Moving (hopefully by December) to Colorado or Utah. Please help me decide! (Denver: sales, real estate)

[MichelleSquibb1985]

I want to move with my husband and my small dog in or around December of this year. I currently live in Orange County CA where the weather is almost perfect and its very very expensive and hard to find good work right now. My husband and I have talked about it and want to move out of state. Its just to expensive for me to go to school and for us to afford a good apartment. I would like to work part time and go to school while my husband (who has a computer degree from ITT) works full time.
The two places we like are Colorado/Denver and Utah/Salt Lake City. Any suggestions would be great. I am 25 and am currently a Sales Consultant. My husband is 30 and wants a computer job but is currently working in a retail field since many good jobs are not available here. We are more indoor people then outdoor people. I do like hiking sometimes or walking with my dog. My husband and I enjoy simple things like going out to the movies or out to eat. We want to be close to a city (like a 15 to 20 min drive) so there is lots of jobs and a community college for me but also live in a nicer/suburb area where there is less crime and its as safe as possible. I want to be close to everyday things like Walmart and Walgreens and within a 20 minute drive of a mall. But we want to live in an upscale apartment thats more affordable then here in CA. We are looking to move to a place that 1) we can live in a nicer area thats more affordable and 2) has more job availability. Any suggestions on areas???

[vegaspilgrim]

I don't think the job market in Denver is really any better than OC at this point-- maybe a tad bit better, but not much. Salt Lake City has a low unemployment rate and a high quality of life, but unless if you're Mormon or have significant connections there it's no place to pack up and move unannounced.

I'd suggest looking at the next tier of states further east-- places like Omaha, Des Moines, Oklahoma City, NW Arkansas, Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio. From everything I can tell, as a job seeker in Denver, the economy and job market is healthier in those cities than Denver. The cost of living in those cities is also less. If you're saying you're an indoor person rather than an outdoor person, sounds like being near mountains is not a big priority. There are nature preserves and places to walk a dog in any city-- so why move on purpose to a "destination city" where you'll be competing with boatloads of people who moved there for the lifestyle/scenery, rather than rational economic reasons?

[wanneroo]

Sounds like where your husband will actually be able to find a job will dictate a lot of it rather than the other way around.

SLC and Denver are two very different places culturally. Denver definitely has more diversity in people and interests. SLC I've been out to 4 times in the past few years on business. It's alright and I did fine when visiting, but definitely it's a more homogeneous society dominated by the Mormon church. There are a number of large companies like American Express based there.

Sounds like you have simple indoor based interests which probably most metro places in the USA can satisfy. There are a lot of places back east that might even be more affordable.

One change you will have to adjust to is a lot of wind and winter.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by MichelleSquibb1985

The two places we like are Colorado/Denver and Utah/Salt Lake City.

Very big difference between these two cities. Denver is much larger and its population is more diverse in terms of its beliefs and political views.

[Viper2]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

There are nature preserves and places to walk a dog in any city-- so why move on purpose to a "destination city" where you'll be competing with boatloads of people who moved there for the lifestyle/scenery, rather than rational economic reasons?

Gimme a break! Most people move to an area because of weather and job opportunities, not mountains. Destination cities are usually places with warm climate and beaches. Denver has neither. Denver is hardly considered a "destination city" by most. Maybe it gets a lot of tourists who want to see mountains, but most are not looking to move there.

That being said, I myself prefer colder weather and mountains, and that's why I live in Washington and may one day move to another mountain state like Colorado. However, my preferences on where to live are different than most peoples' preferences.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Viper2

Gimme a break! Most people move to an area because of weather and job opportunities, not mountains. Destination cities are usually places with warm climate and beaches. Denver has neither. Denver is hardly considered a "destination city" by most. Maybe it gets a lot of tourists who want to see mountains, but most are not looking to move there.

That being said, I myself prefer colder weather and mountains, and that's why I live in Washington and may one day move to another mountain state like Colorado. However, my preferences on where to live are different than most peoples' preferences.

