With the economy being the way it has been - and, the way it looks, this is the perfect time to buy your Denver new home. The city boasts of sports' teams, plenty of parks and gardens, museums, a magnificent aquarium and zoo - you name it, Denver's got it all!

(Photo by Greg Ness.)

If you decide to search for Denver new homes for sale in the Northwestern part of Denver you will have the attractions closest to you are the downtown aquarium, Elitch Gardens and Coors Field Stadium.

The aquarium sits on 17 acres of land and "Its freshwater and marine aquaria total approximately 1,200,000 US gallons (4,500,000 l), and exhibit a variety of fish and other animals. It is the largest aquarium between Chicago and California.A major theme for this landlocked aquarium is the relationship between inland freshwater ecosystems and the ocean. The original design of the aquarium was zoogeographic." (www.wikipedia.org) The aquarium's restaurant, where "Your underwater adventure begins as you are seated around the 150,000-gallon aquarium with excellent views of to black tip reef sharks, groupers and schooling jacks and other fascinating creatures as they swim right by your table. The Aquarium is not only a feast for the eyes, but also a feast for the palate." (www.aquariumrestaurants.com)

(Photo courtesy of pbo31, Flickr.)

Elitch Gardens, is an amusement and water park where the entire family may enjoy the day. "Celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2010, Elitch Gardens is one of the oldest attractions in the Denver metropolitan area. Colorado's largest theme park, Elitch Gardens, has more than 23 rides, shows and attractions including seven roller coasters and a carousel that has been giving rides to park guests since 1928. Also included with park admission is Island Kingdom Water Park, complete with a lazy river, wave pool and water slides to cool off on warm summer days." (www.ultimaterollercoaster.com)

Coors Field Stadium, home to the Colorado Rockies, is named after Coors Brewing Company which is its owner. "Coors Field was originally planned to be somewhat smaller, seating only 43,800. However, after the Rockies drew almost 4.5 million people in their first season at Mile High Stadium - the most in baseball history - the plans were altered during construction, and new seats in the right field upper deck were added." (www.wikipedia.org)

In the restaurant's menu you will fine everything from sushi to rocky mountain oysters to ""Rocky Dogs". "Coors Field was the only major league park with an underground heating system until the construction of Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins." (www.wikipedia.org)

On the Eastern side of the city is located the Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. "The massive B-52 Stratofortress greets you at the front door of our 1930's-era former Air Force hangar - home to over three dozen historic airplanes and space vehicles.

Highlights of the collection include:

• A rare B-18A Bolo
• Five of the Century-Series fighters
• An RF-84K Thunderflash Parasite
• An Alexander Eaglerock built in Colorado
• A Star Wars X-Wing fighter
• WINGS is the only place in the world outside of the SAC Museum in Nebraska where you can see a B-1A Lancer

Housed in former Air Force classrooms, exhibits include:

• The Science of Flight
• The History of Avionics
• The Flying Tigers
• The Colorado Aviation Historical Society Heritage Hall" (www.wingsmuseum.org)

If you are a city dweller it may be difficult to find new homes in Denver central area, for it's a very old neighborhood dating back to 1904. In spite of that there are attractions close by which include the Art and the Denver's Firefighters Museums and the Civic Center Park. Also located in Eastern Denver are the Botanical Gardens, the Denver Zoo and the Qwest Cherry Creek Shopping Center - all within close proximity of one another.

(Photo courtesy of Doug Letterman, Flickr.)

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) boasts of having permanent collections of African and American Indian art as well as collections in the disciplines of textile, architecture, design and graphics, photographic and oceanic arts, to name just a few. Temporary collections include King Tut as well as collections from modern American, Asian and European artists.

The Denver's Firefighters Museum is composed of a gallery where you may learn about the process of fire, training those Denver firefighters must undergo and a third level where parents get to interact with their children to teach them the importance of fire safety. "The permanent collection consists of fire apparatus, personal protective tools and equipment, communication consoles, uniforms, trophies, and fire suppression materials from a period spanning more than 150 years from before the Denver Fire Department was formed in 1866 to the present." (www.denverfirefightermuseum.org)

The Civic Center Park is located in the Civic Center neighborhood aka "The Golden Triangle. Civic Center is a neighborhood and park in Denver, Colorado. The area is known as the center of the civic life in the city, with numerous institutions of arts, government, and culture as well as numerous festivals, parades, and protests throughout the year. The park is home to many fountains, statues, and formal gardens, and includes a Greek amphitheater, a war memorial, and the Voorhees Memorial Seal Pond. It is well known for its symmetrical Neoclassical design." (www.wikipedia.org)

If you're into flowers and plants, the Denver Botanical Garden on York Street boasts plants from all over the world as well as those that are found in the Mid-West and are resistant to drought. It also brags of housing the first self-sustainable green roof in the City of Denver. "Throughout Denver Botanic Gardens, the time honored traditions of European horticulture merge with a dynamic diversity of plants and design that represent the best in horticultural achievement." (www.botanicgardens.org)

(Photo courtesy of vbsouthern, Flickr.)

When shopping for Denver new homes make sure that you check out the city zoo. "Visitors can view 3,500 different animals, representing more than 650 species. That means a rare look at exotic animals like Amur leopards, king cobras, black rhinos, coral reef fish, elephants, zebras, vampire bats, gorillas and more. With naturalistic habitats such as the new Predator Ridge,Tropical Discovery, Primate Panorama and the Dragons of Komodo exhibits, the Zoo is working to enhance the lives of the world's most endangered species." (www.denverzoo.org)

Having access to shopping close by is a definite plus when looking for new homes for sale in Denver. In reality, the Qwest Cherry Creek Shopping Center is an upscale mall which "is one of seven malls in the United States with Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom under one roof, and the only mall in the six-state region with this anchor combination." (www.taubman.com)

(Photo courtesy of kla4067, Flickr.)

For those of you that are first time buyers planning on looking at denver new home communities, there are 6 important home-buying facts that you should keep in mind:

1. "Your mortgage payments might be the same or less than rent payments - The (principal and interest) monthly payment on a $200,000, 30-year, fixed rate mortgage with an interest rate of six percent (6.25%) is $1,231 -- less than what some people pay for rent (taxes, insurance and any other fees, including closing costs, are extra).
2. Buyers don't have to put 20 percent down to buy a home anymore - Many low down payment loans are available. For instance, three and five percent down payments are common, and can help buyers purchase a home without a hefty down payment. This all adds up to less money out-of-pocket to buy a home.
3. Buyers may ask sellers to pay for closing costs - As part of the negotiating process when buying a house, the buyer may ask the seller to pay for a percentage of the non-recurring closing costs, sometimes saving thousands of dollars for the buyer.
4. Buyers can receive gifts or grants from relatives or nonprofit organizations - Many loan programs will allow a portion of the down payment to come from a relative. Buyers can also investigate down payment assistance programs and grants available through various nonprofit organizations and employers, as well as from many federal, state, and local governments. Many of these programs are designed for low-, moderate- and middle-income borrowers.
5. You should always get preapproved before you begin house hunting - Buyers should get a written preapproval from a reputable mortgage lender before they start shopping for a home. Preapproved buyers will not only know in advance how much home they can afford, but their preapproved status gives them clout with sellers and real estate agents when the time comes to negotiate a sale price. Lastly, preapproval speeds up the loan process after a purchase contract is signed and can help avoid last minute heartbreaks after a home is found.
6. You can protect your interest rate while you shop for your home - Some lenders, like Countrywide, offer home buyers the ability to lock in a rate, at no cost, before they select a home." (www.denver.yourhub.com)