You dream about your dream house.

And you can picture it clearly in your mind’s eye.  Maybe you have even sketched it, or had someone draw up some basic plans for it.

But, where do you build it?  That’s the next question.  Location, location, location.

North or South.  Tropical or all four seasons.  Beach or mountains.  These are often some of the issues being discussed.

For others, factors include the political makeup of the government. Or, maybe you have tax considerations that need to be thought through.  Maybe you are tired of the urban grid.  Or, if you are in the Midwest, maybe you have had enough of the boring, endless flatlands – cornfields everywhere you look.  Hardly a place for your dream house.

One place that needs to be on your radar is Boulder, Colorado.

Boulder is quickly becoming a favorite place to live.  Livabbility.com lists Boulder number five on their Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.  Let’s talk about why.

Why should you consider building in Boulder?

Stable economy  Boulder boasts a healthy economy, fundamentally speaking.  The job force in Boulder is large and it is diverse.  Within the private sector, there are jobs in industries like information technology, aerospace, biotech,, cleantech, and outdoor recreation.  There are also plenty of government jobs including thousands in 17 unique federally-funded research labs. So, the jobs are there and business is booming and ever-growing.

Big city feel in small town environment  Does it get any better than that?  Who doesn’t want all the leading-edge benefits of living in a major city? Who doesn’t want all the creature-comforts, products and resources?  At the same time, who likes to sit in traffic twice a day, or overcrowding in your schools?  Boulder offers the best of both worlds.

University town   Nothing stimulates a local economy like a university.  And Boulder has more than six colleges and universities, including the University of Colorado.  Universities attract funding from state and federal sources and bring tremendous stability to the economy. Colleges and universities provide thousands of jobs of all kinds. Additionally, the influx of students from outside the area are also stimulants.

The great outdoors   Boulder is one of the greatest cities in the world for outdoor recreation.   The options seem endless.  One can ski the mountains, or fly-fish the streams.  There are countless parks and reserves that are loaded with trails for biking and hiking and running.  There is hunting. Boating. Maybe the better question is what can’t you do in Boulder.

Weather  The weather in Boulder is extremely attractive to many people.  In the winter, you might wake to some snow, but be on the golf course by noon. The summer highs are just about perfect, with average July highs in the upper 80s.  And for those who enjoy outdoor winter activities, the cold isn’t like Minnesota cold – rather the lows hover around plus 20, not minus 20.

Beautiful views   Why would you not want a beautiful view as you look out from your dream house?  The mountains are unbeatable.   Case closed.

Conclusion  If you’re looking for a place to build that dream house,  you owe it to yourself to consider Boulder, Colorado.