Buying a home in Douglas County

I’m not kidding when I say “It’s been great to relocate to Douglas County, CO.”

My wife and I moved to Castle Pines North in November 2012 after buying a ranch home there, just south of the Denver metro’s southern edge. We relocated from Kansas City to be near our daughter and grandchildren, and, to be honest, we also wanted to live near the mountains where we love to hike and ski. We found the perfect mix of city convenience and mountain access.

Relocation to Douglas County CO.

Also read: “Choosing a Realtor: Tips from a Client’s Perspective.” 

Like many “relocators,” we debated exactly where to live near Denver. In fact, we looked at places from Colorado Springs to Boulder. When we added up all the factors, Douglas County simply could not be beat. But what exactly is Douglas County? Located on the southern edge of the metro area, Douglas is one of the fastest growing counties in America, with a 62.4% population increase since 2000, according to Wikipedia.

One thing we use a lot is the great highway access to all directions. I-25 highway cuts vertically through the county, giving access quickly to downtown Denver on the north and to Castle Rock and Colorado Springs to the south. And C-470 highway on the north edge of the county speeds you to the mountains on the west or to Denver International Airport on the northeast.

We could have chosen several communities in this southern metro area, such as Lone Tree (close to the huge Park Meadows Mall) or the growing and charming small town of Parker on the east, but we chose the Castle Pines area, which is nestled in the rolling foothills. To get there, we leave “the city,” as we call the continuous development of Denver, and we drive four miles through the undeveloped foothills to get to the Castle Pines home subdivisions and stores that hug I-25. It only takes five minutes and is a peaceful and beautiful drive.

But you don’t have to be a little “out in the country” like us and still benefit from the cool place that is Douglas County. We looked at lots of homes right in the busy cities, with our Realtor, Steve Beam.

Of course, there are lots of adjustments to make when you relocate anywhere. You learn new driving routes to your new grocery stores and to new friends’ houses, and so on. In Douglas County we found the adjustments to be smooth. Amenities are good, communities are safe, resale home values are good, and there’s that beautiful view of the mountains when you look west.

Sure, it snows and blows cold on some days, but the average 300 days of sun per year and the low humidity in the Denver area has been one of the best changes we’ve enjoyed coming from humid Kansas City. My wife and I joke that “If you think the weather is bad in Denver, you’ve not lived here.”

Overall, you can tell we’ve been pleased when we say “It’s been great to relocate.”

Steve Baska and his wife Vickie are residents of Castle Pines North. They are semi-retired grandparents living the good life.