Colorado wisdom?
- Thread starter bofa
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bofa
New member
The bar shooting and arson. What I don't get though is why local Colorado issues keep getting national coverage lately. Maybe my ears just perk up when I hear "Denver" or "Colorado" in the news.
boondoggle
Member
Lots of good info here. I don't have too much to add.
Like many cities that are 'up and coming' these days, you have a few options.
1. A place 'in the country' that's gonna cost less, give you space and take a while to get where you want to go. low $/sq. ft.
2. The close to downtown/urban and semi urban neighborhoods. higher $/sq. ft
3. The burbs (often in between 1 and 2). lower $/sq ft.
I live in the same-ish neighborhood as SgnDen - North Highlands/Berkeley NW Denver. I'd call it a #2.
When we decided to buy it came down to a few things - community 'feel', commute to work and whether or not we liked the place (I had requirements such as a garage, my wife wanted a dining room etc.
Well, we ended up in NW Denver and I've almost made the move to the a #3 burbs since, just to get a larger garage, bigger basement etc. Those places are just a lot more expensive in a #2 area.
However, I just can't bring myself to do it. I really hate driving around down in the Littleton/Centennial area. It doesn't have any of that 'community' feel we have up here NW (maybe it's neighborhood pride, I dunno, there are a lot of things I don't care for about my neighborhood, schools for example).
I work in Golden, so my commute is only about 25 minutes door to door. That's nice. The direction I travel on I70 doesn't have too many issues usually. For a while I took I25 as part of my commute and hated it. Just absolutely hated it. Make sure you don't subject your wife to an I25 commute. Trust me, it's the pits.
If you're in the Golden Area, check out the Applewood neighborhood. Depending on how things play out for us in the next couple of years, that's possibly a contender for our next move. Older homes, in a good way. But it can get mixed up pretty quickly.
Ideally, I'd find us a place out west here with an acre or two. But it starts getting expensive really quick when you start looking for acreage/horse properties along the front range.
For example,check this out, 3 Bed, 1Bath small house on 5 Acres. Only half a million.
Gulp!
Land and location come in strange combinations out here.
1195 Isabell St, Golden, CO 80401 - Zillow
There are some nice spots in Arvada too. Kind of mixed up neighborhoods, but nice.
Check out zillow.com. It's fun.
Oh, and if you visit Golden, I'd skip the Coors brewery. Better breweries to visit, especially if you're here on a scouting mission.
Cheers!
Like many cities that are 'up and coming' these days, you have a few options.
1. A place 'in the country' that's gonna cost less, give you space and take a while to get where you want to go. low $/sq. ft.
2. The close to downtown/urban and semi urban neighborhoods. higher $/sq. ft
3. The burbs (often in between 1 and 2). lower $/sq ft.
I live in the same-ish neighborhood as SgnDen - North Highlands/Berkeley NW Denver. I'd call it a #2.
When we decided to buy it came down to a few things - community 'feel', commute to work and whether or not we liked the place (I had requirements such as a garage, my wife wanted a dining room etc.
Well, we ended up in NW Denver and I've almost made the move to the a #3 burbs since, just to get a larger garage, bigger basement etc. Those places are just a lot more expensive in a #2 area.
However, I just can't bring myself to do it. I really hate driving around down in the Littleton/Centennial area. It doesn't have any of that 'community' feel we have up here NW (maybe it's neighborhood pride, I dunno, there are a lot of things I don't care for about my neighborhood, schools for example).
I work in Golden, so my commute is only about 25 minutes door to door. That's nice. The direction I travel on I70 doesn't have too many issues usually. For a while I took I25 as part of my commute and hated it. Just absolutely hated it. Make sure you don't subject your wife to an I25 commute. Trust me, it's the pits.
If you're in the Golden Area, check out the Applewood neighborhood. Depending on how things play out for us in the next couple of years, that's possibly a contender for our next move. Older homes, in a good way. But it can get mixed up pretty quickly.
Ideally, I'd find us a place out west here with an acre or two. But it starts getting expensive really quick when you start looking for acreage/horse properties along the front range.
For example,check this out, 3 Bed, 1Bath small house on 5 Acres. Only half a million.
Gulp!Land and location come in strange combinations out here.
1195 Isabell St, Golden, CO 80401 - Zillow
There are some nice spots in Arvada too. Kind of mixed up neighborhoods, but nice.
Check out zillow.com. It's fun.
Oh, and if you visit Golden, I'd skip the Coors brewery. Better breweries to visit, especially if you're here on a scouting mission.
Cheers!
bofa
New member
Thanks! I have quite a few places to check out on my visit.
Oooh... like what? Do tell.
We've done the Coors tour before and it was just okay. Plus it was the middle of the Summer and pretty hot... and that's when we learned that not every place has A/C in Colorado. Wowsa... But it shouldn't be a problem this time.
