New River vs. Cave Creek vs. Apache Junction (Surprise, Superior: custom home, live in)

[dukefan60]

We are looking to relocate to the valley. New River, Cave Creek and Apache Junction are currently on our short list. What would you consider to be the top 3 advantages/disadvantages for each ares? I have searched other threads but much of what it currently out there doesn’t apply to us as we don’t eat out and aren’t raising a family.
A little about us: we are a retired couple (no children) in our early 60’s. We would like a home with 2-5 acres so that we can have some elbow room from our neighbors and enjoy being outside without feeling like we are under a microscope with everyone knowing our business. Not a huge house (something under 2200 sq. feet) as we don’t have children and our family is back in Michigan. We enjoy nature though my husband’s health prevents him from doing any hiking. But we love sunsets, stargazing and seeing birds and other wildlife in our backyard. We also like to target shoot with our handguns so being close (within 15 miles or so) to a decent gun range is very important. And decent as possible air quality. We currently live in Kearny and the dust from the mines in Kearny, Winkleman and Superior are causing problems for me. Our price range is up to $500K.

[grmi66]

New River might be the place. Close drive down I-17 to the Ben Avery Range, shopping nearby in Anthem and probably the place that gets you the most land with your budget.

Cave Creek is getting upscale and Apache Jct still gives off the meth and trailer parks vibe.

If willing to drive a bit further, there is also Black Canyon City. A quick Google map search puts that 23 minutes away from the shooting range.

[AZJoeD]

New River can offer you most of what you are looking for. Also consider Morristown/Wittman just a little further west.

[dukefan60]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

New River can offer you most of what you are looking for. Also consider Morristown/Wittman just a little further west.

Thank. I have been told that Wittman is a high meth community. Do you know if that is true? Don’t know anything about Morristown but will check it out.

[observer53]

The disadvantage, to me, of Morristown/Wittman is that it's ugly flat desert out there. Agree that of the three options mentioned, I'd pick New River, for the reasons the others stated.

[AZJoeD]

Originally Posted by dukefan60

Thank. I have been told that Wittman is a high meth community. Do you know if that is true? Don’t know anything about Morristown but will check it out.

That is ridiculous. There are lots of nice custom homes on large parcels in Wittman. Back in the 2005 time frame Wittman was a hot area. Building came to a halt (2008) in Wittman mostly because of a moratorium that was placed on new building by the county because of Luke Air Force Base noise restrictions. There was great fear that the government was going to shut down Luke because of too much intrusion from development. But McCain and Gov.Brewer lobbied to get the F-35 training which guaranteed its future.

While technically the moratorium has never been lifted, building in Witttman is on a case by case basis. Existing homes of course were grandfathered.

Wittman is very rural, but if you are looking for a 2-5 acre parcel in a rural area it could be a good option. You have to drive to Surprise for shopping and services, but the same is true for most rural areas.