British expats and A-Chinese community ?? (Denver, Colorado Springs: new home, safe area, buying)

[devongirl]

My family is moving to Colorado Springs from Western Washington next summer. I am English, my husband is American and we have elementary age children; 3 home-grown, one to be adopted from China in the next few months. Looking to move to a safe area of the city with excellent, safe schools (2 sons are in gifted programs here) and commutable to the Cheyenne Mountain area. We love to hike, ski and travel and meet new people. Would like to live in a neighborhood with similar families ie. late 30s-40s with kids so our children can have friends nearby.
Looking at buying a new home with about an acre lot in the 400-600K region. Would appreciate any feedback as to where we should be focusing our efforts when house-hunting. I see District 20 and 12 are up there in peoples' opinions. How to choose which area to live?? Would also like to know if an expat. community exists and also if there is an active FCC (families with children from China) group local to the area.
Many thanks.

[Charles]

District 12 and 20 are two very good districts. If you are working near the Cheyenne Mountain then living there (D12) would make commuting practically non existent. If you lived in D20, the commute to Cheyenne Mountain area isn't more than about 20-30 minutes, maybe 40 absolute worst case at the worst rush hour and if you are on the extreme east side of D20 away from the I-25.

One big advantage of D20 is you are close enough to commute to southern Denver if necessary (the main reason we didn't buy in D12). When we looked at homes in D12 we saw them to be a little hillier than D20 and D38 and we wanted something a little flatter for our four small kids. Also D20 and D38 are surrounded for miles by newer, nicer neighborhoods and/or forests and open space, with more modern planning and infrastructure.

I would work realtor.com, make some visits, practice commutes, neighborhood feel, etc. I would also identify where you might be working if your job doesn't work out (thus my reasoning to be on the north side of Colorado Springs enabling a potential Denver commute). What happens if you lose your job in three years? Living at the far south end of Colorado Springs, Denver wouldn't be an option.

I am not familiar with the D12 neighborhoods. From your post I would check out the D20 neighborhoods of Pine Creek, Ladera, Wolf Ranch and maybe on the high end ($600K+) Flying Horse Ranch. In D38, check out Higby Estates, Fox Run, Stone Crossing, and Jackson Creek. All of these neighborhoods are going to be on the high end of or maybe a bit above your price range but I also estimate you'd get 10%-20% more home for your money on the north end (D20 and D38). The zips are 80920 and 80132.

[devongirl]

Thanks for your info. Charles. I will check on realtor.com.
The job we move to is a secure one (military) so looking at Denver as a possible commute is not necessary. We may 'retire' from this job and stay in CS, if we so like the area.
Many thanks =)

[RockyMtMom]

This isn't specifically for the Springs, but Colorado has a great organization that runs Heritage Camps for adoptees and their families.
I have attended the Korean one in the past and hope to again in the near future.
Here is the link to the Chinese one in specific:
http://www.heritagecamps.org/chinese.html