What do you guys think? (Tucson: real estate, 2009, apartment complex)

[JillBoBill]

What do you guys think? I don't know who else to ask so any help is appreciated.

On a slightly related note, I spoke to a realtor lady today and mentioned the whole 'bad crime in Tucson' thing, but then said that I had lived in NYC previously. She laughed and said I shouldn't have to worry (because I guess NYC is a horrible place and crime is really bad like in the movies and on Law & Order).

$410 Cosy Studio in a duplex. (3335 E. Blacklidge Dr. #2)

Reply to: hous-62mdu-1139428479@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-04-25, 7:52AM MST


Cozy Studio with a good size living room, kitchen an a full bath, in a duplex. Three blocks East of County Club on Blacklidge Dr. Two blocks South of Fort Lowell. Ceramic Tile floors, new kitchen cabinet, Washer/Dryer hookup, small patio with storage room. Privet and fenced yard. Pets are welcome.Rent is $410.00/month (Including Water) and $400.00 refundable security deposit. For a quick show call me at 250-6481. Moe.

• cats are OK - purrr
• dogs are OK - wooof
• Location: 3335 E. Blacklidge Dr. #2
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by JillBoBill

What do you guys think? I don't know who else to ask so any help is appreciated.

On a slightly related note, I spoke to a realtor lady today and mentioned the whole 'bad crime in Tucson' thing, but then said that I had lived in NYC previously. She laughed and said I shouldn't have to worry (because I guess NYC is a horrible place and crime is really bad like in the movies and on Law & Order).

Not a bad area, JillBo, but it sure looks kinda small.

Do you have any information on the total size? As an FYI . . . Two Bedroom Two Bath Patio Homes (about 1100 plus sq ft) with a Two Car Garage in my area rent for about $800 a month.

[JillBoBill]

Yeah, it does look a little small, but we're on a budget and we've done small before. I email the manager and asked a few questions - we'll see what they say.

Thanks!

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by JillBoBill

Yeah, it does look a little small, but we're on a budget and we've done small before. I email the manager and asked a few questions - we'll see what they say.

Thanks!

I definitely understand The Budget Thing, however, COZY in a real estate ad could be downright scary.

but, to answer your question . . . the neighborhood is ok.

! ! ! ! ! !

[lilygee]

This address was a bit of a surprise -- it's a stone's throw away from me and I only just posted in a different thread that I'd likely avoid the neighborhood if investigating it but it really wasn't bad.

I'm trying desperately to recall this particular housing and it does seem that this is a little stretch of Blacklidge that's fairly run-down or unkempt.

$410/month seems like rental costs from years gone by. It might be worth giving a looksee.

Hope we'll be welcoming you to the " 'hood' " !

[sierraAZ]

Studios are quite "cozy"! Besides you need SOME storage... Perhaps you can stretch your budget a little bit and get a 1-BR after all. It's quite inconvenient to sleep and potentially entertain in the same room. You know, there are some studios on the East side - on Broadway, between Camino Seco and Pantano, about half-way, on the North side of the street, but a bit away from it. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the place, but I've seen them many years ago. They're very reasonably priced as studios, but have a dividing wall between the sleeping area and the living area. You're not here, though...

The area you're looking at is not too bad. I'm not particularly fond of it, but it's definitely livable. I had a friend in the past who lived there somewhere. Old dark places with small windows depress me personally, but many people are OK with them.

[JillBoBill]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Studios are quite "cozy"! Besides you need SOME storage... Perhaps you can stretch your budget a little bit and get a 1-BR after all. It's quite inconvenient to sleep and potentially entertain in the same room. You know, there are some studios on the East side - on Broadway, between Camino Seco and Pantano, about half-way, on the North side of the street, but a bit away from it. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the place, but I've seen them many years ago. They're very reasonably priced as studios, but have a dividing wall between the sleeping area and the living area. You're not here, though...

The area you're looking at is not too bad. I'm not particularly fond of it, but it's definitely livable. I had a friend in the past who lived there somewhere. Old dark places with small windows depress me personally, but many people are OK with them.

You're speaking my language, Sierra

I wanted something on the East side - we have family out that way and it'd be nice to be close in a new, unfamiliar city. Plus, it seemed 'nicer' out that way.

Here's my big problem with apartment buildings...
I have two big dogs (Dobermans, but we won't say that. They're coonhound,chocolate lab mixes) that can't handle stairs (they both had knee surgery). A lot of the apartment places that I found out there have big, nasty blacklists of breeds.

Because we're so far away (in NC now), I don't want to take the chance that we get out there, are moving in and are promptly told to take our murderous, baby-devouring dogs elsewhere.

[BillyBaroo]

I used to live in the Blenman-Elm neighborhood. It was nice, but if I went just one block to the east side of Country Club, it was kind of trashy. Kind of similiar to what you're looking at. Northwest of Ft. Lowell and Country Club is Winterhaven, a very nice neighborhood. But all around Winterhaven there's pockets of real trashy neighborhoods. Some of those neighborhoods have big problems with drugs and crime.

Try looking more towards the University. There's a lot of rentals catering to students. We had a small guest house that we rented for $500 a month and a lot of my neighbors rented their guest houses too. Sam Hughes is another nice neighborhood where you can rent guest houses.

I love where we're living now, but I do miss all the stuff there was to do in midtown. Lot's of restaurants! And I love movies, so I miss being near The Loft and Casa Video (the best video store in the world).

Take your time and you should be able to find a nice place to live. Don't rush into anything and end up regretting singing that lease.

Here's a link for University of Arizona student housing. You might be able to find a place on here.

http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/oc...ine/onlineads/

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by JillBoBill

You're speaking my language, Sierra

I wanted something on the East side - we have family out that way and it'd be nice to be close in a new, unfamiliar city. Plus, it seemed 'nicer' out that way.

Here's my big problem with apartment buildings...
I have two big dogs (Dobermans, but we won't say that. They're coonhound,chocolate lab mixes) that can't handle stairs (they both had knee surgery). A lot of the apartment places that I found out there have big, nasty blacklists of breeds.

Because we're so far away (in NC now), I don't want to take the chance that we get out there, are moving in and are promptly told to take our murderous, baby-devouring dogs elsewhere.

Well, that IS a problem, even though I used to live in an apartment complex which at the end started accepting 2 dogs up to 80 lbs! (not a fan) And how in the world are you gonna keep 2 huge dogs in (basically) A room anyway...?! Since you're willing to take a small space, I was gonna suggest a guest house - there are some nice ones in Sam Hughes. That way you're in a central and safe area, enjoy much nicer surroundings, and probably get cable TV and Internet free since the landlords already have it. However, I doubt anybody would want your companions... Then again, I might be wrong. It's not like they're smokers...

[JillBoBill]

Sierra!

lol, no our dogs don't smoke. And you're right, it would be hard to live with them in such a small space, which is part of the reason why a yard is so critical to us.

We'll keep looking. That guy never emailed me back, anyways.