Moving to Phoenix in June (Apartments) (Scottsdale, Tempe: condos, home, scorpion)

[kwhitegocubs]

Hello all,

I landed a job in Phoenix. Work is located near the intersection of N. Central and Thomas. I have a moderate (and admittedly irrational) dislike of bugs/spiders/scorpions, but conversely a love of the outdoors and the mountains. I also have a small dog.

I don't want to live TOO far away from work and I'd prefer to keep my total monthly Housing/SWG/Electric bill averaging $1000 or less. I could spend more, but I'd like to save instead, heh. I only need a one bedroom apartment (and would probably benefit from a smaller apartment due to cooling costs). I'm sure I'll rack up big bills in the summer, because I like my apartment 65-68 degrees, but I'll never use the heating in the winter.

In any case, what suggestions do people have for apartments and locations? I've gone to apartmentratings.com and done my research but such a huge percentage of the reviews appear to be from management (five reviews appearing in two days, all with similar or identical phrases scattered throughout, obsession with praising management rather than the apartments themselves). It's a perfect example of a market failure (information cannot be transmitted uncorrupted to allow consumers to make rational decisions, self-selection biases, sample size issues), but I digress. It's a tool I'm using but not relying upon.

I've been looking at a few locations.

1. The Papago Peaks area. It's a pretty direct and easy commute, and seems like it would rarely exceed 25 minutes, but it's also more "out there" near hiking and the park. Specifically, Red Rox condos, Belaflora Condos, Riverwalk Apartments/Condos, and Red Mountain Villas. Red Mountain Villas are the cheapest (starting at $614), with Red Rox being larger and running $850 or so.

2. The apartments near to Piestewa Peak, mostly the large corridor of apartments on 16th Street running between Bethany Home and Northern. Capella Place is the cheapest (12th and Bethany) that looks decent, and I'm also looking at "Oasis in the City" (which includes utilities and seems to be well-reviewed), and Cabana at the Pointe, which is very much near the mountain. Mission Palms is another apparent option. All these seem to run about $700.

3. Stuff closer to downtown. Citi in Camelback was recommended to me but is a bit over the price range. I'm also interested in the two "forest" properties - Fountains in the Green and Forest Park, which have studios including utilities for $600 and 1-bedrooms for $750-$800. My only concern is the utilities issue - i.e. when they turn on the cooling and the heat may be too early and too late respectively for my northern blood.

Promontory Pointe - which is pretty far north on the other side of the Preserve - also appeals to me, but it apparently has a scorpion issue (roaches pale in comparison; unsavory vs. painful with scorpions).

Other apartments with less than a 30 minute commute would also be "in play", but I don't want to live in downtown-downtown. Thus, I'd also prefer not to live on the other side of downtown and have to commute through it (which basically eliminates anything South).

Sorry, this was a long post, but I'm open to any ideas. I need to have this pretty much arranged or narrowed-down by the time I move in June.

[w8game]

I lived at Red Rox and rented through the owner of the unit. It was a nice unit and I liked the location. I would cross the street into Papago and take a hike weekly. It is super close to the airport, Tempe, and South Scottsdale. I paid $725 for a one bedroom unit.

[kwhitegocubs]

Originally Posted by w8game

I lived at Red Rox and rented through the owner of the unit. It was a nice unit and I liked the location. I would cross the street into Papago and take a hike weekly. It is super close to the airport, Tempe, and South Scottsdale. I paid $725 for a one bedroom unit.

Whoa, that sounds perfect. If I got a Red Rox condo for $725, my search would be over I think.

[w8game]

I went through a realtor to find the place. Check Zillow or Trulia.