Retiring to Ft. Collins, CO (Fort Collins, Greeley: rentals, condo, affordable house)

[JAV]

Our daughter is moving to Ft. Collins, CO to take a job. My wife and I are contemplating retiring there within the next three years (moving from Michigan). We've been to Ft. Collins before, liked what we saw, but don't know much about the housing market or the neighborhoods. We're looking for a SF home, less than 2000 sf, in a safe, tree-lined neighborhhood with opportunities for biking. But, we want to be within easy reach of downtown, the university, and cultural activities. We would consider a condo in a project with some character. What are the good neighborhoods for early 60s retirees? Also, is Greeley a better bet for us?

JAV

[tfox]

There is a *very* nice Senior Center in Fort Collins, with lots of programs, nice pools, gyms. No, I'm not a senior but I've heard other seniors gush about it. It's at 1200 Raintree Dr, near Drake & Shields. You could consider living around there, but it's central enough that you wouldn't have to.

If you want to be within easy reach of downtown and the campus, however, one of my favorite neighborhoods is to the east of campus (between College and Lemay). Too close to College is going to get you too close to crazy student life, but by the time you get to about Stover, you're far enough away from the campus to not see many students.

I wouldn't consider Greeley unless you simply can't afford Fort Collins.

[Tom Emmerling]

I would look in the area just east of I25 off of Mulberry. There is the clydesdale retirement community. They do not allow anyone under 50 in there and they do have some smaller homes that are more affordable in there. Also just across the street would be a good pick also. It is an older neighborhood so trees are mature. There is a trail running through the subdivision and there is also a lake there. It would be about a 10 minute drive to downtown. You may also want to look at the west side of town. Maybe in the brown farm area off of Drake between taft hill and overland trail. It is a affordable community also. If you want to be closer to down town you might want to consider the area west of college/mountain area. Housing is a little more pricey in this area but close to everything including some great bike trails and csu. Another really GREAT neighborhood would be Adriel Hills. It is west of I25 on mountain vista. It is a retirement community. They have a pool, and golf. It is affordable houseing too. There are really too many areas that would fit your needs. What is your price range? I would not suggest Greeley to retire, for many reasons!!!

[luckysam]

I'll say what no one else will say about Greeley. The big joke in Colorado is how bad Greeley smells. It smells like cow manure ALL the time. It's really dumpy and it's not a desirable to place to live at all. It's basically the armpit of Colorado.

Anywhere you go in Ft. Collins you'll be close to the University and arts. It's a short drive to anywhere, although traffic is really bad. There are some really pretty houses near the Collindale Golf Course and a lake in that area. The homes north and west of campus are older and on the tree-lined streets like you desire. Like someone said though, the closer you are to campus the more rentals and wild college students you'll live by. I was one of them not to long ago. My DH works at CSU actually. Ft. Collins has so many great neighborhoods you'd be happy wherever you go. The Spring Creek Trail is great for riding your bike on. It goes from the very East side of town pretty far west. I used to to love to rollerblade and ride my bike on it in college.

Loveland is also a nice choice and might appeal to you. It's a community that in my opinion has a higher number of people who are 55+. They are finally adding some major shopping areas on the east side of town which are really nice. My grandparents house is west of town above Carter Lake so I've spent a lot of time in Loveland too. It's a nice city. It's only 20 minutes to Ft. Collins. The Marianna Butte golf course is REALLY nice and although I'm not an avid golfer all of my golfing friends and parents and grandparents and so on LOVE IT! My friend from Oklahoma played it last year and said it was the best course she has ever played. It's worth trying while you're here.

[livecontent]

Originally Posted by luckysam

I'll say what no one else will say about Greeley. The big joke in Colorado is how bad Greeley smells. It smells like cow manure ALL the time. It's really dumpy and it's not a desirable to place to live at all. It's basically the armpit of Colorado.

The smell of cow manure is the small of industry, of an essential industry in this country. Yes, it is the smell or work, real work. It is the smell of the Great Plains. It is certainly, better than the smell of water sucking, non-essential blue grass lawn.

We need the smells, we need the odors, we need industry, we need farming, we need farming communities, we need the type of people who work in industry and farming.

We cannot allow our meat to be produced in China---because what we would import would be, like all the toys, specious and suspect.

Greeley is a desirable place to live in Colorado for many people who produce and labor so we can have American Beef. We must not allow, dainty people, to turn the west into housing developments upon developments upon developments--sucking up agricultural water.

[kmflan]

LOL, Livecontent, Amen!
I grew up around horses- their manure smells similar to cows'- and a barn still smells like home to me. I have friends in Greely and they love it there. We currently live near Kansas City and get our beef and dairy from a local farmer. Best thing ever.

[sosobroke]

The area around the Spring Creek Trail would fit your needs. The house is older too so the pricing is a bit better. You could likely find a home around 2000 sf feet for around $320,000.