SCOTTSDALE, AZ - to any locals, need info. (Phoenix, Mesa: house, rental)

[ravenclaw]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

nevercoldcall, is that you??

No, this is RAVENCLAW. Nevercoldcall was smart and beat me out of this dump, North Scottsdale, but I'm right behind him.
My son graduates on May 24th, (the last thing that kept us here), and so anxious to flee this phony-infested sweatbox, we're flying out of here the same evening.
The challenge now is to correct the educational and cultural damage inflicted on our children and keep an eye out for any signs of WTS (White Trash Syndrome) that might of inadvertedly affected our values/persona after living here.

[rmulinix]

What do you think of Fountain Hills ??? What are the pro's and con's ???

[TheDuneDog]

I moved to Scottsdale from Washington DC back in May of last year. I loved DC, lived there for 9 years for school and work. I came here because I wanted to live in the southwest so I could do all the desert outdoor activities you can do in the area. It is very different than DC, but I absolutely love it. The people here are very nice, some of the nicest I have encountered. Some fake and self centered, but I truly believe you can encounter that anywhere. The quality of life is great here. Makes life very easy compared to the way things are set up in the east. I love it back here, but everything here is super new and I dig that (especially in north Scottsdale, where I am). Wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the Phoenix area.

If anyone here disagrees with me, it is just because you don't get it and I am better than you.

[TheDuneDog]

Originally Posted by ravenclaw

"If anyone here disagrees with me, it is just because you don't get it and I am better than you."

Classic and typical attitude of a Scottsdale POS as the locals here in AZ call them. Insecure losers, little people with big bills, superficially educated and petty personalities who think they know-it-all and are superior to everybody else. In other words, Scottsdale carpetbaggers and the type of American arrogance that makes the world mock us.

Mock us? They are jealous of us because they'll NEVER know what it is like to be perfect. People from out of town who come to visit Scottsdale should treat the Scottsdale residents with the utmost respect. I am seriously considering writing city hall and demanding that they institute a new law that requires people from outside the great city of Scottsdale to have a day pass allowing them to enter. I feel one pass per week is reasonable for now. Eventually though, it should be limited to once a month. I wouldn't be opposed to 3 passes a year to be honest. These outsiders come in and take over our "Most Livable City" and enough is enough.

[SpaceNeedle]

Originally Posted by rmulinix

What do you think of Fountain Hills ??? What are the pro's and con's ???

rmulinix - My family have lived in Fountain Hills for 4 years and we LOVE this place. Why?? Below discussion threads pretty much cover it all. You will see some posts about drugs in this town but I have not encountered any. If you love majestic mountain views, there are plenty of those here. .

Opinions on Fountain Hills
Safe place to Live in Arizona

In short:
Pros: Upscale, beautiful mountain views, safe, clean, good schools, lots of beautiful homes, quiet and peaceful
Cons: Quite a long drive from where the actions are..., No street lights at night... but you get to see beautiful sky and stars at night...

If you're looking for a gated community, here're some -> FireRock (w/ Golf Course), Sunridge Canyon (w/ Golf Course), Summit, CrestView...

[AZ_singlemother]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

nevercoldcall, is that you??

Nevercoldcall is not the only one who despises living in N. Scottsdale. It is well known as snottsdale or snobsdale. Right now, the living situation in N. Scottsdale is overprised by far.

There was a survey in Scottsdale Republic about how does the population of Scottsdale think about the Middle and Moderate income people are no longer or less likely to afford living there - including just to rent an apartment:

1. Offer public assistance to the average people so they can afford to live where they work.

2. Make more affordable housing for average people.

3. We don't want average income people here in Scottsdale.

The citizens voted for #3 - most Scottsdale citizens do not want average middle income - moderate income people living there.

[AOYAS]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

Nevercoldcall is not the only one who despises living in N. Scottsdale. It is well known as snottsdale or snobsdale. Right now, the living situation in N. Scottsdale is overprised by far.

There was a survey in Scottsdale Republic about how does the population of Scottsdale think about the Middle and Moderate income people are no longer or less likely to afford living there - including just to rent an apartment:

1. Offer public assistance to the average people so they can afford to live where they work.

2. Make more affordable housing for average people.

3. We don't want average income people here in Scottsdale.

The citizens voted for #3 - most Scottsdale citizens do not want average middle income - moderate income people living there.

What I find interesting is that many of the home prices in Scottsdale 5 years ago are similar to what prices are currently in many areas all over Phoenix metro, due to the real estate boom and high rates of appreciation in many cities in Maricopa County. People who purchased their large, beautiful homes in Scottsdale 5 years ago for $300k, now have homes that are worth $600k. However, a good number of people purchasing their homes nowadays in almost every other area of Phoenix are paying $300k+ for their homes, and are getting much less home for their money than they would have a few years ago, for the same sale price.

