Need advice on buying a home in central Phoenix

[CheckM8]

Originally Posted by sunshinegirlAZ

Thanks for all the advice everyone--you were all correct about the neighborhoods, so I think I'll have to move further out to get in a decent area in my price range. I did find a couple of good single family homes in north Phoenix (36th/Bell area), so I have to decide if the commute is doable. It took about 15 minutes to go 12 miles on the 51 with no traffic, but how crowded does the 51 get during rush hour?

I used to work by PV mall and commute out to the westside. The 51 is atrocious if you are heading with traffic. Heading south on the 51 in the morning is awful, and forget about it if there is an accident especially since there is no bypass because of the mountains. It has taken 30 min to drive from Shea to Northern and there is no way to get off the road because it is goes straight through the mountain. Unless you work hours where it doesn't matter, I would forget it because the commute is so horrible. If you can, just try to get something close to your work or centrally located.

[Lee151]

Could take 45 mins more or less in rush hour, At least the 51 is one of the most attractive freeways in the valley.

[CheckM8]

Originally Posted by Lee151

Could take 45 mins more or less in rush hour, At least the 51 is one of the most attractive freeways in the valley.

That must be the reason for all of the accidents along it.

[sunshinegirlAZ]

Originally Posted by CheckM8

I used to work by PV mall and commute out to the westside. The 51 is atrocious if you are heading with traffic. Heading south on the 51 in the morning is awful, and forget about it if there is an accident especially since there is no bypass because of the mountains. It has taken 30 min to drive from Shea to Northern and there is no way to get off the road because it is goes straight through the mountain. Unless you work hours where it doesn't matter, I would forget it because the commute is so horrible. If you can, just try to get something close to your work or centrally located.

I tried the commute on the 51 again during rush hour (8:30) and it wasn't bad. Maybe this was an unusual day, because it only took me 20 minutes to get from Union Hills & the 51 to 20th and Thomas.

[CheckM8]

8:30am the traffic won't be too bad. I am talking about 7:00 to 8:00am

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by CheckM8

8:30am the traffic won't be too bad. I am talking about 7:00 to 8:00am

I always thought it was bad at 8:30a, probably not as bad than earlier though.

[Garson]

I used to commute down the 51 and as much as I complained about the stop and go traffic it really was only the difference of 30 -35 minutes vs. 20 min. with no traffic.(from Bell to the airport)