Fort Collins vs. Loveland

[Woodenspoke]

Thanks for the clarification. Here in NJ we are next town from Princeton university. Not the same kind of student body so there are no social events associated with the place as far as I know (they study and if they party its a secret). We have a small town center and 2 minutes at 25mph will get you through it. 99% of the time we go somewhere else. Has gotten better over the last 6 years but still too small to really be anything; ever.

I guess I will see for myself when I get back there again, because I always Imagine a single street in a small town (watched too many movies) and I sort of sounds like it's not. Anyway the town was the least of our worries as downtown FC was close enough for my wifes need for a quaint walking area to spend a few hours in.

100K difference man I did not see that on the MLS listings I have been browsing. Maybe I missed some great deals. I was just figuring 25-30K difference in housing. I think though my main theory about Loveland was the malls are closer and that just makes those trips easier for my wife. Again I will have to do some goggle map viewing to see what stores we visit often are in the area.

I am still trying hard to sell off my house here before I spend some quality time there as a buyer, not easy to sell a home anywhere these days.
One plus to both city's there is you really can never get lost like which was is west? LOL

Thanks for the info and I hope that 100K figure was spot on because thats a big difference.

[sberdrow]

Loveland is great, especially the East side, there is alot of new shopping. It is a little closer to Denver if you work there. I like it because Fort Collins is right there, but I don't have to put up with a bunch of college kids. 20 years ago, I wouldnt think that way, it would be FC all the way. I lived in Eugene Oregon back then, a major university town, and loved it. Now I kind of like the family atmospher. Dont know why a small town of this size needs a super wallmart and a regular wallmart. Loveland could use a Hollywood Video store, but other than that, its seems to have everything. There is not much for sell here in loveland as far as houses, maybe that becuase folks want to stay, but what do I know (believe me I don't have a clue).

[silverfox0308]

I agree with everyone else. Loveland is a bit more small town than FTC. Sadly we are probably going to be moving to Grand Junction soon for hubby's job. I would disagree with Tom about the 100K price difference. Maybe he had one extra zero? I think there are tons of houses for sale near me but I am on the west side of town. The mall and I-25 are about 10-15 minutes away. Given a choice we'd stay in Loveland because we "love" it!

Jill

[Woodenspoke]

Well Loveland is no one horse town. Just a short drive up 34 made that clear. But the city center where the older stores are I have not seen.

I did some Goggle shopping searches and found just about every store we visit within the Loveland area even my 11 year olds stores are there. I think since our FC visit in Nov 2006 more stores have popped up.

10K sounds about right but as a buyer You want to get a good price so don't take that as everyone is out to get you if your selling. Unfortunately many homes are up for sale in both cities as far as I can see there are less FS signs in Loveland only because there are less homes over all than FC. As of one month ago it was a 9 month inventory meaning on average it takes 9 months to sell a home. If you are not selling you tend to not count all the FS signs. You tend to just pass them by like they were always there not realizing how many home are being sold. But people move for various reason, relocation, job loss change of life so its hard to pin a number like 900 homes available in Loveland on anything but normal patterns. Unlike Greeley Hum-mm. Sellers just got stuck in the same mess as every other state in the US no buyers.

While we are not against a large city we prefer less of one and a more neighborhood like feel. Denver has a lot to offer but for someone else. Great for an occasional meal or event but not a real draw for us. After 30 years in NYC and now NJ (which is more rural than you would expect) Loveland seems like the better of the two. We are moving simply because its much cheaper overall to live in Colorado (dont get me started on NJ taxes). We looked at several places but settled on the FC area as it had what we needed.

I wonder why no one ever says its near Boulder, I kind of figured that would be a better destination for a meal? Maybe too high priced?