Forbes Magazine has ranked Fort Collins as one of its Top Ten Places for Business and Careers in 2008. In 2006, Fort Collins was named the "Best City in America" in which to live by Money Magazine. Last month, Forbes cited Fort Collins on its list of "America's Smartest Cities". From the current Forbes article, which was published this week:
"Another newcomer to the top 10 is Fort Collins. With a metro area population of 282,000, it is one of the smaller places on our list. Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University, which is the area's largest employer and a big reason why 40% of residents have a college degree, the sixth highest rate in the country. Fort Collins also benefits from strong income growth and business costs well below other Colorado locales like Boulder and Denver."
Fewer than 15% of real estate brokers in the Denver metro area subscribe to the Northern Colorado MLS system. Why do I spend the money to subscribe to both Metrolist (Denver) and IRES (Northern Colorado)? Because, invariably, people coming to the area want to know more about Fort Collins.
With 24,000 students at Colorado State University, the city provides one of the purest rental markets in America, with a recession-proof army of students arriving each year. With a median home price of just over $200,000, Fort Collins offers a great quality of life in a safe and picturesque environment.
(In the name of disclosure, I am a Fort Collins rental owner and someone who has helped investors in that market. If you are interested in learning more about why Fort Collins is a great place for landlords as well as a wonderful place to live, give me a call.)
