Looking for a country home (Denver, Aurora: buying a home, buying, school)

[mikeking23]

Hi,
My family and I have lived in Denver the past 2 years. We're finally thinking of buying a home, but can't find the right area. We are looking for a nice home with a little acreage (1-2). Nothing fancy or amazing, just a small town without all of the chain restarants, strip malls, and giant housing plans. (Being a drivable distance from Denver, around 45 min. or less each way) We can't find anything like this and are starting to wonder is there is such a thing in these parts. Any ideas would be helpful!

thanks.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by mikeking23

Hi,
My family and I have lived in Denver the past 2 years. We're finally thinking of buying a home, but can't find the right area. We are looking for a nice home with a little acreage (1-2). Nothing fancy or amazing, just a small town without all of the chain restarants, strip malls, and giant housing plans. (Being a drivable distance from Denver, around 45 min. or less each way) We can't find anything like this and are starting to wonder is there is such a thing in these parts. Any ideas would be helpful!

thanks.

Pirce range?

Downtown Denver, or Denver city limits?

School important?

Parker? Larkspur? Franktown?

[Katarina Witt]

Well, there aren't a lot of small, independent towns within 45 min. driving distance of Denver, if you are referring to downtown Denver as the end point. You will still be in the burbs in all directions, including west, where you will be in Evergreen. Acreage doesn't start until you are a bit farther away, say Niwot to the NW (at least an hour to downtown). I don't really know the other areas very well.

[vegaspilgrim]

You'll have to look at one of the towns out east on the plains in order to find what you're looking for. Watkins, Bennett, Strasburg, Deer Trail, Limon, Fort Morgan... these are all approximately an hour or less from the metro area.

[Katarina Witt]

Also, the Erie/Frederick/Firestone area, outside of the subdivisions.

[mikeking23]

thanks for the quick reply. Looking for low to mid 200's preferably, low 300's depending (flexible). Actually work in Aurora. We've looked at Parker and Erie area and like parts, but they both seem to be getting bigger and bigger. I've never heard of many of these areas that have been mentioned, I'll have to check them out! - Had a chance to take a look, we like Limon, Evergreen, and Lakespur (from what seen on the internet so far.) thanks again!

[2bindenver]

I just helped a nice family move to Aurora from Deer Trail - too isolated, too far from shopping, too much money for home repair services...

to each their own.

[bullfish15]

Colorado and the west just aren't like back east where you have many old small towns an hour outside the big city. The little towns over an hour away are really just hamlets.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by bullfish15

Colorado and the west just aren't like back east where you have many old small towns an hour outside the big city. The little towns over an hour away are really just hamlets.

Not even hamlets, more like not to be's. . .

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by suzco

Not even hamlets, more like not to be's. . .

Too funny! Also too true! Even back east and in the midwest, areas I am familiar with, the little towns were not terribly self-sustaining, when I lived there. People got their clothes, other household needs, in "town", meaning, the nearest larger city. The little places just had a grocery store, a gas station, maybe a bar and a few other little places. If you were lucky, a little sandwich shop.