Moving to Colorado Springs From Oklahoma (Woodland Park, Penrose: apartment complex, foreclosure, rental homes)

[Slot_Tech]

I have read alot of post on here about places to live and schools in the areas. I did notice alot of the post were rather old. I'll be moving at the first part of next year. My son will be 3 and I will have a newborn. Schools will be important to me and a good community with park and roads that are not busy. I will be renting when I get to town, so if anyone has any ideas what the avg. rent is I would appriciate it. Any info will help.

Thank you

[Fullback32]

Well, average rent and all that will be different depending on where you want to live. That, of course, is dependent on where you will be working and how far you are willing to commute (although communting within the Springs is really nothing). I drive from my home in NE Colorado Springs to Schriever AFB everyday and it is only 19 miles one way.

[Slot_Tech]

I've been working in a casino for the last 4 years. I know cripple creek is a long drive but I hear alot of people making the commute. I was looking into COS because of the school districts I hear are alot better. District 20 seems to stand out the most. I don't really know any suggestions would be great.

[Fullback32]

I live in District 49, but my daughters both went/go to District 20 under school choice. I've been really happy with them. District 20 is covered under zip code 80920. There's some pretty good data on it here http://www.city-data.com/zips/80920.html although it it somewhat dated. 80920 encompasses some of the more expensive properties in the area, although prices have gone down significantly as the city has become "the foreclosure capitol of the US." Rents may be down also because of the housing issues. You actually might be able to get a mortgage on a pre-owned home cheaper than renting.

Are you guys loooking for apartments or rental houses? Three bedroom aprtments are hard to come by, but there are some in the 80920 zip code. I lived in one back in 2003-2004 and the rent was $1000/month. As to rental houses, this website might be able to give you a good idea of what type of rents you may be looking at. Rental Homes | Houses for Rent | Home Rentals | House Rental. Here's a site for apartments to give you an idea of what those rates are. Colorado Springs Apartments for rent in COLORADO | ApartmentFinder.com

BTW, I was just in Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago. Went to Lawton for our Comanche Homecoming powwow. Dang, it's still hot there!

[Slot_Tech]

I've read that thread I was worried about it being dated. I would like a house, I'm open to anything. I have 2 dogs one is a lab, so he is rather big. That has been some what of an issue. looking to spend anywhere from 700-900 on rent. Do you think the commute to cripple creek would be worth it?

[Fullback32]

I've only been to Cripple Creek a couple of times. It's 60 miles from where I live, so figure with city traffic, about an hour and half. Now, during summer and with a fuel efficient vehicle, I suppose it wouldn't be too bad. The problem would be winter. Cripple Creek can get socked in with the snow storms and the road there (US-24 to US-67) winds and is uphill for most of the way there. The state does a real good job on the roads here, but even so, it can get tricky. That's something to consider. A town like Woodland Park might be a better alternative. They are only 25 miles away and you are already in the mountains, so you'd have plenty of opportunity to get used to winter mountain driving and you're still pretty close to the Springs for the malls and all that.

[clueless27]

The best school district in town is District 12, it covers the SW side of town by the Broadmoor hotel. In that area rent is a little higer $700-900/ month may not do it. There is an apartment complex across the street from Cheyenne Mountain High School, (Jefferson Commons...I think) not sure what their rates are.

District 20 has good schools but its a bigger district so you need to pay a little more attention to the individual school.

If you are thinking about working in Cripple Creek you may want to consider the shuttle. I know a couple guys working up there and that is how they get up there. They save a fortune in gas.

Woodland Park would certainly put you closer to Cripple Creek and it is BEAUTIFUL up there. Definetly take a closer look at schools though. I have had several clients move down to the Springs due to slipping standards in the schools.

[PokerMunkee]

I work in Cripple Creek for a couple casinos (IT Manager). We live in Woodland Park, which is exactly a 30 minute commute. My wife is a RN at Penrose Hospital in the Springs, which takes her exactly 30 minutes. So Woodland Park is a good halfway spot for us, and it's very beautiful up here! Plus it doesn't get hot in the summer which works for us Most of the managers at our casino live in Woodland Park. I know a few people that commute from the Springs, but most of them take the Shuttle (http://www.casinoshuttle.com).

I can't coment on the schools, since we don't have kids, but I hear good things about it.

Woodland Park has all of the ammenties that you need, including a WalMart and movie theatre. We just don't have very many sit down restaurants (all of the fast food is here, plus several mexican restaurants). Oh, no bowling alley is also a negative for us.

Driving from Woodland Park to Cripple Creek is very beautiful and goes quickly. They maintain the roads when it snows due to the casino traffic (more tax money!).

[Bideshi]

If it matters to you, District 20 has higher property taxes than the other areas.

[Slot_Tech]

Thanks fo all the replies I will probaly need to just look into the casinos now. Woodland Park seems like a good fit I will check it out when I visit. As fo the casinos is there better ones compared to others?