Fort Collins CO Real Estate

Back in 2006, the magazine Money dubbed Fort Collins as the best place to live in America because of its low crime rate, great schools, good jobs and great outdoor life. So if you plan to purchase a home and move to Fort Collins, then you are undoubtedly making a good choice.

About Fort Collins

Founded as a military outpost for the United States army back in 1864, Fort Collins Colorado is situated just on east of the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Fort Collins, Colorado is home to 136,509 people according to the 2008 estimates, and is the fifth most populous city in the state of Colorado. It is approximately 65 miles north of Denver, Colorado and 45 miles south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Fort Collins has almost 300 days of sunshine and only 15 inches of rain each year, and unlike the Midwest and the east coast, the heat is dry and not humid. The city provides plenty of recreational activities for residents ñ from cultural attractions, festivals, great night life, plenty of outdoor activity places and that wonderful college ñ town vibe.

Going About Town

Fort Collins gets its college town feel because it is home to the Colorado State University. The cultural activity of the cityis rich. Plenty of large festivals are held in Old Town (the city’s historic shopping district) each year. The city also has a thriving beer culture, having three local microbreweries that distribute its products locally and nationally.

There are also plenty of activities for those who love the outdoors. People can choose from biking, hiking,  skiing, camping, boating and more. Fort Collins is pedestrian and biker friendly, as almost all new roads now have bike ñ lanes. There is even a bike library for those who do not have bicycles and wish to rent them.

Art comes to life in Fort Collins with its art galleries and sculptures, as well as museums. The Lincoln Center is the main venue for most performing arts with a Performance Hall that seats more than a thousand people, and a mini ñ theater that seats more than two hundred. There are also plenty of performing art groups such as the Fort Collins Symphony, Canyon Concert Baller, Larimer Chorale, Fort Collin’s Children’s theater and more.

The Fort Collins Museum showcases the history and culture of the city and of the surrounding areas. The museum has over 30,000 artifacts and plenty of permanent and temporary exhibits.

Employment is high in the city, with Colorado State University, HP and the Poudre Valley Hospital being the top three employers. Aside from the three, there are plenty of job opportunities with other big named companies and employers as well. There are also plenty of small businesses in the city. The Fort Collins Small Business Development Center has been put up to help get small businesses started in the area.

Electronics, accessories, scientific instruments, pharmaceuticals, communications, machinery and equipment are the major items produced in the city. Green energy technology is also produced in the city, and this includes biofuels, solar technology and Smart Grid technology.

Buying A House In Fort Collins

Fort Collins has over a thousand homes for sale at any given time. In 2008, the median home price in Fort Collins was $207,739 which means half of the homes in the city are priced lower than the median rate, while half of the homes cost higher than this as well. The average asking price, however, is $315,000. It is best to remember, though, that real estate prices fluctuate on a certain basis, and it is always recommended to speak to a local real estate agent in order to know the current home prices.