Parker Colorado's Hometown Realty Team 

We love Parker.  You will, too.

Cheryl Bustin - Broker Associate

 36 Year Residents of Parker 

Over 350 homes sold totaling over $130 million.

RE/MAX Hall of Fame Member | RE/MAX Platinum Club 

RE/Max Lifetime Achievement Award

Outstanding Google Reviews

Bob and I wanted to create an "About Us" page that would give you some insight into who we are and how we can help you. We asked ourselves, "what would we want to know about a real estate agent if we were moving to a different city".  We hope you will find it helpful.   

• What got Cheryl interested in becoming a Parker Colorado Realtor/real estate agent.

Bob and I were in real estate related businesses.  I had my own interior design firm and spent much of my time working with custom home builders designing homes for my clients.  Bob was a mortgage lender.  As a mortgage lender, Bob had a deep knowledge of real estate.  In 2004, we decided to change our careers to real estate.

• What sets us apart from most real estate agents?

There is a need for enhanced services for people relocating to Colorado. We feel like we need to introduce our community to our clients before their first home buying trip.  That is the purpose of our Neighborhood Videos.  These videos have been invaluable to many of our clients in determining those communities that they would like to focus on.  One of our most appreciated services is previewing homes for our out of state clients.  We encourage them to ask us to go preview any homes that they might be interested in.  While previewing the home, we often Facetime with our clients.  Or, simply take more pictures and do a video for them.  Everything we do, from the moment they become customers, is designed to make the move as effective, easy and successful as possible.

• What are our credentials, awards and achievements.

I understand that people want to know that they are dealing with someone that has a proven track record and the expertise to handle their business.  I am consistently among the top producing agents in our RE/MAX office in Parker.  I am a member of the Remax Hall of Fame.  I am am a RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award winner and am in the top 7% of all Remax agents nationwide.   Since 2012, I have been a Platinum Club member every year except one.  Platinum Club membership is for agents with annual commissions between $250,000 and $500,000.

• Why do we focus on Parker Colorado and the surrounding communities of Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Centennial and Southern Aurora rather than the entire Denver metro area?

We know that no agent can cover the entire Denver area.  It's just not possible to be expert in all areas.  We are 36 year residents of Parker, which is only a few miles from Castle Rock, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch Centennial and southern Aurora.  These are towns that we are intimately familiar with.  On a daily basis we are in all of these communities attending events, visiting friends, shopping, dining and showing property.

• What are some of the "old fashioned" ways of doing the real estate business that we employ?

How about answering the phone on the first call, anytime of the day or night.  Setting our calendar based on our clients' schedule, rather than ours.  Being on time.  Being honest.  Approaching every situation with the clients' best interest in mind.  Always doing the right thing.

• What do we think about all the new technology being used in the real estate business?

We embrace it.  Our property search is "cutting edge".  Our Parker Neighborhood Videos are unique in our market.  They're so much fun to make and to view.  We love previewing homes and Facetiming with our out of state clients.  Nothing will replace the "belly to belly" approach, but utilizing technology is a must for us.

•  What kind of work schedule do we maintain?

So much of our schedule is driven by how many clients are in town, how many contracts that we're handling, etc..  We realize that many things in real estate are time critical. So, we make ourselves available whenever our time and service is needed, day or night.  We are totally client directed and driven.

• As a husband/wife real estate team do we have different functions and responsibilities?  

Yes we do.  Bob spends a huge amount of his time researching properties for our clients. His knowledge of the market is frankly amazing.  Once we determine our client's needs, Bob is hard at work finding the right homes to see.  He also manages our website, which is a critical component of our business. Also, Bob was in the mortgage lending business for over 25 years.  His knowledge of the mortgage market is invaluable.  My primary responsibility is to serve our clients from the time they decide to work with us until they have closed on their new home.  The first thing I always do is listen carefully to our clients' "wants and needs" to determine what kind of home they want, what they want to spend and where they want to live. From there it's about finding them the right home, determining value for the offer, writing and negotiating the offer, managing the contract , working with lenders, home inspectors, insurance companies, contractors, title company and more.  My goal is to have extremely happy clients at the closing table.

