[Gogar]

If considering a move on a budget I suggest Kansas or iowa. “Water quality” is certainly not a consideration as a percentage of the total.

The new housing popping up north of Arvada towards superior is IMO absolutely soul-crushing miserable at any price. Cookie cutter; windy; no trees. Plenty of Starbucks.

As mentioned real estate listings last about 24-48 hours and almost always sell over ask.

If you must and are interested in a home that isn’t brand new then.... maybe Lafayette or Broomfield, Arvada or yes Westminster. Maybe Longmont. There is actually a toll road from i25 towards Boulder that may provide a reasonable commute from farther east.

But yeah The words “Denver” and “affordable” never appear in a sentence together right now, unless accompanied by an “un.”