I am considering relocating to AZ. Please advise! (Chandler, Tempe: jobs, housing)

[adinac]

Hello everyone. I currently live in Elk Grove, CA (outside Sacramento) I am looking to relocated my family (there are 5 of us) to Arizona. I have checked prices on homes in the Chandler, Gilbert, and Queens Creek area. Are those good areas. I have 3 children ranging from 3-13 so the school district is very important. Can someone please just give me some feed back on life there. I appreciate your kindness.

[CodyW]

Mostly everybody here will refer you to Gilbert, Probably the BEST place to be right now, in the east valley, that is. Chandler is nice, too, though. Queen creek is nice enough - but it's growing, and it's schools are probably struggling with overcrowding.

Depending on where you work, because that really IS the key factor, you might want to try Peoria in the West Valley. It has the best school district in the west valley, and is VERY family oriented. Lots of neat stuff to do nearby, as well.

Just my opinion.

EDIT: 100th Post! WOOO.

[adinac]

I currently work as an administrative assistant and my husband works as an automotive service advisor for Honda. We would both need to look for new jobs. Does anyone know if these jobs are in demand, so that we wont have that far of a commute. How far are the dealerships?

[sablebaby]

Car dealerships are EVERYWHERE here. You could be anywhere in the valley. Start applying and see where that takes you.

[Boatdrinks]

Definitely check Gilbert! They're building a HUUUUUGE auto mall right now. It's going to be incredible when it's finished. All the dealers will be there - I'm sure Honda too. They have these two huge High Def TV screen-like signs - rather like the big casino signs in Vegas - outside the Mall by the highway that advertise all their services, including a salon, coffee shop, kids' play area - very cool. Anyway, so check into that. It's a great location b/c it's in the middle of Gilbert so you could pretty much live anywhere in Gilbert and your husband's commute would be really easy. FYI - it's on Gilbert and the 202, if you're looking at a map.

I think you could probably find a job as an AA fairly easily.

Gilbert is a great place to raise kids, most of the schools are good and there is lots of affordable housing. What's your price range? I might be able to direct you to some developments. Will you want resale or new construction?

Queen Creek has much cheaper houses, but it's pretty far away from everything, and the infrastructure is very far behind the growth. They'll be doing road construction there for the next 20 yrs, I bet, b/c the builders threw up houses so quickly.

Chandler is also very nice and a great place to raise kids and good schools too. It'll be a bit more expensive the Gilbert. But if your husband ends up working at the Tempe Auto Mall (on Ray Rd and the 10), Chandler would be a faster commute for him.

Either way, *most* areas of Chandler and Gilbert would be nice areas to live. I'd probably decide on a place to live after you know where you'll be working, just so you don't end up having to commute across the valley.

Good luck.

[adinac]

Thank you for the input. House wise I would say I am looking to stay under 400K, I know that I do want a pool so I will most likely go with a resale home.