Gonna Work in Miami/Globe... Where to Live??? (Phoenix, Mesa: real estate, rentals)

[hagar437]

I have been enjoying reading the posts on Arizona and could use some local help. My wife and I will be moving to AZ soon, where I will be working in a mine out near Miami / Globe area. We are in our mid 50's and like quiet, clean living. She wants to go to the pool every morning for exercise and I am a hobby photographer. We're not rich.
Can anyone local help us with where to best look to buy a place? I am wondering about Apache Junction, for instance. Don't want toooo long a daily commute, but we like to be close enough to amenities like good shopping and going to movies, etc.

Thanks for any help you can give us.

[Ponderosa]

What's wrong with living in Globe? It's not the garden spot of the universe but it is more attractive than places like Cornville and Camp Verde that are growing like weeds. It has an authentic, historic main street and some nicer subdivisions. Home costs are still reasonable there. Globe has everyday shopping, chain eateries, and great access to Roosevelt Lake (serious boating and fishing) and to the White Mountains where you can beat the summer heat - which is less in Globe than in Phoenix. If you really need a shopping fix, then head to the big city and Superstition Springs mall. Maybe an hour or so away. Globe would probably be a hot destination except there are no jobs there. But that is not your problem.

[caterwaulin]

How do you find a rental or rent-to-own, in Globe?? I am taking a job with the County, as soon as my children finish out this school year, but I am having a hard time finding a place to live. I really hate the 30+ miles each way I make in the big city with my current job, so we are looking for something not too far out. We want to move the first weekend in June, and that will come up too fast. We have pets and hobbies, so we would like a place with a garage or shop and a large fenced yard. Mobile home on a private lot is fine. Got any ideas out there for me??

[She_Dvl]

Originally Posted by caterwaulin

How do you find a rental or rent-to-own, in Globe?? I am taking a job with the County, as soon as my children finish out this school year, but I am having a hard time finding a place to live. I really hate the 30+ miles each way I make in the big city with my current job, so we are looking for something not too far out. We want to move the first weekend in June, and that will come up too fast. We have pets and hobbies, so we would like a place with a garage or shop and a large fenced yard. Mobile home on a private lot is fine. Got any ideas out there for me??

You can try searching the local papers there. The Silver Belt and the Copper Country News. You can view the Silver Belt online at...http://www.silverbelt.com
The Copper Country is a free paper that you can find at any local grocery store or gas station in town....but it doesn't have an online site that I am aware of. They both come out once a week on Wednesdays, I think it is. Rentals go very quickly right now in Globe due to the mines re-opening. I know from experience because I recently moved back up here myself after an absence of 18+ years.

Sometimes you can also find rentals by driving around and looking for signs posted on houses/mobile homes, if that is possible for you at this time.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

[hagar437]

Thanks for your comments, Ponderosa. I appreciate what you are saying about living in Globe and it's not that I wouldn't want to live there. We just feel that we should probably live reasonably close to the Phoenix area in order to gain equity in whatever property we buy. Our contract with the mine is for 5 years and that's how long we have to plan to make any money on the real estate. I just think property in Globe won't appreciate as much as living closer to Phoenix and since we haven't managed to put much money away for retirement, we need to get whatever we can from the property we buy.

[Nice Nice Baby!]

You need to get your proirities straight! Banking on home appreciation is no way to play catch up in the retirement planning game. It is if your looking hindsight as 20/20, because a lot of people have already cashed in on that. There is no asset class that has appreciated more in a 20 year time frame than stocks. If planning for retirement is your game then you need to find affordable housing which can also afford you to live close to your work. This will save in gas, time, and mortgage/tax payments. Live within your means and put away as much as possible in your 401k. There is good affordable housing in Superior, a half hour from Globe and a half hour from east Mesa. My suggestion is start with the basics and if you are a handyman, you can pick up a rental some time in the near future for further tax write offs. The home appreciation game won't pick up for a couple years yet. The biggest mistake I see pre-retirement people make is trying to cash in on the past instead of staying focused on the present and where they are headed. Know your risks and be disciplined. A good foundation takes time. Pinal County and the Superior area included, enjoyed the best home appreciation in the nation for 2006. This was due to the fact that more new developments have cropped up in places that hadn't had any, which means retail will follow in a few years. Your choice, your time, your money.....but only take a bet you know you will win. Superior and Globe haven't been overbuilt on speculation.

[hagar437]

I can't argue with your points, Nice Baby. I hadn't gotten to looking at Superior, or Globe really at this point. I will have one day during my interview trip this coming week to get a look around the area before I commit to the move.
Is it your opinion that places like Superior and Globe, or even Miami, will be good investments over the next 5 to 10 year period? You make good sense about travel costs and taxes, etc.
Your comments are much appreciated.

[Nice Nice Baby!]

My point being is that since home appreciation probably won't be in the equation for a couple years that you should do Superior due to proximity and affordability. Stow as much into your 401k as possible then you can always buy closer to Phoenix in a couple years if you think home appreciation will pick up. I say this because you have limited knowledge on the area and in the meantime you'll gain. I do think Superior and Globe will be great investments for a 10 year period, but I don't think AZ will be a great investment for a 3 year period. Start small to begin with is what I'm saying because you won't miss out. Time is real important. It can afford you to manage other things instead of being on the road an extra two hours daily with the commute. It's boring in Globe, but great for outdoor recreation and you can always do weekend shopping in the valley. Best wishes!

[hagar437]

Is there a pool facility in Globe where my wife could swim daily?
Boring isn't a problem for us, as long as she can swim and can meet some friendly, down to earth people to socialize with.
Is Globe one of those boom & bust mining towns that go with the price of copper? We're not fond of that because we've spent most of our lives in remote, small mining towns where the business cycles fluctuate with metals prices and, in some, people relate to you according to your job at the local mine.

[Nice Nice Baby!]

Yep! So is Superior. Both mining towns. Similar to what you've known.