where do we buy for our daughter? (Phoenix, Mesa: mortgage, environment)

[josann]

My daughter and her friend are moving there this summer to go to grad schools. Our daughter's school is near 101 & Broadway in Tempe and she will be there for 4 years so we are considering buying vs. renting. Her roommate will only be there 2 years near Higley & Baseline. What specific areas should we look at for convenience and safety for a couple of 23 year old girls? I keep reading mostly about Gilbert/Chandler, but I know traffic would be bad on 101 and/or 60. However, this seems like the area convenient to both of them if it weren't for this traffic pattern. They will want to meet young adults (not the undergrad ASU crowd), but will also both be very busy with school (these are medical-related schools). Resale is important for investment purposes - as we will probably be looking to sell in 5 years. Does anyone know anything about the Groves area (Vista Mesa subdivision) in Mesa? We were thinking they could both commute from there easily? But I see so many posts not recommending Mesa. Our daughter will spend time her last 2 years at the clinic in Scottsdale near Hayden & McDowell.

[AZ Tracy]

Vista Mesa is a nice area. The homes are probably much larger than two 23 year old girls would need, and might require a good deal of maintenance - inside and out??? It would be convenient to get to the 202, and the drive to Higley and Baseline wouldn't be bad at all. I doubt they'd find many "young adults" in that neighborhood, though.

[SpeedyAZ]

Firstly traffic is going to be bad anywhere around the college and being close to the 101 and 60 is convienent. Secondly not ALL of Mesa is bad, Vista Mesa is quite nice but the homes are more upscale and would require routine maintainence, would two young women want to spend their sunday afternoon's doing housework?

I'd suggest buying a 2 bed condo in Tempe which can be had for fairly low $$. You don't have to worry about a yard with a condo nor any exterior items. They're small and compact which will lower the cooling bills in the summertime and you won't have to buy much furniture for it. I'd go condo all the way...

[vegaspilgrim]

Let me make a wild guess, the school you're talking about is the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine? I think you have to recognize there are two conflicting goals here. In terms of social life for your daughter, she would want to be in Tempe, or close by Tempe, even if she's not going to ASU, I'm willing to bet her social life would intersect with ASU students-- which include ASU graduate students (I'm not talking about the drunken freshman crowd). Problems is, the areas convenient for her and close to the school aren't necessarily the areas you'd want to buy a house. I'm very familiar with the neighborhoods in Tempe, and any neighborhood that's unambiguously nice in Tempe, Mesa, or any built-up, close in area, that would be a definite investment is going to cost at least $450k on up. What's your budget?

[Kevin Beasley]

Originally Posted by josann

My daughter and her friend are moving there this summer to go to grad schools. Our daughter's school is near 101 & Broadway in Tempe and she will be there for 4 years so we are considering buying vs. renting. Her roommate will only be there 2 years near Higley & Baseline. What specific areas should we look at for convenience and safety for a couple of 23 year old girls? I keep reading mostly about Gilbert/Chandler, but I know traffic would be bad on 101 and/or 60. However, this seems like the area convenient to both of them if it weren't for this traffic pattern. They will want to meet young adults (not the undergrad ASU crowd), but will also both be very busy with school (these are medical-related schools). Resale is important for investment purposes - as we will probably be looking to sell in 5 years. Does anyone know anything about the Groves area (Vista Mesa subdivision) in Mesa? We were thinking they could both commute from there easily? But I see so many posts not recommending Mesa. Our daughter will spend time her last 2 years at the clinic in Scottsdale near Hayden & McDowell.

Why not buy in Scottsdale? A nice condo would be perfect. Its affordable and when the market recovers, you should make a decent profit. You wont have all the tweekers in Mesa and wext Tempe to worry about, or have to deal with the morning traffic from Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa. I grew up in the east valley, and have a pretty good idea of the are you want.

[MotleyCrew]

I would want my girls in Scottsdale and agree with the above post. There would be plenty for them to do and in a far safer environment. We have a son that will be going to college soon and we are considering buying a condo there.

[josann]

Yes, it's SCNM. The only reason I asked about Vista Mesa is because I came across a smaller house there and a third roommate could be added. But you're right about the yard work and cleaning! But I thought it might be better for resale than a condo. No, $450000 is not out budget. More like $200000-250000. Wouldn't the commute from Scottsdale be far for the Higley/Baseline school? Or would she be going in opposite direction of traffic?

[sweettearose]

Originally Posted by josann

Yes, it's SCNM. The only reason I asked about Vista Mesa is because I came across a smaller house there and a third roommate could be added. But you're right about the yard work and cleaning! But I thought it might be better for resale than a condo. No, $450000 is not out budget. More like $200000-250000. Wouldn't the commute from Scottsdale be far for the Higley/Baseline school? Or would she be going in opposite direction of traffic?

Highley and Baseline is really far from that school. Her drive will be 45-60 minutes from that location. I don't recommend that location at all.

