Colorado towns/cities near the mountains (Denver, Fort Collins: ski resorts, sales, real estate market)

[andrews2]

Would anyone know what a good town/city close to the mountains with reasonable taxes and reasonable house prices ( 200k - 300k range ) I would prefer to be where the snow falls hard and the summer is mild. A half hour to an hour drive to the montains. I don't want to live in the flat land, but don't need to be in the thick of the mountains, someplace where I could drive to the mountains for the day or weekend. If someone who knows this kind of area please give me a list of what is good. I prefer to have a house with a little bit of land, nothing crazy, I just don't want to be living on top of the person next to me. PLEASE someone help figure this out.

Here is what I have come up with:
Fort Collins
C. Springs
Asheville

I just don't know what place has what I am looking for, Ideally IT work would be near by no more than an hour commute...Any help would be great!!!!

Thanks!

also what is the cost of building just outside these areas, cnear the mountains??

[vfrpilot]

Sounds like you're describing Monument. We are just north of CO Springs, close to the Palmer Divide. Just about everything on the Front Range is lower. Our house is at 7500'. Summers are cooler, but winter can be harsher. We are in Woodmor with lots of trees, rolling hills, and large lots(1/2 acre or more). The school district is highly rated. We are close enough to Denver to make the commute possible. Lots of neighbors do this daily. Use 80132 zip in Realtor.com to search homes in the area. There are few below 300k, lots of 'em between 300k and 350k. Sales tax here is around 4%.

[HappyMontrose]

Montrose ..beautiful mountains ...

and the Real estate market has leveled off a bit here..

Some real nice homes in the 3s

HM

[andrews2]

Originally Posted by vfrpilot

Sounds like you're describing Monument. We are just north of CO Springs, close to the Palmer Divide. Just about everything on the Front Range is lower. Our house is at 7500'. Summers are cooler, but winter can be harsher. We are in Woodmor with lots of trees, rolling hills, and large lots(1/2 acre or more). The school district is highly rated. We are close enough to Denver to make the commute possible. Lots of neighbors do this daily. Use 80132 zip in Realtor.com to search homes in the area. There are few below 300k, lots of 'em between 300k and 350k. Sales tax here is around 4%.

Thank you for your reply. I will check Monument. I know when I first go I will rent and really look around for a home after I get work. Once again Thank you! Look forward to starting my new life in Colorado....with loads of snow and beautiful mild summers!

[connie817]

Asheville NC? If so, it can be tricky there. Cost of living is on the high side. It has a very culturally diverse community - downtown is chock full of restaurants and bars, organic food, "natural" living, etc. Housing prices can be high in most areas. You are really in the thick of the mountains (altho folks from Colorado and places where there are "real" mountains would scoff at the Smokies and Blue Ridge)...a couple of ski resorts close by but not a lot of snow. Humid, but relatively moderate temps. The Unive of NC at Asheville is there, you are about 2 hrs from Knoxville, TN, 45 mins from Greenville SC, 3 hrs from Atlanta. Hiking is great around the area - Blue Ridge Parkway is a scenic but slow way to maneuver around the area. Lots of horses around. Small private school (Asheville School) if you have kids is very nice. One of my brothers is a realtor there locally and my parents have lived there about 35 years. I lived there 5 years, go back to see the folks now and then. Let me know if you have specific questions about the area...

[breaksraver13]

I can help with the Asheville,NC area also............ I live approximately 45min.-1hr from there and am in the area at least twice a week in the winter as I ski ALOT in that area.