Ikea coming to Centennial. Questions about the area. (Denver, Aurora: sale, houses)

[Jake Gittes]

Decent sized yard....have to boot the kids outside, not like it was when I was a little kid. All of them are in organized sports.

With the price of gas, would be nice having grocery shopping, some restaurants, etc. close by. While not needing walking distance, would be nice not to have to drive 10 minutes.

I've read about some newer developments that have been hit by foreclosures. Are there new homes available for around $300k in the areas we are talking about?

Thanks....

[Jewels2008]

Good Luck with the move Jake! I just posted yesterday with similar questions and everyone online has been VERY helpful!
Is funny you mentioned about IKEA...I was just telling my husband the other night that before we move from Fort Worth, we will have to make a list and go to the Plano or Austin Ikea's before we move, since the closest is 8 hours away! Now we won't have to - Yeah!
Again, best of luck with the move!

[Jake Gittes]

Hey, thanks Jewels. Appreciate that. However......you're probably looking at 2 years before Ikea opens their doors in Colorado. Lots to do first!

May have to still make that trip to Plano (*Napoleon Dynamite voice* "Lucky!").

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Jake Gittes

"Well, I don't know a lot about the southern suburban schools. I would say, though, that there are many options for a school such as you describe."

Katiana...

We need to live close to Centennial. I'm reading about Cherry Creek, Littleton, and Douglas. What am I overlooking?

Someone more familiar with the southern suburbs will have to help you. There is also South Denver proper.

[2bindenver]

There are 11 on the market now. Who knows what the market will be like in 18 months to 2 years from now, except it will be differnt than today.

[Jake Gittes]

The main employees who will run the store will be in the area about 18 months before the store opens.

[2bindenver]

Wow, 18 month before hand - what are they doing? swinging a hammer? getting to know the locals?

[Moonwalkr]

Well, they are hiring mostly local, so I'm sure there's some training going on, but 18 months seem long to train. Maybe so you can soak up some of this intense sun before working.

I'm not sure if you can get a new construction in cherry creek school district with your needs such as yard for $300K, they tend to be older homes needing updates and even at $300K they're usually fixer-uppers. That said, I did see one home in our neighborhood for sale at $300K and it was pretty dated, but it did have a decent lot in a cul-de-sac. It's just steps away from Cottonwood Creek elementary (a good CCSD school) so it seems like a nice place to walk your kids to.

Parker may be less expensive but I'm not sure. Highlands Ranch is newer build but probably priced higher up, especially if you want yard.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by Jake Gittes

From my research, Littleton, Parker (Clark Farms, Stonegate, Pinery Glen - parks, trees, trails), and Southglenn sound the most promising. Any really cool neighborhoods in those areas, or that I'm missing, with trails, trees, etc.? I don't have a good handle on the school district for south Parker.

The house my family was going to purchase(one of the foreclosing banks backed out a few days before closing.. GRR!!) was in Pinery Glen. We visited the neighborhood and the schools.

Mtn View Elementary is K-3 and located across the road from Pinery Glen in the Pinery neighborhood(there were deer grazing on the field next to the school, which was cool). The staff and teachers were very nice and helpful on our visit.

Northeast Elementary is 4-6 and located up Parker Rd a block or two from the neighborhood.

I didn't check out the highschool and jr high, but they were rated well enough that I was okay with that. I believe the high school is very big into athletics as well

Honestly we loved the neighborhood. They seem to be very tightly knit and have a lot of neighborhood activities during things like Halloween, July 4, etc. I'm hoping that when our opportunity to move comes up again we can find a house there.

Anyways, good luck

[Jewels2008]

Thanks Jake! Yeah, but I don't think I will be getting up to Denver for at least another 6 months minimum....so...not so long a wait! Again...best of luck with the move!