HELP! Information overload - areas to live (Denver, Commerce City: section 8, rentals)

[1ddkeith]

My wife and I are moving to the area sometime this month (January 2008) and I am simply OVERLOADED with information and it's all getting confusing... I am a pilot and will be flying from Denver International Airport. My wife usually works in the medical community doing front office or PTA. She will be looking for employement after we move, but doesn't want to limit our location to 'near hospitals', she is open to try other employement. We wish to rent a 2 or 3 bedroom, 1 or 2 bath something that's in a safe neighborhood for no more than $1000/mo. I am away 4 days of the week and that leaves her and our Chocolate Lab alone. I don't mind a long commute because I will only be going each way once a week. We love outdoor activities - mtn biking, backpacking, hiking, tennis, rock climbing...etc. I have even found cabins for rent further out 70 in the mountains but I am worried about accessability, I drive a 2wd Dodge pickup and my wife drives a Volvo... Another problem is that we have a lot of things (we currently own and have filled a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house), and may need storage, I was thinking of using the 3rd bedroom or garage to store excess. Thanks for any help.

[2bindenver]

If you are renting, consider Green Valley Ranch or Reunion, or any of the neighborhoods in Commerce City...then explore the area on your days off.

Most houses have basements, to store stuff, most mountain cabins are inaccessible at some point.

Sometime in the future, when you've settled down, you can buy a mountain cabin to spend your off time in.

[vegaspilgrim]

Driving from the mountains/foothills to the airport every single day will make your life a living hell-- especially whenever snow hits. Don't kid yourself, just as the infamous sign on I-70 says, "Truckers Don't be Fooled!" I agree with 2bindenver, start off by renting somewhere close and then explore from there.

[the3Ds]

Since you will be working out of DIA, I would suggest RENTING in Green Valley Ranch. Do not buy a house in the neighborhood, but it's great to be there until you can decide exactly where you want to settle down. Green Valley Ranch has a ton of rentals, but you do not want to live South of Green Valley Ranch Boulevard. That area is filled with Section 8 housing and a lot of crime. We live North of there and have found a better quality of houses and neighbors. Green Valley Ranch is actually considered to be on DIA property, so you won't find a place any closer for commuting. My husband works at DIA and it takes him about 15 minutes from our garage to the parking lot at work. Plus, the University of Colorado Hospital and the new Children's Hospital is about 15 minutes away, so your wife's commute would not be bad either, if she was interested in working there.

[dj32]

Stapleton would be fun for your wife when you are away, lots of activities she and the dog can walk to. I think GWV would feel isolated for her.