what are your opinions of the historic districts? (Phoenix, Tempe: real estate, rent)

[SageCats]

Hi everyone,
What do you think of FQ Story, Encanto, Coronado, Roosevelt, and the other historic districts in Phoenix? What is crime like, there, being that some of them extend south of the I-10 or to other unsavory areas? Your opinions are welcome!

[DetroitN8V]

I think they're great. Beautiful, unique homes with character. They seem to have tight-knit communities which keeps crime down despite them butting up against some not so nice areas. If you think Tempe is expensive though, I don't know why you'd look at the historic districts.

[AZgarden]

I think they are too expensive for what you get in a house. And what may need to be done in the future to a house that old . That said, I love history and historical homes, but do not appreciate those in Phoenix the way others do.

[pbenjamin]

Crime is not a big issue. Homes can be expensive, you'd find Coronado less than the others. Homes are generally better built than newer ones. We've been in Willo 6.5 years and the upkeep has been no more than our previous "new" home in the burbs.

[kytoaz]

I live in Roosevelt, which is south of the ten, and love it. there have been some crimes, petty stuff for the most part, but no more than most other places I've lived. While it is true that home prices can be expensive here, rent is not.

[SageCats]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I think they're great. Beautiful, unique homes with character. They seem to have tight-knit communities which keeps crime down despite them butting up against some not so nice areas. If you think Tempe is expensive though, I don't know why you'd look at the historic districts.

I take back what I said about Tempe being rather expensive.

[chaparrito]

I think it's a damned shame there aren't more historic districts in Phoenix. Developer greed and the early and ongoing lust for all things "modern" darned near did in historic Phoenix. Thank heavens some folks got on the ball before it was all bulldozed.

[Bruce Jackpot]

They're okay. I don't live far from them. But i'd live elsewhere unless you work downtown and want a short commute. Or unless you prefer an urban environment.

I personally prefer not being in a more urban setting when we have such nice and more scenic outlying areas.

[beerpromotion]

They're good for DINKS, but show me a good high school in any of the historic districts. Also, be careful what you wish for. When we get to the point that people are paying 200-300K for little cottages, just to tear them down and build new, you might find that if you live in an historic district, or your house is 100 yo+, it may be impossible. I lived in Longview West, near the VA, and people were paying 100K for shacks in 2006, and rearing them down. There are many houses in Mid-town, Downtown that would be worth more without the house on it. And, of course, some new houses will be cheesey McMansions, but that has happened everywhere.

[SageCats]

Good points brought up. I'm wondering if we are in some kind of smaller real estate bubble right now given the rising prices and the rate at which they're increasing.
When I posted my original comment about Tempe being overpriced, I meant it from a point of view of someone who just started looking at the market to see what's available after not having looked in a little over a year. My condo, purchased in 2012, also is worth almost $10k more if I compare it to similar condos being sold in my subdivision.
The real estate climate here in the valley has certainly been an interesting one.