Westminster, CO (Denver, Arvada, Boulder: real estate, apartments, rentals)

[Vs789]

Hi All,
My family and I are considering a move to westminster from the UK!
I would like some feedback on areas and rental accomodation please.

We have 2 children 1 at Elementry school age.

We have been looking online at apartments and town houses in the Westminster area and see a lot of community rental properties? Are these any good whats advantages disadvantages ? Example is a place called AMLI at Westcliff and Bradburn apartments. Obviously we will see them before we rent but any advice from locals or suggestions as to good safe areas and schools would be most useful. I will be working in the Westminster area.

Oh and the killer queston how expensive is it to live there ie... What sort of minimum family income would we need to rent a 3 bed townhouse or condo, run a car etc....


Thanks in advance for your thoughts

[2bindenver]

why don't you shoot them an email and ask about income requirements and local schools?

sales tax can run from 4% to 7.8%, gas is hovering around $3.00 a gallon...state income tax is 5th lowest in the country.

I don't think it's expensive to live here. It is more expensive now than when I moved here in 1989, then again I was making $30,000 a year as a property manager then...and this is now.

[wildwolves23]

just wondering a decent pay scale would be so i would have an idea for when i plan on moving?

[wildwolves23]

how is the jobs in westminster. are jobs hard to come by? i live in wisconsin and jobs are very hard to find and the market is going downhill. minght be moving there in less than a month or so. very soon tho. i currently have a stable job but worried that everything seems to cost more than here, and worried won't be stable.

[joediddley]

this place is a good start: http://www.payscale.com/research/US/State=Colorado/Salary/by_City (broken link)

there is also a personal report that will let you enter westminster.

[dexy]

Last few days, I was looking at various real estate websites and I saw that Westminster offers a lot of decent houses for around $200-230K. How is that area? It doesn't look like a dormitory since it has Westminster Promenade.
I was looking at norhtwest area of Denver for relocation. Places to consider were Westminster, Arvada, Broomfield, Thornton. Most people at Denver forum prefer south suburbs of Denver like Highlnad Ranch, Parker..
Which area is good for soon-to-be parents? Is it safe?

[2bindenver]

the most comprehensive and up to date website for metro denver area listed by Realtors properties is www.REColorado.com. It is updated each weekday.

The best way to get crime information is to call the local police department/sherrif's office. I think there are plenty of family friendly areas to the north of Denver.

[gopackers]

We're moving to Denver area this summer, and are seriously considering the Westminster area. Is this an older area, blue collar, is there newer housing, nice neighborhoods, etc? Thanks for any info!

[tfox]

It all depends on what part you're talking about. Most of the north 'burbs look like bananas in a map; they've all annexed all kinds of land in odd directions to accommodate new growth both residential and retail. All the north burbs are now stuck in the middle -- they're not convenient enough to downtown Denver or Boulder see lots of rehabbing and redevelopment of their older sections but on the other hand the new growth is all happening well beyond -- hence the frenzied annexations further and further north and east.

The "original westminster" is around Sheridan & Hwy 36. Generally the newer parts are going to be the sections on the other side of the banana up north.

I think you'll find a mixed bag -- some neighborhoods kept up with mostly homeowners and others largely rentals. On the plus side, there are some nice neighborhoods in which you can get a very nice home for your money, in a decent location commutable to downtown Denver, Boulder, or anywhere in between.

[odem03]

My family is hoping to relocate from St. Paul, Minn. to the Denver area.

We have a three year old and another on the way, so schools and good neighborhoods are essential to us.

We found a condo that we like in the western part of Westminster. Any thoughts on this area?