Relocating to PHX from Germany, Hubby has job in Scottdale (Mesa: lease, movers)

[Linhoff]

Hello everybody,
I'm so glad, we found this Forum, there is such a wealth of information here.
I read many other people's stories and the great advise they got, so I'm ready to post my own.
My husband just got a job in Scottsdale (office located near intersection of
North Hayden and East Thunderbird Roads).
I have been to PHX before and know traffic can be a hassle, so we want to
find a place that is easy to commute to.
He will need to go to Skyharbour often (lots of business trips) and therefore we want to live somwhere inbetween the airport and the office.
Any suggestions?
I have been looking at Mesa, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe.
We have no kids and are looking at renting a place for the first few months, before we buy one. Are these good areas? Any other places we could look at?
We greatly appreciate any input.
Thanks and best Regards
Linhoff

[sablebaby]

Your husband's office will be in a good location, right next to the Scottsdale Airpark. I would recommend somewhere near there in Scottsdale (west of there). The question is, what is your price range for a home? You mentioned renting, what do you want to pay for rent as well? If he will be at his office more than the airport then get near the office, that will help a lot. That whole area is really nice, but pricey. Paradise Valley starts at a million dollars for a home. Mesa is TOO far, and so is Tempe (but doable).

[Linhoff]

Hello,
thank you for your answer. Our budget for rent is up to 1000 USD/month and we
would be looking at a 1-2 BR appartment at a 6 months lease to have enough time to find a place to buy.
Regarding a house, we will have around 90.000-100.000 USD from our place here, that we intend to sell before we leave.
This could be used as a downpayment, but I don't want to go into deep debt
I was thinking about a 150 000-180 000 USD home.
Am I being unrealistic?

So in your opinion Scottsdale itself is our best bet locationwise?
It is very pricey from what I have seen so far on realtor.com is there
anything else with a short commute and more value for money?

Thanks again
Linhoff

[sablebaby]

Well, for your price range you will have to be very far out, maybe even 50 miles from work. Scottsdale is completely out as they start at above $400k. A small condo may be had for $200k in Scottsdale, if that's what you want.

Your range would put you in a very undesirable neighborhood, or one that is very far away. Sorry to say that your range was just a few years ago, before our boom.

If you could up your price to $220-250 you can get in a 3bd newer home in a good neighborhood in certain parts of the valley. And also not be too far away from scottsdale.

[SpeedyAZ]

Hello,
thank you for your answer. Our budget for rent is up to 1000 USD/month and we
would be looking at a 1-2 BR appartment at a 6 months lease to have enough time to find a place to buy.
Regarding a house, we will have around 90.000-100.000 USD from our place here, that we intend to sell before we leave.
This could be used as a downpayment, but I don't want to go into deep debt
I was thinking about a 150 000-180 000 USD home.
Am I being unrealistic?

So in your opinion Scottsdale itself is our best bet locationwise?
It is very pricey from what I have seen so far on realtor.com is there
anything else with a short commute and more value for money?

Well cross off Paradise Valley and Scottsdale for sure. $180,000 doesn't get much down here even though prices are a bit cheaper than they were a year ago. Mesa would be a horrible commute, Tempe would be OK but it'd also be quiet a jaunt.

Scottsdale is your best bet locationwise to answer your question but it's unrealistic in your price range. Right now I'd say your best bet is Tempe but you'll still need to bump up your price range by another $100,000 to get into a decent home.

[Linhoff]

Thanks to both of you for your input.

Wow, I know that prices have gone up like crazy in the area, but I heard the
market had come done a bit over the last few months.
I don't know how things will go for us and if we might move again in a year or
two (my husband's company is considering a move to Texas).
I'm therefore somewhat reluctant to spend that much on a house....
I guess we'll probably rent then...

I checked around a bit on rent.com and realtor.com and there is not a lot to
find in our price range, that's right.

Would it make more sense to buy as soon as we get there (October) or rent f
or a few months and then check again in spring? I would assume more
people leave in spring, so there is more choice in the market, no?

I have another question. I am thinking about selling all of our furniture and
appliances and will by most things again once we get there.
There are some things were I don't want to make any compromises
(like bedding and mattresses) and where I will buy high quality new furniture.
But that leaves me with less budget for other things, hence we also might
want to buy some used stuff (like a TV, DVD player etc.) once we get there.
If I find things on places like yardsales and/or craigslist, can I hire movers by
the hour to help me carry the heavy things? Any idea how much that will cost?
It seems most people just sell cash and carry and don't want to help. Hubby will
be working and I just don't see myselft dragging around a huge TV or anything like that.
I just don't want to buy everything new (we have moved so often and each time we
are loosing so much money on electric appliances).

Any suggestions
Thanks in advance
Linhoff