Broker Jackie Garcia has been appointed Director of Luxury Homes for RE/MAX Professionals, the newly merged entity that combines the resources of two large RE/MAX offices in Denver and of Prestige Real Estate Group. Garcia, who holds the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation from the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, has been a top producer at Prestige in luxury sales, known in particular for her professional sports clientele.

Jackie Garcia shows a custom home on 78 acres near Parker, with accompanying stables and caretaker apartment.

“We’re positioning RE/MAX Professionals to be a major force in Denver’s luxury market, particularly as that market recovers,” said Leeann Iacino, President of RE/MAX Professionals, in announcing the appointment. “The combined influence that our companies have had in higher priced neighborhoods suggests that we’re going to be very well situated as that recovery occurs.” more »

By Mark Samuelson

Can you build a house even greener than ‘net-zero energy?’ President Obama’s pick to serve as ambassador to Finland has done just that; and you can tour it Sunday in Boulder’s Mapleton Hill neighborhood, 1-4 p.m., just north of Pearl on Fifth.

Bruce Oreck, appointed ambassador to Finland, created the ‘Next West House’ in Boulder, on view Sunday, Aug. 9, 429 Spruce Street, 1-4 p.m.

Boulder developer and environmentalist Bruce Oreck created his ‘Next West House’ to be ‘net-zero carbon’—so efficient that it not only makes more energy than it uses, but recovers enough to compensate for what was used to build the house and its materials. Oreck calls it “the greenest home in North America”…and received a Platinum LEED certification for it—highest possible rating. more »