Final plans to move have been made! (Phoenix, Glendale: renting, homes)

[Italy04]

We recently spent a month in the Phoenix area and decided to move there in the fall. We looked all around but weren't settled on a place. Upon returning to Montana my husband got confirmation that he will be keeping his current IT job (yay!) and mostly will be able to work from home. His company's office is in peoria and we want to be within a 25 min drive of it in case he needs to go into the office a couple times a week. We checked out Surprise, Peoria and Goodyear. Now we have to narrow it down. His office is off Thunderbird on the west side of the 101. So I'm thinking either of those 3 will be a good location. We're so excited! Are there any areas around there that we should for sure avoid? We will be renting. We have 3 kids but we homeschool. I hope we can find a home with a pool!

[asufan]

In that area I would look a bit North along the 101, North Peoria and North Glendale. Would be an easy commute just along the 101. I would probably avoid anything along the 101 South of Cactus Rd or so, stay North IMO.

[observer53]

This is not a vote against Goodyear at all, but unless you find something you really love more than any home in north Peoria or north Glendale, might as well live closer to work, as there are some nice neighborhoods in the north Peoria/north Glendale area.

[jimj]

There's several choices out there, you may want to look in Waddell as well. The 303 is near completion and the Northern Expressway is coming along nicely which will give a fairly quick ride to loop 101. I'm seeing homes in Waddell that you can buy for less than renting at this point.

[LBTRS]

As observer53 said, my vote would be one of the nicer areas of Peoria or Glendale if that is where he'll be commuting to. No need to drive a long ways if you don't have to.

Goodyear would be right at your 25 minute limit as would Waddell and that is without traffic.

I'd like to live as close to work as possible.

[observer53]

I wouldn't go way out to Waddell. The other areas (Goodyear included if you want the extra drive) have more amenities.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by observer53

I wouldn't go way out to Waddell. The other areas (Goodyear included if you want the extra drive) have more amenities.

More amenities? Waddell has NO amenities so that doesn't take much. I do think I've seen a post office so I guess that is their lone amenity. They were going to build a Safeway at one point but I don't know the status of that.

You'd have to drive to Surprise for everything.

[RenW]

I'm amassing more knowledge of the east Valley than the west so I don't have any great input for you. But I did want to congratulate you for taking the plunge! I hope you love it here.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

More amenities? Waddell has NO amenities so that doesn't take much. I do think I've seen a post office so I guess that is their lone amenity. They were going to build a Safeway at one point but I don't know the status of that.

You'd have to drive to Surprise for everything.

You're right, of course, I didn't speak strongly enough. Too much driving, both to work and everywhere else.

[Italy04]

Thanks everyone! Is north Glendale close to the arrowhead mall? We went there a few times and I liked the area. I know south Glendale is not the best. Amenities are important. Like I mentioned we homeschool so close shopping and what not is important to me.