Sun City or Scottsdale? (Phoenix: middle-class, photo radar, for sale)

[sunnyflower]

I am retirement.
I will go to Phoenix area for new home searching if my house sold. But not yet.
Which city is suitable for me?
Sun city or Scottsdale?
Sun city is low tax . Scottsdale south is sounds like more interesting. Price is not so expensive. I want to spend until 100k for my new home.
But there is no garage attached if low price property.
Do you hear car thief is there?
Which city is more safety?

[Schaeffie]

I live in South Scottsdale in a ranch-style house built in '59. It was reasonably priced, has a 2-car carport, which is typical for the area, nice yard, pool. Arizona does have extremely high auto-theft, but for the most part, I think your chances are more specific to the area you leave your car in, and what type of car it is. If you are smart about it, I think it cuts your changes dramatically. Look up crime stats for both Sun City and Scottsdale on this site and you'll see that most the auto theft happens elsewhere. Also, more and more of the houses in South Scottsdale have converted their carports to garages (we're going to do ours next year), so you might find one just for you.
Things I don't like about Scottsdale are few: high taxes, city leadership, and photo radar. The parks are nice, traffic is ok most the time, weather is great, spring training baseball, entertainment, and the people are nice.
Sun City is nice too, but has a completely different feel, so make sure you see both first.

[observer53]

I thought you wanted to live in the wide open spaces?

I agree with the above poster. They are both nice, but very different places. Most cars would be safe in your carport in south Scottsdale. If you want to be surrounded by other retirees, Sun City would be better. I'm not familiar with the prices, but you can do a search online on the homes for sale websites and see what comes up. You need to see both to really make a choice, as the above poster said.

[sunnyflower]

Thank you for response.
I might be Sun city is better to me. Tax is low and feels quieter than Scottsdale.
I will visit both city. My car is Toyota big size. I will change more small car after moving.

observer53 :
> the wide open spaces?
I still like. But I changed mind for gas charge and another reason. Someone mentioned some.

Thanks again.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by sunnyflower

Thank you for response.
I might be Sun city is better to me. Tax is low and feels quieter than Scottsdale.
I will visit both city. My car is Toyota big size. I will change more small car after moving.

observer53 :
> the wide open spaces?
I still like. But I changed mind for gas charge and another reason. Someone mentioned some.

Thanks again.

\

You are welcome. Good luck to you! I think you might like Sun City, but it's good to look at Scottsdale too. Looking forward to your reports after you visit!

[Java Jolt]

Sun City is age-restricted and I'm pretty sure that ordinance is strictly enforced. It would probably be safer overall but I'd be bored there because there is little or no diversity. To each is own, depends on what you want.

Scottsdale is much larger, has more of a city feel but a good part of it is very superficial.

South part of Scottsdale is more middle-class and friendlier for seniors I believe, just stay away from old town or northern Scottsdale unless you're plastic and fake enough to mingle with the Barbies and Kens and the psuedo-millionaires.

Neither place is going to offer much in the way of open spaces I'm afraid.

[hatsjacob]

My grandparents live in Westbrook, not quite in Sun City but right on the border. It's a beautiful area but can be ever so boring if you're under age 50! I concur about Scottsdale being more for the fashionista and elitist types.

[AzDreamer]

Originally Posted by hatsjacob

I concur about Scottsdale being more for the fashionista and elitist types.

Maybe you are thinking of another place. South Scottsdale is a neighborhood of 50 year old block homes with carports. The people I know that live there do so to be close to their work.

Moderator cut: personal/unnecessary

[Jenn321]

Sun city is cheaper and has older residents. There is a lot more to do in Scottsdale.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by Jenn321

Sun city is cheaper and has older residents. There is a lot more to do in Scottsdale.

Whether Sun City is cheaper than south Scottsdale may depend on exactly what type of housing you are comparing. The OP is retired, so having "older residents" may be just fine. And, Sun City has quite a few activities/amenities for the residents.