Florence/Queen Creek/Maricopa (Phoenix, Tucson: HOA, new home, buying) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

gregandvicky · 10-08-2007, 04:20 PM

We have narrowed out search to these three areas.
We do not need to commute, we are retired and they are all in our price range.
Which would you choose and why?
Our reasons are:
Queen Creek, affordable, 20 minutes to Superstition Springs Mall and shopping areas.

Florence, Anthem Community, affordable, Great Community Center, shopping coming soon and 25 minutes to the new Mall and shopping in Casa Grande/

Maricopa, closer to Phoenix, affordable.

What would be you reasons and top choice of the three areas listed?

Thanks

ibarrio · 10-08-2007, 04:48 PM

Maricopa first then Queen Creek 2nd.

Maricopa has some nice homes. A casino. shopping. Closer to the freeway and there is a back road you can take all the way to 51st ave. Forget the name of the rd...My Wife's cousin lives out there and he told me about the back road.

Artliquide · 10-08-2007, 04:54 PM

Maricopa's just as close to Casa Grande as Florence. Also, it looks like 51st ave would take as long as going to Chandler/Gilbert, which has more to do for a retired couple than anything on 51st Ave. That looks like the best place to live if you wanted to go into town every once in a while.

MotleyCrew · 10-08-2007, 04:59 PM

Our daughter and her husband purchased a new Shea home last year. They love it and have great neighbors. They tell us that a Home Depot is coming soon along with many other larger shopping centers. We went down to visit and they took us out to the cutest nursery that has many cages of exotic birds that they are breeding. The plants are very reasonable on top of the pleasure of the zoo. I would vote for Maricopa!

ibarrio · 10-08-2007, 05:05 PM

I just saying that if they wanted to go to the west valley they do not have to take I-10. There is a Casino out that way as well (51st Ave).

I looked it up. It is Riggs rd...that turns into Beltline...that turns into 51st Ave....and puts you in Laveen/West Valley.

Maricopa is close to Ahwatukee and Chandler. Queen Creek is close to Mesa, Gilbert, and Chandler.

My suggestions for Retirees would actually be Sun City Grand or Sun City West. But from where they are looking I would still take Maricopa.

nikorock28 · 10-08-2007, 07:48 PM

I will probably be buying in Anthem (Florence) very soon because it is close to my work in Coolidge. I also like it because there is a golf course, the community center is awesome, etc. If you don't mind being isolated (and I don't), that would be the place to settle. If you want to be closer to civilization, Queen Creek is better. I have not been to Maricopa, but that is the closest of the three into Phoenix.

Also, I just wanted to point out that it is not a 25 minute drive from Anthem to the new mall in Casa Grande. Making good time (5-10 MPH over posted speed limits the entire way) it will take you about 31 minutes.

Nice Nice Baby! · 10-08-2007, 08:43 PM

From Anthem it is about a 35 minute drive to the new San Tan Mall opening off the 202 in Gilbert, about the same amount of time to the Casa Grande mall, but more traffic, too. All of the places mentioned(Casa Grande, Maricopa, Queen Creek) are all pretty similar in circumstances and that is shopping is popping. Retail will continue to fill the growth created by affordable housing.

Maricopa is closer to south Phoenix but has only one way in and out. Casa Grande has closer proximity to Tucson and not much further(timewise) from south Phoenix compared to Maricopa. Interstate 10 gets backed up less often than Maricopa's four laner. Queen Creek has many routes to choose from which is good and bad. Depending on which part of Queen Creek you live, you can be closer to the metro area in the southeast valley, however there will always be constant expanding road construction at many intersections. In all cases people are waiting for the infrastructure to make their lives more convenient.

All these places create good opportunities. I'll bet the growth will not stop any time soon. It really depends on where your job is if you have one, or what aesthetically pleases you.

gregandvicky · 10-08-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nice Nice Baby!

From Anthem it is about a 35 minute drive to the new San Tan Mall opening off the 202 in Gilbert, about the same amount of time to the Casa Grande mall, but more traffic, too. All of the places mentioned(Casa Grande, Maricopa, Queen Creek) are all pretty similar in circumstances and that is shopping is popping. Retail will continue to fill the growth created by affordable housing.

Maricopa is closer to south Phoenix but has only one way in and out. Casa Grande has closer proximity to Tucson and not much further(timewise) from south Phoenix compared to Maricopa. Interstate 10 gets backed up less often than Maricopa's four laner. Queen Creek has many routes to choose from which is good and bad. Depending on which part of Queen Creek you live, you can be closer to the metro area in the southeast valley, however there will always be constant expanding road construction at many intersections. In all cases people are waiting for the infrastructure to make their lives more convenient.

All these places create good opportunities. I'll bet the growth will not stop any time soon. It really depends on where your job is if you have one, or what aesthetically pleases you.

Thanks to everyone for all the great info.
We are sort of leaning towards Anthem in Florence since we are retired and it has the community center and golf course. HOA dues are about $60 elsewhere, but $80 in Anthem, but includes the community center and basic cable TV. We are home bodies so shopping is a once every three month event.

I had a friend in Chandler drive to Queen Creek and he said there are some areas that look like ghost towns with all new or almost new homes setting empty. It may take years to make a comeback.

Maricopa seems nice but one road in and one road out. I guess the only thing to do close would be the casinos.

Thanks again for all the good input.

Vinny536 · 10-09-2007, 04:18 PM

i live in maricopa, and would not suggest it.

the bad:
there are 2 grocery stores, an ace hardware, walgreens, cvs and thats about it. there are no resturaunts that aren't bar atmosphere and no departments stores. when the one road breaks down its a nightmare to travel in and out. there is also pretty consistent traffic on that road and traveling under 80 mph creates a hazard. a few of the local businesses have gone under recently, leaving some big holes in the existing shopping center.

the good:
super quiet area, very nice homes on larger lots than most of phoenix metro. housing is extremely affordable, and everything in the city is new. there are plans of more shopping centers, but very little started.

personally, if i were to buy a home in the area it would be north of phoenix or the chandler/gilbert area.

jco · 10-09-2007, 04:25 PM

I say no to Florence either way. If you're looking in Maricopa county Queen Creek, I vote for that. If you're not (Pinal county is less expensive), I vote for Maricopa. There are some nice areas of Queen Creek that are close to great shopping and attractions, but if you plan on going to out-in-the-boonies QC, I vote for Maricopa just because you're closer to "life".