Nice apartments near scottsdale? (Phoenix, Tempe: apartment complex, rentals, lofts)

[useyourbrian]

Hey everyone,

I'm planning on moving to AZ in the next year or so (I lived there for semester about 2 years ago, so I know the Tempe area a bit) and am currently browsing through apartments so I have a general idea of what to expect/places to check out next summer.

Ideally what I'm looking for is something close to shopping and a few restaurants within walking distance, 1 BR or maybe a studio, for about $800/mo give or take a few hundred. I'm going to be 22 when I get out there, but would really like to avoid the whole college kid/bar scene.
Right now I think I like the Scottsdale area, and would really love to be near Scottsdale Fashion Square or similar shopping centers.

So far my list includes Trillium Papago, Alta Phoenix Lofts, Ninety Degrees, and Grigio (even though Ive heard horror stories about it) and I just looked at Optima Camelview...but that seems a bit out of my price range =P Any thoughts on these places or new suggestions?

Thanks a million!

[ivanabacowboy]

90 degrees is nice if you mean the one up off Mayo. It is new-I think it just opened last year or very early this year. I actually live right next door at Desert Club. There is another complex right behind 90 Degrees that is also new called Barossa at Paradise Ridge. Also if you are interested in this part of town, try Shade at Desert Ridge. Also suggest any of the apartments at Kierland-Legend, Tradition or Paragon. CityNorth (right next to Desert Ridge) also does rentals-another variation on the "loft over retail"-not sure what rental rates are there tho. At any of these, you may definitely be looking north of $800, but you can often get "incentives" that bring the rent down considerably.

I love where I live. Right across from Mayo/101 plaza-ie movie theater, stores, restaurants, Whole Foods. Kierland is just down Scottsdale Rd. And I also like Desert Ridge-just a few miles west. The name of the game in this part of town IS restaurants and shopping and resorts and golf courses. I could give up my car and walk to a different restaurant every night for dinner (provided it isnt 115' lol!)---->and not go to the same place twice for probably....years. No "bar scene" up here. Basically very nice restaurants with cool bars if you want liquid refreshment.

This puts you only about 10 miles north of Fashion Square.

There was recently another poster looking at some apartments that were supposed to be pretty nice on Camelback just east of Fashion Square. But I don't remember the name.

Optima Camelview are gorgeous, but those are condos. I know they sell for a decent chunk of change, so I could imagine any that are being rented aren't cheap either.

Also, make sure you factor in where you will be working. You could end up with one monster commute by choosing where you live before you find where you will be working.

[TransporterG]

I have a friend who lives in a very nice gated apartment complex on Thomas and 44th. Great location for downtown scottsdale (bars, restaurants, fashion square, eye candy galore), and much closer to the airport and central PHX than north scottsdale. She has a 3 Bedroom, cool layout with a nice balcony that costs $1100 per month. Nice facilities and pool.

[useyourbrian]

Thanks for all your help guys! Good to know that it is indeed a good part of town. CityNorth looks absolutely amazing, but a bit out of my price range haha

Shade and Barossa look really nice and reasonably priced, I'll definitely add them to my list ^_^