Help me understand how far my dollar will go (Tucson: for sale, apartments)

[knrstz]

I am looking at taking a transfer with my job to the Tucson area. My wife and I have no kids and very little debt other than about $600 a month in car payments. What we would like to find is a small 1 or 2 bedroom condo, with at least one 3 sided carport (noticed there seem to be a lot of these) or 1 car garage. A second bedroom and garage would be nice but not a luxury. The thing we will not compromise on is being in a safe location. I would like to spend 100-125k. I don't expect to be surrounded by million dollar homes but I'd like a safe clean area that's not way outside city limits and relatively close to shopping. We would also buy a house but we like the hassle free lifestyle of a condo. I'd like the property to be relaitively clean and not in need of major interior work. But we don't mind paint and flooring if it's not possible to find something without this need. I typically have found that in the places I've lived previously, I can live cheaper than the median house price without living in the hood because we don't require multiple bedrooms and sq ftg. What do you think, can I find what I'm looking for in Tucson? Thanks for the replies.

[azdr0710]

I think you can find that...

it may be a condo conversion (former apartments), which might mean, possibly, lower quality and a bit of an apartment-ish appearance....plenty for sale like this, with some short sales and foreclosures in the complexes....

you'll have an HOA with dues if you go into a condo...may be more than $200/month, maybe....

look around, visit the places at night on a Friday, check if the HOA is financially strong or suffering because of past due owners, see if the complex "feels" good, neat, well-maintained.......

lots of choices....neighborhoods vary greatly, even block to block at times....most areas are entirely safe....you'll be able to tell when you visit by just looking around the area....the TPD website may have a crime report map that somebody here may link for you....I don't have it

[Marcy1210]

www.crimereports.com/map and you can enter the ZIP code or street address of any place you're interested in knowing more about.