Moving to Colorado Springs: 15 Things to Know Before You Move
Moving to Colorado Springs Shannon Price October 12, 2026
Moving to Colorado Springs Shannon Price October 12, 2026
Thinking about moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado? First of all, I get it.
There’s something pretty special about waking up to mountain views, having incredible hiking trails practically in your backyard, and living in a city where you can grab coffee in the morning and be standing on a mountain trail not long after.
But before you pack the U-Haul, buy three Patagonia jackets, and assume you’re officially a Coloradan, there are a few things you should know.
As a Colorado Springs Realtor who also made the move to Colorado from Texas, I know firsthand that living here comes with a few surprises. Some are amazing. Some involve snow shovels. And some involve discovering that 60 degrees in Colorado somehow feels like 75.
Here are 15 things you should know before moving to Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs sits at roughly 6,000 feet above sea level, and if you’re moving here from somewhere closer to sea level, your body may notice.
You might feel winded walking upstairs, hiking may suddenly feel significantly harder, and you may find yourself drinking water like it’s your new full-time job.
Give yourself time to acclimate. Stay hydrated, take it easy during your first few workouts or hikes, and don’t be surprised if that first Colorado beer hits a little differently up here.
The good news? Most people adjust, and before long you’ll be the one warning visiting friends not to attempt the Manitou Incline on day one.
Colorado Springs weather has commitment issues.
You can wake up to sunshine, see snow before lunch, experience 60-degree temperatures in the afternoon, and watch a thunderstorm roll through before dinner.
Layers will become your best friend.
One of the biggest mistakes newcomers make is assuming Colorado means freezing temperatures all winter. We actually get plenty of beautiful sunny winter days. The Colorado sunshine is one of my favorite things about living here.
Just don’t put away your winter clothes too early in the spring.
Colorado will notice.
One of the first things you’ll learn after moving to Colorado Springs is that the mountains are west.
It sounds ridiculously simple, but it’s actually one of the easiest ways to get your bearings around town.
If you can see Pikes Peak and the Front Range, you can usually figure out which direction you’re headed.
And yes, you may eventually become one of those people who gives directions by saying, “Head toward the mountains.”
When people hear “Colorado Springs,” they sometimes picture a small mountain town.
It isn’t.
Colorado Springs stretches across a large geographic area, and where you choose to live can make a huge difference in your daily routine.
North Colorado Springs feels very different from downtown. Old Colorado City has a completely different personality than Briargate. Living near the Broadmoor isn’t the same experience as living in Northgate.
That’s why choosing a home here isn’t just about the house.
It’s about choosing the part of Colorado Springs that fits your lifestyle.
One of my favorite things about Colorado Springs real estate is how different the neighborhoods can feel.
Old Colorado City offers historic homes, local shops, restaurants, and easy access to the west side and nearby trails.
Briargate and northern Colorado Springs offer newer communities, shopping, parks, and convenient access to I-25.
Downtown Colorado Springs has restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment, and an increasingly urban feel.
The Broadmoor area offers established neighborhoods, mature trees, mountain scenery, and some of the city’s most distinctive homes.
Then you have areas like Rockrimmon, Northgate, Flying Horse, and the communities farther east, each offering something different.
There isn’t one “best neighborhood in Colorado Springs.”
There’s a best neighborhood for you.
If you love being outside, Colorado Springs is pretty hard to beat.
Garden of the Gods gets most of the attention—and for good reason—but locals have plenty of other favorites.
Red Rock Canyon Open Space, North Cheyenne Cañon, Palmer Park, Ute Valley Park, and countless other trails give you options ranging from casual walks to challenging climbs.
And then there’s the Manitou Incline.
If climbing thousands of stairs straight up a mountain sounds fun to you, welcome home.
If it sounds terrible, don’t worry. You can still live here. We won’t revoke your Colorado card.
Living close to Colorado’s beautiful open spaces and mountains comes with responsibilities.
Some Colorado Springs properties are located in areas with higher wildfire exposure, particularly closer to the foothills and wildland-urban interface.
When you’re buying a home, it’s important to understand the property’s location, insurance considerations, defensible space, and any potential wildfire-related concerns.
That mountain setting may be gorgeous—but it’s worth doing your homework before you buy.
Colorado weather can be tough on houses.
Hail is a major consideration along the Front Range, and roofs get a lot of attention during Colorado real estate transactions.
Before buying a home, talk with your insurance provider about coverage and pricing for that specific property.
