Moving To Scottsdale From New York (Phoenix, Sun City: real estate, apartment complex, employment)

[Romie]

Hi Everyone,

Well, my husband and I will be moving to Scottsdale in June, 2007.

I have been researching the scottsdale area, trying to find nice 3-bedroom apartments or preferrably townhomes within the $850-1000 price range.

We'll only have a few days on the ground in AZ before my husband has start working, so we'd like to have a few places lined up for us to visit and check out. One website I checked had an apartment complex called "The Village" as the highest rated by its tenants.

Any advice on really nice places within our range? We would like to be within 10-15 minutes of Mayo Clinic where my hubby will be working.

Also, any suggestions for really affordable furniture? I see there's an IKEA in Pheonix. I don't know much about the quality of the furniture there. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Thanks for any help with this.

Sincerely,
Romie

[MotleyCrew]

There is an IKEA in Phoenix but it is a long drive from Scottsdale. We purchased quite a few things there for our daughter when she moved into her first place. It is very affordable, especially the kitchen things and linens. The furniture is ok, a little cheap, but ok for a start. You could probably do just as well hunting for couches at Ashley when they have sales. I think they would last longer. IKEA does have some great storage ideas for small spaces. I will let the other folks comment on Scottsdale, we looked for a home there but could not quite afford the areas we really liked. They have some interesting lofts by the Kierland shopping center if you don't mind lofts. You will love the restaurants.

[sablebaby]

Well, MAyo Clinic is in north Scottsdale and your price range you won't find anything "really nice". Really nice in north Scottsdale for a 3 bedroom will be $1200+. I used to be in really nice apartments and for a 2 bedroom we would be at $1000+ and we weren't even in that area. A 3 bedroom in that range will put you in a not very nice area (far from Mayo) in a cheap complex.

Plus a 10 to 15 minute commute will only be a few miles away with the traffic that we have.

Where is "The Vilage" ?

[Romie]

Hello again,

Thank you for your replies. Actually, I made an error, it's called "The Vintage at Scottsdale" not the Village as I mentioned earlier.

Thank you for your suggestion on the furniture. I'll bare that in mind.

I'm so shocked to hear about the heavy traffic. My main concern now is to narrow our search down to some select apartment complexes so that we can set up appointments to see the places when we come.

Also, my hubby is interested in moonlighting (working some extra shifts as a hospitalists) in area hospitals. Anyone knows a central resource or has any ideas of how to go about that in the scottsdale and surrounding areas?

Thanks for your help!
Romie

[Ponderosa]

Pruitt's is the best place to buy reasonable mid-range furniture in Phoenix. They are a local firm that has been here forever. They have a huge store full of displays. I heard on the radio that they are closing though because all the "day laborers" hanging around are making it hard to continue. It probably has something to do with all the power mall chains like Ashley's that have come to the area. Either way, I don't know how much longer they'll be there. It'll be a loss of yet another piece of the Phoenix lifestyle the used to be.

Another choice is Terry's Consignment Furniture. This is used stuff that is often of high quality. Great place to find end tables, coffee tables, lamps and accessories. There are a couple of different stores in the metro area.

There are also near daily "estate sales" going on in Sun City. The people die and their kids sell off the belongings in an open house estate sale. Deals are good but you have to get there early. My MIL did her whole house from estate sales.

[Romie]

Thanks for the tips on the furniture moderator. I've made a note of those places.

Ok, here's my next question. My bachelors degree is in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing...any ideas on places that I could look into for my own employment? I'd love to start applying so that I could have a few interviews lined up when I get there.

I've also thought about getting my real estate license, and getting some experience in the field of real estate.

Thanks for all your help so far!