Anyone familiar with the Tolleson area? (Phoenix, Tempe: apartment, foreclosure, rent)

[bscotpa]

Just moved to Tempe about 3 months ago from Philadelphia. I'm living in an apartment with my girlfriend but we've been looking into buying a house. We've been trying to find something around the $100,000 range. It seems that if your willing to drive about an hour or so from downtown Phoenix you can find some very nice homes in okay areas, but the closer you get to the city, the older the houses get/worse the neighborhoods are. I've seen many nice looking homes in Tolleson but don't know much about the area. I've never been to the West Valley before and was hoping somebody could give me a little advice. Anyone familiar with the area? Thanks, Brian

[Ponderosa]

Tolleson/Avondale is iffy. There are a lot of new homes over there that went up in the boom. If you drive through those areas look very nice and clean. There is good shopping nearby and so on. But I think it is like Maryvale area was when it was newer - pretty much doomed to becoming a less desirable, even crime ridden area. I have relatives who live there and they like it except for the schools that are really struggling with non-English speaking kids and budget woes. Maybe you could rent there for a while and see what you think.

[asufan]

Lower income area, surrounded by Distribution Center/Warehouses, constant traffic from big rigs on the arterial streets going to/from the warehouses and industrial sites.

I would stay away. Drive an extra 10 minutes West and the area improves.

[Discovery1]

Originally Posted by asufan

Lower income area, surrounded by Distribution Center/Warehouses, constant traffic from big rigs on the arterial streets going to/from the warehouses and industrial sites.

I would stay away. Drive an extra 10 minutes West and the area improves.

True... Extra 10K-20K in home price in Goodyear well worth it.

[LocoAZnative]

I live and grew up in Tempe and the last place I would move would be Tolleson or anywhere on the westside. Nothing out there and the commute is never worth it.

[bscotpa]

Thanks for all the advice. It just seems like all the nicer houses in my price range are in either Tolleson, Maricopa, Queen Creek, or one of them other hour long rides from Tempe. Any suggestions on where else to look?

[sh9730]

Probably not alot of options - thats why they came up with the saying "drive til you qualify"!

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by bscotpa

Thanks for all the advice. It just seems like all the nicer houses in my price range are in either Tolleson, Maricopa, Queen Creek, or one of them other hour long rides from Tempe. Any suggestions on where else to look?

Not too many areas within an hour for a max limit of $100,000. Tolleson is ok, LOL, as many of my other posts go...I have family in the city.

It is not the best and areas there go from upper middle class to poor across streets; Tolsun Farms on one side of 91st Ave compared to the west side of 91st Ave for example; or Villa Rica compared to Happy Town (near the distribution centers on 83rd Ave).

[Java Jolt]

Tolleson is a dumpy little suburban town that behaves like Mayberry, at least their police force does. Don't dare drive 45 in a 40 zone becuase Deputy Barney Fife will follow and ticket you.

Many other places in the southwest segment of the metro area are more appealing, try the northern part of Avondale, Goodyear, or Litchfield Park. You will not find anything for $100,000, probably double that if you want a nicer area.

[MotleyCrew]

I would go to Goodyear before going to Tolleson. We stop there once in a while for luch when we are out on business and the restaurants are decent. But the city does not have the same feel that Goodyear or Surprise has. We also would suggest you add a little to the drive and check out Surprise. The foreclosure market hit it pretty hard and the prices are way down right now.