Family with young children moving to Phoenix area (best family comunities) opinions welcome (Glendale: how much, home)

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by asufan

The best places from the list you gave (as far as good schools, employment and property values) are Chandler and Gilbert. There's golf courses in all areas, except I'm not sure about in the city of Surprise.

Surprise has plenty of golf courses.

[Finger Laker]

and the schools and relative property values are just fine in estrella or verrado

employment is always the variable out here

[MotleyCrew]

You might want to look at Vistancia in north Peoria which has a family development as well as a retirement development across the road that is surrounded by a golf course. I think this is a beautiful place to camp. You can see some of the ammenities Arizona Real Estate - Vistancia - Peoria AZ - Master plan Community. Good hunting.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

and the schools and relative property values are just fine in estrella or verrado

employment is always the variable out here

Well, the High Schools in Verrado and Estrella are not nearly as highly regarded as those in Chandler and Gilbert (I know some schools are called "Excelling", but they still do not rate as high as those in Chandler and Gilbert). Also, property values have held better, and are much higher in Chandler and Gilbert than those in Buckeye and Goodyear. Although far southeast Gilbert was hit harder than the rest of the city. Not trying to argue, just providing facts, rather than the subjective "I love it here" type posts.

As far as golf, I guess you can pretty much live anywhere in the valley and be within a few miles of a course.

[Finger Laker]

The level of difference in the highschools really isn't much, if anything.

All the "ratings" include subjective elements and aren't just facts driven - or the facts chosen are subjective in nature.

If you value education in your children you will not run into any barriers that would prevent success or opportunity in either area.

Also, the OP has children who are younger. Verrado is is in the litchfield elementary district which is one of the tops in the state and the estrella schools in liberty also perform very well.

As far as property values, everyone was hit and hit pretty hard. Even at the peak times it cost much more to live in the SE Valley than the SW Valley - in large part due to that area being a little ahead on the development curve.

Main difference now versus 2006 is that in the SE valley the home that cost $400k is now going for $230k and the same house in the SW valley that used to go for $300k is now going for $185k.

To say any place in suburban phoenix has held their values better is pretty misleading as everyone was hammered. The nicer developments or more desirable locations in an area are holding around 2004 prices. More common areas are closer to 2002 prices (if that).

The housing pattern in gilbert/chandler really isn't that much different than verrado/estrella - they've tracked pretty close to each other both on the climb and the fall

You can't lump verrado into the whole of buckeye and you can't lump estrella into the whole of goodyear - they are unique and isolated communities that really have their own vibe & demographic

heck, verrado doesn't even share schools with buckeye

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by Ritchie_az

Surprise and Gilbert are both nice, young towns.

Richie, Gilbert was established as a Town in 1920 (90 years ago)

[Ritchie_az]

"Richie, Gilbert was established as a Town in 1920 (90 years ago)"

And Surprise in the 1950's. But most of those towns consist of new builds. Almost the entire town of Gilbert is less than 15 years old (same with Surprise). They are young towns.

[grippit]

Where will you be working?

[padad1]

not sure about jobs, i am a teacher and i have actually been offered some teaching jobs in and around the phoenix area, they just dont pay well at all, at least not what i am used to earning . is it this way in all of arizona, i am a 9th year teacher with a masters and i was just offered 40,000 to start at one high school...i thought that was crazy

[Finger Laker]

that's about par for the course - you could grab a bit more, but not a lot more .... plus some districts still retain some performance money, but that is being phased out in a lot of places due to the budget issues in the state

it will not be the last bit of culture shock if you're a teacher coming from out of state