What about El Mirage and Youngtown? (Surprise: houses, rent, lease)

[TROJAN]

I was wondering why no one really mentions them as opposed to Surprise? Is there anything wrong with them? Smaller Cities, smaller governments, smaller minds? Just wondering if a move there would be comparable to a Surprise move since they are in the same area...

[sablebaby]

El Mirage has always had a not-so-great image. It blew up in new builds over ten years ago and kinda fizzled (they started in the $60k's). A lot of people who couldn't afford to live elsewhere. There are many communities without HOA's and you can tell. Much lower cost homes there, they don't do well with appreciation.

[pstratt]

Avoid...unless you have no other option.

[Cynthiasboys]

You clearly hate El Mirage, have you lived there? Would be interesting to know why you are so quick to dismiss a city if you have never lived therel...

[Cynthiasboys]

I am a single white woman with 3 boys. I have lived in El Mirage for almost 4 years now. I have not had a SINGLE probem in this city. I have always felt safe in my home, and I have a very nice, small home with a pool. I do agree that the public ammenities are pretty scarce, but we go to Surprise for recreation. My neighbors are very friendly, mostly familes. Ironically, most of my neighbors are white. One of my neighbors are hispanic and have been a very nice, quiet family. There are some bad parts, as with ANY city. We simply don't go to them, unless driving through to get to Grand. And even then, have had no problems, even at night.
I almost wonder if the city were called "Mirage Heights", or "Mirage Hills", would the sterotype be so bad?
There are some very nice parts with some cery nice houses and families.
Kind of hard to shake the rep, though.

[bhbay]

hi to u i m amurice from cameroon i love ur city and wa know if we can exchange about ur culture and mine i live an d work in cameron my country. i love phoenixand wanna know more about people habit . please if ur interest contact me mauriceturbo@yahoo.fr; don t mine about my english i m a french speakin one;

[ibarrio]

El Mirage is a little order then Surprise. When the last boom came Surprise took full advantage and built a great city full of great amenities...El Mirage stayed mostly stagnant. Surprise attracted new commercial development....El Mirage did not.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by Cynthiasboys

You clearly hate El Mirage, have you lived there? Would be interesting to know why you are so quick to dismiss a city if you have never lived therel...

Not sure who you are referring to, me or the other poster. But, when I was in the market for a home (a couple of different times) I did spend a LOT of time in El Mirage. I went out there so many times and looked at every development and house for sale. I also knew a couple of friends who bought out there who eventually moved out of there after a couple of years. I know what I saw, and I saw nice, new homes go to crap within a few months to a year. The ones without an HOA looked like a ghetto. The sad thing was that they were still selling homes there in the same development, that's how new they were! It's the only city that I was disgusted with the quality of homeowners. Now, I know that there were a lot of good people who live there, but it's a FACT that the homes in El Mirage do not appreciate as well as those in other areas, so it's not the best investment.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

With todays market conditions you can choose to buy just about anywhere I would say. If El Mirage is one of your choices go for it. I am from Oxnard, California and for me El Mirage looks like home. Not sure what all the fuss is with problems there. I prefer Surprise though. My thoughts are that if you are considering El Mirage also put Surprise on your list. Very affordable any way you look at it.

[jd433]

Originally Posted by TROJAN

I was wondering why no one really mentions them as opposed to Surprise? Is there anything wrong with them? Smaller Cities, smaller governments, smaller minds? Just wondering if a move there would be comparable to a Surprise move since they are in the same area...

Hello, nobody mentions them because they are slums. I used to live in El Mirage and it was a horrible experience. I had people killed behind my house ,got caught up in high speed chases, couldn't even go home sometimes because the streets were blocked off by police. Believe me El Mirage is a VERY BAD AREA!! Take it from me I used to live there.