Another potential newcomer with questions (Phoenix, Chandler: transplants, real estate, crime)

[randr.xyz]

My husband may be getting a job offer in Chandler in the coming weeks. We are excited about the possibility because after being on the east coast for a year we KNOW we belong in the west
I have a brother who works at ASU, a sister in Tacoma and nieces and nephews in Sierra Vista. My mother in law has always wanted to get out of CA and move to AZ, so this may help her out too.

So a couple of questions. Can anyone direct me to a neighborhood in Chandler (or somewhere within a 20 minute commute to Chandler) that has great public schools, young-ish families, home prices under 400k and SPACE between the neighbors? It can be existing or new construction. I don't need horse property just don't want to hear my neighbors flush, ya know?! Around 1/2+ acre is good. Does that exist?

Also, I know that is a large retirement area so I was wondering if retired folks looking for a second career are able to find jobs? My MIL has been experiencing a lot of ageism trying to find a job in real estate in CA. We are hoping that it might be better for her in AZ. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

-Rainbow

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by randr.xyz

My husband may be getting a job offer in Chandler in the coming weeks. We are excited about the possibility because after being on the east coast for a year we KNOW we belong in the west
I have a brother who works at ASU, a sister in Tacoma and nieces and nephews in Sierra Vista. My mother in law has always wanted to get out of CA and move to AZ, so this may help her out too.

So a couple of questions. Can anyone direct me to a neighborhood in Chandler (or somewhere within a 20 minute commute to Chandler) that has great public schools, young-ish families, home prices under 400k and SPACE between the neighbors? It can be existing or new construction. I don't need horse property just don't want to hear my neighbors flush, ya know?! Around 1/2+ acre is good. Does that exist?

Also, I know that is a large retirement area so I was wondering if retired folks looking for a second career are able to find jobs? My MIL has been experiencing a lot of ageism trying to find a job in real estate in CA. We are hoping that it might be better for her in AZ. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

-Rainbow

Hmmm, let's start with the schools. Chandler schools are pretty good for the most part. What grades are you looking at? Chandler has a lot of great neighborhoods so I don't think you'll have a problem finding what you are looking for. Real estate is picking up here again so I would check into that for your MIL. If you have not done so, I would visit the city to get a feel for it.

[observer53]

Half acre lots are not that common. You could do a search on some of the real estate sites, which may let you filter for lot size (I haven't tried that). You will pay a premium price for a lot that size, more than likely. Might as well find a smaller horse property.

[Captain Bill]

Most of the half acre lots have higher priced homes on them. So $400k probably won't get you a half acre. Schools are good in Chandler and Gilbert, and homes in Gilbert are slightly lower in price than Chandler.

[autism360]

Gilbert may be a good fit for you. Young families ,newer homes.

[breakingbad]

Chandler is ful of people of all ages and very family friendly. I'm not sure how to answer your questions exactly but I wanted to say that I met a lady at San Tan Village Mall (in the play area) that told me "all the engineers from Intel send their kids to Hamilton" - which is a HS in Chandler. My son has a ways to go until he goes to high school but out of curiosity I checked the school out on-line and I'm not sure what she meant but she and her family seemed very intelligent.
There is a website called greatschools.com that you may want to browse. I read the reviews from parents to get a feel for the differences in education. Maybe if you find a school you like in Chandler USD you can then look at some neighborhoods.
Gilbert is a good suggestion too.

[randr.xyz]

Thanks for all your replies. I have been looking on the MLS and finding some properties with larger lots in our price range. It is just hard to get a feel of a neighborhood on the MLS. Also, homes that seem like they should be in Chandler (according the the map) have a Gilbert address and vice-versa. So, it is a bit hard getting the lay of the land on-line. We hope to make a trip out there one the job offer comes through.

Does anyone have experience with Meritage Homes? I am not sure if they are on large lots but I like the idea of solar powered homes. Any ideas if they build quality homes?

I have noticed on a few thread people talking about how the public schools are some of the worst in the country but when I look at Chandlers schools (right now I have a 2 elementary students and a Pre-K) they score 10 on greatschools.net which is actually better than our current Virginia school. The community reviews are positive as well. Do the other threads refer to Phoenix proper?

Any ideas on how easy/hard it is for retired-age people looking for work? Or do most retired folks there not work? It seems like a lot may be snow birds, so maybe they don't need/want to.

Thanks again!

[observer53]

Since Chandler and Gilbert are adjacent to each other, and in most areas except for the "Welcome to __" sign, you can't tell one from the other, either city would be fine, actually, if you find the house you want. If you want to post some cross streets of the listings you are seeing, you might be able to get some more info about the specific area.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by randr.xyz

I have noticed on a few thread people talking about how the public schools are some of the worst in the country but when I look at Chandlers schools (right now I have a 2 elementary students and a Pre-K) they score 10 on greatschools.net which is actually better than our current Virginia school. The community reviews are positive as well. Do the other threads refer to Phoenix proper?

Any ideas on how easy/hard it is for retired-age people looking for work? Or do most retired folks there not work? It seems like a lot may be snow birds, so maybe they don't need/want to.

Thanks again!

There is a bias on this board against Phoenix proper - any question that pops up about housing, crime, jobs or education will immediately be met by a firestorm of well-intentioned posts suggesting that newcomers should only consider living in the 'burbs.

Personally, I think it's based on the volume of Midwestern transplants (like myself) , who have grown up & lived *near* a major city, but who would never live *in* a major city. Those transplants *assume* that the "core" of every major city is rotten, without ever even investigating the facts.

Phoenix isn't like Detroit, or Indy, or Memphis, or just about any other old "river city" back east. It's possible to live *in* Phoenix, in nice home, with great schools, and lots of "extra" services that smaller cities just can't provide. There is petty crime all over the valley, but those of us who actually live *in* the city aren't all serenaded to sleep with the sounds of gunfire.

Arizona in general has amazingly low property tax rates, and the flip side for that is that we don't spend much on schools. As someone who has attended the community colleges here, I can tell you they're excellent & well-regarded, but heavily underfunded, which means that there are waiting lists to get into the "good" programs that actually lead to good-paying jobs. So that's a disadvantage, but you'll encounter that same disadvantage in Phoenix or in Chandler, or even in Gilbert, since our community colleges are all affiliated.

As for older persons working here, many do - this state has a heavy anti-union bias, and has for decades, so retirement with a pension (among natives) is rare. You'll spot many 60+ people working service jobs to supplement their social-security checks, perhaps that's karma...It is what it is...

[observer53]

Arizona is VERY low in education funding. But, money is far from the only determining factor in the quality of the schools in this state or this metro area. As you've noted, there are good schools here.