Relocating to Phoenix from Dallas

[Scottay]

Originally Posted by caryberry

Many older homes in the Phoenix metro ARE built on expansive soil.

Slabs crack. It is what is and most valley homes are built on slabs.

I dont know if I'd call south mountain an actual mountain but Awahtukee is nice and should be in your price range. Something at the base of Thompson Peak in Scottsdale would be better IMO. Something near Shea and 136th Street.

Unfortunately nothing in the Valley can compare to the Catalina's.

[AZJoeD]

There are areas of the valley where the soil is more expansive than other areas and there are areas were fissures were a big problem a few years ago because the builders ignored the problem and did not build the homes with the appropriate construction techniques. It is something that needs to be investigated as part of your due diligence when purchasing a home. Most newer homes are now built with post tension slabs that reduce problems with expansive soil and slab cracking.

OP ask about new homes, there are quite a few new homes in the price range specified, but again you need to narrow down an area. The valley is so huge it is hard to say which is better for someone to live. If you live too far east or too far west you have the issue of driving all the way across the valley regularly. Since the OP wants top be near the east valley a more central location would be best. Living in Buckeye or Surprise puts you too far away from Mesa and Scottsdale, etc. If you really want a new home, I might look in N. Mesa near the 202 Red Mountain Freeway. If you will be happy with a resale home you can look more in the North Valley.

ARIZCATS13, I suggest you get a map, pinpoint the areas you will be working and get an idea of the driving distances this may help you narrow it down.

[Ponderosa]

Here is a soils map for the Phoenix area. Take it with a large grain of salt though. The map implies a good deal of precision which the data are insufficient to support. You need to consider it in a more general fashion than, say, looking at your lot and seeing it is green while another 1/4 mile away is red.

ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/AZ/phxshrinkswell.pdf