To those in Arizona... need recommendation on place to live.

[4RunnERD]

Hi everybody. My father will be potenially relocating to Arizona for work. He has lived in Wisconsin his whole life so he isn't all that familiar with Arizona. He would be working in downtown Phoenix and would want to keep his commute within a half-hour or less if possible.

He has been told by one of his colleagues that the nicer/safer areas to live are northeast of downtown, but that was just one persons opinion and my farther is open to any and all suggestions. So if any of you can recommend some towns, cities, villages, etc. please post them up as he will most likely be traveling down there soon to start checking out areas to live. Thanks.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on the Arizona/California border and I avoid Phoenix as much as possible. To much traffic and to many people for me. It will depend on how much money you have to spend. We just got back from the Cave Creek and Carefree area north of town. It is beautiful there in the foothills of the mountains but very expensive. I picked up a paper on a lot for sale and 2.5 acres was 690k with no house. A nice house on the side of the mountain with nice views was 2.5 million. It all depends on the neighborhood and your budget. Scottsdale is nice but also very expensive.

 

[4RunnERD]

Thanks. I should mention that for the time being until he settles in, my father will be renting. Hopefully the fact that he will be renting may help him get into a better area. Once he has settled in and knows for sure that he might be there for a while then he'll probably upgrade to a house. By that time he'll have a better idea about Phoenix and it's surrounding communities.

 

[downpour11]

yeah i can't stand phoenix lol tell him to cruise to tucson

 

[Sandpiper]

Living in Phoenix

How far do you have to go from Phoenix to find pine trees and a place to boondock camp?

 

[03_4x4Runner]

How far do you have to go from Phoenix to find pine trees and a place to boondock camp?

About an hour north is this place. Crown King, Arizona, Wonderful Escape, Great Outdoor, Activities, Historic Sites, Excellent Lodging, Premium Real Estate There are a lot of trails there. Also camping around Horseshoe and bartlet reservoirs an hour or so north of Phoenix. Once you head north the elevation climbs quickly and you get into forest.

 

[BunsbertMontcroff]

Hi everybody. My father will be potenially relocating to Arizona for work. He has lived in Wisconsin his whole life so he isn't all that familiar with Arizona. He would be working in downtown Phoenix and would want to keep his commute within a half-hour or less if possible.

He has been told by one of his colleagues that the nicer/safer areas to live are northeast of downtown, but that was just one persons opinion and my farther is open to any and all suggestions. So if any of you can recommend some towns, cities, villages, etc. please post them up as he will most likely be traveling down there soon to start checking out areas to live. Thanks.

Within a half hour or less during rush hour and NE of downtown?

Try the Biltmore area, Arcadia, Scottsdale, or Paradise Valley. Carefree and Cave Creek are nice, as the other poster mentioned, but a long way from downtown PHX.

There are also some nice neighborhoods downtown and uptown.

 

[GG Beast]

About an hour north is this place. Crown King, Arizona, Wonderful Escape, Great Outdoor, Activities, Historic Sites, Excellent Lodging, Premium Real Estate

Oh my... Crown King?! Ha! I could never live there, but the trails are fun...

I live in north central phoenix and there are plenty of great places to live.

Straight up central Ave there are some really nice neighghborhoods, even some historic. I've got a realtor friend who owns many places in the historic districts that he rents out right in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. PM me if you're interested in his information. There is the Phoenix Mountain preserve area and if your dad is in to hiking this is a fabulous place to live as there are hiking trails all over the preserve and it is a very easy drive to the downtown area (straight down central!). I currently rent in this area and I like it. Thinking of buying here soon. The housing market is definitely a buyers market right now, but there is still a ton of stuff to rent at fairly reasonable prices. If he's looking for a condo to rent or buy, he'd have no trouble finding one.

Good luck!

 

[JohnsD90]

Scottsdale is the nicest place i know of, but i hear its pricey.

 

[ran]

It has been a few years, but isn't Anthan just North of Phonenix? When I saw it last, the shopping strip was not finished.

 

[GG Beast]

All of Scottsdale is pricey however South Scottsdale isn't quite as bad unless you live in the 'hip' downtown area. Would not be a bad drive to Downtown Phoenix from South Scottsdale. Depending how far South, you can hop on the 202Westbound and it would drop you right off in Phx

North Scottsdale would be a pretty unpleasant drive to downtown Phoenix.

Ran: I think you're refering to Anthem? Would not be a pleasant drive to downtown Phx. There is only one way in and out of Anthem and everyone is going in the exact same direction: South in the morning, North in the evening.

