Looking for info on Goodyear, Buckeye and Surprise (Phoenix, Tucson: crime rates, houses)

[AZHunter]

We are considering a move to Arizona this year. Going out to AZ this April to check out the various cities. I have family that lives in Arizona and they love it, so we are considering a move there as well. I'm asking for opinions on Goodyear, Buckeye and Surprise as they seem to have some nice homes with prices in our range (would like to stay around $200k). I work from home, so commute is not an issue. Husband took an early retirement, so no commute for him either. No children - well no human kids, we do have two large furry dogs! :-)

We are both around 50 years of age. We prefer the quiet life away from the hussle and bussle of things, but would like to be able to drive to the city if we wanted to get out every once in a while to do something. We do like to dine out a lot, so some local restaurants are important to us. We also need to be in a neighborhood that has fencing between all the houses as we have two dogs. I noticed online a lot of houses have only partial fencing, not always separating the yards fully from one another - don't know if that's just a community thing depending on which community you move to. We pretty much like to keep to ourselves, so we don't need to be in a community that tries to get everyone together and socialize. I guess we are more homebodies.

Any insights on these three cities comparing them and the pros and cons would be appreciated. Or if someone has other suggestions for cities we should also check out, please let me know.

Thanks!

[LBTRS]

My vote would be Goodyear, Surprise and Buckeye in that order. Goodyear is easier to get to the rest of the valley and where we live.

Surprise is very nice but too detached for my liking.

[AZHunter]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

My vote would be Goodyear, Surprise and Buckeye in that order. Goodyear is easier to get to the rest of the valley and where we live.

Surprise is very nice but too detached for my liking.

Thanks for the input. I'm excited about checking out these areas when I am out there in a couple of weeks.

[Dewey59]

It really depends on what part of each city you live in.... They all have good areas and bad. I think Surprise has the fewest bad areas, but you really will need to explore them for yourself. You should also consider what amenities you would want close by.

They all have good shopping and restaurants, but is there any thing else that would be important? Entertainment venues? Medical? Freeway access to other areas? etc. Also check into property taxes, crime rates, traffic issues, etc.

You would have more responses posting this in the Phoenix forum. Maybe a moderator will move it for you.

[AZHunter]

Originally Posted by Dewey59

It really depends on what part of each city you live in.... They all have good areas and bad. I think Surprise has the fewest bad areas, but you really will need to explore them for yourself. You should also consider what amenities you would want close by.

They all have good shopping and restaurants, but is there any thing else that would be important? Entertainment venues? Medical? Freeway access to other areas? etc. Also check into property taxes, crime rates, traffic issues, etc.

You would have more responses posting this in the Phoenix forum. Maybe a moderator will move it for you.

Thanks Dewey. As far as amenities, as long as there are some decent restaurants to go out to eat at, we are good. Nothing fancy, but not just fast food places either. Other than that, having a grocery store within 5 miles would be great (that's how far we drive right now to a grocery store, so we are okay with that). Willing to drive to medical/doctor's office when we have to, so that doesn't need to be super close to where we end up living.

Out of these three cities, the property taxes seem to be the best in Buckeye for the houses I have been looking at online. I have been reading about the traffic issues associated with places like Surprise, getting in and out. But again, since we don't have to drive in to an office for work, I'm not too concerned about that. If we have to deal with traffic occasionally when we do venture out some place, we are okay with that since it's not a daily thing for us.

In addition to these Phoenix area cities, we have also been looking down at Oro Valley and Marana since I have family down there as well. However, it appears to be a little more expensive down there with higher property taxes, especially in Oro Valley, which is why were have been focusing more on these Phoenix areas. But I will definitely be checking out the Oro Valley area too when I'm out there this month. Having the scenery of the mountains all around is very appealing to us.

