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I'll be relocating to Phoenix, AZ from Norther California in Spring 2013, for Nursing school. I recently took a trip to visit the college and familiarize myself with the area prior to the move. Although, I enjoyed my stay what areas should I avoid renting in, and what area should I avoid altogether. For instance, don't drive in west and south Phoenix? All feedback is appreciated.
by the way, many people "drive" in west and south Phx every day and do, in fact, survive to tell the tale....but, mostly, we need to know where you'll be going to school to help you out....
No where in the Phx area is it unsafe to drive even at the most ungodly hour at night. But yes you would not want to rent in most parts of west and south phoenix. However you shouldn't go out of your way to avoid either area. South Phoenix is nice along Baseline Rd with nice apt complexes. Anyway are you going to ASU or what? More info is needed to further assist you.
Yes, asking us what to avoid without an area is the same as if we ask which areas to avoid in L.A. We are huge and spread out so we need to narrow it down a bit. There are nice areas in the west and the south if you want to be located there. All cities have an area that isn't so great and areas that are.
Phoenix is Huge, one of the largest cities in the U.S, land wise. When you have a large population of hispanics and the border is Mexico, your azz better have a pistol in the car with you. Mase will not help you, that stuff will not keep a gang banger away from you. But, I would dodge the 1st street's through the 51st street's. Central Phoenix is a little rough, but you could pass through. Now the 1st ave through 50 something ave is okay, try not to get confused with the street numbers, there are streets and Ave's on the road signs, very confusing. But it's easy if you know like the main streets. Camelback, Mcdowell, Scottsdale and so on. I can tell you this, North Phoenix is way Nice, North east is nice, You may want to even stay in Paradise Valley, but the cost is way high then anywhere in the metro, the average home range from $600,000 and up. Scottsdale is laid back, but lots of snotty people and rich people, you have to have money for that place. Tempe is ASU country and all about Pat Tillman and not anything else which is okay, because he was a hero. Glendale sucks, I wouldn't move there. On NFL gameday, traffic is crazy, Take it from me, I played in the stadium. Gleandale has lots of crime, and the city of Phoenix does to. Chandler is wonderful, Gilbert is great, Mesa is okay, but it's up and down. Downtown Phoenix YUCK. Vanburen, YEAH! Try to stay away from that area. Any sign with a president last name, don't hang around. Peoria is great for spring training, but some parts are a little rough. Avondale is not bad, Buckeye is okay, Tolleson is being worked on a lot. If you want a house, Pinal County or the city of Maricopa has cheap homes and rent range between $700 to $1000 a month. Not bad for huge homes, but avoid 2 story homes in Arizona. They are cheap for a reason. NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN THEM. It cost a lot to keep them cool in the summer. The heat is very extreme in Arizona and is one of the hottest states in America. Heat range between 99 to 125 degrees. So be alert of high over priced home scams in the Metro, because you may be paying a low rent, but you will end up paying extra for the energy bills. So if your rent is 700 a month, you may be paying $1,000 or more total. You not saving any money if you do that. But anyway, I know from experience, I live in Chandler and a very nice 1 bedroom is $999 a month and after bills, $1200 a month.
Last edited by mrcapital; 01-12-2013 at 07:15 PM..
Reason: misspelled a few words.
Phoenix is Huge, one of the largest cities in the U.S, land wise. When you have a large population of hispanics and the border is Mexico, your azz better have a pistol in the car with you. Mase will not help you, that stuff will not keep a gang banger away from you. But, I would dodge the 1st street's through the 51st street's. Central Phoenix is a little rough, but you could pass through. Now the 1st ave through 50 something ave is okay, try not to get confused with the street numbers, there are streets and Ave's on the road signs, very confusing. But it's easy if you know like the main streets. Camelback, Mcdowell, Scottsdale and so on. I can tell you this, North Phoenix is way Nice, North east is nice, You may want to even stay in Paradise Valley, but the cost is way high then anywhere in the metro, the average home range from $600,000 and up. Scottsdale is laid back, but lots of snotty people and rich people, you have to have money for that place. Tempe is ASU country and all about Pat Tillman and not anything else which is okay, because he was a hero. Glendale sucks, I wouldn't move there. On NFL gameday, traffic is crazy, Take it from me, I played in the stadium. Gleandale has lots of crime, and the city of Phoenix does to. Chandler is wonderful, Gilbert is great, Mesa is okay, but it's up and down. Downtown Phoenix YUCK. Vanburen, YEAH! Try to stay away from that area. Any sign with a president last name, don't hang around. Peoria is great for spring training, but some parts are a little rough. Avondale is not bad, Buckeye is okay, Tolleson is being worked on a lot. If you want a house, Pinal County or the city of Maricopa has cheap homes and rent range between $700 to $1000 a month. Not bad for huge homes, but avoid 2 story homes in Arizona. They are cheap for a reason. NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN THEM. It cost a lot to keep them cool in the summer. The heat is very extreme in Arizona and is one of the hottest states in America. Heat range between 99 to 125 degrees. So be alert of high over priced home scams in the Metro, because you may be paying a low rent, but you will end up paying extra for the energy bills. So if your rent is 700 a month, you may be paying $1,000 or more total. You not saving any money if you do that. But anyway, I know from experience, I live in Chandler and a very nice 1 bedroom is $999 a month and after bills, $1200 a month.
