Recommend areas around airport? (Tempe, Sun City: foreclosure, crime, mortgage)

[KatrynS]

Seriously considering a move to PHX. Would be transferring to PHX airport, so want to keep the commute livable (though likely won't be in rush hour traffic; fan of mass transit). We have 3 young kids, home schooling so schools don't matter but family friendliness (safety and parks, etc) does. Mom's in Sun City W, so would be nice to be a reasonable drive to there too, but the daily grind matters more than a weekly jaunt.

Looking in the $150-250K range, 3BR, 2000sqft+, more than a micro-yard, wish list includes either neighborhood pool or one at the house. Concerned about pre-1977 houses -- should I be?

Any suggestions on areas to look?

Thanks!

[roundball]

Originally Posted by KatrynS

fan of mass transit

Any suggestions on areas to look?

Valley Metro | System Map (http://www.valleymetro.org/schedules_and_maps/system_map/ - broken link) This info should help you narrow down your choices a bit.

[Howard Roark]

Look at 44th street north of Indian School Road. It's an easy drive to the airport. If you look around McDowell you will be discouraged to see houses with bars in the windows. That's the calling card of "crime is high here."

[gabygirl]

I visited recently and stayed near 52nd Street and Broadway. Drove around the area and *wow* I was surprised to see a sprinkling of nice/OK homes around. It's mostly an industrial park area, but that wouldn't bother me too much if I wanted a centrally located home with a short commute. Not many new looking homes, but maybe if you dig around the area you can find a little gem somewhere. Otherwise, I def. agree w recommendation of 44th St, N of Indian School.

[KatrynS]

Thanks for the suggestion, though it sounds like that area might be too "spotty". Is that true?

I'd rather have the cheapest house in a expensive area than the nicest house in a run-down area (not saying that area is run down...don't know).

What are the "white collar" family neighborhoods? Not ritzy, just educated. Don't mean to sound like a snob -- we have friends of all socia-eco-edu backgrounds and have lived in different types of neighborhoods, from verge-of-foreclosure-blue collar to golf course lots. But to be honest, being a SAHM with a PhD (consult PT, but I don't get the mental stimulation of a "real" workplace) I would love to have some college-educated folks (esp women) around my neighborhood to keep my brain sharp. BTW, I know that education is not the same as smart, but IMO folks who are struggling to "just get by" (regardless of income/ed, but lower ed often means lower income and more struggle) rarely seem to have the time or energy to think beyond getting by (if you are worried about how you'll pay your mortgage that month you are unlikely to be too concerned about some new scientific discovery in an obscure magazine).

No offense to anyone -- I'm just trying to express my preferences and perspective since I'm asking for your help!

[nickw252]

Getting a place on the METRO Rail would be a good idea especially since there is an extension connecting PHX directly to the train line:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/phoen...sky-train.html

[Finger Laker]

somewhere on the light rail could be favorable, but beware the further east you go on it the longer that drive to the inlaws will be - i honestly don't know enough about the neighborhoods near the stops in tempe/mesa to comment though

i live in goodyear and have an aunt in fountain hills - i don't see her that often in large part because it takes a long time to get out there

also, are you avoiding rush hour traffic because you're work hours or because you like public transport?

if you will be working during rush hour and plan on using public transport aside from the light rail to get to/from the airport, note that it's not overly efficient in phoenix and can end up taking longer in many cases as buses pretty much run on the same streets as everyone else

[AZJoeD]

Look in the areas around Awatukee and South Mountain. Not too bad of a commute and affordable with good schools, stable housing prices. Tempe is also very nice, but the nicer areas are pricey (maybe out of your range).

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by KatrynS

Thanks for the suggestion, though it sounds like that area might be too "spotty". Is that true?

I'd rather have the cheapest house in a expensive area than the nicest house in a run-down area (not saying that area is run down...don't know).

What are the "white collar" family neighborhoods? Not ritzy, just educated. Don't mean to sound like a snob -- we have friends of all socia-eco-edu backgrounds and have lived in different types of neighborhoods, from verge-of-foreclosure-blue collar to golf course lots. But to be honest, being a SAHM with a PhD (consult PT, but I don't get the mental stimulation of a "real" workplace) I would love to have some college-educated folks (esp women) around my neighborhood to keep my brain sharp. BTW, I know that education is not the same as smart, but IMO folks who are struggling to "just get by" (regardless of income/ed, but lower ed often means lower income and more struggle) rarely seem to have the time or energy to think beyond getting by (if you are worried about how you'll pay your mortgage that month you are unlikely to be too concerned about some new scientific discovery in an obscure magazine).

No offense to anyone -- I'm just trying to express my preferences and perspective since I'm asking for your help!

I would recommend areas in Tempe which is a nice area near the airport, but you post puts me off.

[KatrynS]

Thanks for the replies!

We're not dependent on mass transit -- right now DH drives 10mi to a P&R to catch an express bus the remaining 12mi. I just know he'd much rather spend (even part) of his commute reading or listening to podcasts on a bus/train rather than sitting in traffic behind the wheel. But just one consideration.

He tends to work off-hours, so avoiding the heaviest rush hour shouldn't be a problem.

Yikes! Seems like the trouble with PHX may be having too many options! A good problem to have.