Is Denver for me? If so, where? (Boulder, Thornton: for sale, apartments)

[Moonwalkr]

I like the Stapleton area but if you don't like mingling with neighbors and need space, this is probably not the best spot for you. Near CC reservoir there are housing options and you can certainly rent near the area if you like to get acclimated and find your perfect home (can be pricey for your acre here). We live in this area, in Cherry Creek School district, and it's a trek to the mountains from here. Not sure about teaching positions, but CCSD just started to build a science and tech school, and it's a growing district compared to neighboring districts despite the cuts in funding from the state. As another poster said, get all your certifications squared away so when it comes time for applying she will be a step ahead of other applicants.

[80skeys]

You can get a country environment in Littleton. In fact parts of Littleton are in the mountains/foothills and you can have as much privacy and space you need there.

[soulrebel]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

We don't know how much you want to spend.

Well we would be renting in the beginning, but I would expect to pay $1,000-$1,300 per month. I don't want to suggest a home purchase price as I'm too unfamiliar with the market. We currently live in a home of approximately $250K, but that's definitely more house here in NC than in CO. We would probably be looking in the $300K range.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by soulrebel

Well we would be renting in the beginning, but I would expect to pay $1,000-$1,300 per month. I don't want to suggest a home purchase price as I'm too unfamiliar with the market. We currently live in a home of approximately $250K, but that's definitely more house here in NC than in CO. We would probably be looking in the $300K range.

Thanks for the advice guys.

$1000-$1300/mo doesn't go very far here rent-wise. I used to pay $1259/mo for a big house (IMO, 2200 sq ft) on a big lot (9000 sq ft) in what some people call a ghetto/marginal neighborhood (Central Aurora) with terrible schools (though I liked it, except the school part).

Other examples:
$969 for a 3/2 apartment in South Aurora
$775 for a 2/2 apartment in SE Denver.

Craigslist can give you some other examples (after you weed out the scams of course), but $1300 doesn't go very far here.

For $300K, an acre, and work on the east side of Denver near Stapleton, you are looking at the plains. I see some in Hudson (long commute), Bennett (not quite as bad), Brighton (sounds like a good fit), and you might see some with Henderson, Thornton, or Commerce City addresses, or other plains towns down I-70 eastward, or up I-76. Places like Parker, Elizabeth, Evergreen, Conifer, etc, are simply too far.

However, by living on the plains, you won't be getting "True Colorado" as you probably imagine it. It will look like western NE or KS, but you'll see some mountains off in the distance. Just something to keep in mind.

Just because you are "used to a 30-45 min" commute in Charlotte, doesn't mean you have to do that to yourself here. Heck, on some snowy days it can take 1.5 hours to go 5 miles (or less). You don't need to set yourself up for that, it happens often enough that it's something you don't want to overlook.

[soulrebel]

Great info and good points. I appreciate the perspective on the commute; we'll try to keep it a little more reasonable for those bad weather days.

However, by living on the plains, you won't be getting "True Colorado" as you probably imagine it. It will look like western NE or KS, but you'll see some mountains off in the distance. Just something to keep in mind.

This is a great point and something that we are just coming to realize. We picture Golden and the like when we picture Colorado. Reality can be rough somtimes.

Brighton, Henderson, Thornton, Broomsfield. Anyone have opinions about these areas relative to each other and Denver?

Thanks again for all of the help. We are going to have to make a decision soon. Hopefully we'll be neighbors before the end of the summer!

Have a great weekend.

[choosing78]

We moved here with the hope of having the big land/backyard but ended up in Broomfield. I think once you're here you realize that there's trails and open space everywhere so you stop caring about having the large lot. I love our location. 20 min to Denver, 15 to Boulder (at non peak times). It's a good location for working in either. Brighton's pretty affordable, you seem to get a lot of house for the money.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by choosing78

We moved here with the hope of having the big land/backyard but ended up in Broomfield. I think once you're here you realize that there's trails and open space everywhere so you stop caring about having the large lot. I love our location. 20 min to Denver, 15 to Boulder (at non peak times). It's a good location for working in either. Brighton's pretty affordable, you seem to get a lot of house for the money.

I like Broomfield, have no experience with the others. As the above poster said, there are trails everywhere. A large(ish) lot was important to us when we moved here b/c we like to garden, have an above-ground pool, play croquet, grill, etc. My kids did gymnastics for Broomfield High School; there seems to be a good sense of community there.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by soulrebel

Brighton, Henderson, Thornton, Broomsfield. Anyone have opinions about these areas relative to each other and Denver?

Broomfield is kind of the oddball out of this list. It's nice, but IMO you don't get as much for your money as you would in many other metro cities. The commute to Stapleton might be a little unnecessarily long (more time-wise) as well.

When I mentioned Brighton, Henderson and Thornton, I wasn't really referring to the cities themselves, but more to unincorporated areas with each city's address. Like Riverdale Rd as a guideline and north and eastward from there. Much of it has a country feeling, but there are some suburban communities here and there.

[bbandy]

CJ,
You did not mention your price point, but an acre of land close to the city can get pricey. For your location, south of the Brighton area might make sense as there are acreage lots there. In real estate, the trade offs are price, location, features.

[mariafraietta]

I am a teacher and realtor in Denver. I'd suggest somewhere north, like Louisville or Lafayette. They have a few hip areas as well as neighborhoods with good-sized yards and trees. The commute to the Stapleton area would be a LOT easier than from down south. CC State Park is nice, but depending on your price range most likely doesn't really offer what you're looking for in a home.

Also, if you were a bit further north, your wife would have access to school districts up north that often struggle to find teachers (Brighton, etc.). And, I believe that Boulder Valley schools are not downsizing next year!!