Laveen vs. Surprise (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Guadalupe: high crime, safest area, school)

[ibarrio]

Choosing Laveen over Surprise is like choosing San Fernando over Santa Clarita...Since you brought up California...

[OctoberMoon]

Originally Posted by ibarrio

Choosing Laveen over Surprise is like choosing San Fernando over Santa Clarita...Since you brought up California...

Eh, I like the San Fernando Valley better than Santa Clarita anyways. So there ya go!

[OctoberMoon]

Originally Posted by pynkpanther

it looks good initially, but wait until you have to deal with the schools (i don't think a city is good if you have to send your kids out of the public school district for a proper education and school bus safety)...mind you, your husband will be overworked if he is in the phx pd because laveen shares them and they've had at least a dozen break-ins a day lately. there aren't enough resources for two cities to share. someone spoke of gated communities in laveen - i can count them on one hand with fingers to spare...and why would i feel the need for gates when i should feel safe walking to a hiking trail or having my daughter ride her bike to school? oh...that's because you can't do those things in laveen.

First of all, I said schools are not an issue. By the time we decide to have kids we will probably be ready to move anyway. That's more than 5 years down the road.

Also, my husband knows what he is getting into. He is ex-military, the hours of the Phoenix PD are nothing compared to 12 hours a day 7 days a week he had to work on an aircraft carrier for months at a time. And he wasn't paid as well then as he will be working for Phoenix PD. He likes working hard, anyways, which is why he chose to become an officer. That is not the point of this post, though.

As I have said, I think Laveen is nice. *I* personally like it better than Surprise. My husband likes it better. A little graffiti and some bad areas not too far away are not a big deal to us. To some people, it is. To us, it's not.

[pynkpanther]

Originally Posted by OctoberMoon

First of all, I said schools are not an issue. By the time we decide to have kids we will probably be ready to move anyway. That's more than 5 years down the road.

Also, my husband knows what he is getting into. He is ex-military, the hours of the Phoenix PD are nothing compared to 12 hours a day 7 days a week he had to work on an aircraft carrier for months at a time. And he wasn't paid as well then as he will be working for Phoenix PD. He likes working hard, anyways, which is why he chose to become an officer. That is not the point of this post, though.

As I have said, I think Laveen is nice. *I* personally like it better than Surprise. My husband likes it better. A little graffiti and some bad areas not too far away are not a big deal to us. To some people, it is. To us, it's not.

sounds like a match.
enjoy!

[OctoberMoon]

Originally Posted by pynkpanther

sounds like a match.
enjoy!

By the way, may I ask where you got your statistics for the crime rates in Laveen? I noticed you mentioning them in this post and another.

Because, according to another Laveen resident in this post who posted an actual link to some statistics, they are not bad at all when compared to other parts of the valley.

[pynkpanther]

Originally Posted by OctoberMoon

By the way, may I ask where you got your statistics for the crime rates in Laveen? I noticed you mentioning them in this post and another.

Because, according to another Laveen resident in this post who posted an actual link to some statistics, they are not bad at all when compared to other parts of the valley.

"other parts of the valley" is awfully sweeping, but if you really want to know where i got my statistics:

from the police that came to my house last week after it got broken into.
from the police after my fellow church member's daughter got sexually assaulted in her subdivision's park.
from the police after we all called them out from the gunshots and helicopters circling our area on halloween night.
from the police a few weeks ago after 3 of my neighbors got their cars stolen right out of their driveways.
and this is only what i've gleaned from the police...i won't mention our discussions at the pta meetings, the lcc meetings, at church or simply being a part of the community and discussing things with our fellow citizens.

i don't need written statistics because they are delayed and i am right here.
and, i assume, you are, too...no need to defend your city.
like i said...enjoy!
if you like it, i love it...happy people make for a happy environment. however, i'm no slouch when it comes to laveen. i am very much involved. so when i see you at the lcc meeting, say "hi!".

i believe everyone has a right to be informed.
you know as well as i do that asking people who actually reside in the city can give you more information that written statistics.
that's why you started this thread in the first place. you could have easily gone to the 'net to get info about moving here but you chose to ask us.
just because you don't like what you've read doesn't make it not true.
we have no reason to lie.

[OctoberMoon]

Originally Posted by pynkpanther

"other parts of the valley" is awfully sweeping, but if you really want to know where i got my statistics:

from the police that came to my house last week after it got broken into.
from the police after my fellow church member's daughter got sexually assaulted in her subdivision's park.
from the police after we all called them out from the gunshots and helicopters circling our area on halloween night.
from the police a few weeks ago after 3 of my neighbors got their cars stolen right out of their driveways.
and this is only what i've gleaned from the police...i won't mention our discussions at the pta meetings, the lcc meetings, at church or simply being a part of the community and discussing things with our fellow citizens.

i don't need written statistics because they are delayed and i am right here.
and, i assume, you are, too...no need to defend your city.
like i said...enjoy!
if you like it, i love it...happy people make for a happy environment. however, i'm no slouch when it comes to laveen. i am very much involved. so when i see you at the lcc meeting, say "hi!".

i believe everyone has a right to be informed.
you know as well as i do that asking people who actually reside in the city can give you more information that written statistics.
that's why you started this thread in the first place. you could have easily gone to the 'net to get info about moving here but you chose to ask us.
just because you don't like what you've read doesn't make it not true.
we have no reason to lie.

