Retirement choices

[Arrby]

These are all from the Colorado Springs forum:
//www.city-data.com/forum/color...-monument.html
//www.city-data.com/forum/color...light=monument
//www.city-data.com/forum/color...-monument.html

[MrsMac]

Originally Posted by wowhunter

I haven't seen much info on Monument, CO in the forums (except a thread on spiders). Anyone have any information on that area?

Thanks!

We're looking at buying a house next year (my husband retired from the military 6 months ago and we love it here so we've decided to settle down at long last) and Monument is our #1 choice. We like the feel of Monument: mountain views, space between the houses (how much depends on what you prefer; there are housing areas with huge lots and others with small yards), a small town feel with a sense of community yet access to COS and all its amenities. The school district is one of the best in the state (not important in your case but it sure helps when it comes to resale). Temperatures are a bit cooler than those in COS and Monument gets more snow in winter (though we live in Falcon so we are used to more snow - and howling winds) but its beautiful and my husband can work at home when he isn't travelling so he doesn't have to worry about commuting every day during the winter. Monument is also a bit closer to Denver and its environs (my favourite mall, Park Meadows, is only 30 minutes from Monument).

Downtown Monument is charming and home to lots of small locally owned businesses (we love the Wisdom Tea House) and for generic shopping there's a Walmart, King Soopers and Safeway. Target, Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, and other great stores and restaurants are only 10 miles away as well.

[wowhunter]

I've read a lot in the forums about the CS roads and traffic. I used to travel quite a bit and one thing that I found was that one's perception of traffic is very relative to what you are used to (LA, Inland Empire and OC in my case). I spend 2+ hours everyday going back and forth to work (30 miles each way) but because I can remember when it took me 3-4 hours per day, it doesn't seem so bad now. My wife on the other hand, who drives 5 minutes to work however, would die by comparison.

To help me get some perspective, what kind of travel times might we run into going from either Woodland Park or the Monument/Woodmor areas into CS?

[Arrby]

The main I25 exit into Monument is mile 161. I guess the first exit for Colorado Springs proper is mile 153. So really the more interesting question is from where in Monument to where in the Springs. Absent some major traffic tie-up from construction or an accident you should be able to get from anywhere in Monument to the airport in an hour and sometimes less. From Monument to the major shopping district at Woodman and N. Academy, perhaps 30 minutes.

Woodland Park to I-25 at US24 in Colorado Springs is almost always five minutes one side or the other of 30 minutes. Certainly weather can play a factor. I think my slowest time involved following the snow plows about 1/2 way up during a fairly brisk snowstorm and it was still only about 50 minutes.

[wowhunter]

How are most rental properties handled in this area? Through realtors, property management firms or, by the property owner? I'm wondering if it's best to try to locate a realtor to help if we decide to rent in the area or, if it's just better to comb the lists to see what you find. I see quite a few rental through Zillow and Trulia.