Moving within reasonable daily commute to DIA (Denver, Aurora: real estate, 2015)

[HIMom79]

My family will be moving to Colorado from Hawaii next Summer. My husband will need to commute to work at DIA. We are looking for suggestions as to where we should be looking to live that is within an hour of DIA. It takes an hour or more to drive a mere 20 miles or less here during rush hour, so we'd like to avoid traffic like that if at all possible. I am looking for a single family home in a low crime area with great/highly rated school district for my children, that is easily accessible to shops and dining, as well as parks and recreation. We'd love a yard and would prefer to avoid HOA's, though if it's a great neighborhood we'd consider it. This will be our starter home that we will eventually try to rent out after few years, so to be on the safe side we'd like to keep our budget under $400K.

I hear Littleton has great school options, what's the commute to DIA during rush hour like?

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[mic111]

Look in north Thornton. He can take 470 (toll road) if his work pays for it. Otherwise there are a number of back street routes to DIA. Some of the elementary schools are very high rated. To get an non-HOA house you will have to buy an older home. The area around Eastlake is very nice and will eventually be walking distance to a rail stop so good rental income potential and good appreciation potential. The homes are in your price range. There is shopping nearby and parks with trails. Dining is mostly chain with some independent ethnic restaurants sprinkled around. Nearest mall is Orchard Town Center which is a very popular outdoor mall. Staying closer to I-25 will give you more shopping/dining options. East side starts to get a bit more just suburban housing.

Example home no HOA. Schools not bad but not great.
3007 E 131st Way, Thornton, CO 80241 | Zillow

Example home better elementary.
13127 Ash Ct, Thornton, CO 80241 | MLS #799585 | Zillow

[2bindenver]

The no HOA thing will betough. Draw a circle around DIA start with a 10 mile radius, then identity schools that meet your needs. If you have to expand your circle.

[maiamom]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

The no HOA thing will betough. Draw a circle around DIA start with a 10 mile radius, then identity schools that meet your needs. If you have to expand your circle.

I would avoid Green Valley Ranch although the school ratings would probably let you know that anyway.

[alloo66]

Stapleton would be great! Aurora in the Cherry Creek School District will also work for you. In Stapleton your husband can catch the A-Line to DIA. In Aurora, next year he can take the R-Line to Peoria Station then transfer to the A-line or Take the 169L

Hawaiian food can be purchased at Pacific Mercantile Market on 18th and Lawrence Downtown. Plate lunch at L&L in Aurora off of Alameda Pkwy. And Aloha Hawaiian BBQ in Thorton. Good luck with the move.

[Stevedore]

Sounds like we want the same things, we like Broomfield. Moving from CA. myself in the fall, and I'll be flying out of DIA 2 times a month to Los Angeles. Broomfield is very family friendly, close to both Boulder and Denver, and easy commute to DIA.

[Let's Go Here]

Take a look at Brighton. Schools are decent, and real estate prices are much more affordable than the rest of the metro area. If you can budget another $100/month to take E-470, the commute to DIA would only be an EASY 20-25 minutes.

I like the suggestion of Stapleton as well, although home prices in the area are pretty high and based on what a couple people have told me the HOAs are "ridiculous" in that area.

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by Let's Go Here

I like the suggestion of Stapleton as well, although home prices in the area are pretty high and based on what a couple people have told me the HOAs are "ridiculous" in that area.

For a budget of $400K, they would probably be looking at a paired home/duplex situation. The average price for a detached SFH in Stapleton is in the mid $500s or possibly even higher. The HOA is actually very reasonable for the amenities you get, only around $500 a year (at at least that's what we paid in 2015 when we moved away). If you live in certain limited areas, like a cluster of houses on a common courtyard, you pay slightly more. And the HOA itself is actually very hands off with respect to restrictions. Pretty much you must keep aligned with Denver City and County restrictions and that's it. Of course, it doesn't stop most of the houses in Stapleton from looking an awful lot alike.

The way they get you in Stapleton is through the fact that it's a special tax district and property taxes are about 35-40% higher than the rest of Denver. It also has this "transfer fee" that is paid by the seller whenever a home is sold. When we sold in 2015, it was something like $1,000.

OP mentioned wanting excellent schools where there is ECE at the Elementary level, and Stapleton does offer that, which is one of the reasons it's so appealing for families.

[Augie Daugie]

Stapleton is the obvious choice, but single detached start at about $400K (for an older detached KB with a basement). Green Valley Ranch is very close to the airport and the schools have made significant strides in the past few years, but still have a ways to go. Otherwise, perhaps the north suburbs like North Thornton or parts of Brighton or head south down 470 and look at SE Aurora in the Cherry Creek School District.

[TigerLily24]

I second the recommendation of (SE) Aurora.
It's a quick trip via E-470 and there are local street options as well.

Some of the neighborhoods have HOAs, some don't.
Mine doesn't.

Here's a listing in my area, under $400K, in the Cherry Creek School District:

3524 S Halifax Way, Aurora, CO 80013 | Zillow