Couple questions about Fountain Hills (Scottsdale, Gilbert: salary, friendly, deal)

[SMG]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

You have no idea what the price of housing is, but you're considering moving to the city? I don't get it. Why Fountain Hills then? Look up houses for sale there and your question will be easily answered. $300K will be on the very low end for a single family home in FH.

I just pulled 14 active listings in Fountain Hills, regular single family dettached properties that are over 1400 sq ft and under $300k. A couple clunkers, but most of these are nice ranch styled properties.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by SMG

I just pulled 14 active listings in Fountain Hills, regular single family dettached properties that are over 1400 sq ft and under $300k. A couple clunkers, but most of these are nice ranch styled properties.

OK. That doesn't mean $300k isn't on the low end for FH. The median list price is around $550K. $300k is on the low end.

Also the OP was using the $300k price point as some high number that "normal people" can't afford.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

You have no idea what the price of housing is, but you're considering moving to the city? I don't get it. Why Fountain Hills then? Look up houses for sale there and your question will be easily answered. $300K will be on the very low end for a single family home in FH.

Not true. Go pull listings on homes.com in 85268 and see for yourself.

Originally Posted by SMG

I just pulled 14 active listings in Fountain Hills, regular single family dettached properties that are over 1400 sq ft and under $300k. A couple clunkers, but most of these are nice ranch styled properties.

True.

[SMG]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

OK. That doesn't mean $300k isn't on the low end for FH. The median list price is around $550K. $300k is on the low end.



Also the OP was using the $300k price point as some high number that "normal people" can't afford.

Wrong again, sorry. 12/2013 the median listing price for Fountain Hills was $395k. The median sales price was $345k. This is per ARMLS and pulled just now.

I did not read that much into his question, I just read what he wrote. He/she wanted to know if properties were available under $300k. Yes, plenty are.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by observer53

Not true. Go pull listings on homes.com in 85268 and see for yourself.

I did. I never said there weren't homes to be had for under $300k in FH. I said $300k is on the low end for FH. It is. How can you say it isn't?

Originally Posted by SMG

Wrong again, sorry. 12/2013 the median listing price for Fountain Hills was $395k. The median sales price was $345k. This is per ARMLS and pulled just now.

I bet you're including condos and lots. I'm looking at SFHs in FH and the current median list price is $547,450.

Why argue with facts? Finding a house for under $300k in Fountain Hills puts a buyer at the very low end of the market. I never said it was impossible.

[Zathras]

We've lived in FH for 3 years and love it. It is a bit on the higher end of the scale in age demographics- but, that is not to say there are not plenty of young people. A high school with > 700 students means there are certainly plenty of families.
As for housing, as others have indicated, you *can* find some things under 300k- but you will be very limited. A lot of the SFH built in the last decade have been the larger, luxury type homes. Some of the older and smaller homes are still quite nice though.


Other notes- cons
yes it is a bit 'out there' relative to many of the other suburbs. I commute to east Mesa every day, about 40 miles. However commuting the beeline and 202 isn't unpleasant at all. If you have to commute via Shea or into Phoenix it likely gets a lot less enjoyable.
No, no theater. We go to Ultrastar at Scottsdale Pavilions- about a 25 minute drive for us. We are on the far eastern edge of the town, next to the res.
No HD, Walmart or other big box stores- the largest things we have are target and 3 major grocery stores.

pros-
Gorgeous town and scenery, good views of 4 peaks and red mountain. lots of wildlife
Friendly small town atmosphere
Recreation- 5 (I think) golf courses, fountain lake, hiking trails, dog park, etcl.
Reduced light pollution at night- we have some spectacular starry nights
Lower levels of crime, relatively speaking.

Minutes from the Fort casino (could be a pro or a con, depending on your point of view)
All the major fast foods are in town, as well as several gas stations- however gas is a lot cheaper in Mesa than it is in FH!

[ijamez]

Originally Posted by caryberry

Sheriff Joe lives in Fountain Hills, if that makes you feel safer.

Carefree wasn't good enough for him, huh? Well if it's good enough for Joe, it's good enough for me!

[ijamez]

300k doesn't buy you much of a home in FH...Especially if you want a pool...Most in that range are ONLY 3 bed 2 bath older homes under 2000 sq. ft...Every once in awhile you might find something out of the norm but 400-500+ will start giving you more options...Two years ago 180-300k would have bought you a lot more of a house, more foreclosure options etc...I've been looking in FH for quite some time and can't find anything I like for under 380-400...

[Jnvlv247]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

Fountain Hills is a great place, and despite several comments here, a great place for families. The schools are well ranked and much smaller (high school has only 722 students). I know several families that live in FH and love it.

On the down side, FH still is a bit of an inconvenient place to live. If you need to commute to other parts of the valley it will get very tiring very quickly. While there are shops and dining in FH, you will likely find yourself making the trip to Scottsdale quite often.

If you want a small town atmosphere FH is great, if you want more excitement and convenience look elsewhere.

Gilbert and part of Mesa and Chandler can be quite out of the way of everything as well

I'd choose FH hands down over those SE cities

[shadow91]

Can you feel safe? can you walk your dog at night? Yes, you can feel safe, I don't think I would walk my dog at night let alone day. Coyotes run rampant there and are known for killing pets. Javelinas run too and can be very mean. Hawks and owls will grab your pets (if they are small). Lots of drugs in that town, nothing for kids to do so they drink, party, and do drugs. Town court is full of teens getting busted at parties. Difference is FH kids go to town court, chandler kids and gilbert kids go to juvey. But can you feel safe? Yes of course, Sheriff Joe lives there.