From WI looking to move (Denver, Colorado Springs: rental, insurance, low crime)

[wonkymom]

Moving for many reasons #1 it is very expensive here and we make almost 100K combined (though we do have 6 children to support) the property taxes are crazy we have a small 1,100 sq ft old ranch home and pay now $3,300/year for just property taxes! Also other taxes are on the high side as well, we should not be struggling like we are on almost 100K year! Homes are very high priced.
our dream home here would cost us about 300-325K (and that is I should say NOT our dream home but a newer 4 bedroom colonial type home in a nice suburban area, not rich area but not located in any inner city or crime area) and then of course we couldn't afford the property taxes on that home if our home is at $3,300/year, I could only imagine what a 300K home would cost in property taxes probably a good guess of $5,000 year or more?
Also, the other issue of course is the weather. Basically you have 6 months of cold weather here, then 3 months of in between crap and the 3 months of summer you get here are usually so darn humid with dewpoints in the high 60's to 70's you can't breath outside and get swarmed by tons of mosquito's since it's so humid! So basically it seems as if you live in your home about 10 months out of the year!! It is like cabin fever ALL THE TIME.
I would like to be able to live comfortably being able to find a home we can afford in a nice suburb area and enjoy LOW DEWPOINTS AND SUNSHINE at least some of the year!!!
That is another issue in WI, you go mad with so little sun from December through April...I actually am on antidepressants and use light therapy box because it does drive you mad with cloudy days all the time!
Yes I have always lived here and really have never enjoyed it.
There are positives don't get me wrong...where we live is about 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee and have a fairly nice low crime area, you are not afraid to go outside (weather permitting LOL) after dark, I feel safe with my kids walking the neighborhood (to a degree now a days !) the schools are pretty good in the suburbs (not the major city schools though) and we have alot of summer activities to go to (festivals etc, but of course if it's not raining and ungodly humid!)
SO tell me...........how is colorado?? My hubby has his heart set on this state (or Wyoming or Montana) I'm not sure what it is like.
ANy input?
By the way , hubby works as a Sn network computer specialist and I am an RN so our jobs are pretty "normal" and I'm assuming there aren't issues with finding work in these common areas we both work in.
Please give me your inputs on
1. Weather (especially humidity in summer..I really don't care about cold winters, just want to have at least the summers enjoyable!)
2. Affordability with housing, property taxes comparisons please i.e. 4 bd newer home = this much average and property taxes are around this much etc...
3. Way of life in general...busy, congested? people easy going? family life for kids etc..
I appreciate all your input..please feel free to email me directly at Imlost96@aol.com
Thanks so much!!
Karrie

[TropicanaRose]

My husband has family in the Superior area. Housing and land there are practically free compared to the cost here in Boulder. Of course, salaries are higher here, but not enough to "make up" for the housing cost. You don't want to come here without jobs- competition for senior level IT jobs is fierce. One of the posters here is a nurse, hopefully she can tell you more about your prospects. I'm sure it would help her if you gave a little more information about your specialty and work experience.

The climate along the front range is fabulous. We seldom go more than a day or two without seeing the sun. Snow comes and goes- it doesn't sit here all winter. Summers have become HOT, but it's dry. Some people that move here don't like the lack of humidity and complain about dry skin and wrinkles!

People here are open and pleasant, without being busybodies. Schools are generally good, and most people think this is a great place for families. There is always something to do outside.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by wonkymom

Moving for many reasons #1 it is very expensive here and we make almost 100K combined (though we do have 6 children to support) the property taxes are crazy we have a small 1,100 sq ft old ranch home and pay now $3,300/year for just property taxes!....



SO tell me...........how is colorado?? My hubby has his heart set on this state (or Wyoming or Montana) I'm not sure what it is like.
ANy input?
By the way , hubby works as a Sn network computer specialist and I am an RN so our jobs are pretty "normal" and I'm assuming there aren't issues with finding work in these common areas we both work in.
Please give me your inputs on
1. Weather (especially humidity in summer..I really don't care about cold winters, just want to have at least the summers enjoyable!)
2. Affordability with housing, property taxes comparisons please i.e. 4 bd newer home = this much average and property taxes are around this much etc...
3. Way of life in general...busy, congested? people easy going? family life for kids etc..
I appreciate all your input..please feel free to email me directly at Imlost96@aol.com
Thanks so much!!
Karrie

$3300 per year for property taxes is cheap considering each of six kids is getting a $6000 or $7000 per year education.

