Possible relo to Gilbert area (Mesa, Scottsdale: houses, neighborhoods, luxury)

[trekwars2000]

Hey. I've been searching some threads but figured I'd post our situation.

My wife and I are looking at possibly moving to PHX with my job being in Gilbert. We are in Vegas with two boys, 3rd grade and K. We currently live in a Guard Gated community on a 1/4 acre lot on a golf course 15-20 minutes SE of the strip (Green Valley if you know our valley) . I'm guessing with what we can sell our house for, it looks like we should have a home budget between 550 and 600K. My work specifically looks to be in Elliott and McQueen area. Some questions we have:

If we limit my commute to 15-20 minutes to work:
1) What specific area is going to have the best public (non-charter, just normal zoned) schools? Priority right now would be Elementary and Middle school. This work gig looks to be around 4 years before we would need to move again.
2) Are we going to be able to get a house with around a 1/4 acre lot? It looks at though most stuff has decent lots but 10000 sq ft+ seems few and far between.
3) Are there a lot of Guard Gated communities in this commute area? We are not stuck to guard gated communities but it has been a nice luxury to have.
4) Any other specific recommendations for neighborhoods?

If we expand my commute time to 30-35 minutes I'd ask the same questions above:
1) Schools?
2) Big Lots?
3) Guard Gated communities?
4) Any other comments?

And then while I don't want to be this far from work, if we expanded to 45 minutes do we gain anything significant by doing that?

Thanks in advance guys. We look forward to this exciting new change in our live - obviously stressed right now though. We have gotten down to PHX about once a year (football games, baseball, hockey etc) but I will be honest, we have never really gone east of downtown as we always come in from the NW side. The furthest east we have been is the Natural History Museum in Mesa and that basically seemed like a really old part of town (until we got into downtown Mesa) when we were on surface streets to the Museum.

[KurtAZ]

I honestly can't think of any "Guard Gated" communities in Chandler or Gilbert. Some of them have keypads...some of the retirement communities in Sun Lakes have someone at the gate.

1/4 acre most likely means you will be looking at either older homes or designated large lot developments. During the boom, developers were slamming up houses on postage stamp lots to get the most out of the land. Quick search on the "Z" site and it looks like Barrington on Cooper/Chandler Heights or Paseo Crossing on Riggs/McQueen. Those would be in CUSD (Chandler Unified School District). May be a couple out by Sossaman Estates on Power/Queen Creek Road. That would be in the Higley Unified School District.

Both school districts are rated well. Course that may not matter, we'll see how long they keep the kids distance learning. Supposed to go back October 13th but I am not holding my breath.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by trekwars2000

Hey. I've been searching some threads but figured I'd post our situation.

My wife and I are looking at possibly moving to PHX with my job being in Gilbert. We are in Vegas with two boys, 3rd grade and K. We currently live in a Guard Gated community on a 1/4 acre lot on a golf course 15-20 minutes SE of the strip (Green Valley if you know our valley) . I'm guessing with what we can sell our house for, it looks like we should have a home budget between 550 and 600K. My work specifically looks to be in Elliott and McQueen area. Some questions we have:

If we limit my commute to 15-20 minutes to work:
1) What specific area is going to have the best public (non-charter, just normal zoned) schools? Priority right now would be Elementary and Middle school. This work gig looks to be around 4 years before we would need to move again.
2) Are we going to be able to get a house with around a 1/4 acre lot? It looks at though most stuff has decent lots but 10000 sq ft+ seems few and far between.
3) Are there a lot of Guard Gated communities in this commute area? We are not stuck to guard gated communities but it has been a nice luxury to have.
4) Any other specific recommendations for neighborhoods?

If we expand my commute time to 30-35 minutes I'd ask the same questions above:
1) Schools?
2) Big Lots?
3) Guard Gated communities?
4) Any other comments?

And then while I don't want to be this far from work, if we expanded to 45 minutes do we gain anything significant by doing that?

Thanks in advance guys. We look forward to this exciting new change in our live - obviously stressed right now though. We have gotten down to PHX about once a year (football games, baseball, hockey etc) but I will be honest, we have never really gone east of downtown as we always come in from the NW side. The furthest east we have been is the Natural History Museum in Mesa and that basically seemed like a really old part of town (until we got into downtown Mesa) when we were on surface streets to the Museum.

With that location I would look Southeast in Gilbert or Southwest in Chandler. There are lots of electronic gated communities but not a lot of guard gated unless you look in Scottsdale or 55+ communities in Chandler or Gilbert. I would personally tell your Realtor to look for properties in the Chandler Unified School District, which is in Chandler and some of the more desirable parts of Gilbert.

