Colorado Moving

[freedom_in_4low]

I'm wondering about moving somewhere new, maybe next year. I'm hoping to find somewhere with decent job market in tech, bearable traffic, manageable COL.

So far my list looks like
Houston - relatively afford, lots of energy tech companies
NC Raleigh area
Atlanta area
Chicago area

Any thoughts from people that know these areas or other areas I should consider?

I'm late to this thread, but i'll put it this way....one of my highest priorities in life is to get the hell out of Oklahoma before I die and I would stay here for a thousand years before moving to any of those places, with the exception of Raleigh.

You say you work in tech but tech is literally everywhere, I'm not sure it has to be for a "tech" company. I work for a commercial HVAC manufacturer with 700 employees and we have a decent sized team working on integrating AI, developing all sorts of software, completing and deploying vibe coding projects, etc. Developers are scrambling to build data centers all over the place as well - I attended a town council meeting last night in support of a moratorium on considering data center permits.

I think some others have hit the nail on the head - you just need to be within reasonable commuting distance to a more medium sized market. If I were you I would just look to the outskirts of Colorado Springs, like Falcon, Black Forest, Monument, Manitou or maybe Fountain if you need a little bit lower budget. COL in the springs area is really not bad, certainly will be better than any of the places you named (again, possibly Raleigh as an exception).

 

[ColoJeep]

Well, our cold front left us last night. 8am this am was 80 degrees and ~90% humidity, and we're heading to the mid 90s today. My short morning run was like running in the shower.

Rockies weather currently 45*F 58 % R.H.

 

[BlueC]

Rockies weather currently 45*F 58 % R.H.

That's like our average December day, maybe with a little more humidity.

 

[lBasket]

I'm late to this thread, but i'll put it this way....one of my highest priorities in life is to get the hell out of Oklahoma before I die and I would stay here for a thousand years before moving to any of those places, with the exception of Raleigh.

You say you work in tech but tech is literally everywhere, I'm not sure it has to be for a "tech" company. I work for a commercial HVAC manufacturer with 700 employees and we have a decent sized team working on integrating AI, developing all sorts of software, completing and deploying vibe coding projects, etc. Developers are scrambling to build data centers all over the place as well - I attended a town council meeting last night in support of a moratorium on considering data center permits.

I think some others have hit the nail on the head - you just need to be within reasonable commuting distance to a more medium sized market. If I were you I would just look to the outskirts of Colorado Springs, like Falcon, Black Forest, Monument, Manitou or maybe Fountain if you need a little bit lower budget. COL in the springs area is really not bad, certainly will be better than any of the places you named (again, possibly Raleigh as an exception).

I mean you're not wrong but part of the thinking is to go somewhere else. I've been here so long

 

[duffer]

Rockies weather currently 45*F 58 % R.H.

Currently 50 and 80% RH in the Northern Rockies.

Another late to the party response. My employment choices were ALWAYS driven by where I wanted to live. Finding employment was secondary. My education (geologist/hydrologist) was such that there were ample opportunities in most places I would like to locate and was foremost in deciding a career.

I could not live in a city, period. I spent time in Denver and even that, which fit into all my location criteria, but was not acceptable long term. I ended up working 30 years for Montana State U and don't regret that for a nanosecond. Got to do all the things I wanted in the 2/3's of life that wasn't the job.

 

[BlueC]

I mean you're not wrong but part of the thinking is to go somewhere else. I've been here so long

If you start looking toward my area, shoot me a DM if you want some opinions.

 

[lBasket]

Currently 50 and 80% RH in the Northern Rockies.

Another late to the party response. My employment choices were ALWAYS driven by where I wanted to live. Finding employment was secondary. My education (geologist/hydrologist) was such that there were ample opportunities in most places I would like to locate and was foremost in deciding a career.

I could not live in a city, period. I spent time in Denver and even that, which fit into all my location criteria, but was not acceptable long term. I ended up working 30 years for Montana State U and don't regret that for a nanosecond. Got to do all the things I wanted in the 2/3's of life that wasn't the job.

One thing that will be new for me if I do this is being out of debt and being able to more enjoy my free time like you're saying. Currently I don't like spending money to do things because I want to get in debt, this eternal seesaw of wanting to do things and wanting to save money.

I have enough equity in my house now that if I do sell I'll end up completely debt free. That will be a whole paradigm shift for me. I wonder if it'll be harder to find the right place not being in that head space yet.

 

[lBasket]

If you start looking toward my area, shoot me a DM if you want some opinions.

Appreciate it! I need to find time to document some job searches. A lot of good advice in this thread.

Probably some soul searching to find out what I really want in a new location.

