Durango, CO (Cortez, Bayfield: how much, homes, theater)

[I_LUVNM]

Thanks Dgoboy for your answers! I appreciate it. Just my two cents LFults but I was in Durango yesterday and the roads are all dry and clear, I saw people out walking, some walking their dogs, people everywhere walking and it didnt feel cold to me. It isnt Florida but it isnt like the cold you feel back east or even in the south feels real cold to me in the winter due to humidity but the dry climate makes it nice. You do see snow on the mountains and around but there isnt much of it in the city, like an inch or two. My cousin in Albuquerque said she got over 15 inches there, way more than Durango. Durango doesnt have the wind either like over on the east side like where Denver is, Durango usually has little to no wind. My friend said in spring they get some but that is about it or when a big storm is coming in the summer but it is out in no time and the wind is gone. Makes a big difference! I lived in Amarillo, Texas for a year and it was the most awful coldest, windy place I have ever seen and the cold there felt WAYYYY more colder than Durango ever did. HTH.

[LFults]

I_LUVNM,

Thanks for your input. I'm excited about our upcoming trip. I'm really beginning to believe we may be Durango residents come summer! Anything you would recommend in what not to miss while we are there? Recommendations on good places to eat, etc?

Thx!

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by LFults

I_LUVNM,

Thanks for your input. I'm excited about our upcoming trip. I'm really beginning to believe we may be Durango residents come summer! Anything you would recommend in what not to miss while we are there? Recommendations on good places to eat, etc?

Thx!

If you are going in Feb, hmmm, let me see, the train is really nice. It goes to Cascade Canyon in the winter. You can log onto Durangotrain.com for more info on that. You get to see a lot of Durango so a definite go. I would book on enclosed coaches though. It goes up north and it is way colder up there than Durango. Trust me, I was out in a open coach in late summer and it was cold up there in Silverton. It doesnt go to Silverton in winter though. They have too much snow up in Silverton. I have never been to the Follies but heard lots about it. They also ski down the slopes with lights but I dont know much about that, Dgoboy, help please on the ski resort stuff. Really beautiful up there. You have to see it. Also check out Fort Lewis College and Rim Drive at night. All the lights down below is wonderful. Eating places, I love Franciscos on Main near the train depot. It is mostly Mexican food and it is really good. One family has owned it for many many years. They have lots of great places to eat. Actually Durango has more eating places per people than even San Francisco. There are several Chinese, Japanese and Italian places. I havent tried them but my friend said most places to eat in Durango are winners so really it is just what you are hungry for since they have everything from Mongolion to Himalayan places and everything in between. Oh, one thing I loved that we did the other day, walk down the paved trail that goes the whole length of the city usually by the river. Really nice. Lot of music there so check with the Durango Herald, they print an Arts and Entertainment Section in their paper regularly and it list lots of stuff to do.

[LFults]

I_LUVNM,

Thanks for the feedback. We had crossed the train off the list but think we'll put it back on! So much to do and see, I hope we have enough time. Have to check out the schools and housing. Want to look at both Durango and Bayfield. We'll be there Jan 29-Feb 4 and then off to check out Steamboat Springs for a couple of days. (my guess it too much snow, too cold, and too resorty, but we have good friends there, so must at least look..)

LFults...Durango bound!

[dgoboy204]

LFults & Family,

Best Wishes and Good Luck! dgoboy

[Topo]

I want to move to Durango so bad, but I am nearing retirement and if I move to Durango I don't know how long I would have to stay working, is that a comprimise I will have to make to live there? <<yikes>> I think the cost of housing is a little outrageous, I don't understand it! Esp with the housing problems around the US........When will they bottom out?

[I_LUVNM]

Originally Posted by Topo

I want to move to Durango so bad, but I am nearing retirement and if I move to Durango I don't know how long I would have to stay working, is that a comprimise I will have to make to live there? <<yikes>> I think the cost of housing is a little outrageous, I don't understand it! Esp with the housing problems around the US........When will they bottom out?

Hi Topo. There are quite alot of retirees in the Durango area, so they must be able to make it there. It isnt expensive in anything but housing costs. Prices on groceries, electric, utilities and such are good and taxes are low. Rentals are about what you pay anywhere out west. Homes are higher but outside around Durango isn too bad especially as you go west to Cortez or south toward Aztec. The highest costs of homes is in Durango itself and north of there toward the resort. So many people want to live in Durango that I dont see a bottoming out but they are going to be building alot more new homes and many more affordable like in Three Springs so that will help some. The housing czar in Durango is working on the issue to have affordable housing and the city has commited itself to try to keep the middle class and lower middle class in Durango. They dont want another Telluride or Aspen. They will be planning and working out plans to ensure that. With the west climbing steadily in prices pretty much everywhere, at least the city is trying. It is harder because of the influx of people but with so many new homes being built in the next year, it will help. Also look at Cortez and Pagosa, they are close to Durango and cheaper in prices.

