Crime in the valley on the rise

[davidafan]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

If you're unemployed, need section 8 housing, have a crimminal record and or are running away from anything else DO NOT MOVE HERE - PLEASE STAY AWAY - YES ALL THE AWFUL THINGS YOU HEARD ARE TRUE.

Okay, so what if we are in good shape financially, have a job transfer with a secure national company lined up, would buy one of those empty houses in Chandler or Gilbert, have two teens who have never been in trouble in their lives, one of whom is planning on attending ASU next year and living at home and one who will probably attend a Christian high school, are not running away from anyone or anything, would not complain about the heat, the price of things, or anything else, and would live a quiet, peaceful life and be good neighbors? Could we pass the muster to come out there? What if our daughter has severe climate-related allergies that are only alleviated by being in an arid climate? Then could we get a medical pass to move there? ; ) Oh, yeah...I'm a nurse and could help take care of all those retirees. What do you think?

[vette-dude]

Check out this link from same forum on Phoenix...

Crime Wave?

[caryberry]

We have lived here for 4 years and yes - crime is on the rise. The worse the economy gets - the worse theft and property crimes become. While the city tries - they can barely keep up with the graffiti. My experience and those of my friends and neighbors that have been victims of crimes in Phoenix - is that the police are over-taxed with gang related crimes and rarely do more than take a crime report of the telephone and mail a copy to you for insurance purposes. Sad - really, really sad.

Move to AZ - but bring a gun...you'll need it.

[lyzzard]

If you have money you'll have more options available for you. If you are going to move out here and make what the majority makes, you'll need to do a lot of looking around. Seriously set aside a week and drive around. A lot of it is put on the grid mish-mashed, good being right by the bad that is.

North Phoenix and "Northern Glendale" are pretty decent for apartments, the farther north and west you go the better (as long as you don't need to drive downtown anyhow). West of central and north of the Loop 101 will have better than the opposite for North Phoenix, that's from personal experience.

apartmentratings.com will give you a pretty accurate description of the apartments. Most of the ones around Bell Ave. east of Central are ones you want to avoid in North Phoenix. Anything along 19th Avenue will generally have a bad rep south of the Loop 101 (there might be a few gems, but the rooms tend to be small). There were some around Cave Creek that looked decent.

Again, it depends on how much $$$ you're able to spend. A decent 2 bedroom apartment will cost at least $800. A good one will run you more.

My brother rents one that is north west of the 1-17 and Loop 101 and he's had good luck with them. It's a 2 bedroom and it costs a bit more than $800 a month.

If you head out east towards Scottsdale expect the prices to climb as well.

No matter what you're going to have the good with the bad, especially in apartment living. You could find the perfect apartment with the perfect price and the only thing that will screw it up is the management heh.

We rent from a lady that owns a tri-plex (house split into 3 apartments) just north of Central Phoenix. It's a lot better than apartment living, the neighbors are nice, and the price isn't too shabby (though our land-lady can be a bit stingy), but most places like this are taken for a reason.

Make sure you have a job before moving out here.