Moving to Denver - apartment search

[gretch6364]

Hello,

I am moving to Denver on September 1st and I am in the middle of searching for an apartment. I am working in Downtown Denver, but my friend that is living with me may be working in Bouler. Is Broomfield the best option? Anyone know any cheap apartments there?

Thanks and I look forward to meeting some of you Colorado mags.

[lemon boy]

the search function is your friend.

Broomfield is never the "best" option.

[Anxious Mo-Fo]

Broomfield... heh. Don't forget to check out delightful Westminster while you're at it.

[smmokan]

Come on now, Broomfield isn't that bad. I'd say Boulder is the best option... the commute for you into downtown Denver won't be that bad (if you can deal with 20 mi each way) since you'd be going against traffic.

[gretch6364]

I did search and I did read the couple threads from other people, but they were not moving to the areas that I am looking at and there was not anything about Broomfield or other areas halfway between Boulder and Denver.

Could you enlighten me on the problems with Broomfield and maybe suggest another area that would be good for two roomates, one working downtown Denver the other in Bouler.

Thank you,

Nathan

[gretch6364]

The problem with Boulder is the how expensive it is. My roomate is poor and I am sick of long commutes. Plus broomfield is only 13 miles from Boulder. That is within a taxi ride distance and we would much rather party in Boulder than in Denver.

Thank you for all the help.

[reidhresko]

basically, broomfield is a suburban hell. if pavement, strip malls, and cookie cutter subdivisions is your gig, you'll love broomfield, westminster, arvada, etc... the area between boulder and denver has turned into a never-ending zombie suburb and i am sorry to say I donit think there is any cool spot to live that will be half way between the two. i guess the morrison/golden area offer the best options considering your qualifications IMHO. if you like open space, mtb/hiking trails, nice places to ride road, climbing, etc... that would be a much better bet. one of the above threads mentioned living in boulder and communting, which would not be bad as you would be going against the rush hour mess and would probably have a much nicer, but more expensive life.

[smmokan]

You can get a two bedroom in Boulder for ~$800-1000 pretty easily.

Superior is a little closer to Boulder, and a little better than Broomfield. Plus, its closer to the mountains and a few mtb trails.

[lemon boy]

That is within a taxi ride distance

A taxi? A TAXI? HAHAHAHHAHAH BWWHAHAHAHBHAHWHWHWHAHHAHBBHBHBHAAAAAAA TAXI! BBWWAAAAAAAAAA

Here's a hint:

Anything halfway between denver and boulder 100% sucks. Your two best options are Denver or Golden. It is easy to mass transit (! this is an amazing statement given CO's general transit situation) between boulder and downtown and vice versa.

[smmokan]

Reid is right on. The I-36 "corridor" is all the same IMO. If I were in your situation, I'd much rather live in Boulder and deal with the 30 min commute to Denver (or less). There are a ton of affordable places in Boulder. I lived ON Pearl St. by myself in a one-bedroom for $750/month.

[gretch6364]

So pretty much everything sucks between Boulder and Denver? Is the 13 miles really that far to drive to party in Boulder or go hiking, biking, etc?

Boulder is better than downtown Denver right?

Are there any bars in Broomfield? We are not really looking for a character place to live. We want dirt cheap so we can get a studio apartment in Summit Co. Does anyone here have a place like that? Or does everyone commute every weekend day?

Lastly, what is the drive to mountains like from here?

Thanks again.

[telechuck]

Reid is 100% correct on location. I commute from Boulder to downtown Dtown everyday. It takes me an hour door to desk on the express bus. I catch the bus at Table Mesa. Driving is about 10 or 15 minutes faster if you leave before 6:30. Coming home, there are some different routes that allow the drive to only take 50 or so minutes even in traffic.

Commuting sucks, but it beats living in Broomfield, etc. I much prefer Boulder to Denver, so have not, nor will ever move.

[lemon boy]

If you don't give a shit about where you live why even move to the denver metro area?

If you just want to party, live in boulder.
If you just want to ski live in golden/morrison.
If you want to balance them live in denver.

Relatviely few people have/can afford to rent a second place in scummit.