When it comes to real estate, you have to realize that this isn't Phoenix from even 7 years ago when housing prices were affordable. This market is a lot more similar to southern california now in which a decent house in a safe area is going to cost you at least 400K realistically speaking. And condos don't get much cheaper. Sure, you can find houses near her school for 200-250K but they will be older homes in slightly run down areas. If you spent a lot of time looking, you could probably find a condo for 250K near the school but again, it would be reall difficult to find a new and safe condo in the Tempe, Chandler and South Scottsdale area for 250K unless it's tiny and part of a complex with a lot questionable residents. With apartments and condos, you have to examine the types of residents there not just the location. In Phoenix, this is very misleading because the area might appear nice and the apartments/condos will look really nice from the outside but drive around in them and see who the neighbors are because that will determine how safe it really is. If you have a bunch of gang members and young dealers selling out of their units, it's not safe. Many apartments don't screen their residents well while others do take the effort to do some type of background check. I personally feel that condos in the Phoenix area are rip-offs and they are really hard to unload. A lot of people bought them as investment properties and they couldn't sell them so they are keeping them until the market goes up. And the trendy condos that you hear about are outrageously priced and can reach a 1 million dollars such as the ones on Tempe town lake and downtown tempe. Even in regards to those condos, you are looking at least 400K.

My recommendation is for her to rent. There are several really upscale apartments near the school. They are safe and have several ammenities. If she has roommate, she can save a lot of money. Unless, you are willing to spend at least 400K, I wouldn't even really look into buying a home with the exception that is willing to live really far from campus.

If you still want a home, I would check out the South Tempe/North Chandler areas near Ray and the 101. Her commute will not be bad in the morning on the 101 to the Broadway exit. There are some older homes in that area that are in the 350K-400K range. They are in a safe area but they are early 90's or late 80's builds.

My son is about to start college and we are in your same predicament. When looking at homes, try to find ones without swimming pools and grass. That will lower their maintenance costs. There are many rockbed and gravel lawns that appear clean and require little maintenance.

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by josann

Yes, it's SCNM. The only reason I asked about Vista Mesa is because I came across a smaller house there and a third roommate could be added. But you're right about the yard work and cleaning! But I thought it might be better for resale than a condo. No, $450000 is not out budget. More like $200000-250000. Wouldn't the commute from Scottsdale be far for the Higley/Baseline school? Or would she be going in opposite direction of traffic?

Josann, I'm not sure why you mention Higley/Baseline. That is where the new Banner Gateway Hospital is located, (actually Higley and 101) and it is in a family oriented area. The Google map shows it is 12.2 miles from SCNM at 2140 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282. With normal traffic it will be around a 20 minute drive and with traffic during commute time it can be around 40 minutes.

Also, since she will complete the last two years near Hayden and McDowell, that Higley/Baseline area would be even farther.

There will not be many young adults in that area for your daughter to meet. She could also spend over an hour driving to and from school, which cuts down on the study time. Traffic can also be unnerving at times.

Vista Mesa is another family neighborhood and no activity for young adults. It's only 5 miles from McDowell and Hayden but it's going with the commute traffic to the school.

It seems to me that she would be happier somewhere closer to school, and especially in an area where there are young adults so she will have a social life, and not have to spend a lot of time driving in traffic.

I'm in agreement with others here that Scottsdale would be a better location for her. It is closer to both schools she would be attending and is closer to where there will be young adults.

I'm also in agreement that a condo would be best. Primarily because of the outside property upkeep. It's included in the HOA fees; and also because the homes in the area are going to be more expensive. Condo's here sell ok. When you get ready to sell, the market hopefully will be leveled off and increased some. You can also negotiate some good buys now.

Below are two condos to give you an example. You can google the addresses to see where they are located in proximity to the school. One is over your price range, but the prices are negotiable and you will be able to get them for less than the listed price.

Moderator cut: no MLS links allowed

You can also search by zip code 85257 and select either single family homes, or patio homes (condo's).

The way to negotiate is good price is to have at least 20% down, offer a substantial earnest money and be pre-approved for a mortgage. Sellers don't want their homes falling out of escrow, and if someone comes in wanting 5% down with $1000 earnest money and only pre-qualified, they will not take the offer seriously and will also hold out for a higher price.

If the offer is backed by a good deposit and earnest money by a pre-qualified buyer the sellers are willing to negotiate a lower price, in most cases.

[josann]

Captain Bill,
There's some confusion since my original post because I've thrown in a 3rd location (a medical center in Scottsdale). The Higley/Baseline location is where my daughter's roommate will be going to PA school (A.C. Still University). So I thought Scottsdale would be far for her. My daughter's school is at 101 & Broadway (with some clinical rotations in So. Scottsdale during her 3rd and 4th year - but with classes still at Broadway also). And I believe they are relocating the medical center to the same location as the school - but I'm not sure of the time frame whether it will be before she graduates or not. My daughter's location will be the priority for us, since we are the ones buying. But at the same time, we don't want her roommate to have an hour commute. However, her roommate will only be there 2 years. At that time, our daughter would have to find someone else to live with her (probably another med school student). Maybe she should rent after all. They could rent somewhere near 60 & 101 or between 101 & Higley for the first 2 years; then our daughter could move (and she'll know the area by then to decide where she wants to live). We just thought it might be a good time to buy since we know she'll be there for 4 years.