Job Transfer to Scottsdale (Phoenix, Fountain Hills: renting, houses, safe area)

[johnp292]

Hello All,

My employer may be transferring me to Scottsdale this summer (currently in PA). I'm excited about this because I love AZ, but I haven't been there in about 25 years. I'm looking for suggestions on where to look for a home. I'll be working in North Scottsdale near the Family Fun park. I have a family with both a teenager and two small children. Hoping to find a 4 bedroom home with a pool and at least a 1/4 acre lot. We'd like to be in a safe area, with a reasonable daily commute (45 min or less during rush hour - shorter the better), good schools, access to shopping, typical family stuff. Initially we'll be renting, but our budget to buy after a year or so will likely be around 325K.

Any advice anyone could provide regarding areas to look at (Scottsdale? Cave Creek? etc?) and any other pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[theyreinphx]

Why not just find a home near your work? Scottsdale is a very safe area with great schools.

[johnp292]

That's certainly one of the options we're considering. I'm just looking to see what else is close by. We're looking on the map and at Realtor.com, but of course that doesn't tell me anything about the commute. Thanks.

[Kimballette]

What's your budget?

[Howard Roark]

Kimballette - the OP says $325,000. Well I think some can be found north of Shea to around Frank Lloyd Wright area and maybe into Fountain Hills, but not sure if a decent 4 bedroom house at the price can be found in the area. I do think the OP will find abundant houses in the price range well within a 45 minute drive to work though.

[azdr0710]

to me, N Scotts is anything N of Shea, but others may disagree!....can you give a closer approx. of work location?....don't know the Family Fun Park

the so-called "magic zipcode" (coined by certain realtors) is 85254, just W of N Scotts....called that because you have the slightly lower City Of Phoenix expenses, but get to impress your friends and relatives with a Scottsdale mailing address....I'd look in this large zipcode area if I were you....lots of family options and a very convenient location within the metro area....great variety of housing choices, but the further E you are, the better....watch out for creeping crappy 'hoods emerging....look for 'hood pride....

I think you'll be able to do better than a 45-minute commute, ultimately, if that's important

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

Kimballette - the OP says $325,000. Well I think some can be found north of Shea to around Frank Lloyd Wright area and maybe into Fountain Hills, but not sure if a decent 4 bedroom house at the price can be found in the area. I do think the OP will find abundant houses in the price range well within a 45 minute drive to work though.

You're right, Howard, thanks. Reading comprehension fails me every now and again.

If the o/p is referring to CrackerJax, that's just north of Kierland, so very near the Phoenix "magic zip code" area, and close to the 101. The 101 will give him lots of commuting options into north Phoenix areas that would be within his price range.

[krazykatlady]

You can use googlemaps.com to compute your daily commute to and from where you work. I find that it's quite accurate. The only thiing it doesn't do is take heavy traffic into account. It is more accurate for my A.M. commute that it is for my P.M. commute but it is a start!

Sue

[AZJoeD]

45 minute commute can be a long distance in the valley. With $4 gas why drive 25-30 miles? Rather than dump $300 mo down your gas tank, put the money toward your mortgage. Many nice homes in the north valley. The 85254,85054, 85260 and 85050 zips are all possibilities the biggest challenge will be the 1/2 acre lot.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

45 minute commute can be a long distance in the valley. With $4 gas why drive 25-30 miles? Rather than dump $300 mo down your gas tank, put the money toward your mortgage. Many nice homes in the north valley. The 85254,85054, 85260 and 85050 zips are all possibilities the biggest challenge will be the 1/2 acre lot.

Yep. Except the OP wanted a 1/4 acre lot, which makes this a much more reasonable goal.