Tag Archive for: find your Grand Junction home

Your Grand Junction Relocation Guide

Rather than handing you a printed Grand Junction Relocation Guide to help decide if relocating to Grand Junction is right for you, I will personally provide you with an opportunity to ride along with me on a valley-wide tour.

I AM your Relocation Guide!

You will discover all the high points while getting ALL your questions answered. I arrange tours for clients any time of the year. Most visitors don’t even want to look at property, they want to understand what this valley has to offer. How can it get any better than having a new friend show you around for an afternoon?

I know that relocating isn’t just about moving boxes from one place to another. It’s about building a new life, in a new community, with confidence. If you’re considering a move to Western Colorado, allow me to be your Grand Junction Relocation Guide. I have real estate experience, along with corporate and personal relocation process experience! More importantly, when you choose me as your relocation partner, you’re not just getting a real estate agent, you’re getting the relocation expert for Grand Junction and the Grand Valley.

Partnering with a Grand Junction Relocation Guide starts with the biggest question: why move here in the first place?

Paul Aspelin in front of the Grand Valley in the Colorado National MonumentGrand Junction isn’t simply another stop on the map, it’s a destination. Nestled between the Colorado National Monument, the Book Cliffs, and the Grand Mesa, it’s a place where stunning landscapes, thriving communities, and opportunity come together. A place where many people who relocate here finally understand what it’s like to “live your vacation.”

Relocation requires more than just touring a list of homes for sale. It requires insight, connections, and someone who can show you exactly why you will love living here! Finding a home you’ll love is the easy part, deciding if this is the right place for you…. that takes insider knowledge and a personalized helping hand, which is where I come in.

With over 25 years in real estate and 18 years owning and running a boutique brokerage, I’ve guided countless families and professionals through successful relocations. You don’t have to worry if you’ve picked the right agent. Just book your travel plans and come for a visit!

I love to provide personalized Relocation Tours of the Grand Valley. I don’t just hand you a brochure. You hop in my vehicle, and I give you a guided tour of neighborhoods, schools, parks, local businesses, and hidden gems so you can truly understand what life here feels like. My role is bigger than helping you buy a house. I am here to help you discover if the Grand Junction lifestyle and community fits your goals and needs. Read my post called Why Move to Grand Junction to learn more about the area.

When you’re looking for the Grand Junction relocation guide who can make your move seamless, you’ll quickly see why people trust me.

What to Expect on a Relocation Tour

Paul Aspelin standing in front of the sign for the east entrance of the Colorado National MonumentI will pick you up at your hotel and coordinate certain stops to your interests. We will tour Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade showing all each city has to offer. From the storybook downtown of Grand Junction to Fruita’s outdoor biking-focused community to Palisade’s Fruit and Wine Byway, you’ll see the personality of each area.

Depending on your goals, we will highlight what you’re hoping to learn more about.

School Insights: I’ll drive you by schools of your choice and help coordinate meetings with administrators if needed.

Lifestyle Stops: Craft Breweries, Distilleries, Cideries, Wineries, hiking/biking trailheads, bike/raft rental shops, the CMU campus, CMU Outdoor Program, the shops, and restaurants along the downtown main streets of Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade, The Colorado National Monument, and the numerous farmers markets! Together, we’ll explore the places that define life here.

Housing Market Breakdown: You’ll get a clear picture of which areas will work in your budget while we discuss pricing, availability, and competitive trends so you can make informed decisions.

I love connecting newcomers with the resources and insider places that make them feel at home immediately. My clients often say working with me feels like they “skipped the learning curve” and plugged straight into the community and where to go and what to see first!

As a Grand Junction Relocation Guide who lives here, works here, and helps families like yours move to Grand Junction, I would love to offer you an afternoon of my time to show off this wonderful place I call home!

Relocating is one of the biggest moves you’ll ever make, and you deserve someone who is willing to give you the time to understand the community you will be living in. I’d love to be that guide for you. Whether you’re early in your search or ready to move now, I’ll show you everything the Grand Valley has to offer and help you find the right place to call home.

Ready to Explore?

Paul Aspelin is your Grand Junction Relocation Guide. Here he is standing in front of his Toyota Tacoma at the Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument Tour Stop

If you’re thinking about relocating, let’s schedule your Grand Junction Relocation Tour. Your move is more than a transaction to me. Let me be your guide.

Live Your Vacation in Grand Junction!
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiveYourVacationinGrandJunction

Text/Call 612-306-9558 with your questions.

Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Learn more about Paul Aspelin
Serving Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and all of Mesa County Communities.
Licensed in Colorado.

© 2025 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® MovetoGrandJunction.com.
Copyright protected. All Rights Reserved.

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Why Move to Grand Junction?

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Establish Residency in Colorado

How do I Establish Residency in Colorado?

Here are 11 Essential Steps for to Establish residency in Colorado, specifically in Grand Junction. I know what it’s like to move from another state. Heck, I moved across the country and have some advice on that too. Ask me about our road trip to Colorado from Minnesota and what “leaked” out of our 20′ U-Haul truck.

