We relocated here in 2015 ourselves. And there are so many things I wish we had known. When you’re relocating to Colorado Springs, it’s easy to start with the house.
You search your price range, save the homes with the right number of bedrooms, look at photos, check the map, and start building a list.
But here’s what I wish more relocation buyers knew:
The house is only half the decision.
I’ve worked with buyers who arrived convinced they wanted new construction and ended up loving an established neighborhood with mature trees and character. I’ve also had buyers who pictured themselves on acreage until we talked through how far they actually wanted to drive for dinner, groceries, school, and everyday life.
Before you fall in love with a house online, these are the things I’d think about first.
Start With Your Everyday Life
Don’t picture your perfect Saturday in Colorado Springs.
Picture Wednesday at 5:30 PM.
Where are you driving after work? How close do you want to be to restaurants and groceries? Do you want the kids to have a pool, trails, and places to go within the neighborhood? Or would you trade those conveniences for more land and privacy?
Those everyday details will tell you much more about where you should live than a list of home features.
Decide What Kind of Setting You Want
Colorado Springs offers very different versions of home.
North Colorado Springs tends to offer newer homes, community amenities, golf, shopping, dining, and convenient access to I-25.
The west and southwest sides offer more established neighborhoods, mature trees, distinctive architecture, and easy access to some of the city’s most recognizable outdoor spaces.
Head toward Black Forest and Monument, and you’ll find opportunities for more land, wooded surroundings, privacy, and custom homes.
You can find beautiful properties in all of them.
The question is which setting feels most like the life you’re moving here for.
New Isn’t Always Better. Neither Is Established.
This is one of those decisions that often changes once buyers actually get here.
Newer communities can offer modern layouts, newer systems, beautiful finishes, and amenities right outside your door.
Established neighborhoods may give you mature landscaping, architectural character, larger trees, and locations that simply can’t be recreated.
Neither is inherently more luxurious.
Luxury is getting the things that matter to you without paying for things that don’t.
Be Honest About How Much Privacy You Want
Acreage and wooded properties are incredibly appealing, especially when you’re moving to Colorado.
But there’s a difference between wanting privacy and wanting to live farther from the places you use every day.
Some buyers happily make that trade.
Others realize they’d rather have a smaller lot if it means dinner, school, shopping, and their normal routine are closer.
That’s something worth figuring out before you choose the house.
So, Where Should You Live?
I don’t think there is one “best neighborhood” in Colorado Springs.
Flying Horse, The Broadmoor, Black Forest, the west side, Monument and other areas can all be incredible places to live for completely different reasons.
That’s why when I’m helping someone relocate, I don’t start by asking only how many bedrooms they need.
I want to know what you want your normal life here to look like.
Once we know that, choosing the right part of Colorado Springs becomes much easier.
And then we find the house.
If you’re considering relocating to Colorado Springs or Monument, I’d be happy to help you narrow down the neighborhoods that actually make sense for the way you want to live.
Vanessa & Ricky Marquez
The Marquez Group at KW Downtown Realty LLC