Cheap, but safe family friendly living? (Phoenix, Scottsdale: apartment complex, to rent, daycare)

[whimsywynn]

Hello!

I'm a single mom with a six-year-old child. I need to find an apartment or townhome in the general phoenix area that's cheap, around 600$, but is clean, in a safe area with good (or at least not terrible) schools, and is pet and family friendly.
Does such a thing exist? If anyone can help me, I need specific apartment complexes, there are so many I've combed through and it's impossible to tell online which are reputable and which are infested with cockroaches and the like.

All other amenities secondary, I'm just looking for a place I can afford that will be a good, clean, place to raise my kid.

Thanks!

[Jkgourmet]

Where are you working? Is a one bedroom acceptable (the answer needs to be Yes.)

Pets?!!? How many and what kind?

Why are you moving to Phoenix?

[whimsywynn]

I'm not sure where I'll be working, but I don't mind a commute. Right now I'm working near Arrowhead area, and live in Surprise, but the job is temporary.

Yes! One bedroom is my plan for now.

I have a cat. If it comes down to it I could rehome but I really really don't want to.

I'm moving out of Surprise due to divorce.

[ScottsdaleMark]

I don't think all of what you want exists at that price, unfortunately, but certainly you want to do the best you can. Since you work kind of far out from the city center, definitely look further out in the suburbs if you can.

I say that because I did a search for 600 or less on an apartment website for all of Phoenix proper, and almost all of the listings were in the worst parts of Phoenix, and even then they only offered a studio or one bedroom for that price. So, I wouldn't hold out much hope for moving closer to downtown and I'd look more in the northwest Valley since you're familiar with it and the schools are better there than in Maryvale, etc.

I'd try to find the cheapest apartment complex in your area and see what you can get. An old, run-down apartment in the northwest Valley is better than a nicer/newer apartment in a really bad part of Phoenix, in my opinion. Maybe you can find a trailer or an old duplex or smaller complex that's in an okay town/neighborhood but is affordable because it's old or small or doesn't look great. That's what I'd look for, anyway.

I think your best bet is to look up school district boundaries and just start searching on apartment sites for your price range throughout the NW Valley to see if you can find anything. You can always come back to us here and ask about specific neighborhoods and school districts, and at that point we can give further guidance.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by ScottsdaleMark

I don't think all of what you want exists at that price, unfortunately, but certainly you want to do the best you can. Since you work kind of far out from the city center, definitely look further out in the suburbs if you can.

I say that because I did a search for 600 or less on an apartment website for all of Phoenix proper, and almost all of the listings were in the worst parts of Phoenix, and even then they only offered a studio or one bedroom for that price. So, I wouldn't hold out much hope for moving closer to downtown and I'd look more in the northwest Valley since you're familiar with it and the schools are better there than in Maryvale, etc.

I'd try to find the cheapest apartment complex in your area and see what you can get. An old, run-down apartment in the northwest Valley is better than a nicer/newer apartment in a really bad part of Phoenix, in my opinion. Maybe you can find a trailer or an old duplex or smaller complex that's in an okay town/neighborhood but is affordable because it's old or small or doesn't look great. That's what I'd look for, anyway.

I think your best bet is to look up school district boundaries and just start searching on apartment sites for your price range throughout the NW Valley to see if you can find anything. You can always come back to us here and ask about specific neighborhoods and school districts, and at that point we can give further guidance.

This is really sound advice.

[smoochaz]

Maybe you can find a casita to rent instead from a family that can use the extra money. This would be a better environment than an apartment at that price. Daycare is expensive too - here's a website to hopefully give you some resources to help with expenses that come post divorce - best of luck!

https://www.aidforsinglemothers.net/...ivorced-women/