Returning to Front Range (Arvada, Littleton: houses, rent, jobs)

[bessiebitoh]

Hi:
My husband and I plan to return to the Front Range in about a year after a 7.5 year-absence. We have been living in a very tiny town in Northern Arizona, but need to return to the central Front Range due to family illness and need for proximity. Trying to get some unbiased opinions as to where to look (my family obviously thinks we should be closest to each of the different family sub-sets). When we lived up there we lived in Capital Hill, Wash Park, and Wheatridge. Now, having been "ruralized", we are looking more out of the cities and a little out onto the plaiins. We want semi-rural living, with a little land. We have simple needs, but also must be able to get to jobs!
That written--what feedback might we get on Parker, Franktown, Elizabeth, Peyton, etc.? Getting pricey? Is Parker Road and E-470 a total nightmare? We defintitely are not "cul-de-sac-homeowners-assoc" people. Are there still little houses with some land that still allow access to say, old town Castle Rock or southern Littleton?
We'd love to hear back from a more objective audience.....Thanks very much--the 2Bs

[2bindenver]

Parker, parts of Arvada, Bennett...might fit the bill.

[bessiebitoh]

Thanks very much!

[19Caroline72]

Parker is definately not the quiet area that it used to be. They're building houses, strip malls and roads everywhere. It's still a nice area but just not as rural as it was when you left. Have you thought about the northeast metro area toward Brighton? There are many new developments that direction that are less expensive than the southern suburbs and you may not feel as "crowded" up there.

[2bindenver]

Parks of Parker fit the bill. Of couse the main factor will be price/lot size. You can find rural parts all over Colorado.

Brighton has a fabulous Farmer's Market.

But at some point you may own farmland or your neighbor does, and one of you sells out to a developer...all those nice new shiny houses, and one lonely old house with a barn...