Transfered to Phoenix--Need Help (Cave Creek: lease, house, neighborhood) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

emdav · 10-22-2009, 10:05 AM

I'm looking for a bit of advice. Dh has just been transfered to Phoenix. The job is located just off I-17 by the Metrocenter Mall. We would like to keep the commute to 40 minutes or less.

Here's our specifics: We have two children and living in a safe family area is important to us. Our son is autistic and we need to be in a school district that has strong autism programs. He is high functioning and has mainstreamed in the past but he is in a special ed classroom right now because of some major behavior problems. He does grade level work and we want a district that will actually educate him. Of course, we also want a strong district for our daughter. Living in the right school district is our most important criteria.

We will have about $360,000 in cash to buy a home. We would really like to stay under this. For the right situation, we would be willing to go up to $475,000 though.

Any suggestions on where to focus our housing search? Also, any recommendations for short term housing? We would be willing to sign a 6 month lease but that's about it. Thanks!

synapse · 10-22-2009, 11:22 AM

North of MetroCenter - probably towards the Desert Ridge area or Arrowhead areas along the 101 west and east of the I-17 interchange. Those are very nice areas with good schools. East of I-17, the area around Central and Camelback and northwards, is also very nice, and surprisingly green, for Phoenix.

SouthernBelleInUtah · 10-22-2009, 01:16 PM

You can check schools' ratings on www.GreatSchools.net (http://www.GreatSchools.net - broken link). They also list the office numbers so you can call the individual school to find out about special services aoffered; not to say the services are any good, just if they are offered at all. From the cities where I or family have lived, I'd have to say they are pretty accurate on the school ratings.

JH6 · 10-22-2009, 01:44 PM

Sign a 6 month lease, and look around for yourself.

Don't rush into a quarter million plus decision.

$375k will buy A LOT of house in this economy. You don't even need to spend half that much to get a real decent house.

SouthernBelleInUtah · 10-22-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinH

Sign a 6 month lease, and look around for yourself.

Don't rush into a quarter million plus decision.

$375k will buy A LOT of house in this economy. You don't even need to spend half that much to get a real decent house.

Good idea in general on renting first, but in their case they have to consider the special needs son and schools. It would likely be very disruptive to him to change schools again after movig here.

azjack · 10-22-2009, 04:53 PM

You should absolutely rent for the first year. It seems far more "disruptive" to hastily purchase something in a neighborhood that may turn out to be less than ideal. Or a school district that may be unsatisfactory, even if it has a strong reputation. I would contact groups that focus on children with autism and ask for advice on school choices. You are far more likely to come across several people in a similar position by doing that. Comfortably rent in the area that you choose, and if you decide to buy something there, you have a cash cushion to make the transition easier.

observer53 · 10-22-2009, 07:14 PM

Perhaps an organization such as this one can give you some advice on schools, as well as other resources you may need in the Phoenix area.

Autism Society of Greater Phoenix

Best of luck, and welcome!

aiwei · 10-22-2009, 07:38 PM

Strongly suggest you to follow advices from other posters on renting and contacting local autism society members on local schools' sp. ed. reputation.
Just because a school has an excellent grade on a education website, it does not mean its sp. ed. programs are as excellent. Remember: folks who would rate schools online are likely parents of mainstream students, not sp. ed. parents.

emdav · 10-22-2009, 09:05 PM

Thanks everyone. I will definitely contact autism families. I'm sure there are districts with reputations. Our neighborhood school is rated a 10 on greatschools but it wasn't a 10 with us. Our son now goes to a school that is rated a 3 and we are happy with it for him because it has special programs but we wouldn't want to send our daughter there. It would just be ideal for us if our kids could go to the same school because it's hard to have them at two different schools.

KarmaPhx · 10-23-2009, 10:50 PM

Your son has many places he can go for education and if needed after school programs that cater to children with special needs.

Boulder Creek elementary near Deer Valley and Cave Creek Rd has a great special education program, my fiance works with 6-7 kids who go to that school, and from the parents have told her its the best in the area.