Relocating...jobs in Tempe and N Scottsdale (Phoenix, Mesa: real estate, house)

[70-DropTop]

Hi all. I'm currently in Columbus Ohio and my company is offering me a big opportunity in our Tempe office. Because of this, my wife started looking and the Mayo Clinic Hospital in northern Scottsdale/Phoenix has caught her attention. So, we're interested enough to take a trip and check things out first hand.

Now, some questions. We have two young children and therefore want a good/safe/family-friendly community to live in, with good schools, etc. My initial research and thoughts have pointed me to Gilbert, but that may be a stretch for her (don't know what traffic is like along 60 and 101 at 6:00-6:30 AM and 7:30-8:30 PM). Is the traffic heavy during those times and which direction of travel is it heaviest in the AM and PM? When is it easiest to drive those routes?

Here's what we're intersted in finding...a 4-5 bedroom house in the 2250-3000 SF range. Budget is 300k-400k...maybe 450k, depending on the offer. Is that doable? Where do you suggest I begin looking?

We're heading out there in a month or so to check it all out and I want an idea of where to begin looking. Also, do you have any recommendations on some good realtors?

Thanks in advance

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by 70-DropTop

Now, some questions. We have two young children and therefore want a good/safe/family-friendly community to live in, with good schools, etc. My initial research and thoughts have pointed me to Gilbert, but that may be a stretch for her (don't know what traffic is like along 60 and 101 at 6:00-6:30 AM and 7:30-8:30 PM). Is the traffic heavy during those times and which direction of travel is it heaviest in the AM and PM? When is it easiest to drive those routes?

Here's what we're intersted in finding...a 4-5 bedroom house in the 2250-3000 SF range. Budget is 300k-400k...maybe 450k, depending on the offer. Is that doable? Where do you suggest I begin looking?

We're heading out there in a month or so to check it all out and I want an idea of where to begin looking. Also, do you have any recommendations on some good realtors?

Thanks in advance

Gilbert is a great place to live and the schools are pretty good. Mesa and Chandler's schools are better, but it's hit and miss as far as housing goes. You should be able to find a house in that price range. 60 West and 101 north at 6am isn't horrible yet, but at about 6:30 it starts to get bad. By 7-8 it's awful.

You definitely have pros and cons for all of those areas, it just depends on what's most important to you.

[joninaz]

I say that because it'll give you a visual perspective on options. The 101 is the main artery between Tempe and N. Scottsdale., so you can plot living along the main route. But both cities are skinny. On can live in NE PHX and be really close to Mayo. E. PHX/Arcadia is close to the 101 in both directions. Same with NW Mesa, especially with the 202. Further South is fine, but it strarts becoming a hike to Mayo.

Prices are good all over. Schools are a hodgepodge. Find an area you'd like to live and then let schools be a decider based on what you want.

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by 70-DropTop

Hi all. I'm currently in Columbus Ohio and my company is offering me a big opportunity in our Tempe office. Because of this, my wife started looking and the Mayo Clinic Hospital in northern Scottsdale/Phoenix has caught her attention. So, we're interested enough to take a trip and check things out first hand.

Now, some questions. We have two young children and therefore want a good/safe/family-friendly community to live in, with good schools, etc. My initial research and thoughts have pointed me to Gilbert, but that may be a stretch for her (don't know what traffic is like along 60 and 101 at 6:00-6:30 AM and 7:30-8:30 PM). Is the traffic heavy during those times and which direction of travel is it heaviest in the AM and PM? When is it easiest to drive those routes?

Here's what we're intersted in finding...a 4-5 bedroom house in the 2250-3000 SF range. Budget is 300k-400k...maybe 450k, depending on the offer. Is that doable? Where do you suggest I begin looking?

We're heading out there in a month or so to check it all out and I want an idea of where to begin looking. Also, do you have any recommendations on some good realtors?

Thanks in advance

Do not move too far from where you will be working. If I were you, I would move midway between the jobs. That way you save on gas, you go to good Scottsdale schools, and you have less pollution on the environment. Time is an added value. Who wants to spend time in traffic? Look at the 85251 zip code.
I highly recommend my realtor, Those Calloways. They sold my home 5 years ago, and haven't stopped sending me gifts since. Every single holiday I get something in the mail. They really know their stuff too. Joanne works with her husband. They go by "Those Calloways" if you were to look them up in the phone book. They sold my house in a matter of days. They are really good. But, in all honesty, you can get a nice sized home in the price range you are looking for in the 85251 area. Also, although the 85257 zip code is a bit more affordable, it is not as desireable. The 85251 zip is midway between your jobs.
I wouldn't move to Tempe ONLY because the airport flight path is overhead and it is loud. I lived there for over a year-and it never went away. Your wife will hate the commute if you move to Gilbert. It is very, very far. It is awful. Please do not move there if she works at Mayo. There are nursing jobs all over town (if that is what she does) if you want to live in Gilbert specifically, have her get a job closer.
I know you will want to come out here first, but the best case scenario for you and your family is spending as little time, money, and pollution on your commute as possible. If you live midway your commute will be less than 10 miles for both of you.
Also, not sure if you have a preference as to political affiliations of people and their ways of thinking. It is something that matters a lot to me-to others not at all. It is a lot more conservative in Scottsdale and a bit more progressive in Tempe. It matters to me as I believe that your political beliefs have a lot to do with the way you live your life. So, that is a bit more info too. If you have any more questions--just ask.

