In the mountains - Front Range/Colorado?

[Ceredwyn]

Anyone currently living or interested in living in places like Evergreen or Conifer Colorado? Houses are expensive but property taxes are still reasonable. Seems like a nice "best of both worlds" type of option to be so close to nature, hiking, etc while close enough to Boulder/Denver to be able to participate in civilization. There are some cheaper options but none of them have the excellent schools that the aforementioned towns have. Interested in hearing opinions from people who have lived there or considered it.

[patchyfacialhair]

Wildfire risk is a thing in those areas, keep that in mind. In some areas it's a little difficult to find a company to insure a home.

That being said, I've looked at real estate in places like Woodland Park or Evergreen or Conifer, but the cons outweigh the pros while I'm still working. Commutes suck. Driving to grocery stores and other services will be longer than necessary. And when a snowstorm hits, you're stuck where you're at.

Those cons are easily handled in retirement, but not sure it would work for me in accumulation.

[the_fixer]

We considered it back in 2010/11 and there were some really good deals on condos / townhouses close to I-70 but the commute was just too much while still working especially in the winter months. Not sure what they sell for now days.

You will be 100% dependent on a car so take that into consideration.

Other locations to consider.

Lakewood - Near Bear Creek Lake park or green mountain you are right by Morrison and there are many hiking / bike trails as well as good road biking.

Wheatridge - Along 32nd you are near Golden and the mountains

Golden -expensive but has a great downtown and you are mins from the mountains

Depending on your job situation going North?

Lyons CO

Loveland Co - west side by hwy 34 puts you at the base of the mountains and if you want to be a little further Drake or Masonville

Ft Collins - west side we used to live up at Horsetooth lake and really like it. I needed a car but my wife commuted to work unless it was snowing.

Laporte - Not sure about the schools but it is near the backside of horsetooth lake and you can head up the poudre canyon easily. Prices should also be less for housing that the rest of Ft Collins.

[exige]

we are at the base of the foothills in littleton. This is perfect for us while still working and is as close to both worlds as possible really, 20 minutes to Denver 20 minutes to evergreen, but we have everything we need in walking distance and are sandwiched between two awesome state parks within about a 10 minute bike ride on nice paths.

[cj25]

My uncle lives in Conifer (with his wife and three kids).  They have a bunch of acreage.  It snows a lot.  They have a lot of wild animals - turkey, bears, etc.  Their chickens have been eaten several times. They get around with a golf cart thing and always take a gun.  But they love living there.  They are always trying to get us to come out. The elevation is an adjustment though.  When any family goes to visit (we're in Cali), they get nose bleeds.  But they definitely got a lot of property & a house for a good price.

[Ceredwyn]

They have a bunch of acreage.

That's the aspect that sets the towns in the mountains apart for me versus Lakewood/Littleton/etc; the towns closer to Denver seem nice but ultimately you're living on a quarter acre parcel in a development. Nice if you're commuting, but sort of strikes me as suburban hell once FIRE'd.

[Mtngrl]

We lived in Bailey for 14 years -- even cheaper than Conifer, a little less snow. We loved it, but I worked at home and my husband  had a company vehicle for the commute. If you don't mind driving an hour each way for work (Friday afternoon traffic in summers is horrible) it can be a great place to live. We have always lived in rural areas and the drive didn't bother us, but we saw plenty of people move from the city and not be able to come to terms with the fact that to go to the movies or for groceries or to eat out required a minimum 20 minute drive -- and anything in the city was farther. And if you have children, you will be driving them to activities all week long. We don't have children, but many of our neighbors moved back to the city to be closer to activities for their children. Again, we liked it, but you have to be prepared. You will have great hiking trails out your backdoor, a shorter drive to ski or to great camping in the mountains, lots of wildlife and more room. One thing we did find was that it was a little harder to make friends or have a real sense of community. Everyone works and commutes to Denver, so there's no real town to focus around. Maybe Evergreen is more of a community, but Conifer and Bailey, to us, were more shopping districts with no real community or sense of community. Oh, and the wildfire risk is real -- we evacuated for fires 3 times in the 14 years we were there. No fun and definitely scary, although we and our neighbors escaped all damage. But when they say go you'd better go, because the roads get cut off.

[Ceredwyn]

Interesting point about the sense of community. I did notice driving through Conifer/Pine that the town center was basically just a shopping area, not really anywhere you'd go to gather socially. Evergreen town center struck me as a bit cuter with a couple local places for eats/coffee, not sure if it's any better though.

Oh, and the wildfire risk is real -- we evacuated for fires 3 times in the 14 years we were there. No fun and definitely scary, although we and our neighbors escaped all damage. But when they say go you'd better go, because the roads get cut off.

Do you remember how much your home insurance cost as a result of that? Want to make sure I factor that into my COL estimates.

[COEE]

we are at the base of the foothills in littleton. This is perfect for us while still working and is as close to both worlds as possible really, 20 minutes to Denver 20 minutes to evergreen, but we have everything we need in walking distance and are sandwiched between two awesome state parks within about a 10 minute bike ride on nice paths.

Roxborough?  I used to live in the Park there.

We hated the drive to town - 30 minutes minimum where we were at (way back in the park).  Took forever.  I worked nearby - so that helped me stay sane.  Also, behind the hogback got much more snow than in front.  I literally saw the area in front of the hogback get rain and the area behind the hogback get a foot off snow.  And the wind in the morning was miserable - it was windy nearly every morning.  The wind always stopped at 10am or 9am depending on the time of year (DST vs ST).  You could set your watch by it.  Crazy weather patterns. 

Honestly, we found the area to be quite pretentious - and there were not many kids living near us.  Although the park had higher priced houses where many were retired - or at least further along than us - most without kids.  The taxes were higher, the water was more expensive, the HOA fees were insane - and ours was not at all mustachian, and the fire danger was real.

We did LOVE the state parks there though.  We enjoyed many hikes, kayaking, and picnics in both parks after the crowds had left for the day.  Weekdays were marvelous; had the whole park to ourselves sometimes.  We really loved that part of living there.  Lots of fishing and exploring.  I personally saw two mountain lions, a bear, rattlesnake, fox, turkey, mule deer (ugh!), elk, field mice, moles, eagles, migratory birds, humming birds, etc in the eight years we lived there.  It was a very active wildlife area and we were lucky to live there from that perspective.  I miss this part of the experience.

I lived in Conifer for one summer.  I loved it there.  I would live there again - in retirement, as others have pointed out it's not very mustachian if you have to commute.  It's grown a lot since I was there 10 years ago.  Some of the best BBQ in Colorado is there.  I'm not sure what the taxes, water, etc. is like there though since I rented a room.

We now live in Longmont - it's far enough from the city, but has all of the comforts of groceries, parks, city amenities, etc nearby without all of the snow, taxes, etc.  It's the best of both worlds, I think.  Everyone here is pretty down to earth too.  LOTS of kids.

[Mtngrl]

Do you remember how much your home insurance cost as a result of that? Want to make sure I factor that into my COL estimates.
[/quote]

Insurance was not bad. Around $600 a year. We live in a similar area on the western slope now, in a more expensive home, and pay $900 a year. We are with State Farm. A couple of other companies did refuse to insure because of where we live, so you might have to shop around.