advice on upcoming trip (Denver, Colorado Springs: apartment complex, houses, transfer)

[nashville]

Hi, everyone. My first time to post although I've spent quite a bit of time over the last several months perusing the great information here. My husband and I (and 9yo daughter) are coming out to CO in 3 weeks to check out front range areas to move to in a year or two when husband retires. We both feel comfortable moving west; seems it's time to go back that direction. I grew up in the Bay Area and lived there until college (parents still there), lived in Seattle, Utah, 16 years in N. VA then in 2001 hubby transferred with fed govt to Nashville. I liked everywhere I have lived (including No. Va. although I hear from hubby who frequently travels back that traffic has worsened, the stands of trees are going fast, and our nearby airport, Dulles, that used to be so easy is now horrendous).

There are alot of good things about Tennessee too (nice people and beautiful, green rolling hills among them), but the schools are truly disappointing especially for a former school teacher who taught in great Fairfax Co schools (left teaching to go back to grad school at GW, then became a fed employee myself for 10 yrs before moving to TN.)

Husband has had it with the feds and would retire today (rather, yesterday), but think he will try to hold out for another year or so to see what happens in the election and who his new boss will be. Meanwhile, we need to find a place to go...don't think Tennessee is the place we should stay. So we're looking at Colorado. Good schools with high academic expectations definitely a top priority for us, also easy access to parks, mts., outdoors, good community, tolerant people. Subdivision ok but don't want to feel too cramped.

Currently we live in a 3200sf home built on a half-acre lot with lots of trees (and our lot happens to be the smallest in the subdiv--most are closer to 1 acre) and would love to find the same but I know there isn't the abundance of trees in Colorado as here and NoVa. I hope there will be some way we can both have neighbors and still enjoy some space and privacy. Won't know for sure until I'm there, but I'm hoping we can find what's right for us for around $400,000...maybe will have to go up. The last two houses we've owned have ended up being new construction so we're likely headed that way this time (or 1-3 years old).

Another consideration is to find a place where my 88yo mother-in-law will feel comfortable. (Taking care of kids and grandma--we epitomize the sandwich generation!) She has lived us in the past but currently lives a couple miles away in a senior apartment complex that gives her the friends she needs and also a great senior center nearby.

We will be starting north and working our way south, hoping to check out Ft. Collins area, Boulder County, maybe Golden/Evergreen/Conifer/Morrison, Castle Rock and points south down to COS. In one week, we won't see anything in depth, but am hoping to get a feel and narrow it down to a couple areas. The first three nights will be staying with friends in Greeley just having fun (they just moved there to teach at the univ. so don't know much about the area yet) then get serious about checking out cities, neighborhoods, houses for the rest of the trip. We're staying in Denver (Lakewood) and COS, 2 nights each. I want to get lined up with realtors beforehand to help us look around the various locations rather than just showing up.

I have a pretty good idea of schools from this forum and elsewhere, so my question concerns any advice regarding: 1) suggestions about realtors (you can PM me if not allowed here) and 2) ideas from others who have done it on how best to use our limited time during this exploratory visit and 3) anyone know about income-based apartment living for seniors?

Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to respond. Won't miss the hot, humid summers and all the bugs when we move!!

[ladyfish]

If you like trees, don't drive down to CS from Denver by way of I-25. Instead, take CO-83 down through Parker, Elizabeth and the Black Forest. It runs parallel to 25, but just east and will not take too much longer. The Black Forest is an amazing, real forest that you might fall in love with if you like trees! It's a nice area, not too far from the city, you can find a nice house on land and not be two feet away from your neighbors. Not sure about prices though.

[Nadine]

Originally Posted by nashville

Hi, everyone. My first time to post although I've spent quite a bit of time over the last several months perusing the great information here. My husband and I (and 9yo daughter) are coming out to CO in 3 weeks to check out front range areas to move to in a year or two when husband retires. We both feel comfortable moving west; seems it's time to go back that direction. ...snip...

