Thinking about moving to Casa Grande..... (Phoenix, Gilbert: apartment, cheap home, buy)
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1. Casa Grande has many bar/pubs. I would guess over 15. Anyone that has been here over 1 week would know that.
2. The area is a haven for "snowbirds" who live here Dec-Apr timeframe, often bringing their $100K + RVs. So business/golf courses/restaruants are much busier then. My guess is 15% drop in population once snowbirds leave.
3. If you are looking for housing -- be sure to check resales, especially For Sale by Owners. Many are overextended or investors who cannot find a buyer. They will take any decent offer. You get more for your money than a new home. I would guess house values have dropped 10% in the past 18 months.
4. Many outlying communities are newer and often gated and secure. Often a mile or more from nearest homes/stores -- which makes it a buffer zone from any crime.
5. I have lived here a while and do not see that much crime. As in most places, overstated. Of course if you move into a $350/mo apt (anywhere), you will have some bad elements.
6. For retirees, lots of options with 55+ communities. Actually anyone over 40 can move in, but no one under 19 can live with you. And activities galore in these communities. Many people buy here even if still working as it is safe, freindly and about 30% of residents go north in summer, leaving the pool, etc. uncrowded.
But everyone should take 2 weeks to look around anywhere before they move -- just good sense.
If you buy a home north of cotton wood you will be fine, If you don't have children you will be even better. coming from the midwest I am having trouble finding a good school for my daughter who has attended private school her whole life the schools are not up to the standard I am use to. Medical care in the whole state of arizona is different not just casa grande, I hear the same comments about chandler regional, The reason we bought in casa grande is the home price. The price of my exact same home in north phoenix was $100,000 less with one less garage. Casa Grande is an up and coming city and if you can hang in there as it grows, which I am planning on doing, it will be one day a chandler. Just get in at the bottom and hang on for the ride!
Medical care in the whole state of arizona is different not just casa grande, I hear the same comments about chandler regional, The reason we bought in casa grande is the home price.
Have you had any experiences with medical care in CG? I am just wondering if the retirees located there have adequate medical care for heart attacks, strokes and other ailments that seem to be concentrated in the over 60 crowd.
I have gone to the hospital there when I had a heart problem. They can take care of the basics, but they do not have some things like MRI machines, etc. They do though however have Arizona heart Institute doctors in town here. In fact I have my appointment with them on the 16th. I have no idea how the waits are up here though with all the retirees that live here. This appointment took me three weeks to get, but in Mesa they could take two month for a first appointment.
Although I live in Coolidge in a new development and LOVE IT even though it seems to be referred to as a slum by many...I also love the close proximity to CG and all that it has to offer. I agree that any of us who live in Pinal County have some "Growing Pains" as we catch up on services...However, I would rather live here than in metro Phoenix or Tucson anyday. More house and land for the money, nicer people, etc.etc.
Okay so not to beat a dead horse...I've read & reread these forums but still just have to ask - for Casa Grande...the housing market looks great, the rec dept seems to be pretty active, looks like there is a decent amount of shopping options. We have a young family & I am a stay at home mom. Are there any mom groups? Any home schooling groups? Are there ample opportunities for extracurricular kid stuff (dance class, music lessons, etc) or must you commute for those? Are the churches pretty active? Any scrapbooking clubs/stores?
One other concern I have is this...I am an english only speaker. We currently live in Laredo, TX and this is a HUGE issue! Don't get me wrong, I love the hispanic culture but am clueless when it comes to the spanish language...I can barely go in public here due to this. For instance, most restaurant or retail employess speak primarily spanish. Is it also that way in Casa Grande? Or can an english only speaker get by? We have the opportunity to move there & I would find this info very helpful...Thanks so much!
amanda
The only time I have ever had problem with with people understanding my english here, has been at two drive thru's . I have had that same problem in Mesa though,lol
I would not know about home schooling groups though. My daughter goes to Toltec, and I have her on the waiting list for Mary C Obrian as they have a school that has three teacher per classroom and rated 8 out of 10 on scores. Toltec is bad, 4 out of 10.
We have now moved back to Tucson and are looking to rent our house in Villago.
When you consider buying a house for cost you must consider the extra wear and tear on your car for the extra miles of travel into work, gasoline, and oh yes the extemely high utility rates.
What part of Tucson are you living in now? How would you compare it to Villagio and Casa Grande? What do you like better about Tucson?
When we visited Robson Ranch about 5 miles southeast of Casa Grande, they quoted us "average utility rates" for their smaller homes (about 1500 sq ft). As I recall, water was $20 a month, sewer $30, and electric ranged from $150 a month during the summer and less than $70 a month during the winter. Those utility rates seem very reasonable, but I question if they are true. We really liked the quality of construction at Robson, but with so many empty lots, it is kinda scary to think about building or buying there now.
Everbank financial analysis quote from 12/24/2008... The housing data showed the US housing market has still not hit bottom. New home sales and existing home sales were off slightly more than expected, with Existing Home Sales off 8.6% month on month. House prices continue to fall, dropping over 1% in October. The pace of the decline in prices is accelerating, an indication that housing is still not nearing a bottom. The 13% drop in the median resale price from a year earlier was the most since records began in 1968 and was probably the worst drop since the great depression.
I must challenge your opinion of Casa Grande! We moved here two years ago and we love it. The people are friendly, crime is low, the area is beautiful, and the medical facilities are top notch. There are new schools being built, Harkins Theater is going into the new mall, and we have our own playhouse theater. There's 'art in the alley' once a month in old town and lots of intelligent interesting people here who call Casa Grande home.
I guess the developers of Robson Ranch and Villago, (an incredible, upscale master planned community in Casa Grande) missed your advice when they decided to develop here.
There are million+ dollar custom homes being built in our neighborhood, the lot sizes are 1+ acres, we have five quality golf courses in the area and we're only 40-45 minutes from Sky Harbor Airport.
I agree with most of what you said with the exception of the medical facilities!They are NOT.. I REPEAT... NOT TOP NOTCH. The hospital here is the worst I have ever had to deal with!!!! I recommend anyone needing any health care to take the time to drive up to Gilbert Mercy hospital. That is worth the 40min. drive. I have lived here in Casa Grande for 3 years and I like it. The crime IS low and the schools are ok.. I have experienced better
but I have also experienced worse as well. Now is the time to buy in Casa Grande because the housing market is low. Our new Mall has just about all you need with the exception of a few store I would like to see here and a few more restaurants but Chandler is only a few minutes drive from Casa Grande.
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