There's a new build community in Gilbert called Waterston that has 15,000 sf lots and starts at $800,000 plus pool costs, upgrades etc so larger lot new builds may be over budget. I would look at resales and there should be options in that budget if you're willing to go with a 2-story resale that maybe needs updating. The areas I'm thinking of is as South as Riggs Rd from roughly Alma School on the West, East to Higley Rd. Anything in there should be around a 20 minute commute. You won't need to look as far as Riggs Rd I'm just giving you parameters.

[trekwars2000]

asufan and KurtAZ thanks for the quick replies. While researching at lunch I found that waterson and some other communities to include Ashland Ranch and Gilbert Ranch. Not sure how far south of 202 is "out there" or is nothing really out there?

I'll take a look more specifically at your areas when I get home and talk more with my wife. Thanks for the SD suggestions. It does seem like the more South and west we look the better the schools seem to be.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by trekwars2000

asufan and KurtAZ thanks for the quick replies. While researching at lunch I found that waterson and some other communities to include Ashland Ranch and Gilbert Ranch. Not sure how far south of 202 is "out there" or is nothing really out there?

I'll take a look more specifically at your areas when I get home and talk more with my wife. Thanks for the SD suggestions. It does seem like the more South and west we look the better the schools seem to be.

In Chandler, you definitely want to be South of the 202 IMO. This is the part of Chandler where the wealth is, houses are larger and newer, schools are highly rated, etc. North of the 202 is the older part of Chandler, lower income, lower performing schools comparatively.

In Gilbert the nice areas are really on either side of the freeway, Gilbert has a much smaller older area which is mostly around Gilbert Rd and Elliot Rd. Like I said, however, I personally would only consider areas in the Chandler School District, but Gilbert schools are not horrible by any means, I simply just trust the Chandler leadersip more. If you are LDS, Gilbert or Queen Creek may be preferred

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by trekwars2000

asufan and KurtAZ thanks for the quick replies. While researching at lunch I found that waterson and some other communities to include Ashland Ranch and Gilbert Ranch. Not sure how far south of 202 is "out there" or is nothing really out there?

I'll take a look more specifically at your areas when I get home and talk more with my wife. Thanks for the SD suggestions. It does seem like the more South and west we look the better the schools seem to be.

East Valley Districts tend to do pretty well. Queen Creek, Higley, Gilbert and Chandler Unified. There are some great charter schools in the area as well.

If you are looking for a new build (Waterson)...just remember that those upgrades come at a cost and may exceed the $600k budget you stated.

As far as the 202 is concerned...if you stay in the areas you are looking, it is all city. If you continue on the 202 past, say Power Rd? It starts getting a bit more sparse. If you are following Rittenhouse down towards Queen Creek though you are fine. I think that far out you are really going to be packing on the commute time though (i.e. Power Ranch, Chandler Heights, Seville area). On the flip side, if any of your kids are into horses, there are some really good riding stables and programs out that way.

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by trekwars2000

asufan and KurtAZ thanks for the quick replies. While researching at lunch I found that waterson and some other communities to include Ashland Ranch and Gilbert Ranch. Not sure how far south of 202 is "out there" or is nothing really out there?

I'll take a look more specifically at your areas when I get home and talk more with my wife. Thanks for the SD suggestions. It does seem like the more South and west we look the better the schools seem to be.

Ashland Ranch is a great community. Large homes and large lots; however, it's not gated. It is in a great location: close to 202 and right next door to San Tan Village (shopping, entertainment, eating, etc). Schools would be good too.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by asufan

In Chandler, you definitely want to be South of the 202 IMO. This is the part of Chandler where the wealth is, houses are larger and newer, schools are highly rated, etc. North of the 202 is the older part of Chandler, lower income, lower performing schools comparatively.

In Gilbert the nice areas are really on either side of the freeway, Gilbert has a much smaller older area which is mostly around Gilbert Rd and Elliot Rd. Like I said, however, I personally would only consider areas in the Chandler School District, but Gilbert schools are not horrible by any means, I simply just trust the Chandler leadership more. If you are LDS, Gilbert or Queen Creek may be preferred

Yeah but I think we are biased...I haven't found an area of town I would want to live in besides Ocotillo.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Yeah but I think we are biased...I haven't found an area of town I would want to live in besides Ocotillo.

I didn't want to say it but I think there's a little too much religion involved in the Gilbert schools leadership. That's my own concern not necessarily something the OP cares about. That's why I always say "in my personal opinion"

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

Ashland Ranch is a great community. Large homes and large lots; however, it's not gated. It is in a great location: close to 202 and right next door to San Tan Village (shopping, entertainment, eating, etc). Schools would be good too.

Can confirm, Ashland ranch is a great neighborhood and Ashland Ranch is a great school. Almost every store or restaurant you could ever want is within a mile or two as well.