Tell me about Arcadia (find a job, place to live, area)

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by rolina

I've been reading through a lot of these threads and can't find much info on Arcadia. I'm moving to Phoenix soon and think I found a roomate, but want to know more about that area. E. Thomas around 42nd St.
Thanks!

First, tell me about you. age? sex? bust size?

[dc1225]

Originally Posted by rolina

I appreciate the replies. I would be living in a house with the owner. It's an older one, built around the 50s. She sent pics of the house and neighborhood and it looks nice enough. I'd be working in Avondale, but don't think I want to live on the outskirts of Phoenix. I like being in the city, or at least close to everything. And I guess when I say everything, I mean, shopping, culture, restaurants, night life, etc. I'm single and in my early 30s, so I would like to be in a more central location. Another question: what time does rush hour start in the morning?

Thanks again! If anyone wants to share any other info with me, I'd be happy to hear.

YUCK....Phoenix areas are full of affordable "newer" homes...more so than other cities why da hell would you want to live in "older" home is beyond me. Are you a librarian by chance?

[Howard Roark]

Some older homes are built much better than newer homes. Workmanship before illegal aliens got into contruction was much more professional. Also a good reason to not ever follow the crowds and buy a new house when they are going up faster than weeds. The quicker the construction, the more defects. I would be interested in a house built between 1996 and 2001, for example, or built before the 80s real estate bubble.

Originally Posted by dc1225

YUCK....Phoenix areas are full of affordable "newer" homes...more so than other cities why da hell would you want to live in "older" home is beyond me. Are you a librarian by chance?

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by dc1225

YUCK....Phoenix areas are full of affordable "newer" homes...more so than other cities why da hell would you want to live in "older" home is beyond me. Are you a librarian by chance?

These so called affordable newer homes are cookie cutter quality with shoddy construction for the most part. Basically, you get what you pay for. Some of us would rather pay a little more for an older home and live in a more established area than buy a cheap box of stucco (with a small patch of rocks for a "lawn") in the outer suburban areas. Besides, these newer subdivisions will likely look old and run down in a few years because of the poorer quality of construction.

Also, it's not exactly more affordable to buy a house in the far flung suburban areas when you factor in the commute: cost of fuel, and wear & tear on a vehicle. Don't forget that the rates of foreclosure have been extensively greater in the outer suburban areas than in the more established urban neighborhoods.

[joninaz]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

These so called affordable newer homes are cookie cutter quality with shoddy construction for the most part. Basically, you get what you pay for. Some of us would rather pay a little more for an older home and live in a more established area than buy a cheap box of stucco (with a small patch of rocks for a "lawn") in the outer suburban areas. Besides, these newer subdivisions will likely look old and run down in a few years because of the poorer quality of construction.

Also, it's not exactly more affordable to buy a house in the far flung suburban areas when you factor in the commute: cost of fuel, and wear & tear on a vehicle. Don't forget that the rates of foreclosure have been extensively greater in the outer suburban areas than in the more established urban neighborhoods.

I always need printed directions when visiting certain friends in post-2000 built areas. Nice houses but all 3 feet apart and everything looks the same. It also seems the developers wanted to appeal to the folks who want to live on cul-de-sacs, so they designed a maze pattern where every other street curls around to feed a dozen little offshoots, each with a similar name. Left on Vista Berry Rd., right on Elderberry street, then a right on Eldeberry Place, then left on Eldeberry Court, and then 3 houses down on left hand side of Vista Berry Circle. "It's the earthtone stucco house with a patch of green grass and a palm tree. And if the 3 parking spaces on VB circle are taken, just park 3 blocks away on VB Rd. and walk in."

Once you get off the main NSEW Blvds, one really needs GPS to get in and out. Thankfully, if you have OnStar, there's a little button in the shape of a cookie cutter that patches you through to a highly trained professional to help guide you to a major freeway.

[LocoAZnative]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

Some older homes are built much better than newer homes. Workmanship before illegal aliens got into contruction was much more professional. Also a good reason to not ever follow the crowds and buy a new house when they are going up faster than weeds. The quicker the construction, the more defects. I would be interested in a house built between 1996 and 2001, for example, or built before the 80s real estate bubble.

There is an article on AZcentral about this aswell
Builders cut quality, spark home-value fears

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

Some older homes are built much better than newer homes. Workmanship before illegal aliens got into contruction was much more professional. Also a good reason to not ever follow the crowds and buy a new house when they are going up faster than weeds. The quicker the construction, the more defects. I would be interested in a house built between 1996 and 2001, for example, or built before the 80s real estate bubble.

You mean leaded solder or leaded paint? Houses today have better materials, more efficient appliances, better insulation and codes are much more stringent than 30 years ago.