Don’t assume insurance will cost the same as it did in the state you’re moving from.
And when you’re touring houses, don’t be surprised when your Realtor seems unusually interested in the age of the roof.
There’s a reason.
Colorado’s soil conditions can make drainage especially important.
When you’re looking at homes, pay attention to grading, gutters, downspouts, cracks, and how water moves away from the foundation.
Some settling doesn’t automatically mean a house has a major structural problem, especially with older homes, but significant movement deserves further evaluation.
This is one reason I encourage buyers to look beyond countertops and paint colors.
The boring stuff can become very exciting when it’s expensive.
Colorado Springs has a strong military presence, with installations including Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and the United States Air Force Academy nearby.
That means PCS moves are a normal part of our real estate market.
If you’re relocating to Colorado Springs because of the military, commute time should absolutely be part of your home search.
A neighborhood that looks close on a map isn’t necessarily the most convenient choice for your particular duty station.
And if you’re using a VA loan, working with professionals who understand VA transactions can make the process much smoother.
Because Colorado Springs is so spread out, I always recommend thinking about your everyday life before falling in love with a particular neighborhood.
Where will you work?
Where will your kids need to go?
How often do you want to drive across town?
Do you want easy access to I-25?
Would you rather be five minutes from a hiking trail or five minutes from Target?
There are no wrong answers here. Personally, I appreciate having both.
If you’re moving from somewhere like Texas, you may picture Colorado winters as five straight months of living inside a snow globe.
That’s not exactly how it works in Colorado Springs.
We get snow, sometimes plenty of it, but we also get sunshine that can melt it surprisingly quickly.
One thing you’ll learn fast: roads, driveways, and neighborhoods can have completely different conditions depending on elevation, shade, and which direction they’re facing.
A south-facing driveway may suddenly become something you care deeply about.
That’s peak Colorado homeownership.
Colorado Springs gets a lot of sunshine, and at this elevation you’ll want to take sun protection seriously.
Sunscreen isn’t just for summer.
If you’re hiking, skiing, walking the dog, or sitting on a patio on a gorgeous January afternoon, that Colorado sun can sneak up on you.
Sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and lip balm will eventually become permanent residents of your car.
One reason people are attracted to Colorado Springs is that you can have restaurants, shopping, entertainment, healthcare, military installations, and other conveniences while still being incredibly close to nature.
You can spend Saturday morning hiking in the mountains and Saturday night having dinner downtown.
Denver is also accessible when you want the bigger-city experience, but you don’t have to live in the middle of it every day.
For many people relocating to Colorado, that’s exactly the balance they’re looking for.
This might be the most important thing I tell people moving to Colorado Springs.
Don’t start your search by asking:
“Which house should I buy?”
Start by asking:
“What do I want my life in Colorado to look like?”
Do you want to walk to coffee shops and restaurants?
Do you want newer construction?
Do you want mountain views?
Do you want to be close to hiking?
Are you commuting to a military installation?
Do you want more land?
Do you prefer an established neighborhood with mature trees or a newer community with modern amenities?
Once you figure out the lifestyle you want, finding the right part of Colorado Springs becomes much easier.
Relocating to a new city can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to choose a neighborhood from hundreds or thousands of miles away.
That’s where having a local Realtor becomes especially valuable.
I help buyers understand not just Colorado Springs real estate, but what it’s actually like to live here. From neighborhoods and commute times to mountain access, home inspections, VA financing, and all those little Colorado quirks you don’t discover until you arrive, I’m happy to help make the transition easier.
And as someone who relocated to Colorado myself, I understand what it’s like to arrive here and have absolutely no idea why everyone is talking about hail, altitude, and south-facing driveways.
If you’re considering moving to Colorado Springs, I’d love to help you find not just a house—but the part of Colorado Springs that feels like home.
Shannon Price, REALTOR®
Pulse Real Estate Group
Colorado Springs, Colorado
850-803-0595
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
Fall Home Maintenance
Southern Colorado Activities
Halloween Events, Fall Festivals, Family Activities & Things to Do in Colorado Springs, Pueblo & Pueblo West
Pumpkin patches and fall festivals
Moving to Colorado Springs
Moving to Colorado Springs
Hiking
The Manitou Incline
Southern Colorado Activities
Live Music, Pumpkin Patches, Family Activities & Fall Fun in Colorado Springs, Pueblo & Pueblo West
Serving communities from Colorado Springs through Pueblo and Denver, west into the mountains or east to the plains, our team is here to help with all your real estate needs across Colorado’s Front Range.