[smmokan]

Hmm.... the 13 miles from Broomfield to Boulder is easy. Straight down 36. You'll probably go hiking/biking in different places than Boulder, and Broomfield is further from there. Honestly, Boulder is more central for everything you want to do.
There are a few bars in Broomfield, but nothing worth going to all the time. You PROBABLY can find a place in Boulder for about the same as Broomfield- you might save $50/mo or so. You could always share a place in the mtns with someone and save some money that way. Just my experience.

And the drive to the mountains... its probably pretty similar from Broomfield and Boulder- about 1hr10min to Loveland, 1.5 hrs to Keystone/Breck/Copper/WP. I live in Erie (north of Broomfield) and its actually about 10 min faster to the mtns than Boulder just because I don't have to deal with 93.

[gretch6364]

I cannot find a two bedroom in Boulder for under 800. We found a two bedroom in Broomfield for 600. I am sure there is a reason for this, but at this point, we have no furniture and my roomate is poor. Maybe we will sign as short a lease as possible and then decide in 6 or 9 months if we want to move to Boulder.

I take it there are not many taxi's available on a wild thursday night in Boulder?

[Froman]

LB has it right, there are no Taxis outside of downtown Boulder and downtown Denver. Whats your price range? I live in Boulder, and I just moved out of a two bedroom house with a yard, pets ok, walking distance to Pearl St. and rent was $950 for the whole place. There are a lot of expensive rentals in Boulder, but if you look hard enough, you'll find something.

I made the mistake of living in Lafayette when I first moved to CO, and it SUCKED. I moved into Boulder as soon as my 6 mo lease was up.

Maybe check out Louisville - its more like boulder and less like broomfield, rent is probably cheap, and if your into road biking they have a great road scene there.

[smmokan]

Re Froman: Lafayette isn't bad, as long as you're not living close to downtown. I lived in Indian Peaks and I loved the neighborhood. Of course, that's a little more expensive than you're looking for.

[Froman]

http://denver.craigslist.org/apa/197342693.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/apa/197336493.html - 3 bedroom

http://denver.craigslist.org/apa/197184320.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/apa/197102810.html

Theres over 50 2BR in Boulder listings on craigslist right now under $800

[Froman]

Lloyd - didn't mean to step on your toes - I was 23 and single, didn't know anyone in CO, and living in the apartments across the street from the Walmart. It wasn't the place to be.

[lemon boy]

Don't worry about lloyd you'll notice that even he doesn't live there anymore

[gretch6364]

Well here is the issue at hand...I want to live in a nicer apartment because I found a kick ass job. My roomate (who is my best friend and ski partner, which creates a sensitive situation) refuses to spend more than 325 a month and has in his head that cheaper is always better.

I took a job in downtown Denver. He might have a job in Boulder. I am tired of commuting and want a half hour or less commute. Rent wise Boulder is just to high for him. I want to be able to party in Boulder and rather than downtown. This probably rules out Golden???

We both have cars...are there alot of DUI check points between Broomfield and Boulder? I will be driving to work not riding public trans due to the nature of my job.

Thanks

[Danno]

Broomfield is never the "best" option.

what he said.

the commute for you into downtown Denver won't be that bad (if you can deal with 20 mi each way) since you'd be going against traffic.

Going against traffic? Nope, you are fighting traffic. But the bust to downtown Denver from Boulder is quick and reliable. Only issue is cost, but many employers subsidize bus passes.

I'm biased, I live in Boulder and prefer it to Denver, even though I did that commute for a year.

And Boulder isn't very expensive for rental housing. If your poor roommate can't afford to split a 2BR place for $800, are you sure you want him as a roommate? $400/mo is pretty reasonable. And even if you can get a place for $100/mo less per person, how much of that additional $ will get eaten up by the cost of driving to places (and cabbing it if you even could find a cab!)? If you live in Boulder, anywhere in Boulder, you can bike everywhere in town...

[gretch6364]

Thanks Froman...did not know anything about Craigslist...I will look.

[smmokan]

Don't worry about lloyd you'll notice that even he doesn't live there anymore

Right on LB... but its not because I don't want to, its because the houses in my old neighborhood were too damn expensive!

[lemon boy]

sorry dannyboy but we cannot make every decision for you, you're gonna have to do some work on your own.

and if your commute must be under 1/2 hour and you must have close good drinking then you are by default living in denver and not anywhere else.