If I decide to move (Denver, Grand Junction: real estate, condo, house)

[suzco]

A challenge to the folks at C-D with whom I interact.

i'm thinking about where/whether/why, should/shall I move.

Without further immediate input from me, with what you already "know" about me, making all the assumptions about me you make, what would you say: should I stay or should I go. Literally, not metaphorically.

As a start though, I'll emphasize that I feel physically great in Colorado and in all locations in mountain west and southwest. (Escaping snow is not an added value.)

Where do you suggest I live?

[davebarnes]

I cannot, but you should think about:
1. Income taxes on your current and project income.
2. Property taxes on your current and any future abode.
3. Climate—what do you like? What do you hate?
4. Quality of government. Value and competence.
5. It is important to have like-minded neighbors?
6. City/suburbs/rural?
7. Is a nearby hospital necessary or unimportant?
8. Could you live in a different country? With a language other than English?

Answer these and you will eliminate many places. That makes it easier, in my opinion.

[suzco]

Thanks. Yes, I must consider issues such as you have suggested; I know there are many possibilities.

I can make the finances work in different environments. I'm in great health - hospital/medical care unimportant. If it becomes unexpectedly important in my life, I'll be flexible enough to move back to somewhere like Denver metro.

I've lived happily in cities, suburbs, rural, and resort towns throughout the mountain west/southwest at different times in my life. I love Colorado's climate most, but as long as I'm in higher altitude, accessible to spectacular outdoors the climate is good enough.

Waiting for covid vaccine and living through these days has made me start thinking about what I want to do next, with many posibilities to think about.

[vunderbar]

Aspen

[Mike from back east]

Western Slope. Grand Junction or Durango areas.

[davebarnes]

Salida

[CosmicWizard]

Hi suzco. You might still remember me ( CosmicWizard ) from a few years back I haven't been active on city-data for the past few years.

In, Sept-'15 I bought a condo in Grand Junction where I lived for 2.5 yrs. After selling it for a nice profit, I rented for 14 months in Grand Junction while looking for another place to buy. Never found a place I liked, and got priced out of the market during my time of procrastination.

So, I moved to Ruidoso-NM in June '19 where I could still afford the cost of real estate to my liking. Although Ruidoso has much to offer, I never felt at home there, so I sold my condo this past October for a decent profit after just 14 months of ownership.

Now I'm back in PA, my state of birth ( maybe I'll get one of those plates ... PA Native! haha - not too likely.). With the nationwide runup in real estate prices, along with the massive decrease of inventory ( fewer properties and not as nice ), I'm starting to think that I might be permanently priced out of owning my own place ever again --- unless a correction occurs soon. I have become rather despondent.

Moral of the story ..... tread cautiously unless money is no object.

[suzco]

Thanks to all of you who've responded so far. Interesting hearing suggestions - helping me think.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Suzco,

1. Maybe start by figuring out why you want to leave where you live now. Too much traffic? Too many people? Something else?

2. When my husband and I retired ten years ago, we sold the house in Centennial and moved most of our stuff to our house in Hawaii. However, we knew that we wanted to come spend our summers in Colorado because that's where our kids and grandkids live. So we spent several years driving around to small towns in the state and evaluating what felt right for us. We ended up buying in Buena Vista, which is a great small town with just enough shops and restaurants and great outdoor activities. It turns out it is a bit far from Denver (2-1/2 hours) and sometimes I wish we were closer. This is a bad time to be looking, however, because real estate prices are ridiculously high and getting higher.

[CosmicWizard]

Originally Posted by suzco

Thanks to all of you who've responded so far. Interesting hearing suggestions - helping me think.

The power of soliciting ideas and options is that someone might mention something you have not previously thought of ... something that really resonates!