another "where to live?" thread! (Phoenix, Tucson: real estate, homes)

[dawgchic]

I know absolutely nothing about Tucson so any information is appreciated ... if we're working at University of Arizona, where would we want to live? Like most people, looking for good schools, decent commute, etc. Generally prefer urban to suburban areas (would be nice to be able to walk to a few restaurants or something) but we'll take what we can get. Price range would be in the low-mid 300s. Thanks!

[Just me in Oro Valley]

Originally Posted by dawgchic

I know absolutely nothing about Tucson so any information is appreciated ... if we're working at University of Arizona, where would we want to live? Like most people, looking for good schools, decent commute, etc. Generally prefer urban to suburban areas (would be nice to be able to walk to a few restaurants or something) but we'll take what we can get. Price range would be in the low-mid 300s. Thanks!

Urban and good schools in Tucson, good luck with that one.
What do you consider a " decent commute"? Would you be driving durring peak or off peak hours?

[RickTucsonHomes]

Originally Posted by dawgchic

I know absolutely nothing about Tucson so any information is appreciated ... if we're working at University of Arizona, where would we want to live? Like most people, looking for good schools, decent commute, etc. Generally prefer urban to suburban areas (would be nice to be able to walk to a few restaurants or something) but we'll take what we can get. Price range would be in the low-mid 300s. Thanks!

In your pirce range you will have quite a few options to choose from. One can pretty much get to the University from anywhere in Tucson and it's outlying areas, Marana, Oro Valley, Vail in 30-45 minutes. There are options closer in town also. Balancing the trade off between commute, schools and restaurants is probably only something you can decide by seeing the areas firsthand. What are some of your other interest/hobbies? If your into hiking, biking, horseback riding etc, that can all have an impact on what might be the best area to look at.

[dawgchic]

Thanks for the replies ... this is the kind of help I need. An ideal commute would be no more than 15-20 minutes if possible but of course I may be asking too much. I'm guessing we'd have a little bit of flexibility in our hours so we might be able to commute in off-peak hours, but don't know that for sure. Is Tuscon traffic really that bad? (I'm from Atlanta so I'm used to horrible traffic but that's one of the reasons I try to minimize commute! I've already done my time!)

We're runners so trails would be nice but we're also used to city running so really we can do that anywhere. Otherwise, not really outdoorsy ... would probably prefer proximity to restaurants, theaters, museums, etc., but of course school quality and kids' activities come first so we'll go from there.

[JayL]

In my opinion traffic in Tucson is not that bad. Compared to larger cities where you can be stuck for hours, Tucson doesn't even come close. It seems you can get almost anywhere in Tucson in roughly 30 minutes, 45 minutes for surrounding areas such as Oro Valley or Vail, and at rush hour times you can tack on an additional 15-20 minutes.

I will say that Tucson and Phoenix, are not what some may think of as a large city. They are much more spread out, with less of a consolidated downtown as most East Coast cities.

With the amenities being spread throughout the city, I don't think commute time should always be the deal breaker. Tucson has a LOT to offer, and 15 minutes of extra commute is worth it to get everything you want in a home in my opinion.

Here is a link to that has all of the Tucson Area Schools, as well as the Arizona Department of Education School Report Cards. You can see how all the schools rank there.- http://www.absoluteaces.com/LocalLinksTucson

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by dawgchic

I know absolutely nothing about Tucson so any information is appreciated ... if we're working at University of Arizona, where would we want to live? Like most people, looking for good schools, decent commute, etc. Generally prefer urban to suburban areas (would be nice to be able to walk to a few restaurants or something) but we'll take what we can get. Price range would be in the low-mid 300s. Thanks!

Sam Hughes

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Sam Hughes

That's what I would say too. Sam Hughes, a neighborhood southwest of Country Club and Speedway, or Blenman-Elm, northwest of Country Club and Speedway. The schools are good, plenty of restaurants, and close to the U of A.

[Sssunfish]

The Sam Hughes area is very nice but the properties can be in excess of $300,000. You may be able to find something on the low end for that range. I'd check the Poets Corner area or some of the barrio neighborhoods. Many U of A professionals live in these areas. The homes are beautiful, often historic and the neighborhoods have a lovely sense of family and community. You may find them on the upper end price wise but they are definitely worth checking out.

Driving around the barrios can be confusing so I took a camera with me so I could download the shots and compare areas later. After a while everything seems a blur without some reference.

I'd forget about the NW side (Marana) and nearby. I live in Marana now and am moving near U of A in 6 weeks. I cannot abide the traffic, the attitudes (of some) and the fact everything requires driving; grocery, church, post office, school. It may only be a 20 minute commute but it's a 20 minute nightmare. BTW don't fall for the real estate agent's "everything is nearby" comment. Near by car. Good luck in your search.

[TucsonKent]

A resource you might enjoy using is WalkScore - it will give you a rating for any neighborhood based upon its "walkability" - i.e. how many stores, parks, recreational activities, etc are within walking distance.

Click on the score & it will tell you what businesses & the like they are: http://www.WalkScore.com

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by dawgchic

I know absolutely nothing about Tucson so any information is appreciated ... if we're working at University of Arizona, where would we want to live? Like most people, looking for good schools, decent commute, etc. Generally prefer urban to suburban areas (would be nice to be able to walk to a few restaurants or something) but we'll take what we can get. Price range would be in the low-mid 300s. Thanks!

I agree with Sierra, look at Sam Hughes. Very attractive neighborhood just east of campus, well-maintained homes, strong neighborhood pride, walkable streets, nearby restaurants, and close to good schools.

The neighborhood is more expensive than just about any neighborhood in the City of Tucson, but most homes should still fall into your price range.