Any experiences with ASU family housing in Mesa? (Tempe: apartment complex, leasing)

[shania3908]

Hello everyone, I will be attending ASU in the fall and may be living in family housing in Mesa. Does anyone have any experience living in the family housing? What are the pros and cons of the housing and would I be better off leasing a single family house closer to ASU Tempe? Thank you to anyone who responds in advance

[OneTimePoster]

Pro:
*house is cheap
*water, cable & internet included
*Quite
*We get weather (it rains more and gets colder at night)
*The area and local wild life is nice to look at.
*Stores within driving distance
Con:
*The Drive is long. I live on ASU East (Poly) and work on ASU Main (Tempe Campus).
*Houses are really old and some are in bad shape
*Insulation is questionable and it is hard to keep some rooms cool in the summer or warm in the winter
*Utilities can be high because of the insulation
*housing service is not all that great. Housing is run by a outside for profit vendor not ASU (and it shows)
*Nothing within walking distance. You must drive everywhere.
*No digital services. The cable is free but its plain basic cable. You can't get digital cable. (no TV guide, HD, music channels, HBO or On Demand)
*Internet service is not thought ASU (This would have been great), but thought Cox and the service is really slow and doesn't work a lot of the time. I finally had to buy my own service though Cox and then complain that it wasn't working to get it fixed. You’re not suppose to get your own service and there are all types of threats from housing about the trouble you'll be in if you try.
*The housing company is looking for money and trying to find new and creative ways to fine people (see housing check below)
*Housing always want to come into your house when you’re not there to check on something (Check the lead paint, check the fire extinguisher, check the water, check the CO2 levels the list goes on.)
*Housing never answers there phone or calls you back

In all ASU housing is cheap and is ok to live in. I really don't like the housing company and wish ASU would cancel their contract take it over again. For those of you who will ask why don't you move? I am moving. ASU housing was a great place to weather the housing storm and I am thankful for that.
Good luck in school and I wish you the best.

[shania3908]

Thank so much on your insight! I have a much better view about family housing now. Since I will be attending the Tempe campus, do you know of any areas that are close to the school but lack the young students? Thank you!

[kharma727]

shania i am in the exact same boat, with an approved application to family housing in the fall. i'm starting to realize that it will be impossible to get back from school everyday in time for the gilbert school district to get out and p/u my daughter, so I'm really looking near asu. FYI if you have school aged children then they are in the higley school district if living on fam housing,, and higley isn't performing the same as gilbert schools.

Thanks to the person who posted an answer for your question, I too have a much better idea of what fam housing is like. I'm torn.

good luck.. i hoope someone else can chime in and recommend some alternatives. maybe this is against fair housing, but it seems like an apartment complex with older students and families in downtown tempe is really needed.