Where in Flagstaff would I want to live? (Mountainaire, Sawmill: apartments, condos)

[knowyournuts]

We are thinking of moving to Flagstaff, and would want to be near the university, but not too close. I've lived in lots of college towns and I know how things can get noisy and messy near a campus.

Right now we live in a city of similar population, and we like our neighborhood because:
1. We live only a mile from our university, so it's easy to bike or bus.
2. We can also walk to some small stores just to pick up milk and bread.
3. We can walk to two coffee shops.
Also: We can't walk to downtown but wish we could.

So are there neighborhoods in Flagstaff where we could combine some of these qualities? Thanks!

[Xpat]

It all depends on what kind of place you want and hiw much you'll be able to spend per month or to buy.

[knowyournuts]

I understand housing is pretty expensive. Let's say no million-dollar neighborhoods, and houses certainly don't have to be newer. Small and modest is fine. Under 400K? Any recommended neighborhoods? Thanks.

[azdr0710]

you may already know that NAU and downtown Flag are less than a mile from each other - some would say they are right next to each other, so that answers the downtown question favorably.....

there are several shops, coffee places, restaurants, bars, the whole bit, all around the area....a new New Frontiers heath food place - a lot like Whole Foods - opened up in a new development called Sawmill (on the site of the old sawmill) which is very good and about a half-mile E of NAU on Butler....lots of pedestrians, bikers all over the NAU/downtown/Milton Ave area because of all the great access to shopping and services, so that answers the business access questions you had favorably....

there are lots of housing options near NAU/downtown, bur it's an older area....what to most people will appear to be a nearly dilapidated 1940s-era place on a very small lot near campus/downtown will easily fetch over $300K....supply and demand, of course.....W of the university across Milton are newer apartments, condos, and houses, but now you have a bit of a walk to everything from over there and prices remain high....University Heights is a very decent neighborhood of 80s and 90s era housing, but is still pricey and not in the center of the action......N of downtown is older housing and pricey, but a decent location for your needs except farther from NAU (opposite side of downtown)

sounds like all your requests are very reasonable, but housing prices may shut you down

[knowyournuts]

Thanks for that information! Very helpful. I guess I'll rethink this.

If we say that I didn't care about being near downtown or near NAU, what would be the next recommendation for neighborhoods to live in?

[azdr0710]

if <$400K is a requirement, you'll need to get a ways from downtown.....

here's the main MLS site for Flag....fill in the parameters and see what you get.....86001 is the main downtown area zip and 86004 is to the NE....Doney Park has places for less than even $300K, but is several miles from NAU/downtown....Kachina/Mountainaire is not expensive either, but about eight miles S of downtown....there are condo conversions in town for <$150K, but no lot and small, of course.....

Northern Arizona Multiple Listing Service

click on "find properties" and fill in the parameters that are important and leave others blank

[knowyournuts]

Thanks, that is a great website.

If anyone has any comments about fun places to go around the Flagstaff neighborhoods (parks, food, etc.), I'll be pleased to hear it!

[observer53]

Originally Posted by knowyournuts

Thanks, that is a great website.

If anyone has any comments about fun places to go around the Flagstaff neighborhoods (parks, food, etc.), I'll be pleased to hear it!

Buffalo Park is a lovely place to take an easy, but still active, hike. Food? Lots of it. Buster's, Beaver Street Brewery, Macy's (LEGENDARY for coffee-- you have to go there-- no, I don't mean the dept store), lots of other good little places downtown... I haven't been up there in several months, so I need to update my restaurant info!

[Xpat]

If you are looking at circa 400K and want to be near the university, I recommend the neighborhood west and north of downtown and heading just out Fort Valley Road. There are a number of houses with quick access to the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS) so you can ride your bike to NAU quickly. There is a Bashas grocery close by plus the entire downtown scene. Even better, you'll be right on the edge of some incredible pine forests and great views of the peaks.

New Frontiers (which has been around much longer than Whole Foods) rocks, as does Macy's Coffee, Late For The Train Coffee, Flagstaff Brewing Company, Himalayan Grill, Dara Thai, The Black Bean....I could go on and on...