Moving to PHX, job at the VA,where to live? (Phoenix: HOA, condos)

[hoodyb4.]

My wife and I are relocating to the Phoenix area from Nevada so we are familiar with the desert climate and know what expect there. I will be working at the VA hospital and would like advice and decent areas to live. Our budget 300-400k with no more than 25-30min commute. Schools not important, no high HOA's please, good shopping nearby (whole foods, trader joes, theaters) would be preferable.


Thanks!

[locolife]

Originally Posted by hoodyb4.

My wife and I are relocating to the Phoenix area from Nevada so we are familiar with the desert climate and know what expect there. I will be working at the VA hospital and would like advice and decent areas to live. Our budget 300-400k with no more than 25-30min commute. Schools not important, no high HOA's please, good shopping nearby (whole foods, trader joes, theaters) would be preferable.


Thanks!

You should live close to the VA, just North of it would be my pick if I worked in that area. I'd target the area of Central to 16th Street, North of roughly Camelback and south of roughly Glendale or maybe Northern. There's a nice renaissance happening in that area with tons of great eateries opening, there's a trader joes, whole foods and sprouts (roughly the same as trader joes) nearby, there's upscale shoping at the Biltmore and theaters there as well. Not sure if it matters or not but you'd also have tons of hiking/biking trails at phoenix mountain preserve nearly in your backyard plus being close to downtown Phoenix.

The homes in this area tend to be older, although there has been some infill development recently. The older areas have more options without HOAs, homes made out of brick (instead of standard issue stucco), and imo a lot more character. Finding something under 400k is possible but won't be as easy as the far flung suburbs or less desirable areas.

There are options though.

https://www.redfin.com/AZ/Phoenix/10.../home/27739626
https://www.redfin.com/AZ/Phoenix/60.../home/27618044
https://www.redfin.com/AZ/Phoenix/83.../home/27825314

[AZJoeD]

Certainly could use more detail. Besides budget, size, age, style of house desired. Also other ares of interest that are important to you. I assume since you do not want high HOA that condos & townhomes are out (there are some nice ones in N. Central)?

North Central is certainly worth a look. The homes will be older, but many have been remodeled and updated. $400K will be at the lower end of a nicely redone home. Madison Groves is a neighborhood that offers newer homes (circa 2000) but HOA is high at $195 mo. You get basic cable and front yard maintenance as part of the fee.

If you are into historic homes Encanto and North Encanto may offer some intriguing choices and you will be minutes away from work.

If you want a newer build you will likely have to look further north probably along the Rte 51 corridor. If you are willing to push your commute a few minutes you can look in the Desert Ridge area. There will be some nice choices there.

Here are some examples of N. Phoenix homes in your price range: N. Phoenix Homes

[hoodyb4.]

Thanks first of all. We could go up to 500k if house perfect fit. Would like home age no more than 20 years old 1500-2000 sq Ft. HOA no more than 50/mo. Preferably. we have dogs so No condo, townhomes. I will need to be no further than 30 min from VA. Commute so would 10-15 mi. seem reasonable with traffic there? What about Biltmore, Arcadia, Paradise Valley areas?

[locolife]

Originally Posted by hoodyb4.

Thanks first of all. We could go up to 500k if house perfect fit. Would like home age no more than 20 years old 1500-2000 sq Ft. HOA no more than 50/mo. Preferably. we have dogs so No condo, townhomes. I will need to be no further than 30 min from VA. Commute so would 10-15 mi. seem reasonable with traffic there? What about Biltmore, Arcadia, Paradise Valley areas?

Oh, if you can go to 500K then yeah, look around the Biltmore area. The places I mentioned before are probably older then 20 years but that avoids an HOA, newer subdivisions will almost always have an HOA but may or may not be over $50 per month depending on the amenities offered.

You could probably get away with Arcadia and PV and be right around 30 minutes taking a surface street like Camelback or Indian School over to the VA. I'm not sure how much you'll find for under $500K in PV though, I could be wrong (I've never looked too closely since that's way over my budget) but my impression is 500K doesn't go too far in PV proper. Arcadia isn't quite as bad but it's still close.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by locolife

Oh, if you can go to 500K then yeah, look around the Biltmore area. The places I mentioned before are probably older then 20 years but that avoids an HOA, newer subdivisions will almost always have an HOA but may or may not be over $50 per month depending on the amenities offered.

You could probably get away with Arcadia and PV and be right around 30 minutes taking a surface street like Camelback or Indian School over to the VA. I'm not sure how much you'll find for under $500K in PV though, I could be wrong (I've never looked too closely since that's way over my budget) but my impression is 500K doesn't go too far in PV proper. Arcadia isn't quite as bad but it's still close.

In PV proper you won't see much of anything at that price. Off the western and southern fringes of Arcadia, perhaps. Those homes will be older, but most have had some remodeling, and were really well built to start with.

[adriver]

You probably know its at indian school & 3rd ave-7th ave. You have a healthy budget for phoenix. You really should only worry about North (not past Northern) to East of the hospital (west of the loop 101). Your best bet is the camelback/Biltmore/arcadia/paradise valley area. If I had that budget I would be looking between the 51 and east of it to the 101, north of camelback south of Shea.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by adriver

You probably know its at indian school & 3rd ave-7th ave. You have a healthy budget for phoenix. You really should only worry about North (not past Northern) to East of the hospital (west of the loop 101). Your best bet is the camelback/Biltmore/arcadia/paradise valley area. If I had that budget I would be looking between the 51 and east of it to the 101, north of camelback south of Shea.

You mean 3rd st - 7th st.

[adriver]

Originally Posted by locolife

You mean 3rd st - 7th st.

yes.

[Kirman59]

BIG HElP. I will begin my Zillow search and go from there. Is Tempe too far commute from VA traffic wise. Prices seem fair there. Why is west PHX to be avoided in search? Crime? Commute?