 

[Offroader5]

I know it was in regards to pine trees & camping...but living in Crown King? Umm, I wouldn't look into it for a place to live. Not if you're going to be commuting to Phoenix. It'll take you at least a half hour or more just to get to I-17...then you still need to make your commute into Phoenix. Great area, but not to live...if you work down in the valley (or don't mind spending 2 hours minimum in your car getting home).

Definitely do your research. Due to the housing market around here, there are alot of houses to be had to rent, so you may be happier in a rental house than you would in an apartment. Not to mention, there are tons of houses for sale that you could get into for very little.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I know it was in regards to pine trees & camping...but living in Crown King? Umm, I wouldn't look into it for a place to live. Not if you're going to be commuting to Phoenix. It'll take you at least a half hour or more just to get to I-17...then you still need to make your commute into Phoenix. Great area, but not to live...if you work down in the valley (or don't mind spending 2 hours minimum in your car getting home).

Definitely do your research. Due to the housing market around here, there are alot of houses to be had to rent, so you may be happier in a rental house than you would in an apartment. Not to mention, there are tons of houses for sale that you could get into for very little.

I did not mean Crown King to live. This was in response to Sandpipers post looking for camping and trees. Agreed, a nice place to visit but I would not want to live there.

 

[JohnWiggy]

GG Beast may know better cuz he/she lives in Phoenix (North central is where I would live too if I had to) but this is just my opinion:

Phoenix is one of the biggest cities in the country and working downtown and living only 30 min away during rush hour prob means living in Phoenix. Gonna be a far cry from anywhere in WI. Love AZ been here my whole life but I would never live in Phoenix. There are some decent affordable places on the outskirts of Phoenix but most areas are either surrounded by the ghetto (MAJOR illegal immigrant problem), in the ghetto, or are going to be too expensive (Paradise Valley, Biltmore). If the pay is good than great but I would SERIOUSLY consider commuting a bit more than 30 min "rush hour" time and rent somewhere like Chandler, Ahwatukee, Mid to North Scottsdale (lots of areas of Scottsdale are not expensive) or maybe SOUTH Tempe (north Tempe is college town). A lot of other nice areas too but farther away or a pain to get to. That's my two cents... take or leave. :hello:

 

[4RunnERD]

Thanks!

Thanks for all the great feedback everyone. I will probably be traveling down there with my father within the next two weeks to help him hunt for a place to rent.

GG Beast, I will be sending you a PM regarding your friends info.

 

[venturefreq]

That depends on his lifestyle, north central phoenix is great for it location in any direction your 12 miles to downtown, Scottsdale , airport, cardinals for NFL games, bike paths, and hiking trails , including dreamy draw park, and route 51 and I-17 highways. But if he likes to hang out in bars, not to many u can walk to, as drinking here and driving well within the first year u will get a DUI. It's a police state, they only care about pulling u over for any reason, as u do not have rights here! The biltmor area is also nice area and prob 15 minutes to downtown!

 

[4RunnERD]

That depends on his lifestyle, north central phoenix is great for it location in any direction your 12 miles to downtown, Scottsdale , airport, cardinals for NFL games, bike paths, and hiking trails , including dreamy draw park, and route 51 and I-17 highways. But if he likes to hang out in bars, not to many u can walk to, as drinking here and driving well within the first year u will get a DUI. It's a police state, they only care about pulling u over for any reason, as u do not have rights here! The biltmor area is also nice area and prob 15 minutes to downtown!

He is not really a drinker, and probably won't be spending too much time socializing outside of work at first. He is mainly moving there to continue/further his career, so he will probably be spending most of his time learning the ropes at his new job. When he does take time to relax, he likes riding his bike. Where he lives now is just blocks away from lake Michigan (basically an inland fresh water ocean). He enjoys spending time near the water and getting out on his wave runner when he can. Thanks for the heads up on the cops though. He drives a crown vic so maybe he'll blend in.

 

[webby]

I've lived in Phoenix most of my adult life and love it. The area I live in is perfect if you are working downtown. I live in North Central Phoenix, slightly east. The area is 7th St and Thunderbird Rd, just NE of that intersection (directly west across 7th St from here is Moon Valley, which is quite nice and well maintained, but homes are newer on the east side of 7th St where I live). Great quality shopping and a Toyota dealer) on Bell Rd, just nearby, and the commute to downtown is only about 15-20 minutes, depending on where downtown.

The area is safe, and homes range from middle class to upper middle class. I can walk from my house to the mountain preserve and hike up Lookout Mountain. I can see it from my front yard.

Good luck to you!