Colorado might not be for me after all? (Denver, Colorado Springs: house, unemployed)

[mbalmedpoet]

If you are more interested in Colorado Springs, with your income, you might be advised to look at Fountain, or eastern Pueblo county. There is more farmland. I'm suggesting just east of the city of Pueblo, called the Mesa area. It might be perfect for what you are looking for. Pueblo itself has many amenities, and Springs is about a 45 minute drive.

[mic111]

Ah, a realistic price. Do you care more about being close to amenities or having a brand new home? How big of a yard are you looking for? Probably HOA homes are out but there are plenty to choose from that aren't in HOAs. Especially if you are OK with an older home.

For instance this one in Broomfield allows 4 pets officially (but with cats no one is likely to notice there are three of them so you will be fine) and you aren't giving up any proximity related amenities.

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13...60228820_zpid/

The property taxes might be reflecting a senior exemption at around $1120 but I don't think they will be more than $1300 or $1400. You can look at the neighbor houses to check out what they will be. With a one car garage in an area of two car garages you would likely be able to negotiate cheaper. The flooring appears to be senior pet friendly (except for carpets in bedroom). Loads of trails nearby. Walking distance to grocery store and some restaurants. 30 min. to Boulder/Denver/Longmont so good if you ever need to get a local job. Will hold it's value (look at the price history) because it is in Broomfield so won't be hard to sell if you don't like CO.

I just checked out Longmont's web site and couldn't find a pet limit so they may be a good option. You can get something like this:
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/13...13205147_zpid/
or
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/12...13218695_zpid/
or
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14...13203329_zpid/

[ashleynj]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

I also adopt senior animals. I think we all dislike the Eastern humidity. If I ever moved to Colorado (where I vacation as much as possible) I would certainly look forward to having my senior mutts. Good on OP for adopting.

That's great that you adopt seniors as well! They are the best!

[ashleynj]

Originally Posted by emm74

I'm an East coast transplant and agree with mic111 that if you make anything close to 100K, you will be absolutely fine here. I think a 200K budget for a home is too low although I am admittedly only familiar with Denver prices. But the biggest difference is that your property taxes will be 1/2, maybe even 1/3 of what you are currently paying, which makes a very big difference in overall costs of housing.

Yes, I have noticed property taxes are much lower in CO. I pay over 5,000 a year now and that is very low compared to others in NJ. I live in an area with lower taxes and have a small home, otherwise I would be paying much much more.

[ashleynj]

Originally Posted by mbalmedpoet

If you are more interested in Colorado Springs, with your income, you might be advised to look at Fountain, or eastern Pueblo county. There is more farmland. I'm suggesting just east of the city of Pueblo, called the Mesa area. It might be perfect for what you are looking for. Pueblo itself has many amenities, and Springs is about a 45 minute drive.

Thank you! I will be checking those areas out!

[ashleynj]

Originally Posted by mic111

Ah, a realistic price. Do you care more about being close to amenities or having a brand new home? How big of a yard are you looking for? Probably HOA homes are out but there are plenty to choose from that aren't in HOAs. Especially if you are OK with an older home.

For instance this one in Broomfield allows 4 pets officially (but with cats no one is likely to notice there are three of them so you will be fine) and you aren't giving up any proximity related amenities.

13572 Decatur Pl, Broomfield, CO 80020 is For Sale - Zillow

The property taxes might be reflecting a senior exemption at around $1120 but I don't think they will be more than $1300 or $1400. You can look at the neighbor houses to check out what they will be. With a one car garage in an area of two car garages you would likely be able to negotiate cheaper. The flooring appears to be senior pet friendly (except for carpets in bedroom). Loads of trails nearby. Walking distance to grocery store and some restaurants. 30 min. to Boulder/Denver/Longmont so good if you ever need to get a local job. Will hold it's value (look at the price history) because it is in Broomfield so won't be hard to sell if you don't like CO.

I just checked out Longmont's web site and couldn't find a pet limit so they may be a good option. You can get something like this:
1356 10th Ave, Longmont, CO 80501 is For Sale - Zillow
or
1222 Kinnikinnick Ct, Longmont, CO 80504 is For Sale - Zillow
or
1444 Mountain View Ave, Longmont, CO 80501 is For Sale - Zillow

I have a small, older home now (built in the 50's or 60's) and I would love another small home (older or newer is fine as long it is in good shape). I don't need a big yard, half an acre of even a third of an acre is plenty for me. I would just like to have a good hospital, vet, and health food store no more than an hour away. I actually prefer to have trails and parks nearby versus malls and stuff like that.
Thanks for the links! I am going to check them out right now.

[mic111]

Originally Posted by ashleynj

I have a small, older home now (built in the 50's or 60's) and I would love another small home (older or newer is fine as long it is in good shape). I don't need a big yard, half an acre of even a third of an acre is plenty for me. I would just like to have a good hospital, vet, and health food store no more than an hour away. I actually prefer to have trails and parks nearby versus malls and stuff like that.
Thanks for the links! I am going to check them out right now.

Actually a half or third of an acre is considered a really big yard out here. For that size and at your price point if you are close to amenities the house will really be a disaster.

You can head more into the foothills but with Sr. dogs you run into mountain lion and coyote problems. You seldom see them but they know domestic pets are great easy meals.
Boulder cat has close encounter with mountain lion in Boulder - The Denver Post

Even down where I live in Westminster the coyotes tend to like to make a meal out of the smaller dogs and will stalk larger Srs or overweight big dogs like a lab. We foster and it isn't at all uncommon for the applications that come in from the foothills to have lost most or all of their dogs to the wildlife. They don't seem to age out in the foothills.

