Bell and Tatum area (Mesa, Chandler: cul-de-sac, real estate, HOA)

[DetroitN8V]

Hi, we've seen some nice homes in the this area of 85254 but I'm a bit concerned with the area. Can anyone give me some insight to either validate my concern or tell me I'm crazy? Some of the streets seem a bit run down with cars in the yard, junk strewn about, etc. Is this really as nice of an area as people say or is the "magic zip code" just an excuse to charge more for an average/sub-par area? Thanks in advance for talking me off the ledge!

[imartin26]

I live right down the road, Thunderbird and Tatum. It is definately an older area, my house was built in 81 and some of the areas can look a little run down like the block walls and some of the houses. In my area people maintain their houses very well so I dont have problems with cars in the yard and junk strewn about but I also did my research, talked to the neighbors and drove all around the area where we bought. Being that my area doesnt have a HOA there is always the posibilty that there will be messy houses with lousy neighbors but with a little foot work you can at least lower the odds of living near that.

It made me laugh, one of my neighbors came over when we were moving in and said "yay, I'm finally not the new guy on the block anymore". I asked how long they have lived here and he said "oh, a little over 15 years".

The good thing that I think sets this area apart is its location.. I am next to PV mall, 4 miles from Desert Ridge, 4 or 5 miles for Kierland Commons... there are tons of restaurants and other things to do. And for me it is even a bigger plus since I am 4 miles from work.

[Bondurant]

If you mean the area around Bell & Tatum specifically it's a nice area. If you expand further, say between 7th St & 51 along Bell, you'll get a little bit of everything from trailers to houses in shambles to expensive homes.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by imartin26

I live right down the road, Thunderbird and Tatum. It is definately an older area, my house was built in 81 and some of the areas can look a little run down like the block walls and some of the houses. In my area people maintain their houses very well so I dont have problems with cars in the yard and junk strewn about but I also did my research, talked to the neighbors and drove all around the area where we bought. Being that my area doesnt have a HOA there is always the posibilty that there will be messy houses with lousy neighbors but with a little foot work you can at least lower the odds of living near that.

It made me laugh, one of my neighbors came over when we were moving in and said "yay, I'm finally not the new guy on the block anymore". I asked how long they have lived here and he said "oh, a little over 15 years".

The good thing that I think sets this area apart is its location.. I am next to PV mall, 4 miles from Desert Ridge, 4 or 5 miles for Kierland Commons... there are tons of restaurants and other things to do. And for me it is even a bigger plus since I am 4 miles from work.

Funny! The location is great and close to just about everywhere we would want to go. I'm just not sure I'm completely comfortable with the area. Maybe it will grow on me.

Aside from my (probably petty) issues with the aesthetic of the area, have you had any issues with crime?

Originally Posted by Bondurant

If you mean the area around Bell & Tatum specifically it's a nice area. If you expand further, say between 7th St & 51 along Bell, you'll get a little bit of everything from trailers to houses in shambles to expensive homes.

I'm looking in 85254 so that would be east of Tatum. Actually the neighborhoods closer to 56th St. and Bell would be a more accurate description.

[imartin26]

No crime issues in the last 20 or so years, my neighbor said that when he bought his wife a corvette back in the 80's that someone broke the window and stole her radio, but other then that nothing in my cul-de-sac. I have only been here for 6 months now but I really like it so far, the schools are outstanding and the people are very nice. It is a little hard to get use to an older area of town when everything I had lived in before was new builds, however those houses all were on the edges of town.. Southeast Chandler and Northeast Mesa, they both required a long drive to get to anything so it is a welcome change to have so many things avaiable to me and no longer having between a 30 and 35 mile commute each way.

[newfrontalex]

I have lived near Tatum and Bell for the better part of last 20 years or so (off and on). There simply is minimal crime to speak of. Most people go after 85254, when in fact, 85050 is the better (read: newer) community. Most people don't know that "Those Callaways" a real estate firm in town came up with thr marketing trick known as "The Magic 85254" as a way to drum up business for themselves. While nice, 85254 is really overpriced and the homes are old, and many need significant improvent. Buy a home in 85050 and you will be thanking your buddy Alex for years to come.

[newfrontalex]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Funny! The location is great and close to just about everywhere we would want to go. I'm just not sure I'm completely comfortable with the area. Maybe it will grow on me.

Aside from my (probably petty) issues with the aesthetic of the area, have you had any issues with crime?



I'm looking in 85254 so that would be east of Tatum. Actually the neighborhoods closer to 56th St. and Bell would be a more accurate description.

Just caught this. Neighborhoods north of Bell are much newer than those South of Bell. So NW corner and NE corners of 56th and Bell have amazing homes. East of 58th (north of Bell) you have 80s homes but definitely not trash, and then after 60th you have newer homes again. Either way, that whole are is pretty damn nice (maybe a bit expensive). If you give me your price range, I can tell you better details about each specific block in 85254.

[imartin26]

Honestly when we were looking I didn't see much in that are that I liked, at least that I could afford. Didn't like any of the areas south of the 101, I did like the area around Desert Ridge but the houses we were looking at were way of my budget. To each his own though, it you find something you like then go for it..

[newfrontalex]

Originally Posted by imartin26

Honestly when we were looking I didn't see much in that are that I liked, at least that I could afford. Didn't like any of the areas south of the 101, I did like the area around Desert Ridge but the houses we were looking at were way of my budget. To each his own though, it you find something you like then go for it..

I think you have a point. To each his own is right, but it really comes down to price.

[imartin26]

Yeah and it looks like the longer people wait anymore the more they are going to pay... Good for those who own homes not so much for those who are looking.