Any input from others would be appreciated. And if the moderator wants to move this to the Phoenix forum as Dewey suggested to get more responses, that would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Clips222]

Originally Posted by AZHunter

We are considering a move to Arizona this year. Going out to AZ this April to check out the various cities. I have family that lives in Arizona and they love it, so we are considering a move there as well. I'm asking for opinions on Goodyear, Buckeye and Surprise as they seem to have some nice homes with prices in our range (would like to stay around $200k). I work from home, so commute is not an issue. Husband took an early retirement, so no commute for him either. No children - well no human kids, we do have two large furry dogs! :-)

We are both around 50 years of age. We prefer the quiet life away from the hussle and bussle of things, but would like to be able to drive to the city if we wanted to get out every once in a while to do something. We do like to dine out a lot, so some local restaurants are important to us. We also need to be in a neighborhood that has fencing between all the houses as we have two dogs. I noticed online a lot of houses have only partial fencing, not always separating the yards fully from one another - don't know if that's just a community thing depending on which community you move to. We pretty much like to keep to ourselves, so we don't need to be in a community that tries to get everyone together and socialize. I guess we are more homebodies.

Any insights on these three cities comparing them and the pros and cons would be appreciated. Or if someone has other suggestions for cities we should also check out, please let me know.

Thanks!

You should look into Oro Valley, I am. Hard. Here is a tool that might help you decide where is best for you.

I am using it EXCLUSIVELY to make my decision.


Arizona Demographics

[AZHunter]

Originally Posted by Clips222

You should look into Oro Valley, I am. Hard. Here is a tool that might help you decide where is best for you.

I am using it EXCLUSIVELY to make my decision.

Arizona Demographics

Thanks. I am definitely going to check out Oro Valley when I'm out there this month as I have a cousin that lives there and I will be visiting him. Starting out up in Phoenix with another cousin that lives in Buckeye and then making my way down to Oro Valley. I really like the view of the mountain in Oro Valley so I'm looking forward to checking out the surrounding area there.

[Clips222]

Originally Posted by AZHunter

Thanks. I am definitely going to check out Oro Valley when I'm out there this month as I have a cousin that lives there and I will be visiting him. Starting out up in Phoenix with another cousin that lives in Buckeye and then making my way down to Oro Valley. I really like the view of the mountain in Oro Valley so I'm looking forward to checking out the surrounding area there.

Oro is beautiful. So far, nothing else compares to that landscape. My only concern is- the critters. There are many. I am not one who likes to wear shoes, so I don't know how well I would like that, but I just can't get past that landscape...

I was born in Tucson, but will avoid it at this point in my life. Raised in Phoenix, moved away 20+ years ago.

I will buy in an area settled with no new construction to lessen the roaming of scorpions. They, out of everything else, concern me the most. Not worried about the Javelina, snakes, cockroaches, etc. Mildly concerned about the Tarantula Hawks. Something you cannot 'spray' for.

Have to sell my home here first though...

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Clips222

Oro is beautiful. So far, nothing else compares to that landscape. My only concern is- the critters. There are many. I am not one who likes to wear shoes, so I don't know how well I would like that, but I just can't get past that landscape...

I was born in Tucson, but will avoid it at this point in my life. Raised in Phoenix, moved away 20+ years ago.

I will buy in an area settled with no new construction to lessen the roaming of scorpions. They, out of everything else, concern me the most. Not worried about the Javelina, snakes, cockroaches, etc. Mildly concerned about the Tarantula Hawks. Something you cannot 'spray' for.

Have to sell my home here first though...

Oh, good gawd. I've never heard of a tarantula hawk. I looked it up and they look really freaky and have a bad sting. Ick! We do have scorpions in Texas and I've been stung several times by one. They totally give me the creeps.

[AZHunter]

Originally Posted by Clips222

Oro is beautiful. So far, nothing else compares to that landscape. My only concern is- the critters. There are many. I am not one who likes to wear shoes, so I don't know how well I would like that, but I just can't get past that landscape...

I was born in Tucson, but will avoid it at this point in my life. Raised in Phoenix, moved away 20+ years ago.

I will buy in an area settled with no new construction to lessen the roaming of scorpions. They, out of everything else, concern me the most. Not worried about the Javelina, snakes, cockroaches, etc. Mildly concerned about the Tarantula Hawks. Something you cannot 'spray' for.

Have to sell my home here first though...

Okay, so that was one question I had, does Oro/Tucson really have more of the creepy critters than up near Phoenix? Or will I be battling them no matter where in AZ I live?