Queen Creek Info (Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale: for sale, foreclosed, rentals)

[Serena123]

I'm thinking of moving to Queen Creek, AZ.

Can someone familiar with the area tell me about it. I know it's hot. I lived in Scottsdale in 2000 and it was 117 degrees in August. I'm interested in crime, places to avoid, people friendly? just anything that comes to mind - shopping ok?... thanks in advance

[drb85650]

Lots of shopping. Little if any jobs. Lots of newer homes vacant and for sale cheap. Coworker bought a 2900+sq.ft. 5bdrm, 2story,2years old.....$70,000. But he and his wife haven't found jobs in the area....yet(almost retired,paid cash for the house and have $$ left over, so not desperate).
Driving thru the area, wife and I thought it was very clean, nice, everything is new. I'd imaging the "crime" would be limited to lowlife passing thru and that's probably not a biggie, since QC is way outa the way from normal traffic flow.
BTW....it'll get 117 there too, just get cooler at night than scottsdale....maybe dip down to the low 80's even....

[KK85297]

QC is an interesting place. Everyone I know who lives there likes it a lot, but no one I know who lives in Gilbert does, lol. If you are from the SoCal area, I would equate it to the Palmdale of Phoenix- but less crime-ridden. However, I worry a lot about the QC because I think it is really in a position to become exactly like Palmdale, WITH the crime. It's on the far perimeter of the metro area, has a lot of vacant land, foreclosed homes, inexpensive places to live and pretty lousy schools (even people who live in QC and love it admit this)...I think if the economy stays in the tank and the housing market doesn't pick up, QC could become "ghetto" real quick because as the person above mentioned, housing is CHEAP, neighborhoods are new and/or empty and the area popped up really fast. The town is run by Mormons, though, so it has that in it's favor (and I say that in a good way, not bashing Mormons at all) in terms of crime abatement and "staying classy".

As far as shopping- it is adequate- Target, Wal-Mart, Petsmart, grocery stores, etc. No mall or anything unique or exciting, but everything is new and nice...very uncrowded. The Target there is amazing compared even to the new-ish ones here in Gilbert (and they always have tons of good sale stuff because it's so undershopped!). It is every bit as hot there as anywhere else in the valley, except for maybe a degree or two on account of the heat island effect. It does not get down to the low 80's at night, rest assured.

You can get to any kind of major shopping or event in Phoenix in under 40 minutes, so it's not like you are totally in the sticks (unless you are really on the far-flung fringes of QC, which there are some areas that are REALLY out there...) and you also have Schnepf Farms, which is a pretty great place for local produce and fun family seasonal events.

[jayely1]

bumpp any new info on QC, or now, San Tan Valley? Can you get a job within a half hour away?? Thats decent other than a target or restaurants?

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by jayely1

bumpp any new info on QC, or now, San Tan Valley? Can you get a job within a half hour away?? Thats decent other than a target or restaurants?

Where is the San Tan Valley?

[sh9730]

FC - its the new name for the Pinal County portion of QC. ITs still unincorporated, but the Post Office needed a decision on a community name, and this is the one that was chosen in a somewhat unofficial way. The people were (rightfully so) getting tired of being called QC (and probably the people in Maricopa County QC were tired of them being called QC!), hence the name change when the Post Office asked.

[Jamieazexpat]

QC is a decent area, as everyone has said, and there is definitely a bargain to be had there in terms of house for your money. The one problem is it's pretty badly planned. It shot up quick as a flash, and nobody seemed to realize that one road in and one road out would cause some pretty bad traffic problems, especially at rush hour. It is pretty out of the way and if you can avoid the rush hour madness then it's definitely appealing given the property prices and low crime rates.

If you want to search some homes in the area online, I can recommend my realtor if you want to get in touch.

[bewaredabear]

I have heard that Fissures are an issue in the area, is this something to be concerned about?

[observer53]

Originally Posted by bewaredabear

I have heard that Fissures are an issue in the area, is this something to be concerned about?

Here's some info from the town website on that, wtih some useful links.
Queen Creek : Earth Fissures

[Calibelle]

It's far. It takes a long time to get to the freeways in the morning. It's one lane each direction, then 2 lanes, then one lane again, then 3 lanes. In the mornings and evenings during peak traffic time, it's a nightmare to get in and out of there. There was talk of freeway plans, but now there is an expansion plan, and no money to fund it. The houses are super cheap and newer though, and I haven't seen any area in Queen Creek that is crime ridden or scary. I see 4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom houses advertised for rentals from 800-875 per month all the time. If you don't mind a commute to the freeway, then you'll be happy with the house prices.

My husband's co-worker says it takes him an hour to get to work in the mornings, and that commute is only from Queen Creek to Mesa, it's not even to Phoenix.