Ah, ok well I understand where you are coming from now. I have heard good and bad from Laveen, not only in this post but others who live there that I have met since I initally made this post.

I do like Laveen, but also I do not live there yet. I have spent a lot of time there, though, and it seems no worse than most parts of Los Angeles I have lived in. My husband says the same thing. As bad as it sounds, we are used to graffiti, car theft, home break ins etc. Not to mention in L.A. we have to deal with a lot of things worse than Laveen. It has made us aware of how to be safe no matter where we live. It's not that we WANT to live in an area that theft is constantly going to happen and everything is tagged up, but if that stuff happens then hey, we get an alarm and enjoy our home. (Which btw, we did get the best alarm that the builders offered). The qualitiy of life we will have in Laveen will be SO much better than living where we do now in a small apartment overlooking the most crowded freeway in the country. But at the same time, we have the city in us so moving to a place like Surprise, altghough probably a bit safer, wouldn't make us as happy.

I just don't like it when people constantly put down Laveen who haven't even given it a chance. You live there, so I understand where you are coming from having gone through what you have. I honestly think a lot of istc omes down to what bothers a person and what doesn't.

Also, I just want to add a little story. A friend of mine just bought a $540,000 home in a pretty decent area of Los Angeles with her husband. The home was built in 1949 and is TINY. It's 1100 square feet, 3 bedroom and a den. They have a 5 month old baby and a few months ago their home was broken into and all her good jewlery was stolen as well as a laptop. The robbers left the front door wide open when they left. They got an alarm and continue to love their little home. My husband and I would rather buy a $250,000, 2300 square foot brand new home and deal with the same stuff we would be dealing with here than live in a tiny home. I used to live in her neighborhood when I lived with my parents about 8 years ago and I loved it there. The crime rates there are about the same as they are in Laveen. The qaulity of life is still better in Laveen, though, which is why I don't really worry about Laveen.

[pynkpanther]

i see where you are coming from. however, if i were you, i'd worry about laveen. consider yourself warned. at least wait until things "settle" and it gets its own public services rather than relying on phx. being that you do not have children yet, you still want to be concerned about the schools. there is a reason why the teacher turnover rate is sky high and everyone tends to send their children outside the area.

i'm from chicago, so i understand lack of space. but the GREAT thing about metro phx is that you don't have to settle! relish in the fact that it's a buyer's market. beware of the new homes in laveen...builder's aren't taking care anymore and the devil is in the details. go to an area that has proven that the houses are sturdy and the people are happy. just spend a bit more or travel a bit more for a GREATER amount of satisfaction. trust me when i say this, people who have lived in laveen for 20+ years are leaving. people who are staying either cannot sell, just moved in or are fooling themselves hoping that it will improve dramatically within the next year or so when it really won't.

because your husband is on the force, you are going to be home alone a lot and will want to roam your neighborhood without having to worry about your safety. you can do it, but not in laveen. go east. it will fit your lifestyle according to what i've read from you already. check out ahwatukee/chandler. check out peoria/glendale. skip laveen...at least for now.

just a note:

pulte started a new subdivision off of 55th ave and dobbins...a few months ago, the homes started at low $300k. before they even broke ground in early 2006, they were projected to start at low $400k. by feb 2007, they were starting at $mid $300k. guess where they are starting now?
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$170k.
they can't give these houses away.
and more are being built everyday.

[OctoberMoon]

Honestly, the East Valley is ok but we have more friends in Laveen. I even lived in North Scottsdale for 9 months back in 2003, so I know the valley pretty well. And I won't be home a lot, because I will be working full time as well.

I hear your warning, but others who live in Laveen seem to like it. As I said, everyone is different. Trust me, we aren't settling. I looked over the entire valley for homes, and we settled on Laveen for multiple reasons. Our home is in the process of being built so no backing out now, and even if it wasn't we still wouldn't back out.

I understand you are trying to warn me and I see where you are coming from, but for us Laveen makes sense. It's not that I'm trying to be stubborn and covering me ears while warnings are being tossed at me. But what about the people who do live there and like Laveen? I'm sure they aren't lying either. I like what I know about Laveen and I do think my husband and I are just the type of people who, like some others, actually will enjoy it there. What is a community without people who love it? I'm glad there are others like PTBrennan and a few friends I know who do love Laveen. And I was specficially told by others to avoid Ahwatukee and Glendale, so that just goes to show different strokes for different folks. Some may love those areas, other may not. Just like Laveen

[pynkpanther]

hey, the fact that you like it, i LOVE! i mean, my church is here, and i will never leave it totally. and we need people like yourself that have a firm investment in the community to make this place work. this is essential and, once this all works itself out, we will be back, that's for sure. it's a physically beautifully, breath-taking place and i absolutely love the hiking.

i love that you are informed. i love that you came here for advice. and i LOVE that you have a support system set up already in laveen. have fun and be a part of the active community so you all can show "them" who's really BOSS!

p.s. someone told you to avoid ahwatukee? *giggle*