Any charming, small town feel cities, that are actually affordable in Colorado? (Denver: loft, condo)

[harborharley]

Originally Posted by jenniferwilson

I currently live in the country outside of Houston, TX. I have two kids, 11 and 4...for fun we ride dirt bikes, 4-wheelers, ride horses, got to local waterparks, ect...we love living in the country, yet would like a place where we don't have to drive a good 45 minutes in order to get to some "real" civilization...like malls and people that actually wear shoes instead of houseshoes when going to Wal-mart and the grocery stores...we love Starbucks, boutiques, ect and like the thought of shopping outdoors like described in Boulder, yet for many reasons I know that I nor my family would fit in nor would be able to afford that type of life style.
We want to meet new families that we have things in common with, but for personal reasons would like to meet people who don't plan every social event around alcohol. I'd like some acreage eventually, but mainly want to be semi close to a clean, charming and accepting town...oh and of course the main reason of considering Colorado is b/c of its georgous scenery and views, so definitely want to be in a place where we can take advantage of that...I am a runner, who would like to consider getting into cycling, but definitely don't consider myself to be a workout junky......so, is there such a place or am I just asking for the moon?

I have a friend in the Springs has IT experience and has not found another job in over a year.He had worked for some large corps there. Fortunately they have had a home for some years.

To live in a small town yet have access to all your requirements is difficult. You could live possible within 70 miles of Aspen and have all the excitement, fancy shops, you ever wanted there (Aspen) but expensive, oh ya! There ain't nothing cheap in Colorado, except maybe way out on the flats near Nebrasaka. Unless you bought land like I did there 27 years ago, bring a whole big bag of $$. I will say my real estate taxis are low, very low on ag land and that gas well they drilled on my land 3 years ago made me real happy. Those direct deposits from Encana look pretty nice every month. I am not getting rich, but it makes life a little more easy. A friend just bought a house on 8 acres near my land, paid $450K, just sold his condo in Vail he had for 30 years and I think he said it went for $465/ sq. foot!

I hate to say this, but the new Global Economy is not good for the average American middle class person. I think it is devistating to the middle class which is shrinking FAST! Not only are we losing manufacturing we are importing millions of cheap labor to low tech, nowhere jobs, yet putting a burden on the tax payer that business should be funding. Lets hear it for Bush, the worst president I ever saw!

Anyway, I love Colorado and plan on building on my land soon. I now live near Lake Michigan in a small sort of resort town where homes directly on the lake are all well over the million $$ range. I see the disparity here everyday, people from Chicago with these second homes on the lake, driving all the hot cars, yet locals working here for $10/hr at the stores. Same thing I saw in Vail 30 years ago.

[Todd TCE]

I'd dig more into researching Grand Junction. I see a lot of growth potential there. And it looks like I'm not alone... Smaller communities around there might also serve you well being close to a growing city. Give it 10-15yrs and that city is going to be on the map. You won't lose money invested there.

[MorningGlory]

My friends house is 15 minutes from Citadel Mall, I guess Peyton is a big place. I think Jennifer can find what she wants if she looks around. Plus how big of a house do you need? Seems like out here as soon as you need (or feel that you need) over 2500 sf its really expensive!

[CosmicWizard]

harborharley

original post: harborharley

I hate to say this, but the new Global Economy is not good for the average American middle class person. I think it is devistating to the middle class which is shrinking FAST! Not only are we losing manufacturing we are importing millions of cheap labor to low tech, nowhere jobs, yet putting a burden on the tax payer that business should be funding. Lets hear it for Bush, the worst president I ever saw!

The global economy is not merely devastating the middle class, it is annihilating the middle classs. Memory tells me that it was Bill Clinton who got the USA into NAFTA. I'm not a Bush lover by any stretch of the imagination. On another post regarding loss of livelihood, I made a statement that I hate seeing anyone lose their source of livelihood, but what I really meant to say was anyone EXCEPT that band of outlaws in the current administration.

regards...Franco

[tralrdr]

Hi All;
I will just say it right out front: I sell real estate in Colorado. I live in the mountains. My area is Cripple Creek, a very small gambling town aprox 50 miles west of Colorado Springs. So, to reply specifically to Jennifers question about there being a small town feel affordably close to all the stuff we left behind; yes, there is, but you do have to work hard to live in this state. For the most part, if you want easy access to malls, shopping, shows & etc you will be very close or in the sprawl, this seems to be true for any front range town. Any town that is just on the fringe of the sprawl is in the path of progress and land/home prices are skyrocketing so big income is necessary, if you are coming from TX then Colorado seems very expensive, if you are coming from CA then Colorado seems cheep!
Good Luck! Come visit and enjoy the scenery and go to a dude ranch.
That might satisfy your Colorado yearnin!
Carrie

[HappyMontrose]

Southwest Area is very Beautiful and Montrose was our choice ..but like most areas in Colorado it has seen a growth boom .. but now seems like things have leveled off a bit..

keep looking and check out Delta Colorado also ..a real sleeper area..

HM

[CosmicWizard]

I'm inclined to agree with HappyMontrose. I live in Grand Junction which is a fantastic place to live, but it is a bigger town than what you are describing. We often drive to Ouray for a daytrip or overnighter. Along the way we pass thru the samll town of Delta which always seems like it would be a nice place to live. Jobs might be an issue however, unless you are not reliant upon the local economy. Montrose is also somewhat appealing, but Delta seems nicer. I think both towns will contiue to grow far into the future.

good luck in your search....Franco

[jazzlover]

I have some family in Delta. It's a nice community, but it, like most of the Western Slope, is heading towards unaffordability if you have to rely on the local economy for your living. It still has some of the lowest real estate prices on the Western Slope, but that's not saying much. Jobs are scarce and wage scales pretty low. What makes the area boom is the influx of affluent retirees from other areas that bring their money with them. They bid up the real estate market to levels beyond what most locally employed people can afford. I know a number of people who have left the area for that very reason.

The other sad thing around Delta is the decline of the ag community. Development (for that influx of retirees) is chewing up prime ag land like crazy. In the last ten years, about half of the orchard acreage in the county has disappeared, mostly eaten up by development. Last time I was there a few months ago, I stopped by to see some friends. A huge orchard next to their property was being torn out for a subdivsion. The orchard had been there over a century. Wonder why I rant about what "progress" is doing to Colorado? That's why. Another 10 years and Delta County will just be another sprawled rural suburbia. It's well on the way.

[daphnie]

Hope i'm doing this right new to forum..My family owns a ranch east of coloradosprings...we own livestock, have full view of pikes peak 40+ acres and are only 30min to anything we need (don't mind the drive at all)don't have many tree...you can plant,It's the high plains and windy....it can be a hard life out here, but it all depends on whats important to you..we paid under 200k Good luck Daphnie

[harborharley]

Originally Posted by Todd TCE

I'd dig more into researching Grand Junction. I see a lot of growth potential there. And it looks like I'm not alone... Smaller communities around there might also serve you well being close to a growing city. Give it 10-15yrs and that city is going to be on the map. You won't lose money invested there.

Grand Junction is growing. I was impressed the last time I went there about 3 years ago. It's 85 miles from my land in Silt.

Prince Bendar's home in Aspen is for sale! Only asking $135,000,000. You have to be on a list of potential buyers to view the house, which eliminates all millionaires, you must be in the Billions to get in for a tour. It's 50,000 sq. ft. on 95 acres, 15 bedrooms, 16 baths. I believe it's in Starwood, but not sure. This was in the Chicago Tribune. It also mentioned Aspen is so expensive even Hollywood types can't afford it any more!