Thoughts on the Catalina area? (Phoenix, Tucson: for sale, foreclosure, crime)

[cheryl1966]

I've done several searches on this forum and haven't been able to come up with much as far as specifically related to the Catalina area.

I'm looking at purchasing a home in the Eagle Crest Ranch area and I'm wondering what the general thoughts are on this part of town. How badly was this hit by the housing crisis (I know no area was spared), is there a growth potential in the future, do you think this will be a desirable area 5-10 years down the road, etc.?

I'm self-employed, so driving into Tucson is not an issue. I'm also not from the area and I'm curious to know if this is a high-foreclosure area compared to the rest of town.

Am I right in my findings that Tucson didn't suffer such a hit as Phoenix when it comes to the mortgage meltdown?

I've driven through there and the area seemed very nice. It was a quick drive down Oracle to all the shops in Oro Valley - everything seemed to be within a short driving distance.

Are there plans in the future to develop some additional commercial areas along Oracle? Is this future freeway going through the area?

I really just don't know much about the area and haven't been able to find much online.

This is such a scary housing market and any input regarding the area would really be appreciated.

[ihatetucson]

Eagle Crest Ranch is a nice area to move into. No crime in the area that I can speak of. As for the housing crisis, practically anywhere you move to either has a foreclosed house or a house for sale. But for Eagle Ranch, the crisis really didn't hit the area that hard. More development is suppose to be taking place when Oro Valley annexes up to the Pinal County line on the western half of Oracle Rd, but environmentalists are fighting the issue to protect the open spaces. Access to I-10 is on Park Link Rd (North on Oracle Rd, Turn left on to Highway 79 go north 10 miles to Park Link Rd), but it is a 20-mile drive, and the road is not very well maintained. But there is plans to repave the 20 mile road to support the folks that live in Catalina, Saddlebrooke and Oracle.

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by ihatetucson

Access to I-10 is on Park Link Rd (North on Oracle Rd, Turn left on to Highway 79 go north 10 miles to Park Link Rd), but it is a 20-mile drive, and the road is not very well maintained. But there is plans to repave the 20 mile road to support the folks that live in Catalina, Saddlebrooke and Oracle.

Park Link Road is now paved. It's not a great road, but at least it's not washboard anymore. That's going to be a major road someday. Not long ago, they were thinking about building a bypass northeast around the Catalinas and Rincon mountains with Park Link becoming a segment of freeway.

Catalina, Oracle, and Oro Valley are beautiful areas and there will be a lot of growth in the next 5-10 years. It's a little cooler there in the summer and they even get a bit of snow during the winter.

[cheryl1966]

Thanks for the info. I got the impression it was a nice area too. A little far from the city, but then I don't really have a need to go into the city on a regular basis.

[michael krotchie]

Originally Posted by cheryl1966

I'm looking at purchasing a home in the Eagle Crest Ranch area and I'm wondering what the general thoughts are on this part of town. How badly was this hit by the housing crisis (I know no area was spared), is there a growth potential in the future, do you think this will be a desirable area 5-10 years down the road, etc.?

I'm self-employed, so driving into Tucson is not an issue. I'm also not from the area and I'm curious to know if this is a high-foreclosure area compared to the rest of town.

Am I right in my findings that Tucson didn't suffer such a hit as Phoenix when it comes to the mortgage meltdown?

As ihatetucson mentioned, most of Tucson felt the effects of the housing plunge. That being said, I know I've been seeing less short sales and foreclosed homes lately than in the past year or so, and it seems that the worst is over.

The Eagle Crest Ranch subdivision currently has 30 active listings ranging from $152k to $539k. Of those listings, 7 are short sales and a couple of them are bank-owned homes. Last year it probably would have been the other way around.

Originally Posted by cheryl1966

Are there plans in the future to develop some additional commercial areas along Oracle? Is this future freeway going through the area?

I really just don't know much about the area and haven't been able to find much online.

This is such a scary housing market and any input regarding the area would really be appreciated.

You may have already seen Oro Valley's town website but if not check it out.

Here are some recent area-related commercial news stories:
VMSI Ventana Medical Systems plans major growth in Oro Valley
Biotech flourishes in Oro Valley
News : Oro Valley finds formula for mix of development, historic preservation - Inside Tucson Business - newspaper, business news, opinion, classifieds

[tucsondesertdweller]

I like the area and the development you mention The only negative and this is just me would be that
the only road to get in and out and go anywhere is Oracle which is already high traffic and if they put in more develoment supposedly the road can't handle it, this is what I understand from what I have read

[tippilou]

I hope this is the way to further discuss the Catalina area.

We are looking at retirement property in Catalina--a lovely area. We are looking in an established ranch-like neighborhood with mixed housing. We like hiking & the beautiful mountain views. I would really like to be able to swim too. Does anyone know of swim clubs, etc.? Hopefully indoor swimming?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I hope I am using the thread properly.

[michael krotchie]

Here is a link to swimming resources in and around Catalina from Google.

swim loc: Catalina, Arizona - Google Maps

[Chowhound]

What would the drive time be to go from say Catalina to dowtown Tucson?

[RickTucsonHomes]

"What would the drive time be to go from say Catalina to dowtown Tucson?"

To get parked and to your place of business give yourself 45 minutes to an hour. Will vary somewhat by time of year and road construction.