Surprise Arizona (Phoenix, Glendale, Gilbert: rental, HOA fees, houses)

[Lechero99]

We are a family of 5 moving from Texas to the Arizona area. Suprise looks very affordable, how is it for families? Are there any specific neighborhoods or master planned developments to look into?

[observer53]

It's Surprise, by the way.

It's a nice place for families. I'll let those who live there speak to specific developments.

You also asked about Gilbert, specifically Power Ranch. Those two areas are diagonally at the opposite ends of a very spread out metro area. I don't know where you will be working, but especially with gas prices as they are, you must consider commute distance in deciding where to live. To downtown Phoenix, for instance, Surprise is another long drive.

[MotleyCrew]

Marley Park is, in my opinion, one of the nicer master planned communities but there are many to look at.

[Uhuh]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

Marley Park is, in my opinion, one of the nicer master planned communities but there are many to look at.

Marley Park is the place in Surprise to check out. It is the only semi unique planned community in Surprise. I will warn you, the hoa fees don't pay for anything. They shut down the resource center, and public lawns are not coming as frequently. The neighbors are very "hi" and "bye" my car ran out of gas as I was leaving to the gas station (about a mile from my house) I attempted to push it for several blocks, all my neighbors cruised passed me, not 1 stopping to ask if I needed a hand or a ride to the gas station, something I have done to complete strangers. A lot of people are starting to move out, the houses are cheap, and its still a lot better than the other communities in Surprise.

[CyndaJean]

What area of Surprise, AZ is considered Surprise Farms??? Is it also part of Peoria or Glendale. When I search for homes in Surprise AZ, I only seems to find Sycamore Farms not Surprise Farms?

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by CyndaJean

What area of Surprise, AZ is considered Surprise Farms??? Is it also part of Peoria or Glendale. When I search for homes in Surprise AZ, I only seems to find Sycamore Farms not Surprise Farms?

I Googled it and found these: Surprise Farms Community Association Website; http://aznb.com/map/map.php?nbhd=Surprise%20Farms

You also might want to use the advanced search feature here on C-D for all the threads about Surprise Farms.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by CyndaJean

What area of Surprise, AZ is considered Surprise Farms??? Is it also part of Peoria or Glendale. When I search for homes in Surprise AZ, I only seems to find Sycamore Farms not Surprise Farms?

Surprise Farms is the development south of the intersection of Cotton Lane and Bell Rd.

[ChristianH]

It's a very nice town. I would advise you to move in somewhere like West Point, Marley Park, Rancho Gabriella, or Surprise Farms. Those are all very nice, affordable places.

Also, if you have kids than far west like jomax is very affordable right now, you can get land and everything! Just an option :-) Haha..

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

My parents live in Rancho Gabriella and love it. They have been there since 2003. My sister lives in Surprise farms in a home that we had built in 2008. (I could never find a job back then.) (On a side note, don't have a home built when you don't have a job. LOL )

Late last year the home next door to my parents sold for less than $69,000, the man who bought it spent some money fixing it up and resold it for around $90,000. Those homes were selling for $120,000 and up back in 2003. That specific home had been used as a rental since it was built. The current owners are occupying the home to the delight of the rest of the neighborhood.

There are lots of bargains in the area. We plan on buying soon as well, to have a second home in the area.

[Sunnysdad]

The thing I love about Surprise is that all the communties have the elementary school right in the middle of them. All the kids walk, or ride bikes to school.