Looking For A Good Neighborhood Around Phoenix (Peoria: estate, trip)

[MiRRiaM808]

Hello all! We are currently living in Hawaii, but my husband is going to start a job in Peoria. Hawaii is just getting too expensive. We have 6 kids (2 will be in H.S, 1 in M.S, and 1 in E.S) the younger two are stayin home. I am looking for an area that's good to raise kids and not too far from my husband's job. Which is somwhere just off the 101 on Bell in Peoria. We tentatively got a place in Cordova Estates which is about 17 miles from his job then a friend of his recommended looking for a place in Vistancia (sp?). What do you guys think?! And if we do move there (Vistancia) does anyone know what high school is in that district?

[sablebaby]

Definitely look closer to his work to live. The 101 and Bell area is an extremely busy as it has TONS of shopping. I just drove past there yesterday at around noon and the off ramp on the 101 at Bell was backed up a half mile. I used to live about a mile from there, but eventually moved as it was too far from work and the traffic was getting to me (not that I moved to a much better traffic situation!). However, I really like the area. I lived in a community called Fletcher Heights that is very family friendly, and from what I can recall has pretty good schools. It's a great area to live, everything is new. There are several people on the forum that also recommend this area.

Now, from what I have heard, Vistancia is a cool place to live. I have been meaning to take a little trip up there to check it out, but just haven't made the time. There is a woman here who who lives there and recommends the area highly. I think you will get more of a community feel there than any neighboring areas of his work. I think you will feel a little more secluded in Vistancia, which is a good thing!

[sablebaby]

I just checked where Cordova Estates is and I wouldn't recommend that area at all. Were you looking for the affordability of the area? Fletcher Heights start at $245k and up to $700k (with majority staying between $250-400k). Vistancia at least for resale is at $285k, up to a million. Now for a new build I just searched that and they are starting at $179k, up to $250k or so (Trend Homes). So, this may be the better option for you as it's the same price range as Cordova Estates. However, looking back at your post, you say that you have 6 kids. How big of a house do you need? With 8 people, that might be too many for the little 3 bedroom homes that go for the cheaper price.

What is your price range? That helps to know what area to recommend and not.

[MiRRiaM808]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

I just checked where Cordova Estates is and I wouldn't recommend that area at all. Were you looking for the affordability of the area? Fletcher Heights start at $245k and up to $700k (with majority staying between $250-400k). Vistancia at least for resale is at $285k, up to a million. Now for a new build I just searched that and they are starting at $179k, up to $250k or so (Trend Homes). So, this may be the better option for you as it's the same price range as Cordova Estates. However, looking back at your post, you say that you have 6 kids. How big of a house do you need? With 8 people, that might be too many for the little 3 bedroom homes that go for the cheaper price.

What is your price range? That helps to know what area to recommend and not.

We're not looking into buying a house right now. We just wanted to rent while we checked the place out. Don't want to buy and decide that we don't want to live there after all. We're willing to pay up to about $1800/mo for rent. We're paying $1500/mo right now for a very small 3 br house here in Hawai where the traffic is terrible. It used to take me about a half an hour just to get onto the main road from my house (something that would normally take 2 minutes without traffic) The only reason why our rent is cheap is because it is my husband's nieces house. Otherwise, average rent for this home would be well over $2000. Okay, I got a little off track there.

I would prefer a 5 bedroom home, but 4 would be okay. A private swimming pool would be nice, but not required.

Does anyone know what the commute would be like between Vistancia and my husband's job which is on Bell just off of the 101. It's some kind of Toyota dealership.

[sablebaby]

I just drove up to Vistancia today. It is WAY out there! However, from 101 and Bell it shouldn't be too bad. Though there are a lot of homes out there the traffic is probably pretty bad on two lane roads. You'd have to take a look out there before even considering it. Take the morning and evening commute and see how it goes. I don't think I could estimate it without seeing the traffic.

My overall impression of Vistancia is that it's a nice place. Lots of homes, but nothing else right now. It looks the same as other master planned communities. It's literally out in the desert. I don't think I'd move out there. I like other areas a LOT better. Maybe in 5 years when everything is built out it would be great. But I saw nothing spectacular to write home about.

Though really I would highly recommend being much closer to work. Like I said the Fletcher Heights area is just up the road and there are also other comparable neighborhoods that are right behind the dealership. His commute could be less than 5 minutes if he wants it. Look how much time he'd have to spend with the family? By the way, what does he do?

You won't have any problems finding a rental, as most are pretty affordable. In Fletcher Heights you will find $1200-1500 (for 3-4 bed), and I'm sure for a REALLY nice (and big 5+ beds) house you can pay more.

[HX_Guy]

As Sablebaby said, Vistancia is pretty out there. Maybe that will be ok for you but personally I like to be as close as possible to the work area as well as amenities...grocery, shopping, restaurants, etc.
I currently live at 67th Ave and Happy Valley Rd which is 3.5 miles from the 101 and for our next house, I'd like to be even closer to the 101 and 59th or 67th Ave area. Easier to hop right on the freeway or go to the many shops and restaurants in that area.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

As Sablebaby said, Vistancia is pretty out there. Maybe that will be ok for you but personally I like to be as close as possible to the work area as well as amenities...grocery, shopping, restaurants, etc.
I currently live at 67th Ave and Happy Valley Rd which is 3.5 miles from the 101 and for our next house, I'd like to be even closer to the 101 and 59th or 67th Ave area. Easier to hop right on the freeway or go to the many shops and restaurants in that area.

I agree with you about being closer to the freeway. I really just love the area at 59th and 67th, north of the 101. I kinda beat myself up for passing up a house there.

Actually finding a rental there would be great (for OP), if the rents aren't too bad (don't feel like looking that up right now).

[JustinH]

Wow 1800 per month for rent.

I don't know what your needs are, but I've seen a ton of new homes in the queek creek area for under 1000 per month. They are 3br 2 bath homes with garage.

The ones for under 1000 are cookie cutter, but very nice in my eyes. Stainless appliances, etc.

[sablebaby]

Yeah, QC would be too far to where she needs to be. The rents are low in new areas that are 50 miles away. Evetually they will go up (few years).

[MiRRiaM808]

Originally Posted by JustinH

Wow 1800 per month for rent.

I don't know what your needs are, but I've seen a ton of new homes in the queek creek area for under 1000 per month. They are 3br 2 bath homes with garage.

The ones for under 1000 are cookie cutter, but very nice in my eyes. Stainless appliances, etc.

Money isn't really an issue for us. My husband is very particular about where he want's to live. He wants a neighborhood that's pretty up there, you know what I mean. Myself, I really don't care as long as I have a roof over my head, I'm fine, but he wouldn't be happy with just a plain old house in a plain old neighborhood.