Good areas in this price range

[markas214]

Originally Posted by moving from NE

Thanks for all of the helpful information! Can you get something decent in Scottsdale in this price range? My sister lives there and from the small amount of research I have done it doesn't seem like this price range would buy much in Scottsdale. Your thoughts?

I'd say by this time next year you will. Scottsdale prices are down considerably in the past 6 months.

[moving from NE]

Thanks for all of the information! This has been very helpful! Any other suggestions/advice would be appreciated!

[jdhall1]

Queens Creek looks very affordable. I just spoke to a college friend who is thinking of putting in an offer a 4 bedroom+den house built in 2005 with a 2 car garag, around 2200 square feet, offered about $150,000 as a short sale.

[labsrone]

Hello all, I am new to this site and looking for in depth information on the Queens Creek area and why I am asking. I live in a small rural town Corning, Calif. I have been up here all my life. My in-laws live in Apache Junction so I am familiar sort of with the area. I did not complain too much when it was so hot as I just went swimmng. I felt better as a 49yr old who sufferes from arthritis but enjoys the outdoors. So, we have been renting on my husbands Navy retirement while he is going back to school at 52yr old trying to find a degree that will help him in the job market of sales, Marketing even Radio or Broadcast. He may not have the looks but his personality is Stand-up material. He is very outgoing and so we our looking to make a move together that will allow us to make new friends, do more things together other than Casino and Movies. Not much to do around here. I love art and want to one day teach little kids the basics and get more involved and have 4 dogs that are my life. So, looking around the area which I hated at first "Mesa" we ventured to a little place called "Queens Creek" and they way they had the parks, neighborhoods and new stores and I saw horses and farm land I was sort of ok with the idea of getting a house for the buck. I just saw the forclosure prices in Chico, Ca where my parents live and it's so much more and less house. I just wondered what opinion from lots of folks to help my cause out to my family and very best friend who think this is a mistake in moving to Arizona where it's too hot and getting a good deal and whether or not my husband can get a decent job. Here's the kicker, we really don't intend to look for a 100k with a degree but something that we can affored the pool for the dogs, the air for the hot summer and gas for shopping and some savings for planning airplane trips to see my folks. Here is one of my fears, everytime I turn on Cops they show you Mesa Police that sort of worries me. I would love anyone's advice good or bad, our DMV on one of my car is $174 a year and next year with the new tax hike it will be over $200 and it's a 2004 PT Cruiser. So I am interested in all the stuff like Gas,Heating,Cooling,Property,DMV that is involved since my inlaws lived on a fixed buget in a Mobile home park that doesn't allow dogs. I usually hunt and fish with my Labs and just got a new black Lab ready for Pheasant but what to do with him in Arizona? So you can see I hope to hear from everyone it's a huge step for me as I am an only child, my parents are in their late 70's and really depend on me at times, I have no kids so I would so appreciate some advice. I have an older friend that doesn't in a million years want me to leave but understands if we can get a house at our age and still keep the monthly mortgage under $1,000 a month. It's more than that here in Calif and we were lucky to move into a very very modest house with a huge acre behind us at $550 a month for over 10yrs. We have been excellent renters and see no problems with being kicked out yet. Thanks for anyone who takes time out to give any and all advice. I do understand that it's a dry heat where up here in Northern Calif we get at times 110-112 heat with some humidity and the part I really hate is the colder winter it doesn't snow but it gets a bone chill that causes me to retreat under the covers until spring time. I feel very depressed now and even though the sun is currently out it's super windy and chilly and I don't feel like taking my dogs out for a lovely romp in the back 20..Again Please give me all you can. Queens Creek from what we saw last July had some very nice homes near some great parks "Johnson Ranch" and it's amazing at the quality of homes you get. Granite counter tops, Baths seperate from Showers, Two sinks in master bath. Sounds silly but California makes you pay for all those upgrades and for example as I am writing this novel, with some of the homes in the Queens Creek Johnson Ranch area Chico, California has the same exact house for $500,000 with pool high ceilings and they pay over $2,000 a month. I could go for less but am shocked at what we could get right now by Summer when my husband graduates Jr. College $100,000 Forclosed? So thanks again best wishes to everyone Cheri ..

[observer53]

Those will be older homes, though. Nothing less than 10 years old in 85257, I don't think. Many of those homes are in their 50's.

[rbmomof3]

Hey Nebraskan! We're in Plattsmouth wanting to move to Phoenix too. If you find out any really good info please let me know! I can't wait to get out of this dang windy snowy state.

Rebecca

[observer53]

It would be easier to read your post, Cheri, if you had broken it into paragraphs so your questions would be easier to find amongst your story.

There are lots of threads about Queen Creek here already. Try a search and see what you can find.

Queen Creek is in the FAR southeast valley. It is a LONG commute from there to Phoenix, so whether that would be workable depends on where (and if) your husband finds work. With a two year degree, I don't know what his opportunities would be.

You might like Queen Creek, or other closer in areas, and looking and thinking and planning are fine, but you should not actually make a move here, without employment, unless you have a significant financial cushion. Jobs are hard to find here, like everywhere, right now.

Do not overly concern yourself with "COPS" showing Mesa police.