Post by sherbanator on Aug 4, 2015 16:56:44 GMT -5
I'm really looking forward to moving to the Denver area in a few months. I'm looking for a good area that's about halfway between Longmont and Centennial. Any advice? Is Broomfield a good area?
Any info that might be helpful to my move would be awesome. I do have a school age daughter, as well.
Post by lexxasaurus on Aug 4, 2015 17:24:57 GMT -5
Going off what @jezebel said, that's a HUGE distance to look between. Denver area itself has a lot, are you trying to be close to a job/person/etc specifically? I live in Longmont but we're looking to buy a bit south in the smaller towns so you can always ask me more specific stuff too.
Yep, it's growing though. I like living here but there is a significant lack of restaurants. The school district is not great however, wish I would have researched more before we moved out here, but I moved from a part of Aurora that was worse, so there is that. I do have a horrible commute to the tech center everyday. My H's commute is short though and we are in love with our neighborhood.
Does it make a difference that I usually don't work when other people commute? I work a lot of overnight shifts and evenings.
Depends which one of you is working where. I would not want to drive south on 25 in the mornings, or north in the evenings. So if it's you working in centennial, your off hours will help, and live further north. If it's your h and he works normal hours, for the love of god live south.
Post by fuckyourcouch on Aug 4, 2015 17:50:07 GMT -5
Oh and yes, your price range will narrow this down significantly. The market here is fucked right now ($$$$$$$$$$) and so if your budget is low, it doesn't matter what you want. Lol.
There will be light rail in 2016 from downtown denver to Longmont. Currently there are busses, but eh. The light rail might be better if your h is the Longmont one, and normal hours.
Knowing that you work off hours, I would consider being closer to h's work. Rush hour blows. Which location is he?
Except that even our light rail sucks, and it'll probably be a 2.5 hour ride (unless it's going to be an express route, but yeah right none of them have that)
ETA: actually this isn't even true. That line is listed as "future construction" on the site which means good luck and probably 2025 if bond measures pass. Lol.
Except that even our light rail sucks, and it'll probably be a 2.5 hour ride (unless it's going to be an express route, but yeah right none of them have that)
And I don't believe for a second that light rail will go that far north by next year.
See my ETA it is supposed to go to federal heights by next year with "future expansion" to broomfield/Boulder/niwot/longmont
Post by sherbanator on Aug 4, 2015 18:28:36 GMT -5
We both work odd hours, and as far as the budget goes 2500 is my max but I'd like to stay around 2000 if I can find a decent place for that. With the extra info is Bromfield a good bet? I am used to Seattle traffic so I am curious about how they compare.
Post by fuckyourcouch on Aug 4, 2015 18:32:29 GMT -5
Wait renting then? How big of a place are you expecting (number of bedrooms)? Our rental market is no better, it's like one of the top 5 most expensive right now.
I would not want to drive from broomfield to centennial in rush hour but some people do it.
Post by sherbanator on Aug 4, 2015 18:55:29 GMT -5
Yes, renting. The centennial thing is for a couple years and then I can transfer to longmont. Also,I want to wait and buy until I'm more familiar with the area and know what I want.
If you can avoid driving anytime close to rush hour, then it wouldn't be "too" bad. I wouldn't want to do Broomfield to Centennial but it depends where in Centennial. The western part won't be as bad as the eastern part. Centennial runs long east to west. I25 around 6th Ave has turned hideous and can have backups forever. There is HOV lanes available for part.
Oooof, that's tough. If you were looking to live northerly, I'd recommend Westminster (the western/southern end, because it goes all the way past like 144th), Louisville/Lafayette or Arvada (also large). There is a shitton of new development on the western side of Arvada right now, but I don't know to what extent it includes rentals.
I don't know much about the more central neighborhoods, as I live in the north burbs.
However, that commute is going to suck ASS. If you can live more south so that one of you has a reverse commute, that may be a better situation. In little or no traffic, I can get from my part of Westminster/Broomfield to downtown Denver in about 20-25 minutes, but during commute time it can easily take twice that or longer. This is a relatively young metro area and we just don't have a ton of highways and secondary routes to choose from. Sometimes there is no good, direct way to get from one place to another because the roads just don't go there. Or if your main route has an accident, road closure in winter or something, you're basically screwed.
But back to the north burbs ... much of Westminster and pretty much all of Arvada AFAIK is going to put you in JeffCo schools, which run the gamut from very good to pretty poor shape depending on the SES of a particular school. And even the newest schools can be very crowded because of all the new development (see above). It has consistently been a very good Colorado district. I adore our elementary but I know some of them are not as great, and the district is in quite a bit of upheaval right now with a recall going on of some pretty seriously out-there conservative board members and higher teacher turnover because of it. I think things are still good right now for students, and if I was renting I wouldn't worry too much, but if I was moving right now I would seriously consider Boulder Valley school district, which seems more willing to fun its schools than most of the state.
