Moving to Phoenix! Tips and suggestions please

[EvilYoda]

So, you might have seen that I've made a few Phoenix threads recently...well, pending any unforeseen hiccups during negotiations (got the offer yesterday), I'll be moving to Phoenix in June. I've already started looking at craigslist and rentals.com, but any suggestions on where to live would be great.

I'm looking for a condo/townhouse, home rental (shared is fine, with one person) or loft. I found a place downtown which looks amazing, but I don't know if it's still available. I'll be working in Tempe, right off of the 60 and the 10, so I'd like to know the flow patterns of highway (and local) traffic, if that's possible.

Any suggestions are welcome, I have a lot to learn in not a lot of time!

But first...I'm off to the Frankenmuth World of Beer Expo

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Welcome to the shadow in the valley of death. Traffic approaches L.A. levels of insanity and Summer temps are a few degrees less than the surface of the sun or Yuma.

 

[newb111]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
So, you might have seen that I've made a few Phoenix threads recently...well, pending any unforeseen hiccups during negotiations (got the offer yesterday), I'll be moving to Phoenix in June. I've already started looking at craigslist and rentals.com, but any suggestions on where to live would be great.

I'm looking for a condo/townhouse, home rental (shared is fine, with one person) or loft. I found a place downtown which looks amazing, but I don't know if it's still available. I'll be working in Tempe, right off of the 60 and the 10, so I'd like to know the flow patterns of highway (and local) traffic, if that's possible.

Any suggestions are welcome, I have a lot to learn in not a lot of time!

But first...I'm off to the Frankenmuth World of Beer Expo

I live a mile or so away from the 60 and the 10. The traffic all flows downtown, so heavy traffic on I-10 west and I-60 into the I-10 in the morning, and reversed in the evening. I work in mesa, so I go against traffic both ways. I love it.

 

[mshan]

Don't know how dated the information is, but the price is right (free!): http://www.insiders.com/phoenix/index.htm

edit: looks like only chapter highlights are included, not whole book.

 

[Baked]

Beware of spiders hiding in your AC.

 

[vi edit]

Don't live downtown. It's a tomb at night and really just kind of a crappy area IMHO. You'll be driving to get anywhere decent.

There are plenty of places to live in Tempe that will give you a really reasonable drive to work and access to just about anything you'll want within 10-15 minutes.

You can look at north/East Mesa off the 202 and pop that right over without too much drama, or if you look in Scottsdale you can drop down the 101 which won't be too horrible depending on which exit you are getting off at in Tempe.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Baked
Beware of spiders hiding in your AC.

Also mice.
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=1584613

 

[vailr]

Might want to consider proximity to the new Phoenix area light rail line.
Save money by not owning a car.

 

[erub]

Me too I'm starting work there July 7,so I'm probably moving out July 1 and I'll be working at 101 and Elliot. I had two summer internships out there before, so I kinda know the area. I'm looking to live around Tempe Town Lake to be near the lake and Mill Avenue

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
So, you might have seen that I've made a few Phoenix threads recently...well, pending any unforeseen hiccups during negotiations (got the offer yesterday), I'll be moving to Phoenix in June. I've already started looking at craigslist and rentals.com, but any suggestions on where to live would be great.

I'm looking for a condo/townhouse, home rental (shared is fine, with one person) or loft. I found a place downtown which looks amazing, but I don't know if it's still available. I'll be working in Tempe, right off of the 60 and the 10, so I'd like to know the flow patterns of highway (and local) traffic, if that's possible.

Any suggestions are welcome, I have a lot to learn in not a lot of time!

But first...I'm off to the Frankenmuth World of Beer Expo

Do you want to live downtown or in Tempe? Tempe is the college town, lots of students (ASU, big school).

Really nice places in Scottsdale, but its kind of far, and traffic is kind of a mess. Ongoing construction and such. Basically, if you're working in Tempe, live there too, because commuting from elsewhere will suck.

If you want to know more, just ask. I guess I'm not sure if you've decided quite where to live yet, or whether you'll rent or buy, but that all makes a difference.

