Summer Home, Maricopa or Queen Creek, AZ (Phoenix, Mesa: 2009, rent)

[jenandkevn]

I may have made that sound easier than it would be - granted. However, at least in Queen Creek that would be an option to consider trying. My mortgage on the SHC is almost $3k a month and it would probably rent for between $1200 and $1500 - not exactly a great situation if we couldn't sell and had to rent.

[Lovehound]

Renting out your house in QC seems naive to me. In Maricopa? You've got to be kidding. There is zero employment in, around or near Maricopa. You're all dressed up and no place to go. Nobody who needs to work will rent in Maricopa, and only people who mind very long commutes will rent in QC. QC is NOT freeway convenient.

[JoePAz]

Originally Posted by DAWNMOONE

I am yet another Canadian wanting to spend my winters in Arizona. I can't afford Mesa. I have been to Maricopa (dessert passage) and Queen Creek (johnston ranch), they are reasonable and offer a community option (pool, walking paths ect..) which I love. But I am worried about these fissures which I have read and heard so much about. I think Maricopa is safer (or is there such a thing)?
I would love some advise. I am not concerned with commutes, I like being "out of town" I worry about being safe and not buying something that is going to fall into the earth Anyone that lives in the area, I would love to hear back from you! Thanks in advance for the advise Jennifer

Have you considered Anthem?
It is far north, but closer to metro Phoenix that Maricopa, but still feels out there. Anthem Parkside is focus on famlies, but the Country Club is great for resort style living. There are actally many winter vistors that live in the Gate country club area so many of the homes are "set-up" for long vacant periods. Prices drops have been quite steep there so prices are much better than in the past. I do think prices are higher than Maricopa, but the area is also very different. Anthem has lots of walking paths, 1 community centers, 2 golf course and clubhouses.

[Synergy38]

Just don't inflate the market for Canadian/Americans like myself looking to Arizona to live an affordable life..

sorry, I just really dislike investors... I struggle just to pay my rent in Calgary and am moving to Arizona permanently because of it.

I actually fear telling anyone i'm from Canada when I am going to be looking for a house because I think they assume we all have money.. that's not the case.

Also, kind of odd to look in Arizona for a Summer home.. that's probably the worst time of year to be in Arizona, people WINTER there.

[aztony]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

Renting out your house in QC seems naive to me. In Maricopa? You've got to be kidding. There is zero employment in, around or near Maricopa. You're all dressed up and no place to go. Nobody who needs to work will rent in Maricopa, and only people who mind very long commutes will rent in QC. QC is NOT freeway convenient.

Hi all. New resident of Maricopa here.

I disagree with you Lovehound. I was renting an apt. in Mesa and I work in PHX. Before I bought here I was looking to rent a house in Maricopa. QC and Maricopa are the only places you can rent a new or fairly new house 3bd, 2bth for under $900 p/mth. I was paying over $800 p/mth for an older 700 sq. ft. apt. Not everyone has the luxury to be able to choose a place to live that is both close to work, affordable, and nice at the same time.

I drive 40 minutes one-way to work and I don't consider that very long. There's plenty of places to work outside of Maricopa e.g. Chandler, Gilbert, Phx., etc... In my opinion, it all depends on how far you're willing to drive.

[Master Shake]

Yes, Maricopa is the suburbs. You can rent/buy a nice house (many with pools) for less than in the city. It all comes down to what you want. For many people, it is worth the drive -- especially people from out of state who may already be used to living in the suburbs and/or longer commutes.

[DAWNMOONE]

Sorry lemmie clarify, WINTER home... better??

If you where an American upset that Canadians are buying in AZ I could understand, but you are a Canuck telling another to stop buying (or as you put it INVESTING) in the market.
Gesh.

[steel18720021]

Im not sure your thoughts on renting as opposed to buying, but you can buy a house right now for the same or less as your rent would be. If youre lookin in queen creek i suggest looking in johnson ranch or copper basin. As for the fissure situation, ive heard that theyre only around the mountain base, and these "master communities" that you find in queen creek are checked for fissure safety before theyre zoned/planned. Maybe look into some more if youre worried about it, but i have friends that have lived in johnson ranch and magic ranch for a long time, and have no issues ionvolving fissures. Queen creek is a better investment than maricopa in my eyes. They both have their pros and cons. I know that maricopa has only 1 way in and out, where as queen creek has multiple ways in (elsworth, gary rd, ironwood) that will connect to hunt highway in various parts. It takes me about 35-40 minutes to get into mesa,and theyre connecting the US-60 freeway from what ive heard. I try to stay in queen creek as much as possible though. They have pretty much everything you need out there now. Theyve been doing alot of building (new library, hospital, new post office, home depot) are all under construction right now! Check out the bank owned properties, and check out the forclosure listings at the queen creek banks. You'll get a smoking good deal.

[bisp21]

Originally Posted by altus2006

There are a lot of nice condos and apartments that rent to snowbirds in the winter, so you don't have to be worried about break-ins when you are not here.

I wouldn't buy in either place you have mentioned and let the house sit for long periods of time unwatched.

altus2006

I doubt altus2006 has ever made money in the real-estate market.

This is probably one of the best times to buy real-estate, especially in those places. You can get a good 2,000 sq ft home in nice neighborhood for around $130k. That is a $800 a month payment.

See people that think like altus2006 are usually the type of people that jump on the bandwagon when the market is going through the roof. Hence the inflation of the housing market that is now starting to correct itself.

Just my two cents.

[bisp21]

Originally Posted by 61scout80

thats exciting news. when we started looking in feb of 07 we were determined to get into queen creek. but after 4 or 5 trips i couldn't handle it. We drove to maricopa and were quite pleased with the difference.

Isn't there another freeway planned out that way? was it the 404?

The difference between Maricopa and Queen Creek is that Maricopa will take years before they starting having as much development (business's, etc) as Queen Creek does.