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Old 08-19-2016, 10:30 AM
 
Location: prescott az
6,957 posts, read 12,060,189 times
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Chandler would be closer to the airport, if you are going to Chicago. Many homes in Ocotillo have 3 car garages, low HOA, close to the Hamilton pool and library. Excellent schools too. A five minute drive to Chandler Mall and restaurants. Certainly within your budget.
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Old 08-19-2016, 10:41 AM
 
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Thank you PhxBarb, I'll take a look at that as well.
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Old 08-19-2016, 10:41 AM
 
Location: In the hot spot!
3,941 posts, read 6,725,641 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhxBarb View Post
Chandler would be closer to the airport, if you are going to Chicago. Many homes in Ocotillo have 3 car garages, low HOA, close to the Hamilton pool and library. Excellent schools too. A five minute drive to Chandler Mall and restaurants. Certainly within your budget.
Ocotillo is a nice area. One other advantage is that it's closer to Mesa-gateway airport where you may be able to catch some cheaper flights to Chicago. However, Gilbert is a nice growing city with decent schools too.
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Old 08-19-2016, 11:31 AM
 
Location: AriZona
5,229 posts, read 4,611,100 times
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Quote:
Chicago to Arizona (typical, I know), some questions
Just an early welcome to Arizona, if'n when you actually come here...

One question I keep asking: Is there anybody still left in Chicago? Arizona seems to be the place everybody from Illinois is escaping to!
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Old 08-19-2016, 12:32 PM
 
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Thank you Colt Cassidy, we appreciate it
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Old 08-19-2016, 01:49 PM
 
Location: AriZona
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Originally Posted by mprzybylski View Post
Thank you Colt Cassidy, we appreciate it
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Old 08-19-2016, 04:14 PM
 
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
5,649 posts, read 5,965,050 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Colt Cassidy View Post
Just an early welcome to Arizona, if'n when you actually come here...

One question I keep asking: Is there anybody still left in Chicago? Arizona seems to be the place everybody from Illinois is escaping to!
A lot have family ties here (as did we), which makes it easier. They're also fleeing en masse to TX, NC, and TN. A ton of Chicagoans have moved to Indiana as well.
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Old 08-19-2016, 06:21 PM
 
4 posts, read 3,203 times
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Default Explore your options

As a fellow Chicagoian, I would urge you to explore all your options before settling on one area. Gilbert is a very popular community for relocating families, it's been listed on many 'best places to live' lists because the housing is very reasonable and the school district is highly rated. I seem to remember there was a big shake up in the district a few years ago. I don't know if the situation has changed, but you may want to Google problems in the Gilbert school district.

Just so you know, in Arizona you can apply for a variance which would allow you to send your child to any school, the only issues are classroom availability and that you'd be responsible for getting your child to and from school each day. There are also quite a few public charter school options in Arizona as well, so your neighborhood public school is not your only option. We live in a highly rated school district, but I've chosen to send my child to a charter near my home and couldn't be happier with my decision.

We looked at Glibert, but is was very evident that it was once a farm community by the topography. We came from farm land, and didn't want the same when we moved. We live chose to live in North Peoria. It has beautiful mountain views, excellent park facilities and access to quite a few hiking trails. Most of the homes are newer construction and there are quite a few new constriction developments in the area as well. Although you said you wanted a planned community because of the pools, you may be able to get a newer home with a pool in the mid $350K range. Go on Zillow or Realtor and use zip code 85383 to see what is available.

If you are looking for a master planned community check out Vistansia in North Peoria. There are resale homes, as well as new construction. The community has 3 pools, 2 water slides, and a lot of other amenities.

As a Midwesterner you may really enjoy Verrado in Buckeye. This place has a real Midwestern feel. The homes are not cookie cutter, the streets are tree lined with quite a few greenways, there are lots of community activities and there is a community pool.

One poster also mentioned Anthem. Anthem is a very nice community as well, they have a lovely park and a very nice community/public pool.

Both Vistansia and Verrado have websites, so I encourage you to check them out.

At the moment, I am not a Realtor (I was in Chicago) but hope to be by September. If you are not working with anyone, I'd be happy to show you some master planned communities in other areas so that you can make an informed decision. PM me if you'd like to chat.

One other tip I'd like to give you is to use PODS or Pack Rat for your move, rather than a full service mover. We got quotes from full service movers in the $25K to $30K range, the PODS saved us a ton of money, especially if you're going to store your things, just hire movers to get your things into the containers.
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Old 08-20-2016, 04:11 AM
 
Location: Schaumburg, IL
34 posts, read 35,835 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Colt Cassidy View Post
Just an early welcome to Arizona, if'n when you actually come here...

One question I keep asking: Is there anybody still left in Chicago? Arizona seems to be the place everybody from Illinois is escaping to!
I just had to chuckle about "Is there anybody still left in Chicago?" I attended college in Chicago, lived in Rogers Park (far north side neighborhood of Chicago) for a few years after graduation, moved to the northwest suburbs (Schaumburg) in the mid-1980's, and have been here since.

I would move out of the Chicago area tomorrow, but I have an elderly father with health issues that I need to stay close to. My dad is my only tie to the Midwest.

So I am looking at both Florida and Arizona as the place to spend my golden years. Chicago/Illinois no longer holds any attraction for me...other than the Cubs doing so well this year.
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Old 08-20-2016, 08:29 AM
 
Location: Arizona
6,131 posts, read 7,986,461 times
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I like Anthem (maybe 'cause I live here ). Not really a neighborhood, more like a small town.

It is farther from the airport and you have to drive through the heart of rush hour traffic to get there from here. I solve that problem by scheduling my flights to avoid traffic when I can, or by leaving early enough to deal with it when I can't. Even during rush hour I can get to the airport in just over an hour, and I always leave plenty of time so I have a relaxed drive and plenty of time at the airport. I hate rushing to catch a flight and would rather sit at the gate waiting than stressing about it. The rush hour traffic here is slow, but nothing like what it is in major cities back east.

Being on the northern end of the Phoenix area, you're slightly closer to Sedona, Prescott, Verde Valley, and even the Grand Canyon. I said slightly. But you do cut out having to drive through the city to get to points north.

You mentioned doing woodworking in your garage. You're going to need to air condition your garage ($$$) to do that here in the summer months.

For more info on Anthem
| Online At Anthem
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