Retiring to Colorado, western slope (Durango, Montrose: transplants, foreclosure, renting) - (CO) - Page 5 - City-Data Forum

jim9251 · 10-01-2009, 08:23 PM

While having coffee on my patio the other day...

Jimrob1 · 10-01-2009, 09:13 PM

You seem happy there. Im glad for you. Beautiful view.

brightdoglover · 10-01-2009, 10:30 PM

How wonderful! Keep posting pics, if you will. I was just in Ridgway in July and daydreamed of summers there in retirement. Or something. Eat at Drake's!

Kristin_09 · 10-06-2009, 11:42 AM

My family and I recently drove all over Colorado, basically in search of a place with a decent economy and somewhat rural setting. We settled in Montrose for approximately a week, checking things out. Montrose is a very nice town for shopping, with many restaurants (Cafe 110 has an amazing breakfast!!) and stores. It has a JC Penney, Target, Wal-Mart, etc...the economy there isn't bad either. We stayed in between Montrose and Ridgway. Ridgway, in my opinion, was a darling little town. It was however, somewhat expensive. We shopped at the grocery store there, and it was definately significantly higher. For instance, a half-gallon of Breyers ice cream, 6.00 instead of 3.50 or 4.00. A buck or two on each item really adds up. That said, Ridgway isn't so far away from Montrose that you couldn't do your shopping there if you wanted to.
We also went to Ouray, Telluride and Silverton. I HATED Telluride. It's insanely expensive and crowded beyond belief. It's just building right on top of another building...Ouray was cute, less crowded, but still expensive and not a 'real' town, if you know what I mean.
Silverton is interesting, very quaint, but also expensive. The only thing that keeps it alive is tourism,as there isn't any industry there anymore.
Anyway, good luck! Ridgway is beautiful and I'm sure you'll enjoy it there.

jim9251 · 10-06-2009, 07:01 PM

Went to Montrose to get my drivers license. A small DMV office, I was the only customer. The employees were polite, friendly and funny. Very easy. Then drove to the courthouse in Ouray for my car license plates. I was the only person in the Courthouse. The clerks were polite, friendly and funny. It cost $197.00 to register my 2006 Mustang. Very painless and easy.

brightdoglover · 10-06-2009, 08:02 PM

When the real estate flop straightens out (by which, I mean if and when the unfinished subdivisions either become houses or go back to tumbleweeds or abutters can buy it for grazing for back taxes) I think Montrose will revive as the nice smaller town that it was. I know the hospital is a good little community place. Ha- the Ridgway Sun used to list each ambulance transport to the hospital by name, age, and illness! The innocent days before HIPPA, or rather before a bit of privacy prevailed.
Sometimes at work I put a photo up, like yours, to rest my eyes between paperwork things. I don't think there's a prettier sight than the San Juans. Never been there in the fall, so am looking forward to photos. You must be so happy!

LiveLoveLaugh · 10-09-2009, 06:34 PM

CONGRATS! It looks BEAUTIFUL!

Fourbycor · 10-13-2009, 12:13 PM

Congrats Jim on finding Ridgway. I run the local Land Title Guarantee office in Ridgway and Montrose...stop by and say hello sometime! I will tell you that things in the Real Estate Market are getting better in our areas. Ouray Counties prices have never really fluctuated in this "slow down".
Enjoy!

brightdoglover · 10-13-2009, 02:32 PM

Interesting that I'm not sure what "getting better" means for home prices. When I was a despairing renter outside Boston, I'd seethe at headlines like, "Good news for housing- prices up 20%" and so on.

jazzlover · 10-13-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

Interesting that I'm not sure what "getting better" means for home prices. When I was a despairing renter outside Boston, I'd seethe at headlines like, "Good news for housing- prices up 20%" and so on.

Good point, brightdog.

I also think there is a lot of "detached from reality" data interpretation going on in the real estate community these days. While it's true that sales prices of real estate in most of rural Colorado have not dropped much as of late, there are practically no sales occurring and foreclosures are soaring. I look at actual recorded deeds and such--they tell a much different story than a lot of the Chamber of Commerce and real estate "spin" I see posted here--a lot of such postings bordering on violating the TOS about advertising, anyway.