• What are our main sources of real estate business?

We have two main sources of business.  Our main source is and always has been, our website.  With over 1600 visits per month to our website, we have one of the most active real estate websites in Parker and Douglas County.  Our other source of business is from our past clients.  As a result of selling over 340 homes, we have accumulated many satisfied clients that are likely to contact us when they are ready to sell.  Or, ready to sell and purchase another home.  They are also our best source of referrals.

• Where did we grow up?

I grew up all over the world.  My father was in the oil business.  We lived in Texas, New Jersey, Peru and Libya.  We moved back to Houston when I was in junior high. Bob was born and raised in East Texas before he went off to college in Austin.

• Where did we go to college?

I like to tell people that I have a very well rounded education.  All in all, I went to school in New Jersey, Peru, Libya, Houston and then to college at Florida State, Texas A&M, University of Texas and University of Houston.  It's a long story of why I attended so many colleges, but I did graduate with an Interior Design degree and good grades.  Bob's college career was much less exciting.  He went to the University of Texas (where we met) and is a "gung ho" Longhorn fan.

• Do we have any children?  Any grand children?

Yes we do.  We have three adult children. Two sons and a daughter.  One of our sons and his family live in Oregon.  Our other son and his family and our daughter and her family live here in Parker.  We have 10 grand children.

• What are our hobbies?

I have an interior design/art background.  I love arts and crafts of all kinds.  I am an avid scrapbooker with a 1500 square foot basement full of supplies, work stations, etc..  Also, I love gardening in the spring and summer.  Both Bob and I love to travel, but because of our business, our vacations tend to be very short and never very far from a computer.  Bob has a passion for bowling.  And, I mean a passion.  Two nights a week, he bowls leagues.  And, sometimes he bowls competitive tournaments, when we don't have clients in town.  In the fall, he loves to follow his Texas Longhorn football team.

• Where are you and Bob from?

We moved to Parker from Austin, Texas in 1987.  Bob and I had been vacationing (summer and winter) in Colorado for years.  We would ski in the winter and do the "dude ranch" thing in the summer.  It became my dream to move to Colorado.  In 1987, that opportunity presented itself and we moved from Austin to Parker. It was truly a dream come true.  Thirty six years later, we still love it here and intend to stay in Colorado for the rest of our days.

• What do we love about living in Colorado?

Pretty much everything.  The weather is wonderful in all seasons.  We have a few heavy snowfalls.  But, honestly, the snow is beautiful and it's usually gone in a few days.  Remember, we're not in the mountains.  The views from where we live in Parker are some of the best on the Front Range.  We actually sit above Denver.  That extra elevation creates views that are out and over Denver and the Front Range.  Our views are into the mountains, rather than at the mountains.  There's a difference.  All of the towns that we represent are covered in open space, greenbelts, trails and parks.  These towns are very safe and family oriented communities.  It's a great place to live.

• Contact Us

Parker Colorado

Parker Colorado General Information

Parker Colorado is our hometown. We moved here from Austin, Texas in 1987. We arrived with three small children, all of whom went through the school system, from kindergarten through high school. Thirty six years later, we can't imagine living anywhere else. We love Parker and we know you will, too.

The Town of Parker is a home rule municipality located in Douglas County, Colorado. Its location is about 23 miles southeast of downtown Denver, putting it at the most southeastern corner of the Denver Metro Area.  Parker was founded in 1864. When we moved to Parker in 1987, there weren't that many people here. For most of our major shopping, we had to go north to Aurora. In fact, the official population in 1981 (just six years earlier) was 225 residents. That's crazy when you consider the size of Parker today. Incorporated Parker, today, has over 64,000 residents. When you include unincorporated areas, the population is significantly more.