We live a few miles from a Budweiser factory here and go for the tours every now and then (but moreso for the hospitality center :beer: ). If there are other breweries to try, I'm game. I already have plans to eat at Rock Bottom the first night.
Oooh... like what? Do tell.
We've done the Coors tour before and it was just okay. Plus it was the middle of the Summer and pretty hot... and that's when we learned that not every place has A/C in Colorado. Wowsa... But it shouldn't be a problem this time.
We live a few miles from a Budweiser factory here and go for the tours every now and then (but moreso for the hospitality center :beer: ). If there are other breweries to try, I'm game. I already have plans to eat at Rock Bottom the first night.
boondoggle
Member
I'm gonna cheat and just post this link:
10 Must-See Denver Area Breweries and Brew Pubs | Spork Marketing Blog
Pints Pub has an interesting 'live ale' it's kept in the basement and hand pumped up to the serving floor. No fizz.
They also have the best selection of single malts I've ever seen anywhere. They even have some extremely rare bottles that go for about $750-$875 a glass. I like scotch, but not that much.
And as SgnDen pointed out Ft. Collins has Oskar Blues brewery. Oskar Blues | Dales Pale Ale - Oskar Blues
If you can work from home and your wife can get a gig up in Ft. Collins it really might be worth looking into. A fair distance to Denver if you plan on participating in the 'culture' such as Zoo, Museum, sports events (we have pro teams in every major sport). So something to think about.
I ride my bicycle to the football/baseball games. Kind of worth having a smaller home, for now. When my 2.5 year old boy gets older, we're gonna need a 2nd bathroom.
10 Must-See Denver Area Breweries and Brew Pubs | Spork Marketing Blog
Pints Pub has an interesting 'live ale' it's kept in the basement and hand pumped up to the serving floor. No fizz.
They also have the best selection of single malts I've ever seen anywhere. They even have some extremely rare bottles that go for about $750-$875 a glass.
I like scotch, but not that much. And as SgnDen pointed out Ft. Collins has Oskar Blues brewery. Oskar Blues | Dales Pale Ale - Oskar Blues
If you can work from home and your wife can get a gig up in Ft. Collins it really might be worth looking into. A fair distance to Denver if you plan on participating in the 'culture' such as Zoo, Museum, sports events (we have pro teams in every major sport). So something to think about.
I ride my bicycle to the football/baseball games. Kind of worth having a smaller home, for now. When my 2.5 year old boy gets older, we're gonna need a 2nd bathroom.
JRandomHacker
New member
While I'd like to join the friendly "Colorado is full" ribbing, I personally think everyone on this forum is welcome to move to Colorado. Imagine it, our 4Runners roving the mountains of Colorado looking for fun and adventure!
Moab can keep the Jeeps.
Moab can keep the Jeeps.
GrantK
New member
Hey bofa,
First real snow has arrived for the Front Range. I woke up to find 4" of snow on my deck with more to come today and overnight. The other thing was no power and a cold house. Both are not unusual for the FrontRange. Boulder is on accident alert
First real snow has arrived for the Front Range. I woke up to find 4" of snow on my deck with more to come today and overnight. The other thing was no power and a cold house. Both are not unusual for the FrontRange. Boulder is on accident alert
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Gerdo
New member
We just need to get rid of the yahoos.
SgnDen
New member
Good idea! Did you have to deal with the drivers on the road last evening/night when the slush came-in? It was truly unreal...
<sigh>
bofa
New member
Thanks man - that's awesome! My wife's been checking the webcams around the state all day. We're looking forward to it!
Right now we have a hurricane crawling up the coast, it's 85 degrees with 65% humidity and I'm sweating my arse off from cleaning the garage.
GrantK
New member
Thanks man - that's awesome! My wife's been checking the webcams around the state all day. We're looking forward to it!
Right now we have a hurricane crawling up the coast, it's 85 degrees with 65% humidity and I'm sweating my arse off from cleaning the garage.
Tell your wife to Google 'Boulder webcam' and she'll get a bunch for my area.
Another thing on the weather out here. LOW humidity!!! It's not uncommon to get into single digits! Also be prepared for a 30-40 degree temp swing between lows and highs everyday. That means it can be cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon. The old saying is "You know your from Colorado when you start the day wearing a parka and finish it in shorts and sandals."
bofa
New member
Will do. Yeah the humidity difference is huge. It was always interesting flying home from there and getting off the plane here and it hitting me like a bucket of warm muggy water. If you ever want to get a taste of what we deal with, go to the botanic gardens and walk in the tropics room. I will not miss it!
