Vista Ridge is a new (homes younger than 10 years old with current construction still occurring) suburban golf course community located on Hwy 7 and Mountain View Blvd. in Erie, Colorado. From the I-25 Hwy 7 exit, it is about 5-8 minutes west on the north side of Hwy 7. The community includes condos, patio homes, and single family homes (including low maintenance single family homes) ranging in size from 1,000 sq feet to more than 5,000 and prices ranging from $160 K to over 1 million. An average single family new home of 2000-2500 sq feet with a 6000-8000 sq foot lot runs around 280-350 K. A better deal can be found on resales, but this is a reasonable price for the area.

What you get in reasonable price however, you pay for in access: Vista Ridge is currently a 10-20 minute drive to nearly everything (shopping, restaurants, grocery store etc.) and is a far commute from most Denver area employment centers. There is some commercial/retail development occurring on the south side of the development, and 10 minutes either west or east down Hwy 7 provides shopping, but this is not a walkable neighborhood by any means. Most parts of the neighborhood have spectacular views of the mountains, and the neighborhood is home to a very nice golf course and golf club.

There are two things of special note that may be a concern for homebuyers. First, to Vista Ridge’s north there is an enormous landfill (actually it’s 2 landfills owned by different companies). It is quite visible from almost every part of the neighborhood. It has large trucks running into and out of it constantly all day long. A regular golfer on Vista Ridge’s course told us there are some times when an odor is noticeable, but a resident told us they have never noticed a smell at all. Prevailing winds do blow west to east, so smell shouldn’t be as much as a concern as the visual impact. Second, the town of Erie currently does not fluoridate their water; they are one of the only cities in Colorado not to do so. In 2008, they are putting it up to a vote whether or not to add fluoridation.

“We love the neighborhood. The neighbors are great and we've made a lot of friends and do a lot of activities with the neighbors. I would recommend Vista Ridge to anyone, especially those with kids.”—Shannon, Vista Ridge resident.

Who the Neighborhood’s Best For

Vista Ridge is great for people who work in Louisville, Broomfield, and Boulder who want a new or newer home with nice mountain views for a reasonable price and don’t mind driving for every need. Vista Ridge would also work well for people who need to commute to both Denver and northern Colorado cities such as Loveland or Fort Collins. Good for families with small kids. Also a plus for those who like golf!

What the Neighborhood’s Like

It’s a nice suburban neighborhood, fairly hilly, and the trees are very small because it’s new. Because there is a lot of variety in the price points of homes (starter homes all the way to custom homes on the golf course) it does mix up the architecture more than some subdivisions, but it still has a bit of the cookie cutterish feel. It has some of the most spectacular views of the mountains of any neighborhood we’ve seen, and has some nice amenities like the golf course, nice parks with playground equipment through the whole neighborhood, and a very nice community center and pool (there’s a separate pool for condo owners also). There are many fun community events and the neighborhood has many families with small children, but also older residents.