Looking for land in AZ (Phoenix, Flagstaff: loan, real estate, hoa)

[shroom]

I just moved to Chino Valley from So. NV and I find the area to be great, so I second what ChinoDeb said. As I've not yet spent a winter here, I cannot attest to the snow level. I've been told that average snowfall is generally less than 15" or so a year, that it is usually no more than a couple inches at a time, and it usually melts completely within a day. Perhaps ChinoDeb, or someone else who has been here during winter, can enlighten us in this regard.

My experience so far is that the people are refreshingly warm, friendly, and polite; the air is clean and the temps moderate; the area enjoys a low crime rate. Topography is pasture land to rolling hills, and it's surrounded by mountain ranges. Chino has an agricultural history, so the land is fertile, not decomposed rock. Prescott is a short drive away - less than 30 minutes. Prescott has a regional medical facility, numerous events & artsy-type things going on constantly, beautiful scenery, and tall pines. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and much open land throughout the entire area.

Not knowing the financial parameters of your search, one can't intelligently speak about properties that might suit your requirements. Nonetheless, Chino has many properties ranging from 1 acre and up, and prices here are significantly lower than in Prescott for comparable homes and land. Additionally, Chino seems to have a solid upside for reasoned growth and reasonable (or better) appreciation. It is worth your consideration.

[bb5745]

Originally Posted by shroom

I just moved to Chino Valley from So. NV and I find the area to be great, so I second what ChinoDeb said. As I've not yet spent a winter here, I cannot attest to the snow level. I've been told that average snowfall is generally less than 15" or so a year, that it is usually no more than a couple inches at a time, and it usually melts completely within a day. Perhaps ChinoDeb, or someone else who has been here during winter, can enlighten us in this regard.

My experience so far is that the people are refreshingly warm, friendly, and polite; the air is clean and the temps moderate; the area enjoys a low crime rate. Topography is pasture land to rolling hills, and it's surrounded by mountain ranges. Chino has an agricultural history, so the land is fertile, not decomposed rock. Prescott is a short drive away - less than 30 minutes. Prescott has a regional medical facility, numerous events & artsy-type things going on constantly, beautiful scenery, and tall pines. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and much open land throughout the entire area.

Not knowing the financial parameters of your search, one can't intelligently speak about properties that might suit your requirements. Nonetheless, Chino has many properties ranging from 1 acre and up, and prices here are significantly lower than in Prescott for comparable homes and land. Additionally, Chino seems to have a solid upside for reasoned growth and reasonable (or better) appreciation. It is worth your consideration.

Thank you for your input. I will definitely check out Chino Valley during my next visit in Sept. I've been comparing land prices around the Prescott area, and it does seem that land becomes more affordable in the surrounding areas, rather than right in Prescott, which is the way I'll probably have to go.

Are there any areas that I should avoid in particular? I am basically looking at the triangle-shaped area as far south as Wickenburg, to Wikieup then over to Prescott, and everything in between. I will also check out Ash Fork, as I've seen some moderately priced land listed there; all of these areas are still 'close' to Prescott. I recognize that there will be very different climates in this 'relatively' small area due to elevation changes, but are there any other factors that I should consider - places to avoid, or to make sure I check out? Any run down towns that are getting worse before they're getting better....a town that sits in the middle of a flood plain and everyone looses their home every spring.....

[5thgenAz]

The last great affordable area in Az is up near springerville. Gorgeous. Near to round valley which is a small but regional medical center.

and. AVOID ASHFORK. OMG. !

[SeizeTheJourney]

+1 Bisbee based on your requirements. Great town!

-1 Casa Grande and anything just south of Phoenix. Criminal justice issues abound shall we say. In terms of the valley I'd say go west young man. West side of Phx would be another place to look if you want to be islolated yet within striking distance to "the city." Goodyear (Rainbow Valley area for land), Buckeye, all the way up to Wickenburg. Between a loop (303) and the light rail system being completed over the next few yrs it should certainly allow for easier access if desired.

BTW, extreme heat and outdoor recreation do NOT go together... when it's 115 don't be surprised when your dogs refuse to go out the door.

FWIW, I own a home here in the Valley of the Sun but am a snowbird (though just a few years older than you).

Best of luck on your search.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by bb5745

Thank you for your input. I will definitely check out Chino Valley during my next visit in Sept. I've been comparing land prices around the Prescott area, and it does seem that land becomes more affordable in the surrounding areas, rather than right in Prescott, which is the way I'll probably have to go.