Parker Colorado Has The Best Views

Parker's elevation is 5,869 feet. Think about this. That is about 600 feet higher than Denver and the rest of the Front Range. And, there are many areas of Parker that sit well above 6000 feet. This elevation explains the incredible views from Parker. Our views tend to be out over the Denver Metro Area, downtown Denver, the Foothills and into the Rocky Mountains. On good days, you can see the magnificent Continental Divide, which literally divides the country into the west and east. Few communities in Colorado can match Parker Colorado views.

Parker Colorado Schools

Schools are one of Parker's best assets. Parker is served by the renowned Douglas County School District RE-1.  Frankly, most of the schools in the towns that we serve are excellent.  Douglas County, Arapahoe and Cherry Creek have some of the finest schools in all of the nation.  Parker is home to three great high schools Ponderosa , Chaparrral and Legend. Additionally, Parker is home to some excellent private schools, which include Lutheran High School (9-12)), Ave Maria Catholic School (PK-8) and Southeast Christian School (PK-8).  Within a few miles are two of Colorado's best private schools Valor Christian High School and Regis Jesuit High School.

Parker Colorado Parks

The town has done a great job in making sure that the residents have plenty of parkland available for their pleasure. In fact, there are over 250 acres of developed parks. Additionally, 950 acres of dedicated open space can be found throughout the town. Many of the best parks were created by the developer of the subdivision. The town council has done a great job over the years of making sure that all of the major developments are packed full of great amenities. Some of the many parks are Auburn Hills Community Park, Bar CCC Park, Bayou Gulch Regional Park, Challenger Regional Park, Discovery Park, Preservation Park and Trailhead, Railbender Skate and Tennis Park, Salisbury Equestrian Park and Sports Complex, Stroh Ranch Soccer Fields, Tallman Meadow Park, Iron Horse Park, Living Well Park, O'Brien Park, Twenty Mile Historic Park, USMC CPL David M. Sonka Dog Park and Westcreek Disc Golf Course. Literally everywhere you look, you'll see parks and open space for your enjoyment. This is one of the many things that Cheryl and I appreciate about Parker.

Probably the most exciting park/recreation area to ever come to Parker is the Rueter-Hess Reservoir. It is a water resource to Douglas County. When complete, it will encompass 1170 acres, about one and a half times the size of Cherry Creek Reservoir. Hopefully, it will be open to the public in the summer of 2023.

Parker Colorado Arts and Event Venues

Parker is known for it small town feel, but that doesn't mean that we don't have the big city amenities that make a community complete. We have great shopping represented by almost all of the national big box stores. Most of the national restaurant chains are here. And, we have some wonderful local independent restaurants, as well. You certainly will not need to leave Parker to have a meal in a great restaurant. Our crown jewel is the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center (PACE). The PACE center hosts art shows, theater productions, concerts, lectures, meetings, weddings and more. Its 536 seat theater is one of the premier venues in all of Colorado. Another less known gem is the Vehicle Vault. Privately owned, this facility contains one of the premier classic car collections in the nation. Another outstanding event facility is the Colorado Horse Park. It is a world class equestrian event center and is home to a number of events including top hunter/jumper, dressage and evening competitions during the spring, summer and fall seasons. It also, includes annual boarding for over 100 horses.  

Parker Colorado Fitness and Recreation Centers

Health and fitness facilities abound here in Parker. Life Time Fitness chose Parker as their first location in Colorado.  It is an amazing place. And, the outdoor pool area rivals some of those found in places like Las Vegas. The town maintains two massive recreation centers. The Parker Recreation Center has over 30,000 square feet, with a gymnasium, work out facilities, pool, outdoor inline hockey rink and more. The Parker Fieldhouse has over 100,000 square feet with sports turf, batting cages, gymnasium, inline rink, track, fitness rooms and more.

