Moving to Denver from DC - Where to Buy? (Highlands Ranch: loans, affordable houses)

[KateDC]

I'm moving to Denver from DC within the year and am considering purchasing a home. Price range will be about $300,000. I have been considering the Highlands area but really don't know much about it. What are some other up and coming areas? I'm late-20's and am looking for an area with shopping, restaurants, a few bars... but does not necessarily have to be the hottest place to go out at night. Basically, an ideal area would be one that I can walk to a coffee shop and some shops on the weekends and have a drink or two after work on the weeknights. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[dj32]

Platte Park
Highlands/Berkeley/Sloans Lake
Capitol Hill
City Park

[Carrie_Blair]

I agree with dj32's choices of areas. I would add Congress Park near 12th avenue. We have some awesome little shops (Daz Bog coffee, small grocery, Ace Hardware, Shells & Sauce Italian restaurant, Greek restaurant & cafe and then further down 12th we have ice cream, bakery/cafe, liquor store, pizza, flower shop, etc).

My neighbor is in her early twenty's and just bought a home in Highlands. She loves the Highlands/Berkeley area. She said there are lots of people out, lots of shops, and it feels like a great community. It's close to downtown and in a growing area. It is a safe area and near Sloan Lake.

There are many homes available in those areas within your price range. I can let you know of some good places to search available homes by neighborhoods, which is always helpful. If you send me a private message I can share those sites with you (I can't post them on the forum).

You can always search locations of neighborhoods at trulia which will let you see some available listings (limited number of business partners) and let you get a sense of locations and reference points.

Good luck!

[KateDC]

Thanks to both of you! Highlands seems to be a spot that a lot of people are talking about so I think that's where my search will begin. I saw some pictures of it on another post here and it looks like what I'm looking for.

[bouldergranola]

A good friend of mine is in her late 20s, lives in Lower Highlands (LoHi) and loves it. Her place is so convenient to downtown and the view is amazing. She's an avid runner and has told me she feels very safe running around her neighborhood.

[2bindenver]

Stapleton?

[AtlantaCruiser]

Highlands sounds good. Dont expect too large a house though for 300k. I sold my 1200sqft house there about a year ago for just under that. LOVED living there though. Easy to get everywhere. Miss it dearly!

[OutOfSoCal]

I just got home on a house hunting adventure, FOR ME Highland ranch was not an ideal location. be careful of higher priced HOAs there. Great neighborhoods and centrally located. But smaller houses adn not much privacy.

[KateDC]

Highlands Ranch and Highlands are two different places correct? Are they near each other? Also is Stapleton a development? That's what I've heard. I'd like to stay away from cookie-cutter development-type places if possible. One last thing - can anyone shed some light on the Berkeley area? I have seen some affordable houses posted in that area but haven't heard much about it.

[dj32]

Highlands Ranch and Highlands are vastly different from each other and attract different demographics as well. You will want to look in Highlands for what you are looking for.
Berkeley is very near Highlands and is up and coming area- it would be a good investment if you think you may sell in a couple of years.