Living In San Luis, COLORADO (Denver, Alamosa: appointed, real estate, home)

[NewLandOwner]

I am retiring to a small parcel of land in San Luis. I would love to hear from residents in the same area, as to building and living there.

[Mike from back east]

We've answered the same inquiry many times, please use our search tool with the keyword: SLV

You've quite an education ahead of you, especially on water rights and what you can/can't build.

[Colorado Rambler]

Originally Posted by NewLandOwner

I am retiring to a small parcel of land in San Luis. I would love to hear from residents in the same area, as to building and living there.

I take it you have already bought this land?

I also take it that you are from some state other than Colorado?

Have you visited San Luis yet?

I take it you know that the population has a Hispanic majority - wonderful folks!

- But many come from families who have lived there for hundreds of years on land grants that came originally from the Spanish Crown. Much of the SLV was part of the country of Mexico which gained its independence from Spain back in the 1820's if memory serves. Then the Mexican American War came along and by 1861, San Luis became a rather unwilling part of the American Experiment. Consider how upset folks can get over "them Mexicuns" migrating illegally to the US. Now think about how you'd feel if a bunch of illegals showed up and took your home and irrigation rights at gunpoint. It's been a while now and most folks have moved past this. Yet, as recently as the 1980's a group of angry armed Hispanic natives took over some land in Chama, NM, a stone's away from San Luis. The occupiers nailed up many signs explaining their position. I much admit to feeling a pang of sympathy for them every time I went through there. So, if you encounter a local or two who doesn't welcome you with open arms, that may be the reason why.

When you made your purchase, did your real estate agent mention anything about wells, cisterns, irrigation shares or water rights in general?

Hopefully, you're not interested in some sort of hobby farm or even in growing a garden of any size. Unless you bought a property that already has one of the above water rights - in writing, all nice and legal - you can kiss off growing anything that's not mesquite, a type of scrubby sage, and maybe some rabbitbrush. Learn to adore brown.

At 8,000 plus feet, be prepared to adjust to life at a high elevation - often cold and always arid. Some people have nose bleeds for months after they've arrived. For the most part this gets better as your body acclimates to the new living conditions, but some folk never do get used to it and are forced to find a home elsewhere. Since you will be right on the NM border, I suggest that you shop at towns like Espanola and Santa Fe. Espanola is nothing fancy, but you'll find many things you need there at a reasonable price. Santa Fe offers items that may be hard to find elsewhere, but you'll pay a stiff price. I'd suggest ABQ, NM as your "go to city." It's closer than Denver and more manageable size-wise. Alamosa is OK for a quick grocery run.

Finally, please keep in mind, that if your health requires more than a visit to some rural clinic a couple of times a year, you'll be doing a lot of flying/driving to bigger cities where you can find specialists and up to the minute medical care. I live in a very isolated area of Colorado myself, and one of my biggest frustrations is trying to find specialist(s) and then making the long pilgrimage to Denver or some other city for treatment.

To the right person, San luis can be paradise, but if you don't know what you're getting into and don't know how to prepare; I'm sorry to inform you that you may only come to harm.

Mike gave you a great suggestion. Much, much info already available here on the SLV. I suggest you begin with the thread WHY SO CHEAP IN THE SAN LUIS VALLEY.

Read thru that (all of it) and if you still have questions, repost your thread with some specifics that you are wondering about.


DOWNTOWN SAN LUIS (ok, it's not quite THAT bad)

[NewLandOwner]

Thanks for your replies, Mike and Colorado Rambler.

We bought the land a couple years ago. Remote, isolated, fine by us. Cold? Yeah, we can do cold. We don't spend a lot of time in shorts and t-shirts, so we figured we'll be all right.

I noticed that San Luis has a medical clinic, at least that is what the website says.

Anything else, well we've always been big on prior planning as to shopping.

With proper insulation in building and plenty of blankies, we have positive feelings.

We are allowed to put in a well, and plan to find water before we start construction. We have a neighbor who is connected to electric lines, we want to get to know them quickly.

Care to share WHY so much discussion is negative regarding the area?

[BornintheSprings]

Originally Posted by NewLandOwner

Care to share WHY so much discussion is negative regarding the area?

I think primarily it has to do with managing expectations. The area is very poor and water is quite difficult to come by many out of state buyers have dreams of starting farms or ranches and they see the cheap land prices and end up being disappointed and losing money on the land they bought.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

I finally gave in and got my nose cauterized as elevation and dryness gave me constant nose bleeds. Look into it.

[BornintheSprings]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

I finally gave in and got my nose cauterized as elevation and dryness gave me constant nose bleeds. Look into it.

Are you being serious? I didn't know that was a thing I to suffer from nosebleeds at the higher elevations.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by BornintheSprings

Are you being serious? I didn't know that was a thing I to suffer from nosebleeds at the higher elevations.

I had nosebleeds from dryness in CO and here in AZ too. I had my nose cauterized by an ENT who simply uses a chemical applied with a q-tip. Takes 10 seconds and there's no pain ... until you get the bill. There's also an electric pen the ENT can use to cauterize with heat ... 30 seconds.

Keep nasal passages hydrated with saline spray or gel. Keep some AFRIN around for nosebleeds as it constricts the blood vessels to stop bleeding.

[BornintheSprings]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

I had nosebleeds from dryness in CO and here in AZ too. I had my nose cauterized by an ENT who simply uses a chemical applied with a q-tip. Takes 10 seconds and there's no pain ... until you get the bill. There's also an electric pen the ENT can use to cauterize with heat ... 30 seconds.

Keep nasal passages hydrated with saline spray or gel. Keep some AFRIN around for nosebleeds as it constricts the blood vessels to stop bleeding.

Very interesting good to know.

[WinterJo]

My husband got a lot of nosebleeds when we first moved here. When my sinuses are irritated by the dryness, I notice tinges of blood when I blow my nose. Neither one of us has had anything cauterized but I bet my husband would have considered it if the nosebleeds had continued.