Possible moving to CS- need COL help! (Colorado Springs, Fountain: sales, rent)

[AggieinOk]

Hi all! My family (husband and 2 kids) are possibly looking at moving to Colorado Springs in the next few months. We are really excited since both of us have lived in Oklahoma our entire lives.
My husband has an interview this week and we are desperatley trying to figure out what we need (salary wise) to be able to live out here! We will likely rent for a while, but hope to buy a house with in the first year or so. The cost of living in Oklahoma is pretty low-reasonalbe at least and I really don't know what to expect until I get out to Colorado and see for myself.
I know that housing prices are higher there, and utlities are lower, but I guess it is all of the living expenses in between that worry me.
Anybody have an idea of a base amount that a family of 4 would need to live a comfortable life in Colorado Springs?
Thanks in advance!

[AggieinOk]

To clarify my question... I have been told by friends that are familiar with the area that we would need $100,000+ a year to survive. This seems OUTRAGOUS to me and totally contradicts the cost of living comparisons I have been finding. We really want to be able to make this move, but don't want to starve if we do.

[bashep]

Hey there! I have to say that your friends are way off, no offense. I think middle income here is probably in the high 30's to low 40's. We have 4 kids and we have made it here w/ out any trouble and we make no where near the 100's. What field is your husband in? bashep

[AggieinOk]

bashep, thank you for your response. I am relieved to hear that they are way off! My husband is in the fitness industry. We are currently self-employeed, but are hoping he gets this job in COS to have more family time and less stress.
do you mind me asking which area you are in? Or which are the better areas to look in? We want a good/safe area of course.
aggieinok

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by AggieinOk

....My husband is in the fitness industry. We are currently self-employeed, but are hoping he gets this job in COS to have more family time and less stress. aggieinok

Fitness is very big here, seems to be a gym or equipment store just about every mile. There are two new fitness facilities going in on the Powers Blvd corridor. One near the new hospital at Powers & Woodmen and a Bally fitness has been mentioned for the area around Powers & Barnes. Then there's the big new lovely club up at Flying Horse... they hired away our personal trainer from Bally to run it... and the personal trainer who replaced her got hired away by a club in Phoenix. Lots here for fitness pro's. In a few hours I'll be at Bally with our trainer...

You're gonna love Colorado.

s/Mike

[autism166]

Originally Posted by AggieinOk

Hi all! My family (husband and 2 kids) are possibly looking at moving to Colorado Springs in the next few months. We are really excited since both of us have lived in Oklahoma our entire lives.
My husband has an interview this week and we are desperatley trying to figure out what we need (salary wise) to be able to live out here! We will likely rent for a while, but hope to buy a house with in the first year or so. The cost of living in Oklahoma is pretty low-reasonalbe at least and I really don't know what to expect until I get out to Colorado and see for myself.
I know that housing prices are higher there, and utlities are lower, but I guess it is all of the living expenses in between that worry me.
Anybody have an idea of a base amount that a family of 4 would need to live a comfortable life in Colorado Springs?
Thanks in advance!

Colorado ranks number 47th in taking care of its disabled population. IF your two children are average or gifted, you will have no problem in Colorados public school system.
Fort Carson is expecting a major population increase of over 10,000 families from Fort Bragg soon. Prices in local area are about to rise.

[ceadda]

Originally Posted by bashep

Hey there! I have to say that your friends are way off, no offense. I think middle income here is probably in the high 30's to low 40's. We have 4 kids and we have made it here w/ out any trouble and we make no where near the 100's. What field is your husband in? bashep

We have 3 kids. If it were not for past debt (some bad years of sickness) we would be fine with about $48,000 year. We are not living high on the hog, but have no problem living a reasonable (non stuff driven) life. I really believe that with a little budgeting, you can do quite well with a very middle of the road income here.

[AggieinOk]

Originally Posted by ceadda

We have 3 kids. If it were not for past debt (some bad years of sickness) we would be fine with about $48,000 year. We are not living high on the hog, but have no problem living a reasonable (non stuff driven) life. I really believe that with a little budgeting, you can do quite well with a very middle of the road income here.

Thanks Ceadda!! That is exactly what I needed to know. We by no means live a "stuff driven life" but would like to buy grocery's and clothe the kids. I appreciate you sharing that information with me. Now I feel like I have one less thing to worry about.
The interview went great... so we are hoping to know something very soon!
Aggie

[DainaDLR]

Hello....looks like I'm a little late. You got some great responses to your question. I am a local Realtor (self-employed) and military spouse (don't make much). The South part of town offers more home for the money and lower property taxes as well. Also, because some of the south part of town technically lies outside the Colorado Springs city limits, the sales taxes are typically lower as well. But like someone mentioned before, we are expecting more troops and their families to move out here, and they usually reside in the South side (ie Fountain).

So, lets see if I can attempt to break a few costs down a bit.

Mortgage: $1300
Taxes: $66
Home Ins: $60
Utilities: $250
Food: $450 (Go to Walmart)
-----------------
Total $2126

Okay, that's real basic and can vary A LOT. That mortgage could get you up to a $180,000 house, depending on your credit of course.

[moderator cut]

Good luck to you and your family. I wish you all the best!
Daina