Where to Move: Ahwatukee or Scottsdale? (Phoenix: for sale, foreclosure, rent)

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

I don't know where you came up with the idea that it's pretty light.

From driving it. Every single day. 90% of the time, I leave between 7:20 and 7:30. I can't remember the last time I made a complete stop on the 51 due to traffic. Honestly. Maybe it would be a lot worse if I left 10 minutes later, but I. Just. Don't. Know.

30 minutes to 7th Ave/Van Buren (on the western boundary of Downtown and a little longer to get to than most other likely Downtown locales) is right in the 25-30 minutes I specified. I don't see what you're debating, here.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by Robert A

From driving it. Every single day. 90% of the time, I leave between 7:20 and 7:30.

30 minutes to 7th Ave/Van Buren (on the western boundary of Downtown and a little longer to get to than most other likely Downtown locales) is right in the 25-30 minutes I specified. I don't see what you're debating, here.

Read your quote below. You said 20-25 minutes not 25-30 minutes and you said at 7:30 not 7:20. You would be lucky to make that trip in 30 minutes starting at 7:30. And Google tends to underestimate traffic. It's 14.2 miles from your address. To travel 14.2 miles in 30 minutes in morning rush hour means you are averaging 30 mph the entire way. When you account for the 55mph stated speed limit/cameras on 51, complete stops in rush hour let alone the stop lights when you reach downtown etc, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Like I said, I drive a shorter distance from 51 and Northern to Good Sam and it takes me 20 minutes at 7:30 in the morning. I'm simply stating that you are underestimating your commute like so many people do on this forum which is misleading however unintentional it may be

Originally Posted by Robert A

I live near 40th/Cactus and it takes 20-25 minutes to get Downtown at 7:30am.

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

You said 20-25 minutes not 25-30 minutes and you said at 7:30 not 7:20. You would be lucky to make that trip in 30 minutes starting at 7:30.

I was speaking in general terms and clarified later, but you didn't really read my posts.

To clarify further, I don't work at 7th Ave/Van Buren, but used it as a later example because it's on the western boundary and it would take a little longer to get there.

And I don't literally live AT 40th and Cactus - just a block south and between 40th and what would be 38th. Take from that what you will.

We're still debating about a commute that isn't all that bad, though!

[jenngee]

Last night, I was told that the commute from Ahwatukee is horrendous, at least an hour, and there is simply no way to avoid it. This same couple told me that the Scottsdale to downtown commute is much better. Not good news because we do like the Ahwatukee area very much, but we don't want an extra hour in the car every day. Decisions, decisions

[observer53]

Originally Posted by jenngee

Last night, I was told that the commute from Ahwatukee is horrendous, at least an hour, and there is simply no way to avoid it. This same couple told me that the Scottsdale to downtown commute is much better. Not good news because we do like the Ahwatukee area very much, but we don't want an extra hour in the car every day. Decisions, decisions

Four words on the Ahwatukee commute. Express or RAPID bus.

Valley Metro | Welcome

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by observer53

Four words on the Ahwatukee commute. Express or RAPID bus.

Valley Metro | Welcome

+1. I never used these options when I lived in Ahwatukee, but I'm told they work well for commuters.

[cristobalg]

Speaking of traffic, is the 101 southbound a mess during the morning?

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by cristobalg

Speaking of traffic, is the 101 southbound a mess during the morning?

It depends. If you are in North Scottsdale going south it, can be bad but once you go south of Chaparral on 101, it's smooth sailing. The traffic on 101 is north bound.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by jenngee

Last night, I was told that the commute from Ahwatukee is horrendous, at least an hour, and there is simply no way to avoid it. This same couple told me that the Scottsdale to downtown commute is much better. Not good news because we do like the Ahwatukee area very much, but we don't want an extra hour in the car every day. Decisions, decisions

Honestly, asking for anecdotal tales won't help you. The only way you can know for sure is to drive both routes yourself in the morning and late afternoon and judge it for yourself. You can ask 10 different people and you will get 10 different opinions. I don't know what areas of Scottsdale and Ahwautukee you are interested and that significantly impacts commute times. Ahwautukee and Scottsdale are really big. For example, Ahwautukee extends all the way east to the I-10 and so you can live really close to downtown or you can live far west into the foothills and be really far away. The same applies to Scottsdlae; you can live in the soutern part of Scottsdale near the 51(close to downtown) or you can live far north near the 101 past Frank Lloyd Wright(far) . At this point, it's kind of useless to survey opinions because more opinions won't tell you anything. Drive both routes and judge for yourself. That's what I did when I was comparing homes and it makes a big difference.

I will admit this: the drive home is bad! It might only take me 20-30 minutes to drive to downtonw in the morning but it can easily double that on the return home especially if you are driving between 3:30 - 6:00. It usually takes you 40-75 minutes on your way home.

p.s. Downtown is spread out too and it depends on what part of downtown you are referring to. Case in point, I'm a Suns season ticket holder. If I go to a Suns game, it can take me 15 minutes without traffic from my house to the parking spot because I can take I-17 north and exit 7th street. However, if I'm driving to the VA hospital, it's obviously much further away as I have to take I-10 to 7th street and then I drive a few miles north on 7th street

[nolagirl]

I personally wouldn't buy a house anyplace based soley on the recommendations found on a message board, no offense. IMO, Scottsdale & Awautukee are VERY different and you need to really see them and get a feel for where you feel more comfortable. My husband commutes the 51 every morning and it isn't bad at all, plus there are surface streets you can take if it backs up, but he does hear horro stories from co-workers commuting from east/west valley. I spend far more time in Scottsdale and Awatukee, so I can't say much for Awatukee, but I don't find all of Scotts to be snobby. Are there snobs, sure, but I don't think you can generalize like that, I'm sure there are snobs in Awatukee as well. I would think Scotts gets the reputation b/c there are a LOT of people with a LOT of money that live there, but many/most of them are still nice people, who just so happen to be successful. I would think you can get more house for your money in Awatukee, but you have to like the area b/c I find regardless of where you live in the valley, you spend most of your time 10 miles from home.

I suggest renting for a while and making the drives from both places at rush hour before purchasing in either place and later regretting it.