There will be light rail in 2016 from downtown denver to Longmont. Currently there are busses, but eh. The light rail might be better if your h is the Longmont one, and normal hours.
Knowing that you work off hours, I would consider being closer to h's work. Rush hour blows. Which location is he?
Last we heard, the light rail is delayed until about 2040. BNSF wanted $333 million for the right of way. I'm in Longmont too. Broomfield or Erie would be decent.
Post by lexxasaurus on Aug 4, 2015 21:25:18 GMT -5
If you can do Seattle traffic, you can do Denver. I have a decent house in Longmont for $1500/month but it took forever to find one that cheap. $2500 is a good amount though, you should be able to find a place in the area. My SO works in Aurora and drives there during rush hour and he hasn't killed anyone yet. The long drives aren't great but if you don't mind the drive/traffic then Broomfield area isn't terrible.
If you can do Seattle traffic, you can do Denver. I have a decent house in Longmont for $1500/month but it took forever to find one that cheap. $2500 is a good amount though, you should be able to find a place in the area. My SO works in Aurora and drives there during rush hour and he hasn't killed anyone yet. The long drives aren't great but if you don't mind the drive/traffic then Broomfield area isn't terrible.
Holy crap. Maybe I was just in the Midwest for too long, bc Aurora to west Denver kills me. I can't imagine Longmont! Dies he take e470?
He does take E470 in the mornings, which helps a bunch, but evenings and weekends he'll often take 25.
I was driving Longmont to almost Laporte daily so... we both had a commute.
Yep, it's growing though. I like living here but there is a significant lack of restaurants. The school district is not great however, wish I would have researched more before we moved out here, but I moved from a part of Aurora that was worse, so there is that. I do have a horrible commute to the tech center everyday. My H's commute is short though and we are in love with our neighborhood.
I live by Reunion too :-) I like that I am 20 min from downtown, and 15 min from the airport. My commute is down by DU, in the am it takes me 25 min.
Post by houseofleaves1 on Aug 5, 2015 7:40:24 GMT -5
I live in the Louisville/Lafayette/Superior area, and the rental market here is extremely tight. The drive to Longmont wouldn't be to terribly bad, but Centennial will be a jaunt. That being said, I absolutely love the area that I'm in.
I'd look for something off of E470, depending on where in Centennial you'll be working. It is stupid how skinny and long that town is.
Actually, where in Centennial would you be? This could help us a ton in figuring a commute out for you. If you're in west Centennial, that would be a game changer.
I'd look for something off of E470, depending on where in Centennial you'll be working. It is stupid how skinny and long that town is.
Actually, where in Centennial would you be? This could help us a ton in figuring a commute out for you. If you're in west Centennial, that would be a game changer.
I just looked up the address and I'm actually going to be in Englewood.
I'd look for something off of E470, depending on where in Centennial you'll be working. It is stupid how skinny and long that town is.
Actually, where in Centennial would you be? This could help us a ton in figuring a commute out for you. If you're in west Centennial, that would be a game changer.
I just looked up the address and I'm actually going to be in Englewood.
ok, so towards west side it sounds like.
eek. I still say stay somewhere close to E470 and I-225. Reunion may actually be your best bet. Just using google maps, it says Reunion or Green Valley Ranch would give you each a 30-40 min commute right now. Arvada and south Westminster would also be a similar commute.
I really wouldn't recommend Reunion to anyone. Sorry!
I have a lot of friends that love it out there for young families. I mean, I'd hate it because I'm a total city girl, but quite a few love it. We have a few local board people who live in GVR and seem to like it too, but their kids are in montessori.
I really wouldn't recommend Reunion to anyone. Sorry!
I have a lot of friends that love it out there for young families. I mean, I'd hate it because I'm a total city girl, but quite a few love it. We have a few local board people who live in GVR and seem to like it too, but their kids are in montessori.
I know a lot of people love it, but there is some shit underground there and knowing what "remediation" they did, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
I have a lot of friends that love it out there for young families. I mean, I'd hate it because I'm a total city girl, but quite a few love it. We have a few local board people who live in GVR and seem to like it too, but their kids are in montessori.
I know a lot of people love it, but there is some shit underground there and knowing what "remediation" they did, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
But ... but ... the arsenal is a national wildlife refuge now! Birds! Bees! Furry animals that as far as anyone knows, don't have six legs or three heads! It's all good, right? RIGHT?!?!??!
(LOL. I kid. I would love to hear your take on that sometime.)
OP, we're talking about the former chemical weapons facility known as the Rocky Mountain Arsenal that has been turned into a wildlife refuge. Parts of Reunion bump right up against it.