Life in Castle Pines is lived Rocky Mountain style. "The Colorado Rocky Mountain high/ I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky/ The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby/ Rocky Mountain high." --John Denver, 'Rocky Mountain High'
Once called Castle Pines North, this town is now just Castle Pines, but you have the freedom to call it whichever one you please
Life in Castle Pines is lived Rocky Mountain style. "The Colorado Rocky Mountain high/ I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky/ The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby/ Rocky Mountain high." --John Denver, 'Rocky Mountain High'
Once called Castle Pines North, this town is now just Castle Pines, but you have the freedom to call it whichever one you please. Within 20 miles of the great city of Denver, Castle Pines showcases all the things any great Colorado town should: great golf, proximity to skiing spots, good food, and plenty of events. On top of that, this city functions like a true small town. Home to 10,360 people, you'll never feel coldness from locals in Castle Pines, only the air in the winter months. It's not like "Cheers" where everyone knows your name, but it's close. Dive into that festive atmosphere and you'll be as fine as wine in Castle Pines. Hey, that rhymes!
While the lifestyle may make you feel like you are being pampered, you have to find a home before you can get pampered. There's a lot that goes into this, especially if you consider the low amount of available rentals in Castle Pines and a low renter-occupancy rate of 15.3%. The task in front of you is not impossible, but it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination. Get to it!
Oh, the Weather Outside Is...
It's best if you house hunt in the summer, when the weather is much warmer and it's not incredibly snowy. Obviously, personal obligations bind everyone to certain time frames. Also, consider the presence of numerous schools in the area. Folks generally move when school goes on break, which makes mid-June through August the time with the most market activity. You can sweep in like a bald eagle and claim a pad just as the previous tenant gives back the key.
Buckle Up!
Prepare early! Use house and apartments locator tools to start finding availabilities roughly six weeks before your arrival. Then contact appropriate people and arrange tours. Note that, while detached houses account for 80.1% of units, you can still get 1 bedroom apartments in Castle Pines; it probably will take a little longer, but that's why you are going to get an early start, right?
Don't Nap on It
Be quick with your decision and be flexible with your search. If you're searching for 2 bedroom apartments for rent and find that you really like one, say you'll take it. Don't go think it over while working on your golf swing. Also, search by number of bedrooms instead of housing type. It will yield more results. If you need two bedrooms, for example, you will have much more luck by broadly browsing for just two bedrooms. Such units account for 17.2% of homes here, and within that number is a mix of houses, apartments, and condos.
Be a Proud Tenant
Come ready to showcase how good of a renter you are. Bring a checkbook for the upfront costs (security deposit and as much as two months' rent). Have copies of personal info and bring a verified credit report. Bringing past landlord references can help too. If you are getting a rental apt at a managed community, take the initiative of asking what the next step to completing a lease agreement is. Landlords and staff in Castle Pines want to know they can trust you. You need to make them trust you.
Before you go fishing for housing, it's also crucial to understand the various neighborhoods in town. Ask yourself if you want to be close to downtown Denver, if you want to live near a golf course, or if you want easy access to Interstate-25. Your answers should shed light on what neighborhood suits you.
Castle Pines Center: The area around Castle Pines Parkway has many shops, eateries, and cafes. Timber Trail Elementary School, a golf course, and a few parks are here too. The area is somewhat walkable. You'll find some nice apts for rent near Interstate-25.
Castle Pines North: Close to Denver and Daniels Park, this mostly residential pocket of town demands the use of a car.
Castle Pines South: Highlighted by Castle Pines Golf Club, this area boasts many subdivisions and proximity to the Outlets at Castle Rock. Shop in style. Live in comfort.
So you've made it to Castle Pines. Smell the pine trees. Now, you need a car. While biking is manageable, doing it every day can get very taxing on the body, especially with uneven terrain and a cold climate. You can drive 10 minutes to get to the Lincoln Light Rail Station, which can transport you to and around Denver. A vehicle, though, is your best option.
In Castle Pines, it's all about going out and tackling life. Local events, such as the yearly Community Wide Garage Sale and Castle Pines Summer Solstice Fair, showcase how tight-knit, fun-loving, and welcoming the city is. You can experience this environment even more at eateries like La Dolce Vita, restaurant-pubs like Duke's Steakhouse, and at the parks and golf courses in town. If you ever desire more, head to the Denver Art Museum, watch a Rockies baseball game at Coors Field, or growl at the tigers in the Denver Zoo. Obviously, great skiing and views of the Rocky Mountains await you any day of the year. Castle Pines isn't some sleepy town with nothing to do. It's a cool community within a cool metropolitan area. Get out and enjoy it.
