City or Suburbs? A guide for growing families

Moving out of the city is a major milestone for many growing families in Denver. When you finally outgrow your starter flat, the search for a dream home begins. You start looking at estate agents, checking the local housing market, and wondering if you can get a mortgage.

It is high time many couples considered moving to the suburbs, especially if they feel boxed in by high rent and tiny rooms. Many young professionals find themselves priced out of the city center entirely. They look for houses further out, hoping to upsize without spending a fortune.

However, leaving urban life behind is not always easy. If you have lived in a vibrant neighborhood for years, moving to the quiet commuter belt can feel strange. It is as though you are moving to another planet where everything closes at eight o'clock in the evening.

Let us consider the advantages of suburban living. You get more space for your money, a proper garden for your children, and quiet streets. It is much easier to put down roots when you own a house with a garage and a white picket fence.

Suppose you decided to stay put in your old flat instead. Would you really be happy living on top of your neighbors forever? Most people would rather have peace and quiet than listen to sirens every night.

Yet, change is difficult. Even when you are completely set in your ways, life forces you to adapt. House-hunting can take months, and finding the right property requires patience, luck, and a very good financial advisor.

When we finally moved to our suburban house last spring, I thought I would celebrate immediately. I imagined myself enjoying the spacious kitchen and the lovely backyard while drinking morning coffee in total silence.

Instead, I found myself missing the chaos of my old neighborhood. It was as if a piece of my identity stayed behind in that cramped little apartment above the bakery on Main Street.

I missed walking to the corner shop for milk in my pajamas. I missed the sound of the bus outside and the bright neon lights flashing through my bedroom window during late winter evenings.

So, if you are planning to make the big jump to the suburbs, prepare yourself for mixed emotions. You will gain a lot of space, but you might lose a little bit of your city soul along the way.

Read again and choose the right answer

Why do many young professionals leave the city center?

• They are priced out by high costs
• They hate public transport
• They want to live in a hotel

What does the writer miss about her old flat?

• The expensive furniture
• The city chaos and walking to the corner shop
• The noise from the airport

How did the writer feel after moving to the suburbs?

• She felt immediate pure joy
• She felt mixed emotions and missed the city
• She regretted buying a car

What is one main benefit of living in the suburbs according to the text?

• Free public parking everywhere
• More space and a proper garden
• Closer proximity to nightclubs

Sources: photo by Lalada . on Pexels