Wheat Ridge? (Denver, Aurora, Arvada: rent, house, transfer)

[TJC32]

I'm trying to gather some information on living in Wheat Ridge. My wife and I have a young (almost 2) son and are expecting another early next year and have considered looking at buying in Wheat Ridge because it is pretty close to where I work (LoDo). However, since we've been looking we've having a hard time finding any good information on living in Wheat Ridge.

If not Wheat Ridge, does anyone have any ideas of where would be a good place to look? We're looking for a place that is generally pretty safe and quiet. We also don't want to buy a hole-in-the wall but don't mind putting a little work into an older home. We'd like to keep our purchase price around $200k - $220k, assuming we'll probably have to invest in some upgrades along the way. We currently rent in the Observatory Park area and really like the feel of the neighborhood (the new $1 mil homes don't hurt): mature landscape, front yards, ally parking, lots of parks, good schools, grocery shopping isn't too far, etc. We really don't want to live too far away from LoDo and would prefer to stay away from the newer 0-lot homes. We've checked out Englewood on both sides of Broadway south of Hampden and didn't like those neighborhoods. We're pretty familiar with the areas south of downtown but could really use some insight into the areas north of the city. Any help would be great.

[livecontent]

I like Wheat Ridge and think there are many places to look. For your budget and to get into some nice safe, established neighborhoods I would look in zip code 80033. I would seek homes that are near the Wheat Ridge Green Belt. You will find many homes on the Southside of West 44th between Prospect Park and Anderson Park which access the Green Belt. In addition, I would look at home along West 38th on the north Side which would border this green belt. In these areas you will find homes within your budget interpersed with more expensive homes. The Green Belt is one of the thickest wooded parks in the metro Area. It extends from Youngfield to Wadsworth and it passes one of the newest and nicest recreation center on Kipling, the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. That would also be a nice place to look, near this center along Kipling.

Applewood is one of my favorite areas along Youngfield with good shopping and a bus transfer station. However, you may not find homes close in this area in your budget as this is a very prestigious and expensive neighborhood. There are good priced homes south of the Cemetary on West 26th and north of the cemetary on West 32nd. All these areas are very nice. Last Week I drove down West 26th and I was impressed by some of the homes near the Sons of Italy Hall. Wheat Ridge has a big Italian ethnic communtiy which grew out from the North Denver enclave.

I also like West 38th just west of Sheridan, Past Wadsworth. You have good shopping, Access the Lutheran Medical Center, expanding small business being positively effected by the gentrifcation along 38th and good bus service.

There has been some interest in the small municipality of Mountain View which is just south of Lakeside, bordering Sheridan. That is because the northwest side of Denver has become the new "in" gentrification area and some people have been looking west of Sheridan in Mountain View, Edgewater, Wheat Ridge.

You are wise to choose Wheat Ridge, if you are working in Lodo as the streets, that run West to East, have good bus service that start in Applewood and end in Downtown. Best Buses to go downtown are Route 44 and Route 38.

Livecontent

[vegaspilgrim]

I'd also investigate Aurora-- there are many at least halfway decent parts of Aurora where you could find a fixer-upper in that range.

[Mr. Answers]

Woooooo!! Wheat Ridge High School REPRESENT, yo!

I'd look around 32nd east of Wadsworth. The area closer to the Highlands area of Denver is becoming quite desirable. You'll find a decent house in a nice neighborhood in your price range. The schools are absolutely terrible, though. You'll definitely want to open-enroll your kids somewhere else.

[WilliamPacker]

I like Wheat Ridge but I think it is fairly comparable to Englewood. You can definitely get a fixer upper in either area for what you are looking at. My buddy just bought a non-fixer 3 bedroom in WR that backs up to the trail for what your price range is.

[TJC32]

Thanks everyone for the feedback! It will definitely help with our house hunt.

[wankel7]

Don't forget about Arvada on the other side of 70

Light rail will be coming through there so that could make a future commute easier.

I have been using www.cohomefinder.com for home searching. Combine that with the Jeffco property appraisal website Property appraisal system you have some good tools.

Good luck!