Tired of living in a freezer! (Phoenix, Scottsdale: condo, how much, school)

[jakegeesr]

I really like Tempe, and everything east of Tempe. I've heard about Mesa and Apache Junction. I was on ripoffreport.com and they had a story about the pizza hut in Apache Junction selling meth, kinda interesting, check it out! But, it's all about the location of my job, which I have no idea where it will be yet. What about the Arizona City, Eloy, Casa Grande area. It really seems like it's in the middle of nowhere, but the houses are beautiful! Also, what's up with the private water companies? Do they charge an arm and a leg?

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by jakegeesr

I really like Tempe, and everything east of Tempe. I've heard about Mesa and Apache Junction. I was on ripoffreport.com and they had a story about the pizza hut in Apache Junction selling meth, kinda interesting, check it out! But, it's all about the location of my job, which I have no idea where it will be yet. What about the Arizona City, Eloy, Casa Grande area. It really seems like it's in the middle of nowhere, but the houses are beautiful! Also, what's up with the private water companies? Do they charge an arm and a leg?

The place you're naming are all over the board, some of them having nothing in common. I live in Tempe; and while it's not the greatest part of the Phoenix metro area, it's from from the worst. Comparing Tempe to Eloy is like comparing San Francisco, CA to Dodge City, KS. There is no way I would ever live in Eloy (prison town) or Florence (another prison town), or Arizona City (retirement community in the middle of nothing). Casa Grande (and Maricopa) is much better than Eloy, but I personally have no desire to ever live in Casa Grande either. Every time I pass through on the way to Tucson it smells like cow ****. And the locals their claim they don't notice! Apache Junction-- no thanks. It's basically a bunch of trailer parks. Gold Canyon is nice and it's technically part of AJ, but AFAIK it's a retirement community, no place for young'ins like me. BTW, when you say you're looking at Queen Creek-- are you talking about the Hunt Hwy/Pinal County part or the actual town of Queen Creek in Maricopa County? If you have to commute somewhere to work, don't move anywhere along the Hunt Hwy unless if you want your life to be a living hell.

Ok, jakegeesr, we know you hate the cold weather and want to move to AZ. How about telling us a little about yourself so we can give you suggestions on where to live? Like your general age bracket, what it is you do for a living, married/single/kids?

[jakegeesr]

I'm 24, basically married with 3 kids. I don't really care about "the nightlife" although I'm sure I'll check the clubs out down there. The club scene in Milwaukee is live, but it's the same people I've seen all my life, and the night usually ends with a shooting. Looking to rent in the range of $700-$850. I remember seeing Pinal County, but I didn't know there was a difference between that and the actual town of Queen Creek. I know my questions are all over the board, sorry. I've got a huge list that I'm trying to narrow down. Maricopa was another option, so was El Mirage. Someone said El Mirage was a bad spot. I'm just gonna have to visit so I can see for myself. My cousin is originally from Milwaukee, and went to school in Phoenix. He's in Tempe now and he said it's nice. I'm not looking for a townhouse, or an apartment. I want a 3-4 bedroom house with a garage. Maricopa, Buckeye, and Queen Creek seem to be the only places that I can find houses in my price range. Oh, I'm a blue-collar type of guy. I have experience in a little bit of everything warehouse or manufacturing related. Are there any chemical plants that you know about. I hated doing that, but it was great money!

[AlleyTD]

I think it's going to be really difficult for you to find a 3-4 bedroom house with a garage in your price range that is in a nice neighborhood- without being in the sticks and commuter hell for work. Now when I say nice neighborhood, I am thinking about your wife and kids. I assume their safety and the neighborhood safety is important to you.

Maricopa, Buckeye, and Queen Creek all have some great areas ... however, they also have some pockets of very bad/scary areas. Really low rent, no credit checks, big house ... can be a red flag... it depends upon location. Some Phoenix areas are very decieving. You can drive by a neighborhood and think it looks very nice ... however, on the news at night you will learn that that pretty nieghborhood you saw ... is full of crime at night.

I would look for a nice rental - even if its small - in a nice neighborhood for your first go around. Safety should be paramount.

Having said that I would suggest you keep yourself open to the townhouse option. For a couple of reasons ... first,
many townhomes in Phoenix are very large and have large common areas & pools for the kids. The pools are VERY nice when it gets hot. You will love coming home from work and being able to go for a swim - without have to pay for the upkeep of a pool. Before my husband and I bought our first home we lived in a townhome complex that had two play structures - lots of play areas for the kids - and THREE pools! We often had the pools all to ourselves. After the birth of our second son, we bought a house - no pool ... we loved our house, but man did we miss the pools.

