5 Things to Know Before Moving to Colorado Springs
About three weeks after a move, almost every new Colorado Springs resident calls us with the same question: “Why did nobody tell me this?”
We’ve helped people relocate to Colorado Springs for 20 years, and we’ve sold more than 3,500 homes here. Some surprises come up again and again. This isn’t a pros and cons list (we have a full pros and cons post for that). It’s the practical, first-90-days stuff that changes how you plan your move.
Prefer to watch? Watch the full video on YouTube, where Treasure walks through all five.
1. The altitude and dry air will change your daily habits
Downtown Colorado Springs sits at about 6,000 feet. That’s higher than Denver, and probably a lot higher than where you’re moving from.
You’ll feel it the first week. Most people are a little more tired and short of breath, and they sleep differently for a few nights. That’s normal, and it passes.
The dryness doesn’t pass. This is high desert, and your skin, lips and sinuses will notice within days. Nosebleeds in the first month are common enough that we mention them to every out-of-state buyer. Before you arrive, stock up on:
Lotion and lip balm
A humidifier for the bedrooms
Sunscreen for every day, not just summer. The sun is stronger at altitude, and you can burn on a 40-degree winter day.
If you bake, your recipes will need adjusting for high altitude. Your first batch of cookies will teach you that.
The good news is that your body adapts. Give it a few weeks before the big hike you saw on Instagram, and drink about twice the water you think you need.
2. High desert living changes your yard, your water bill and your insurance
Many homes here don’t have big green lawns, and the ones that do work hard for them.
Water is managed carefully in Colorado, and Colorado Springs Utilities sets watering schedules that change with the seasons. You’ll see a lot of xeriscaping: drought-tolerant landscaping with native grasses, rock and plants that actually want to live here. When you tour homes, look at the yard and ask yourself honestly how much time and water you want to put into it.
Then there’s wildfire. Homes on the west side near the foothills, or north in the Black Forest area, sit on beautiful wooded lots that are also in wildfire zones. Owners there take mitigation seriously. That means keeping defensible space around the home, clearing brush, and knowing that homeowners insurance will price in the risk.
We’re not saying avoid these areas. Some of the most beautiful homes in the city are there. Just get an insurance quote before you fall in love with a house, and count mitigation in your ownership costs.
3. The city is bigger than you think, so pick a side of town first
People hear “Colorado Springs” and picture a mid-sized mountain town. The city limits actually cover more land than Denver’s do. The city stretches a long way north to south, and it keeps growing east.
That matters because where you land shapes your daily life. Work on the north end and buy on the south end, and you’ve signed up for a commute you didn’t plan on. Love downtown but buy on the far east side, and every night out starts with a 25-minute drive.
So before you fall in love with a floor plan, figure out where your life actually happens: work, church, the gym, your weekly activities. Draw a circle around those places and shop inside it. We do this with every relocation client, and it keeps people from buying a beautiful house in the wrong part of town. To learn more about the communities of Colorado Springs, check out our website’s Communities Page.
Planning tip: When you visit, drive it. Take I-25 from north to south at 5 p.m. on a weekday, then drive from the east side to downtown. One afternoon will teach you more than any map.
4. Your first 90 days come with a paperwork checklist
This part never makes the brochure.
Once you establish residency in Colorado, you have a short window to get a Colorado driver’s license and register your vehicles. Put both on your calendar the week you close.
The surprise is the specific ownership tax you pay when you register a vehicle. It’s based on the car’s age and original value, so the first registration on a newer vehicle can cost a lot more than you paid in your old state. We’ve had clients genuinely shocked at the DMV, so budget for it.
Some things work in your favor:
Flat state income tax. Colorado’s is simple compared to many states.
No emissions test in El Paso County. The Denver metro area requires one, but Colorado Springs doesn’t.
Lower property taxes than much of the country. But if you buy in a newer neighborhood, a metro district may add to your bill. Our pros and cons post explains how that works.
5. You’ll have wildlife in your neighborhood, and neighbors who show up
The last one is the reason most people fall in love with living here.
Depending on where you live, you’ll share your neighborhood with deer, and on the west side, black bears. This isn’t a rare event. Bears get into trash cans and deer eat gardens. People near the foothills quickly learn to lock the trash, bring in the bird feeders and close the garage. It’s part of the deal, and most people end up loving it.
Then there are the people. Lots of folks here moved from somewhere else, so they remember what it was like to be new. Neighbors introduce themselves and invite you to things. It feels like a small town, even though it’s one of the biggest cities in the state.
If you’re worried about starting over with no connections, Colorado Springs is one of the easier places to do it.
Get the free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide
Planning a move here? Our free relocation guide covers all of this and more: the areas of town, the timeline for buying from out of state, and the questions to ask before you commit.
Download the free Colorado Springs Relocation Guide
Watch the full video
Treasure walks through all five, with more detail on each, in the full video: 5 Things to Know Before Moving to Colorado Springs. Leave a comment there telling us where you’re moving from and which part of the Springs you’re considering. We read every one.
Thinking about relocating?
The Treasure Davis Team has helped more than 3,500 people buy and sell homes in Colorado Springs, Monument and Castle Rock since 2005. We help people relocate every week. If you’re moving somewhere other than Colorado Springs, we can connect you with the right agent anywhere in the country.
Call or text (719) 249-2020, or email homes@treasuredavis.com.
Treasure Davis Team | Brokered by eXp Realty | Colorado Springs, CO
