If you’re a long-term Colorado homeowner thinking about your next move—or someone relocating to Colorado and researching where to land—this post is worth your time.

We’re going to cover two things that usually get discussed separately but really belong together: how to sell your current home without leaving money on the table, and what 55+ and low-maintenance living in Highlands Ranch actually looks like.

These two topics connect because the same conversation comes up over and over. Someone has been in their home for 10, 15, or 20 years. They’ve built real equity. They’re ready to simplify. And they’re trying to figure out both sides of the equation at once—what’s the smartest way to sell, and where do we go next?

We’ve put together two videos that answer both questions. They’re embedded below. But if you’d rather read, everything is here too.

Part One: Why Selling Off-Market Could Cost You More Than You Think

A growing number of Colorado sellers are choosing to sell their homes privately—off the MLS, away from public exposure, often through a single agent who claims to have a buyer ready to go.

It sounds appealing. Fewer showings. Less disruption. Done quietly.

The data tells a different story.

Zillow analyzed more than a million home sales in 2023 and 2024 and found that sellers who bypassed the MLS collectively left more than a billion dollars behind. Per home, the average loss was around $5,000. In higher-priced markets—like much of the Denver metro and Colorado foothills—that number climbs to $30,000 or more.

Perhaps more telling: 61% of sellers who went off-market said they believed they could have gotten more if they had listed publicly. Most of them found out after closing, when there was nothing left to do about it.

Why Off-Market Gets You Less

It comes down to one word: competition.

When your home is on the MLS, it appears on Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and dozens of other sites simultaneously. Every buyer’s agent in Colorado can see it, show it, and bring qualified buyers to it.

That reach creates competition. Competition creates urgency. And urgency is what produces multiple offers—which is what protects your price.

Off-market removes all of that. You get one buyer, one offer, and that buyer knows they have zero competition. The leverage shifts entirely to them.

What About Showings?

The most common reason sellers consider going off-market isn’t price—it’s showings. Strangers walking through your home. Disruption to your schedule. Loss of privacy.

Those concerns are real. And they’re fixable without sacrificing your sale price.

When we list a home, we set designated showing windows—not open-door, anytime access. You choose the days and hours. We require advance notice. Agents receive clear instructions before they walk through your door.

You stay in control of your home and your schedule while still reaching every qualified buyer in the market.

MLS v. Off-Market

Watch the full video breakdown here:

The Other Side of the Equation: Where Do You Go Next?

Once you’ve sold—or once you’ve decided it’s time to start thinking seriously about selling—the next question is where to land.

For a lot of long-term Colorado homeowners, the answer isn’t another large single-family home with a yard to maintain and a roof to worry about. The answer is something that fits the life they actually want to live now.

That’s where Highlands Ranch comes in.

Part Two: 55+ Communities in Highlands Ranch — What’s Actually Available

Highlands Ranch sits about 15 miles south of Denver with quick access to C-470, Park Meadows, excellent healthcare, and great restaurants.

It has more than 70 miles of trails, 8,200 acres of open space in the Backcountry Wilderness Area, and four community recreation centers.

It’s one of Colorado’s most livable suburbs—and it has three legitimate age-restricted communities most people don’t discover until they’re already ready to move.

💎Verona

Lock-and-Leave Luxury on the High Line Canal

Verona is the newest and most upscale 55+ community in Highlands Ranch.

Luxury townhomes and condos feature high-end finishes, mountain and reservoir views, and maintenance-free living.

The HOA handles exterior maintenance, roof replacement, landscaping, and snow removal. Homes here average around $870,000.

⛳️Gleneagles Village

Gated, Golf Course, and the Best Social Scene

Gleneagles Village is the most established and social 55+ community in Highlands Ranch.

With homes ranging from approximately $300,000 to $700,000, residents enjoy a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, golf access, and a robust social calendar.

The Village at Highlands Ranch offers detached patio homes with single-level living, mature landscaping, and convenient access to trails, golf, and C-470.

Most homes range from approximately $400,000 to $650,000.

🏌️‍♀️The Retreat at The Links

Worth Knowing About

While no longer age-restricted, The Retreat at the Links continues to attract many downsizers seeking ranch-style homes, golf course views, and low-maintenance living.

Homes generally range from $500,000 to $900,000.

Watch the full community breakdown here:

🤐A Note on Quiet Inventory

Not every home that’s available makes it to Zillow.

We work closely with homeowners in communities like these who are weighing their options, and occasionally we’re aware of properties that haven’t been listed publicly yet.

If you’ve been searching online and haven’t found the right fit, it’s worth a conversation.

Let’s Talk Through Both Sides of Your Move

Whether you’re thinking about selling, right-sizing, relocating to Colorado, or just starting to research your options, we’re happy to have a conversation.

Tim and Sandy Jones have been helping Colorado buyers and sellers navigate major transitions since 2011.

Ready to talk?

📞 Call or text: (720) 314-8462

📧 Email: Tim@JonesTeamColorado.com

🗓️ Schedule a free 15-minute call: calendly.com/tim-jonesteam/15min

Jones Team Colorado | eXp Realty — serving the Denver metro, Colorado foothills, and surrounding communities since 2011.