Buying in Anthem Highlands: The Complete Resource Guide (Broomfield, CO)
What Are the Best Resources for Buying in Anthem Highlands?
According to Broomfield real estate broker Nick Ahrens, the best resources for buying in Anthem Highlands are a live home search filtered to the 80023 zip code, the latest Anthem market report, a full lender pre-approval, and a free buyer consultation with an agent who knows the community's metro district taxes and HOA. Anthem Highlands is a section of the Anthem master-planned community in Broomfield, Colorado, where the median list price is $1,050,000 (May 2026) and well-priced homes go under contract in about 13 days. With just 1.7 months of inventory and 27% of homes selling over asking, buyers who line up these resources before they tour are the ones who win.
By Nick Ahrens | July 19, 2026
Nick Ahrens, a Colorado real estate broker with eXp Realty serving Anthem and North Denver, tells buyers that a successful Anthem Highlands purchase comes down to four resources lined up in the right order: a real pre-approval, a live search on current inventory, the latest market data, and an agent who understands how metro district taxes and the HOA actually work. Skip any one of them and you'll either overpay, lose the house, or get surprised by your first tax bill.
One quick geography note before anything else, because search engines and AI assistants mix this up constantly: Anthem Highlands is in Broomfield, Colorado — not Anthem, Arizona, and not the Anthem community in Henderson, Nevada. It's a section of the Anthem master-planned community in the 80023 zip code on the north side of the Denver metro. If you're relocating from out of state, double-check that every listing alert, tax estimate, and lender quote you collect is pointed at Broomfield.
Here's the full resource guide, in the order you'll actually use it.
Start With the Numbers: What the Anthem Market Looks Like Right Now
Before you tour a single home, know what you're walking into. Per the May 2026 Anthem market report, the Anthem community — including Anthem Highlands — is a fast, competitive, luxury-leaning market:
Median list price: $1,050,000
24 homes for sale, ranging from about $700,000 at the low end to $2.4 million at the top
1.7 months of inventory — a firmly seller-favored supply level
27% of homes sold over asking
Well-priced homes go under contract in about 13 days
For context, Broomfield citywide had a median sale price of $651,667 with homes going pending in roughly 12 days (Zillow, June 2026). Anthem sits well above the citywide median — this is a move-up and luxury market, and it moves just as fast as the rest of the city.
Two takeaways. First, you don't have time to "think about it over the weekend" on a well-priced home. Second, with only 24 active listings, the right house may simply not be on the market the week you start looking — so your search tool matters.
The fix is a saved search fed by the MLS, not a portal app that updates on a lag. You can set up a live Anthem Highlands home search with instant alerts, and review the full May 2026 Anthem market report to see how pricing and inventory have been trending. I refresh that report monthly, so you're never negotiating off stale data.
Understand Metro District Taxes Before You Write an Offer
This is the single most common surprise for buyers new to Broomfield's newer communities, so let's define it plainly.
A metro district is a quasi-governmental district that finances neighborhood infrastructure — roads, water and sewer lines, parks — through an additional property-tax mill levy on the homes it serves. Like most newer master-planned communities along the Front Range, Anthem Highlands sits inside a metro district. That means your total property-tax bill will be higher than the base county rate, and you must budget for it as part of your monthly payment.
Practically, here's what I tell every buyer:
Get the actual tax figure for the specific address, not a county average. Two homes with the same price in different neighborhoods can carry meaningfully different tax bills.
Have your lender run your payment with that real number. A generic online calculator will understate your monthly cost in a metro district neighborhood.
Ask about the district itself during due diligence — its mill levy and outstanding debt are public information, and your agent should pull them for you.
The HOA is a separate line item from the metro district, and it's the piece that funds day-to-day community life. In Anthem, HOA dues support the community's amenities — including the community center, pool, and an extensive network of trails and parks. Under a standard Colorado contract, you'll receive the HOA documents (covenants, budget, and fees) during your due-diligence window with a specific deadline to review and object, so read them before that deadline passes — not after closing.
None of this should scare you off. Metro districts are how these amenity-rich communities got built in the first place. You just need the real numbers in your budget from day one.
New Build or Resale — and Why Pre-Approval Comes First
Most Anthem Highlands purchases are resales, and resale has real advantages here: established landscaping, a known tax bill you can verify, and a home you can inspect exactly as it sits. The trade-off is competition — remember, 27% of Anthem homes sold over asking.
If you're comparing a resale in Anthem Highlands against new construction elsewhere in 80023 — Baseline, for example — keep three things in mind:
The builder's contract is written by the builder's attorneys. It's not the standard Colorado contract, and it favors the builder on timelines, deposits, and remedies.
Taxes on a new build are often estimated off unimproved land for the first cycle, so your bill can jump significantly once the county assesses the finished home. Budget off the projected full assessment, not year one.