What a ridiculous post! We used to live in the Arrowhead Ranch section of Glendale and it was extremely safe with one of the highest rated school districts (Deer Valley) in the Phoenix Metro. "Chandler is wonderful"...there are parts of Chandler that actually have much higher crime statistics than some areas in some of the cities that you have trashed, and with no explanation at all.
Phoenix is Huge, one of the largest cities in the U.S, land wise. When you have a large population of hispanics and the border is Mexico, your azz better have a pistol in the car with you. Mase will not help you, that stuff will not keep a gang banger away from you. But, I would dodge the 1st street's through the 51st street's. Central Phoenix is a little rough, but you could pass through. Now the 1st ave through 50 something ave is okay, try not to get confused with the street numbers, there are streets and Ave's on the road signs, very confusing. But it's easy if you know like the main streets. Camelback, Mcdowell, Scottsdale and so on. I can tell you this, North Phoenix is way Nice, North east is nice, You may want to even stay in Paradise Valley, but the cost is way high then anywhere in the metro, the average home range from $600,000 and up. Scottsdale is laid back, but lots of snotty people and rich people, you have to have money for that place. Tempe is ASU country and all about Pat Tillman and not anything else which is okay, because he was a hero. Glendale sucks, I wouldn't move there. On NFL gameday, traffic is crazy, Take it from me, I played in the stadium. Gleandale has lots of crime, and the city of Phoenix does to. Chandler is wonderful, Gilbert is great, Mesa is okay, but it's up and down. Downtown Phoenix YUCK. Vanburen, YEAH! Try to stay away from that area. Any sign with a president last name, don't hang around. Peoria is great for spring training, but some parts are a little rough. Avondale is not bad, Buckeye is okay, Tolleson is being worked on a lot. If you want a house, Pinal County or the city of Maricopa has cheap homes and rent range between $700 to $1000 a month. Not bad for huge homes, but avoid 2 story homes in Arizona. They are cheap for a reason. NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN THEM. It cost a lot to keep them cool in the summer. The heat is very extreme in Arizona and is one of the hottest states in America. Heat range between 99 to 125 degrees. So be alert of high over priced home scams in the Metro, because you may be paying a low rent, but you will end up paying extra for the energy bills. So if your rent is 700 a month, you may be paying $1,000 or more total. You not saving any money if you do that. But anyway, I know from experience, I live in Chandler and a very nice 1 bedroom is $999 a month and after bills, $1200 a month.
This is the most informative post for someone moving to a new area that I have ever read on CD, nice work!
This is the most informative post for someone moving to a new area that I have ever read on CD, nice work!
If you share that poster's tendency to stereotype and overgeneralize, then yes, you'd consider it informative. New posters who don't live here or know the area should take such posts with a grain of salt.
When you have a large population of hispanics and the border is Mexico, your azz better have a pistol in the car with you.
All I can say is... Really???? Aside from the overt racism, I can honestly tell you that I drive around the Phoenix metro area without a "pistol" in my car and I have never felt the need to have one (although as a Canadian, I couldn't legally own one anyway
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcapital
Scottsdale is laid back, but lots of snotty people and rich people, you have to have money for that place.
A wee bit confusing. Not sure how the city can be laid back, yet you claim there are lots of snotty people - how is that laid back? Also this statement is just not true. Lots of rich people? maybe. Snotty? not in my experience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcapital
Glendale sucks, I wouldn't move there. On NFL gameday, traffic is crazy, Take it from me, I played in the stadium. Gleandale has lots of crime, and the city of Phoenix does to.
Since you took the time to edit your post for spelling errors, you should know you missed a few. Glendale and the correct word is "too" not "to". Also, you might want to break your thoughts into paragraphs for future posts - makes it easier to read. Regardless... this statement is a gross and unjustified generalization. As canudigit pointed out - there are large parts of Glendale that are very desirable areas to live. No need to fear Glendale. I find it funny that you say Avondale is nice - yet my friends who rented a house in Avondale heard gunshots twice during their month long vacation... would I say that all of Avondale has lots of crime based on this? No, because that would be a generalization.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcapital
Downtown Phoenix YUCK.
Downtown Phoenix may not be the most happening place in the metro area, but I don't think YUCK is appropriate. I have stayed downtown for a conference as well as visited the science centre with my daughter - I found the downtown area to be clean and safe. Although your point about Van Buren is well taken - not sure how long that particular street is, but I have yet to find a nice part!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcapital
but avoid 2 story homes in Arizona. They are cheap for a reason. NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE IN THEM. It cost a lot to keep them cool in the summer.
As a single person, you may not want to live in a 2 story home - but saying that nobody wants to live in them is just incorrect. It MAY cost more to cool an older, less well insulated one story home than a two story home. Generalizations are really of no benefit to anyone.
For the OP - I know this isn't that helpful, but I hope you understand that it's hard to make sweeping generalizations about any part of the Phoenix metro area. I have driven around Maryvale, attended a ball game there and I understand that it certainly isn't high on the desired places to live list... but I certainly never felt scared or threatened. I probably wouldn't take a night time stroll there - so my advice would be to leave your exploration of the city to the daylight hours and try not to venture into un-charted territory at night time!
This is the most informative post for someone moving to a new area that I have ever read on CD, nice work!
Which part? You better have a pistol??
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