The Real Deal on Boulder from Folks Without an Axe to Grind, Please! (Denver: apartments, rental)

[Remember]

Well, we took our first trip to check out Boulder, with more planned every few months. For the most part we loved it. It's true, there was a lot of brown land, but it was to be expected and the sun more than made up for it. I was a little surprised at the commonness of lots, sections of sidewalk, and sometimes front yards that weren't planted with anything -- just dirt. One of the things I'll miss about Portland is that throughout most of the city, people really take the time to made nearly all the outdoor spaces look good. Not that there aren't well maintained parts of Boulder. Partly I guess it's a matter of little maintenance being needed to maintain a patch of moss or grass in Portland. Partly it's a matter of Portland being more densely populated, with less undeveloped land.
I was pleasantly surprised by the great number of beautiful houses. I had gotten the impression from looking at real estate sites that the city is full of ranch houses (sorry, don't like 1 story houses). Little did I know, it was because for the price range I was viewing (500-800k), that's most of what's available. Nearly all the two story, nicer homes were over $800,000. There is much about the city -- the natural beauty, the abundance of sun, the culture, the great restaurants, the shops, the vitality, the earthiness -- that appeals so much to me that I am willing to pay more to live there, but some of the house prices are ridiculous. I live in a gorgeous house in the Hawthorne area of Portland (similar cultural feel), lovely neighborhood. We bought it 2 years ago for $430k. If it were anywhere near downtown Boulder, it would be at least $1.5 million. We saw a small, rather crappy looking ranch house in North Boulder for $1.5M. Talk about an inflated market.
However, some of the houses were really amazing -- breathtaking views, huge (3000+ sqft), many bathrooms, etc. -- and more understandably warranted the price that was being asked. But if you want to be close to downtown (we do), as another poster said, you can expect to pay a lot and not get nearly as much house for the money as you would in a less popular town.
That said, we do plan to move there in the next 2 years or so. Just have to start saving up. We keep making the mistake of falling in love with some house /neighborhood and then saying, "Wait! Perspective! This house isn't going to be on the market by the time we're ready to move here!" It's frustrating, since I know it's a buyer's market and I want to buy while prices are "low" (ha!), but Boulder prices don't seem to be affected much by the economy. Maybe the fact that we have to wait is a good thing, since who knows what's going to happen with this stimulus package, etc. (Also, there's the proposed $15,000 home buyer's tax credit... if it passes will it pertain to just 2009?)
We didn't get a chance to check out any of the recommended nearby towns. It will have to be next trip. It's hard to imagine we're going to be as happy with any of them as we are with Boulder though, since the impression I get is that they have less character, less activity, fewer resources, and are farther (most of them) from the mountains.

[jkcoop]

Glad you had a good visit!

One thing to keep in mind in regards to landscaping....if if was just dirt, I can't necessarily comment on that. There a many homes in Boulder that are rentals for college students, so I don't think landscaping is a high priority.

But in general, due to the water shortage here, the landscaping in yards is very different.

My husband I have have really debated what we wanted to do once our son is in college (3 years). A town home in Boulder was one thought. But as much as we love Boulder, the traffic, crowds, etc. near down town probably isn't something we will end up wanting to do. You might be surprised at what you find in some of the towns just out of Boulder. We are in fact looking at the neighborhood right next to where we are right now. The houses have large lots, many with detached shops (very appealing to my husband) and the views are gorgeous. They run along side a creek. The further you get away from the foothills the better the view in my opinion.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by Remember

I was a little surprised at the commonness of lots, sections of sidewalk, and sometimes front yards that weren't planted with anything -- just dirt. One of the things I'll miss about Portland is that throughout most of the city, people really take the time to made nearly all the outdoor spaces look good. Not that there aren't well maintained parts of Boulder. Partly I guess it's a matter of little maintenance being needed to maintain a patch of moss or grass in Portland. Partly it's a matter of Portland being more densely populated, with less undeveloped land.

Flagstaff is like Boulder - hardly any landscaping. Both cities have an overabundance of yang energy, and that's also why they are both cliquish to the extreme and charge so much for rent because people are competitive and greedy.

You're right, if you want to see gorgeous landscaping, go to Portland or Seattle, where the people are much friendlier, and yin and yang energy are in balance.