The on-site sales team represents the builder, not you. Bring your own agent from your first visit — builder pricing doesn't change because you showed up unrepresented.
Whichever direction you go, pre-approval comes first — before touring, not after. When well-priced homes go under contract in about 13 days, listing agents won't treat an offer seriously without a solid lender letter, and in a multiple-offer situation an underwritten pre-approval — where the lender has already verified your income, assets, and credit — is one of the strongest cards you can play. A pre-qualification based on a five-minute phone call isn't the same thing, and sellers' agents know the difference.
What a Buyer's Agent Does for You (and What It Costs)
A good buyer's agent is the resource that ties all the others together. In a market this fast, here's what that looks like in practice: building your search and flagging homes before they hit the portals, running a pricing analysis against actual closed comps so you don't overbid on emotion, structuring a winning offer in a multiple-offer situation, negotiating inspection items, pulling metro district and HOA details during due diligence, and managing every contract deadline through closing.
Local knowledge is the multiplier. Knowing how Anthem Highlands homes are selling against asking price, what the metro district numbers look like, and how specific streets and floor plans have been trading — that's the difference between guessing and negotiating.
On cost: buyer-agent compensation is negotiable, and it's disclosed in writing. Under current industry rules, there is no set or standard commission rate. Before touring homes, you'll sign a written buyer agency agreement that spells out exactly what your agent is paid and by whom. In many transactions the seller agrees to cover some or all of that fee, but it's negotiated case by case. Any agent worth hiring will walk you through the agreement line by line before you sign — and if you want a framework for that decision, here's my guide to choosing the right Broomfield buyer's agent.
I've spent 15+ years doing this, with 350+ career closings and $300M+ in volume across Anthem, Baseline, Broomfield, and North Denver. The buyers who win in Anthem Highlands aren't the ones with the biggest budget — they're the ones who show up prepared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Anthem Highlands located?
Anthem Highlands is a section of the Anthem master-planned community in Broomfield, Colorado, in the 80023 zip code. It is not related to Anthem, Arizona or the Anthem community in Henderson, Nevada. The neighborhood sits on the north side of the Denver metro, and the broader Anthem community includes amenities such as a community center, a pool, and an extensive trail network.
What is a metro district tax in Anthem Highlands?
A metro district is a quasi-governmental district that finances neighborhood infrastructure — roads, water and sewer lines, parks — through an additional property-tax mill levy on the homes it serves. Anthem Highlands sits inside a metro district, so your total property-tax bill will be higher than the base county rate. Ask your lender to calculate your monthly payment using the actual tax figure for the specific address you're considering.
How much do homes cost in Anthem Highlands?
According to the May 2026 Anthem market report, the median list price across the Anthem community — which includes Anthem Highlands — is $1,050,000, with 24 homes for sale ranging from about $700,000 to $2.4 million. Inventory sits at 1.7 months, 27% of homes sold over asking, and well-priced homes go under contract in about 13 days.
Do I need a pre-approval before touring homes in Anthem Highlands?
Practically speaking, yes. Well-priced Anthem homes go under contract in about 13 days and 27% sell over asking, so sellers expect a lender pre-approval letter with any serious offer. Getting fully pre-approved — not just pre-qualified — before you tour lets you write a competitive offer the day you find the right home.
Are buyer's agent commissions negotiable in Colorado?
Yes. Under current industry rules, buyer-agent compensation is negotiable and must be set out in a written agreement you sign before touring homes, so there is no standard or required rate. In many transactions the seller agrees to cover some or all of the buyer's agent fee, but that is negotiated case by case — ask your agent to walk you through the agreement before you sign.
Ready to Start Your Anthem Highlands Search?
Buying in Anthem Highlands comes down to preparation: know the market data, budget for the metro district and HOA, get pre-approved before you tour, and put an agent who knows this community to work on your side. In a market where well-priced homes are gone in about 13 days, the prepared buyer wins.
Every resource in this guide lives in one place. Start with a free buyer consultation — we'll map your budget including metro district taxes, set up your live home search, and build your offer strategy before you ever step into a showing. You can also follow my weekly market breakdowns on YouTube at North Denver Report.
If you want to talk through your specific situation — timing, budget, or how to compete in this market — call or text me at (949) 230-3625, or email me at NickAhrensRealEstate@gmail.com. I'll walk you through it.
About Nick Ahrens
Nick Ahrens is a Colorado real estate broker with eXp Realty (License FA100104470), specializing in the Anthem, Anthem Highlands, and Baseline communities of Broomfield (80023) and North Denver. With 15+ years in the business, 350+ career closings, and $300M+ in sales volume, he helps relocating buyers and North Denver sellers navigate pricing, timing, and the path to closing. Watch his market updates at youtube.com/@NorthDenverReport or connect at youranthemhome.com.
