The luxury community is providing a solution to quell buyers’ feelings of homebuilding trepidation — a new program offering custom construction management services at pricing 5 to 7% lower than market pricing.

It’s no secret that luxury buyers from across the country and the world are flocking to Colorado to lay permanent stake in a state dotted with resort communities where unparalleled lifestyle opportunities abound.

What’s new is these buyers’ increased desire to live this coveted lifestyle from a home base crafted on their own terms, one where homes are built new and reflective of individual taste. Unfortunately, the phrase “easier said than done” comes to mind often in the Colorado homebuilding process.

Despite luxury and second-home buyers having the interest, as well as the means, to build their dream home in resort communities, the time and energy needed to oversee a custom home build proves a rather daunting task.

In an effort to alleviate these common concerns, one luxury community in Steamboat Springs is providing a solution to quell buyers’ feelings of home-building trepidation — a new program offering custom construction management services at pricing 5 to 7% lower than market pricing.

Alpine Mountain Ranch and Club, which borders the ski resort and sits just five minutes from downtown, hopes to alleviate homebuilding headaches by offering an on-site construction team that oversees the entire design and building process from A to Z.

The team’s work is exceptional, and the proof is in the pudding. Two spec homes priced above $4.45 million at AMRC have been built, one of which just sold this fall. The ranch is currently offering two additional custom homes for sale: a move-in-ready luxury residence listed for $4.995 million and a new 4,500-square-foot market home currently under construction.

“We’re well-versed in the design review guidelines,” says Jamie Curcio, director of construction for AMRC, who grew up in Steamboat and played a significant role in the construction and planning of some of the most prominent buildings and developments in the Steamboat Springs area: One Steamboat Place, the Jan Bishop Cancer Center, and the Deer Park Road corporate building.

“We know the local subcontractor force and the permitting processes. If you want a beautiful house on this property but you don’t want to deal with the stress of building it, we’re here to take that on.”

AMRC, a 1,216-acre land preservation community, is divided into 63, 5-acre parcels, with 900 acres specifically designated as wildlife preserve. It’s minutes from Steamboat Ski Resort, and amenities include slope-side services at the Alpine Mountain Summit Club, fishing along a private stretch of the Yampa River, equestrian facilities, a guest cabin and more.

“It’s a special place,” says Suzanne Schlicht, AMRC’s director of sales. “It’s important for us to build a vibrant community here, so we wanted to make these design build services available to help.”

By having the local team in place, she says, homes at AMRC have gone up more quickly and closer to budget than other similar projects in Steamboat. That’s due to Curcio and his team, who are accessible and available to answer questions subcontractors may have, monitor progress, make reminder calls if needed and ensure that the build remains on schedule.

AMRC’s program includes a number of tiers, each depending upon the degree of involvement an owner desires in the design and building process.

“One may say, ‘I want a 5,000-square-foot house,’” Curcio says. “‘I want it to be four bedrooms and have a theater. You take it from there.’ Or you may have another who says, ‘I want to get into the interior design, but I want you to manage the subcontractors and everything else.’”

What you get, Curcio says, are customizable services at a discounted rate, which remove a lot of hurdles that can arise, allowing buyers to focus their attention elsewhere.

“We do this so our homeowners can continue their day-to-day activities,” Curcio says. “You can be as involved as you want, but at the same time, you can live your life.”