Fort Collins house rentals...why so high? (Loveland, Craig: mortgage, neighborhood)

[carecare7]

Several months ago, I was looking at 3 bedroom homes for rent in the Fort Collins area and I found 4 and 5 bedroom homes for less than $1000 a month; 3 bedrooms for around $700-900 a month. Now, the listings have jumped in price to the point that it is like Flagstaff, where I live now! My current rental here in
Flagstaff is 1600 sq ft and we pay $1200 a month. The homes in Fort Collins seem to have gone up to match that price or higher! What happened? Is it the time of the year that matters? Is it because of the university students coming in? Someone please give me some insight about this. Thanks!

[delta07]

Originally Posted by carecare7

Several months ago, I was looking at 3 bedroom homes for rent in the Fort Collins area and I found 4 and 5 bedroom homes for less than $1000 a month; 3 bedrooms for around $700-900 a month. Now, the listings have jumped in price to the point that it is like Flagstaff, where I live now! My current rental here in
Flagstaff is 1600 sq ft and we pay $1200 a month. The homes in Fort Collins seem to have gone up to match that price or higher! What happened? Is it the time of the year that matters? Is it because of the university students coming in? Someone please give me some insight about this. Thanks!

Rental prices in Fort Collins are definitely driven by the university. Most homes will rent in the summer so that's probably why your seeing an increase in the price. When I lived and went to school in Fort Collins our rent for a 3 bedroom home was around $900 and this was in the late 90s. So, I'm actually surprised the prices aren't higher.

[Colorado_Caroline]

Home rental prices in Fort Collins are actually pretty decent.

My husband & I just recently moved from Fort Collins to Virginia Beach, which is a few hours south of Washington DC...on the coast. A home that would rent for $900/month in Fort Collins, would go for $1200-$1400/month where I live now.

It's horrible.

[dabeastro]

Renting in Fort Collins is a game. I pay 900/mo for a nice 3 bedroom house with a large fenced yard and garage about a mile from campus. I found the listing on Craigslist and I rent directly from the owner who bought the house for his daughter to live in while she was in school. I have neighbors who rent from property management firms who pay 1200/mo for the exact same house layout (but in greater disrepair.)

My advice is to stay persistent and keep watching and calling. I would avoid the property management firms in town as they tend to be pretty slummy and have higher rates. If you do not need close proximity to campus, take a look at Laporte to the NW or Loveland to the South. Wellington north of town would also be an option. If I had to move, I would look north of City Park. There are lots of homes up there and the neighborhood is slowly becoming part of Old Town. You are closer to the river too. Hope that helps.

[Rstrong]

Simply...supply and demand. Mortgage constraints are keeping buyers out of the market and in turn we are seeing such shortage of "good" rental properties. I am hearing of properties renting within hours of hitting the market and then 4,5,6 people waiting behind them in case something falls through.