Coming out to Scope Out Prospective Place (Phoenix, Mesa: best neighborhoods, rental)

[James1975]

I've been doing my research now for a good year on relocating out there. I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down some suburbs but it never hurts to get real opinions and besides, I like seeing all types of feedback.

First of all, we are relocating from Minnesota to AZ. Yes, I've been in the heat, I'm a California native from the valley where the pollution and heat are BAD. So we know what HOT is because we've already lived it.

NOW, with that said, here's what we're lookin for:

We have a 15 year old son and need a GOOD school, both high school and college.

Would like a suburb/city that has low-crime.

Close to a lake.

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I plan on going into a completely different field of work (currently IT project manager) but will take when I can get to secure some funds. I'd like to work for the city or somethin simple. The coroporate life has jaded me at this point.

As mentioned earlier, I've narrowed down a few places and we will have 2-3 days out there to lock somethin down in April and I just want to be prepared to manage/use our time wisely.

Here's the places we're interested in:
Litchfield Park
Avondale
Mesa
Goodyear

We would just like some feedback, please help, any information is appreciated. I also included a poll for some opinions.

Edit: I must note that once we get out there we will be renting for a year before we decide on a home. Are there plenty of rental units? How is the job market?

[observer53]

What lakes are close to Avondale, Litchfield Park or Goodyear (I'm not counting artificial or golf course lakes)?

If you mean Lake Pleasant, there's other closer suburbs. Mesa is not a bad drive to the closer in Salt River lakes, but may not be the best choice in terms of schools. How close to a lake do you need to be???

The cities or the county or the state are NOT hiring much these days due to budget issues. You might find something with the federal govt in Phx in that field, but I would not count on local or state govt jobs.

[Phxguy]

In east Mesa, your close to Salt River, Sauguro, Roosevelt, and somewhat near Canyon Lake. But Mesa is the most suburban out of all of your choices.

[James1975]

Sauguro has caught my attention for the most part. As I start looking at house on the web, I noticed that most places are super-suburbia. I prefer to have SOME space between my fellow neighbor and was referred to Apache Junction and Gilbert.

Thoughts on these places?

[MotleyCrew]

We chose to live in north Peoria mainly for the high school as our son was 15 when we moved here from CA. There are two very good high schools up here. You may want to add Vistancia to your list of master planned communities to look at.

[James1975]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

We chose to live in north Peoria mainly for the high school as our son was 15 when we moved here from CA. There are two very good high schools up here. You may want to add Vistancia to your list of master planned communities to look at.

Got it and thanks for the PM.

I'm not fully sold on the "Planned Community" idea yet. I like privacy to an extent.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by James1975

Sauguro has caught my attention for the most part. As I start looking at house on the web, I noticed that most places are super-suburbia. I prefer to have SOME space between my fellow neighbor and was referred to Apache Junction and Gilbert.

Thoughts on these places?

Other than a few neighborhoods with large lots for animals, etc., Gilbert is the height of suburbia. You won't find space between the houses. AJ is hit or miss, part of it in one county, part of it in another. All kinds of different housing there, you may find something with a little more space, but whether it's something you'd otherwise like is hard to say. Schools not great there.

[James1975]

Any thoughts on:

Tempe
Avondale

[nickw252]

Have you considered Phoenix? In my opinion the best neighborhoods in the valley are the historical districts in the city, but if you insist on the 'burbs I'd go with Tempe.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by James1975

Any thoughts on:

Tempe
Avondale

Tempe is a very nice place, okay, I'm biased, I've lived there for all but two of the last 37 years. There are some older neighborhoods with somewhat larger lots, if you don't want to be bumped right up against your neighbor. Very good schools.

Avondale is pretty much suburbia, again, there are some areas to the south that are a bit more rural. Don't know much about the schools there.