moving questions from chicago (Phoenix, Glendale: spring break, real estate, apartment complexes)

[butterflygirl2]

Hi! I am moving from chicago suburbs this summer granted I find a teaching job. I am visiting for a few days over spring break. I would like to know what places to avoid and what suburbs are safe. I am a single 40 year old woman but I am very active, love heat/outdoor weather activities. Act pretty young for my age and like to be around younger people. Not into the party scene but like to be in vicinity of things to do. Know I should live by my new job but still want input of unsafe suburbs and safer more fun areas. I am allergic to dogs and noticed that most apartment complexes allow pets which is a downer for me so any suggestions for non pet apartments would be helpful as well. I was told Scottsdale was nice but snobby so input would be helpful for that. How about tempe? North Scottsdale? Glendale? Any real estate agents that could help? Thanks in advance!

[butterflygirl2]

I meant north phoenix. I do have some friends in the area but get different opinions on it. One friend said to totally avoid phoenix while another one said by Laveen is ok. One friend said Scottsdale was great and another said it was snobby. I am not very much into material things so that type of environment would annoy me, but I also would not want to live where I would risk getting shot. I don't want to pay anymore than 700 a month for rent. Thanks again!

[wombattver]

It REALLY depends on where you're working. There are great places to live all over, whether you want central, East Valley, etc. You don't want to live in Scottsdale if you're working in Gilbert and vice versa!

[observer53]

Originally Posted by wombattver

It REALLY depends on where you're working. There are great places to live all over, whether you want central, East Valley, etc. You don't want to live in Scottsdale if you're working in Gilbert and vice versa!

This. But, just to address some issues, the friend who told you to totally avoid Phoenix was mistaken, and I wouldn't suggest to a single person to go live in Laveen, either. Scottsdale is not ALL "snobby". Lots of regular working class people live there. The controlling factors are going to be work location and budget. Tempe is great if it's near where you work. There are plenty of safe suburbs, and I would think you could find a place that didn't allow pets.

[thatguyoverther]

Originally Posted by observer53

This. But, just to address some issues, the friend who told you to totally avoid Phoenix was mistaken, and I wouldn't suggest to a single person to go live in Laveen, either. Scottsdale is not ALL "snobby". Lots of regular working class people live there. The controlling factors are going to be work location and budget. Tempe is great if it's near where you work. There are plenty of safe suburbs, and I would think you could find a place that didn't allow pets.

What Observer said. Most parts of Phoenix are fine. It's Laveen that I personally would avoid. If you plan on only spending $700 a month for rent, than Scottsdale is most likely out of your budget. Where ever your job is located, that's where I would be looking for apartments. You don't want to have to commute from one side of the valley to the other, much less everyday.

[AZgarden]

You are allergic to dogs so you are ruling out all places that allow animals? Really?? If they aren't in your apartment, how would they affect you?

[glitternsparkles]

Originally Posted by butterflygirl2

Hi! I am moving from chicago suburbs this summer granted I find a teaching job. I am visiting for a few days over spring break. I would like to know what places to avoid and what suburbs are safe. I am a single 40 year old woman but I am very active, love heat/outdoor weather activities. Act pretty young for my age and like to be around younger people. Not into the party scene but like to be in vicinity of things to do. Know I should live by my new job but still want input of unsafe suburbs and safer more fun areas. I am allergic to dogs and noticed that most apartment complexes allow pets which is a downer for me so any suggestions for non pet apartments would be helpful as well. I was told Scottsdale was nice but snobby so input would be helpful for that. How about tempe? North Scottsdale? Glendale? Any real estate agents that could help? Thanks in advance!

Scottsdale is snobby, and when you visit there you will get the feel that the city is filled with 30 thousandnaires.

I would not rent from an apartment community. Most accept pets. Make sure its a private owner that doesn't allow pets. Long story short, we rented somewhere, told carpet was professionally clean, turned out that was not the case, carpet infested with ticks from previous dog owner.

Quick note, Phoenix is not like Chicago. See in Chicago, you have stretches of bad neighborhoods, and you know to avoid them. However in Phoenix, bad neighborhoods are in pockets. I think you really need to call a real estate agent to give you the best advice.

[petroglyphin]

Originally Posted by thatguyoverther

What Observer said. Most parts of Phoenix are fine. It's Laveen that I personally would avoid. If you plan on only spending $700 a month for rent, than Scottsdale is most likely out of your budget. Where ever your job is located, that's where I would be looking for apartments. You don't want to have to commute from one side of the valley to the other, much less everyday.

Apartments can be had at that price in south Scottsdale fyi. Look east of hayden close to the old town area.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by glitternsparkles

Scottsdale is snobby, and when you visit there you will get the feel that the city is filled with 30 thousandnaires.

I would not rent from an apartment community. Most accept pets. Make sure its a private owner that doesn't allow pets. Long story short, we rented somewhere, told carpet was professionally clean, turned out that was not the case, carpet infested with ticks from previous dog owner.

Quick note, Phoenix is not like Chicago. See in Chicago, you have stretches of bad neighborhoods, and you know to avoid them. However in Phoenix, bad neighborhoods are in pockets. I think you really need to call a real estate agent to give you the best advice.

Been to west Scottsdale, or south or central Scottsdale, and dealt with people who actually live there, not the ones who drove over to see and be seen at a bar or restaurant? Doesn't sound like it.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by glitternsparkles

Scottsdale is snobby, and when you visit there you will get the feel that the city is filled with 30 thousandnaires.

I would not rent from an apartment community. Most accept pets. Make sure its a private owner that doesn't allow pets. Long story short, we rented somewhere, told carpet was professionally clean, turned out that was not the case, carpet infested with ticks from previous dog owner.

Quick note, Phoenix is not like Chicago. See in Chicago, you have stretches of bad neighborhoods, and you know to avoid them. However in Phoenix, bad neighborhoods are in pockets. I think you really need to call a real estate agent to give you the best advice.

[rude] Very few real estate agents will help you find a rental apartment (and your price range puts you in an apartment not a house) unless maybe you are looking to buy a house.

Even if you were to find a condo that is owned by a private owner, he/she can lie about the previous tenants as easily as a property manager. And they will.

And Scottsdale being snobby is a matter of opinion. Not everyone in Scottsdale is rich, nor are they poor. Mostly, they are just normal, good people, living their lives with a Scottsdale address because they like the area. And they should. Personally, I think for a single person, South Scottsdale near Old Town is a great place to live.

Most important piece of information that the OP needs to provide for GOOD, valid information is where they will be working.