for your, meet your local 8z Real Estate brokers to take a look at the homes and neighborhoods best for you.

The Arista in Broomfield is a new development of work/live lofts, flats, and townhome/condos near the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in the Jeffco Public School district. It makes a striking addition to the rest of the growth Broomfield is encountering right now (there are 796 real estate listings active in Broomfield right now!), complete with an A Loft Starwood/W Hotel on the premises that opened April 30th.