Colorado, here we come! (St. L to CO...Help!) (Denver: to rent, condominium)

[casgd8]

My boyfriend and I are planning a move to Colorado from St. Louis in the next 3 to 4 months. We are in our mid 20's early 30's and looking to find a place to rent for a little while until we get a better idea of where we would like to live permanently. I am a recent college grad with a B.S. in Business/Marketing/Communications, and will be looking for my first job out of school. My boyfriend is a Chef and is interested in working in a Mountain town more specificlly his forte is French fine dining. We have both been dying to move to Colorado for years and now that I am done with school it is the perfect time for the move.

We are interested in any advice or opinions you natives may have on good places to rent, or settle permanently, and also in regards to both of our careers; any places or companies come to mind? We are really open to all areas...we have traveled to Denver, Boulder, Morrison, and many mountain towns.

We will be visiting in June to travel around and hopefully interview at some places so we can get out there soon! I can't wait for snow skiing, and hiking, and breath-taking views!

[ColoradoHomefinder]

You can't start searching early enough. Your best bet is to simply start searching online, and get comfortable with the various markets.

Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs are all major metro areas -- each with their own unique feel. Just start a search with a website or two, and you'll begin to get a feel for the housing in those areas, and what prices are like.

My wife is from the other side of MO (St Joe) and we're both "lifers" in CO. You'll love it -- no matter where you end up.

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by casgd8

My boyfriend and I are planning a move to Colorado from St. Louis in the next 3 to 4 months. We are in our mid 20's early 30's and looking to find a place to rent for a little while until we get a better idea of where we would like to live permanently. I am a recent college grad with a B.S. in Business/Marketing/Communications, and will be looking for my first job out of school. My boyfriend is a Chef and is interested in working in a Mountain town more specificlly his forte is French fine dining. We have both been dying to move to Colorado for years and now that I am done with school it is the perfect time for the move.

We are interested in any advice or opinions you natives may have on good places to rent, or settle permanently, and also in regards to both of our careers; any places or companies come to mind? We are really open to all areas...we have traveled to Denver, Boulder, Morrison, and many mountain towns.

We will be visiting in June to travel around and hopefully interview at some places so we can get out there soon! I can't wait for snow skiing, and hiking, and breath-taking views!

You might look into Durango. It has more restaurants per capita than San Francisco. There are several French dining places as well as a host of others from Asian to Mongolian to Vegan. There are many places to rent. It is a mountain city. Homes are high in costs but since you are renting, you will be fine. Lots of outdoor stuff to do. A great deal of info already on here about Durango so just use the search function and type in Durango and it will come up. Also Google Durango, CO and lots more will come up.
Here is one link to get you started. http://www.durangovacations.com/cate...splay.php?id=6

[sunsprit]

Assuming you've got the best opportunity of your lives at this time to get into the mountain communities ... try looking at Aspen, Vail, Telluride, etc.

They'll be pricey places to live, but the wage scale might be enough for you to start out and get established in the community, perhaps more easily now than down the road when you have other obligations.

[casgd8]

Thanks for all the responses so far! We welcome more comments and suggestions.

We were thinking of going to the Telluride Blue Grass Festival when we are out there in June, so that would be a good opportunity to check out Telluride and see some good music. I have skiied Vail before, but never been to Aspen. But we will certainly look into all the places you all have mentioned.

It makes me really excited that I am moving to such a beautiful place with the most helpful and kind people! Thanks again to you all.

[jazzlover]

casgd8,

Just understand that "resort" Colorado can be hideously expensive and wages relatively poor. There are thousands of people who share your dream--and they will compete with you for jobs and places to live. You are young (and hopefully debt-free), so this may be your best and last opportunity to do what you are dreaming about. That said, very, very few young people who move to the resorts to work wind up staying there very long. The stresses of making limited income in such expensive areas becomes old relatively quickly. Also, you may not have the time to enjoy the recreation that you seek. Both of you having to work 60 to 70 hour work weeks to make ends meet can do that.

I have watched that cycle (commonly called the "Paradise Syndrome") play itself out in the resort areas for several decades now. I think that it is only going to get harder. There is a HUGE gap between the affluent "landed gentry" and the "worker bees" in the resort areas, and the gap gets bigger all of the time. It is the reason that so many of the jobs in the resorts are now held by immigrants (legal or otherwise) who are willing to pack a dozen of themselves into a 2BR condominium to afford to live there.

I have a number of friends who grew up in Telluride, Aspen, and Crested Butte. None of them live in their home towns anymore--most are in metro Denver. They couldn't afford to stay in the towns where they grew up.