You obviously don't know anything about Denver.

[elemental]

Originally Posted by MichelleSquibb1985

I want to move with my husband and my small dog in or around December of this year. I currently live in Orange County CA where the weather is almost perfect and its very very expensive and hard to find good work right now. My husband and I have talked about it and want to move out of state. Its just to expensive for me to go to school and for us to afford a good apartment. I would like to work part time and go to school while my husband (who has a computer degree from ITT) works full time.
The two places we like are Colorado/Denver and Utah/Salt Lake City. Any suggestions would be great. I am 25 and am currently a Sales Consultant. My husband is 30 and wants a computer job but is currently working in a retail field since many good jobs are not available here. We are more indoor people then outdoor people. I do like hiking sometimes or walking with my dog. My husband and I enjoy simple things like going out to the movies or out to eat. We want to be close to a city (like a 15 to 20 min drive) so there is lots of jobs and a community college for me but also live in a nicer/suburb area where there is less crime and its as safe as possible. I want to be close to everyday things like Walmart and Walgreens and within a 20 minute drive of a mall. But we want to live in an upscale apartment thats more affordable then here in CA. We are looking to move to a place that 1) we can live in a nicer area thats more affordable and 2) has more job availability. Any suggestions on areas???

One thing is for certain, your weather is far more temperate than you will find anywhere in CO or in most places for that matter. I believe that you will be sacrificing some points there. As for expenses, I moved here from NY and can tell you that many things will be cheaper, but food and most of your daily requirements will not. Things like insurance, utilities and everything but water will be cheaper.

Housing is off the chart in CA just as back east, so you will find the prices here very affordable. There is quite a bit of brand new construction in Broomfield that is very affordable. Personally, at your age, I would rent a beautiful place and assess how well CO lifestyle suits the two of you. For our family, it's been a most welcome change. The affordable real estate has provided opportunities we never would have had back East.

Beyond Broomfield, there is always Boulder. Boulder has some of the best trails around at Mt. Sanitas and Chautaqua Trailhead. Hundreds of people walk there daily with their dogs; it's part of their lifestyle. Healthy living, pets and visually taking in that beauty has a solid impact on your psyche that is most positive.

Before you make any decisions, come on out and see the place. Talk to people, ask questions and above all take note of how you feel while there.

Good luck to you both!

[Viper2]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

You obviously don't know anything about Denver.

Here you go: America's Fastest Growing Cities

You can stop pretending Denver is a "destination" city now. It is a destination city for tourists who want to take pictures of mountains, but not for most people who are looking to move somewhere. And because of this, the real estate in Denver is relatively affordable compared to many other big cities in the United States.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by Viper2

Here you go: America's Fastest Growing Cities

Your link leads us to an AOL article that in its lead proclaims New Orleans was the fastest growing city for the calendar year ending July 1, 2007; not quite sure what an article about growth statistics from almost three years ago proves about whether or not Denver is a "destination city" where people choose to move.

After being pummeled by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans is showing signs of recovery -- ranking as the fastest-growing large city in the nation, according to a recent Census Bureau report. These cities showed the highest rate of growth in the calendar year ending on July 1, 2007.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by Viper2

Gimme a break! Most people move to an area because of weather and job opportunities, not mountains. Destination cities are usually places with warm climate and beaches. Denver has neither. Denver is hardly considered a "destination city" by most. Maybe it gets a lot of tourists who want to see mountains, but most are not looking to move there.

That being said, I myself prefer colder weather and mountains, and that's why I live in Washington and may one day move to another mountain state like Colorado. However, my preferences on where to live are different than most peoples' preferences.

Actually a survey from Pew Research differs from your "shot gun" opinion.

"Where would Americans most like to live"

"Denver Tops List of Favorite Cities"

For Nearly Half of America, Grass Is Greener Somewhere Else - Pew Research Center

Now, you know, that you are nobody special and that you share the common opinion of the masses.

Livecontent