considering relocation to cs (Denver, Colorado City: foreclosure, homes, job market)

[lsf122]

i am seriously considering a move to colorado and colorado springs is high on my list. i am divorced, 40's, no kids, and a teacher. which areas/neighborhoods would be a little less family oriented?
ideally, i would like to purchase a small single family home in the 200,000 range. is that feasible?
also, how is the job market for teachers? i have 20 years experience.
thanks so much!

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by lsf122

i am seriously considering a move to colorado and colorado springs is high on my list. i am divorced, 40's, no kids, and a teacher. which areas/neighborhoods would be a little less family oriented?
ideally, i would like to purchase a small single family home in the 200,000 range. is that feasible?
also, how is the job market for teachers? i have 20 years experience.
thanks so much!

Lots of homes in this area for $200k.

Singles with few or no kids would like Old Colorado City aka OCC. Search on that term or use the Index.

Good schools here, not sure if hiring. There is info in the index in the main COLO forum on teaching in COLO.

[otowi]

Hiring is happening, but the market is tougher than in recent years - your likelihood of finding a job depends on what you are highly qualified to teach, how good your recommendations are, how flexible you are, and how well your experience relates to what the folks are looking for. With 20 years of experience, if you got out here and started interviewing right away, I would suspect you'll probably find something, but maybe not your ideal job first time out.

[lsf122]

thank you for the information. would the colorado springs area be preferable to the denver area in terms of housing, affordability, and quality of life?

[otowi]

Quality of life I would say yes, personally. The others, it may depend on your point of view or what neighborhoods you live in specifically - might call those a wash. I think in general, housing in Denver is more costly per square foot than here.

[wilberry]

Remember the good old days ? " home in the 200 k range "...

[Colorado Rambler]

Originally Posted by wilberry

Remember the good old days ? " home in the 200 k range "...

Heck, I remember when they were calling the Springs the "foreclosure capitol of the US." That was right after NAFTA went into full effect and the microelectronics industry couldn't get out of town and go bask in warmer (and unregulated) climes fast enough. My hometown has certainly made a comeback!

[BCG8]

I actually have a similar situation and question as you. Newly divorced, no kids, Special Education. I am wondering what areas of CS are not too family oriented/good for singles in their 40s.

[Wittgenstein's Ghost]

I didn't see the date when I first opened this thread. Mike normally knows his stuff, so to see him say "Plenty of homes for $200k here...." was a bit alarming. Then I realized it was from twelve years ago, when there were indeed plenty of homes for $200k here.

Nowadays, I'm not sure one could even say there are plenty of homes for $350k here. Especially if you add the caveats that you aren't an all-cash buyer, you want to be in a decent part of town and you are talking about final contract price, not asking price.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Wittgenstein's Ghost

I didn't see the date when I first opened this thread. Mike normally knows his stuff, so to see him say "Plenty of homes for $200k here...." was a bit alarming. Then I realized it was from twelve years ago, when there were indeed plenty of homes for $200k here.

Nowadays, I'm not sure one could even say there are plenty of homes for $350k here. Especially if you add the caveats that you aren't an all-cash buyer, you want to be in a decent part of town and you are talking about final contract price, not asking price.

That was 12 years ago, after the housing bubble burst in the Great Recession. Today we're back in a bubble.