ideas about Ft Collins (Denver, Fort Collins: apartment complexes, rentals, house)

[sillygal]

I would surely like to try living in Ft Collins, even if I fail I would like to experience life as we know it to be there. There looks like a few places that I could probably rent, but I would be squeezing by with finances, of course nowadays everyone is ha? Did anyone/or does anyone have any ideas as to how I can commence to live there, on a meager salary. I have thought about a roommate but I had lived on my own for so long and being close to retirement age I would use this as my last hope, alternative. I am sure there are people on here that have moved there and are surviving. Are there places that rent out rooms? or places that are relatively cheap to start out with, sort of like the Y for instance. Employment will not be a factor in this at all. Any ideas from people that have made it there?
Another idea I have thought of was to rent a somewhat not so nice apt in Loveland with a management company or find something in Greeley that is acceptable until I can move to Ft. Collins area. I am still hoping with the housing crunch that I may be able to get a house there, for lower than usual and I need to take advantage of it.
Thank you for any and all ideas.

[tfox]

Given your need to save money, it seems to me that shared accommodation should be something you should seriously consider. While it's true that in a college-oriented town like Fort Collins that many of the shares will be college age people , there are nonetheless a number of more mature adults renting that would likely have a strong preference for sharing their house with someone in their general age bracket. Remember, you don't necessarily have to live in a shared house forever.

As you know, Loveland in particular has a number of retirees, so that might be a good alternative to look at, though my thinking is that if you plan on spending your time in Fort Collins you should try to live in Fort Collins. As for Greeley, IMO it's much too far away from Fort Collins to be considered as a practical alternative, though Windsor, another town in the area is probably another good alternative to look at.

If you're not interested in sharing, Fort Collins and all of Northern Colorado is relatively cheap in its selection of rentals, particularly compared to Metro Denver or Boulder, so you I would think that there would be some more affordable options, though I understand that to someone with minimal income "relatively cheaper" is small consolation.

If you're income is demonstratively small (and you can prove it by showing your past tax returns), the city of Fort Collins has been fairly progressive about setting up affordable housing programs (basically, we're talking about rent control). How this works is that a number of the apartment complexes are required to offer below-market-rate units for lower-income and elderly residents. I actually looked into this for a friend of mine when I lived back in Fort Collins. Many of these units are actually in the glitzy newer (read: overpriced) apartment complexes. "Poor" college students from CSU are generally NOT the type of candidate they're looking for these units, so I've heard that sometimes finding qualified tenants for such units is not as easy for the complexes as you'd think. It might be just what you're looking for, though shared accommodation is still going to be cheaper.

[livecontent]

You should really start by contacting the local Public Housing Authority which will give you all the information that tfox has mentioned:

Fort Collins
Phone: (970)416-2910
Fax: (970)221-0821 1715 W Mountain Avenue
Fort Collins CO 80521

Greeley
Phone: (970)353-7437
Fax: (970)353-7463
11th
Greeley CO 80631

Information at:

PHA Contact Information - CO - HUD

As you can see there is an office in most municipalities. This is the type of housing that will fit your needs and budget and are funded by HUD.

Homes and Communities - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Please do not be ashamed to contact these agencies; they can be a good help and are there for elderly Americans.

If would be helpful if you read this section on help for renters:

http://www.hud.gov/renting/index.cfm

Livecontent

[montanafarrier]

Sillygal,
If i was you, i'd think more along the lines of Cheyene Wy., and then think about Fort Collins over time.
It's only a hoot and a holler away.
Forget about Greely. You won't like it.