Queen Creek or Surprise? (Chandler: neighborhoods, live, statistics)

[silverbear]

Originally Posted by AZnative4Life

but why deal with it if you don't have to. These 2 cities are at the extemes of the valley.

Exactly. Why come into the Phoenix Metro Area with a preconceived notion that you have to choose between Neptune and Pluto? I should have known better than to respond to a thread inquiring about either QC or Surprise, much less both of them.

[eastvalleyinfo]

It's like Scottsdale was 15 years ago or so. It's beautiful and the real estate is great with great views. Go to: www.goldcanyontoday.com to read about our community! Good Luck in your house hunt!

[tancee]

Silverbear thats not it at all. I have researched other places as well but, these are the two I'm interested in right now. So, please relax and you don't have to respond if my asking bothers you. People are interested in diffrent areas for diffrent things.

[cheryl1966]

I would seriously research Queen Creek before you make a decision to move out there. Drive around the neighborhoods during the day and night hours.

I rented a house for one year in the Ironwood/Ocotillo area and purchased a home (not in Queen Creek) a couple of months ago. During the one year that I rented a house in Queen Creek, I could not believe how fast the area started to deteriorate as far as crime and an overall feeling that the area was not really safe. I felt like I lived in the middle of the city as far as noise at night, cars speeding down the neighborhood roads, loud music into the early morning hours, fireworks being set off by the neighbors and landing in my yard every weekend (next to my propane tank). It was fast becoming a ghetto - and this was one of the "nice and new" neighborhoods.

Honestly, when housing in an area falls to around $100K or less, you have to wonder what the neighborhood is going to be like.

I could have got a killer deal on a house with a pool, but I had to ask myself what the neighborhood would be like in 5 years. I think the day I drove to the grocery store and saw a builder sign that said "new houses starting in the $70's" was the day I knew I wasn't going to be buying in Queen Creek. I foresee the area becoming one big low-end rental community in years to come.

Unless you buy somewhere in the far west - or older area - of Queen Creek, I would seriously think about the future of the area before buying.

Not only is there the crime factor, but I also could not believe how close the houses were built next to each other. Some builders were so greedy that they couldn't even allow for a street to have enough width for 2 cars to pass each other. There's one development out there - I think a Taylor Morrison development - where the streets are only one lane in width. I drove through the blocks of homes and it was so weird.. the driveways were barely long enough to park a mid-size car on without being out in the street. Talk about greed by the builders.

Some of these homes have great backyards with nice pools. But look up in all directions and your 2-story neighbors' homes are looming right over you in all directions. What's the point of a nice backyard oasis when you have 2-story homes parked up 10 feet away from your property line? To me, it was ridiculous.

And the majority of the homes in Queen Creek are just flat out ugly. I can't believe the 2-story homes that have only 1 small window on the entire backside of the house. How cheap looking. I understand a window is an option in a new build, but it just makes the neighborhood look horrible.

If you live in the Pecan Creek area, be prepared... it smells like poop, especially after a nice monsoon rain. Nothing like the smell of poop after a nice summer rain, huh? Sometimes it's so bad, you have to cover your nose when you step outside.

I would definitely say to drive out to both areas and take a serious look around. I watched my area go down the toilet in less than a year's time. I had to think about that and what else could happen in another 5 years. That's all I needed to know it wasn't a place I'd be buying in - no matter how great the deals appeared to be. I had 2 murders within 6 blocks of my house in 6 months time. The last time I lived somewhere like that was when I was living in an actual ghetto area up in the Midwest.

[cathyinbothell]

My husband and I live in Washington state but own a second home in the Surprise area and we love it. My brother and his wife are visiting us next week and they are looking to buy a second home there as well. Prices LOOK like they have bottomed out and there is a frenzy right now in the lower price ranges.

We love leaving rainy, cold Seattle and going to our place there, but I am biased as I know literally nothing about Queen's Creek...sorry! I hope you enjoy whichever area you choose.

[Leonhardt]

Sun City is still growing?!!! What's did I miss something?

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by Leonhardt

Sun City is still growing?!!! What's did I miss something?

Sun City East or West?

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Leonhardt

Sun City is still growing?!!! What's did I miss something?

Not sure where Sun City came into the discussion here -- While the original Sun City (what was referred to above as Sun City East) is long ago built out, there have been other Sun City developments near it since. Sun City West, Sun City Grand, and there may be another development yet. My brother-in-law sold homes at SCW for years, but that was a long time ago now, and I don't keep track of that area so much any more.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by cathyinbothell

My husband and I live in Washington state but own a second home in the Surprise area and we love it. My brother and his wife are visiting us next week and they are looking to buy a second home there as well. Prices LOOK like they have bottomed out and there is a frenzy right now in the lower price ranges.

We love leaving rainy, cold Seattle and going to our place there, but I am biased as I know literally nothing about Queen's Creek...sorry! I hope you enjoy whichever area you choose.

It's Queen Creek not Queen's Creek.

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by Leonhardt

Sun City is still growing?!!! What's did I miss something?

Yes, we have Sun City West (Surprise), Sun City Grand (Surprise), and Sun City Festival (Buckeye). There is also a Sun Village in Surprise.