Any renters in Scottsdale/Tempe area? (Phoenix: apartments, condo, crime rate)

[thelosthighways]

Each time I go to rent dot com or apartmentratings dot com I get more and more confused. I find a nice place with all the amenities I want and then I read bad reviews about it (crime, roaches etc). Does anybody currently live in this area and can recommend a nice place to live at? I was thinking the Camellero, but I read that there is a lot of crime there?


Please help! too many options!

[KarmaPhx]

I don't always trust Apartment Ratings, you'll always find bad reviews before you find any good ones, so the percentages can be tricky. I am not familiar with those apartments, but they are in a great area, close to Old Town Scottsdale.

I work in the area, I will drive by it on my way home this morning in about a hour when I get off work and let you know if I see anything wrong with them.

I moved into my apartments which have a 30% rating, but I love the place, no issues after 6 month besides the landlord allowing larger breeds now.

[thelosthighways]

Thanks for the help. Which apts do you live in?

[Voebe]

Also keep in mind that some of this is relative. It surprises me that some people worry about the crime rate in totally safe neighborhoods. If the Camellero is where I think it is, I consider that neighborhood extremely safe. Maybe you can call the city and get comparative crime statistics for different zip codes? As for roaches, the trick is just to find yoruself a good exterminator.

[ivanabacowboy]

I agree-do not always believe the apartment review sites. Mainly because the most vocal will always be folks who want to complain. ;-) And of course you only get half the story. "This complex was horrible" could translate to "Oh I was only 2 months late on my rent, damaged the pool and have a dog that keeps the neighbors up all night".

Visiting is your best way of judging a community. And if possible, try to visit a few times. Ie who do you see out during the day? During the evening? What kind of vehicles are in the parking lot? Are the grounds generally clean and graffiti-free?

If these are the apartments at 7979 Camelback, I have not visited them, but I work nearby (6900 Camelback). This puts you in close proximity to Old Town Scottsdale, the waterfront and Scottsdale Fashion Square. If I ever decided to buy a condo, I would either buy in Kierland (near where I live now) or in the area you are looking at Optima Camelview which is right behind Fashion Square-gorgeous. I am a single female in my early 40s and would be comfortable living there. (Tho I do have a bodybuilder 21 year old son lol!)

I live in NE Phoenix about 10 miles north of where you are looking. Where will you be working? Or will you be going to school?

[KarmaPhx]

I drove by the place, it looks very nice, and I think those reviews are bunk. Go check the place out before moving obviously.

[thelosthighways]

Thanks again everybody. I will be working from home...so I can live anywhere that I would like to. There are so many different areas, but I have narrowed down my list to about 10 different rental properties in Tempe/Scottsdale

[Redlornie]

I live in the Alta Ravenwood complex in Tempe and I love it. The townhomes are lovely and the staff are fantastic.

[observer53]

I think that area of east Camelback would be just fine. I lived very near there years ago, the area has always been nice. I wouldn't put much stock in anonymous internet apartment reviews on those rental sites... it's a great place for someone with an axe to grind to spread all sorts of trash.

[shiphead]

Karma is right about apartmentrating. You have to be able to filter through the garbage. I use apartment rating and police reports as the tool on which i choose my place. Another thing to watch out for are places that are not willing to show you the inside of a normal apartment. If they say no, they are hiding something and you should move on.