Hi,

I don't think that there is any way that I could answer your question better than Ron - very detailed. I just wanted to throw out an opinion that is meant to get you thinking a little:

I see that you are from Chicago which is great. Most people in Boulder are from somewhere else; California, Texas, Washington D.C, Boston, and like me Chicago. As a Realtor I help people find a place to settle down and call home once they move to there area. Everybody has grand ideas of living in the mountains and relaxing next to their pot belly stove reading a book. That idea wears off pretty quickly with the extra commute time, septic, well, wild animals, and isolation. It might be a good idea to rent before you buy in the mountains to make sure that it is what you are looking for. After a few months of living out here you may realize that living next to the mountains may be better suited to you than living in the mountains.

You could always buy a weekend getaway in the mountains and a full time house in town.

Pine Brook Hills is a good option that has the best of both worlds. Here are some houses in Pine Brook Hills - http://www.definitelydave.idxco.com/idx/4869/mapSearch.php?p…

Hi Cs Kim:

Glad to hear you are thinking of moving back to Boulder County. For my money, there is no better place to live in the continental United States!

Living in the mountains around Boulder (as I do) can be a wonderful experience, but you are wise to look at both the positive and negative sides of the equation before making a decision. Though many of us are perfectly content to live in the mountains, I have seen a number of people move back to town if fairly short order.

On the positive side, mountain living definitely puts you in closer contact with nature, provides breathtaking views on a daily basis and lets you participate in a slower lifestyle. Your neighbors will be there to help you when you need it, but will also respect your privacy.

There are few things more enjoyable than standing on your deck with a cup of coffee in the morning and watching a doe and her fawns, a fox or some wild turkeys as they forage! Sometimes it seems the ever-changing light on the mountains is never exactly the same twice. You never get fully used to the remarkable interplay of light and land and sky.

But, there are issues as well. After a while, the ride to town can become tedious. The range of wildlife also includes bears and cougars. Bears occasionally break into kitchens as they fatten up for hibernation and mountain lions do take pets as well as wildlife. If you have children or grandchildren, you will want them close as the sun sets and afterward.

In most cases, you will maintain a water well and septic system. The SepticSmart program will ensure you move into a home with a good septic system, but you may have maintenance issues later. You should have your tank pumped every couple of years. You probably will also heat with propane, a minor inconvenience.

The forest has become overgrown since people arrived in the west. This means fire is more of a danger than in the past and some forest pests are moving in and killing trees. Responsible mountain residents spend time and money thinning trees and watching for mistletoe, pine beetles and other parasites. If your trees become infected, you will want to take action before the problem spreads.

Boulder County does a wonderful job of clearing the main roads so the school buses get through in the morning and afternoon. This usually makes getting to town relatively easy except in the worst weather. You will have to do something about your own driveway. Some people hire a plowing company. Others do it themselves. If you are far back from the road, you will occasionally stay home for a day or two. Power lines do get knocked out a little more often in the mountains and it sometimes takes a bit longer for the power company to get to mountain outages. They rightly want to fix problems in the most populated areas first.

Don't get me wrong, many of these issues are fairly rare. But, they do concern some people and you should consider them before moving to the mountains.

If these issues make you a bit concerned, I would suggest you explore some compromise solutions. You can reduce drive time by moving closer to Boulder City.

Or you can move to an area that is a bit more developed.

Pine Brook Hills, for example, has natural gas lines and its own water system. There are fire hydrants for emergencies. Pine Brook also is closer to the city. However, you will have your own septic system and your lot may be smaller than elsewhere in the mountains.

It is good that you are paying attention to both the positive and negative factors of mountain living. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.

In the meantime, check out the web references section below. I have included a link to a collection of helpful and fun websites I reproduced in my Trulia blog. Boulder County has a lot going for it. These sites may help you re-acquaint yourself with the area.

Kind regards (and welcome home),
Ron Rovtar
Real Estate of the Rockies

Hi,

I personally lived in the in the mountains for years. Boulder County is very diligent about plowing the roads and if you have a 4 wheel vehicle, you shouldn't have any problems.

Regarding water, you'll most likely have a well and a good inspector is key. On the septic front, Boulder County has enacted Septic Smart which requires that septic tanks, leach fields, etc. be inspected by an approved inspector prior to Title changing hands.

Hope this helps. I'll be glad to help with any further questions.

Thanks.
Sean