Considering a move to the West Valley from Gilbert (Phoenix: to rent, month to)

[aggiegirl92]

My husband and I moved from Seattle to Gilbert in May 2012. After visiting the West Valley, we're contemplating a move over there. Seems you can get a lot more house for your money. We work from home, so we don't have to stay in the Gilbert area. We visited Verrado and I loved it. But, we'd also like to have a place with a bit more land. The closeness of the houses around here drives my husband crazy.

So, after leaving Verrado, we drove over to Surprise and really liked it. I forget the name of the neighborhood we looked at, but we have since been looking online. Not sure if we will continue to rent or buy. Other than Surprise Farms, which is the one neighborhood that I seem to hear the most about, are there any other subdivisions that are best or that should be avoided?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by aggiegirl92

My husband and I moved from Seattle to Gilbert in May 2012. After visiting the West Valley, we're contemplating a move over there. Seems you can get a lot more house for your money. We work from home, so we don't have to stay in the Gilbert area. We visited Verrado and I loved it. But, we'd also like to have a place with a bit more land. The closeness of the houses around here drives my husband crazy.

So, after leaving Verrado, we drove over to Surprise and really liked it. I forget the name of the neighborhood we looked at, but we have since been looking online. Not sure if we will continue to rent or buy. Other than Surprise Farms, which is the one neighborhood that I seem to hear the most about, are there any other subdivisions that are best or that should be avoided?

Have you been to Estrella? For my money it is the best overall development on the west side and one of the few in the valley that has a self-contained community feel to it. There are several developments where the lots run 8K sf plus and then there are custom homes on 1/2 acre plus if you have the coin. I live there and my lot is 16K sf and is not a custom.

[ibarrio]

Litchfield Manor, Royal Ranch, Marley Park, Copper Canyon/Mountain Gate, Ranch Gabriela, Surprise Farms, Orchards, Sierra Verde are some of the better communities in Surprise. Mountain Gate being the most expensive/exclusive planned community (not including the retirement communities)

[LBTRS]

Agree with Ponderosa, outside of a couple age restricted communities Estrella is my favorite west valley development. Definitely worth checking out before you make your decision.

I worked in Surprise for three years and it was much too isolated from the rest of the valley for my taste. The 303 will make it better but it is still a haul to other parts of the valley you may need/want to travel to for one reason or the other.

[observer53]

Surprise is just too far from everything else for me. Estrella is a much better option to be closer to a wider variety of amenities, and just other cities in the Valley you might want to visit.

[aggiegirl92]

I have a friend who has a vacation home in Estrella, though I have never been out there. The pictures look absolutely gorgeous, but I was under the impression that it is pretty far off the freeway. Maybe I'm wrong? We have a little bit of time. Can move as early as July or go month to month where we are now. Just trying to assemble a few areas as possibilities so that we can venture out on weekends and check them out.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by observer53

Surprise is just too far from everything else for me. Estrella is a much better option to be closer to a wider variety of amenities, and just other cities in the Valley you might want to visit.

They both look very far out with Surprise APPEARING to be closer in. Is that not where Estrella is? It looks further out at least on the map.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by aggiegirl92

I have a friend who has a vacation home in Estrella, though I have never been out there. The pictures look absolutely gorgeous, but I was under the impression that it is pretty far off the freeway. Maybe I'm wrong? We have a little bit of time. Can move as early as July or go month to month where we are now. Just trying to assemble a few areas as possibilities so that we can venture out on weekends and check them out.

It's about 10-12 minutes off the freeway, though a few more if you decide to move to the newer parts down in the southern end.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

They both look very far out with Surprise APPEARING to be closer in. Is that not where Estrella is? It looks further out at least on the map.

I drive those ways to L. Pleasant all the time. It is about twice as long from I10 to Surprise as I-10 to Estrella (the map is not the way we go to I10 east, though). Where one is located in both places would matter too. The 303 link to I10 will help Surprise. The worst part right now is where the two come together. There is no easy way through there.

(and let me add that the last (or first) few miles from the Gila River home is a gorgeous, relaxing drive in Estrella. It is where we leave the city behind, unwind and come to appreciate why we live here)

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I drive those ways to L. Pleasant all the time. It is about twice as long from I10 to Surprise as I-10 to Estrella (the map is not the way we go to I10 east, though). Where one is located in both places would matter too. The 303 link to I10 will help Surprise. The worst part right now is where the two come together. There is no easy way through there.

(and let me add that the last (or first) few miles from the Gila River home is a gorgeous, relaxing drive in Estrella. It is where we leave the city behind, unwind and come to appreciate why we live here)

I want to check it out after hearing all its praises. Sounds like a nice spot. I guess it is far closer to central Phoenix, I was just surprised to hear that Surprise is further removed from the rest of the valley as it LOOKS like Estrella is way out there.