Gunnison area, advice needed (Denver, Montrose: real estate, rentals, big house)

[Ryansgirl]

My husband and I are considering relocating our family to Gunnison. Can you fill me in on the area and the housing market? We will rent for at least the first year, we would need a 4 bdrm, 2.5ba. We are coming from Orlando, not sure what to expect to pay in rent for what we are looking for. I hope to hear something soon!

[CosmicWizard]

I'm not sure about real estate values in Gunnison so I can't help you there. Just wondering, are you aware that Gunnison is one of the coldest spots in the state of Colorado? It would be quite a contrast coming from Florida.

Go Magic...beat the Lakers!

[80skeys]

Small town. Well kept appearance. Has a college and a small airport. High elevation (8,000 feet). About 30 minute drive to Crested Butte. Nice setting although rather brown and barren in the immediate area. Isolated in the sense that it's an hour drive to the next largest town (Montrose).

Originally Posted by Ryansgirl

My husband and I are considering relocating our family to Gunnison. Can you fill me in on the area and the housing market? We will rent for at least the first year, we would need a 4 bdrm, 2.5ba. We are coming from Orlando, not sure what to expect to pay in rent for what we are looking for. I hope to hear something soon!

[DOUBLE H]

As the other posters have noted, when you are talking about cold weather, Gunnison hits the bullseye. From late November to early April the cold socks in to the valley and stays there. And by cold I mean below zero on many nights. It sits at just a tad over 7700 feet high, you'll never worry about 100 degree days there. Population is around 6500 . I wish I could help on info of health care services, maybe someone who has lived or lives there can contribute here.

NOW, the other side. If I wasn't older than dirt, had zero arthritis, and wanted to move to a mountain town, Gunnison is at the top of the list. If you're into water sports, Curecanti National Recreation Area stretches along hwy. 50 west of town and it (spec. Blue Mesa Reservoir) is one of the top rec areas of the state. I'm not into winter skiing, but 35 miles north of Gunnison sports Crested Butte, one of the top ski areas of the state.

Gunnison is also home to Western State College. It has one of the prettier campuses I've been around. I can't help out with real restate, but IMO I think you'll find prices a little cheaper than most Colorado mountain towns. It is my observation that people who live in Gunnison are a hardy bunch. Spend a winter there and you'll see what I mean. But they are a friendly bunch. Shopping IS a consideration and, with the exception of Walmart, it is 70 miles to a town with chain stores, which is Montrose. I like the neighborhoods, WSC offers a quality education, and if you enjoy fishing and boating, you come to the right place. IMO the best thing to do is pay Gunnison a visit for a few days in December. If you can adjust to that and still have a good vibe about the area you'll be ok with it. One of the top posters lived and got his college education there, and will fill in more here. JL, where is ya??

[jazzlover]

Do a search on my other posts on Gunnison. Real estate there is still high-priced, especially compared to local incomes. There are relatively few jobs available. If you have one already in hand, great--if not, not so good.

The rental market has historically been tight because it is a college town--though a 4BR is probably not so affected by the college student demand. Also, check out what you rent thoroughly. Because Gunnison is so cold in winter, you can spend almost as much for heat as you will for rent in an poorly insulated big house. The summers in Gunnison are beautiful, but short and cool. Highs mostly in the 70's and 80's, dropping to the low 40's most summer nights. It can freeze any day of the year there. Wintertime, well, that's an experience (I know--I lived there several years). My personally recorded unofficial low temperature while I lived there was -55° F. That is not a typo--MINUS 55! That winter (a particularly cold one), it went 32 days without getting above 0° F., two and one-half months without getting above freezing. There is no experience quite like inhaling too deeply and freezing your lungs. You won't forget it. The cold weather is hell on vehicles. Most vehicles won't start on the coldest days without a block heater. Dashboards and vinyl in seats crack. Fuel mileage can be atrocious.

I like the people in Gunnison (the regular townsfolk; not the summer wuss residents)--the year-rounders are great people. But it takes a special person to live there. That long, cold winter does that. The only good news about winter in Gunnison is that the wind doesn't blow much, and the sun shines most of the time. Just be forewarned, if you haven't lived in a REAL cold climate before, you are in for the shock of your life in Gunnison.

[darono]

Hey, I live in Crested Butte year round. [ mod cut ] The school system in CB is excellent, how old are your kids? Rentals are plentiful currently, but make sure you get something ironed out before October whwen the seasonal employees arrive in CB and Mt CB. Gunnison fills up for rentals in late August when Western State starts up again. [ mod cut ]

[colocali]

You will FREEZE. No kidding.

[gooberlx]

Fuh-frickin'-reezing, no doubt. Being from Wisconsin, I'm used to way harsher cold than Denver gets. But when I watch the weather on the nightly news during winter, I always feel for the poor folks in Gunnison.

[twokatz]

Gunnison is beautiful, and well worth it's bragging rights, but being a gunny local isn't easy. I think it's especially hard for girls. From my experience girls don't stay there. You have to truely love the outdoors to be happy there. Shops close early and it's very isolated. I sometimes miss it, but wouldn't move back. I also understand that good jobs are hard to come by.

I would look into Montrose if I were you. It's a nice little town and has an array of shops and entertaiment that would be more comfortable for someone who is comming from a city. When I lived in Gunnison we often drove to Montrose to go to the movies or a restraunt that we didn't have.