Unless you are just big city dwellers, you really need to go south along the Rockies farther than just CS. Try pcsfremontcounty.com website might give you more ideas.

[nashville]

Thanks for the responses. We'll certainly take the scenic route down to Co Springs. Black Forest was an area I had planned to check out in search of trees but not too far from a city. Again, good schools being the priority, we'll try to find something in D20 if we can. Canon City area sounds beautiful--I requested info via the web awhile back and got lots of mail on that area. Hope we have time to explore Fremont Co while we're there, too. What about schools in Canon city?

[Katiana]

There is very little property similar to what you have described as your home in Tennessee, especially for $400,000, new - 3 yrs old. We have a house valued at ~ $500K, 27 yrs old, 2500 sq ft, city-size lot, north metro-Denver area. Perhaps if you go far enough away from Denver and CO Springs, but I really don't know where and I have lived here for 27 yrs (no, we did not build this house, bought it later). Possibly the eastern plains, but then you lose that mtn view. Hate to sound like a wet blanket, but it's reality.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by nashville

Currently we live in a 3200sf home built on a half-acre lot with lots of trees (and our lot happens to be the smallest in the subdiv--most are closer to 1 acre) and would love to find the same but I know there isn't the abundance of trees in Colorado as here and NoVa. I hope there will be some way we can both have neighbors and still enjoy some space and privacy. Won't know for sure until I'm there, but I'm hoping we can find what's right for us for around $400,000...maybe will have to go up. The last two houses we've owned have ended up being new construction so we're likely headed that way this time (or 1-3 years old).

I agree with pittnurse -- what you want doesn't likely exist in your price range around the Denver metro area or in Northern Colorado. What you're describing at any price around Denver would be hard to find and would naturally be expensive if you did find it. However, you might have better luck down in the Colorado Springs area (El Paso County) -- their higher elevation gives more trees, and there tends to be more acreage-type properties down there, and overall property values are much lower there. Mike from Back East could give you some pointers, I hope -- I know he lives in northern El Paso County. Good Luck!

[thepizzaguy]

I don;t know what kind of trip you are taking, but I trip in Colorado almost every year. If you like camping, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from. Elephant Rock along the Cache La Poudre River, Ruby Mountain Campground just south of Buena Vista, and to get away from it all, Dinosaur National Monument has a few. The Campground I recommend the most is East Portal in Th Gunnison Canyon.

If you are looking for things to do with the kid, George Town has a short train ride called the George Town Loop. The Durango and Silverton trip is real nice with a lunch break at Purgatory. Finally if you venture up to Steamboat Springs, there a very fun bobsled track open in the summer.

Telluride offers a free gondola ride and the hike through Bear Creek Preserve is Stunning. There's also a campground in the town park and Alta Lakes a few miles away if you are so inclined.

About 10 miles outside of Crested Butte is an area called Gothic that has some of the most unique looking mountains in the state. Mesa Verde near Durago has Cliff Dwellings and Colorado National Monument has several sort trails that overlook the canyon.

Finally, if you are looking for a zoo, Colorado Springs has a zoo on a mountain, Garden of the Gods, and 7 falls. I think the road to the zoo is called Rampart Range Road that will let you take a look at NORAD.

There are lots of cool things to do and see, and I certainly haven;t listed them all, just a few off the beaten path and several on the main roads. I love vacationing there.

Have a great trip!

William

[nashville]

Thanks for the advice. This is an exploratory trip to see where we might want to land in a year or two. Moved from an expensive area in '01 to a less expensive area (our house here in TN will likely sell for around $340K) and now it appears will need to consider more $$$ area again...which is ok for funding the house of our retirement where we'll be for hopefully many, many years in the future. Not sure what retirement is all about, but do know one fact: even with govt. retirement pension, less $$$ will be coming in each month than what we're used to...so don't want to overextend ourselves. Won't be surprised if we find the houses we envision ourselves in to be more like $500Ks rather than $400K despite wishful hoping otherwise. Excellent schools for our daughter being the priority...trees and a little space may be a distant second...