Belcaro

DENVER NEIGHBORHOODS  |  THE MITCH LAZAR TEAM

Belcaro: Estate Land Inside the City Limits

The Phipps Legacy

Belcaro takes its name and its shape from Belcaro, the 54-room Georgian mansion Senator Lawrence Phipps built in 1933 on what was then open country south of Denver. The surrounding land was subdivided in the decades after, and the developers kept the lots generous, a decision that still defines the neighborhood ninety years later. The Phipps House survives as a University of Denver events property, and the streets around it carry a mix of sprawling mid-century ranches, custom contemporaries, and a steady flow of new builds replacing tired originals. What has not changed is the land itself.

What the Lots Buy You

In most of central Denver a large lot means a sixth of an acre. In Belcaro it frequently means a third or more, with setbacks and mature landscaping that make houses invisible from the street. That is the entire value proposition: privacy and outdoor space at a Denver address, with Cherry Creek shopping five minutes north and Washington Park five minutes west. Buyers who tour Cherry Hills Village and balk at the twenty-minute commute tend to land here, and they pay a premium per square foot for the privilege of staying inside the city.

Market Snapshot

Data: REcolorado MLS and DMAR Market Trends. Updated alongside our Denver Luxury Market Report.

What Buyers Should Know

Twelve sales a year in a neighborhood this small means inventory is the constraint, not demand. The $8,000,000 top sale and the $1,289,246 bottom are not the same product: the low end is typically an unrenovated ranch being bought for its dirt, the high end a finished custom home. Understanding which side of that line a listing sits on is most of the work. Teardown economics are real here, so anyone buying an original home should price the rebuild before writing the offer, and anyone selling one should know that builders are an active part of the buyer pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Belcaro in Denver?

Belcaro sits in south central Denver, roughly between Colorado Boulevard and University Boulevard south of Alameda Avenue. It borders Bonnie Brae to the west and is a few minutes from both Cherry Creek and Washington Park.

How much do homes cost in Belcaro?

Twelve homes sold in Belcaro over the last 12 months at a median of $2,675,000 per REcolorado, ranging from $1,289,246 to $8,000,000. The low end generally reflects original homes purchased for their land, the high end finished custom builds.

What is the Phipps mansion in Belcaro?

The Phipps House, built in 1933 for Senator Lawrence Phipps, is the Georgian estate the neighborhood was named after and grew around. It is now owned by the University of Denver and used as an events property, and it remains the architectural anchor of the area.

How does Belcaro compare to Cherry Hills Village?

Belcaro offers the largest lots available at a Denver city address, while Cherry Hills Village offers true acreage in a separate municipality roughly twenty minutes south. Buyers who want outdoor space but will not trade the in-city commute typically choose Belcaro.

Explore Nearby

Belcaro borders Bonnie Brae and sits minutes from Cherry Creek, Washington Park, and Observatory Park. For the acreage alternative, see Cherry Hills Village, or start from our Denver neighborhood guide.