My neighbor had a big claw mark on their smaller dog from a bird trying to take off with it. Most likely it was an owl but we also have bald eagles and lots of hawks. My 45 lb dog cowers when there is a heron lurking over head but there is no way a heron could take off with him. I have felt wind from the owls wings beat on the top of my head when walking at night as they swoop by overhead.

If you let your cats outside they will be gone pretty quick so hopefully they are indoor cats. Most people with small dogs tend to escort them outside in the yard where I live. We always have two dogs and try to keep them in the 50 lb range to give them a fighting chance against the coyotes but if I hear snarling I always go out to try and help. Another of my neighbors beat one off his cocker spaniel with a golf club and his dog survived. There are at least 4 or 5 small dogs that haven't made it near me. One rat terrier got inside but bounced off the dog door first. Scared the 10-12 yr old boy that was at home as he was too small to go out and help. For reference I can be parked at the arts center in downtown Denver in about 20 min. and live in the flatlands (meaning the Denver metro area).

You could head more toward the rural east which is flat and dry. Probably not at all what you are imagining for living in CO. But you start to lose access to amenities pretty quick.

To give you some ideas of things that are good to be close to here is a link to Boulder's Natural Animal.
Boulder's Natural Animal Veterinary Hospital - Pet Health and Healing

I use a holistic mobile vet:
http://www.homeinsteadvetcare.com/fee-schedule.html
This guy is great. I especially like how he will titer your pet instead of just giving tons of vaccines.

For good specialty care I've heard great things about this place. Wish I had known about it when my last Sr. dog had cancer.
VRCC Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital - Veterinary Hospital
VRCC - Veterinary Specialty & Emergency Hospital - Englewood, CO | Yelp

This is the health food store to have access to. As you can see they have locations all up and down the front range. Also other areas in the state if you decide to look beyond the front range.
Front Range Store Locations | Natural Grocers

For medical care in CO I've read that you pretty much have to travel to the front range for the specialized care. We find Denver/Boulder to have good resources. Not sure what your looking for in a hospital. If it is being near specialist as you age in place then sticking to the bigger cities is a good idea.

Now with the above talk of pets as meals you may think this is a terrible place to have pets. It isn't. We have almost no tick or flea problem. There is good weather for walk or hikes all year round. Trails and parks are abundant. There are many pet health food stores and there is great veterinary care. In general folks take great care of their pets. For me that is important. I don't like seeing pets neglected or suffering. It seems like almost everyone here has pets so you will be among fellow animal lovers.

[ashleynj]

Thank you for all the info. I have heard about the mountain lions and coyotes and eagles killing pets. Where I live now we do have bears and I have had more than one very close encounter with them. I've even heard rumors of foxes and coyotes in my area. I never leave my dogs alone outside but I do let them roam around the yard off leash during the day while I am out there. At night when they have to go out I watch them very closely. My cats are indoor only. I'm going to check out those vet links, thanks!!

[randomparent]

A few thoughts...

#1: A nice suburban yard in many front range communities is 1/6 of an acre or even less. Believe me, you don't want to pay to irrigate more than that during a dry summer. Also, as a prospective homeowner, you'll want to spend time learning the utility rates for different areas before you buy. Water can vary dramatically from community to community.

#2: Raised bed gardening with drop irrigation is the way to go, but the growing season is fairly short, so you'll need a way to preserve your harvest if you want to eat home-grown produce year-round. I have built eight-foot beds along the south side of my house. I successfully grow runner beans, tomatoes, squash, peppers, herbs, lettuce greens, thornless raspberries, rhubarb, and strawberries in various places around the yard, and I have plenty of room for more.

#3: Coyotes can be very aggressive and are a real concern for pet owners. My neighbor's older Shih-Tzu is currently recovering from an attack after a coyote jumped her fence and tried to carry her pet away. She ran outside screaming, and the coyote dropped the dog and left. The dog will recover, but it was seriously injured. This is not a rural neighborhood. We live in a busy, suburban area in the DTC, so be forewarned.

[RKleindienst]

Hi Ashley! Amazingly enough, I moved to the Denver area (Lakewood/Belmar) 11 months ago from Warren County, NJ! Small world. First off, NJ is a beautiful place especially where we come from. In fact I think we are spoiled with all the green trees, lakes and untouched wilderness. People are stressed here too. Rent is high if not higher than rural NJ ($1400 for 1 bedroom apt here). Drivers are angry and will flip you the bird. People will not say 'Thank you' when you hold the door for them. People will cut your lock and steal your bike even in the ritziest part of Lakewood NJ is a very special place and people are more or less the same whatever state you're in.

That being said...

The mountains out here are magical. The city of Denver is amazing and clean. Moving out here was undoubtedly one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Whether I stay here or end up back in NJ, anytime you can put yourself through a new experience and grow as a person - do it.

Advice - Don't come without a job or if you do don't be surprised if you're well educated and likable and still go unemployed for a few months. The winter was super mild with a few weeks of bitter cold but overall sunny and in the 30s-40s unlike NJ where you don't see the sun for 6 months straight. It gets hot in the summer but the lack of humidity makes it really nice. Everything I read on this forum before I moved out made it seem like it never rains here. I think it's rained 5 days a week since May even if only for an hour in the evening. This has been my biggest disappointment with CO because you can't do anything in the mountains without fear of being struck by lightning - but maybe it's just a rare season.

Colorado is great and so is New Jersey. It's fun to explore and get out of your comfort zone either way. Montana is also unbelievably beautiful. Keep us posted!

Ryan