questions about zip 80211 (Denver, Aurora, Lakewood: condominium, loans, first time home buyer)

[sportsfangal]

hi-i have several threads about zip code 80211, this seems to be a desireable place to live? I have posted previously about buying a home in Denver. I am a first time home buyer. I am a single, professional, traveling nurse and want to be in a decent, clean area of Denver and relatively close to the cultural offerings of downtown.
thanks for your input!

[Count David]

Originally Posted by sportsfangal

hi-i have several threads about zip code 80211, this seems to be a desireable place to live? I have posted previously about buying a home in Denver. I am a first time home buyer. I am a single, professional, traveling nurse and want to be in a decent, clean area of Denver and relatively close to the cultural offerings of downtown.
thanks for your input!

80211 is usually linked to the Highlands neighborhood, although it encompasses some other, "less-desirable" neighborhoods as well. I believe 80211, is "better" the further from I-25/I-70 you are.

Some other posters will probably help you out.

[tfox]

Do a search on city-data forums for Highland and West Highlands, Berkeley, Sloans Lake. Most of these areas spill over into 80212 as well.

[sportsfangal]

Are there some other desireable zip codes in the Denver area I could look into as far as buying a home?
thanks!

[Count David]

Originally Posted by sportsfangal

Are there some other desireable zip codes in the Denver area I could look into as far as buying a home?
thanks!

I would focus more on neighborhood as opposed to zip code. There are too many zip codes around here that are too large and contain neighborhoods that are vastly different from each other. 80220 comes to mind, which includes the desirable Park Hill, Montclair, and Hale neighborhoods; but also includes the not-so-desirable East Colfax neighborhood.

If you could find something in Highlands, you will be just fine.

You can use (DenverMaps Report) to find out what neighborhood a particular address is in, in Denver.

What exactly are you looking for neighborhood/home/price wise?

[sportsfangal]

I'm looking for a clean, quiet, safe neighborhood. I travel alot and don't want to have to worry about being gone for months at a time.
I would like to be close to the cultural offerings of Denver. My price range for a 1st time home is somewhere between 100-150K if possible.
I want to stay away from GVR and Montbello.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by sportsfangal

I'm looking for a clean, quiet, safe neighborhood. I travel alot and don't want to have to worry about being gone for months at a time.
I would like to be close to the cultural offerings of Denver. My price range for a 1st time home is somewhere between 100-150K if possible.
I want to stay away from GVR and Montbello.

Have you considered a condominium? You could get a nice lock-and-leave condominium in a good Denver neighborhood for that price. You might look at the southern portions of Capitol Hill, around Governor's Park -- it's relatively quiet there compared to the more northern sections of Cap Hill, but still walking distance to everything.

Frankly, in your price range in Denver, for a single family, you're going to be looking at either a ghetto neighborhood, or a house that needs a total rehab for that price range. You're better off looking in the suburbs, but even there it will be really tough to find something decent for that price.

[Count David]

I did a quick search and here is what I found (homes under 150K).

North Denver
SW Denver
West Denver
Green Valley Ranch
Montbello
Northeast Park Hill
East Colfax
-these aren't the most desirable areas in Denver, but are cheap.

North Aurora
Central Aurora - my neighborhood, great deal, ignore the undeserved bad rep
South Aurora - I used to live here, also a great deal

Commerce City - not the best reputation, prices reflect desirability
Thornton - great deal

Brighton
Lochbuie
-both really far out if you are willing to put up with that

Westminster
Lakewood
Englewood
Arvada
-something could be found in these areas, probably need work and not in the "best" areas, of each, however.


You could probably get into a condo/townhome just about anywhere in metro Denver in your price range, but could still get into a house if you won't concede that. For your price range, unfortunately, you will need to make some concessions. If you aren't here that often, is driving downtown that big of a deal? I go downtown all the time and the 20-25 minutes it takes isn't that big of a deal.

[sportsfangal]

Hey David Aguilar!
I don't mind a condo, but I really want a garage or at least covered parking.
I don't mind a 20-30 minute commute. what type of concesstions with I need to make? I really hope I don't have to live in the ghetto.

[sportsfangal]

When you give examples of areas of Denver, Governor's Park, for example, could you also include street names, zip codes and bordering highways? for example: main st. between 2nd and 15th, or south of I-70 east of universty, etc) I usually only party/shop/sports in Denver, and have not paid much attention to the residential aspect.
thanks!!