Fort Collins & Loveland -- Where to Settle? Good Parts? Bad Parts? (cost, year)

[NBeener]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Yes, we had our problems with young neighbors coming home at 3AM and both stomping on the stairs and talking loud at that hour. Had upstairs neighbor with a baby that loved to run across the floor aka our ceiling. Way to many people simply don’t care about their neighbors sleeping. “Don’t like the noise, move out”, we’ve been told.

Heck, even after we bought our house in Parker, next door neighbors dog loved to bark at 2AM.

Wish we could, BUT could never live somewhere where the neighbors were blocks to miles away.

If you're sensitive to noisy neighbors, figuring out a way to avoid having neighbors physically close to you is -- by a country mile -- the best way to deal with it.

Though it's worse in Fort Collins than it (likely) is in Loveland ... the demographics of this general area are skewing young, active, relatively big drinkers, and healthy -- people that cannot imagine that losing sleep could ever cause anybody any real harm.

Which leaves you wearing a really prominent bullseye if you ever have to complain -- no matter to whom you complain, how reasonable your complaint, or how civilly you raise it.

DAMHIKT.

@LoveBoating: if I were you I would do whatever I possibly could to make a long-ish term but temporary move to Colorado -- stay in a long-term hotel if you need to -- and try to figure out what area is best for you. Picking wrong can be very difficult and expensive to undo.

Best of luck !

[BabyBoomers2]

We will need cheap, but a safe area as well. We will be going to some rodeos, and doing a few other things, but sure won’t have the finances we had when we lived there (Parker) before. Back then, we were both working full-time descent paying jobs.

No retirement income of any kind, other than SS. Will have some savings, but don’t want to be stupid and use that up on all fun stuff. However, there will be some expenses we won’t have there that we have here.

We simply want a nice 2-bedroom/1 1/2 bath apartment we can afford, in a descent area.....and we hope that’s in Loveland or close area, but NOT Ft Collins. To much stuff goes on there for us, as in college students.

We really miss the Elk “rut” in RMNP, freshwater boating/trout fishing and, of course, rodeo action.

What would Cheyenne be like to live in? Gonna check that out during our visit also.

Wife says “too much snow and cold” in Estes Park for her.

[Thoreau424]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

No retirement income of any kind, other than SS.

We simply want a nice 2-bedroom/1 1/2 bath apartment we can afford

Hopefully you have done, or will do, a thorough and complete budget plan, including all expenses and estimated expenses, over the long haul. A simple Excel spreadsheet can be very telling.

The numbers should show whether the plans make sense or not, and ideally give you some "wiggle" room (better to err on the side of caution, of course). Cutting it close is risky. We found CO to be much more expensive than we originally conceived (even with an existing detailed budget), and is the main reason we will be moving out of the state as soon as we can arrange it.

[StealthRabbit]

Cheyenne is an option, but not always cheap, based on energy / economy / employment activities (+ Cheyenne has less available housing +/-). I would put the climate harsher than Loveland, actually quite a bit harsher (more exposure / wind / prairie). If you choose Cheyenne (and can find a rental)...You can likely put your BUY plans on hold until the market tanks, and you find a nice home.

I personally prefer a WY domicile, but my spouse claims I will be VERY lonely in WY... (I could cope (Very well), but... I'm not interested in declaring war to realize my personal preference of a simple place to lay my head.

Plan C
= Wellington, CO (I have (3) friends who have chosen that as a compromise (cost / location / services).

Hopefully you have done, or will do, a thorough and complete budget plan, including all expenses and estimated expenses, over the long haul. A simple Excel spreadsheet can be very telling. (it removed completely WY as an option for my retirement based on my weighted criteria .xls (Variation in Home Equity, Transportation costs (time and money) (medical needs for spouse) and <1hr proximity to international airport, were on my criteria, but will not be on most retirees agenda.) Even tho I use FREE fuel, WY was HARD on the transportation budget. But I would be there in a second if / when without spouse. (i think...but since spouse is ALWAYS right, I would be very wise to listen to the 'ghost voice' that will linger after death of spouse)

For additional locations... I have retiree friends who really love Lander and Riverton, WY. (2) couples who retired there... were originally from Loveland

[BabyBoomers2]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Hopefully you have done, or will do, a thorough and complete budget plan, including all expenses and estimated expenses, over the long haul. A simple Excel spreadsheet can be very telling.

The numbers should show whether the plans make sense or not, and ideally give you some "wiggle" room (better to err on the side of caution, of course). Cutting it close is risky. We found CO to be much more expensive than we originally conceived (even with an existing detailed budget), and is the main reason we will be moving out of the state as soon as we can arrange it.

Well, we “think” we’ll be ok, but really won’t know any more than “think” until we visit. What we do know is that our financial situation will take a hit after my wife leaves her job here. But, will have to handle that hit in order to live and enjoy the things we’ve missed since moving here.

It will cost us to move (Van Lines) and have our boat taken there, but that’s just the way that is.

[Thoreau424]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

Well, we “think” we’ll be ok, but really won’t know any more than “think” until we visit.

Visiting is good for gauging the mood and likability, but determining the budget could begin even long-distance, from where you live currently. Once you list all monthly expense types (rent, electricity, gas, gasoline, phone, groceries, etc.) you could start estimating the totals, and begin getting a feel for them vs. monthly income. That could impact your trip and where you look.

[BabyBoomers2]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Visiting is good for gauging the mood and likability. Determining the budget though could begin even long-distance, from where you live currently. Once you list all monthly expense types (rent, electricity, gas, gasoline, phone, groceries, etc.) you could start estimating the totals, and begin getting a feel for them vs. monthly income. That could factor into your trip and where you look.

What about the things we really like and miss about Colorado. From what I know, none of those things have changed there.....same as when we left in Oct 2007. And, we really can’t find anywhere else (State) we’d want to live in, other than maybe Cheyenne or that area.

[Thoreau424]

Originally Posted by LoveBoating

What about the things we really like and miss about Colorado. From what I know, none of those things have changed there.

Yes, but cost of living could be quite a bit different since you last lived here. What good is being here if you run the risk of financial difficulties? I'm only speaking out of experience, and as a friendly caution. Good or great qualities here could lose their value if finances rise higher in importance. It's not a point to take lightly. Oh well, I won't say anything further in this area...

[BabyBoomers2]

Originally Posted by Thoreau424

Yes, but cost of living could be quite a bit different since you last lived here. What good is being here if you run the risk of financial difficulties? I'm only speaking out of experience, and as a friendly caution. Good or great qualities here could lose their value if finances rise higher in importance. It's not a point to take lightly. Oh well, I won't say anything further in this area...

Don’t worry, you’re fine with what you said here.😊

Wife is thinking more positive than I am, but then again, she handles all the bill paying and completely knows what our finances are.

But, the really “bottom line” will pretty much depend on our visit. Right now we are REALLY looking forward to the visit and going to Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. In the last 9 1/2 years here, have only been to one pro-rodeo (PRCA) and that one was very small. Went to Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and Parade when we lived there and totally loved the day. I’m a former member of PRCA.

[grammabamma]

Here is a senior apartment complex that might meet your needs in Ft. Collins...

Sanctuary Place Apartments
3732 Kunz Court
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(970) 225-2116

https://www.voacolorado.org/housing_...anctuary-place

It's the only one I've found, so far, in the area.

A few years back, we lived in Ft. Collins, near Colorado State, and never experienced any problems. We were in a nice older neighborhood, not an apartment. That might have been the difference.