Reviews & Comments
Roanoke, VA
Caution before moving to Roanoke -
12/24/2006My wife and I have lived in the Roanoke area about a year now and we love it. If you like living in a tranquil, scenic setting this might be the place for you... but unless you're retiring here, get a job first! If you're a white collar worker, it really is tough to get a job in this blue collar town (unless you're an RN, PT, OT, etc). Be forwarned, there is a bit of the "good 'ol boy" mentality in this area.
Also, nobody seems to talk about this in any of the Roanoke forums, but if you have allergy problems, this place is the pits. It's a well known fact among the locals this is one of the worst places in the country for allergies. If this is a problem for you, I don't recommend moving here... your Zyrtec, Flonase, or whatever will not help you as much as you think.
Also, because of the mountains and all the traffic on I81, you get alot of smog in the summer time. But hey, no place is perfect!
Montrose, CO
Who ever posted the two "Rosey" comments below is -
11/26/2006A young visitor once asked an old man... "How are the people in this town?" To which the old man replied- "How were they in the town you came from?" "Terrible!" said the young visitor." The old man replied, "well, that's how they are here." The moral of the story is: people are whatever you want them to be... it just depends on your attitude.
I moved to the Montrose area with a very positive attitude. At first glance I thought the people and the place were awesome! I soon changed my mind. Montrose is beautiful and there is lots to do if you love the outdoors, but DON'T MOVE HERE!!! Visit in the summer time, maybe stick around until the end of September to see the Aspens changing color, but then leave!
Whoever posted the two positive comments about Montrose on this website is either a business owner, home builder or real estate agent who stands to gain from your pain of moving to Montrose. I have never lived in a region where people lie so much (it's an epidemic here). Beware!! Also, the natives (locals) in the Delta, Montrose, and Ouray area dislike newcomers, especially Californians and too a lesser degree, Texans.
Jobs are hard to find. Pay is well below average. Many people I came to know had to work two jobs (some three) to make it. If you like living around people who are struggling to make a living, people who like to lie when the truth would do just fine, people who dislike (maybe hate) newcomers, then by all means move here! At least do yourself the favor of getting a job first. When buying stuff, just make sure the price listed on the merchandise matches what's scanned at the checkout counter... my wife and I noticed an unusual amount of discrepency between what's labeled on the package and what's charged at check out (always in favor of the merchant).
Montrose, CO
Great Place to visit but no place to live -
11/14/2006My wife and I moved from the Washington, DC area to Western Colorado. The San Juans mountains hypnotized us. They are stunningly beautiful! We wanted to move to Montrose but wound up buying a home in Delta which is about 30 minutes north(less expensive area). However we both got jobs in Montrose. After 15 months though, we left. Here are some interesting things we learned about the region (Delta down to Ouray):
1 It's a tough place to make a living. Many (yes, many) people work two or more jobs and pay is terrible. Jobs are hard to find. Gasoline is expensive. Alot of people feel trapped because they can't afford to leave.
2 We found out that for every two that arrive one leaves. Real Estate Agents know this and are aware they could pick the listing back up in a few months.
3. They don't like newcomers, especially Californians and to a lesser degree Texans (the place is loaded with Texans). For the newcomer to make friends with a native... "foget about it"! If you do move there you will notice after a while that all your friends are newcomers like yourself.
4. Alot of drug usage and higher than normal suicide rate. As one woman once told me- "this is the most un-Christian place I have ever lived".
5. They are traffic Nazi's. I have never seen an area so obsessed with traffic violations. What am I talking about? Drive over the speed limit, or pass on the double yellow line, or run a red light and you will find out real quick (they have cell phones and they do use them).
The number one lesson we learned, like many who move here, is that the reality of living in Western Colorado is quite different than the dream. My parents who are retired fell in love with it and now spend their summers there. Nothing wrong with that! As I'm now fond of saying... "it's a great place to visit but no place to live!"
Delta, CO
Visit yes, retire maybe, but DON'T MOVE HERE!! -
11/10/2006My wife and I moved from the Washington, DC area to Delta, Co. The San Juans mountains hypnotized us. They are stunningly beautiful!! After 15 months though, we left. Here are some interesting things we learned about Western Colorado (Grand Junction to Ouray):
1 It's a tough place to make a living. Many (yes, many) people work two or more jobs and pay is terrible. Jobs are hard to find. Gasoline is expensive. Many people feel trapped because they can't afford to leave.
2 We found out that for every two that arrive one leaves. Real Estate Agents know this and are aware they could pick the listing back up in a few months.
3. They don't like newcomers, especially Californians and to a lesser degree Texans (the place is loaded with Texans). For the newcomer to make friends with a native... "foget about it"!
4. Alot of drug usage and higher than normal suicide rate. As one woman once told me- "this is the most un-Christian place I have ever lived!"
5. They are traffic Nazi's. I have never seen an area that is so obsessed with traffic violations. What am I talking about? Drive over the speed limit, pass on the double yellow line, run a red light and you will find out real quick (they have cell phones and they do use them).
My parents (retired) fell in love with it and now love to spend their summers there. Nothing wrong with that! As I now love to say... "it's a great place to visit but no place to live!"