Details on Aurora please. (Denver, Highlands Ranch: for sale, apartment complex, houses)

[amb]

I've noticed people saying that south Aurora can be nice, but to stay away from north Aurora. Can somebody please fill me in on where that cutoff is? For instance what about the area bordered by E. Quincy, E. Smoky Hill, S. Parker, and S. Gun Club Rd? Thanks in advance.

Oops it looks like that may also include parts of Centennial, no matter I'm still interested in hearing what people have to say about that area.

[a42887]

Thats pretty much my old 'hood. Overall decently nice houses, definitely out of the trouble areas, although much of the nicer housing is in Centennial (if you're searching MLS) and a lot of the older is in Aurora. I know its hard to know where the lines start and end, but as an overall thing. It's almost like Centennial's city limits are lines around the nicer areas.

BillRadio should be able to chip in some experience in the area as well...

[Katarina Witt]

I don't know Aurora well, but as for bad areas, you'll know them when you see them. This is true of any community.

[amb]

Yes, thanks for that bit of advice, I'm sure I will know when I go there. However, I am looking online trying to narrow down the area I want to be, and it's very hard to tell what the area is like over the internet.

[Katarina Witt]

I hear ya. You could get a general idea from price, the lower the price, the more likely the place is to be a bit sketch. As I said, that's just a generality. I will defer to the folks who know more about Aurora than me. Why Aurora, just curious.

[amb]

We have been looking at homes for sale online and the area I listed and one other area are where most of the homes were interested in have come up.

The other area is an area of Littleton west of Highlands Ranch, so if anyone has anything to say about that area I'd love to hear it.

[BillRadio]

Anywhere south of Illiff av. is noticably 'safer' than other areas. The farther south, the newer the neighborhoods. If you look at zip code 80016, you'll find nice homes in Aurora, Centennial and unincorporated Arapahoe County, and Cherry Creek Schools...among the best (good for resale if you don't have kids).

Beyond that, you need to determine what kind of neighborhood you like. From 1 to 2 acre lots, farm-like homes, tracts with new, unique homes, or even lots with trees (not many trees are native to areas under 6000').

That area of Littleton west of Highlands Ranch, if it's north of C-470, is very cool. Many nice houses near the Highline Canal, the area's premiere hiking trail, connecting several parks. If it's south of C-470, it's identical to Highlands Ranch. Both areas have homes with dramatic views of the foothills.

A42887, where was your old neighborhood? They're building faster than the cellular carriers can keep up.

[ColoradoPro]

I for one am a huge fan of Aurora now that I have lived here. I have actually lived in a couple different parts of Aurora, and I can tell you I love it. I used to do some door to door sales, and I can tell you from foot-to-pavement face to face experience, I would much rather live in ANY Aurora neighborhood over downtown Denver, that's for sure.

Don't get too caught up in the whole Centennial / vs Aurora debate - it's all just a technicality - I write my address sometimes as Aurora and sometimes as Centennial, and I've checked with the post office and both are technically correct.

But as for the area, I love it, and don't let what anyone else says ding it. There are bad neighborhoods all across the country, Aurora is in no way shape or form a "bad neighborhood", you just have to check out the area first and see if you feel comfortable with it. I think the reason it has a "bad reputation" is because ethnically, there is a higher population of African American / Mexican Americans living in the area, but I would say it is because they are smart and know that housing is cheaper out here. As an example, I live in a "corporate" owned apartment complex, but the interesting part is that we used to live in Greenwood Village in a complex owned by the same company, yet when we moved here, there was a $400 per month price difference for the SAME size apartment. If you like to save money / find a great home for a great price, Aurora / Parker / Centennial are your best bets.