What can I get? (Denver, Aurora: for sale, apartments, rent)

[Carolina_Belle92]

I am looking at living in the Denver area on a 47k salary... what can I get for this? I will also probably be working a part-time job in addition to this... that should bring in about 20k more, depending on my hours.

So, say on 60k salary, with no husband/kids, where would be a good place to be, and what can I expect in the Denver area? All around, is the quality of life good?

For a single working downtown, is the city better, or could I afford a nice place in a suburb? If so, where are the better burbs?

Thanks! I know it's a LOT of questions.

[cali07]

I am in the same situation, looking at moving there making about 60k. I'm thinking about buying a condo or townhouse in Aurora, just fyi. I figure I can afford about 175k.

[2bindenver]

I'd say - it depends on where work is. You don't want to put yourself in a great place with a horrible commute, if you don't have to.

You can get a two bed two bath condo in Hospital Zone for $120,000 or less. Fairly central Denver location without the pretense of Cap Hill, Wash Park, Bonnie Brae, Cherry Creek...

[sumisu]

Hi - there are nice selections available in the range between $90K-150K very close to downtown. I suggest arranging a tour once you're here to compare neighborhoods, etc. Good luck. Sumisu

[dj32]

for singles I would highly recommend downtown- also berkeley/highlands/sloans lake is a good investment right now while being very convenient for downtown. City Park also good location with alot of condo development/redevelopment. I think the suburbs would be very isolated but admittedly do not know a lot of about suburbs as I've always lived in central denver.

[tfox]

It's pretty easy finding a 1br in Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Congress Park, etc, and prices are not that unreasonable (either for rent or for sale). Finding a 2 bedroom is tougher, a 3BR will be really tough and expensive. So, you can live fairly affordably in Central Denver if you get a small apartment/condo, but once you outgrow it you'll have to shell out more $$ or move.

If you buy, watch the HOA rates of your building. Some buildings have very high HOA rates even if the price is affordable -- but there's no use having a small mortage and a very high HOA -- the other way around would actually be preferable.

[Carolina_Belle92]

I'm thinking a 2 bed, 1 bath place for under 200k... is that unreasonable?

[tfox]

Originally Posted by Carolina_Belle92

I'm thinking a 2 bed, 1 bath place for under 200k... is that unreasonable?

Oh yes, you can find a very nice 2br condo for that money. In Central Denver the cheapest 2brs would probably start around 130-140k or so, with a nice spread of them in the 150s-160s.

Of course, in the suburbs or even SE Denver around Hampden / I-25, you could get a much larger townhome for that money. So, take your pick.

[Carolina_Belle92]

What about Brooks Tower in downtown Denver? It's a couple of miles from the potential workplace, and I've found some stuff in my price range. What can you tell me about that neighborhood? ZIP code 80202

[2bindenver]

It's Downtown. One of the few residential buildings - converted from apartments in the mid 1990's.