Moving to Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale: homes, neighborhoods, construction)

[LI2AZ]

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and looking for some advice on great places to live and raise a family in Arizona. We currently live in a suburban area (long Island NY) and because of health reasons need to move to a dry warm (hot) climate. We are trying to find some great master planned communities in the Phoenix or Tucson areas. Optimally with nice mountain views and most importantly a good school district. We have checked out Estrella Mountain and Oro Valley. Any advice would be great. Were looking for 3-4br in the 250k range. Thanks in advance for your input .

[TAGS70]

Hello LI2AZ,

Here is some info on Tucson, the Vail school district has the best schooling in Tucson and has great mountain views. The Oro Valley area is very pretty also, and very good school district, but they are a little more expensive then the Vail/Rita Ranch area. The other area that is getting bigger and is the Cortaro Farms area. There are some very affordable homes in the Continental Ranch area, good schools and good views. You could get a very nice home in most parts of Tucson in the 250K range.

Good Luck,
Michael

[Just me in Oro Valley]

Originally Posted by TAGS70

Hello LI2AZ,

Here is some info on Tucson, the Vail school district has the best schooling in Tucson

Isn't saying a particular school is "best" a Fair Housing violation for a realtor? Unless they changed the code since I was in the business.
Lets hear from some of the other current realtors!

[TAGS70]

Originally Posted by Just me in Oro Valley

Isn't saying a particular school is "best" a Fair Housing violation for a realtor? Unless they changed the code since I was in the business.
Lets hear from some of the other current realtors!

First of all, I am not violating the Fair Housing laws. I'm going off facts that the City of Tuscon goes off of and you can find this out anywhere on the internet. The Vail school district gets a 10 for overall schools ranking in the Tuson area.

[szupergipsy]

I kinda like the Vail area, good size lands, nice homes, pretty area. Its young, but will grow up fast....

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by TAGS70

First of all, I am not violating the Fair Housing laws. I'm going off facts that the City of Tuscon goes off of and you can find this out anywhere on the internet. The Vail school district gets a 10 for overall schools ranking in the Tuson area.

Yeah, I don't think it's any big secret - seems to me in fact to be common knowledge. I'm aware of the reputation of the Vail school district - and I neither live in the area (nor even in the state yet) nor do I particularly care personally about the school districts (no kids left at home to attend school) - so I didn't do a lot of research on that subject (just sort of picked it up by osmosis (general conversations)).

Ken

[stengel]

Come to Peoria... I moved west in 05 from the Desert Ridge/Scottsdale area and love it out here. You get more home for the money and distance yourself from the traffic. Close to the lake and sporting events. I love it out here.

[Az2Ny]

Originally Posted by LI2AZ

Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and looking for some advice on great places to live and raise a family in Arizona. We currently live in a suburban area (long Island NY) and because of health reasons need to move to a dry warm (hot) climate. We are trying to find some great master planned communities in the Phoenix or Tucson areas. Optimally with nice mountain views and most importantly a good school district. We have checked out Estrella Mountain and Oro Valley. Any advice would be great. Were looking for 3-4br in the 250k range. Thanks in advance for your input .

Hi LI2AZ,
I'm jealous!! I was born and raised in Tucson and choose to leave and move to LI in 1985 I have missed home and the mountains every since. The Catalina and Rincon mountain ranges are incredible. With my entire family still there I get pressue to return and one day I will. The only problem is being in the residential construction industry I am better off here than Tucson.
Anyway, my brother and a few friends live in Vail. The views are outstanding and the schools are very good and new. Good Luck!


Signed, Jealous

[Marcy1210]

Since there are a lot of variables you're looking for, I'd suggest you take a family vacation and come out for a visit. You could see first hand what the views and the neighborhoods are like, how the roads and traffic are, what the distances between various places are so you'll have an idea where you might want to live, visit the schools and make a decision based on first hand knowledge. Same with the Phoenix area. You might also consider Nevada. It would meet your criteria, too. Low humidity, warmth, and cities with decent schools and neighborhoods.

Summers in Tucson and Phoenix are HOT! Not just very warm, but downright hot. Over 100º hot! But, the winters are mild, 50's and 60's, with a few days of rain. Not the monsoon type rain as in summer (which is very cool, BTW), but a more gentle, cool rain. There isn't any snow to speak of, maybe a light dusting once a year that melts immediately. The same is true for the Las Vegas area, too.

Until you see it for yourself, it's really hard to make a decision based on what you read online. That's why I think visiting before you move is a good idea.

JMHO

[miamiman]

Every now and then Tucson gets a little more than a dusting of snow.

The aftermath of the infamous "Blizzard of 2007":

(flickr.com)
(flickr.com)
(flickr.com)