Your typical "where should I move" thread. (Denver: low crime, loan)

[nrogers1122]

Greetings. I have an interview with a large Federal Government agency which is quickly turning into a very solid prospect. The agency has offices in D.C., New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Denver. If I get the job, and the opportunity to pick the city, I am strongly considering Denver or Dallas. The other options strike me as too expensive and a bit too urban.

A little bit about me: I am in my late twenties, married with a six year old and one on the way. I am from the Des Moines, IA area and moved to a suburb of Minneapolis about two years ago so that I could go to law school. I enjoy the outdoors, but also have an appreciation for working in a large city. Denver is attractive because my understanding is that it can offer both of these things (although I have never been there). I have also heard that the weather is quite appealing.

Things I am looking for in a neighborhood: I would like to live not more than 40 minutes outside the metro. I am looking at a house budget based upon a household income of $150k, and no down payment (VA loan). Aside from location and price, my parameters are as follows: relatively new construction, very low crime, park-like atmosphere, minimal blighted properties/businesses, many family activities, and above all else - good schools.

I'm sure this thread has been posted a million times before. Nevertheless, I would appreciate feedback on potential neighborhoods/communities that would fall into the category described above.

[bluescreen73]

It's gonna be a little difficult to pinpoint an exact neighborhood because the budget isn't detailed enough. The best rule of thumb is try to keep your house payment (PITI) below 1/3 of your monthly net income (take home pay - expenses like utilities, debt service, food, transportation, and additional savings).

There are plenty of calculators online that will help determine how much house you can really afford. Once you've figured out a comfortable price range given your current financial situation then we can probably help point you in a better direction.

As an aside, I've lived in both Dallas and Denver and lemme tell ya summers in Dallas are miserable. Daytime highs are routinely near or above 100 degrees at this time of year and there's just enough humidity to keep the overnight lows around 80. It honestly doesn't cool off much between early June and mid-September. Unless you're a hardy soul you spend as much time indoors near A/C as possible. Housing costs are much lower there, but to me it's not worth having to put up with living in a broiler oven for 1/3 of the year.

Denver's winters will probably seem pretty mild to someone who's lived in Des Moines and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

[chilaili]

Location would also depend on where you'll be working and how much of a commute you can stand. Just off the top of my head I would suggest the Stapleton area to start looking in but with a bit more information people here can give you better advice.

[2bindenver]

Most likely planted at the Federal Center in Lakewood off 6th & Kipling so Jeffco is where I'd start.

[nrogers1122]

Cool - I'll check those places out. In repsonse to the first reply, I would guestimate the house budget to be in the neighborhood of around $350k. Are the house prices fairly homogenous in any given suburb? I've seen suburbs like that (i.e. Edina, MN), but I've also seen suburbs that have a diversity of home prices. The place where I live now fits into the later category. We bought my house at around $150k, but the house prices within a three block radius range from $120k to $600k according to Zillow.com estimates.

[gmm_24]

I check out DC and live South of it in VA if you like it. Yes there is lots of traffic but not as land locked as here, more opportunities for work up and down the coast, far more green and park like. The people in VA were so nice and I enjoy going there. There Winters are more mild then here, barely get snow, well except for last year

If possible I would check out the two places I like the most and then decide. Even if they are just long weekends it is better then moving to a location just checked out on the internet.

Yes I am from the East Coast, humidity does not bother me and I miss it especially when it is really brown here so my opinion maybe biased

[Ming Ming]

Originally Posted by nrogers1122

Cool - I'll check those places out. In repsonse to the first reply, I would guestimate the house budget to be in the neighborhood of around $350k. Are the house prices fairly homogenous in any given suburb? I've seen suburbs like that (i.e. Edina, MN), but I've also seen suburbs that have a diversity of home prices. The place where I live now fits into the later category. We bought my house at around $150k, but the house prices within a three block radius range from $120k to $600k according to Zillow.com estimates.

it's stupid expensive in near Denver. I just bought a dump that I have to update and tear down walls,

If you want new construction, there's parker and castle rock and you can get nice new homes but you hve to drive in, and if you're like me I am chicken to drive in snow.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Ming Ming

it's stupid expensive in near Denver.

What planet do you live on?
Denver.

And then we have:
San Francisco.
New York City.
Los Angeles.
Boston.
Washington, DC.
Chicago.
Toronto.
Vancouver, BC.
Sydney.
London.
Moscow.
Paris.
Roma.

I wish you were joking, but I know you are stupidly serious.

[nrogers1122]

So I checked into Stapleton - seems like a really nice area, although I do have a few questions. This area looks quite new, and the website says its only ten years old. Despite this, it appears to be surrounded by older development. What was here that got removed so that Stapleton could be built? Old land fill? Projects? These are both cynical presumptions, I know. But I am interested to know the history of the area. Also, does anyone know about the areas surrounding Stapleton? Are they good neighborhoods, or is Stapleton an Oasis community?

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by nrogers1122

So I checked into Stapleton - seems like a really nice area, although I do have a few questions. This area looks quite new, and the website says its only ten years old. Despite this, it appears to be surrounded by older development. What was here that got removed so that Stapleton could be built? Old land fill? Projects? These are both cynical presumptions, I know. But I am interested to know the history of the area. Also, does anyone know about the areas surrounding Stapleton? Are they good neighborhoods, or is Stapleton an Oasis community?

That would be Denver's former airport - Stapleton International.

Stapleton International Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia