From Beach to Snow (Arvada, Westminster: rental, jobs, housing)

[Pcola21]

Hi All,

I have spent some time reading on this forum and decided to tap you guys and gals for information as well.
Currently live in Jacksonville, FL. Born and raised in Pensacola, FL. I have never been more than an hour from the Beach my whole life so this will be huge change for me but one that I prepared to embrace fully. My wife has received a promotion that will bring us to Colorado. We have two girls, 4 and 1 years old. Her job is located in Thornton. We were out last weekend to house hunt and were a little overwhelmed. We saw about 15 houses on Friday starting in Broomfield, to Erie, then to Brighton. Whew! Saturday spent the day eliminating houses in Thornton by driving through the neighborhoods houses were a little to close together, then went to Henderson. Sunday was shot due to food poisoning that my wife and I got Saturday night. It was a long 3 hour plane ride back to Jacksonville.

I am an IT guy and have yet to find a job but my wife has one in Thornton. Commuting is an issue we don't want to commute more than 30 minutes if possible but also want the quickest route to snowboarding. If I can't surf then I am going to throw myself into snowboarding. We would really like to find a new build or something that isn't any older than 5 years. We are looking in the $200-$250k range with a lot that is greater than 6000sqft. I have had a hard time finding new building sites online. We stopped into a new build in Henderson that was originally priced at $326K but they were willing to take $260K so deals are being made and we feel confident that we might be able to find something in a better area. Henderson seemed just ok. Not much going on out there, not much around in the way of grocery, resturants, etc. We stayed in Westminster and that looked like a great place. I gues I am just asking for suggestions on places, new construction, in areas that might give us the best of both worlds. Is Golden an option for our commute goal? Seems a little far out, but closer to the mountains. Just not sure. Thank you for your help.

[2bindenver]

You won't find newer in Golden under $250. But Broomfield, Arvada, Westminister, Lafayette & Louisville may provide you with options - Interlocken has a high quantity of IT jobs - and Boulder would be within the commute too.

My mother lives in Jax. Our bugs are smaller and you have to winterize your sprinkler system.

[Charles]

When are you moving? If not for awhile, then continue researching on the internet. If soon, then consider renting, housing prices are expected to continue falling so time is on your side; yes you would have to move twice but that is a small price to pay to ensure the correct decision. Start looking at school districts, Commutes for you and your wife, and Plan B (in case one of you gets fired) commutes for you and your wife.

[Katiana]

You may have to go a bit higher in price, say $300K, to get what you want. I'd look from Thornton west, rather than east, as you did on this trip. I would look in the towns 2beindenver suggested.

[kcheshire]

I meant Pensacola....??? I have lived in Colorado all of my life. I was born and raised in Littleton however I have lived in the North area Subs for the last 20 years. I an married and I have an 11 year old son and we live in Thornton. We live in an area called Hunters Glen in North Thornton at 130th and Washington Streets. The school district is Adams County 12. I love both the neighborhood and schools. My son has attended the Elementary school and now in middle school and he walks to school in a very safe neighborhood. The High School he will attend is only 1 mile away and is brand new. The neighborhood expands to 136th Avenues and offers housing options in all price ranges. There are rental units avaliable through out neighborhood and I would start at rentclicks.com searching Thornton Colorado. We have lots of shopping including Wal-Mart, Target, Grocery & Lots of Great Restaurants within a couple of miles and the largest mall in Colorado is being built just north of here off I-25 about 4 miles. We have great access to all major highways and is a short jaunt down the E-470 toll road to DIA. I can get downtown in 20 minutes, Boulder in 30 minutes and Golden in 30. You can be up sking in an hour from here. Its an awesome location. Some parts of Thornton are not the best and you might hear that from others in your search however this is one of the best areas I have ever lived in. The schools are top notch in Colorado. Hunters Glen Elementary, Century Middle School and Mountain Range High School. Your little ones will be in good hands. I wish you the best. My husband and I hope to retire in Florida one day. He was thinking Pensecola.