Parker Colorado Annual Events

There is always something going on that adds to Parker's appeal. It seems that every weekend, there will be an event in downtown Parker. It might be movies in the park. Or, an art show. Barbecue cook offs. Farmer's Market during the summer and fall. Then there are the major events like Parker Days Festival in June, Parker Stars and Stripes Celebration on July 4th, Fall Festival and Reapers Hollow at Flat Acres Farm in October and the Christmas Parade in December. Another cool event is the monthly Wine Walk that takes place in downtown Parker each month from June through October. These are just a few of the major celebrations.

Parker Colorado Medical Facilities

Local medical care is of critical importance to the residents of any community. Parker is in great shape when it comes to providing first class medical services. We have two major hospitals that serve Parker. In Parker, we have Parker Adventist Hospital. And, just a few miles west in Lone Tree is Sky Ridge Medical Center.  

We Love Parker Colorado

We could go on and on about how much we love Parker and why. There is so much more information that we could provide.  But, hopefully, we have covered enough to help you get a feel for our wonderful town and why we love to call Parker "home". Cheryl and I spent a great deal of time videoing Parker and her neighborhoods. Here are two that we did. The first one is a drive through Downtown Parker and the second one is a drive all around Parker, pointing out her sites and attractions.  

This is our newest listing in Parker, Colorado.  The majestic mountain views from this home will never disappoint.  Located at one the highest points on the front range, it allows what we refer to as "peak to peak mountain views".  With over 6800 finished square feet, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, a 4 car garage on over 3 acres, this home is a true value at $2,350,000.

There is nothing better than having satisfied and happy clients.  Over the years, we've helped over 350 homebuyers either find their dream home or sell their current residence.  This is a video testimonial that one of our favorite clients gave us.  

This is a great article. It points out the reasons that homebuyers are combining incomes and assets to purchase homes.  Here in Parker, Colorado and the entire Denver Metro Area, homes prices are pricing out homebuyers.  We're finding that the minimum price for a relatively nice home is about $600,000.  The sweet spot seems to be in the $650,000 to $750,000 price range.  Most single homebuyers simply do not make enough money to afford/qualify for these homes.  So, what can they do?  Find a relative, friend or even an acquaintance that is facing the same problem and go together to purchase a home.  There are plenty of homes that will accommodate these buyers.  The best ones are those that have finished walk-out basements.  Many of these basements have full kitchens.  It's just a matter of who gets the upstairs and who gets the basement.  

What about when one of the home owners is ready to move on?  That needs to be handled up front.  Put together a legal agreement that specifies how to handle that situation.  You might simply sell the home, split the profit and move on.  Or, the owner that wants to stay, could refinance and pay the other his equity share.  Or, other options that might work.

We see homes every day that would be perfect for two households.  Let us know if we can help.

The Top Benefits of Buying a Multi-Generational Home

Has the idea of sharing a home with loved ones like your grandparents, parents, or other relatives crossed your mind? If so, you’re not alone. More buyers are choosing to go this route and buy a multi-generational home. Here’s a look at some of the top reasons why, to see if a home like this may be right for you too.

Why Buyers Are Opting for Multi-Generational Living

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), two of the top reasons buyers are opting for multi-generational homes today have to do with affordability (see graph below):

First-time buyers are focused most on cost savings – with 28% saying this was a key reason for them. By pooling their resources with others, they can share financial responsibilities like mortgage payments, utilities, and more to make homeownership more affordable. This is especially helpful for those first-time homebuyers who may be finding it tough to afford a home on their own in today’s market.

Buyers are also turning to multi-generational homes so they can more easily afford their dream home. Both first-time (28%) and repeat buyers (18%) chose to live with others so they could buy a larger home. When everyone chips in and combines their incomes, that big dream home with more space could be more within reach.

But multi-generational living isn’t just about the financial side of things. According to the same study from NAR, 23% of repeat buyers chose to buy a multi-generational home to make it easier to care for an aging parent. Many older adults want to age in place and a multi-generational home can help make that possible. For those older adults, it gives them an opportunity to maintain their quality of life while being surrounded by their loved ones. As Axios explains:

“Financial concerns and caregiving needs are two of the major reasons people live with their parents (and parents' parents).”

