Why Choose Colorado Springs? (Denver, Boulder: environment, equity, relocation)

[CSColorado]

Yes, homes will cost quite a bit more here, and I don't think the salaries will be too much different. But people adjust for the difference more easily than you would expect- They'll get rid of the new car and buy something used, not go out to eat as often, go camping for a week instead of San Diego for a week. You might consider renting for a while first if the expenses concern you. You can rent something pretty nice for $1,300 per month- brand new 3-4 bedroom. Our real estate market is starting to soften now, and with winter coming I bet you would be able to pick up a pretty good deal in January-February before sales start picking up for next spring.

[Mike from back east]

Today’s local newspaper has a piece about El Paso County (COS) housing prices, including rental prices. The data is very current and was released today by the US Census Bureau.

Link to story is at: http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1322202&secid=1

Key home price groupings used in the data:
- Homes below $50k, 3.4% of homes (it was 00.5% back in 2000)
- $ 50K to $ 99k, is 04.2% of homes (it was 13.0% back in 2000)
- $100k to $149k, is 19.5% of homes (it was 38.8% back in 2000)
- $150k to $199k, is 27.7% of homes (it was 22.8% back in 2000)
- $200k to $299k, is 24.8% of homes (it was 16.7% back in 2000)
- $300k to $499k, is 16.1% of homes (it was 06.5% back in 2000)
- $500k to $999k, is 03.7% of homes (it was 01.4% back in 2000)
- Homes over $1M is 00.7% of homes (it was 00.2% in 2000)

The data is not full Census data. Instead it is 2005 data from the annual round of the American Community Survey, based on 4800 replies from residents of El Paso County / COS. Use the link to see the trends in rental rates.

The data says 72% of homes here are priced from $100k to $299k, making this area affordable to the majority of home buyers. We came here in 2005 from northern Virginia (DC metro area) and there simply isn’t anything back there priced this reasonably. Same for most areas of California, FL, NV, and the northeast corridor from Richmond to Boston.

We currently have a buyer’s market in El Paso County / COS, with 5000+ homes for sale. It’s quite possible that new arrivals here may strike deals at less than listing price. For more data you’d have to talk with a realtor, which I’m not.

s/Mike

[johnlvs2run]

Originally Posted by GettingOut

My wife and I moved out here from the East Coast six months ago and are moving back in 10 days.

Sad you had to go through all that to find out CS wasn't for you.

I've been looking for a place to move for 2 years, with the focus on Colorado, and have ruled out CS for the same reasons as others who don't want to be discriminated against for being able to think for ourselves.

I appreciate Mike's messages, and glad to see the CofC noticed this too, do you remember my suggestion a few months ago. Mostly though, those messages showed me that CS was NOT the place for me. This is fine though. I'm sure CS would not want me there and wouldn't be happy if I was. They probably want to have people who all subscribe to similar beliefs and ways of thinking, without any questioning. Well I question things quite a bit, and would not at all be comfortable in a place where others try to tell me how to feel, think, or believe.

If CS is to be a certain way, and primarily for republican conservatives, military, religious christians etc, then it is a very good thing to let people know this in advance. Then people can KNOW how it is, make more informed decisions, better choices, and avoid going to places where they will never be welcomed.

[kati]

Mike,
Thanks so much in writing all this for the spring area, my husband is working at Raytheon in CA and we want to tranfer up there, do you know where there might be a Raytheon and a small town (LOL) so his driving wont be 1hour with alot of traffic.
We are looking for some land we have two girls 14,16 and they are in 4-h. We have goat and horse too! Any more info would be great.
thanks Kati
I know that Raytheon is on Inverness dr, I wanted to move in woodland but I'm not yet sure on the driving for him

[cluckk]

Originally Posted by Laura

long as you all keep your senarios on that eastern front, things'll be ok. You come here developing all this stuff you are running away from. (you know Denver used to be a very nice town- now you got it developed half way to Kansas!)

I know we used to talk alot about people who ran away from the problems in California and then try to make their new state into California. I've seen it in Western Washington, Colorado, Idaho and Montana. [moderator cut]

[SLO Katherine]

Hey Mike, Katherine here from San Luis Obispo, Ca. Can you tell me who that realtor is, who is so knowledgable about new homes in Colorado ?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by SLO Katherine

Hey Mike, Katherine here from San Luis Obispo, Ca. Can you tell me who the realtor is who is knowledgable about new homes in Colorado?

Katherine: Hello, sent you a PM. Thanks for asking.

Right now there are about 300-400 new homes here in Colorado Springs, all areas, spec built, looking for a buyer.

Some incentives are being given as they want to move these homes before year's end.

There are even 5 in my small sub-div, the builder is landscaping them to make them more appealing.

Tons more new homes are being built for spring, I've never seen so many earthmoving machines as here.

Per a posting elsewhere, overall home sales are off only 300 units this year, but inventory is way up. IMO what this means is that sales haven't dried up as they have in over-priced areas, but inventory is up so we still get to have a buyer's market anyway. I suspect investors are now flipping the homes delivered this spring/summer, driving up inventory, putting pressure on prices of existing homes as well as builders with new spec homes sitting empty.

s/Mike

[NatureCoastFL]

If you would be so kind as to pass along the realtor's name to me as well? We are also considering a move to CO to get out of Florida's heat and problems. If you cant post on the boards, can you send me names of the builders who are selling all the inventory homes you mentioned?
Thanks in advance!
Rich.

[BenW]

Hello Mike,

Before I ask my question I would like to say THANK YOU for posting all of this useful information about Colorado Springs! I have never been there nor do I have any friends or family who have been to the Springs, so all of the information you have posted thus far has been invaluable.

I will be moving to the Springs from Michigan early January to work at Memorial Health Systems (the one on E. Boulder St.). Since I know nothing about the area, I have decided to short term rent/lease an apartment/house for 3 months or so. I have been looking for a place that is roughly less than a 20 minute drive from the hospital and that is in a good neighborhood. I'm having a hard time locating something thus far.

Do you have any advice on sites I can check out, people I can contact, or anything else?

Thanks in advance, and keep up the good work!

[colorado]

Hi Mike,
I like what you said about the area around Colorado Collega about the bungalows flat houses etc.and not high prices.Where is this area?Is it on the westside?I would like to know more about that.
Thanks,Dana Marie