[Phazed-Coug]

Cost of Living(COL) in Durango is as out of control as Housing Pricing.

500k median home price?

I just moved so I was able to quickly see the difference in COL
Fuel was about 60 cents more per gallon in Durango(before the latest hikes)
a gallon of milk is about $1 cheaper
eggs are about .50 cheaper
These are just the basic Guidelines for comparing living expenses

Just got our most recent electric bill in the new area, its about 25% cheaper
and I'm in a 150yr old house, definitely not the most effecient.

IUVNM recommends Cortez or Aztec.. well in comparison to Durango
They are dumps(sorry but true) Durango is in the mtns, Aztec basically desert, cortez is better, but still not a town I'd retire to.

Three Springs is going to look like Colorado Springs a bunch of Clapboard cookie cutter homes... I love the name 3 springs though.. nice concept
name it after something you don't have WATER... water has to be pumped in.

Thats another issue, water in the SW is getting increasingly scarce... nothing to worry about in the next 10-15 years, but I wonder.

[I_LUVNM]

IUVNM recommends Cortez or Aztec.. well in comparison to Durango
They are dumps(sorry but true) Durango is in the mtns, Aztec basically desert, cortez is better, but still not a town I'd retire to.

I dont recommend Cortez or Aztec as the best place to live only if they are on a budget. Durango is definitely the best place to live, Pagosa is nice too. Cortez and Aztec are cheaper and that is what I mean by recommending a cheaper place to live.

[justmyopinion]

I am probably posting this too late, as Austin Traveler has more than likely decided or NOT decided to move to Durango. But, as my name says, I must give "just my opinion", and also respond to "Colorado Native". Let me begin by saying, I am interested in conservation, and the environment. I believe in building as "green" as possible, and as "invisible" as possible. I am a Republican. (Yes; the two go together. In fact, the President who in recent years has done the most of the environment was Ronald Reagan. After him, it was Teddy Roosevelt. And it should also be noted; Teddy was an avid hunter. One of the reasons he loved nature so much, is.... he was in it a lot! Although.... I do not like hunting.)

I recently moved to Durango from California, but we purchased our property here 12 years ago. I was a native Californian, not wanting to leave my state, but, because of extreme over-crowding, I had to go somewhere! When I grew up in CA, the water was blue, the air was clean, and you could get anywhere in an hour; ocean, desert, mountains, orange groves. You could ski and surf in the same day. Now, it would take over an hour to get to work.

Everyone I have met in Colorado has a friend, neighbor, or relative (they tell me) that has moved to California. There is not another state that has had to endure "everyone moving in" as much as California. So.... I understand what you are saying, and a sympathize.... to a point. This is America, and just as Californians are suppose to "understand" the entire country moving there, the rest of the county needs to "understand" why so many of us California natives are moving elsewhere. As Americans, we ALL have the right to live where we can and/or want. PERIOD. This includes me; this includes you.

For the most part, I find Durango friendly. Every town has good and bads. I must say, all the complaining people who say "there is no work here" are not looking. It is almost impossible to get work done on a house, on a car, or find a landscaper, or mason, or metal worker, or any kind of contractor that will return a call, actually show up when called, or even RETURN A CALL. When we built our home here, we decided to use all local help, and businesses. If hunting season, ski season, fishing season started, workers just didn't show up. Not to mention the drug problem. It was very difficult. (I want to inject here... we are "comfortable but not wealthy", and worked for 35 years, each of us averaging 12 hours per day, and saved for our retirement. I say this only because many people on this thread talk as though that is something to be ashamed of.)

I constantly hear "all you people are moving in and driving up the real estate prices!!".. I find this to be an odd reaction. Shouldn't Durango natives have the right to make as much money on their properties as possible? If someone living in an old home on 3rd Ave. (something they bought years ago for $80,000.) and can sell it for $700,00, shouldn't they be able to reap those benefits? Lowering the prices would only ensure MORE people would move here. People are moving here IN SPITE OF the prices, and native Durangoans are reaping the benefits BIG TIME. And, if you think prices are high here, try looking elsewhere. Prices are much worse in other cities. It is unfortunate, yes, but..... high prices are not unique to Durango.

A suggestion: If Durangoans really do not want "outsiders" moving in, one way they could do it is let the message get out there is absolutely NO DOCTORS IN TOWN THAT ARE TAKING ANY NEW PATIENTS. And, the doctors that are here will not take Medicare. Even locals who have had doctors for years, when their doctors are retireing, are have a tough time finding a primary physician. When I look at the Grandview Project, I just see thousand more families and seniors without any medical care. Just get the word out, and fewer people will be moving here.

Then you will have your wish...... fewer people moving in. But you will also have more native Durangoans losing money and businesses. And then THEY will be forced to move elsewhere..... It is a vicious circle, but that is the way it is. I don't know what the solution is.