Perfect place for someone not wealthy, quirky, college educated, and artistic? (Denver: real estate, renters)

[MsLeChat]

I'm going to be moving from Pennsylvania back to Colorado. I've lived in Denver twice, and Boulder and Westminster. I miss the scenery and the climate, etc. and living outside Philly (or in it) just isn't for me - too noisy, dirty, crowded, etc. I read about Paonia, and thought it sounded perfect for someone not wealthy, quirky, college educated, and artistic. I liked your suggestion to check out the area as opposed to Durango, which I am also considering. Durango sounds WAY too expensive, and Paonia sounds WAY too beautiful by comparison. Any further info? You sound experienced with the areas. Thanks for any feedback!

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

While visiting Colorado, you might consider travelling thru the Paonia -Crawford - Hotchkiss area. The north fork of the Gunnison River flows thru there and it is rather agricultural. Quite a bit of fruit is grown in that area, along with several wineries. To my eye, that area has some of the finest scenery in the state of Colorado.

This.

[Robert5]

Originally Posted by 2nd Chance

I'm not really looking at Durango, more of an out of the way place where land is cheaper. I've looked at some land near Pagosa Springs and there appears to be a buyers market there, as lots of land was bought by out of state speculators before the last crash. I'ts notlike I have my heart set on the area, but I plan to go through it this spring. It's on the list at this point.

Pagosa Springs itself is a nice town. The "land" you refer to is west of town 5 to 10 miles in a few platted but lightly developed subdivsions. A lot of access problems, much of the development is done on the cheap single wides and such, a lot of your neighbors will collect broken down old cars. If that is your thing have at it.

I have not been to Pagoasa Springs in years, but it is a nice and affordable town, mostly retired people. Of course there is no skiing nearby, which is why it is affordable. Cost of living otherwise is not extraordinary. Without a mortgage or car payment, $1,000 plus HOA fee/month would provide an ok standard of living.

[6.7traveler]

Originally Posted by MsLeChat

I'm going to be moving from Pennsylvania back to Colorado. I've lived in Denver twice, and Boulder and Westminster. I miss the scenery and the climate, etc. and living outside Philly (or in it) just isn't for me - too noisy, dirty, crowded, etc. I read about Paonia, and thought it sounded perfect for someone not wealthy, quirky, college educated, and artistic. I liked your suggestion to check out the area as opposed to Durango, which I am also considering. Durango sounds WAY too expensive, and Paonia sounds WAY too beautiful by comparison. Any further info? You sound experienced with the areas. Thanks for any feedback!



This.

While paonia is VERY beautiful, any decent land there is expensive, at least by my standards. Maybe we have different views on what wealthy is....

[Mike from back east]

Don't overlook Manitou Springs just west of COLO SPGS, it's quirky and artistic but near a decent city for the necessities and good medical care, shopping, etc. The city's motto is Keep Manitou Weird. A funky place at times, with legal MJ, often referred to as a place for old hippies, and a bit touristy.

Check homes / rentals on PPAR.com - Trusted And Accurate Real Estate Listing Information and see if it's in your price range.

[LilyMunster]

Salida - Buena Vista area - Chaffee County. We find that area to be a nice mix of scenery, with a huge variety of great entertainment options within 2 hours any direction, and prices are still reasonable. Banana belt weather!

[SkyDog77]

Is finding a job a factor? These small mountain towns you are listing make that very difficult.

[interloper1138]

Originally Posted by LilyMunster

Salida - Buena Vista area - Chaffee County. We find that area to be a nice mix of scenery, with a huge variety of great entertainment options within 2 hours any direction, and prices are still reasonable. Banana belt weather!

That depends greatly upon your living and work situation. In two weeks I'll have been in Salida for a year. Rent has gone through the roof in that amount of time. A place I looked at last winter that rented for $650 now rents for $900/month with 0 improvements done to the property. Most two bedrooms are $1000+ and most one bedrooms/studios start at $700.

The other kicker is pets. If you've got a pet, good luck finding a rental in Salida. It's a landlord's market and they've got tons of potential renters to choose from.

If you were to choose Salida or BV, be prepared to spend a few months looking for a place to live.

However, OP, other than the rent factors I do believe based on what you're looking for that you would really like this area. Salida in particular is a haven for artists. BV is fun, too. Salida is a bit funkier and more eclectic, but both are great towns with their own unique personalities. Tons to do and so many great people to meet.

It's tough to make a living here, but it's worth it!

[NW Crow]

Paonia has just over 1300 residents. Add folks living just outside and you might reach 2500. It would be a very major change from living in or just outside large metros like Philly and Denver. You might miss some or a lot of stuff you take for granted. Might be very good idea to try it for a week, month or summer before committing to the long term. Are you ok with a pretty heavy winter? Are you ok driving 30 miles to Delta or 70 miles to Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction for most things and activities? If art is a business or side business are you going to compete with the dozens of artists already set up there or sell into markets 100 plus miles away?



Paonia lost about a hundred residents in last 5 years. That is not a great situation for finding a job(s) or opening a business.

If you decide to stay fairly close to Denver metro after all, maybe look at Nederland, Lyons and Greeley in addition to the places already mentioned.


If you want to try off of the front range, maybe also look at Woodland Park, New Castle, Mancos or Bayfield. They all would be less remote than Paonia yet have some of the same positives.

[LilyMunster]

Originally Posted by interloper1138

That depends greatly upon your living and work situation. In two weeks I'll have been in Salida for a year. Rent has gone through the roof in that amount of time. A place I looked at last winter that rented for $650 now rents for $900/month with 0 improvements done to the property. Most two bedrooms are $1000+ and most one bedrooms/studios start at $700.

The other kicker is pets. If you've got a pet, good luck finding a rental in Salida. It's a landlord's market and they've got tons of potential renters to choose from.

If you were to choose Salida or BV, be prepared to spend a few months looking for a place to live.

However, OP, other than the rent factors I do believe based on what you're looking for that you would really like this area. Salida in particular is a haven for artists. BV is fun, too. Salida is a bit funkier and more eclectic, but both are great towns with their own unique personalities. Tons to do and so many great people to meet.

It's tough to make a living here, but it's worth it!

This is interesting. We just bought several acres in the area, highway access, city utilities, and have been trying to come up with a development plan. We preferred a recreational vehicle park at first, second is nightly lodging rentals, but we are still considering. We aren't on the river so we aren't prime as far as tourism goes. Perhaps we need to develop into reasonable-priced housing. I'm all for people earning a living on their developments, but at the same time, it's ridiculous to price housing right out of the market. Property taxes are expensive, so landlords must recoup, but that's getting to be true nationwide. Oh, and we love pets. Well behaved pets.

[interloper1138]

Originally Posted by LilyMunster

Perhaps we need to develop into reasonable-priced housing. I'm all for people earning a living on their developments, but at the same time, it's ridiculous to price housing right out of the market. Property taxes are expensive, so landlords must recoup, but that's getting to be true nationwide. Oh, and we love pets. Well behaved pets.

There is a desperate need for reasonable housing here. I'm very fortunate with my living situation, but I know many who are sleeping on couches or pouring nearly all of their paychecks into their rent. And these are hardworking people with at least one job, many with more than one. It's just not sustainable.

I don't know what the economic factors of doing so would entail for you, but if you choose to to develop long-term affordable housing here the community will greatly benefit from it.