Alabama couple - moving to Phoenix (Tucson, Scottsdale: for sale, city hall, renting)

[bama_couple]

I have been offered a job within my company in Phoenix. While I've been out to Phoenix and Tucson multiple times for work, my wife has never been West of the Mississippi except for ski trips and the occasional run to Vegas. We are both in our early 50's and this opportunity will allow her to retire, while my office would be just south of the Phoenix Airport. The kids are (somewhat) adults.....most of you with 20-something kids will understand.....so it's just going to be us "empty-nesters" if we decide to take the job.

I have read a lot of "we're moving to Phoenix" posts, and I don't want to re-hash everything, but she seems stuck on living in Scottsdale. I'd like to keep the house in the $400K range, but thought Chandler might be a viable option, but don't know about the commute. I suppose south Chandler and North Scottsdale will still be a haul.

The company is flying us in in a couple weeks to look around, so she'll get a taste of summer heat, but it was 97 degrees in Birmingham today with almost 100 percent humidity.....hot is still hot. Any suggestions as to what locations I should take her to look at communities within our price range would be appreciated.

Also, is there any places I should take her to get a good "feel" for the area? Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.

Thanks

[smoochaz]

South of the airport - then you should look into chandler, ahwatukee areas. There are so many neighborhoods with different flavors so it's up to you to figure what you want to do for activities - eg, do you love to golf, do you want to live in a community which has tennis, pool, do you like country club setting etc. I you like the water, there are also homes on the "lakes" really pretty. Is your company going to provide you with a local person to show you around? if so you'll be in good hands - if not then possibly go to open houses and check out what's available - good luck to you.

Maha

[lewdog_5]

Coming from someone who lives in the West Valley (proximity to work) and who wouldn't want to live in Scottsdale, Ahwatukee would be my first choice for you. Some amazing beauty over there. So much variety between neighborhoods here though, so I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Best of luck!

[Montanama]

You really do pay a lot for the cachet of living "in Scottsdale." (I know, obvious...) When we were searching for our vacation/future retirement home in the Phoenix area we also initially figured "location, location, location" meant our best value would be Scottsdale, even if we had to pay a little more. Our budget was not as large as yours. What we found were so very many beautiful, livable, appealing master planned communities all over the valley that it was hard to narrow it down to one, and all offered wonderful quality of life for FAR less than what we could buy a home for in an older neighborhood in Scottsdale. Of course, your budget would buy a nice house just about anywhere in the PHX area.

That said, buying a home in Scottsdale is a pretty sure bet that the house will keep its value and appreciate faster than other areas in the (vast) valley. So I'm not slamming on Scottsdale or saying its not worth it AT ALL. Just saying that for a lot of people, a newer neighborhood and a nicer/bigger house will trump the prestige of living in Scottsdale.

We bought "all the way out" in Estrella, in Goodyear. But we didn't need to consider a commute and could go wherever we found the best value and most appealing spot. It was completely overwhelming to us as we realized how many options we had. We were so relieved when we found Verrado, which we loved, and then Estrella, which we knew immediately was our spot. For awhile there we thought we'd just keep looking forever, lol. There really is something for everyone in the PHX area.

Every individual is different, and maybe your wife will prefer a more average or smaller home in the primo location. To begin the search, I'd have a realtor show what $400k buys in Scottsdale, as well as places like Ahwatukee and Chandler, in some newer master planned communities. It's a BIG difference.

Really you are fortunate to know ahead of time where you'll be working. It helps so much to have your search area automatically narrowed like that. There is so much to choose from in the huge area that is the Valley of the Sun, especially in your price range.

[observer53]

Scottsdale's a long haul. Look at Ahwatukee areas like Mountain Park Ranch, or go into northwest Chandler on the other side of I-10.

[Jukesgrrl]

I live in Tucson and often drive to Sky Harbor Airport to pick up or drop off visitors. I usually make a pit stop in Chandler on the way. It has EVERYTHING in the way of shopping, restaurants, etc., and from there it's a quick drive to the airport. (Except maybe for the all-important Gucci, Tiffany's, the Bentley dealer, etc., which are a big deal in Scottsdale.)