[Artliquide]

Only 2 things I will argue about 85251:

1. Scottsdale schools are not the best in the east valley. I went to junior high and middle school living in 85251 and my parents still live there. Since I was in high school, though Scottsdale has become less stingy with money (we had to pay for our own art materials, even though the art programs in every other district were fully funded, for example), there has been a decrease in academic performance. One of the reasons for this is that Scottsdale pays their teachers the lowest salary in the east valley, so they do not attract the best of the best. I am in school to be a teacher (I hope to teach next year) and Scottsdale district is the last place I'd consider applying to. If good enough schools, and not the best around, are ok with you, then you might be ok with 85251 zip code. That would be either Pima or Hohokam elementary, Supai Middle School and Coronado High School. Otherwise, if you really want the best, Mesa and Chandler are it. However, there are a lot of charter and private schools around and those are sometimes a lot better than public, sometimes worse, but it's another option.

2. The housing market is going down, but Scottsdale, even south Scottsdale is higher than other areas. My parents were lucky to buy their current house in 1992 for $110,000. Now, it is valued at around $500,000. Their neighborhood is very nice, and they have a big 5 bedroom house with a pool, it's a great place to live but the real estate in Scottsdale has been expensive for a while. You probably can find something in 85251 for your price range, but don't expect to go much lower than your max.

[gigi927]

Which Mayo are you talking about? That will make a big difference in commute and where to live is "reasonable." There is the "original" Mayo on roughly 128th and Shea which is based in Scottsdale. Then there is the Mayo Clinic hospital on Mayo and 56th Street in NE Phoenix.

If you are talking about Mayo and 56th I wouldn't even begin to consider a drive from Gilbert to that location. You would be better off looking in the Desert Ridge or Tatum Ranch areas.

If you're talking about 128th and Shea, then the commute from Gilbert is *more* doable but the drive from 101 to 128th and Shea is completely littered with traffic lights and can get very, very congested during rush hour. I would look in other Scottsdale zip codes and rule out Gilbert just based on drive. Your budget is on the low side for Scottdsale. You could even still consider Desert Ridge and Tatum Ranch and do the opposite commute to 128th and Shea. I haven't lived there in a year now, but I'm guessing it would be roughly a 30 minute commute with no traffic.

You'd still have a long commute to Tempe from the north location, so it depends who of you wants to do more driving

[Artliquide]

On the other hand, there are lots of jobs for nurses around town, if you don't mind stepping down from Mayo. There's Scottsdale Healthcare both in North and South Scottsdale, there are several Banner hospitals in the East Valley, and Chandler Regional Hospital, there are several hospitals in Phoenix, including the Arizona Heart Hospital and the Phoenix Children's hospital, and also the myriad of doctor's offices around town...lots of options where healthcare jobs are concerned.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by Artliquide

Gilbert is a great place to live and the schools are pretty good. Mesa and Chandler's schools are better, but it's hit and miss as far as housing goes. You should be able to find a house in that price range. 60 West and 101 north at 6am isn't horrible yet, but at about 6:30 it starts to get bad. By 7-8 it's awful.

You definitely have pros and cons for all of those areas, it just depends on what's most important to you.

I hadn't heard Mesa and Chandler had a better school district than Gilbert.

[SpeedyAZ]

Gilbert to N. Scottsdale would be quite a commute as would Chandler (maybe a bit better depending on your exact location). For around $300K-$400K I'd suggest looking in N. Phoenix or even Tempe. N. Phoenix has quite a few nice, affordable neighborhoods for your budget and a commute to N. Scottsdale and Tempe would be do-able. Tempe, although having a reputation for a college town, has some well-kept areas a ways from ASU.

Rush hour is appx from 6:30 a.m. to about 8:30 a.m. and then from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by sheena

I hadn't heard Mesa and Chandler had a better school district than Gilbert.

I'm working on certification to be a teacher, so I've looked into the districts around my area (Gilbert). When you look at test scores, programs offered, funding, teacher salaries, Mesa and Chandler are better than Gilbert. I'm not saying that Gilbert isn't any good. It is a good district, but it's a lot smaller than Mesa, and Chandler just puts a lot more money into their schools and teachers than Gilbert. I plan on applying for all three districts when I have my certificate, but I just wanted to point out what I've read if someone is *really* picky about schools (some are). Of course, there are private and charter schools around that surpass public schools by miles.