Apache Blvd area in Tempe (Phoenix, Mesa: condos, how much, houses)

[Bondurant]

I'm moving out to Phoenix around July 5. I've had my eye on a small cheap place in Tempe. It's on a small street between E Orange & E Lemon just off of Apache Blvd. A family member is telling me it's a seedy area that could cause problems for me. He used to work in the area but he didn't live there. I am curious if anyone lives or has lived in that area and might be able to tell me what I would expect from the area.

Once I get out there I'll be hitting the ground and looking for a place. It does not have to be Tempe but it sounded like such a great location with easy access to restaurants, grocery stores and the light rail.

[LocoAZnative]

Its not that its seedy I use to live @ the Lemon terrace Club apts. Thats where all the college kids live so it can get pretty rowdy there. I'd look more South around from Broadway up from Priest to McClintock.

[observer53]

That area is a little uneven, parts nicer than others, I've driven around back in there not long ago. You need to come out and look around. If that one doesn't look right to you, you should still look around in that general area, as there may be something better. You could also look west of Mill, still close to downtown and the light rail, if locating near that is important to you.

[Bondurant]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

The place I've been eyeing is on S Mariana. Very close to ASU and Four Peaks Brewing (another plus). I'll have to check the place out in person. My uncle carries mail and I believe he's thinking more about the entire route he worked as opposed to that section. He also said I could gave trouble with my VW due to the high theft rate but that, I believe, is part of the entire Phoenix area so I'm not too worried about that.

[observer53]

During law school, a classmate owned (with her parents) and lived in a small apt building on S Mariana. Admittedly, that was a long time ago, but I think that area is still okay.

[LocoAZnative]

Apache turns skeetchy between McClintock and Price then going into Mesa when it turns to Main. The area you are looking at is where all the college kids live off campus.

[slackjaw]

That area is definitely hit or miss, and it's been changing a lot with the light rail and attempts at cleaning up near Apache. I'd go check it out during the day and at night, it's usually fairly obvious if you spend some time there the sketchiness factor.

[observer53]

It's close to the campus, just a few blocks from Rural... it really isn't in the sketchier area down closer to McClintock and beyond. I agree that the OP should go take a look, but a check of the area closer to McClintock will show how much worse parts of that are.

[Java Jolt]

It's not the nicest part of Tempe.

Try north of there near Mill Avenue or south Tempe. Northern Tempe gets the college and party crowd but there are some decent condos and row houses near Mill. South Tempe is more family-oriented, depends on what your preference is.

Even in the nicer neighborhoods you can find some nice homes for a pretty low price right now.