Please tell me about Sandy, UT (Provo, Murray: fit in, short sales, apartment complexes)

[BethanyBlack]

I am new to this forum and having been reading other people's posts. I am looking to move out of Irvine, CA. and the area I am interested in most is Sandy, UT.

My name is Bethany and Im 26. Im currently engaged to my longtime guy. I usually get along with most people in most places. I am mostly conservative and vote republican and attend church but I also like some rock concerts, am pro animal rights, and have some tattoos. I dont drink, do drugs, or smoke. I work 45+ hours a week as a telemarketer and make $45,000/year. The rent for a one bedroom in my area is $1800/month+. 2 bedrooms cost about $2300/month. And a little studio cost about $1500/month. You pay a LOT to be close to a community college and university and lots of businesses and the sunny weather.

For how expensive Irvine is the city is actually not even that new and you are not even on a beach. I feel for the money it cost to live here I could get a lot more somewhere else. My finacee is open to moving anywhere I want to go and we have been talking about Sandy UT a lot.

I flew up to visit one time and ate at the Mayan place and saw the mall and stayed at a simple hotel (and got lost driving around most of the time!) I also visited the grocery store, wal mart, ross, starbucks. Just the basic things. I didnt really know what to look at or for and I only had the weekend to look at things, including travel time. I went in the spring also.

Now Im planning another trip to see UT in the winter time with my finacee. I want to make the most of my trip as I will only be there for another weekend (since we both cant miss time away from work). We want to fit in looking at some apartments in Sandy while we are there. Can you please suggest what are the nicest apartments you know of in Sandy for us to look at? The most upscale, safe area, apartments? Also are there any attractions we should look at while we are there?

Mostly we would like to know the major pros of the city and the major cons. We like that Sandy is near schools, malls, and is close to surrounding cities, has affording housing, and higher annual income (according to reports that are listed), and lower unemployment.
Our cons would be living in the snow and driving in the snow, inversions (we have heard a little bit about) and possibly needing to buy snow tires, not being LDS, and finding new jobs.

We thank you for the help!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

While there are separate cities in the valley, it's mostly just one huge urban sprawl. It's hard to know which city you are in if you aren't paying attention. There's no need to concentrate on Sandy alone!

Unless you really like driving to work, find the job first and then the apartment.

[kaytidid]

Why Sandy specifically? There are a lot of awesome cities up and down the Wasatch Front that are terrific!

[mlb]

Sandy does lack for apartment living. The only complex I know is on the frontage road of the I-15. And on State Street. And there are homes in my (foothill) neighborhood that are rentals (but only because they didn't sell).

What I would be concerned about - you will not make $45K in a telemarketing job in Utah. You'll be lucky to make $10 an hour. If you don't have a job lined up - that also will be problematic. The recession is real here. Same for your fiance.

However, in your favor - there are foreclosures and short sales all over the valley. Interest rates couldn't be lower. If you have enough for a downpayment - I'd buy a house.

And the others are right - there are great neighborhoods all throughout the valley.

When you come - you need to go up into the canyons and experience why many of us live here. No ocean - but mountains to die for.

Don't spend your time at the malls....

[MrAnderson]

Sandy has a few apartment complexes, check apartments.com, or ksl.com

Sandy is just a large suburb of Salt Lake. It's considered a bit of a 'higher end' suburb I suppose, along with South Jordan.

[sp2007]

All you need to know are 3 words

RIO
TINTO
STADIUM

Nuff said.

[chillami]

We've lived in several cities in Utah over the past 30 years and there is a difference. We lived in Murray which borders Salt Lake and really didn't like it. Provo and Utah County in general are great. We're in South Jordan now and love the area. South Jordan borders Sandy. Look at the map. I think just about anywhere from Sandy and to the south or Sandy are great. Job wise though, make sure you have something lined up before coming.