Considering a move to Colorado, looking for area suggestions

[ROJO23]

My wife and I are considering on moving to Colorado from Virginia. Luckily we both can transfer with our jobs, but my wife would need to be within approx. 2 hours of Denver. we went out in October and scouted around some, but it was a lot to take in. We both like the Colorado springs area, and up toward Boulder.


There seems to be a very large difference in housing prices from one area to another, much different than where we currently live. we looked at some real estate offices that had listing from $75k to well over a million bucks. We are currently less than 10 years away from paying off our house, and would like to not add any additional debt. Our house is on 5 acres, and would sell for around $400-425K.

I would like to have about 5 acres at a min up to maybe 30-40 acres and build a new house for use to finish out our careers and then stay there for our retirement.

any suggestions would be great. I am planning on coming out again in October to look around again.

thanks

 

[Jbehredt]

On a weekday morning/evening it can take 2 hours to get through Denver, no joke. Make sure you consider traffic in your 2 hour range. A couple flurries is all it takes for the Texans to start playing bumper cars and jam up the interstates.

 

[LongWayAround]

I got a house built in the 70s on a quarter acre for $350k in Fort Collins. Good luck with your criteria. Boulder is more expensive. I can't comment on Colorado Springs.

 

[Jbehredt]

I got a house built in the 70s on a quarter acre for $350k in Fort Collins. Good luck with your criteria. Boulder is more expensive. I can't comment on Colorado Springs.

I was thinking he may need to add a zero to his budget but didn’t want to come across as negative

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

Colorado housing prices are insane. My wife and I bought a house in Thornton for $420K this past summer with a lot size of 0.15. We sold our house in Mead for $340K after buying it 4 years earlier for $240K. It had a lot size of 0.25. The springs has way better housing prices than Boulder, but 5 acres in CO is gonna cost you a lot.

 

[Phaseolus]

You may have to go east towards Fort Morgan to get a piece of land and a house for your budget. That somewhat defeats the purpose of living in Colorado.

 

[cnelk]

Try Cheyenne WY. Its an hour from Denver on I25 [if you're lucky]

 

[ROJO23]

so my wife's company requires that she lives in Colorado, since she will technically still be working for the Richmond branch. it has something to do with CO and VA having the same type workmans comp laws. She most likely will not need to go into Denver, but the rules are she has to be within 2 hours just in case. She really wanted to move to MT, but it is not allowed.

I have a friend that lives in Canon City, south of Colorado springs. it is pretty nice there, but it is the desert I would rather live somewhere with a little more greenery.

Looking on real estate sites there seems to be some areas that will meet our needs, but just wanted to get some opinions. We would like to avoid the cities at all cost. My wife side all she needs is a Walmart, or Target within 15 minutes.

 

[huntsman22]

Elbert County.....Elizabeth/Kiowa/Elbert area

 

[wannakillabigbull]

We would like to avoid the cities at all cost.

With your list of requirements I don’t see how that’s really a concern. 5 acres and a house for $425k isn’t happening anywhere close to a city like Colorado Springs or Boulder I wouldn’t think.

I live just north of the Springs and very much enjoy it here, but housing is pricey compared to a lot of places in the US. Good luck on your search!

 

[BCSojourner]

Try Grand or Jackson County. Jackson County is basically the last frontier in Colorado, only about 1,500 population and situated in North Park basin. County seat is Walden. If you like the outdoors and don't mind traveling for shopping, it is a great place to live and work. Grand County has more folks, about 16,000, but better shopping and closer to ski areas. It sits in the Middle Park basin. Several small towns and you can find 5 acres and home in your price range in West Grand area. Also good schools and a hospital. Both areas are higher elevation (7,400' +) and the summers are to die for (no humidity, greens up nicely, cool nights in 40s and 50s). Winters are long and snowy but lots of sunshine. Both of these locations are within 2 hours of Denver. They both consist of about 65-75% public land (USFS and BLM). Have lived and worked in Grand County for almost 30 years and travel to Denver at least once a month so know the trip time well.

 

[5MilesBack]

I got a house built in the 70s on a quarter acre for $350k in Fort Collins.

That must have been one heck of a large house back then. I bought a 3k square foot house there in the 80's with 5br and 3ba on a quarter acre for $75k. That was pretty much the going rate back then. I used to love Fort Collins but it's gotten too overgrown. My buddy even bought a house in Highland's Ranch in the early 90's for $100k. I remember when he sold it to buy a real expensive house in the foothills SW of Denver for $375k.

You can find plenty of houses within 2 hours of Denver in that $400-425k range, but that 5 acres is going to be the limiting factor of where you end up.

 

[coloyooper]

You're expecting Virginia pricing in Colorado - one of the most sought after states in the US in to live. Best of luck, but you're going to need to make some serious compromises on your check list with that price tag.

 

[sndmn11]

If you find that let me know and I will be happy to pay you commission as well.

We just bought a house near Red Rocks that is near your budget, 1700sqft, "large lot" .4 acres.....and it needs a lot of work. BUT people were lined up to see it and folks call it an investment.....

 

[RojoGrande]

Probably won't find much West of I-25 with acreage in that price range within 2 hours of Denver. Might have to downsize the sq.ft. you're looking at. Look East if i-25. Maybe Greely, Ft. Morgan area up North. Elizabeth, Elbert and Kiowa East of Denver. Peyton, Falcon area East of Colorado Spring. West of Pueblo around Penrose, Florence, Colorado City might be an option.

 

[cnelk]

I bought my place 30 years ago. 1/2 acre, in the county, dead end gravel road for $54,000.

Its worth $400k+ now. My slice of heaven

 

[ROJO23]

the property is not a must have, just would be nice. House wise, we could live with around 2000sqft, we would like to down size. We do not have any kids, and none in the future so schools districts doesn't matter.

it also wouldn't be out of the question for us to build a house on the right piece of property. We built the house we live in now, but would prefer a house already built.

thanks for all the information

 

[elkduds]

Look west of CO Springs: Divide, Florissant. Or South Park, Jefferson area. And bring your woolies, elevations are above 9K.

 

[EastMT]

I had never looked at housing prices around boulder. Pretty shocking what a 700k house is up there is.


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[snarpezal]

Live in Bailey, been here 11yrs, moved from NC, Job brought me here. As others have said, housing has went up. I have 2 ac, 2000sq ft home, barn with horses. Homes around me are about where you want to spend, The taxes in Park, County are reasonable. If I were to move in the Front Range it would be where Huntsman 22 advised you. Craig