Buying a home in Arizona

[Superbone]

Any tips? I'm looking at the Ahwatukee, Tempe, Chandler areas to try and stay within 20 minutes of my mom who's off Baseline and 32nd street. It is a tough buying environment from what I understand. Not a lot of inventory although I see quite a few available.

One thing I just saw on YouTube is to watch out for installed solar panels that still are on a payment plan. Also, check to see if the roof was replaced before panels were installed as it will be that much more expensive to replace a roof if you have to call a solar company to remove the panels first and then reinstall after a new roof.

Also heard to never waive the inspection to improve your shot at getting a house. Could be some serious hidden damage repair costs. Also to make sure any repairs are done by a licensed contractor with a warranty.

What else am I missing?

[Nodack]

The area sounds like a good choice. I remember when Awatukee was a brand new area. 80’s homes. Tempe is older. 60-70’s houses. Chandler has some newer areas and some larger properties. 2000’s.

It used to be, the further into the avenue's you get , the worse the neighborhood. I generally hold that attitude myself still but, there are some seriously nice places that have been built on the outskirts around town that won’t be outskirts long.

Yes, make sure your roof is new or newish before putting on solar. Replacing a roof with solar means taking the solar off first and then replacing the roof and then putting the solar backup. $$$$ If I had to replace my roof and wanted to go solar I might have considered Tesla’s solar roof. Then again my association wouldn’t have allowed that because it would look different than the others.

An inspection is super important and can be a leveraging tool to bring the price down. We were negotiating buying our house and in the middle of it the AC died and they had to spend bucks fixing it before selling it to us. They might find something you can easily fix and they might agree to lower the cost to avoid the pain in the ass of fixing something. It also depends on if it’s a buys market or a sellers market how much negotiating you can do. In a sellers market you might have to go over the asking price to beat the next guy.

Buying your right house is important. Do you like blindingly bright hot sun on your back patio during the day? If so have the back yard face South. If you prefer more shade then buy a house with a back yard facing North.

A pool or no pool? A pool takes maintenance, but sure does make the backyard in the summer more enjoyable. Some landscaping, led resort lights and you have a backyard paradise.

Does the neighbor behind you have a two story house so they can stare down at you in your back yard for the next several years? We bought a house at the back of a subdivision. There is a green belt behind us that is lower by ways that people rarely go through and even if they do they can’t see into our yard.

Do you want to go solar? A roof that faces North/South is better than one E/W for solar. Mine faces E/W. One side cranks out solar, then the other side does. Not as efficient as if they all faced the sun the whole day.

How many people are going to live there? You are single? A 3 bedroom should do it. One to sleep in. One for guests and one as the man cave/office. You need good blinds to block out the sun for maximum darkness in the event of daytime TV or gaming in the living room in your gamer chair close to the giant tv.

How close are fire, police, hospitals, schools?

[Superbone]

Wow, great advice 'Dack! Thanks for all of that. I will keep all of that in mind. Yep, 3 bedroom, single floor is what I'm looking for. Using the bedrooms exactly as you described. One for man cave/office/studio for recording and practicing. I hadn't thought about the direction the house is facing. And you're spot on about needing good blinds to block out the sun for daytime TV and gaming. I will also be adding black out curtains for my bedroom for sleeping in.

[Kryptonic]

Solid input ‘Dack. I’ve always stuck to buying a North/South exposure rule for cooling purposes. We’ve also always bought on the fringes of the city, or further out (in our case it was work that drew us to Florence and live in an amazing master planned community with community center, water park, golf and fishing and was great for raising our family) which saved us a boatload.

Bone did you settle on anything?

[Split T]

My wife and I just signed a contract for a new build…we’re not in AZ though. Should be finished in early 2025

[In2ition]

Congratulations on your new purchase!

[Kryptonic]

Congrats Split!

[Superbone]

Solid input ‘Dack. I’ve always stuck to buying a North/South exposure rule for cooling purposes. We’ve also always bought on the fringes of the city, or further out (in our case it was work that drew us to Florence and live in an amazing master planned community with community center, water park, golf and fishing and was great for raising our family) which saved us a boatload.

