Moving to Mesa/Phoenix area, need a safe area to live

[Jkgourmet]

I don't think you are going to find a garage. Not that many apartments have garages in the first place, and your budget doesn't allow for that. You'd be better spending your money on in-apartment washer/dryer and a safer neighborhood.

You'll get covered parking, though, so the car won't be out in the sun all the time.

[fennec2009]

If you can find someone renting out a condo and split the rent with a roommate there are quite a few with garages. My complex rents out some units through the office (Scottsdale Condominiums - Scottsdale Arizona Condos - Arizona Condos) all with a private one car garage. The huge complex directly to the north of mine (NE corner of Granite Reef and Roosevelt) often has owners renting them out on Craigslist and such and you get one parking spot in a "garage" which are actually doorless double stall garages (not ideal but those condos are also much cheaper). Both complexes are two bedroom units.

Check out the area around Alma School and University in Mesa, that is also one of the nicer areas of west Mesa. There are some very pretty, large homes backing to the canal and the surrounding neighborhoods with more affordable properties are also nice.

If you want to find rooms for rent check out roommates.com. People that list rooms for rent have to pay (it cost me $20 for a month) in order to reply to interested parties so it keeps the shady people and scams away. I found my current roommate there and was very satisfied with the website.