What’s it *really* like to move to the mountains?
We had two boys. Then we got pregnant again with….wait for it….twin boys. We doubled our boys overnight. We didn’t see anyone for the first two years. It was all such a blur. And then COVID hit and, like everyone else, we didn’t see anyone again for another two years. We love having four boys, but we woke up one day and looked at each other and said “what are we doing living here?” We started dreaming about living in the mountains, with peaceful acreage and great community. We wanted the outdoor life for our boys and to be as active as possible.
But what would that even look like? Can we do that? Can we afford it?
What is it like to move to the mountains? With four boys?!
What does it look like to move to the mountains?
Evergreen Lake at night
Our first real conversation about moving to the mountains involved simply dreaming. What life do we want to live? And how would mountain life provide for that?
We wanted some land for our boys to run around. We also wanted strong community and schools. Those things are not always compatible. We looked at various mountain towns for more than a year. Some were too small, some were too expensive (and touristy). We finally landed on Evergreen, a town with great mountain vibes and community, while still having good amenities and schools. We then searched for homes and in Evergreen, every neighborhood is different. We really had to discuss our values on what we wanted in a house. We landed on a property that is further out from “downtown Evergreen” than we originally thought, but it came with land and lots of space for growing boys. Community is what you make of it, so we knew we had to try a bit harder to find and keep good company when we couldn’t just walk to the local coffee shop.
What are your values?
Do you want to live in the suburbs where you have 20 neighbors within a shouting distance? Do you want to live deep in the forest where you can’t even see other houses? Do you want to live within walking distance of a school? Or coffee shop? Do you mind a windy drive to your house or do your kids get car sick too easily in the back (this was seriously one of our concerns)? Do you want to have horses on your property or would you do better in a townhome with no land maintenance? Do you want to live near a highway or grocery store or do you want to be further out? Do you want a fixer-upper or do you want something that is ready to go (updated or new)? Will you need a fenced-in area for your pets or can you find a house that already has one (many houses in the mountains do not have fenced-in areas).
There’s lots of good reasons to move to the mountains, but you also have to be realistic about what you want, what the mountains can provide and how to get it.
Start Looking
Once you figure out what your values are, start looking. How do you know where to live? How do you know how to choose the right mountain home? It took us nearly a year of looking before we found the right house. And then once we did we weren’t ready to move yet so we had to negotiate timing and buy a little early. Mountain neighborhoods are all so different - and each house within those neighborhoods is so different. You don’t simply just go and buy a cookie-cutter house in the neighborhood down the street. Each property has pros and cons, some are old some are updated, some have a water well and a septic, some have city water. Mountain homes are eclectic - each one has its own unique character. So it’s a little harder to simply show up and buy the first time you go looking.
Get Ready
Once you find a house and start making preparations to buy and move, you need to start considering other factors of mountain life. Do you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle? Will you need a plow or snowblower? Can you get insurance on this property or will you have to do some fire mitigation? What about your pets? Will you need a fenced-in area or does your new home have one? What about internet? Lining up internet service before you move in is essential as it sometimes takes months before you can get service. I can help you navigate all of these questions and more. What about doctors for you or for your pet?
For our property, we had the right vehicles (we have four boys so we needed big cars to begin with) but we needed to figure out a snow plow. Our driveway is long and steep so shoveling or snow blowing was not going to cut it. We also needed to figure out insurance. We worked with a broker to find a carrier that would insure a mountain home. We also had to do some investigating on the water filters, hot tub, and driveway repair. It took some time and caused a few headaches but was so worth it!
Then, of course, we had to start packing. Ughh.
Moving
Moving is no fun for anyone. But, it’s not impossible. I detailed our packing and moving experience, but keep in mind, especially for families with kids, it takes way longer than you think to pack and get ready (and you will have way more stuff than you ever thought). Will you hire a moving company or do it yourself? We hired a company and it was the best money we spent. When moving to the mountains, you also need to determine if you can get a moving truck to your house or not. Are the roads paved or gravel? Are they big enough for a large truck? Is your driveway too steep? If it’s in winter, are the roads plowed?
Once you move in
Of course, moving day is only half the battle. Then you have boxes upon boxes. We had so many it filled our garage. Literally. But eventually we chipped away. Ideally you’re moving to the mountains for peace and quiet, so why rush? We tackled the kids’ rooms first so they could feel at home in a new environment and left several other rooms full of boxes. Just do one room at a time!
