Houston to Colorado (Boulder, Longmont, Craig: environment, foreclosures, property taxes)

[vixiegirl07]

My husband and I are sick of Houston. We have visited the Boulder/Longmont area many times and have several friends who live there and love it. I would really appreciate any answers to the following questions that you can give me.

1. What are the taxes like in the Boulder/Longmont area?? (State income tax, Property taxes, etc)

2. My husband is a civil engineer and will have his Professional Engineering license and I am a teacher who can teach both middle school and high school.....are there jobs available in these fields???

3. We are looking to purchase investment properties by starting off with buying duplexes...is there a market for this???

4. When we first move we will be in an apartment....does anyone have any good suggestions of a place???

Any help you can give me is GREATLY appreciated.

[tfox]

1. Taxes. State tax is a flat 4.63 of your federal AGI. Property taxes vary, but are generally fairly low in most places (esp compared to Texas), but I can't vouch for Boulder County. As you know, property values are likely to be much higher in Boulder County than in Texas, so even with lower property tax rates that doesn't necessarily mean lower taxes than what you pay now.

2. Your husband will probably do okay finding a job around Boulder, given his skillset. My understanding is that teaching jobs have a lot of competition anywhere in Colorado.

3. I think that it's an okay environment here for income rental property -- probably not as good as some; however, there are cash flow income properties on the market. The down market may have some attractive possibilities with the increased level of foreclosures, though I would guess few in Boulder itself. Boulder, as you know, has a high price point and has been less affected by the downturn.

4. I'd look in Craigslist, and try to find individual owners. I'd avoid big complexes like the Legacy, Meadow Creek, or the Boulders. Those are pretty spendy for what you get, with limited flexibility on lease terms.

[vixiegirl07]

Thank you for your help.