For Residents of Surprise, please......advice needed (Phoenix, Glendale: foreclosures, crime rate)
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I posted this and then saw it was as a reply, so I will re-post here, and try to delete the other post.......But, for now.........
My wife and I are considering a couple of places to find and move to our 'next to final resting place!' Our (darn, I really hope) last home purchase. I have done a ton of dilligence in an area in Oregon, and can tell you that it is a very highly placed contender-but for one item-the climate. We can do cold, and we can do dry heat. The town I had been eyeing in Oregon, however, has less sunny days, and therefore more gloomy days than we deem acceptable. That is why I am now putting together plans to visit Surprise, in the near future. I have an old-long-time-friend and his wife that live in Surprise. They just recently sold their place (at a loss) but felt the need to go to a Retirement Assisted Living place, and all things being equal, they are haooy there. I think that he is assuring the well-being for his wife, or even for himself if/when the first one goes. His decisions are usually wise, and I understand his motives. Enough about that!
I want feedback, and not in the form of a question. Please, understand that I am aware of taxes, of homestead act, of proximity to shopping, etc. And NO, we do not need to worry about work. We have worked enough (well, OK, almost enough!) So the questions I have are directly relative to the living experience. I know that it gets hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell in the summer, and that a person would have to learn to plan around the heat and time of day to do vhores. But, looking deeper, what is the REAL attraction that (1 DREW you to surprise, and maybe more importantly, 2) KEEPS you there.
Example: In the case of Doctors, I would guess that there are lots of Drs to take care of people past the draft age (lol), meaning 60's and up? Yes? Are the numbers of those specialists (I have diabetes, for example) or lung or heart or any disease, so again, are the numbers of specialists appropriate? Now, I remember years ago, for a while, while my wife and I lived in So Cal (near Long Beach). We used to whine if we had to make a trip to San Pedro, or Riverside, or anywhere the traffic could get ugly and make your appointment a 2 1/2 hour round trip. Considering this, do you that live in Surprise REALLY think its a bad commute if you need something from a store, or a Dr office that you only find if you go to Phoenix? And, I guess, that if you're reading this, that you usually read or post on this forum. That being said, PLEASE feel free to include anything that YOU, as a resident, and a source or real experience, thinks I would/should need to know. Also, again, while we are both capable of working, and both of us are licensed in a less than usual field (Substance Abuse Clinical supervisor, etc,) we might like to pick up a 1 or 2 days part time if it comes along easily, but we do not have to count on it
We will probably be able to take advantage of the crummy market, and bring an all cash, short close offer to the table, and from what I've seen there is an abundance of close to new (2-10 years old) homes in the range of $75K-$95K. We are certainly impressed with the cleanliness of the area in general, and will gain insight as soon as we can get there for a 4-5 day peek. In the meantime, any pointers or advice would be appreciated.
Are folks generally friendly?
Is the crime rate low?
Are the gang-bangers showing up within range of my .45?
Do the local police take care of bangers and their capers?
I have read that the local cops LIKE to write tickets for going 28 in a 25! Is this actually the case-do they pick on locals as well as others?
on a scale of 1 to 10, rate Surprise in regard to every other city you have called home.
thanks for any help. I really put a lot of weight into the remarks of real local folks. I guess a last (for now) question is, are there any other towns/cities within the same proximity to a big city (in this case Phoenix) that you would recommend OVER Surprise? If there are, why would you rate it as a better place to live in retirement?
Thanks so much for listening. I really do hope you know it helps greatly.
Regards,
Fred
There will be a lot of people who can comment on Surprise. I'm in Gilbert, across the valley, so there are others who have more details on Surprise than I do. However, regarding medical and hospital, the Phoenix metro area has plenty of medical facilities and hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and Scottsdale, that are within reasonable driving distance from Surprise.
Regarding the speeding tickets.
When you see someone write that they did not run the red light, or that they were only going 28 in a 25 and the cop singled them out, don't believe it.
At a minimum you will only be stopped if you're going 7 miles over in the city.
However, in a school zone be sure to go the exact speed limit. If you're in a 45 zone, the school area will be 35mph and it will be well marked. Be sure to slow to that. There may be a camera van nearby also.
If there is a school cross walk, there will be a sign in the middle of the road, and at that sign you MUST be at 15 mph, and you cannot pass another car in that zone. When you pass the school cross walk you can go back up to the school area limit of 35 (if that's what is posted).
Do be extremely careful at red lights. The Phoenix area has a terribly high number of red light runners. When the light turns yellow, they put their foot on the gas instead of the brake, and every day you can see several people cross the crosswalk line up to one or more seconds after the light turns red.
So when you are stopped at a light, when it turns green, be sure to check both directions to make sure someone isn't running that light.
Otherwise, driving in the Phoenix area is pretty easy. Most of the drivers are sane and the traffic density is nowhere near that in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, to name a few.
"At a minimum you will only be stopped if you're going 7 miles over in the city."
Agreed. Although expect more aggressive ticketing in Surprise and all municipalities as their budget woes grow.