I've been given some further living tips to pass along. Make sure you have your windows tinted and don't leave anything in your car, things heat up fast. If you rent, of course be sure you have AC, but also try to steer clear of a utilities included place, b/c they will decide when the AC can or cannot be on. If you're in a newer construction house or complex, you have a greater risk of scorpions and other undesirable wildlife entering.

 

[foghorn67]

Phoenix Metro area is split down the middle with Center St. It runs N/S. Every N/S street on the west of Center is an Ave., and it will be numbered oddly. Like 83rd Ave. Also that's the block number. 83rd ave is 83 blocks west of Center. Streets on the East of Center is named a St. and will be even numbered. Again 38th St., is 38 blocks east of Center. The few exceptions are like 7th St. and 7th Ave.
The capitol building is the very center south of downtown Phx. Any E/W streets are named after the presidents in order beginning with Washington. Anything N of the capitol for E/W is named after random crap I think.
Major E/W streets are Bell, Camelback, Thunderbird, etc.

In Tempe, Mill Ave. is where you want to start. There are tons and tons of clubs, bars, pubs, and anything to do in A/C like mother nature intended.

 

[Joemonkey]

Dangit! Next time I'm up in Detroit you won't be at the meet

 

[Killerme33]

I would recommend not living in downtown. The entire area is kinda sketchy. Live in Tempe, you'll be close to work and if you want to go downtown the light rail will be done in December which will take you downtown. Tempe is filled with ASU students (like me) so it's a pretty social environment.

 

[sandorski]

I heard they don't have Tinfoil Hats there, but full Suits.

 

[EagleKeeper]

blackangst1 is in the area

 

[Eeezee]

Get a gun

 

[Bignate603]

I would live in Tempe, while there are many college students you run into less and less the farther you are from campus. Also, crime is higher around the school.

The closer you can live to where you work the better, traffic is a beast during rush hour.

 

[Mide]

Hot as a mug

 

[TechAZ]

Live in the East Valley (Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe). Nightlife around ASU in Tempe, and tons of places in Scottsdale. Check out Sugar Daddies off of Scottsdale Rd in Scottsdale for sure

 

[EvilYoda]

whoa...thanks for all the replies! Just got back from the Beer Expo (I was too full to get drunk, didn't think ahead ), so I'll start replying tomorrow!

Thanks!

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: erub
Me too I'm starting work there July 7,so I'm probably moving out July 1 and I'll be working at 101 and Elliot. I had two summer internships out there before, so I kinda know the area. I'm looking to live around Tempe Town Lake to be near the lake and Mill Avenue

YGPM

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
Dangit! Next time I'm up in Detroit you won't be at the meet

It's been a while! All your fault!

 

[EvilYoda]

foghorn67, thanks for the great information on Phoenix. I definitely intend on living in Tempe or the surrounding area, I just didn't want to limit my search before I knew the proper decision-making criteria.

So much research to do!

 

[Bignate603]

Definitely limit your search at the start or there will be so much information that you'll be swamped. There's a ton of places. Are you going to rent or buy? Condo prices are dropping like a rock because the market is overloaded.

You could look at Ahwatukee/South Mountain area also, that's pretty close to the intersection of the 10 and the 60. It's a nice area too, my old boss lived out there.

 

[ballmode]

Originally posted by: Baked
Beware of spiders hiding in your AC.

Check for mice in your AC too

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: Bignate603
Definitely limit your search at the start or there will be so much information that you'll be swamped. There's a ton of places. Are you going to rent or buy? Condo prices are dropping like a rock because the market is overloaded.

You could look at Ahwatukee/South Mountain area also, that's pretty close to the intersection of the 10 and the 60. It's a nice area too, my old boss lived out there.

Yeah, I've heard the Ahwatukee name a few times...I'm working in an office that's in the gigantic auto mall in Tempe, I think one of the major roads near it is Elliot?

I'm doing some research as we speak...looking at something in Chandler, looks to be about 9 miles away from work, but I'd be driving north and west, which sounds to be the bad directions for traffic.