Housing data are available on numerous internet databases like realtor.com. I guess it all depends where you will be getting jobs.
The weather in Colorado is MUCH better than you describe WI to be. Very sunny, no humidity, occasional snow storms which aren't that bad (and I'm a native Californian). There are a whole bunch of weather threads and posts.

If your husband has a security clearance then consider Colorado Springs for four reasons: 1) Lots of high tech jobs for cleared people, 2) Two new hospitals open or opening, and 3) more affordable than Denver, and 4) a little less traffic than Denver (which isn't bad anyway....)

[jazzlover]

The best info I can give you is from a fellow I used to work with in Colorado. He and his wife were Wisconsin natives. He is one of the best IT/GIS people I've met. They moved to Colorado for many of the same reasons that you cite. He loved his work here and loved the Colorado lifestyle. But, after nearly 10 years here, he figured out that that the living cost/salary comparison was just not favorable. His family was getting older (nearing college age) and he was not getting ahead enough financially to amass a good enough college fund. I would add that neither he nor his wife were "high-livers"--they lived in modest home and were pretty frugal.

He was offered a job in Wisconsin at more than double the salary he was making in Colorado, so he and his family--with some reluctance--moved back there. He has since also been promoted several times--much quicker than he was in Colorado. He confided in me that he misses Colorado a lot--vacations here every year--but feels he overall made the correct decison.

Just one person's story, but he was one who made the Wisconsin-Colorado move in an IT career, and it didn't turn out the way he thought it would.

[famlife]

man.

we are wanting to move from wisconsin to colorado, and my husband is in the IT field. we have also considered northern new mexico, but we are concerned again about pay/cost of living/cost of housing. we really had our hearts set on the denver area b/c of all of the great programs they have for kids like the catchpenny kids theater, soccer camp, kids culinary classes, WOW, etc. not to mention the beauty and climate, mile high flea market, and short drives to national parks and sailing. but reading these forums really make me wonder if we can even afford to live in CO. we need to move in the next 3 1/2 months, and i'm just as confused as ever! i guess i can research albuquerque and santa fe again, but denver seems much more family friendly.

in all seriousness, is it really that unaffordable in CO for a family of 7, making 130Kish? within 30 min or so of denver? thanks in advance!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by famlife

in all seriousness, is it really that unaffordable in CO for a family of 7, making 130Kish? within 30 min or so of denver? thanks in advance!

What is your housing price range or rental budget after you account for:

Two 401(k)s or equivalent
Two Roth IRAs
Six 529s or EIRAs
Two life insurance policies
Auto insurance on at least two cars
Disability insurance (always a good idea to get it even if the boss offers it)

Are you going to base your mortgage on both incomes? (Some people think this is risky).

[famlife]

we will be working with a single income, in the low to mid 100K's range as base. we expect that to increase. we are not looking to immediately buy, and we are now paying 1100/mo rent but could pay up to... 1400/mo, but we need at least 4 bedrooms, as we are a family of 7. our cars are both paid off, and we don't have much debt at all so our monthy expenses are basically rent, groceries, insurance, utilities, gas, and extra curriculars for the kids.

we're not picky about the location as long as it's within 30 min or so of denver, the safer the better. we were thinking maybe somewhere between denver and co springs, or possibly the conifer area.

[Katarina Witt]

I would take the others' advice and look at the many realtor websites. Housing is not cheap here. Houses of the size the OP is looking for will cost at least as much as in Wisconsin, more in some areas. Yes, property taxes will be less, but overall I think the tax situation always about evens out.

Here is a thread that discusses housing prices in Boulder County:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/color...rket-like.html

I agree with all others that you should not, I reapeat not, come here w/o jobs, especially with 6 kids to support. Nursing jobs can be easy to difficult, depending on what you are looking for. IT can be very competitive, as others have said.