Moving to COS from San Francisco Bay Area (CA) (Colorado Springs: real estate, apartment complex)

[KimberleyAnne]

So I've made the big desicion to move out of state. Not only am I moving out of state, I'm going to be moving out on my own for the first time (I'm 22 and have lived with my mom until now). The desicion came about thanks to my fiance, who is currently stationed at Fort Carson. I've looked around this community, and found that you all seem to be really friendly and helpful (which is why I joined!).

I'm planning on moving to COS late April, first week of May. The date isn't fully set, yet. I am, however, going to be visiting the area in the middle of February. I'd like to look at apartments and neighbourhoods. I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on good places for me to look? I'm only going to need a one bedroom apartment (heck, a studio would be ideal). While I don't have any kids or pets, I may want to get a cat once I'm settled since I'm going to have to leave my kitten here in California with my mom.

Thanks, ever so much, for your thoughts and opinions. =]

[Josseppie]

I know you are looking at Colorado Springs but you might want to consider Pueblo. Its about 20 to 30 minutes south of Fort Carson. Here is a link to the Pueblo page on here so you can get more information in Pueblo: http://www.city-data.com/forum/color...ml#post6736580

[KimberleyAnne]

Thank you. =]

[froggin4colorado]

Just stay clear of most areas that are listed as District 2 for a school district. I know you don't have kids, but that bit of info will keep you clear of neigborhoods that are less desireable. BUT!!! there is an apartment complex off of Westmeadows right next to the Fort Carson gate that caters to military and it isn't bad. It's gate 3.
Good luck!

[Mike from back east]

Kimberly: Hello and Welcome to City-Data. Everything will be fine. Check out the areas Froggy recommends, and take a look up the Powers Blvd corridor, there are tons of stuff to choose from. Google the usual apartment rental websites and read up on some of the offerings. There are a lot of people coming here this year to Fort Carson, over 5000 new troops from Texas and 5000 more are coming home from Iraq. Going to be a lot of new faces here this year.

You're gonna love Colorado.

[CS-Urbanist]

Originally Posted by froggin4colorado

Just stay clear of most areas that are listed as District 2 for a school district. I know you don't have kids, but that bit of info will keep you clear of neigborhoods that are less desireable.

I'm glad you wrote "most areas" but still the posts on this website are ridiculous in the terms that everyone tag teams together ripping on District #2. It's true that overall it is not a great "school district". There are a lot of areas in the southeast in general that have out-lived there suburban popularity. Trust me when I say that some day all of your suburban neighborhoods will probably suffer even worst times than a lot of the southeast Colorado Springs. It is the result of bad planning after WWII across the United States and the beginning of suburban sprawl. In fact, the way a lot of the "neighborhoods" started in the last 10 years and built out so quickly (not to mention all of the foreclosures and neighborhood abandonment), I would venture to say that the suburban fringe neighborhoods will be delapidated and ghettoized within the next 15 years.

Now that I've finished my evening sprawl lecture, let me tell you about Spring Creek and how we differ from the other neighborhoods.

• Mixed-Use Walkable Neighborhood
• Variety of home types and prices
• Detached single-family (Beazer, John Laing Homes, Pulte Homes, Today's Homes and currently Ron Covington Homes) Range: $150,000 - $450,000
• --Still building Ron Covington Homes and Today's Homes
• Townhomes (Beazer, John Laing Homes, Today's Homes & Ron Covington Brownstones) Range: $140,000 - $230,000
• --Still building Ron Covington Homes and Today's Homes)
• Condos (Three different local builders--sorry can't recall builder names) Range: $120,000 - $190,000
• Accessory Dwelling Units or Granny Flats (Available on John Laing Homes, Beazer Homes and Pulte Homes)

We are also centrally located in Colorado Springs. I work downtown and it takes 10 minutes to get to work during rush hour (8 minutes at lunch time). Within 5 minutes is the shopping center at I-25 and Lake (can't recall name) that includes Target, a massive theater, restaurants, etc. We are only 15 minutes from Old Colorado City, the Broadmoor and Manitou Springs. 20 minutes into the mountains to Seven Falls and Helen Hunt Falls.

Within our neighborhood, we have our own coffee shop (Jazzed on Java), grocery store and even a Subway (which I frequently walk to which is an amenity that I did not have living in the suburbs where I could see one from my house but it took me more than 5 minutes to actually drive to it).

The thing I love most about the neighborhood is the people. Everyone is so friendly and actually out and about in the neighborhood. We have a wide variety of ages making there be someone around at all times. This was big for us as I am married with children and my wife stays home during the day. Where we used to live (the 'burbs), she could have been brutaly assaulted by someone and not a soul would have been around to hear it.

For pictures of the neighborhood, please see the following links:
BubbleShare - Spring Creek, Colorado Springs - By CNU Colorado
The Colorado Chapter of The Congress For The New Urbanism

If a new home is not what you are looking for, I would highly recommend you look in the Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City and downtown areas. Excellent locations in this City!

Sorry again for the long rant, but I felt that with all of the attacks on District 2, something needed to be said.

[PokerMunkee]

Check out Craigslist.

This place looks decent for $650:

2 bedroom/1 bath Condo (http://cosprings.craigslist.org/apa/971450027.html - broken link)

Not familiar with the area, but you will probably want to be in/near Fountain.

[CS-Urbanist]

Here are some listings you should check out:

Colorado Springs, CO, 80910 - MLS ID#429348 - Rentals Real Estate - REALTOR.com® (http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?loc=80910&bor=2&sid=53bb76ee528 a40128f1071ce9ebe8ed1&lid=1105460543&lsn=5&srcnt=3 7 - broken link)

Colorado Springs, CO, 80910 - MLS ID#498559 - Rentals Real Estate - REALTOR.com® (http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?srcnt=37&sid=a9929e204514431a80 6856c0fc31cd23&fhcnt=8&loc=80910&usrloc=80910&bor= 2&pg=2&fhpg=2&lid=1105370909&lsn=17 - broken link)

Colorado Springs, CO, 80910 - MLS ID#440474 - Rentals Real Estate - REALTOR.com® (http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?pg=3&srcnt=37&sid=a9929e2045144 31a806856c0fc31cd23&fhcnt=8&loc=80910&usrloc=80910 &bor=2&fhpg=1&lid=1105791725&lsn=27 - broken link)

Colorado Springs, CO, 80910 - MLS ID#477396 - Rentals Real Estate - REALTOR.com® (http://www.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?pg=1&srcnt=37&sid=a9929e2045144 31a806856c0fc31cd23&fhcnt=8&loc=80910&usrloc=80910 &bor=2&fhpg=1&lid=1105649823&lsn=1 - broken link)

Two of them are townhomes, one is a detached single-family home and the other is a condo. Happy hunting!

[bashep]

Craigslist is a great place to find a rental.

[treedonkey]

Where in SF-bay area will you be coming from?
Regardless, you'll find the availability and cost of housing here a very pleasant change from the Bay Area, although I see that you are not in your own place out there. There are plenty of affordable, but still decent, neighborhoods to the south of downtown COS. The main thing is to have some places to look at lined up ahead of time. I agree with the recommendation to check Craig's List rentals in the area, also check classified ads in the COS Gazette or other local papers.

One note on Pueblo, despite the commute, you'd likely save a lot by living down there and the weather is a lot more mild. It's kind of a funky old town, not the trendiest place to live, but it's worth a look for sure.