Had a wonderful vacation!!! (Phoenix, Scottsdale: renting, chapel, homes)

[mrsmc]

So, we went to AZ and loved it!!! We are moving to AZ for sure. We went to some wonderful places. I really like Gilbert...nice, clean and family oriented which is what I want.
Thanks for the all the advice

[HX_Guy]

More details please. What did you like specifically...what didn't you like?

[hts]

Gilbert is nice. It's no Anthem, but it's quite nice.

;-)

[hme2143]

Gilbert is no Anthem thats for sure

[mrsmc]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

More details please. What did you like specifically...what didn't you like?

So, we went to a Dbacks game, Sedona,Grand Canyon, Dolly steamboat, McCormick-Stillman railroad park in Scottsdale, checked out homes in Gilbert, hung out w/ family, stayed overnight in Flagstaff. We stayed busy the time we were there. I really see the difference there in the people and the atmosphere then here in Philly. I felt more laid back. Anyway, it was hot but it was tolerable. We also checked out homes which for the money they were asking was amazing compared to what you would get in Philly

[mrsmc]

Originally Posted by hts

Gilbert is nice. It's no Anthem, but it's quite nice.

;-)

I would love to check out Anthem next time. How far is it far from Gilbert?

[hts]

Originally Posted by mrsmc

I would love to check out Anthem next time. How far is it far from Gilbert?

Anthem is a haul from Gilbert to be sure. My guess is that it's a good hour's drive.

When we moved out here (from Chapel Hill) the first time (2004), we were only planning to look at Scottsdale for homes, as that's really all we knew about the Valley. I met a guy on a flight (I was on a project in SF; my wife was home with the boys in CH) from SF to Phx to meet my wife for one of our weekend house-hunting trips and he told me about Anthem, where he lived. It sounded quite nice, but I couldn't help but feel bad for this poor sap who had to live way out in Anthem because he couldn't afford to live closer in (my perception).

After 2.5 weekend trips to the Valley spent exclusively looking in the Scottsdale area (primarily north Scottsdale in the DC Ranch, Greyhawk, Desert Ridge was just beginning) with nothing, we decided we weren't going to buy before moving but rather end up renting. We had 3 hours to kill before our flights out, so I told my wife about my conversation with the guy on the plane about Anthem and we decided to drive up. We knew we'd never buy up there, but if we just rented for 6-12 months while we got a better feel for the Valley, that'd be fine.

We've lived a bunch of places. My father was in the Air Force, so we moved every 2-3 years. As an adult, I've lived all over N. VA and suburban MD, and then we moved to Chapel Hill from '02-'04, before moving to Phx in '04. My wife and I knew the instant we exited I-17 on Anthem Way that this was home. It's hard to explain, but we both knew it within 10 minutes.

To make a long story a bit shorter, we rented in Anthem, then bought as soon as we could. I lost my job and we had to move back to DC in '05 and have been trying to get back to Anthem ever since. Finally moved back in July and couldn't be happier. Yes, it's a bit far out, but we see that in a positive way, as there are issues in Phoenix (just like there are in any major US city) that we'd rather not be too close to.

I have a morning flight out of Sky Harbor and I'll have to get up a little bit earlier. My wife starts a new job next week downtown. We both agree that the quality of life we're able to enjoy up here and provide our boys far exceeds any benefit of living closer in. We're actually in the country club section of Anthem and never thought we'd be able to afford this sort of lifestyle, as we both come from fairly humble backgrounds.

Anthem certainly isn't for everyone and it may not be for you and your family, but it's perfect for us. :-)

Best of luck with your search!

[Ponderosa]

Anthem is Gilbert with a view.

[mrsmc]

)