Phoenix, arizona

johnnywishbone · johnnywishbone's Garage

i was going to try to find a home with a 4 car garage. near phoenix is an area named "SURPRISE". anyone have anything, good or not so good to say? it seems i could almost afford a home there, as long as i don't eat much. thanks, jp

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

it will be a "SURPRISE" trust me. maybe rick lee can comment on this. LOL!

i as a "native" have NOTHING GOOD to say about surprise. soory i call them the way i see them.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Surprise is pretty far from Phoenix, especially if you commute. I think it's a good 50 miles from where I live. But there are plenty of houses out here with four car garages.

Rufblackbird · 02-23-2010, 07:33 PM

isn't Surprise mainly a retirement community? We had actually wanted to stop by a walmart to get ice for the cooler before heading back to CA, and considered going to ones in Surprise, but after reading the only reviews we decided to stop at the Glendale one instead...

Joeaksa · 02-24-2010, 05:26 AM

Talk with Eric who just helped Ruf in looking for houses.

They even found one with an EIGHT car garage!

Am guessing that you are FAR too young for Surprise. Its more of a 65 and above community.

ODDJOB UNO · ODDJOB UNO's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Talk with Eric who just helped Ruf in looking for houses.

They even found one with an EIGHT car garage!

Am guessing that you are FAR too young for Surprise. Its more of a 65 and above community.

my exact sentiments. its a good place just like carefree to get KILLED by some MORON snowbird flatlander that should have had his/her license PULLED/YANKED years ago.

the juans doing 35 in the 55mph zone especially endear themselves to me.

Eric Coffey · 02-24-2010, 10:27 AM

I'd have to agree with the previous sentiments. It is way, way out in the NW valley, and is flanked by very large retirement communities (not one in/of itself). It's most noteworthy now as the MLB spring-training home for the Royals and Rangers. It's also popular with Air Force folks, as it's a straight shot down the 303 to Luke AFB. If you will be commuting, or have/want to be somewhat close to metro Phoenix/the airport/the East Valley, I'd say there are much better locales to consider.

Joeaksa · 12:57 PM

Johnny,

A couple of questions. What are you looking for? Believe that you are a couple of years older than I am, but sure not ready for the "blue hair" retirement districts like Surprise?

Totally agree with you about looking in the North part of the area but personally I would look where Rick is focusing (I-17 and Carefree road area) or even Anthem or New River.

Need to know a bit more about you and your needs. Do you have a couple of cars and never work on them, or do you have 3-4 cars and enjoy working on them in your spare time? Reason I ask is that many areas in the Sunrise area are very strict with what you can do in the area and do not even think about working on a car at the house. I want a place where I can have 3-4 cars, a couple of motorcycles and trailer to move them on if needed, and thats not allowed where I live, just East of Deer Valley Airport. One thing for sure, please focus NORTH of the Highway 101 loop.

I am buying a place in the Wickenburg area to retire in and like that area but its a good hours drive outside of town. For me that's what I want, fewer people the better, but not everyone wants this.

Joe A

Rufblackbird · 02-24-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Talk with Eric who just helped Ruf in looking for houses.

They even found one with an EIGHT car garage!

SHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Nobody else needs to know!!!!

just had the recall crap done on the Tundra today, and it's going on ebay tonight. once it sells.....hello AZ!

Joeaksa · 02-24-2010, 02:07 PM

Hey, if there is one house there are others. Maybe Johnny needs one with TEN garage slots!

Rufblackbird · 02-24-2010, 04:13 PM

funny you should mention that...Eric sent me a listing last night where the house had 3 separate garages with enough room for 13 cars...

too bad it's sitting on land zoned for a mobile home park, just below the 101 loop. Not a bad backup to the 8 car one though...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

I am buying a place in the Wickenburg area to retire in and like that area but its a good hours drive outside of town. For me that's what I want, fewer people the better, but not everyone wants this.

If I could talk the wife into it, you and I could be neighbors there and still not be able to hear each other's gunfire in the front yards. Someday.

johnnywishbone · johnnywishbone's Garage

I will be 66 in october. My reason for looking at the surprise area was
the garage. That, and possible ecscape from smog and firearm nazis. I don't even want the washer/dryer in the garage. Just good stuff. So, from what i've read here, a healthy harley and a b&b twin out 930 would be frowned on in the old people community. A zork would be out of the question? I've never lived in a housing tract. Always in the stix. I don't want to learn a lesson the hard way, so appreciate your observations. Thanks, jp

Rufblackbird · 02-24-2010, 11:39 PM

While I don't think the smog people in AZ are as nazi as the ones in CA, i'll let the current local residents chime in on that.

That said, there is smog testing in Maricopa County (which includes the Phoenix metropolitan area) as well as in Pima County (Tucson). I don't know to what standards though.

Joeaksa · 06:51 AM

Johnny,

If you like living in the stix better, take a look at I-17 & Carefree road areas, the towns of New River or Wickenburg. Would mention Anthem but its all a big HOA area and does not take well to guys like us with a couple of bikes and cars that are not a Honda Accord.

For you guys concerned about smog checks, please email me and can give you some help. There are very easy ways to take care of this issue.

As for firearm concerns, anywhere in Maricopa county and you get to put up with frigging Joe Arpaio. People who do not live there usually like him, but once you get to know his games he is a two faced liar, corrupt public official and television whore. His ideas on prisoners and their treatment are for the most part all that many people know about him and in this area I like him but not the rest. He is corrupt as hell and needs to retire IMHO. He could care less what the gun laws are in this area and his deputy's do things the way he wants and not what the law says. Nuff said there...

Its very easy to get a CCW and you can carry a handgun out in the open on your hip with no paperwork. This is the west and still have the old ways in many cases.

Joe A

John_AZ · 02-25-2010, 07:37 AM

I do not understand why anyone would want to live in the "Valley of the Sun" when year after year Phoenix breaks all records for Heat?

In 2009 the record for temperatures during the summer months was broken when we had the most days on record over 110 F. Pollution advisories daily. The valley is one big smog/dust bowl if viewed from the air or driving south into the valley.

Look at the Globe/Miami area. Globe in particular. You will not find a job, the copper mines are nearly shut. You will find cooler daytime temperatures and evening breezes from the Pinal Mountains. Blue sky and clean air to startle your lungs and eyes. You can see the stars at night!

You can buy a boarded up commercial building for your cars, bikes and tools like many car club members do in the area.

GL
John_AZ