in need of guidance, help, knowledge &

[5280and420]

Anywhere near the mountains is EXPENSIVE to live....

The flatlands and major city's are cheaper

Are you crazy? Denver / Littleton / Boulder (the major cities here) are the most expensive areas you can live in. The mountains (Morrison, west of Boulder, etc) have hundreds if not thousands of cheap houses to buy, many with an acre or ten to boot.

Do a map search of real estate, sort by price, and you'll see that anything INSIDE the 470 "ring" is expensive. Anything outside, including LOTS to the west, is cheaper.