Relocating: Job in Centennial, Likelihood of Living West of Denver (Arvada: homes, neighborhoods)

[SunnyCathy]

Hi Hi! Thank you for any guidance and opinions you may provide! We will be relocating from Tampa at the end of December/early January. (one kid, 1st grade)

My husband has secured a job in Centennial, I have just begun my search. (we both work fulltime, I am in the technology industry) My sister lives in Erie and I was hoping to find a middle ground between the two. Keep in mind that traffic in TPA is KILLER. I commute 11 miles one way and it takes me an hour on a good day. I am looking for opinions on what the reality of a commute from say Arvada to Centennial could look like.

Additional factors: Budget is 600k for home, good school (but also could look into private if needed), closer to the mountains the better. :-)

Thanks!!

[Timmyy]

Where exactly in Centennial is work? The commute from Arvada to Centennial would be brutal especially if there is snow to deal with.

[SunnyCathy]

E Arapahoe Rd

Are you about to tell me living south is the best option? :-P

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

E. Arapahoe Road is a really long road. He could be closer to I-25 or he could be way out east.

Just because you have a killer commute now doesn't mean that you have to do the same in Denver/Centennial. You might see your sister one day a week, but the commute to work is everyday. Also, you don't have to contend with snow in Tampa. A storm during rush hour can double or triple your commute time.

So, yes, I bet everyone here will tell you to stay south.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by SunnyCathy

E Arapahoe Rd

Are you about to tell me living south is the best option? :-P

Nah, I would never tell anybody to do that. It would be an easier commute though. Your housing budget gives you a lot of options. Centennial itself has some great neighborhoods. Driving from Arvada to basically the Denver Tech Center is a nightmare even on light traffic days. When I first moved here I wanted to live in Boulder and my job was in the Tech Center. That lasted all of a month before I found a place in Denver. That was in 1999 and there are a ton more people here now. I now live south west of town.

[SunnyCathy]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

E. Arapahoe Road is a really long road. He could be closer to I-25 or he could be way out east.

Just because you have a killer commute now doesn't mean that you have to do the same in Denver/Centennial. You might see your sister one day a week, but the commute to work is everyday. Also, you don't have to contend with snow in Tampa. A storm during rush hour can double or triple your commute time.

So, yes, I bet everyone here will tell you to stay south.

Thanks Dreaming- He will be closer to I-25

This is true. I am just concerned if I get a job near downtown or otherwise. And yes, no snow in Tampa. :-) Just crazy drivers. hehe. He will have the option to work remote at times. In your opinion is there a place that is roughly 45 min commute?

[SunnyCathy]

Originally Posted by Timmyy

Nah, I would never tell anybody to do that. It would be an easier commute though. Your housing budget gives you a lot of options. Centennial itself has some great neighborhoods. Driving from Arvada to basically the Denver Tech Center is a nightmare even on light traffic days. When I first moved here I wanted to live in Boulder and my job was in the Tech Center. That lasted all of a month before I found a place in Denver. That was in 1999 and there are a ton more people here now. I now live south west of town.

Ah, great thoughts. Honestly, thank you! I was just falling in lust w/ the suburbs over on the other side. Any advice on a few to eye?

[COcheesehead]

Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Ridge Gate, Castle Pines are all close.
All are nice, convenient and probably have homes in the 600's.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Ridge Gate, Castle Pines are all close.
All are nice, convenient and probably have homes in the 600's.

What cheese said.

[SunnyCathy]

Thanks to cheese and Timmyy. Let the search begin.... Why does it have to be so freaking far! :-)