Moving. Area south of Rocky Moun. Arsenal NWR? (Denver, Aurora: real estate, foreclosures)

[Grishem]

Hi People. My wife and I are moving to either Denver or CS this coming year. Since we live in Louisiana, we can't get a good feel for the areas without flying our butts up there. Two things I'd like to address, the large amount of forclosers in Denver and the amount of crime (remember I'm from New Orleans, comparing the two crime stats, I'd even take my chances wearing a money suit in Denver). Could anyone give me your thoughts on these two matters. Also, My wife and I are looking at the area south of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR. How is that area and if that area is bad could you suggest an area to look into? My wife and I are a friendly yet not up your butt neighbor and animal lovers so we are looking for a place that we could possibly raise some little grishems' in the future. I appreciate your time and thoughts.

Grish'

[Count David]

Do a search on Montbello.

What is your price range?

[Grishem]

We are trying to find a house that cost in the 100 to 120 area... we seem to be finding some in taht price range in Denver. Our goal is to get something that we could have enough money every month to add on to the house and make it our own. Does anyone elswe recommend the Montbello area? Just found a house there that looks interesting.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by Grishem

We are trying to find a house that cost in the 100 to 120 area... we seem to be finding some in taht price range in Denver. Our goal is to get something that we could have enough money every month to add on to the house and make it our own. Does anyone elswe recommend the Montbello area? Just found a house there that looks interesting.

No one in their right mind will recommend Montbello to you. In your price range you'd be better off looking in Aurora, which has many cheap neighborhoods that are actually on the up-and-up. Remember that the median metro home value is somewhere in the range of 250k, so you're definitely limited in options in your price range.

[steveindenver]

1-120 is just about impossible in Denver proper unless you can overlook a number of things.

That price range in 80010 (Northern Aurora just out side of Denver proper) did buy you something with fewer problems until recently but the market seems to have moved that range to 130-150 in the past couple of months.

The rocky mountain aresenal is a national superfund site for toxic (in this case radioactive) cleanup.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by steveindenver

The rocky mountain aresenal is a national superfund site for toxic (in this case radioactive) cleanup.

Well, actually it was chemical weapons, so think Sarin gas and VX rather than nukes -- not very comforting I realize. Really, that's the least of your problems if you live there.

Montbello may not be all that bad compared to the ghettos of other cities -- and it may not even be the worst area in the metro area, but it's getting worse not better so the OP is well-advised to stay away.

[Grishem]

Thanks ... looking elsewhere. I originally wanted to move to CS, but job concerns for my wife have thrown my three years of research of the Springs out the window. I think she's just getting scared at making such a huge move from Louisiana to Colorado. We were also looking at some of the out of city areas such as Golden. Any thoughts about the outer ring areas?

[tfox]

Originally Posted by Grishem

Thanks ... looking elsewhere. I originally wanted to move to CS, but job concerns for my wife have thrown my three years of research of the Springs out the window. I think she's just getting scared at making such a huge move from Louisiana to Colorado. We were also looking at some of the out of city areas such as Golden. Any thoughts about the outer ring areas?

Golden is WAY out of your price range. In fact, I'd say Jefferson County generally is out of the question, with the possible exception of a SERIOUS fixer-upper in some of the older sections of Lakewood or Arvada.

Frankly, I think your options are very limited if you insist on a single family home in your price range. Your best bet, as I said before, will be in Aurora, which has a lot of affordable housing. Some of the Aurora posters can probably steer you to exactly where in Aurora you can go. You'll find a lot of posts talking bad about Aurora on city-data but it's a big city (300k+) and has both good and bad parts.

Also, I'd recommend looking into a townhouse as an alternative to a single family home. Your options will be open much wider.

All this said, in this time of economic uncertainty there's a lot of deals to be had out there. Even in relatively desirable areas you'll find foreclosures, HUDs, you name it for very reasonable prices, provided you're patient and can do the work yourself.

[Grishem]

With all the forclosers I've been finding plenty of houases in our price range and better actually. We aren't affraid of a fixer-up. In fact with our price range I expect it. We actually can afford more than 120 but we want a house where we can still save generously while making the morgage payments. I've found three houses in Golden priced at 100 to 118 (forclosers) so finding the houses has not been as bad as I thought it might but its my knowledge of the neighborhoods that is lacking. As for as a "bad" area, I live in New Orleans, enough said.

[Count David]

Go to a real estate website, and search zips in this order for Aurora.

80015: I used to live here, solid, average American middle class, for the most part.

80014: More urban (for Aurora) in areas, but very solid and close to I-225.

80012: I live here now, IMO a good, fairly cheap, established neighborhood. Central part of Aurora, close to everything.

80013: Mostly typical sprawl from the late 70's-early 80's. Very good deals over here.

80017: IMO this area has been hit very hard by the housing crisis. It is extremely cheap over there now, similar to 80013, but further north and not as nice. But still ok.

80010: Has a huge upside with the new hospitals nearby. Still very early in the transition stage, similar story as Denver neighborhood Highland in future?

80011: Some of this falls in the '80010 upside' category, but is my least favorite part of town. Probably most working-class part of town.

I skipped 80016, because much of it isn't Aurora proper and is also out of your price range. 80018 is all new, fairly expensive, and in the middle of nowhere. 80019 consists of one newer subdivision by the airport.

I'm sure you could find something, somewhere in Aurora. I don't think anywhere in Colorado could measure up to New Orleans' worst neighborhoods.

BTW, as far as Montbello goes, IMO the reputation it gets is undeserved, but very commonly believed, hence the low prices for housing.