 

[BlueC]

I have enough equity in my house now that if I do sell I'll end up completely debt free. That will be a whole paradigm shift for me. I wonder if it'll be harder to find the right place not being in that head space yet.

I think that will put you in a good position. No debt and moving to a new area will allow you to rent month-to-month, which allows you to move around when you want, and with the right job (income) and financial choices, you can save money for when you do find the "right" location.

 

[ColoJeep]

One thing that will be new for me if I do this is being out of debt and being able to more enjoy my free time like you're saying. Currently I don't like spending money to do things because I want to get in debt, this eternal seesaw of wanting to do things and wanting to save money.

I have enough equity in my house now that if I do sell I'll end up completely debt free. That will be a whole paradigm shift for me. I wonder if it'll be harder to find the right place not being in that head space yet.

Would you be able to buy a house down the road , if you paid off your other debt selling here ?

 

[duffer]

One thing that will be new for me if I do this is being out of debt and being able to more enjoy my free time like you're saying. Currently I don't like spending money to do things because I want to get in debt, this eternal seesaw of wanting to do things and wanting to save money.

I have enough equity in my house now that if I do sell I'll end up completely debt free. That will be a whole paradigm shift for me. I wonder if it'll be harder to find the right place not being in that head space yet.

I realize that purchasing a house these days is way different than when I bought my first one in 1974. I managed to buy that shoe-box without a loan and have never had a mortgage on anything since. Debt free is to be free and is undoubtedly one of the best things one can aspire to. It makes those job choices a LOT more flexible.

But if you cash out your home equity, will not you be in the same situation at your next location? Moving is anything but cheap.

 

[lBasket]

Would you be able to buy a house down the road , if you paid off your other debt selling here ?

Most likely. If I sold my house for what I bought it for I have 80k equity before realtor fees. 46k student loans. So maybe 20-30k leftover. 613 minimum and anywhere between 600-1200 a month extra. Say I get a rental that's around 600 less a month than my mortgage, and I could be in a good spot to buy a house in a year or two depending on how much I needed to spend

 

[BlueC]

But if you cash out your home equity, will not you be in the same situation at your next location? Moving is anything but cheap.

Possibly, but maybe not. I see people move from high cost areas (mainly NY/NJ) and see that things here sell for 1/3 of what they're used to. On the flip side, I've seen people try to move here from lower cost areas and be surprised at our local cost. It really just depends market to market, and what he's currently working with.

 

[BlueC]

Most likely. If I sold my house for what I bought it for I have 80k equity before realtor fees. 46k student loans. So maybe 20-30k leftover. 613 minimum and anywhere between 600-1200 a month extra. Say I get a rental that's around 600 less a month than my mortgage, and I could be in a good spot to buy a house in a year or two depending on how much I needed to spend

Curiosity, what is the typical monthly rent price for a typical 3 bed, 2 bath house in your area?

 

[lBasket]

Curiosity, what is the typical monthly rent price for a typical 3 bed, 2 bath house in your area?

I honestly have no idea out here in the mountains, very low supply. In the springs I could get something like that for probably 2500?

 

[BDub]

Most likely. If I sold my house for what I bought it for I have 80k equity before realtor fees. 46k student loans. So maybe 20-30k leftover. 613 minimum and anywhere between 600-1200 a month extra. Say I get a rental that's around 600 less a month than my mortgage, and I could be in a good spot to buy a house in a year or two depending on how much I needed to spend

I recommend renting initially wherever you land and get a feel for where you want to be longer term in the area. Honestly with interest rates (w/PMI), property taxes and home upkeep you are money ahead now to rent. Once rates fall that changes but I doubt we see interest rates below 4% anytime soon. There is always the option to take a 5/1 ARM (to get a lower rate) if you are willing to gamble rates will fall to refi. in the next 5 years or if you plan on moving again.

 

[ColoJeep]

I honestly have no idea out here in the mountains, very low supply. In the springs I could get something like that for probably 2500?

In my area that would be $ 3000-3250/mo.

 

[lBasket]

In my area that would be $ 3000-3250/mo.

Yeah I think it'd probably be like that here too, rentals are big money in the mountains

 

[BlueC]

In my area that would be $ 3000-3250/mo.

In my general area, outside of Raleigh/Durham or Charlotte, you can find 3/2 houses in decent to good areas for $1,500-2,500/mo. Knock off a bedroom and you can knock off $300-500/mo.

 

[lBasket]

In my general area, outside of Raleigh/Durham or Charlotte, you can find 3/2 houses in decent to good areas for $1,500-2,500/mo. Knock off a bedroom and you can knock off $300-500/mo.

Man with no debt and rent like that I'd be ballin