HELP! Are these good complexes? Moving to Tucson from Orlando (Oro Valley: real estate, apartments)

[Meeko32198]

My husband is starting his graduate program at the University of Arizona in August and we will be moving to the area from Orlando, Florida. I'm used to living in crappy apartments from my Orlando living, but have heard that Tucson crime rates are much higher closer to the university, or south of river road. 1. Is this true? 2. How can I convince my husband not to live near campus?

Along with this, I'm loooking at the following apartments. Does anyone have any comments or suggestions of on these places or other places I should look?

- Rock Ridge on North Oracle

- Tucson Rental Homes - either off Tanque Verde or Coratoro Farms

- Haven Apartments

- Altamira Apartments - East River Road

- Colonia del rio - East River Road


Also, I am a first year teacher...Florida decided to do internal hires only this year across the state and no districts are hiring new teachers. Does anyone know which district I would be better looking for a job in an elementary school?

[Bummer]

Interesting questions, Meeko

First off, I personally feel crime is no better or worse in Tucson than most any other city of similar size, especially many in Florida including Orlando.

Secondly, "South of River Road" pretty much includes the entire City Limits of Tucson. If I needed to "draw a line" . . . possibly Speedway or Broadway but that also requires exceptions as there are many decent neighborhoods in that area.

As for your list . . . the apartments on River Road are very nice and in good neighborhoods with a relatively good commute to the U of A. As for most of the others, I either cannot comment or I feel they are a little too far from the U of A.

Good Luck

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Secondly, "South of River Road" pretty much includes the entire City Limits of Tucson.

LOL, ain't that the truth! Funky city limits we have...

[haaamean]

Originally Posted by Meeko32198

My husband is starting his graduate program at the University of Arizona in August and we will be moving to the area from Orlando, Florida. I'm used to living in crappy apartments from my Orlando living, but have heard that Tucson crime rates are much higher closer to the university, or south of river road. 1. Is this true? 2. How can I convince my husband not to live near campus?

Along with this, I'm loooking at the following apartments. Does anyone have any comments or suggestions of on these places or other places I should look?

- Rock Ridge on North Oracle

- Tucson Rental Homes - either off Tanque Verde or Coratoro Farms

- Haven Apartments

- Altamira Apartments - East River Road

- Colonia del rio - East River Road


Also, I am a first year teacher...Florida decided to do internal hires only this year across the state and no districts are hiring new teachers. Does anyone know which district I would be better looking for a job in an elementary school?

I lived on River at Rio Cancion Apts. when I first moved here from Orlando 5 years ago. Nice part of town, safe and scenic. I still consider where I live to be safe just not as scenic, here by the airport on the infamous South Side. There's no comparison to crime in Orlando versus here, Orlando is much worse. In Orlando I lived in Metrowest on Conroy Rd. and before that further east on Conroy and John Young. Here, just don't leave anything in your car. Regulars on here probably know I'm a broken record about that but it's very true.
Tucson has many areas that are very nice but are close to bad areas and the University area is like that. The neighborhoods can vary from nice to ugly within a few blocks. River Rd. is almost entirely nice but when you're West of 1st there are a few bad neighborhoods close by. East of that is pretty much all nice.
The University neighborhoods are like that too, some nice some not, just scope out apts. in both areas.

Also, I'm not sure if you know this but homes are very cheap to rent here.
Good Luck

[Meeko32198]

Thanks for all of the responses. I hadn't even thought about renting homes in the area. Does anyone know a good site to check for those?

Right now I live a little north of Orlando in the Altamonte Springs area, and have lived over by UCF, so I'm used to the crime here. I've just heard horror stories, which I'm sure are over done.

Do you know which areas/neighborhoods near campus that are considered nicer?

[veuvegirl]

If there is a craigslist.com for AZ; try there. This is a great tool.

[j760]

Originally Posted by Meeko32198

Thanks for all of the responses. I hadn't even thought about renting homes in the area. Does anyone know a good site to check for those?

Craigslist as the above poster mentioned, also you can check out the local newspaper's website. You can look at the real estate section and find homes for rent. The only bad part is you won't get a lot of photos as you will on craigslist, depends on the newspaper web site though and what features they offer.

[Ready2Retire]

Here are a few rating sites for rentals

Apartment Ratings - Apartments for Rent with Ratings and Reviews from Actual Renters

Tucson Apartments for Rent with Ratings & Reviews by Tucson Renters at ApartmentRatings.com

Good luck

[azhiker]

Rock Ridge in Oro Valley is very nice. It's not exactly in town, so it's a lot quieter, but Oro Valley is a very nice suburb, and even from here, everything in town is less than half an hour away.

Bear Canyon apartments are also in a very nice part of town, out Tanque Verde and on Catalina Highway. I've not actually lived in them. Just saying that the area is nice, and I would definitely consider that area.

[Subie]

The River Road places would be the first place I'd look. North Oracle in Oro Valley is kind of far from the UofA especially in traffic. You will hate yourself.

Parts of the West side aren't bad.