Moving to Phoenix/Tempe Area working off of Mill St.Housing Help! (Mesa: apartments)

[Tattooedmama]

So we are going to relocate to Phoenix/Tempe area with in the next month. i have been searching on craigslist daily for places to rent. We are looking for a home/condo/townhome in Tempe or within 10mins outside of Tempe.We have 2 small children and our 3rd one due in November and we are really looking for a Great family friendly neighborhood or area to raise the kids in. I've found tons of homes for rent but, know nothing about the area what so ever. I feel lost. We are headed out to Tempe this weekend to drive around and check out neighborhoods and see what we kind find. What i am looking for is advice of areas not to rent (bad areas,gang activity areas)
We are looking to spend no more then $1200 a month in rent. Any advice will help.
How is Southern/21st street in south phoenix? We found a very nice condo in that area but, have no idea if is is a horrible neighborhood or if it is a great neighborhood to raise kids.

How about Tempe is it true that the whole town is a huge party town? We are not the partying type.

What about Chandler or Mesa even Scottsdale?
Does Scottsdale have bad parts too it that we should stay away from?
Thanks in advance.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Tattooedmama

So we are going to relocate to Phoenix/Tempe area with in the next month. i have been searching on craigslist daily for places to rent. We are looking for a home/condo/townhome in Tempe or within 10mins outside of Tempe.We have 2 small children and our 3rd one due in November and we are really looking for a Great family friendly neighborhood or area to raise the kids in. I've found tons of homes for rent but, know nothing about the area what so ever. I feel lost. We are headed out to Tempe this weekend to drive around and check out neighborhoods and see what we kind find. What i am looking for is advice of areas not to rent (bad areas,gang activity areas)
We are looking to spend no more then $1200 a month in rent. Any advice will help.
How is Southern/21st street in south phoenix? We found a very nice condo in that area but, have no idea if is is a horrible neighborhood or if it is a great neighborhood to raise kids.

How about Tempe is it true that the whole town is a huge party town? We are not the partying type.

What about Chandler or Mesa even Scottsdale?
Does Scottsdale have bad parts too it that we should stay away from?
Thanks in advance.

Southern and 21st Street is a terrible area. All of Tempe is not a party town. South Tempe is nicer and quieter, but also more expensive. West Chandler and South Scottsdale are not too far away. South Scottsdale is a little older and less family oriented than Chandler. Also consider some of the Dobson Ranch area of Mesa, or some of the areas of North Chandler. Avoid South/Southeast Phoenix, North Tempe around the campus, West Mesa North of US 60 and downtown Chandler around Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. Anywhere else you should be OK.

[slackjaw]

Asufan gave some excellent advice, give 'em a rep.

One thing to keep in mind if you are working on Mill Ave is that if you find housing somewhere along the light rail line in either direction it could things easy for you. I can't really think of too much family-type housing but there is new stuff springing up all the time.

For $1200 I think you'll be pleased at what you can find within reasonable commute of downtown Tempe. Poster mentioned North Chandler I think that's an excellent idea, there are so many nice neighborhoods with good schools in the areas around Kyrene to Price, from Ray to Chandler that would still keep you within 15 minutes of Mill.

Good luck, and welcome to Phoenix.

[LocoAZnative]

21st ST and Southern is the ghetto steer clear of it. check out the area near Mill and Southern this is the area I live in and its far enough removed from campus life. Plus its not as expensive as North Tempe. Also a little further south on Mill look at Mill and Alemada. You can also go as far east as McClintock and Southern.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by LocoAZnative

21st ST and Southern is the ghetto steer clear of it. check out the area near Mill and Southern this is the area I live in and its far enough removed from campus life. Plus its not as expensive as North Tempe. Also a little further south on Mill look at Mill and Alemada. You can also go as far east as McClintock and Southern.

I agree with this. You can get away from the immediate University area and into good neighborhoods with reasonable prices, without going all the way into the somewhat more expensive area in "south Tempe" (south of Baseline) You could actually go east all the way to Price Rd/Hwy 101, and west to Kyrene Rd, at least. It's good that you are coming out to drive around, you will get the feel of the city much better.

[Tattooedmama]

Wow.Thank you all so much for your imput.
I am new to this site so I am not sure what give a rep means but, i am sure i will figure it out..

[Java Jolt]

Where on Mill Avenue will you be working?

The only thing I know about places to live in Tempe is there are lots of choices that would probably be really close to your job, condos, apartments, and some row houses nearby.

The only issue is is northern Tempe attracts more of the party crowd and younger college crowd than I think you would like.

[homlish560]

Originally Posted by Tattooedmama

How is Southern/21st street in south phoenix? We found a very nice condo in that area but, have no idea if is is a horrible neighborhood or if it is a great neighborhood to raise kids.

Not a good section!!!!!!!!

Can't really say it's Ghetto but it's not an ideal location.

How about Tempe is it true that the whole town is a huge party town? We are not the partying type.

Downtown Tempe - Mill ave. district is, but S. Tempe is true Suburb that is more fit for Families.

Does Scottsdale have bad parts too it that we should stay away from?
Thanks in advance.

They say S. Scottsdale is a bad area - probably is for Scottsdale terms - but it's really not that horrible. It's more working-class than the other sections of Scottsdale!!!!!!!

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by homlish560

Not a good section!!!!!!!!

Can't really say it's Ghetto but it's not an ideal location.

Lol you are funny not ghetto if you say that you know nothing about the area.
I grew with so many people that lived in South Phoenix and a lot of them were killed in gang violence. Hell even one of my sisters friends was killed a month ago in that area. My cousin lived in the houses @ 22nd St and Southern and @ night the gangs would walk down the street with AK's and the police never did anything. hell the house on the corner near him had a triple murder(drug related). So don't lie to these people and say its a good area cuz it isn't. All those stupid people who bought their nice little house on Baseline who live behind gates will someday regret that. I drive thru there for work and this morning I stop at the circle K @ 24th/Southern and there was a crackhead wandering around. The workers had to throw her out cuz she was walking in a daze.

Hell homlish you love to post pics. Why don't you post pics of the boarded up house, the crack houses

[homlish560]

Originally Posted by LocoAZnative

Lol you are funny not ghetto if you say that you know nothing about the area.
I grew with so many people that lived in South Phoenix and a lot of them were killed in gang violence. Hell even one of my sisters friends was killed a month ago in that area. My cousin lived in the houses @ 22nd St and Southern and @ night the gangs would walk down the street with AK's and the police never did anything. hell the house on the corner near him had a triple murder(drug related). So don't lie to these people and say its a good area cuz it isn't. All those stupid people who bought their nice little house on Baseline who live behind gates will someday regret that. I drive thru there for work and this morning I stop at the circle K @ 24th/Southern and there was a crackhead wandering around. The workers had to throw her out cuz she was walking in a daze.

I said it's not a good area but there are other sections just as bad or worse!!!!!!!

Hell homlish you love to post pics. Why don't you post pics of the boarded up house, the crack houses

I guess because I'm not a Debbie Downer type; and I prefer posting more positive images of Phx.

People come to this Forum to look for places to live and to see the better sides of the City. I don't think most of them want to see images of Crack houses and gangs!!!!!!!