Questions for Newer Transplants to Castle Rock

[Good Red Road]

There are some great areas out here. CR would not be my first choice.

[rtloucks]

Check out "the meadows" we almost love to castle rock in 2012 as well, but decided to go back to charlotte instead. Have kind of regretted it ever since but that's a whole long separate story. Like you we have noticed the housing spike. We actually have beautiful hole under contract there at a price we thought was on the high side of what it should have been. Now that same house would be 50k more easily. We are actually considering moong out there still but are trying to decide now between there and going back home to minneapolis or a totally new adventure to phoenix. So I won't bore you with our situation - I'll just give you my thoughts on the area from when I was there last April.

I was completely turned off at first by Denver , but when I was in Castle rock I was completely in awe. I loved The Meadows community most because it was a larger community that gave me a sense of connection that most people lack when living in a small town or suburb. I felt like it have us the best chance to meet people of we lived in such a large sprawling beautiful community. What I like most about it was that there are sidewalks, not just to the houses but all along the parkways so you can safely ride your bikes or walk with your children to stores, movies or out to eat because there is a late shopping area right outside the neighborhood. Sometimes we take for granted how nice it is to be able to access things in other ways than in a car. I loved in a large beautiful community in Charkotte NC called Highland creek that was te crown jewel of the area, problem was that you couldn't walk anywhere but in th neighborhood. Walking to a grocery store meant walking down the shoulder of a one lane commuter highway filled with trucks and semis so imagine having to walk a couple of miles I fear of getting hit by someone.

Castle rock is just beautiful. Slower, scenic and I like to refer to it as a hallmark town like you see in the movies. It has some wonderful parts and more wonderful things in the works. I didn't get caught up in th traffic so I can't speak on that. I just noticed that it took forever to get anywhere in the whole denver area.

I wouldn't read to much into other people's negative feedback about the schools. It seems like the only people that complain are those that think their children deserve more attention that the others, as if thy pay more to be there or something. Special need education is a problem at every single school in america, not just Castle Rock

From what I have read and heard frm people, the schools area wonderful and I would love to have my sons enrolled there right now. Even over Fairfax County Va schools which rank high every year.

Don't be scared off. You have stuck with it this long. Follow your gut, trust in the people on this site that offer you good advice. Consider the links and informations they share, do a little more research of your own. Call the schools an talk with the adminstration to get a feel of people. Ignore te nagativity if it sounds like whining.

Other things I did notice that may or may not matter though.
Things are a little more expensive there. Not so much in real estate taxes but tmjust every day activities at the tourism spots, every day goods and services, mechanics, groceries, etc. It all adds up later but shou do stop you from living there. Just something to consider when you plan your budgets.

Enjoy your adventure and I hope it works out well for you all!