relocating to colorado springs (Denver, Black Forest: houses, landscaping, neighborhoods)

[krstn]

my family and I are considering moving to the colorado springs area. We live in phoenix right now and cant take another summer here we have 2 small children and are looking to move some where family friendly with good schools, things to do, and beautiful. My husband is an ultrasound sonographer so we would like to be near a hospital. We really would love some feed back about some nice areas to live that are family oriented and that would be a close commute to one of the major hospitals. I have been doing some research on colorado springs and I think we'd love it as the houses seem beautiful. Please we would love any information you may have!!!!!

[Mike from back east]

Go to the Colorado Springs Forum and search on hospitals, two new ones on the north/east side. A search on keywords like schools or school will bring up lots of existing info on schools.

IMO, preferred area is zip 80920 in school district 20 (D20). Many other fine areas with good schools, depending on your interests and your requirements.

Suggest you pick a realtor and work with one (I'm not). There is a thread in here on how to select a realtor, or go to the national assoc of realtors for tips on how to interview one and select one.

s/Mike

[lorearch7]

Mike is right do some research, a lot of new areas around the north end near the new hospitals (Memorial and St. Francis). Talk to a few Realtors ask a lot of questions. Make sure they understand your lifestyle, so they can help you find the best area for you and your family. Good luck...

[AlexKlipfel]

They are just finishing the one off of Powers and Woodmen and finished the new one off of Reasearch Parkway and Union. There is a lot to choose from in both areas. The new hospital is just right across from a new YMCA as well. The neighborhoods up there are a bit more mature and are probley a bit more expensive. And that is also in district 20. A lot of people seem to prefer it. If I can help you out anymore feel free to contact me.

[lorearch7]

I have been working with a medical professional from back east and they have decided on Highlands Park, it is about 5 min from the new Memorial hospital off Woodmen and Powers, there are also more options depending on how mush you are looking to invest in a home. Google Highland Park, Codera. nice areas. Let me know if you need more specific information.

[vfrpilot]

We live in phoenix right now and cant take another summer here we have 2 small children and are looking to move some where family friendly with good schools, things to do, and beautiful.

We can relate with your desire to get away from the severe summer temps. We lived in Havasu City for 20 years and don't miss 100+ degrees for months. The winter weather here can get pretty nasty, but does not usually go on for long periods. I have gotten to appreciate the beauty of our area after a snowfall.
Because I spent a bunch of time(over 150 days in 2003 alone) here before we moved, I was able to get familiar with the area. We ended up limiting our search to School Districts 20 & 38 on the north end of town. Much of this end is newer subdivisions with trails and parks. Nice houses with spectacular views of the mountains. What we ended up with is an older house(1992) in a development in Monument with larger lots and mature pines. This is what OUR idea of living in CO was. No offense to ppl in the newer developments, but most of them remind me of CA because of the smaller lots and immature landscape.
Commuting to either of the new hospitals would not be bad at all. If that doesn't work out, the commute to South Denver is 45 minutes.
My advice> visit every area in district's 20 & 38, including Monument, Palmer Lake, Black Forest, and Glen Eagle. Study the MLS for an idea of what's available in different areas. It's a buyer's market and there are some great deals listed.
Good Luck

[Vision67]

Originally Posted by vfrpilot

We can relate with your desire to get away from the severe summer temps. We lived in Havasu City for 20 years and don't miss 100+ degrees for months. The winter weather here can get pretty nasty, but does not usually go on for long periods. I have gotten to appreciate the beauty of our area after a snowfall.
Because I spent a bunch of time(over 150 days in 2003 alone) here before we moved, I was able to get familiar with the area. We ended up limiting our search to School Districts 20 & 38 on the north end of town. Much of this end is newer subdivisions with trails and parks. Nice houses with spectacular views of the mountains. What we ended up with is an older house(1992) in a development in Monument with larger lots and mature pines. This is what OUR idea of living in CO was. No offense to ppl in the newer developments, but most of them remind me of CA because of the smaller lots and immature landscape.
Commuting to either of the new hospitals would not be bad at all. If that doesn't work out, the commute to South Denver is 45 minutes.
My advice> visit every area in district's 20 & 38, including Monument, Palmer Lake, Black Forest, and Glen Eagle. Study the MLS for an idea of what's available in different areas. It's a buyer's market and there are some great deals listed.
Good Luck

Regarding the landscaping, you bring out a good point. Most of Colorado Springs is/was a dry plain; very few trees. When we first moved to Briargate in 1983, it was barren. There were no trees and no birds. Now, 24 years later, the trees are 50 feet high and the birds are everywhere!

It takes about 15 years of growth to get a good tree because of the short growing season. A new tree from the nursery costs about $300, so if you can find a 15 year house with mature trees, you'll enjoy the fruits of somebody else's labor.

The new subdivisions have narrow, small lots. I call 'em "trailer homes" because they are so narrow and long. The older subdivisions have wider, bigger lots with mature trees.

You choose.

[krstn]

Thanks for the advice everyone We definately want to be in a good school zone but I also want to have a little land to live on or at least some beautiful trees you know that country feel. Thats our whole point of choosing Colorado is for the scenery. I will definatley be looking into the areas that were mentioned.

[bashep]

It will boil down to price range. If you are looking for land D-49, D-38 and D-20 are the districts you would look at. However, D-49 is not as expensive as D-20 and D-38 to get land. Go to greatschools.net and you can read reviews on the districts and get their test results. bashep

[kay phillips]

krstn.

We too are thinking of moving to Colorado Springs from Georgia, weather too hot for my husband, schools here are just not up to standard! We want to move to an area where we have good schools, nice housing maybe even with some land!! My husband is a Project Manager for a construction company also a pilot, I would love to get advice from any one, we are orignaly from Ireland and love the U.S.A!