Denver Highlands

Highlands was dubbed the 'Garden City of the Plains' for the lush green landscape it enjoyed in comparison to the dusty mining town of Denver. Its citizens took great pride in maintaining the community's appearance and upstanding morals. During the spread of tuberculosis, Colorado and especially the Highlands became a safe haven and home to medical treatment facilities for sufferers in search of unpolluted, dry air to aid in their healing.  Highlands was eventually annexed into the city of Denver in 1896 due to transportation difficulties crossing the South Platte River and financial difficulties caused by the 1893 Silver Crash, but the rich history of taking great pride in all that Highlands offered remained.

In addition to its people, clean air, and gardens, Highlands also became known for its architecture and grand homes. Mansions quickly graced each block in the form of stately Queen Anne Victorians, palatial stone beauties dressed with the finest details inside and out. Classic cottages and bungalows filled in between, and the neighborhood became home to both wealthy and middle-class families who wanted clean living. 

In 1890, the red brick Victorian home at 3737 West 32nd Avenue was built and would serve as home to Nostalgic Homes beginning in 1992. 

Nostalgic Homes was founded in 1985 by Thomas and Carolann Sinclair through their passion for vintage homes in the Highlands community. They curated a team of brokers that was dedicated to preserving the historic architecture of the Highlands community and represented homes that met specific criteria for age, style, and location. Through this, they created a niche in the real estate industry and became a well-known cornerstone in the growth and development of the Northwest Denver neighborhood. As the years passed and the team grew, their focus expanded to include larger regions and more varied styles of architecture. After Thomas's death in 2004, Carolann passed the business on to their principal team members, newlyweds Jenny Apel and Corey Wadley, who proudly took the helm.

Since 2006, Jenny and Corey have continued to specialize in vintage real estate and expanded the team to include more than 20 seasoned brokers,  becoming one of the top-producing real estate teams in the state. The team today serves urban and vintage homeowners across the Denver Metro region in all styles of residential sales, new construction, and investment properties. From sleek lofts Downtown to vivacious Victorians and suburban ranches from Castle Rock to Greeley, you can count on the experience and expertise built over more than 38 years in business.

Joining the Compass network in 2019 gave the team access to industry-leading technology and a global broker network, backed by the resources of the largest real estate brokerage in the nation. This partnership allowed Nostalgic Homes to preserve their polished local expertise while providing elevated tools and technology to their clients.

Nostalgic Homes is proud to be recognized as the #1 Team in Colorado and #1 Large Team in Denver by Compass for 2023 sales volume. 

Meet Our Award-Winning Team