Where would you build a Cabin in Colorado? (Denver, Cedaredge: homes, buy)

[treedonkey]

I've reviewed the thread and it looks like you received ample suggestions for locations.

To Summarize:
Summit county
Durango/ SW CO
Grand Mesa
Beulah
Salida
Frying Pan Road, outside Basalt, Colorado
Grand Lake

[Dizzydog]

Anyone familiar with Idaho Springs?

[froggin4colorado]

Dizzydog, to answer your question, I would buy some land up by Lake George. We go camping a lot up by Terryall Lake and we ride our quads for miles up there. Our neighbors bought 5 acres for about 40K and the views of Pikes Peak are awesome. There are several lots up that way that already have utilities available. However, if you want something with a cabin on it already, it will cost you much more than 80K.
I just came through Idaho Springs, we went up to Winter Park to go camping at the YMCA Snow Mountain Campground. I am not sure what you will find by Idaho Springs. Its mostly mountain and the town itself buts up against the mountain and is 3 streets wide. Then the interstate, creek, and mountain again. The for sale signs I saw meant you were buying a side of the mountain and along the interstate. You could look up by Granby, Frasier, Winter Park area but I fear you will pay an arm, leg, and kidney for the land due to its location. Keep in mind too, the Pine Beetle has destroyed much of the pine forest up there. It is so sad to look at the rust colored forest (Arapahoe Forest).

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by Dizzydog

Anyone familiar with Idaho Springs?

Idaho Springs is pretty scruffy and not really a place for a cabin. Grand Lake, part of South Park, Salida, Buena Vista, Grand Mesa, SW Colorado, and west of Pueblo in the mountains are some good areas.

I wouldn't take to heart some of the negative comments as there are some people here that are anti everything and will tell you anything to keep you from moving to Colorado.

[elemental]

Originally Posted by Dizzydog

Yea we dont rent. We are real estate investors from the SW and just looking over all the bank owned properties in states like Montana, Colorado etc.

The thing I guess people dont get is, renting is a fools game. When you're young and have money you should spend it wisely. Life is like chess friends.

If you have 300k in the bank for example, why in the world would you want your money sitting there getting 1-2% when you can take $50k of it and invest in real estate that was previously valued at 100k. Instant equity and land has and always will be a nice bank account in no need of FDIC insurance.

I can understand the urban sprawl argument but would you rather have a chill concervative couple buying up 40 acres behind you and use it 5 months a year or Wal Mart buy it?

Resistance is futile.

BINGO! There are few who actually understand how to use whatever wealth they have accumulated. If land or a building was previously valued at 2x it's current cost and you actually believe that our economy will rebound to some percentage off of the lows, how can you lose? Let's add to the equation the belief that our economy will rebound in 3-5 years. Do the math and you'll see a 20% avg. annual return on a 5-year rebound. Add that to your balance sheet when going for a loan and you'll understand quickly how important net worth outside of your home truly is. Sure, you could just leave it in the bank and pay taxes on the miniscule growth. So far this year, 39 banks have been siezed by the feds. Yes, there is FDIC to back the deposits up, but can anyone recall a time where banks failed? Not in my lifetime.

[elemental]

Here's a link to the map

Land is still affordable, tracts are as large as you want them and it borders Rocky Mountain National Park. Just down the hill is Fort Collins and Loveland. Plenty to do there.

[80skeys]

I'll second that. It's a neat area.

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

Rather than adding to the scourge, consider purchasing an existing cabin. With real estate values declining, you may be able to find a great deal. I have seen cabins for sale on the Grand Mesa that seemed very reasonably priced, but they are not the gaudy McMansion type. With more than 200 lakes on the heavily forested Grand Mesa, you'd have many options for fishing. The small city of Grand Junction is 45-60 minutes away, and very samll town of Cedaredge is slightly closer.

[80skeys]

That's a really nice area too.

Originally Posted by elemental

Here's a link to the map

Land is still affordable, tracts are as large as you want them and it borders Rocky Mountain National Park. Just down the hill is Fort Collins and Loveland. Plenty to do there.

[Dizzydog]

Originally Posted by elemental

Here's a link to the map

Land is still affordable, tracts are as large as you want them and it borders Rocky Mountain National Park. Just down the hill is Fort Collins and Loveland. Plenty to do there.

$70k for an Acre is FAR from inexpensive IMO

2339 Miller Fork Rd, Glen Haven, CO, 80532 - MLS ID#570317 - Land real estate - REALTOR.com®

[Dizzydog]

I looked up the Cedaredge area. Again $40k an acre for land that looks like this? Who would pay for that? I can get nicer land than that for that price in Eastern AZ!

Cedaredge, CO, 81413 - MLS ID#623493 - Land real estate - REALTOR.com®