Quote:
"Considering this, do you that live in Surprise REALLY think its a bad commute if you need something from a store, or a Dr office that you only find if you go to Phoenix?"
There is very little in terms of stores that you would need to leave Surprise to find. But I am not much of a shopper, other than essentials. Depending on where in Phoenix you are going, the trip would be reasonable, but more pleasant if you avoid normal commuting hours.
Quote:
"Is the crime rate low?
Are the gang-bangers showing up within range of my .45?"
Violent crime is relatively rare. Property crime exists, but I would characterize it as a below average crime rate for suburban Phoenix. I think that normal precautions like locking doors and parking overnight in a garage are good ideas.
I would say, overall, people are attracted to Surprise based on its housing costs versus other suburban areas like Glendale 85308. That was true before the housing bubble and is true now. I do not think that the full effects of foreclosures and vacancies has played out, but I would not live there if I thought that it was turning into Maryvale 2.0.
Quote:
"Are folks generally friendly?"
It depends on the individual. I tend to be friendly to the people who live near me, but not overly chatty. I guess that it really varies. I know of one cul de sac where everyone moved in around 1997, and most were still there in 2005. They mostly were close-knit. But post-2005, such long-term stability is pretty rare. It probably varies subdivision to subdivision, block to block.
I really can not address the issue of medical specialists or retiree-age activities.
Rating: 7 of 10. Kind of boring, but I like boring where I sleep.
I will not address the driving issue as others have. With regard for crime in Surprise, it is not considered a high crime area.
As for doctors, there is an abundance of them because Surprise is right next to Sun City (another area you might consider) and there are 3 hospitals there as well as numerous doctors of every kind, many specializing in geriatrics.
There certainly are enough shopping, dining and entertainment options and most of the communities there are friendly. You will find every type of club from bridge to sewing if you wish to join.
I posted this and then saw it was as a reply, so I will re-post here, and try to delete the other post.......But, for now.........
My wife and I are considering a couple of places to find and move to our 'next to final resting place!' Our (darn, I really hope) last home purchase. I have done a ton of dilligence in an area in Oregon, and can tell you that it is a very highly placed contender-but for one item-the climate. We can do cold, and we can do dry heat. The town I had been eyeing in Oregon, however, has less sunny days, and therefore more gloomy days than we deem acceptable. That is why I am now putting together plans to visit Surprise, in the near future. I have an old-long-time-friend and his wife that live in Surprise. They just recently sold their place (at a loss) but felt the need to go to a Retirement Assisted Living place, and all things being equal, they are haooy there. I think that he is assuring the well-being for his wife, or even for himself if/when the first one goes. His decisions are usually wise, and I understand his motives. Enough about that!
I want feedback, and not in the form of a question. Please, understand that I am aware of taxes, of homestead act, of proximity to shopping, etc. And NO, we do not need to worry about work. We have worked enough (well, OK, almost enough!) So the questions I have are directly relative to the living experience. I know that it gets hotter than the hinges on the gates of hell in the summer, and that a person would have to learn to plan around the heat and time of day to do vhores. But, looking deeper, what is the REAL attraction that (1 DREW you to surprise, and maybe more importantly, 2) KEEPS you there.
Example: In the case of Doctors, I would guess that there are lots of Drs to take care of people past the draft age (lol), meaning 60's and up? Yes? Are the numbers of those specialists (I have diabetes, for example) or lung or heart or any disease, so again, are the numbers of specialists appropriate? Now, I remember years ago, for a while, while my wife and I lived in So Cal (near Long Beach). We used to whine if we had to make a trip to San Pedro, or Riverside, or anywhere the traffic could get ugly and make your appointment a 2 1/2 hour round trip. Considering this, do you that live in Surprise REALLY think its a bad commute if you need something from a store, or a Dr office that you only find if you go to Phoenix? And, I guess, that if you're reading this, that you usually read or post on this forum. That being said, PLEASE feel free to include anything that YOU, as a resident, and a source or real experience, thinks I would/should need to know. Also, again, while we are both capable of working, and both of us are licensed in a less than usual field (Substance Abuse Clinical supervisor, etc,) we might like to pick up a 1 or 2 days part time if it comes along easily, but we do not have to count on it
We will probably be able to take advantage of the crummy market, and bring an all cash, short close offer to the table, and from what I've seen there is an abundance of close to new (2-10 years old) homes in the range of $75K-$95K. We are certainly impressed with the cleanliness of the area in general, and will gain insight as soon as we can get there for a 4-5 day peek. In the meantime, any pointers or advice would be appreciated.
Are folks generally friendly?
Is the crime rate low?
Are the gang-bangers showing up within range of my .45?
Do the local police take care of bangers and their capers?
I have read that the local cops LIKE to write tickets for going 28 in a 25! Is this actually the case-do they pick on locals as well as others?
on a scale of 1 to 10, rate Surprise in regard to every other city you have called home.
thanks for any help. I really put a lot of weight into the remarks of real local folks. I guess a last (for now) question is, are there any other towns/cities within the same proximity to a big city (in this case Phoenix) that you would recommend OVER Surprise? If there are, why would you rate it as a better place to live in retirement?
