Need Some Help. Would you buy in Goodyear or Surprise?? (Phoenix: foreclosures, city hall)

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

I could use some advice.


I've been staring at property in the Phoenix area for sometime now and have honed into two areas that I like. I need to spend some more time down in Phoenix to pick the specific neighborhood but I am down to a couple of towns.

My choices are Goodyear (north of 10) and Surprise. My eye seems to prefer newer valued areas. I plan on living in AZ a few months of the year. I can do what I do anywhere but I want to be cognizant of travel time to main destinations (airport, shopping, etc). Hence, I've removed areas like Anthem, Queen Creek, Buckeye etc.

I'm struggling with how much home I need as we will be empty nester's in a year or two. I'm also wondering if I want a pool (thinking a community pool is smarter).

If I work the math and buy a $350K home, I might as well rent for a few months a year. So I am flip flopping between a $150K home to a $225K home. In that price rance and in a newer close area, I think Goodyear and Surprise are basically my only valued options.

You can buy a lot of home for $175K in Surprise. But my concern about Surprise is that it's been hard hit by foreclosures. So crime is of concern as well as living in a neighborhood of 1/2 renters (as a rule of thumb renters may lack pride of ownership).

Another part of me would like a golf course view but that pushes the $$'s up a bit. The Goodyear area has more options if I want to live on the course.

So my questions are:
1.) Should I be looking at a gated community (is crime lower in gated neighborhoods)??
2.) Are the crime rates a lot higher in either community??
3.) By spending that extra $50K to find a Goodyear home, will I gain in resale in the years to come?
4.) I know there are differences in electricity rates depending on the provider. Is one town cheaper than the other?
5.) Resale depends on school quality. IS one area better than the other even though I won't have Kid's in the system?
6.) Any quality differences worth noting??
7.) Any air traffic noise issues near Goodyear?
8.) Are taxes about the same??
9.) If I found a home with a pool, am I crazy to consider buying that home since I will only be there 3-4 months a year tops?

Thanks for any and all help.

[Ponderosa]

1.) Should I be looking at a gated community (is crime lower in gated neighborhoods)?? No
2.) Are the crime rates a lot higher in either community?? No
3.) By spending that extra $50K to find a Goodyear home, will I gain in resale in the years to come? Yes, it's relative, but on a percentage basis not much diff
4.) I know there are differences in electricity rates depending on the provider. Is one town cheaper than the other?No, both APS
5.) Resale depends on school quality. IS one area better than the other even though I won't have Kid's in the system?Goodyear (Litchfield) has better rated schools, but there are thorns among the roses. You would have to be quite selective. The best rated schools in Goodyear are in Estrella.
6.) Any quality differences worth noting?? Tweedle-dee, tweedle-dum
7.) Any air traffic noise issues near Goodyear?Yes, but also in Surprise
8.) Are taxes about the same?? Goodyear is probably higher. Goodyear has among the highest rates in the valley. Water/sewer is also highest. North of I-10 has been lower but a proposed (for sure) rate increase will be jumping their rates up that way and bringing them in line with city water south of I-10.
9.) If I found a home with a pool, am I crazy to consider buying that home since I will only be there 3-4 months a year tops?
An absolute fool! Seriously, most people don't use the pool but a couple months whether they live here or not. So if you don't mind paying a service to look after it, go for it.

Goodyear is the better address, that is why it costs more. Location, location, location.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

I can do what I do anywhere but I want to be cognizant of travel time to main destinations (airport, shopping, etc). Hence, I've removed areas like Anthem, Queen Creek, Buckeye etc.

If you're removing Anthem, Buckeye and Queen Creek due to proximity to shopping and the airport, you need to eliminate Surprise as well, as those areas are closer in proximity than Surprise. Maybe Buckeye is further from shopping, but closer to the airport, the other two are closer to both shopping and the airport, as far as travel time at least.

[Boompa]

If you are Empty Nesters schools shouldn't be an issue. You sound like good Candidates for PebbleCreek, in Goodyear. I owned two houses there for six years, it wasn't for me but might fit you much better.
It's gated, with private security and a very strict HOA, you have to have your car IN THE GARAGE at night, etc. They had two resturants, a pool, a gym, tennis, 2 golf courses, and lots of activities.
Check Robson's web site they used to have a program where you could stay in a house there for a few days and use the facilities to see if you like them.

[MotleyCrew]

My daughter's co-worker lives in Pebble Creek and loves it.
We just drove down to the new city hall in Surprise and love the architecture and surrounding office buildings. The new shopping centers are very nicely done and we think Surprise will be a vibrant city in the near future. Every area has its dicey parts, so it is always wise not to buy long distance, but come out and drive the neighborhoods to see what fits your needs. Best of luck.

[observer53]

Surprise should be out if distance to the airport (or downtown) is an important criteria. Pebble Creek does sound like a good alternative. My BIL worked there for Robson when it first opened, and I remember how nice it was. I'd look into that "trial stay" option to get a feel for it.

[Ritchie_az]

I know you said north of the I-10, but Estrella, which is south of the I-10, is a great choice. Verrado (in east Buckeye) is another option you may want to consider.

[LBTRS]

Surprise is a LONG drive from the things you're looking for. I don't know how you are considering Surprise if you ruled out those other places. You have to drive 16 miles south (to Goodyear) to hit the I-10 and then it's another 25 miles into Phoenix.

We picked Goodyear for this very reason.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Surprise is a LONG drive from the things you're looking for. I don't know how you are considering Surprise if you ruled out those other places. You have to drive 16 miles south (to Goodyear) to hit the I-10 and then it's another 25 miles into Phoenix.

We picked Goodyear for this very reason.

It sounds universal. Goodyear is worth the extra $$'s and it's closer to just about everything.

Should I be hung-up on being North of the highway?? It does seem that housing prices drops south of 10.

[Ritchie_az]

"Should I be hung-up on being North of the highway?? It does seem that housing prices drops south of 10."

It depends on which neighborhoods you want to live in, because there are better and lesser neighborhoods both north and south of the freeway. The best neighborhood in Goodyear, for example, is south of the freeway, but that does not mean that all neighborhoods south of the freeway are ones you'd want to live in. I think you've really got to explore the area to decide which neighborhoods are right for you, and which ones are not.