Real Estate in Lakewood (Denver, Arvada: for sale, rentals, condo)

[Movingtolakewood]

Hi Everyone!

So Im moving to lakewood soon from New Mexico. I will be working for the department of Fish & Wildlife services. Im young and will be alone, and I'd like to purchase a house. I will be making about 75K a year, and was hoping to spend 150K or less. Im not much into all the hip scene and stuff lol so a nice suburban setting is fine for me. I mostly like to do outdoors stuff. Im not finding much in that price range. Can anyone direct me to a certain location with 25 mins or less of a commute to look at or will i just need to increase my price range? Thanks!

[Mike from back east]

Let me see....the JOB is in Lakewood, right?

You can live anywhere, but IMO you won't find much in the Denver metro area for $150k. I did a quick check on Craigslist and found some in your price range in Arvada which is a good area. Also found a few in Lakewood. If you've never been through the buying process before, you should consider a "buyer's broker" who really looks out for YOUR interests and they cost you nothing.

Look at realtor. com to check home prices in various parts of town.

Because there is so much to learn about a metro area of 3M+ people and scores of neighborhoods, we often recommend that people rent for a year until they find what they really like.

Use padmapper.com to find rentals, but if you end up on craigslist, read and heed the warnings about scammers....if it sounds too good to be true....

Your income should allow you a decent living in the area.

[Movingtolakewood]

Hey Mike thanks for the quick response.

Yeah the actual work location is in lakewood, but I have a preference of living in the suburbs outside, but I am fairly well versed in real estate ive been looking for a few years, and this is the first time Ive actually plan on being somewhere long enough to purchase. It sounds like I might have to up my price to get what im looking for. Thanks again for the reply!

[cowboyxjon]

I would rent for a few months. I know it's a pain to move multiple times, but you might find that you can afford a bit more than $150K on a $75K salary *and* you might find a neighborhood or area that you LOVE once you've been living here for awhile.

[davebarnes]

Rent. Rent.
Did I say you should rent first?
The median price in Denver is $230K.
$150K is typically crap.
You need to rent.

[Mach50]

These are nice and you will be around other young single people:

143k: 7240 West Custer Avenue #204, Lakewood CO - Trulia

Even if it doesn't workout, you can rent these units fairly easily.

[Movingtolakewood]

Thanks a lot for the insight guys. It looks like the consensus is to rent. What if I sayed I was a very stubborn young person who really wanted to buy lol.I mean the 150k was quite an arbitrary figure. I can use the VA loan with no down payment or PMI, and I have zero debt so I could carry quite a large mortage. Im just fairly cheap in general, and totally oblivious to the macro real estate in Lakewood. Would 200K get me something worthwhile. Any particular areas that would get me that suburaban feel for that price range. Thanks a lot for the replie s.

[Movingtolakewood]

Hey Mach50 those are really really nice! I dont think i mentioned in my previous post im really looking at how the market is a little outside the city. I love the outdoors, and I have a dog so a back yard is a most, and im really not looking to live in the condo "hip" enviornment. Thanks for your post though I know if I need to I can look into those types of properties in my range.

[livecontent]

The place you are going to work in right in a good location where you can find homes around $150,000 in good neighborhoods in Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and Arvada which are easy commutes to where you will be working. If you go to $200,000 you can find many more good homes.

This is the site of the local MLS Homes for Sale in Colorado | Metrolist MLS and a quick search brought up this home in Lakewood
3322 S Jellison Court, Lakewood, CO 80227 | Listing Information | Metrolist MLS it is in very good area near parks and trails on Bear Creek and just down Kipling from the Federal Center.

All these cities in and around the Federal Center have extensive parks, trails and open space nearby. In addition you are very close to more amenities along the foothills of the Rockies.

Livecontent

[mic111]

I think you should buy. I bought my first house for $152K and it was a small ranch 3bdrm, 2 bath 2 car garage 1700 sqr ft. Absolutely perfect for me and my pets. Could have lived there forever.

But you may not be able to find anything to buy right away. The price range your looking at is very competitive right now because the rentals are going for more than the mortgage payments so investors are snapping up the low priced properties. Be prepared for a long search with many offers put in and rejected. Short sales like the one above from livecontent can take a long time to close. Like 6 mths or more. And they often put a low price in the ad to attract attention but folks bid over that price, with the sale going to an all cash buyer. For your situation you may have to find a conventional seller willing to accept an offer from someone with financing who is perhaps emotionally tied to the property and doesn't want to see it become a rental.

I applaud you for sticking to an affordable price for your salary.