soon to be transplanted? (Denver, Aurora: middle-class, apartment complex, to rent)

[blackandgeauxld]

hello all. 1st off i love this forum. it has a wealth of info that just goes on and on and on. i have learned so much already. my custom post is this: my family and i (myself-nurse, wife-kindergarten teacher, 5 year old daughter and 8 year old son) may be moving from baton rouge, la to the denver area. i would be working at the denver va hospital and my wife hopes to get a teaching gig in the denver school district. obviously money is an issue for us. we are looking for an area that is family-friendly, has great schools but isn't too far from the va hospital area. (30-45 minute one-way commute) we would rent for the 1st 6mo. and hopefully buy in the 200-250k range. we are Christians and hope to find a great baptist church. we have already noticed highlands ranch, castle rock and littleton as being sought-after areas but worry about commute times in traffic. we don't mind older homes or cookie-cutters. we do worry about the ease of making friends (we come from the land of southern hospitaliy) any and all info is much appreciated.

[Mike from back east]

Much of Denver and its metro area is your oyster. Tons to choose from. Tell us where the VA hospital is located in the Denver area so we don't have to look it up, though some of our regulars will already know.

You're going to love Colorado.

[blackandgeauxld]

1055 Clermont Street

[Dorthy]

Southeast Aurora.

[2bindenver]

The VA hospital is moving

It's official: VA to build hospital at Fitzsimons - The Denver Post

I'd look to eastern/southeastern Denver neighborhoods for starters.

[Jerry Bckr]

People are friendly here, but it's a little different than the deep south. I would stay in Littleton, east or south east Denver. Since you're going to rent, you'll have lots of time to check out the options. I would stay away from Castle Rock because of the problem much of Douglas County is going to have in the future as their water source dries up. Highlands Ranch is OK. Google Douglas County water supplies and that will get you started.

Your wife may a have a problem getting a job as kinder garten teachers are pretty plentiful, as what I hear. If she had a speciality in some type of special needs program, it would be easier for her.

[blackandgeauxld]

can you recommend a family-friendly apartment complex in littleton? we looked at palomino park online (hr) but we would prefer littleton's school district

[Brian_M]

My wife interviewed for a job at the VA too (turned it down for a few reasons, but not on the nursing side of things). Anyway, when we were looking for housing based on working there we found the Jewel Heights/Hoffman Heights neighborhood directly south of Fitzsimons. It *is* a mixed ethnic area, brick ranch homes, seemed to be about 50:50 retired white folks (probably original home owners) and younger ethnic families (Hispanic and some Asian). We walked our dog around there 5 different days at all times of day and night and thought it would be a great place to live. House prices are Very reasonable right now, and that whole Fitzsimons area is in the process of being 'refurbished'.

The one thing we didn't look into or care about were schools.

Just keep in mind that there are LOTS of pockets of great homes in Denver that aren't well known, if known at all, by the people on these forums. Don't do yourself the disservice of putting on blinders and looking at Only specific places while excluding all other possibilities.

Brian

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by blackandgeauxld

we are looking for an area that is family-friendly, has great schools but isn't too far from the va hospital area. (30-45 minute one-way commute) we would rent for the 1st 6mo. and hopefully buy in the 200-250k range. we are Christians and hope to find a great baptist church. we don't mind older homes or cookie-cutters. we do worry about the ease of making friends (we come from the land of southern hospitaliy) any and all info is much appreciated.

We are in SE Aurora/Centennial. The VA hospital in it's current location isn't far from us and the new location (near UCH) isn't more than 30 minutes taking the backroads. I had my daughter last year at UCH and the drive to and from the hospital was nothing. I love the neighborhood and surrounding area, a decent house (4 bedrooms) is in your price-range, it's in an awesome school district (Cherry Creek...considered one of the best in the state) and there is a great Baptist Church right on Smoky Hill Rd.

Take a look at our area...my neighborhood is called Saddle Rock Ridge, but I cannot fault any neighborhoods anywhere around here, though the price of homes increases in Centennial. If you look at a map, we're right off the E-470 and Smoky Hill Rd. Lots to chose from, total suburbia (meaning most people are pretty nice and especially so if you have kids), great schools, low crime, middle-class neighborhood and homes, convenient to shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, etc.

If you have any questions, you can send me a DM.