Info on moving. (Surprise, El Mirage: for sale, apartments, rental)

[michellesatx]

We are considering moving to Arizona next summer when the kids are out of school. We are from San Antonio so the heat won't be a problem. My sister lives in Surprise and we would like to move there or close to there. We have a few questions.
1. What school district is it and how are the schools?
2. We would be renting so are the houses affordable to rent?
3. How much does it cost to get things up and running like electirc, gas and water?
4. Can you use pools all year or just certain months and about how much does it cost for the upkeep of a pool?
5. Are there any jobs there for restaurant managers and would anyone know about how much they pay?

[lyzzard]

1. What school district is it and how are the schools?
Dysart School District, depends on where you are, I've heard they've improved over the years, and I hope so as ours will be going here in a few years Dysart Unified School District No.89 They cover El Mirage and Surprise. My Sister-In-Laws kids go here and they certainly aren't stupid.

2. We would be renting so are the houses affordable to rent?
Depends on how much room you need and what you consider affordable. There are probably more houses for sale (and cheaper) than for rent, but should be easy to find. My friend rents a home for $900 a month that's 4bd 2 bath, she said that's a good deal, but she also doesn't live here in Surprise. Check craigslist for comparables, or call some Realtors, would probably give you a better idea on the prices.

3. How much does it cost to get things up and running like electirc, gas and water?
That depends on your credit and if you need a deposit or not. We didn't, but the last time I did (keep in mind it was many years ago) it was about $100 deposit, and we got it back eventually. Not many homes out here have gas either. APS is generally used for electric and you can find the water company on the Surprise website. Official Website - Surprise, Arizona

4. Can you use pools all year or just certain months and about how much does it cost for the upkeep of a pool?
I've heard it's about $100 a month (give or take) for pool upkeep. You can use the pool for a goodly portion in a year, all year if it were heated I imagine. City-data.com has some good temperature specs that you can look up to give an idea of when pool temps start/stop, or you could most likely google it.

5. Are there any jobs there for restaurant managers and would anyone know about how much they pay?
Sorry, can't help you on this one.

[twiggy]

I'm sure with some good hunting and a nice background you could land a job but keep in mind our economy is tight right now and has effected the kind of job you seek the most so it would be important for you to make sure the company you apply to is stable. Maybe branch out as well, store manager, etc. Widen your horizons and I'm sure with some determination you will find a job. A lot of well known eateries have closed down. So, do a little background check on the ones you are applying too. Don't want to get a job and then lose it the same year. Good Luck to you!

[Ritchie_az]

#1: The Dysart school district is good but not great. They've improved significantly over the last 5-7 years. There are better and worse schools within the district, so depending on where you live, your kids might end up at a better or worse school. There are resources on-line, it's not hard to find out which schools are the better ones.

#2: "Affordable" is subjective, but, yes, Surprise is affordable. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding a rental home for $800-$900 a month. If that is too high, there are also a number of apartments.

#4: Unless the pools are heated (which is not likely, but some are...), they are generally usable between mid-April through mid-October, give or take a few weeks (depending on each year's weather). It also depends on your tolarence to "cold". Also, the city of Surprise has a pretty nice community pool.

#5: There are many restaurants in Surprise and surrounding cities. I have no idea the pay for restaurant managers. But it is a good idea to have a job lined up before moving.