Secondly, remember ... rent is temporary. If you rent a townhome or a condo ... you can probably find something closer into town ... that would be great, because then you can really spend a 6 or 12 month period figuring out where you REALLY want to live in the valley. It's easier to move out of a condo or townhouse because you don't feel as settled as you will in a house.

Additionally, and more importantly ... if you love it in Phoenix ... in a year you might be in a position to buy a home. Especially considering the state of the real estate market ... or you could find a nice lease option house. I'm sure Capt Bill or some other local Realtor could assist you with that.

My point is if you are not fully 'connected' to you first rental in the city ... that will free up your mind to find a better place.
One that is in an area want to be in that is closer to your new job, a good school and your new favorite hang-outs.

[ArizonaBear]

For the record: the last 2+ months here have had below normal daytime highs (53-64) vs. our normal 65-70F ones------and, I have been freezing my butt off.

I am a Wash DC native and flat despise cold weather (anything below Climate Zone 8-10).

Yes; our summers can be pigs-------one need not shovel heat

[sweettearose]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

For the record: the last 2+ months here have had below normal daytime highs (53-64) vs. our normal 65-70F ones------and, I have been freezing my butt off.

I am a Wash DC native and flat despise cold weather (anything below Climate Zone 8-10).

Yes; our summers can be pigs-------one need not shovel heat

Good point and we occasionally have mild summers, relatively mild to Phoenix that is

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by sweettearose

Good point and we occasionally have mild summers, relatively mild to Phoenix that is

I agree

BTW: I lived in Bullhead City (word has it that the 'Devil' left------too hot for that pitchfork wieldin' ol' red boy ) prior to returning to the Phx area in August 2006.

Last year (2007); despite it being the hottest recorded summer here in history-------after dealing with BHC, it felt mild here.

[Fatty Jay]

I don't really have advise, just a little experience I guess. I'm a marine from the Phoenix area. My wife and I were wanting to move somewhere away from the heat, living there our whole life. We've been stationed in Yuma, AZ for the past 4 years, so we never really got away from it. We thought about moving to California, but it's too expensive. We then looked into Temecula/Murrieta. It seems nice out there, but still kinda expensive. It also gets kinda hot there, from what I've heard. We became really serious about wanting to live there, but just recently changed our minds again.

My experience with different weather is AZ dry heat. Florida humidity. And just recently, Iwakuni Japan cold. After being in Iwakuni for a short period of time, I decided that I don't think I wanna live somewhere that it snows. We barely started getting snow and I'm already not enjoying it. Florida heat with the humidity sucks, but it just makes you sweat alot. AZ heat also sucks, but in a different way. I know I'm kinda all over the place with this post, but I guess my point is...

It's kinda more a question of what you want to deal with. I don't wanna deal with the humidity. I don't wanna deal with freezing temps. I also don't wanna deal with over priced houses. I think I can move back to Phx and live with the dry heat. I've grown up in it, and grown used to it. And of all the options I've stated, it seems like the most practical for myself. Plus I have family there since it's my hometown. In Oct I get out and I think we'll be moving back to Phx. Well, like I said, it's not really advise. Mostly just what I've noticed from being in a few different places.

[ILuvAZ]

I'm one who really hates the extreme heat but still love it here. I wouldn't trade the 115 degree days for snow all winter ever. I also wouldn't go for the midwest sticky disgusting buggy heat over AZ summers either... my trip to MN/ND one June was the worst 10 days of my life! Mind you I was 8 months pregnant but nevermind that

One note I wanted to make to you (I just skimmed the responses so forgive me if someone pointed it out to you already) is that April can't be considered visiting in the summer. To me, April is the BEST Arizona weather. To really test out the AZ heat you need to come in July or August.

Good luck to you!!

[sing4him]

I moved here from Chicago and LOVE it!!! The weather is AMAZING!!! You'll LOVe it here!!! I HATED the cold and snow and scrapping my car and starting my car......You'll get used to the heat (I'd take a hot day over a cold day ANY day!!!)....also you won't need winter coats, or sweaters, or hats and gloves....think of all the money you'll save! ha...you may even want to look into Litchfield, Avondale, Goodyear area for housing rentals - it'd be in your price bracket. Good luck to ya!