Just because many of the people who currently live in Scottsdale with an income of $75k/year had the luck/advantage of purchasing their $300k home 5 years prior to someone with an income of $75k purchasing in Gilbert now for $300k, does not make the Gilbert resident any more "lower- or middle-class" than the person who purchased in Scottsdale. Comparitively, they have the same incomes and simlar lifestyles. Many of the Scottsdale residents just happened to luck out and purchase their homes prior to the boom, so their $300k bought a much larger, fancier (etc) home than current purchasers' $300k will buy in today's market.

It's actually kind of silly that, according to the survey you mentioned, so many Scottsdale residents feel that their mailing address automatically indicates that they are in a "higher class" than those who live elsewhere in Phoenix metro. I guarantee that there are PLENTY of people who live in Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Paradise Valley, Litchfield Park, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, etc, who have a higher income and are much "classier" than many of the Scottsdale residents who feel that somehow they comprise the upper class of Phoenix metro.

In a market like Phoenix, where home values appreciated so much, so quickly, the location, size, and appearance of one's home is no longer an indication of his income, personal wealth, social class, or anything else. People of all incomes and levels of wealth are currently purchasing homes all over Phoenix. Let's face it, purchasing a home in Phoenix is expensive in MOST places now. Just because you have to be a millionaire to purchase a home in North Scottsdale now, doesn't mean that everyone, or even most people, who already live there were millionaires when they purchased their homes a few years ago...and it doesn't mean that they are millionaires now. It's actually laughable that people are under that impression...

[SpeedyAZ]

What I find interesting is that many of the home prices in Scottsdale 5 years ago are similar to what prices are currently in many areas all over Phoenix metro, due to the real estate boom and high rates of appreciation in many cities in Maricopa County. People who purchased their large, beautiful homes in Scottsdale 5 years ago for $300k, now have homes that are worth $600k. However, a good number of people purchasing their homes nowadays in almost every other area of Phoenix are paying $300k+ for their homes, and are getting much less home for their money than they would have a few years ago, for the same sale price.

Just because many of the people who currently live in Scottsdale with an income of $75k/year had the luck/advantage of purchasing their $300k home 5 years prior to someone with an income of $75k purchasing in Gilbert now for $300k, does not make the Gilbert resident any more "lower- or middle-class" than the person who purchased in Scottsdale. Comparitively, they have the same incomes and simlar lifestyles. Many of the Scottsdale residents just happened to luck out and purchase their homes prior to the boom, so their $300k bought a much larger, fancier (etc) home than current purchasers' $300k will buy in today's market.

It's actually kind of silly that, according to the survey you mentioned, so many Scottsdale residents feel that their mailing address automatically indicates that they are in a "higher class" than those who live elsewhere in Phoenix metro. I guarantee that there are PLENTY of people who live in Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee, Paradise Valley, Litchfield Park, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, etc, who have a higher income and are much "classier" than many of the Scottsdale residents who feel that somehow they comprise the upper class of Phoenix metro.

In a market like Phoenix, where home values appreciated so much, so quickly, the location, size, and appearance of one's home is no longer an indication of his income, personal wealth, social class, or anything else. People of all incomes and levels of wealth are currently purchasing homes all over Phoenix. Let's face it, purchasing a home in Phoenix is expensive in MOST places now. Just because you have to be a millionaire to purchase a home in North Scottsdale now, doesn't mean that everyone, or even most people, who already live there were millionaires when they purchased their homes a few years ago...and it doesn't mean that they are millionaires now. It's actually laughable that people are under that impression...

I agree with you 100%. I bought my home for a little less than $300K 6 years ago. Currently it's worth right around $740K. I could NEVER afford the home I bought 6 years ago, I'd be priced out just like many are today. I was one of the lucky ones.

I think the Phoenix housing bubble is one of the major factors in the "snobsdale" reputation of Scottsdale. Many people had their homes appreciate 100% or even greater and now they're living a millionaire lifestyle off the interest. They can borrow against the interest to buy expensive clothes, or that new BMW and be perceived to have more money than they actually do.

I'll even admit to buying a couple things that I wouldn't have bought if I didn't have the equity to fall back on. I probably wouldn't have bought my new Yukon.

Chandler and Gilbert both have their share of wealth. Many don't want to pay the prices in Scottsdale and would rather get a larger home for less $$. There was an article in the Republic a while ago about how Chandler was becoming the "new" Scottsdale. It's growing by leaps and bounds and may even surpass Scottsdale someday.

[sun queen]

I like driving through the N. Scottsdale area. I don't know if I would like living there as much because of race relations.

[AZ_singlemother]

Originally Posted by sun queen

I like driving through the N. Scottsdale area. I don't know if I would like living there as much because of race relations.

I think there is a race issue all over the valley But there is an issue recently where a Scottsdale police officer hit a cab driver not long ago. Living in N Scottsdale, it's all white! That is a part I hate and the longer I live here, the richer the white population gets because the rentals are not even affordable any more.

Just am conserned, my kids are minorities and you would not believe the HS kids with their luxury cars, very pricy clothes, cell phones, top of the line technology and they snub us because we can only afford a 2 bedroom apartment which is getting too pricey for me to afford making $40k a year