When you’re planning to establish residency in Colorado, it’s crucial to navigate through a series of steps and factors. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you successfully claim residency when it’s your turn to move to Grand Junction, Fruita or Palisade:

1. Find Your Grand Junction or Grand Valley Home

UHaul Moving Truck to Colorado

Our U-Haul Moving Truck coming to Colorado

The initial step is securing a place to live in Grand Junction, Colorado, whether it’s a rented apartment, house, or your own property. Your physical address in the city is a vital element in substantiating your residency. We started out renting so we could look for our next property at our own pace vs house hunting from a distance. I can set you up on an MLS search and send you listings that meet your criteria. The Grand Valley offers a very diverse selection of residential real estate property. Learn more on my Get Started page.

2. Update Your Driver’s License

Within 30 days of your move to Colorado, update your driver’s license with the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To establish Colorado residency, head to our local DMV office in downtown Grand Junction on Spruce Street to complete the necessary paperwork, and pay the required fees. Bring your checkbook if you want to avoid the extra 3% fee for paying by credit card. Oh, and go online to make your appointment right away. We had to wait 2 weeks to get an appointment.

3. Register to Vote

To solidify your residency in Colorado, register to vote in Grand Junction via the Colorado Secretary of State website. Cities in the Grand Valley I serve are in Mesa County. You can register to vote online or have them mail you a paper form. Now I will say, it seemed like we got registered automatically after getting our Colorado driver’s licenses. We got a letter in the mail a week after our visit to the DMV saying we were registered to vote.

4. Change Your Vehicle Registration

MOVE2GJ with Paul Aspelin

Check out my custom license plate!

If you own a vehicle, modify its registration to Colorado and obtain Colorado license plates through the DMV. Mesa County Motor Vehicle Department website. Colorado residents can get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass when registering a car, motorcycle, recreation vehicle or light truck through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Also known as the Colorado State Parks pass. The parks pass goes with the vehicle, not the individual. It’s a sticker on your license plate. Learn more about the parks pass. Colorado State Park pass is normally $80/year, so buying it with your registration is quite a savings!

5. Establish Financial Connections

Another step in establishing Colorado residency is to open a bank account in Mesa County and ensure your mailing address aligns with your new residence. Update your utility bills, insurance, and other financial documents to reflect your Grand Junction address. I recommend you first update the billing address on your credit card before you start changing other addresses because if you need to pay for something regarding your address change with a credit card, it won’t process if the addresses don’t match. There are a lot of wonderful local banks in the area. Ask me how I like the community focused bank we chose.

6. Utilize Local Services

Start using local services, such as healthcare providers, dentists, and other professionals, to build local connections. If you are a business owner or self-employed, consider the Chamber of Commerce in Grand Junction, Fruita or Palisade. There are mentor programs for new residents who work from home.

7. Notify Your Employer

If you’re relocating to Grand Junction, CO for work, inform your employer about your new address and Colorado residency. They may need to adjust your tax withholdings accordingly. I highly recommend you consult with a tax advisor prior to your move. Colorado has a very competitive income tax rate among other tax benefits.

8. File State Taxes

After establishing residency in Colorado, remember to file your state income taxes in Colorado and the state you moved from in the year you moved. Again, for your first year here, consult with a tax advisor to make sure you know all of the local tax benefits of living in Mesa County, Colorado.

9. Engage in the Community

Show your commitment to the community by getting involved in local clubs, attending community events, and engaging with your neighbors. There are so many things going on in the Grand Valley. Seek out websites, social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram feeds to see what’s going on. We were up on the Grand Mesa one fall weekend and stumbled upon an Octoberfest celebration at Powderhorn Ski Resort. It was an unexpected surprise. We marked our calendars to watch for it next year so we can make plans to attend again. The Mesa is one of the best places to be to see fall colors. And they change earlier than here in the valley.

10. Maintain Records

Keeping records of your residency-establishing activities is crucial. Store copies of bills, rental agreements, voter registration documents, and other pertinent records as proof of residency.

11. Seek Professional Advice

Depending on your specific situation, it’s wise to consult with legal or tax professionals to ensure you meet all the requirements for establishing residency. My wife interviewed a local attorney to help establish a new business in Colorado and register her marketing company as a foreign entity so she could keep her official business registration in Minnesota but work here in Colorado and pay the much lower Colorado income tax rate vs Minnesota income tax rate. Ask me about moving your business here, especially if you are self-employed.

It’s worth noting that the process of establishing residency can differ based on individual circumstances and state-specific requirements. For the most accurate and up-to-date guidelines, always consult the relevant state and local authorities.

Let me know what questions you have. We are happy to share our experience of moving to Grand Junction and how we have worked through the above list to establish residency in Colorado.

Start Your Search! We’ve Been Waiting For You!

Call/text me with your questions! 612-306-9558

Paul Aspelin, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
Licensed in Colorado, serving Mesa County and beyond!

© 2023 Paul Aspelin, REALTOR® MovetoGrandJunction.com. Copyright protected. All Rights Reserved.

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