PHOENIX area home shopping Help...

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

OK, you Phoenix area Pelican locals, give me the skinny on where the safest and hopefully potential growing market would be for a 2nd/vacation home in the area.

Peoria, Scottsdale, Mesa, Surprise, Laveen, Glendale, Gilbert, Chandler, Avondale, Tolleson and whatever are all in the running.

My son and I enjoyed our Spring Training trip, 7 games and 3 rounds of golf and well, my wife and daughter enjoyed shopping in Scottsdale. So, the target areas should be within about 30 miles or so of Scottsdale I guess. The sun was much appreciated.

Safety is also a concern as far as the location. Proximity (3-5 or so miles) to any of the connecting freeways would be great.

We would like to stay around 150k or so(this will be difficult for Scottsdale). There seems to be more than plenty available at this price, it is just a bit overwhelming with all that is out there to know what and where is best overall location and value for the dollar.

We have friends that live in Scottsdale that could do some previewing for us when the time comes.

Thanks, Mitch aka madmmac

Eric Coffey · 04-12-2010, 04:56 AM

Sent ya a PM

KNS · 04-12-2010, 07:16 AM

Scratch Laveen, Avondale and Tolleson off your list. I lived in Gilbert and Chandler about 18 years ago, they're okay but I would stick with Scottsdale, Peoria, some parts of Glendale, and Surprise. Some parts of Mesa are nice too.

John_AZ · 04-12-2010, 08:22 PM

Do not overlook 85331 and surrounding area.

Maybe not $150K but still affordable.

Best Affordable Suburbs in America 2010: Cave Creek, Ariz. - BusinessWeek

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNS

Scratch Laveen, Avondale and Tolleson off your list. I lived in Gilbert and Chandler about 18 years ago, they're okay but I would stick with Scottsdale, Peoria, some parts of Glendale, and Surprise. Some parts of Mesa are nice too.

What's the reasoning for removing them off the list? Crime, resale, proximity?

Thanks for all the replies and insight so far.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_AZ

Do not overlook 85331 and surrounding area.

Maybe not $150K but still affordable.

Best Affordable Suburbs in America 2010: Cave Creek, Ariz. - BusinessWeek

Closing on our house there tomorrow.

Joeaksa · 04-13-2010, 11:52 AM

Try to stay outside of the 101 loop. Inside the loop in many cases has illegal alien drop houses and gang activity, especially on the West side.

Cave Creek area is ok but land use restrictions are a bear. From 101 North to Carefree Highway between I-17 and Tatum or even Scottsdale road is a nice place to live.

KNS · 04-13-2010, 05:02 PM

QUOTE: What's the reasoning for removing them off the list? Crime, resale, proximity?

Yes. Yes and Yes. Joe has good advice. Phoenix does have some nice areas, large lots, nice, big, older homes (Central Ave & Glendale Ave and there-abouts) but they can be pricey.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Interesting website for Phoenix area crime/drophouses. Kind of a "wow" moment.

Phoenix, AZ Drophouse Map | Judicial Watch

KNS · 04-14-2010, 03:50 PM

Phoenix is the number 1 city in the US for kidnappings. The vast majority are Mexicans and Mexican nationals but the fear (as the article states) is that that may spread to non Mexican citizens. Living this close to Mexico has me thinking often of leaving.

I was talking with a National Guard pilot a few weeks ago assigned to the Border to help the Border Patrol (off topic - sorry). He said that the smugglers are getting very sophisticated. Ultralight aircraft (harder to pick up on radar) are used at night along with NVGs to make drug runs across the border and make several drops each night at pre-arranged LZs. The amount of drugs confiscated is small in relation to what gets through.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Kidnapping in AZ has nothing to do with anyone who isn't involved in drug running or human smuggling. I don't think a single missing person case in the last year was not connected to this. The cops come across some drop house full of wetbacks held until their coyote gets paid and, even though they were never reported missing, they are considered kidnap victims. So they could come across 30 of them and, suddenly, AZ's kidnapping stats jump by 30. If you don't deal in drug running or illegal alien hiding, you will never be touched by these stats.

Joeaksa · 04-15-2010, 04:09 AM

Agree totally with Rick on this. If someone wants to get concerned this is not the subject. You are more apt to get into trouble by having an accident on the roads than kidnapped.

Arizona has some of the toughest laws on illegal immigrants. The federal govt is not doing the job that we pay them to do, so we are now taking care of it locally.

Find a good area to live in and you will enjoy it. We have already told you the areas to avoid.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

my sister has a nice house for sale in Scottsdale. Older ranch house on 1 acre that has been totally remodeled and has a seperate 4 car garage/workshop area in the back.. let me know if you interested..

Rufblackbird · 04-15-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

my sister has a nice house for sale in Scottsdale. Older ranch house on 1 acre that has been totally remodeled and has a seperate 4 car garage/workshop area in the back.. let me know if you interested..

more info please? mls #?

Joeaksa · 04-15-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

my sister has a nice house for sale in Scottsdale. Older ranch house on 1 acre that has been totally remodeled and has a seperate 4 car garage/workshop area in the back.. let me know if you interested..

Any idea how much and in what area? Not interested in moving right now but kinda looking...

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

sent you two PMs with the address.. you can use street view to see the property. I'm not sure what shes asking, but it has a pool also..

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I'm curious about this house too. Anything with a four car garage, pool and one acre in Scottsdale has to be pretty pricey. I'm out of the market though, as we just bought a house this week in Cave Creek. Still, I'd like to see this one.

Joeaksa · 04-16-2010, 08:24 AM

Zillow is showing it at $695k.

Scottsdale Real Estate & Scottsdale Homes For Sale - Zillow

12421 N 65th Pl, Scottsdale, AZ

* House For Sale: $695,000

* Monthly Payment: $2,983

* Beds: 4
Baths: 2.5
* Sqft: 4,795
Lot: 1,045,440
* Days on Zillow: 126
Built: 1985

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Oh, no prob. I have that cash laying around. How in the world is the mortgage payment only $2900 on a $695k house? Even with 20% down, it's be way, way higher than that.

Eric Coffey · 04-16-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Oh, no prob. I have that cash laying around. How in the world is the mortgage payment only $2900 on a $695k house? Even with 20% down, it's be way, way higher than that.

Kinda why I didn't respond earlier, as I knew it would be well over the $350k mark. 1 acre + Scottsdale = $$$. That mortgatge payment is way off too. Even if you did put 20% down (a mere $139k), the payments (PITI) would be closer to $3600/mo. @ 5%.