If you want to purchase a home in Grand Junction, the time is now. Grand Junction – long known as one of Colorado’s best-kept real estate secrets – couldn’t stave off the recent real estate surge, and prices are on the move. Some say it’s a seller’s market, but many contend that the current real estate prices in Grand Junction are the lowest they’ll ever be – and there’s nowhere to go but up. So, if you dream of owning a home on Colorado’s Western Slope, it’s time to start making your plans.
Grand Junction and Mesa County are ideal places to call home. Real estate prices are reasonable compared to other cities of the same size in Colorado. Grand Junction is one of the largest cities in Colorado’s Western Slope region and an outdoor recreation hub. It’s also home to the many vineyards and wineries of Colorado Wine Country. For prospective homeowners, there are affordable single-family homes in the neighborhoods that make up Grand Junction’s core and surrounding area. There are also larger lots with contemporary homes near the city’s heart, and mountainside estates only minutes from the best shopping, restaurants, and entertainment spots.
Newer builds in Grand Junction provide plenty of space, amazing amenities, and spectacular views. Many homes for sale near the city’s core have three or more bedrooms, several high-end finishes and luxury touches.
Grand Junction is surrounded by magnificent scenery, and there’s something to do no matter where you go, from the Little Bookcliffs to the northeast of town to Grand Mesa – the world’s largest flat-topped mountain – in the southeast. You’re never far from Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing during the winter. The Colorado River and Gunnison River provide countless rafting adventures, fly-fishing expeditions, tubing, and stand-up paddleboarding in the summers. There are also hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails to explore.
History of Grand Junction
The Grand Junction area was first settled by an aboriginal civilization called the Freemont in about 200 AD. The Freemont settled there for roughly 1,000 years until they left the area. By 1400, the area was becoming inhabited by Ute Indians who wandered into much of present-day Colorado and Utah. The Utes lived peacefully until the 1800s. Initially, American pioneers were excited about trapping and trading valuable animal pelts with the Utes. Still, many Americans were kept out of the territory by Spanish officials after it became the property of the kingdom of Spain in 1821.
Later, when the region became part of Mexico, trappers, traders, and buck-skinners flocked to the area, including well-known names like Kit Carson and Capt. John Gunnison. In 1881, the Indian Removal Act forced many Utes onto reservations. The region was opened to homesteaders, ranchers, and town builders. A Kansas politician and real estate developer named George Crawford decided the unclaimed area would make a great townsite, and Grand Junction was born!
Grand Junction continued to grow into the late 19th Century and early 20th Century. Many of the magnificent multi-level homes built during the town’s early years have been meticulously restored or well-kept and are still inhabited today. The city also saw significant periods of growth during the mid-20th Century and beyond the year 2000. Today, the real estate market in Grand Junction offers a terrific selection of historic homes, well-kept residences, and newer developments.
Types of Real Estate For Sale
Because of Grand Junction’s rich history, many real estate options are available. There are historic homes in Grand Junction that have been cared for and restored to their original luster, and there are some older homes that need a good renovation. Some have become successful bed and breakfasts, while others have generated additional revenue for their owners through rental sites like Airbnb. The rental market is also strong, and quality private homes do not stay on the rental market for long.
The downtown area has a few condominiums near the core area, but most of the surrounding neighborhoods are comprised of single-family private homes. Most of the homes have three bedrooms or more. Some private homes for sale in Grand Junction have up to eight bedrooms. Typically, homes for sale have three or four bedrooms, but you can find homes for sale with two or three bedrooms. One-bedroom cottages are sparse, but there are several condominium complexes and townhouses for rent in Grand Junction.
Further from the downtown core are larger, single-family homes and estates. The hills of Mesa County surrounding the city offer privacy and views for potential owners. There are established mountainside homes for sale with mountain views, and there are empty lots available where you can plan and build the home of your dreams. Many homeowners enjoy designing their dream home and building it from the ground up to their specifications. If you’re going to have a forever home, why not make it exactly as you want it?
Many homes in Grand Junction are built with the main living area, kitchen, and master bedroom on the upper levels to maximize the natural sunlight and breathtaking mountain views. Secondary bedrooms and additional living spaces are typically on the lower levels.
Living in Grand Junction
Affordability and flexibility are two of the main reasons real estate owners love Grand Junction, but the real secret is the way of life. Grand Junction is perfect because it offers big-city attractions and amenities but still has all the small-town comforts that make mountain living one of a kind. The city brings in major headlining concerts, theater, and ballet, but you won’t find yourself waiting in line for hours on end. You’re likely to run into someone you know on town’s hiking and biking trails if you’re a local.
Local parents will tell you that Grand Junction is a wonderful place to raise children. There are lots of families who call Grand Junction home. The school system is consistently top-ranked for education, sports teams, and extracurricular clubs. It is the kind of place where many of the students that start school in Kindergarten will be in the same graduating class 12 years later. The area has well-established city parks and rec programs ranging from T-ball to gymnastics to keep youngsters entertained during the summer months.
But the main attraction is mountain living and all the perks that come with it. You can enjoy the beautiful altitude and its ultra-clean air, the fantastic hiking and biking trails, the incredible rivers that flow through Grand Junction, and all the available water sports, like kayaking and whitewater rafting. It’s the sort of place where you can go on adventures as a family – and feel safe letting your children go off on their own from time to time. Grand Junction is also the gateway to Moab and all the excitement in Utah.
Grand Junction Real Estate Companies
Buyers and sellers that want to maximize their potential in the real estate market regularly choose a proven industry leader. Working with a leading real estate company as a buyer or seller costs no more but offers added value and services. An experienced realtor in Grand Junction will know all the crucial details to make your decision. A good realtor knows the local neighborhoods – not just the street names but each area’s specific characteristics and charm.
What makes each neighborhood special? How is this neighborhood different than the others? What is the history of this neighborhood, and what are the future plans? Not all real estate agents will know this information off the cuff – but a good one does. Having an experienced realtor is like having a reliable doctor in your time of need or knowing a sharp attorney has your back when times get rough. A Grand Junction realtor worth their salt will know the ropes, but more importantly, they’ll help guide you through the process with little or no pitfalls or surprises.