I think you will find North Scottsdale too far for a daily commute and I doubt South Scottsdale will produce the kind of house you are probably expecting for $400,000, since it's the older part of Scottsdale and close to ASU. Smoochaz's questions about what you like to do in your spare time are very pertinent. Make a list of activities you enjoy. That list and your commute time to where you will be working will probably prove to be the guiding laws to which community would be best for you. A good Realtor will be able to show you gorgeous homes in your price range that should meet your needs and give you plenty of amenities and maybe even amazing Southwest views (mountains, sunsets. etc.)

As people have already said Ahwatukee is great for hiking, biking, and mountain vistas. Chandler has all kinds of amenities (great park system for example) as it's home to many tech companies whose employees are often coming from the Bay Area and expect the best. Chandler has an arts center, a very well reviewed medical center, and one look at City Hall's modern architecture will tell you it's a community that is on the move. Golf, tennis, water sports, horseback riding, can all be found in Chandler, along with good hotels if you have to put visitors up (or yourself while you're house hunting). The Sheraton runs the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino, which is nice and has all the spa amenities and the horseback riding I mentioned. Chandler also has a bonus of good access to I-10 as well as the ring roads around Phoenix, so travel to anywhere from there is easier than many of Phoenix's suburbs.

Tell your wife that Scottsdale dates back as THE place to live in Arizona from the days when there was nothing on the other side of the highway except the city limits of Phoenix. The Phoenix Metro is now the sixth largest city in the U.S. and Maricopa County is the same size as the state of New Jersey. So there is now a LOT more to the Metro than just the city and Scottsdale. And if you are at all considering a big condo instead of a house, $400,000 will get you into a building with insane amenities either right downtown, in the Biltmore or Arcadia districts (the city's best residential areas), or on the waterfront in the newest area of Tempe for really carefree living and good access to the airport area.

Check out The Summit at Copper Square downtown, popular with empty-nesters who want access to all the city has to offer:
Summit Downtown
Northshore Condomimiums on the water in Tempe:
945 E PLAYA DEL NORTE Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281 for Sale | Condo.com
Something in Arcadia, putting you in the premiere residential area of the city:
MLS 5231197: 4488 E THOMAS Road Phoenix AZ 85018

[bama_couple]

I will do exactly as ya'll suggest. If I decide to take the job, it is likely I will be out in Phoenix for several months as my wife officially retires and sells our current house. Fortunately, the company will buy it for the appraised value if we can't sell it, so we're in good shape there. Unfortunately, it's a 105 year old home in Birmingham (my wife loves the history of the old girl as Margaret Mitchell lived there for a while) with a guest house we're renting to a wonderful lady.....who I like even more as she pays my mortgage. Probably won't grab that brass ring again!

We've talked a lot about this and are looking at it like a 10 year adventure. We are looking forward to getting on with it, and if people are as friendly as those of you who took time to help us here, we will be among friends.

[Tall Traveler]

I really like Ahwatukee & Chandler as I think they are better values than Scottsdale. You are paying a tidy sum to be able to say 'I live in Scottsdale.' I like Scottsdale a lot as well but you do get a lot of both wealthy and those pretending to be wealthy there so you will be expected to live a certain lifestyle in Scottsdale.

[ajonesaz]

The southeast valley is quickly becoming just as upscale as Scottsdale. Fine dining is taking off and new restaurants are opening like crazy and the upscale shopping is already here. Scottsdale still maintains the old west charm while the southeast valley seems more modern (or more California-y if thats a word). Southeast valley has a younger population that places in scottsdale with the same income.

A quick visit should help you decide where you want to be.

EDIT: When I say southeast valley I mean Awahatukee, Chandler and Gilbert

[BIG CATS]

I think Central Scottsdale is a feasible drive. I live there and commute to the airport area on SR-51, and its not too bad. It usually takes me 25-30 minutes to do my 18-mile commute (one way). The ride home is a bit slower, but still not too bad. I suggest this because if your wife is in love with Scottsdale, she might not Ahwatukee. Scottsdale is just much larger, just as beautiful, and offers a lot more to do. Happy wife = happy life. lol