Thanks so much for listening. I really do hope you know it helps greatly.
Regards,
Fred
Regarding the doctor question, Sun City and Sun City West both have excellent hospitals. More retired folks are served there than any other age group. Because of that, there are many great doctors and clinics in or near Surprise. If that is a concern, then Surprise is ideal.
My expereince (I don't currently live in Surprise, but I did once and have plenty of friends and family that still do) is that folks are friendly, but it's probably best defined as "cautiously friendly".
Crime is very low, almost as low as Gilbert, which was recently named the 17th safest city in America. Not really any gang crime, except a little in neighboring El Mirage. It won't be an issue for you though.
Other cities? There are places all over the valley that are nice and you might like. Just peak around a little and see if anything jumps out at you.
Rating: 7 of 10. Kind of boring, but I like boring where I sleep.
Me too. I like it peaceful. Some folks idea of boring, is my idea of serenity. Just how you look at I guess!
Now, a question....You have nice things to say about Surprise, but rated it 7 out of 10. Are there areas within the same proximity to Phoenix that you would rate higher, and if so, why?
Snapping Fish,I would take Surprise and your 45 nd enjoy the SUNSHINE.It means more than one would think.
I am stuck in Pittsburgh for awhile,spine surgeries ,and I tell you I have NEVER been so depressed.The sun never shines..Google it.
If everyy American carried a gun and knew how to use it..we would not have to think about being invaded.It sticks in my craw when I am in Arizona.We need millions of vigilantes and soldiers of fortune to chase all the invaders OUT of America.
Stay with the sunshine and enjoy your life. Perhaps I will see you in Surprise if thet fix my back..I can't walk much now.God Bless you.
Snappingfish,
My wife and I moved to Surprise in June 2010, we rented for 7 months until we both found work and a home we always wanted. I did alot of research through many states and Surprise AZ hot the nail on the head for everything we wanted. The medical facilities are really great here many facilities, proximity to airport is about 45 mins. for visitors. too many restaurants to mention and shopping. As far as the police go, I haven't seen or experianced ticketing above the normal and most traffice lights have cameras, so if you comonly blow lights you will get many tickets. Sunshine for probably 300 days a year and the summer...yes it is hot and at times difficult to bear as the heat goes on day after day. No place is 100% of everything you desire. I believe Surprise is a wonderful place, very quiet if you like that the people are nice, but you have to be the one to make first contact. I would recommend buying a home in one of the Sun City communities as these seem to be holding their value best, I am in SCG, another nice surprise, gas/energy costs are a little cheaper and surpermarket prices are a little better. Good luck on your decision.
Snappingfish,
My wife and I moved to Surprise in June 2010, we rented for 7 months until we both found work and a home we always wanted. I did alot of research through many states and Surprise AZ hot the nail on the head for everything we wanted. The medical facilities are really great here many facilities, proximity to airport is about 45 mins. for visitors. too many restaurants to mention and shopping. As far as the police go, I haven't seen or experianced ticketing above the normal and most traffice lights have cameras, so if you comonly blow lights you will get many tickets. Sunshine for probably 300 days a year and the summer...yes it is hot and at times difficult to bear as the heat goes on day after day. No place is 100% of everything you desire. I believe Surprise is a wonderful place, very quiet if you like that the people are nice, but you have to be the one to make first contact. I would recommend buying a home in one of the Sun City communities as these seem to be holding their value best, I am in SCG, another nice surprise, gas/energy costs are a little cheaper and surpermarket prices are a little better. Good luck on your decision.
I didn't think Surprise had ANY red light cameras. Certainly most light do not have them. People often mistake the camera like object high on the light posts as ticket cameras. In reality, they are sensors that detect traffic flow and regulate the signal timing. Surprise does have at least one mobile speed trailer. I have seen that.
"I didn't think Surprise had ANY red light cameras. Certainly most light do not have them. People often mistake the camera like object high on the light posts as ticket cameras. In reality, they are sensors that detect traffic flow and regulate the signal timing. Surprise does have at least one mobile speed trailer. I have seen that."
Correct on all counts. One can forgive thinking that there were red light cameras in Surprise, considering how common they are in other Valley cities, but there are none here yet. There are (were?) a couple of photo traps in El Mirage, I think.
Quote:
"Now, a question....You have nice things to say about Surprise, but rated it 7 out of 10. Are there areas within the same proximity to Phoenix that you would rate higher, and if so, why?"
I find certain pockets of North Phoenix (actual North Phoenix, not Anthem) to be both nice and easier to access other areas. In Arizona, I have only lived in North Phoenix and Surprise, so my perspective is limited. Basically, some relatives lived in Surprise and it was cheaper than similar housing in North Phoenix, so I picked it.
If newness of houses and subdivisions is desirable, then Surprise is clearly the way to go.
But I could never go above 7 of 10 for Surprise as long as the traffic backlogs with few alternatives are part of the picture.
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explain the rating, plz
