New River, Desert Hills, Carefree (Phoenix, Scottsdale: house, to buy, subdivision)

[ScottNYC]

Hey all,

Looking for some perspectives on living in New River or desert Hills - not subdivision-style like Anthem, but Single Family homes on 1-acre lots.

I visited and saw lots of rural and freedom to do with your yard as you like. My style. I am not a horse person (not against, just prob won't get into it). Is anyone living out there bothered by animal smells, presence?

Commutes - anyone find the daily commute to Phoenix of Scotts good, bad, ugly?

Foothills - if I was to buy a house at the edge of an area, would I be surrounded in a few years? Seems some building is happening in Nat Forests, so not sure how that works.

Thanks ahead. Feel free to chime in about these areas - pluses and minuses. I've read lots of threads here for lots of background.

[azdr0710]

I'm curious about those areas, too.....you may want to add Rock Springs and Black Canyon City to your "look at" list...although they are a few miles further out, they have the same rural, deserty feel.....

it's not undiscovered and you won't find absolute bargains up there, but it will be cheaper than, say, Scottsdale!....there are some manufactured homes amid the site-built stuff....large lots (an acre or more) should be common, I think....some unpaved roads and maybe junk in some yards...an occasional sofa on the front porch sort of thing, maybe.....very nice desert country up there and nice mountain views....now convenient to shopping with the new Happy Valley area stores at I-17....the widening of I-17 between 101 and Carefree Highway will be done in a few months and will help a lot....I think they're going to widen it soon further N, too....

you'll need to ask your realtor (seller pays commission) about neighboring plans for building and who owns adjacent land areas....be aware of state trust land that may be swapped with a developer later....National Forest land can't be built upon, usually, but can also be swapped if there's pressure to trade it for other land the NF wants.....Tonto NF is the NF in this area...you can drop in or call the local ranger district and see if they have an up to date map of their holdings....also, check with the BLM for stuff they may have in that area

[ScottNYC]

awesome advice. Much appreciated.

[Hamadeh]

Take a look at Rio Verde, nicer than New River and closer to the freeways. It's considered Scottsdale, and only about 35 minutes to downtown Phoenix. about 20 minutes to North Scottsdale area. New River times would be close to double.

[Rick Lee]

What freeways are near Rio Verde? New River has its own exit off I-17. Rio Verde pretty much consists of Dynamite Rd. and N. Forest Rd. to Fountain Hills.

[azdr0710]

Rio Verde, though also in a nice desert location and very nice, may be too restrictive for the OP, who sounds like he wanted to be able to do his own thing on his land.....RV probably has rules and all that....

yes, commutes could be shorter to some Scottsdale areas from RV, but Phoenix metro is a very large area and we don't know what the OP's exact commute will be from/to....and there are no freeways within miles of Rio Verde, as Rick says.....it's about ten or more miles via a two-lane road to N Scotts and the same to Fountain Hills, both of which still leave you miles from any major business centers in town.....

forgot to mention, also, the new businesses at the Carefree Highway interchange, in addition to the Happy Valley stuff....and the Anthem exit has the usual chain stuff to serve all of those residents

[ScottNYC]

I like the Rio Verde Foothills as I've seen it called. Lots of newer homes, territorial style. Not too far from the NE corner of 101. I read about flood Plain issues - not that there are any, just to check that. Anyone know anything regarding that.

Yeah, the route is not interstate, but you don't have commuters heading N/S all the time either. Basically anyone using those roads lives out there. Nothing else but homes and I think a resort.

[KarmaPhx]

New River, Anthem, and Carefree require the I-17 to get down to Phoenix, which can be hell most weekends, but a lot of people do it and don't seem to mind.

I have a friend who owns a house on 3 acres in New River and loves it, but hates having to drive 10-15 minutes just to get fast food.

[observer53]

To the OP-- are you really asking about CAREFREE (the town) or the Carefree Highway area closer to Anthem and New River (and Desert Hills)? Carefree the town is very different from the others in terms of demographics and property values, and it's several miles further to the east, north of Scottsdale.

[ScottNYC]

Carefree question - either or. I'm not confusing them, just looking for North Phoenix as I would rather be accessible to places to the North and South. Would like to like near 17 if possible to head North for leisure.

Ad for what to do on land, nothing extreme. Though I would <i>like</i> to be able to raise chickens if I wanted to, but have no plans to do so. I don't RV, but would like to drive and ATV into (not around necessarily) the back yard without complainers. 1 acre min just to keep the neighbors at arm's distance. Clay oven and firepit without smoke attracting fire dept or causing neighbors to complain.