We are pretty used to the temp swings but only when it's "cold" here. 30-40 degree swings are normal when it finally cools off but it doesn't happen that often. I think we'll have to learn to layer and keep some extra stuff in the car. I've spent more on winter clothes in the past few months than I care to admit (they are cheap here... for obvious reasons. hah!).
veloindy
New member
Best webcam site.
http://www.****gilbert.com/coloradocams.htm
Another 4-6 tonight. I love snow, but the 4 aspens I planted haven't lost there leaves. This morning they all bent to the ground, hope they recover.
http://www.****gilbert.com/coloradocams.htm
Another 4-6 tonight. I love snow, but the 4 aspens I planted haven't lost there leaves. This morning they all bent to the ground, hope they recover.
GrantK
New member
The profanity filter broke the URL. For those interested, replace the **** with the 4 letter name for a male appendage that begins with 'D'
I just noticed this thread and kind of read all of the posts. I'm not sure what to say about everyone's comments but I'll add a few of my own. The posts about CO being full are pretty much foolishness, as if these people have any say on who should and shouldn't be allowed in. I say if you can't welcome anyone than either shut up or move to the mountains. Illegals, gee as if CO is the only state with that issue - if you think it's bad try living in LA for a while. Too much anti-Mexican crap in the state for my tastes but that's the Colorado white suburbanites issue, not mine. Blah, blah, blah...
Where to live? Don't even try to pick an area by our opinions. Hell, I live in Aurora (yes, that Aurora) and love my neighborhood. I wouldn't live in any of the neighborhoods I noticed being praised, I like variety and diversity and most of the places I saw mentioned are bland, cookie-cutter, shopping mall based neighborhoods. Until you get to know the area it's foolish to even try.
Since it doesn't matter where you live since you don't have to commute it would be wise to rent month-to-month while your wife looks for a job. There are a lot of teachers looking for work so it won't be a breeze for her unless she's qualified for an in demand subject. Cherry Creek is the best school district but jobs are easier to find in the "less desireable" areas where they need good teachers.
You'll love living in Colorado, take your time and do it right. No hurry in picking a neighborhood because once you're here you won't want to leave.
Ignore the negativity and the "Colorado is full" BS, people here are friendly and welcoming for the most part. Figure it all out after getting here and enjoy your new state!
Where to live? Don't even try to pick an area by our opinions. Hell, I live in Aurora (yes, that Aurora) and love my neighborhood. I wouldn't live in any of the neighborhoods I noticed being praised, I like variety and diversity and most of the places I saw mentioned are bland, cookie-cutter, shopping mall based neighborhoods. Until you get to know the area it's foolish to even try.
Since it doesn't matter where you live since you don't have to commute it would be wise to rent month-to-month while your wife looks for a job. There are a lot of teachers looking for work so it won't be a breeze for her unless she's qualified for an in demand subject. Cherry Creek is the best school district but jobs are easier to find in the "less desireable" areas where they need good teachers.
You'll love living in Colorado, take your time and do it right. No hurry in picking a neighborhood because once you're here you won't want to leave.
Ignore the negativity and the "Colorado is full" BS, people here are friendly and welcoming for the most part. Figure it all out after getting here and enjoy your new state!
SgnDen
New member
Ummmm...I think we've moved beyond that tone. It was an indulgence to rant back then (what, like three weeks ago??) and if one were to read all of the long ramblings by a couple of us, it all morphed into a mini-love fest with honest feedback...subjective as it may be. We are just so incredibly proud of our state it's just hard to watch...that's all.
Growth is everywhere in the country...and no surprise people are filling-in where the lifestyle is better...and yup, it's unavoidable that the very things that make it so attractive to so many eventually becomes the VERY thing they were trying to escape. Then people say - "Next".
Carl.
New member
One thing I don't think we've mentioned in this you don't have to leave the pavement in Colorado to find rocks in the road. Only had the truck 10 weeks and it's time for a new windshield.
Although it could be much worse. This happened in 2006 about 10 miles from my house. Guy was not in car at time.
This one in Glenwood Canyon a couple years ago was also memorable. Will be speeding up through this section later this afternoon.
Although it could be much worse. This happened in 2006 about 10 miles from my house. Guy was not in car at time.
This one in Glenwood Canyon a couple years ago was also memorable. Will be speeding up through this section later this afternoon.
SgnDen
New member
Ha, it has happened (not sure where this was taken)...though the "sand" (errrr Gravel) that CDOT dumps on the road keeps this to a minimum. Kinda miss the days trying to scoot up Floyd Hill when not everyone had front wheel drive, a truck, or an SUV...and would try with pretty much anything (BTW, this is NOT Floyd Hill - not by a long shot).
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veloindy
New member
One thing I don't think we've mentioned in this you don't have to leave the pavement in Colorado to find rocks in the road. Only had the truck 10 weeks and it's time for a new windshield.
UGH, that sucks! I've been purposely staying waaaaaaaaaaaay behind cars for this reason. The 5th Gen windshield is begging for a rock. Let us know how much your new windshield is, although you might as well wait for sping / early summer now.
Also, how do you like your radar detector?