Prior to closing on our house, we arranged to have Starlink Internet devices delivered. Once you verify online that your property is eligible, they ship you the equipment and then you install it yourself. It’s super easy and you follow the instructions on the app. We were up and running in no time and we had internet ready to go once we moved in (you need Netflix ready for kids after a long day of moving!). In my particular area in the foothills, there’s also CenturyLink internet, but it did not provide high-enough speeds for our Zoom-heavy meeting needs, and it would have taken more than a month to have a technician come out to get it installed. Some other areas of the foothills have different providers - it’s best to check and be ready so you have it set up by the time you move in!
Maintenance Galor
Mountain homes come with the benefit of additional maintenance beyond just shoveling snow. Our water well has a filter that I have to change every 3 months. You have to maintain your septic system and get it cleaned out. If you have a hot tub you need to keep it clean. You will want to make sure your property is clean and clear to avoid any further wildfire risk as well as avoiding unnecessary interactions with wildlife. With larger amount of land comes more upkeep - but the plus side is that I no longer have to rake leaves!
Pros and Cons
Of course, nothing is perfect. There are pros and cons to moving to the mountains. As you start navigating your new life, one thing you’ll notice is the higher costs. Of everything, unfortunately. Restaurants, gas, insurance all adds up. It’s a reality of living in paradise. But, if you accept it early on, and know it going in, it’s a bit easier to stomach. Here’s some things to consider before you move.
The other thing we noticed is that we are further away from neighbors, schools and stores (which can be a good thing for the sake of quiet nights) so you find yourself in your car. A lot. You definitely have to plan out your grocery trips - you can’t just pop by as you used to in the city. And then there’s Costco. We live 45 minutes from two different Costcos so we try to plan a trip anytime we’re heading “down the hill” (and of course, avoid weekends if possible. My worst nightmare).
On top of that, the altitude is real, my friends. Even just moving from Denver, which is already a mile high, we noticed it. Our house sits at 8,000 feet so it’s considerably higher than Denver (and I’m a flat-lander from the midwest!). You can notice it when walking and trying to run outside. I love trail running but it kicked my butt for the first few months. You get used to it but I’m getting old! We also notice it in our sleep - we didn’t sleep as well in the first few months (though the stress of moving could play a part there). We also noticed it in drinking alcohol. Not only do you not need as much, but you don’t want to drink as much as it dries you out, messes with your sleep and impacts your mornings more than it did at lower altitudes.
Then the snow hits. We all know about snow in the mountains. How much do we really get? It’s not as bad as you may think, mostly because of the immense amount of sunny days we get after the snow. But it’s still a factor when thinking about moving to the mountains. It’s part of life and if you have the right tools (and mindset) it’s a fun part of the mountain experience.
If all that wasn’t enough, you will want to be sure that you are evacuation ready, with a go-bag and an idea on what you may or may not want to take with you and how to prepare your home should you need to evacuate due to wild fires.
Getting Enrolled in Schools
Ideally, if you know in advance, it’s best to get your children enrolled by the end of the Spring semester prior to the Fall you want to start. That way you are in the system and ready to go for Fall before staff leave for the summer. However, you can enroll anytime you need and most mountain schools (aside from charter and private that have limited enrollment) will gladly welcome you into their community. Check out all the schools in the foothills, from public to private.
Our new life
As soon as we moved in, we hit the ground running. We moved the week after school ended and got to enjoy a full summer before school started again (highly recommended!). We hiked the Evergreen lake immediately, and went to outdoor concerts and movies in the park. We enrolled our kids in some local summer camps and tried as many trails as possible. We ate at amazing restaurants and tried all the ice cream spots we could find. We drank good coffee. We paddle boarded and ice skated on Evergreen lake, and found 6 great family activities in the area. We had so much fun.
Our first weekend in our new home town
We moved to the mountains to gain better community both in our neighborhood and school. We expected good things, but we have been blown away. Everyone that lives in the mountains wants to live in the mountains. No one is here by accident. So you find people who love where they live and, in turn, love their life. People are kind and welcoming, they are outdoorsy and fun, they believe in helping each other and building the community they want to live in. Now, you have to understand that people also move to the mountains for peace and solitude, but overall, we have been floored by the intentionality of people who live here.
We also had A LOT more visitors in the summer. People love coming to visit the mountains and we were happy to host. It felt like home so fast just by hosting family and friends, and showing off our new town.
And so…
And so our new mountain life begins. Great schools, outdoor activities and community. Longer drives, higher costs and challenging weather. But would we do it all over again. We love our little world we get to explore and would highly recommend it to anyone seriously considering, in Evergreen or any of the other foothills towns outside of Denver.
How can I help you navigate such a crazy move? What town do you want to call home? Don’t do it alone!
Read more about how to choose a real estate agent and how to choose a mountain home.
