What is the story with Surprise? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: real estate, foreclosure, crime)

[jimdc58]

I just read a story on Yahoo relating how one can purchase a NICE home in Surprise for less than $100,000. It was an article listing the 10 best places to retire.

I look on the real estate web sites, and it appears there are quite a few nice (at least looking) homes in Surprise for less than $100,000.

What is the story behind Surprise? What makes the prices so low? Is there an issue about the community that anyone who reads this should know about?

I have always wanted to live in Arizona, but thought it was too high priced for me. Is this for real, or only an illusion?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by jimdc58

I just read a story on Yahoo relating how one can purchase a NICE home in Surprise for less than $100,000. It was an article listing the 10 best places to retire.

I look on the real estate web sites, and it appears there are quite a few nice (at least looking) homes in Surprise for less than $100,000.

What is the story behind Surprise? What makes the prices so low? Is there an issue about the community that anyone who reads this should know about?

I have always wanted to live in Arizona, but thought it was too high priced for me. Is this for real, or only an illusion?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Where have you been? . The market is full of foreclosure properties selling for a fraction of what they originally cost and even what it would cost to put them back up if they burned down. Surprise was hard hit by the housing bust as were all the boom areas.

[jimdc58]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Where have you been?

Ohio. Why do you think I am asking about it on this forum instead of just driving there?????

Is Surprise full of abandoned homes? Has the town been inhabited by squatters?

What is the deal with Surprise in particular, over other areas of Arizona? Home prices in other communities are not near as low.

Are businesses going out of business at a higher pace in Surprise?

[PaverMaster]

Surprise...the name says it all:

Surprise!The schools are not good (even by Arizona standards)

Surprise!Limited access routes in and out: makes for a grueling commute
Bedroom community
Surprise!Next to Luke Air Force Base.(lots of military jets doing missions all day and night)

Surprise!Add all these up and you get less expensive houses

PM

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by PaverMaster

Surprise...the name says it all:

Surprise!The schools are not good (even by Arizona standards)

Surprise!Limited access routes in and out: makes for a grueling commute
Bedroom community
Surprise!Next to Luke Air Force Base.(lots of military jets doing missions all day and night)

Surprise!Add all these up and you get less expensive houses

PM

There is not a single true statement in this post - well maybe the access. A bunch of nonsense. Surprise was doing just fine before the bust and will again.

[las vegas drunk]

The main problem with Surprise is the commute to Phoenix. Heaven forbid if you work in the East Valley. I stayed with my friend in El Mirage which is a suburb next to Surprise. I worked in Scottsdale, and it was a nightmare getting back and forth to work. I ended up moving to Sunnyslope. Even know it was a crappy area, I was much happier overall.

[Xica_da_Silva]

My friend at work is 30-something, has a daughter, and bought a house in Surprise last year. She loves it there...says her daughter's high school is just fine. The only thing she doesn't like is the long commute into Phoenix for our job.
Until recently I had the misconception that Surprise wasn't really fully built with all the restaurants, businesses, etc. that you'd want. But I was wrong. It's very suburban with your typical range of chain restaurants, shopping, movies that most people like and expect. And I was impressed with the fact that many of the shopping plazas look clean and new. The fact that you've got many retiree communities there I believe also helps a lot because the old folks tend to have HOAs that keep the yards looking nice. So, in general, I get a positive impression of Surprise. But try to find a job on the West Valley to avoid long commute into Phoenix...or get a car with excellent gas mileage!

[AzDreamer]

If you don't have to commute to Phoenix every day for work Surprise would be fine. Go to maps.google.com and check out the satellite view and you'll see it's at the western edge of the metro area.

Maybe their schools aren't the best but if a kid does their homework they will get a good education. Someone that lives in the school district could give you more details.

They have a nice Spring Training baseball park that I would love to live close to.

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by AzDreamer

If you don't have to commute to Phoenix every day for work Surprise would be fine. Go to maps.google.com and check out the satellite view and you'll see it's at the western edge of the metro area.

Maybe their schools aren't the best but if a kid does their homework they will get a good education. Someone that lives in the school district could give you more details.

They have a nice Spring Training baseball park that I would love to live close to.

The school are fine. Look up the Data on Arizona Department of Education.

The commute would be brutal if you have to go to Downtown or East Valley.

Crime is low. One of the Safest cities in Arizona (Up Top with Gilbert)

Clean...Very Clean. Only city in the Valley that does not have a Graffiti problem? Most likely...

Reminds me of California (Santa Clarita or Thousand Oaks)

I rarely notice the Jets (Then again I grew up in Las Cruces, NM and lived in Palmdale, CA). I guess I would notice if they were gone.

Good Shopping in Surprise or nearby (Arrowhead)

Awesome City Facilities which includes the Spring Training Area.

We love it here.

[Audra Vann]

I have lived in Surprise since 2004. I've seen it grow by leaps and bounds. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I love the community. I love my kids school. The biggest problem with Surprise was that it grew too fast and that is why it got hit so hard. Even with all that, I think it's a wonderful city and can't imagine living anywhere else.