This Couple Needs Your Help!!! (Phoenix, Tucson: relocating, trip , jobs)

[gerrynyc]

well My Husband Is 33 Years Old, And I Amd 30 Years Old. We Will Eventually Have Children. I Am A Registered Nurse, He Is A Graphic Designer. We Live In Nyc, Relocating To Arizona. We Want To Live Near The City, But Far Enough To Have Privacy...we Enjoy Entertainment. What Areas Do You Suggest? (GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT...a must) Home Price Range: 200k-300k

Thanks Guys

[brittZ]

Your price range will get you a home just about anywhere with only a few exceptions. I went to school in some of the areas many people consider to be not to good and I ended up with a good education and am now working on my masters in education with a BS in computer engineering so it is all relative. Your students will get a good education as long as the teachers are good and you as the parent get involved in your child's education. What type of activities do you want to be near? Where will your jobs be located? How far do you want to commute? Those are the best questions to start with in order to find a general area to start looking at.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by gerrynyc

well My Husband Is 33 Years Old, And I Amd 30 Years Old. We Will Eventually Have Children. I Am A Registered Nurse, He Is A Graphic Designer. We Live In Nyc, Relocating To Arizona. We Want To Live Near The City, But Far Enough To Have Privacy...we Enjoy Entertainment. What Areas Do You Suggest? (GOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT...a must) Home Price Range: 200k-300k

Thanks Guys

Unless you can afford a large lot in an outlying area (unlikely given your price range), you may find you get more privacy in an established neighborhood close to the center of whichever metro area in AZ you are targeting. Newer developments in the outer suburbs tend to emphasize large houses on small lots. In addition, many of the newest houses have two stories to maximize the square footage that can be crammed onto a small lot. Given this density, along with the lack of mature trees in new developments, you may find yourself with neighbors who can see right into your backyard.

Older neighborhoods (25 years or more) will tend to feature a better ratio of house size to lot size, as well as mature trees. The net effect is a greater sense of privacy without sacrificing closeness to urban amenities. Of course, you haven't specified if you are interested in Phoenix, Tucson, or another area of the state. If you specify the area you are targeting, then it may be possible to recommend specific neighborhoods.

[AZ_singlemother]

200 - 300k will not get you much in the Phoenix area. Sure you could get more here than in NY but it's not cheap in AZ anymore.

[IceZombie]

I would suggest Moon Valley in North Central Phoenix. Its appx. 10 miles north of downtown.

I live in this area and like it and am also originally from NY. Expect to pay in the upper end of your price range as it is considered an upscale area. Worth a look. Good luck.

[MotleyCrew]

Depending on which hospital you will work at, the west side offers homes from many builders in your price range. Surprise is a nice city with tons of great resales right now. Marley Park is a very nice new "family friendly" community in Surprise. N. Peoria is growing but still considered "out in the boonies" in spite of the new shopping centers right down the road from Vistancia (worth looking at). There are some resales in Vistancia that would fit your price range along with some of the smaller new builds. Google www.vistancia.com and see what it has to offer. I am not sure about Verado now, may be too pricey along with Estrella Mt. Ranch. Check them out as well. You might start with where you want to work, then check on the different builder web sites just to see where they are building to give you an idea of affordability. You really do not want to commute far on these freeways.

[gerrynyc]

Originally Posted by Jill Warner

Depending on which hospital you will work at, the west side offers homes from many builders in your price range. Surprise is a nice city with tons of great resales right now. Marley Park is a very nice new "family friendly" community in Surprise. N. Peoria is growing but still considered "out in the boonies" in spite of the new shopping centers right down the road from Vistancia (worth looking at). There are some resales in Vistancia that would fit your price range along with some of the smaller new builds. Google www.vistancia.com and see what it has to offer. I am not sure about Verado now, may be too pricey along with Estrella Mt. Ranch. Check them out as well. You might start with where you want to work, then check on the different builder web sites just to see where they are building to give you an idea of affordability. You really do not want to commute far on these freeways.

Well, i am willing to drive 45 minutes for daily commute. I've heard Chandler, Surprise, Peoria, Gilbert,... are nice areas. I want to live somewhere close enough to retail stores: target, not to far from movie theaters, not far from malls, but far enough to have my peace and privacy, I would like an acceptable amount of space between my home and my neighbor's. I am asking too much? What areas would be best? Phoenix or Tucson?

[sablebaby]

How much space are you talking? If you live in the newer areas of the burbs you can expect anywhere from 3 ft to 12 ft between homes. I have even seen them with one ft between, yes, I even can't believe that.

Anywhere you will be near stores, not to worry about that! We are developed cities. PLENTY of shopping!

The only way to get any kind of space is to follow all of the suggestions that were already given. Almost any older neighborhoods will have larger lots, with more space, but I don't think that will be enough for you. You might try Gold Canyon, which is WAY out there. I work with a woman who commutes to central phx from her house out there, so it's doable if that's what you really want. However, the total frustration and heat will certainly bother you.

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by gerrynyc

Well, i am willing to drive 45 minutes for daily commute. I've heard Chandler, Surprise, Peoria, Gilbert,... are nice areas. I want to live somewhere close enough to retail stores: target, not to far from movie theaters, not far from malls, but far enough to have my peace and privacy, I would like an acceptable amount of space between my home and my neighbor's. I am asking too much? What areas would be best? Phoenix or Tucson?

The specific communities you name are all suburbs of Phoenix, so it sounds like you're already leaning in that direction. As mentioned in my earlier post, living farther out in the suburbs does not guarantee you more space between you and your neighbors. In fact, it usually does the opposite. Come to the Phoenix area and visit. I think you'll be fascinated to see some of the new developments at the fringe of the metro area. Some of them remind me of rowhouses in Baltimore or Philadelphia because they have so little room between them. Compare those developments to established neighborhoods closer in and I think you'll see why in Phoenix privacy does not correllate with distance from downtown.

[MicheleVanDetti]

I'd reccomend Chandler and Gilbert for sure. If you don't mind an older home, you should consider Tempe. It's close to downtown Phoenix and there are some areas with larger lots. Most of the newer homes in your price range are going to be on @5000-7500 sq. foot lots. You can find some really private properties in these subdivisions, it just depends on their location in the community. I'm a Realtor, and I reccomend that my clients take a quick trip to the area to drive around and scope out some areas. If that's not possible, I take my digital camera and preview and email pictures, but it's not really the same thing as being here.