Lean on an Expert

Finding the perfect multi-generational home isn’t as simple as shopping for a regular house. That’s because there are more people with even more opinions and needs to be considered. It's like solving a puzzle, and the pieces need to fit just right.

So if you're interested in the many benefits multi-generational living offers, partner with a local real estate agent who has the expertise to help.

Bottom Line

Whether your motives are financial or focused on the people you’ll share your home with, buying a multi-generational home may make sense for you. If you’re interested in learning more, let’s connect.

As this article points out, "homeownership is still at the heart of the American Dream".  Pretty much everyone desires to own their own home.  But, in today's market, it has become more and more difficult for many individuals to achieve that particular American dream.  The combination of rising home prices and high mortgage interest rates, has pushed many out of the market.

Hopefully, we will see mortgage rates ease some in the coming months.  But, hoping for the low rates of a few years ago, is probably not realistic.  So, what can those locked out buyers do?  Double up.  That's the answer.  Get together with a trusted friend and buy a home.  In most cases, those individuals with good credit, reasonable income and a modest down payment, will be able to find and purchase an nice house.  Two incomes, combined, makes all the difference.  Even if it's for a short period, it gets you "in the door" of home ownership.  

Most of us who went to college, and were unmarried after college, had roommates.  What if we had purchased a house together, back then.  I know that in my particular case, it would have worked out great.  Would have walked away with quite a bit of equity.  But, of course, we rented and had nothing to show for it.

Homeownership Is Still at the Heart of the American Dream

Buying a home is a powerful decision, and it remains at the heart of the American Dream. Unlike renting, owning a home means more than just having a place to live – it offers a sense of belonging, stability, and freedom. According to Nicole Bachaud, Senior Economist at Zillow:

“The American Dream is still owning a home. There’s a lot of pent-up demand for ownership; that isn’t going to go away.”

Let’s explore just a few of the reasons why so many Americans continue to value homeownership. 

The Financial Benefits of Owning a Home

One possible reason homeownership is viewed so highly is because owning a home is a significant wealth-building tool. That may be why Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief and VP of Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

“Homeownership is the number one way to build wealth in America.”

Over time, owning a home not only helps boost your own net worth, but it also sets future generations up for success as you pass that wealth down. Habitat for Humanity explains:

“Overall, homeownership promotes wealth building by acting as a forced savings mechanism and through home value appreciation. Homeowners make monthly payments that increase their equity in their homes by paying down the principal balance of their mortgage. . . . In addition, owning a home promotes intergenerational homeownership and wealth building. Children of homeowners transition to homeownership earlier — lengthening the period over which they can accumulate wealth . . .”

It can also provide meaningful financial stability compared to renting. When you buy with a fixed-rate mortgage, you can lock in your monthly housing payments for the length of your home loan.

The Non-Financial Benefits of Homeownership

But, owning a home offers more than just financial benefits—it benefits you socially and emotionally too. Your home provides feelings of achievement, responsibility, and more. In a recent survey, Fannie Mae outlines just a few of these more emotionally-driven benefits, including:

“The top three were having control over what you do with your living space (94%) to having a sense of privacy and security (91%) and having a good place for your family or to raise your children (90%) . . .”

What Does That Mean for You?

If your idea of the American Dream involves greater freedom, security, and prosperity, homeownership could be a key player in bringing that dream to life. And with mortgage rates now on a downward trend, it might be a good time for you to consider making a move.

If you’re ready and able to buy, know that there are incredible benefits waiting at the end of your journey. You'll gain more than just a home – it's a place to grow your wealth and call your very own. Like Ksenia Potapov, Economist at First American says:

“...homeownership remains an important driver of wealth accumulation and the largest source of total wealth among most households.”

Bottom Line

Buying a home is a powerful decision and the cornerstone of the American Dream. If finding a place to call your own is part of your dream for this year, let’s connect to start the process today.