Skyland Neighborhood North of City Park? (Highlands Ranch: homes, neighborhoods, buy)

[s murphy]

Hi - We need some advice please. We're empty-nesters trying to move from the suburbs (Highlands Ranch) into the city. We've been looking pretty intensely for around 9 months. We've looked in many neighborhoods like Highlands, Cherry Creek, Wash Park, Congress Park, etc. We've recently found a home we love in the Skyland Park neighborhood. It's more bang for the buck than any home we've seen. Driving around, there are negative indicators we have not seen in other neighborhoods. Broken down cars in back yards, garages in dis-repair, a couple of homes with window security bars, a couple of homes that seem to be boarded up, perhaps being used as a warehouse?

Geographically, we love the location. One block from City Park, super close to my wife's work, etc. But we're scared to invest in a home where it will be difficult to re-sell. We're planning to stay 6-12 years, but you never know. The home we're looking at is also priced higher than most of the homes in the neighborhood. You always hear that you should not purchase the most expensive home on the block, but that must have to occur in up-and-coming neighborhoods as old homes get torn down or rebuilt.

Any specific advice on this neighborhood, and advice in general on improving neighborhoods, will be sincerely appreciated. Thank you!

[davebarnes]

Personally, I would buy in Sunnyside (southwestern part) over Skyland Park.

You can also play with:
Mapping America ? Census Bureau 2005-9 American Community Survey - NYTimes.com
and
Front Range Race/Ethnicity

Why Sunnyside?
Because it is the next Berkeley.
As Highland and West Highland have become more (too?) expensive, Berkeley is being described as the next Highlands.
In my opinion, Sunnyside is right behind Berkeley.

[caseyjordan]

Where did you end up purchasing? We are about to sign a leadse in skyland & also a little weary of the area. If you did buy here, how do you like it?