Looking to relocate to Phoenix suburbs (Mesa, Glendale: sex offenders, low crime, new home)

[sunlover2007]

My husband and I are wanting to leave Michigan for warmer climate and better job opportunities. I am a certified teacher in Michigan having a hard time finding a job her in Michigan. My husband and I traveled to Florida last year and absolutely hated Florida. We are planning a trip to Arizona in January and are planning to drive all around the Phoenix area looking for a nice place to live. We currently live in a really nice city in Michigan and we are only a few blocks from the downtown area. We love our city but hate the state and all its ecomonic problems.

We want to find a city in Arizona that is similar to the city we currently live in in Michigan. We are both in our mid 20's and are looking for a family community with cheaper housing (in the mid $200's), good schools and a low crime rate. We are looking to buy a new home that is no less than 2,000 sq ft and no more than $300,000. Can anyone please help us with a city and/or new housing community that would fit both our needs and wants?

I have a cousin that lives in Tempe and another cousin that lives in Prescott. Tempe is too much of a college town for me and Prescott is too expensive.

If someone could please give me a suggestion on some nice cities to drive through and some new housing communities to visit in January I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

[LVGAZ]

We live in Gilbert and it is a great family area - schools are very good and the need for good teachers is always there.

Talk to your relative about Gilbert - we are in VAl Vista Lakes - and are soon relocating to Boise Idaho - we have a home 1752 sq feet in your price range in a lake community - if you want to see the area and our MLS write me on a PM -
We love Gilbert have been here since 1992 - family oriented, lots to do, great shopping, and quite affordable - lots of sun and fun

[HX_Guy]

Prescott is too expensive? Isn't it cheaper then Phoenix, much cheaper?

[nikorock28]

Is it important for you to live close to work? I wouldn't settle on any particular community or area before you know where you and your husband will be working. You do not want to be commuting one hour plus everyday. My advice is to first secure employment and then find a community that meets your needs. There are plenty of nice communities throughout the entire Phoenix Valley. Parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Surprise, Goodyear, Queen Creek, Peoria, etc. could all work.

[sunlover2007]

My cousin is a teacher in Prescott and the teachers get paid really poorly where she works. While Prescott Valley may be cheaper to live Prescott is not. On what she makes she cannot live in Prescott. Teachers working in the Phoenix area get paid more then she does or at least that what she has told me. That is why I think that Prescott would be too expensive to live. I would probably start off making less than $30,000 a year working in Prescott where in Phoenix many teachers start off in the mid $30,000s. This is why I am choosing to look near the Phoenix area. I just need to find a good city with cheaper home prices.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Prescott is too expensive? Isn't it cheaper then Phoenix, much cheaper?

We have discussions about this a lot, it is more expensive than Phx, where have you been?

[Great Joy]

Originally Posted by nikorock28

Is it important for you to live close to work? I wouldn't settle on any particular community or area before you know where you and your husband will be working. You do not want to be commuting one hour plus everyday. My advice is to first secure employment and then find a community that meets your needs. There are plenty of nice communities throughout the entire Phoenix Valley. Parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Surprise, Goodyear, Queen Creek, Peoria, etc. could all work.

Sunlover2007, I agree with nikorock28's post as there are many nice places all around Phoenix.

Regarding your specific question about communities, I recommend Vistancia (Peoria), Estrella (Goodyear), Arrowhead (Glendale), Marley Park (Surprise), and Verrado (Buckeye) on the northwest and west side of Phoenix. I'm sure our east, north, and south sides of Phoenix friends here can help with development names on those sides also. The west side communities I suggest are large developments, but there are many smaller nice developments too. I know Vistancia, Estrella, and Arrowhead all are low crime with good schools. I think Marley Park and Verrado are low crime, but don't know about their schools. Hopefully others here can provide more info. Welcome soon to AZ!

[HOTRODROXIE]

I STRONGLY SUGGEST you look at the sex offender website.
my fam n i lived in a really nice neighborhood in GLENDALE back in 94-96 and my friend and i were attacked in broad daylight at 5pm in the afternoon while going for a walk in our quiet neighborhood. i was 15 she was 18. the creep appeared outta nowhere(bushes) and threw us to the ground trying to undress us right in the middle of the street....3houses from mine.

recently, yrs later, i have checked that nice new home area for sex offenders and i was ASTONISHED at the density of them in glendale and phoenix in general...not to mention how close they r to schools there! apparently az doesn't have regulations on that. makes me sick.

POINT BEING... what u find on there is fact....who on here is gonna b able to tell u what weirdos and perps are in the area when they probably have no idea they are next to one themselves. u make THINK u live in a good area till ur kid gets attacked or abducted :|

[LocoAZnative]

Hey Noob why the hell did you bump a 3yr old thread to post that sheesh