Smart growth type neighborhoods- lowest cost homes (Denver, Arvada: rentals, HOA)

[thespot273]

Hello-
I will be living in Denver half the year (summer/fall) and Austin the other half. My job requires that I either do this or move to Denver/Boulder area full time. I will likely move to Denver full time in a few years.

I have been looking for a neighborhood to live in. It is most important to me that the neighborhood is mixed use/walkable/urban. I will be driving all the time for work, so I don't want to live somewhere where I have to drive to get every little thing.
Next in the rank of importance is proximity to the airport (not outrageous far, since I will be there often). No kids but will have some in the next few years. Space is not too important, and I don't care if it has a yard.
And- NO BARKING DOGS- this sounds dumb until you live where there are 10+ dogs in yards touching yours- and they all live outside and bark all day/night. It is horrible.

I have found several great places (like Lowery/Highlands/Stapleton/ Bradburn), but some are very expensive. Does anyone know which are least costly? Are there other area of the city that are like this but older or cheaper??? Under $200,000 is best, but I am doubting this is possible. Around $200,000 is acceptable.

I will have to rent for a little while, so if the neighborhood offers both rentals and homes/condos/townhouses, it will be best. This way I won't have to lose all the friends I make by having to leave.

Thanks so much!
Stacey

[bhcompy]

the little i know from my research seems to point to the newer areas around the airport.. brighton and such.. commerce city would match your price point too

[yodi]

I think Stapleton would be your best bet as it's close to the airport and meets all of your other criteria. I'd imagine you could buy a condo for your price range but not a house.

[Bradburn1]

This touches on a big problem with smart growth neighborhoods--affordability. People want to live in these places and demand is so high it runs the prices up. I know there are townhomes/condos in Stapleton under 200, BUT only if you qualify for affordable housing (which means you cannot earn more than 50K per year). I would look at Stapleton, but honestly not all of the homes really are in walking distance to the city centers (I would guestimate about 50% are in 10-15 minutes walking range). This is simply because Stapleton is so, so large. But it is a great neighborhood and a close drive to the airport.

I live in Bradburn, and there are some townhomes in the low to mid 200s (which are super cute) and you can get some good deals right now because the market is so awful. It is farther from the airport (40 minute drive) than Stapleton but is a great place for kids and very few/no barking dogs (I HATE them too!--our HOA takes care of it swiftly if there is a problem and so does the city). They are going to put in either single family or townhomes in the 200 range but again, they are part of an affordable housing program and I'm not sure when that will happen.

There are rentals in both Bradburn and Stapleton, so I would have a look at those.

The older neighborhoods in Denver that have the walkability aspect are usually all pretty spendy (that ole supply and demand thing) but I would still have a look around Washington Park, the Highlands, and Cheesman Park. There are others, but they are a bit far from the airport.

[Katiana]

Actually, most of the Denver city neighborhoods are walkable for some things, anyway. Most have a little shopping area with restaurants, bookstores, things like that. Most are accessible to parks. As far as airport accessibility, any of the east Denver neighborhoods will be fine.

[Bradburn1]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Actually, most of the Denver city neighborhoods are walkable for some things, anyway.

Very true! A recent study listed Denver as the 4th most walkable city

D.C. region named most 'walkable' - Life - MSNBC.com

[tfox]

Originally Posted by thespot273

I have found several great places (like Lowery/Highlands/Stapleton/ Bradburn), but some are very expensive. Does anyone know which are least costly? Are there other area of the city that are like this but older or cheaper??? Under $200,000 is best, but I am doubting this is possible. Around $200,000 is acceptable.

Frankly, 200k budget in a walkable area means condo. You might be able to get a SFH in the 'burbs for that price, no way in the city. Anyway, if you're okay with a condo, I'd look in Cheesman Park. Very walkable neighborhood, and you can easily find a 2br/2ba place for under 200k there, though you could pay a lot more if you wanted to. Plenty of rentals there as well.

[Katiana]

You might be able to find a $200K home in Longmont, the older parts of Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Englewood, etc, that would be in walkable neighborhoods of some sort.

[steveindenver]

You might be able to get a rental with that budget; but a home with the requirements above is going to be almost impossible.

[denverian]

You might find a 1 bdr. condo in Stapleton for $200K. I think low 200s is the starting rate for most condos here. The townhomes start around $300K, but very nice.