Likely moving COS (best area's to live)? (elementary school, teacher)

[maryemab]

Hello. We are considering a move to COS and have heard the Academy area is a good, safe area. The posts you all have made have been very helpful, as we are still learning about COS. We have two young daughters and would like some culture, safety, good school (love the info about D12), moderately (+) conservative,with friendly people. Both areas sound good, with Skyward being more in our budget. Is Academy a separate area or within the skyward area? Thanks!

[Kit624]

Originally Posted by Carrera32

My experience with a number of moves over a lot of years is that there are usually pretty good reasons why some neighborhoods are more expensive and therefore exact a premium than others. That's why I always try to provide some of the reasons I chose to live in my neighborhood (Old North End) when I recommend it to others in this forum. For us, the proximity to downtown and the college, the eclectic collection of older homes, the multitude of mature trees, the wide, quiet streets, and the more more moderate political attitudes, among other things, account for the 'premium' you pay to live here. It was worth it to us. My preferences will certainly differ from others. I've come to truly understand and appreciate the old maxim of real estate (location, location, location). I've lived in the exurbs to a major meto area, where i got a lot of house for my money, but also had traffic, long commutes, less desirable schools, etc. Result: less enjoyable experience. When I found and lived in highly desirable neighborhoods, I had to compromise either the size of the house for the money, or pay more for the privilege. In every case, the tradeoff was worth it. Bottom line, I've found that you usually get what you pay for.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but what zip codes are these that you are talking about? We are also trying to find a place to live. Thanks! Also I rely on good schools for my business with strong music programs. Which schools/zip codes would these be?

Also, people have to be able to get to it. Even in winter. I teach out of my house and I can't have my income going down because of snow.

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by maryemab

Hello. We are considering a move to COS and have heard the Academy area is a good, safe area. The posts you all have made have been very helpful, as we are still learning about COS. We have two young daughters and would like some culture, safety, good school (love the info about D12), moderately (+) conservative,with friendly people. Both areas sound good, with Skyward being more in our budget. Is Academy a separate area or within the skyward area? Thanks!

Academy is the main North/South Corridor that spans the entire city (nearly) It's a road, not an area. Personally, I don't think I'd ever live any further south than Austin Bluffs/Academy.

[DoubleIPA]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

Are house prices going down in Colorado Springs?

In the Skyland, Broadmoor and Old Town they seem to have gone down a little, but not much. I have actually seen a few prices go up recently, but you will also see a few foreclosures. I don't t think cos has been affected by the housing crunch as much as other area's in the US. I may be wrong, but when I looked at houses a couple years ago, the prices are generally the same, but slightly lower.

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by DoubleIPA

In the Skyland, Broadmoor and Old Town they seem to have gone down a little, but not much. I have actually seen a few prices go up recently, but you will also see a few foreclosures. I don't t think cos has been affected by the housing crunch as much as other area's in the US. I may be wrong, but when I looked at houses a couple years ago, the prices are generally the same, but slightly lower.

It's Skyway, not skyland. Old Town and Broadmoor, are, well, old, as the name implies. But the Broadmoor area is VERY nice and filled with older multi million dollar houses, and is generally safe, clean, and close to lots of shopping in the southgate area. I lived in an apt complex off westmeadow drive and highway 115, and it was great. Lots of military (if that's your thing) and well kept. And close to downtown.

I would reccomend looking in the Rockrimmon and Briargate areas as well, there's alot of affordable housing up that way that's still relatively new (70's and 80's houses) Rockrimmon is 80919, and Briargate is 80920 and a small part of 80918

[Carrera32]

Kit - the zip for Old North End is 80907. The area generally designated as Broadmoor (lots of different types of developments, from old money mansions to wannabe sub-developments is 80906. All very nice homes and fairly expensive (when we were looking last year, the entry point for a move-in ready no-issues suburban home in lower elevations in Broadmoor Hills was about 425K. Possibly a bit lower now). Lower prices (300s) as you head south toward Carson, more (in some areas a lot more) as you gain elevation. There are also some nice looking condo/townhome communities in these neighborhoods. I believe Skyway is also 80906. Rockrimmon is 80919.

If you're looking to find clients for music lessons, I would think you'd be in good shape in any of these areas.

Note: these price points are just what we found while we were looking over the past three years and they were based on properties we were interested in (i.e., SFH, approx 2600-3200 sq ft, 2-car garage, nice kept up neighborhoods, etc.), so they may be a bit out of date. Check the listings in PPAR and Realtor.com for more up-to-date prices for homes that meet your particular needs. Also, we bought, so can't speak to rents.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by maryemab

Hello. We are considering a move to COS and have heard the Academy area is a good, safe area. The posts you all have made have been very helpful, as we are still learning about COS. We have two young daughters and would like some culture, safety, good school (love the info about D12), moderately (+) conservative,with friendly people. Both areas sound good, with Skyward being more in our budget. Is Academy a separate area or within the skyward area? Thanks!

Mary, in addition to Academy Blvd that essentially runs all the way through the city, north-south, there is also the Academy School District, aka D20, on the north end of town, across the valley from the USAF Academy, hence the name.

Both D12 and D20 have great schools and both are safe areas, as is D38, D8 and most of D11. Lots to choose from here. We usually recommend renting a year before plunking down the bucks for a home, as that year will be one where you learn all about the town and can find what really appeals to you. Find rentals with padmapper.com or ppar.com both of which are map-based searches.

[DoubleIPA]

Well, I bought a house in Skyway last week. So for those of you in Skyway, I will be your new neighbor. Thank you everyone for all your comments and help, it made a big difference.

If you're one of those who runs or cycles on Gold Camp Road, perhaps we'll bump into each other some day.

Cheers!

Peter

[smdensbcs]

Originally Posted by DoubleIPA

Well, I bought a house in Skyway last week. So for those of you in Skyway, I will be your new neighbor.

[froggin4colorado]

I like Skyway, I have a great teacher friend who works at the elementary school. Yay you!