From HOT to HOTTER! FL to AZ -- HELP!!! (Phoenix: apartment complexes, to rent)

[Think (Freedom)]

Right, I read the reviews and looked up the area a bit.. theyre also the same type of equity apts where I live at now.. but I wanted some local opinions on the place.. well the surrounding area, safety-wise I mean.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by dragonofillfaith

Right, I read the reviews and looked up the area a bit.. theyre also the same type of equity apts where I live at now.. but I wanted some local opinions on the place.. well the surrounding area, safety-wise I mean.

Not to bad there, now down the road a few miles is not desirable. Just don't drive down the road a few miles

[Think (Freedom)]

lol ok. Well thats kind of how it is where I live now.. so thats not too bad. As long as I wont get mugged when I take my dogs out to walk.. thats all I ask :P

I really just want a place where I can live, but not necessarily settle in to, if that makes sense? I dont know very many areas and I'd like to find a nice safe place and then in the future possibly find something more desirable. I'm going to be pretty much alone for the first time in my life (I know all of 2 people out there, who live all the way in Buckeye) and I'd just like to live to tell the tale.

Thanks so much for your info sheena!

[NezzaBlue]

Having just relocated here from the east coast in May, and also being 24 and female I can try to help.

The weather is hot but without that heat index it is much better. You are not dripping wet. The only thing thats a little weird is that it is sunny without a cloud most of the time. I do miss the random rain showers and cooler nights in the summer though.

As far as your location, I moved here with my fiance and we have an apartment in Awahtukee, which is a smaller part of Phoenix. It is pretty pricey. I have been to Gilbert, and it seems pretty desolate. I got lost there the other night and I was scared. Not because of crime, it was just miles of nothing. Just flat desert. LOL
Try Tempe, It seems to be a tad cheaper.

Hope some of this helps, like I said I havent been here long. Just thought I could give you a different perspective.
Good luck.

[Think (Freedom)]

NezzaBlue - I will not miss rain.. I hate cloudy rainy days, I lived in GA a few years and it rains alllllll spring/summer. I live in the Sunshine State now, so more sun is fine by me. Thanks for the tip! I will look more into Tempe.. can you (or anyone) tell me what zips I can look for places in Tempe?

[RockyMtnDreamer]

I have lived in Ahwahtukee and Scottsdale for a number of years. My sister lived in Gilbert for a while. My suggestion would be to check out 85255 in N.Scottsdale. It is a beautiful area, VERY SAFE, lots of shopping/restaurants and tons of people who love and spend lots of money on their pets!! Grayhawk and DC Ranch are two communities in 85255 that have some great apartments as well as rental condos/homes. It is worth a look!

[Think (Freedom)]

RockyMtnDreamer - I looked at some apts in that area but theyre a little over my budget.. I'll keep looking there though.

Any other areas I can look at? What about Phoenix? Is it really bad to live in the city itself? I looked at some apartments in 85013 which look decent but seem to cheap to be in a good area.. how bad is 825 W Osborn Rd in Phoenix?

[DaveV]

Get in school somehow - the sooner, the better....

[LVGAZ]

Not sure where NezzaBlue went in Gilbert that it was "desolate" there are over 200,000 people there - and it is a friendly, family oriented town - I have lived here for over 15 years - originally from Boston and I can tell you this reminds me of a suburb of Boston - Gilbert is fine. LOts of great shopping, outdoor activities
Now as to the area At Cooper for the apts (BAyside) my friends daughters rent a 3 bdrm home in that neighborhood for 1100.00 a month and have lived there for 2 years - they love the area and they are in their twenties - work in Tempe, party in Scottsdale - another friend of mine(professional) owns a 400,000 home in Sup SPrings complex - this is a very safe area, centrally located -
Now I will say a 11-12 dollar an hour job will be tight... even with no bills - for you still have your utilities, gas, nightlife expenditures
SO as DaveV says - while you are here get some schooling in there - there are really good courses over the computer from local COmmunity schools, there are evening classes and once schooling is complete - you will see your pay increase - for that is one thing Phoenix is not lacking - and that is jobs..
From computers, to pets, graphic design - youname it its here.
Check out the Vista MOntana Apts on Baseline/Val Vista LAkes in Gilbert- great apartments, close to the highway, shopping, movies, - lot of younger people living there - the rent can be 450-700 a month and they are really nice apartments w/2 pools - property management people are very nice - the above 2 sisters lived there for 2 years - starting out - and got to visit them quite often with their mother.
good luck

[Onedown_5up]

If you can afford to pay slightly higher rent than what the Tempe/Mesa offers I would highly recommend moving to the Desert Ridge/North Scottsdale area. While it is family oriented it has a large number of college grads and a ton of new commercial/retail/night life development going on between Tatum and Scottsdale Rd on the 101 loop.

I lived in Tempe for 5 years while I attended ASU. Put up with a lot of petty crime and horrific traffic conditions.