thinking about relocating NY (long island) to CO-Couple of Questions Please.... (Denver: real estate, apartment)

[MissNYer]

Hello all,

I am new to this forum so please bear with me.

I am a NYer from long Island that also spends leisure time (winter and summer) in the Adirondacks (Upstate NY) As well as NYC. I am thinking about relocating to Colorado for a certain quality of life I am seeking.

Ideal quality of life for me to live in -

Nice weather, change of seasons, nice friendly people, (although I don't want to live right on top of them, on the other hand, I also don't want to live acres away from people either), room to roam (less standstill traffic), semi small town feel / charming village (though not to small) accessible to a metropolitan/cosmopolitan/cultural life (no more then a 30 /40 minute drive) outdoor activities, lake activities, a good job market, lower taxes then NY, other single 30 / 40 something year olds living there, affordable housing with some property and trees (hopefully near a lake).

I am semi cosmopolitan / semi outdoorsy type - 30 something year old female that is studying for her masters degree in Physical Therapy. I don't need to tell you all about how expensive it is to live in long island / NYC it seems no-one who is in the middle class financial range gets any bang for their buck here. In other words, anyone who can afford to live with some extra spending cash in their pocket without having to work 2 jobs!! Although I love NYC for its art and culture, I can't see spending every breathing moment in a tiny crappy apartment I can't really ever afford. Now Mind you, although I love upstate NY, the lakes, the mountains, the trees, the space, the fantastic weather, I am single and unfortunately it seems way to dead and boring for me to live there year round. Dead meaning employment and socializing. I would not look forward to cold lonely winters.... :-)

In any event, here are some questions I have about Colorado-

I love boating and swimming on lake water. Is there boating? How clean are the Lakes in Colorado? Is there swimming? Reasonable priced lake front property? Night boating?

Seeing the quality of life I am seeking, any suggestions of any particular county/city/towns I should look into?

Is it ok to let pets outside? How bad are ticks there? Heard about Rocky mountain spotted fever....

Any other NYers care to share advice?


Thanks so much for reading and / or replying,
- MissNYer

[BlueWillowPlate]

Perhaps either Ft Collins or Parker might work for you.
Parker is a bit closer to Denver, but I am partial to Ft Collins. It is a university community with a nice old downtown and youthful energy to it.
Both are close to water, though you would have to drive.
Colorado lakes are very clean--but they're cold.
I gave my dogs heartworm meds April-November.
I did once find a tick on one of them after a hike up in the hills, but we lived in Colorado for years and years with nary a tick.
Colorado is quite pest-free compared to other states.

Many many years ago, I moved to Denver, Colorado from Long Island. Denver is much hipper today than it was in '69, but still I must warn you that *compared to NYC* it is still pretty much a cow town. And that's okay!

[2bindenver]

The metro Denver area has resevoirs Cherry Creek, Chatfield & Aurora, swimming and boating allowed (entrance fees apply) there is housing near Chatfield & Aurora. There is a new community built around the Quincy resevoir. There are 14 houses that are "waterfront" from $184,000 to more than $700,000 in the Metro Denver Area.

There are other communities in and around Denver that are near "ponds" Ft Collins & Greeley have more lakes.

[concoulor3]

I think the single life would be more fulfilling if you live nearer to Denver. Perhaps Cherry Creek Res. area to incorporate your love of water. Yes it is very expensive to own lake front in Colorado, what you are looking for is what everyone is looking for. I just spent a week in Vermont and lake front properties there were maybe a slight-bit lower than Colorado, if not the same. But, to get the night-life in, you might look at possible loft-apt/condos in LoDo...While I love Ft. Clns and would consider a move to Ft. Clns or Longmont - I'm 30+ married w/ kids. And you probably want a more sophisticated bar scene than college oriented stuff. Unless your bar scene is Denver, anyother fun night-life would be college (whether Bldr or Ft. Clns, Durango) And I personally think Denver has a more culturally rich downtown than Colo Spgs. They just opened the re-built Art Meseum, what a beautiful building - that's in Capitol Hill area, where I know a lot of my single girl-friends live.


As far as ticks go - yes you need to check dogs esp in Spring. I have had many dogs and found maybe three. But you also have to check yourself after a good hike in the woods. I do beleive East Coast & Lyme desease is much worst than here. I don't know anyone who has ever suffered.
Hope this helps.

[Snowbird]

Most of the "lakes" around Denver/Boulder are reservoirs, no trees, surrounded by suburban houses and not too clean. If you're looking for a real Colorado Lake you would probably have to head to the mountains. Dillon Reservoir (no, not a real lake either) in summit county is pretty, but very expensive to live near. There are a few other lakes but they are mostly near very rural mountain towns Night life is seasonal and usually involvoes 20 something ski/mountain bike bums. I think in a semi-desert like Colorado you might have to choose between a social life and lakefront property.

[elemental]

MissNYer, you sound like my female twin! I grew up going to the Sacandaga Lake, love NYC (used to work there) am 30 something, moving to Colorado for the same reasons while selling my fishing boat since there isn't any salt water there!

Given the number of attributes/affinities we share, I predict you will have found paradise when you get to Colorado. First thing is to head over to Boulder since you would swear it is a small NYC. Unfortunately, the prices are similar and you don't get much for the money in terms of house. From there, go to Rocky Mountain National Park and prepare to fall in love with what you see. Hike your way to Emerald Lake.





Here's a picture of Boulder in the evening. The area is called the Pearl Street Mall and is downtown.



As far as where to live for as a single-female, I cannot be of assistance. The best thing you could do is take a week off and visit Denver, Boulder, and the other major areas that have all of what you are looking for. Good luck and don't hesitate to ask any additional questions.

[elemental]

Oh, one more thing. You will snicker at the real estate taxes compared to what we pay here. We are simply being robbed in NY. Add to this the lack of humidity and bugs... How can you go wrong? If Colorado had an Ocean, it would be the most densely populated region on the planet.

[BlueWillowPlate]

If Colorado had an ocean, it would be another version of California, and I might still be there.
Reading over your post, NYer, perhaps you'd like Boulder the best.
To me, it is expensive and sometimes has a bit of an attitude, but maybe the cost won't seem like much to you after New York? It has all of the other qualities you are looking for.

[pje192]

Moving in 4 weeks from Westchester County NY to Englewood (burb just south of Denver). I've spent all of my 48 years on the east coast. I grew up in Brooklyn, spent summers at sleepaway camp upstate, college at SUNY New Paltz, the last 18 years we've spent summers on Fire Island. Right now my son is at a Met game, my wife and daughter at a Broadway show. You can't get much more NY than me. My wife has a not of family in Colorado and a job transfer for her is what is motivating the move. We've spent a lot of time visitng Co over the years and decided long ago that if we ever left NY, it would be for the Denver area. No place is perfect, but the Denver area has a bit of everything (except beach). There are lakes, but none that compare to the larger lakes upstate NY. At your age I would guess that Boulder is not sophisticted enough for your needs. there are a lot of cool Denver neighborhoods (LODO, Lincoln Park) that have small city sopistication (clubs, galleries, restaurants) with easy access to the moutains, tons of bike trails, streams. For us, the botom line is the easy lifestyle. You don't have to live off the grid to feel like you have left the pressure cooker lifestyle of the NY area.

Here's to hoping that it works out (for both of us!). I have given some thought to forming a meetup group in Denver for NY expats. what do you think?

[Boxer]

We are moving from LI to Evergreen in about one month. I would be glad to let you know how things go. As far as housing we actaully found it more reasonable in Denver than LI especially the taxes. Good Luck.