Or, try Sedona, Arizona; Santa Fe, NM; and certain areas of Albuquerque (i.e. the North Valley, Los Ranchos, Placitas, Nob Hill), - cities that also have a balance of yin and yang energy, and friendlier (although somewhat reclusive) people.

Does anyone have any other suggestions / insights on landscaping and local energy?

-Tom

[Neditate]

Of course Portland and Seattle are going to have "gorgeous landscaping" with all of that FREE water
Boulder's climate is semi-arid. Boulder and surrounding areas encourage xeriscaping because water conservation is a very big issue. We're in a totally different climate/growing zone than the NW. Elevation, rainfall and temperature play a big part in what can be grown here; our growing season is much shorter. For example, the "hardiness zone" for Boulder is zones 5-6, Seattle zones 8-9. Plant hardiness zones are a guide to help you know which plants will grow where you live, so you don't plant things that will die because they can't manage your region's temperatures. Zone maps show where various permanent landscape plants can adapt. If you want a shrub, perennial, or tree to survive and grow year after year, the plant must tolerate year-round conditions in your area, such as the lowest and highest temperatures and the amount and distribution of rainfall. Here's a map: National Gardening Association :: National Gardening Association

[Remember]

Thanks guys. Tom, regarding the "folks without an axe to grind" in the title of this thread - that means you. Did you even read my initial post? Or even my most recent post? I'm MOVING to Boulder! I love it in Boulder! I'm leaving Portland. I'm not looking for suggestions of other cities and I'm not looking for one more person to tell me Boulder is cliquish. I don't even understand why you're posting on this thread. Please just consider the power of your words. You have dismissed an entire 95,000 person town as "cliquish to the extreme."
This goes for anyone on city-data: I'm not a religious person, but I do believe in the power of the Word. We have the ability to poison and to inspire with them. What is your net contribution to the world through your words? Are you enhancing your milieu or degrading it? I'm not saying don't tell it like it is, but please be clear that you can only speak from your own experience. When I hear someone dismiss an entire community of human beings who have so much more in common with you than not, I think, "There's someone mired in an illusion."

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by Remember

I love it in Boulder!

Good for you. I'm glad you've found your niche. All I can say to answer your complaint is that personally, I would rather not live a town with too much yang energy, and that's full of socialists who practice yoga, and that do not eat animals, and who do not acknowledge the right to own private property (i.e. the antisocial personality type), and who do not refuse to take medicare, and who do not kill each other on message boards, but that's just me......Albuquerque is a better fit, maybe Austin, too.... definitely not flagstaff or boulder......-T

[McGowdog]

Nice job, Remember! I know there's some vegatarians in town, but that's more meat for me! We had us a mean crepe there too. When it comes to eating, I'm downwardly compatible. I'll eat any Ying while I'm grabbing my Yang... or something like that.

So Remember, I like Boulder too. Only one person has commented on my Boulder pic thread so far, but that's ok. The one person who did is one of my peeps and the main reason he checked it out was because I told him/asked him to.

So I spent part of a weekend there and enjoyed myself immensely, and outside of Nediate and him, no comments. Thanks again, Ned for helping me find a place to eat. The Ethiopean place was cool. I miss Mataam Fez though.

I'll admit, my pics weren't the best, but I was doing other things like trying to entertain MrsGowdog for Valentine's Day. I did try to brighten up the first batch of photos though. I'll try to do the same to the second batch.

[Neditate]

Oh man, I thought I posted a reply to your photos... DOH!
I am glad you and the Mrs. enjoyed your V-Day in Boulder!
This forum has been pretty quiet except for that certain someone... you know who... that won't go away... like a BAD rash.
BTW loved your YANG comment

[jkcoop]

We'll have to try out the Ethiopian place. We're always driving by there. We just get stuck in a rut and head to our comfort places like The Med or Jax. We finally tried The Kitchen for the first time recently and really love the upstairs.

When you comeback go to Lucille's for breakfast. I think you would really like it.

[Remember]

We went to Lucille's and loved it. Also went to the Walnut street Cafe for breakfast - very good, too. And went to an Indian place near the corner of Walnut and maybe 11th? That was good too.

While we were driving around in a neighborhood in North Boulder (east of Broadway), we saw a fox trotting across the street and squeezing into someone's bushes. Then we saw a group of deer nibbling on someone's lawn. I think it's the first time I've seen a red fox in my life - very cute. Are these common occurrences in Boulder? Do the deer limit what you can grow there? Are any animals threats to having outdoor cats?