Are there any areas that I should avoid in particular? I am basically looking at the triangle-shaped area as far south as Wickenburg, to Wikieup then over to Prescott, and everything in between. I will also check out Ash Fork, as I've seen some moderately priced land listed there; all of these areas are still 'close' to Prescott. I recognize that there will be very different climates in this 'relatively' small area due to elevation changes, but are there any other factors that I should consider - places to avoid, or to make sure I check out? Any run down towns that are getting worse before they're getting better....a town that sits in the middle of a flood plain and everyone looses their home every spring.....

Well, since I'm a realtor (not trying to drum up business, but do have a handle on prices, areas, etc) in the Prescott area, I can give you some feedback on what's going on with land up here. Ever since March '05 there has been a feeding frenzy on land around here. Used to be $50,000 would get you a nice 2-acre parcel with water--now that same parcel would run $100,000+. I just ran a quick search on our MLS and there's a couple possibilities of 2-acre parcels at $50k (total for both acres) in the Dewey area (area of mostly mfg'd homes east of Prescott Valley) and a 2-acre parcel out NW of town in Wmsn Valley for $95,000 (nice area of site-built ranchettes). Then there's Ashfork where you can buy 10-acres for less than $40k. Problem is No Water and No Utilities! Water is the big issue around here. Lots of cheaper parcels if you want to haul water or be in a flood plain. Anyway, hope this gives you an idea of what you'd be looking at in the Prescott/Chino Valley area. As far as Prescott goes, it's alot smaller than Boulder/Austin, but it does have alot of ambiance with some great eateries (a few chains, but mostly independent). Mostly jazz for live music. If you want more rock/younger crowds, then I'd suggest Flagstaff (a college town), although winters are much colder up there and closer to those midwest winters, which I don't miss at all! Well, there you go. From what I'm hearing, Texas has the cheap prices (by comparison) right now. But if you don't like humidity, you should at least check out AZ. It does have alot to offer in the way of outdoor recreation.

[mikey b]

Hey bb, check out the area around Bisbee.I moved here three years ago from San diego.(beach).I bought ten acres with an older mobile for 30,000.00.I have horses and dogs and am sorounded by mountains.Douglas is about 8 miles away with Wal-mart e.t.c.Weathers great and I split off 4 acres of my land,put a manufactured on it,sold it and retired on the income.Right now I'm looking out at the Chiricahua Mountains and it's 73 degrees.this is the cheapest horse property in the U.S. that has nice weather and isn't in the middle of nowhere.Any questions-desertrat1x1@netzero.com

[sedonaaz]

you might want to consider Cornville. its within 20 minutes of Sedona, 10 minutes to Cottonwood, where a good sized hospital has been built, and is expanding in medical development.

Land in Sedona is pretty much priced at 1 million an acre in town (.5 acre for 500k, .4 acre 400k etc.) so by contrast Cornville is reasonable. There are large lots, about 2 acres of property zoned horse property for maybe 15% of what you would pay in Sedona.

You might be able to find something in the Verde Valley more distant from the small towns here for a more reasonable price, with a larger block of land.
but the days of 20k an acre are long gone.

There certainly are some interesting artists around the Sedona area, as I know quite a few. (I'm an artist). There are also lots of interesting entrepreneurial people here, very creative in lifestyle. Culturally if you want Austin, sedona is about as close as you can get to the artist atmosphere and culture.

[scottyc]

I Visited Bisbee Last Month. The Town Town In Built On The Side Of A Mountain In A Very Narrow Valley. I Did Buy 2 Lots In Douglas Which Is A Few Miles South Of Bisbee. It Is Growing In That Area. Yes It Is Right On The Border And Has Its Problems The Same As All Border Towns, But Prices Are Still Quite Reasonable, And There Is Some Nice Pasture Type Land In The Area.also Wilcock Area Is Worth Checking Out.

[desertjewel]

Hello,

You may find what you're looking for in the Casa Grande area. There's a growing junior college nearby which adds to the cultural diversity. It's not like a university town (Boulder or Flagstaff) but the land prices are more reasonable here. There's an active art community and the city offers 'Art in the Alley' once a month with music, food, a farm market, and artisan booths.

Both my husband and I are impressed with the medical facilities in Casa Grande. The local hospital is well run and the quality of care is top notch. There's a full imaging center, cancer clinic, and alternative therapies available locally. The doctor we found here is by far the best physician either of us has found anywhere.

We're about an hour from Scottsdale (I commuted there for the first year we lived here) and about an hour from Tucson. I-8 intersects with I-10 just south of Casa Grande and I commuted to San Juan Capistrano the first few months after we moved till our daughter graduated from High School. That was a six hour drive, 4.5 to San Diego and 1.5 to South Orange County.

Let me know if you have any questions about this area. If I don't know the answer, I'll try to point you in the right direction.

[Nice Nice Baby!]

You got to live here and rent first, then figure it out!