Bone did you settle on anything?

Yeah, I wouldn't have thought of the N/S thing. I'm going to make a list based on Nodack's suggestions. As far as location, I'm hampered a bit as I want to be relatively close proximity of my mom. Approx 20 minute drive or less. I'm still in a holding pattern but just learned today that my open house will be the first weekend in July. Hoping for a relatively quick sale and then I'll begin to know what I have to work with and can starting searching in earnest.

[Superbone]

Sold my house after the first open house weekend (1st weekend in July), had a 15 day escrow and already have my funds.

Started on Monday looking at houses in earnest (as in going there physically). I'm really settling in on the Ahwatukee foothills area. I really like it and some of the mountain views and desert landscaping.

[Kryptonic]

Sold my house after the first open house weekend (1st weekend in July), had a 15 day escrow and already have my funds.

Started on Monday looking at houses in earnest (as in going there physically). I'm really settling in on the Ahwatukee foothills area. I really like it and some of the mountain views and desert landscaping.

Good call... Always liked Awakookie. Plus it sounds like it's close to your mom, which is smart. Just make sure to get a good home inspection. I know some areas had a roof rat problem.

[Superbone]

Sold my house after the first open house weekend (1st weekend in July), had a 15 day escrow and already have my funds.

Started on Monday looking at houses in earnest (as in going there physically). I'm really settling in on the Ahwatukee foothills area. I really like it and some of the mountain views and desert landscaping.

Good call... Always liked Awakookie. Plus it sounds like it's close to your mom, which is smart. Just make sure to get a good home inspection. I know some areas had a roof rat problem.

Good to know, thanks. Yeah, the inspection will be very important. A lot of these are older (70s/80s), remodeled homes. Not a fan of roof rats!

Yep, it's just on the other side of South Mountain from my mom. About a 20 minute drive in general.

[TOO]

What does say a 4bed 2ba go for in Arizona these days?

[Kryptonic]

Sold my house after the first open house weekend (1st weekend in July), had a 15 day escrow and already have my funds.

Started on Monday looking at houses in earnest (as in going there physically). I'm really settling in on the Ahwatukee foothills area. I really like it and some of the mountain views and desert landscaping.

Good call... Always liked Awakookie. Plus it sounds like it's close to your mom, which is smart. Just make sure to get a good home inspection. I know some areas had a roof rat problem.

Good to know, thanks. Yeah, the inspection will be very important. A lot of these are older (70s/80s), remodeled homes. Not a fan of roof rats!

Yep, it's just on the other side of South Mountain from my mom. About a 20 minute drive in general.

and more importantly 30 minutes from Suns games j/k... obviously mom's the most important.

[Kryptonic]

What does say a 4bed 2ba go for in Arizona these days?

Alot....

https://www.zillow.com/florence-az/?sea ... 22%3A15%7D

This is my neck of the woods... and it's an hour from phx. My house is 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath.

[Superbone]

What does say a 4bed 2ba go for in Arizona these days?

Alot....

https://www.zillow.com/florence-az/?sea ... 22%3A15%7D

This is my neck of the woods... and it's an hour from phx. My house is 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath.

I was going to say, it's a pretty big range depending on how upgraded the house is and the age of the house. I'm surprised that they are that expensive out there though, K! I thought the further you get from the center of Phoenix, the better deals.

ETA: OK, looked again and those are all much bigger houses than what I'm looking for. I'm looking at ranch style in the 1800-2100 sq ft range.

[Superbone]

Sold my house after the first open house weekend (1st weekend in July), had a 15 day escrow and already have my funds.

Started on Monday looking at houses in earnest (as in going there physically). I'm really settling in on the Ahwatukee foothills area. I really like it and some of the mountain views and desert landscaping.

Good call... Always liked Awakookie. Plus it sounds like it's close to your mom, which is smart. Just make sure to get a good home inspection. I know some areas had a roof rat problem.

Good to know, thanks. Yeah, the inspection will be very important. A lot of these are older (70s/80s), remodeled homes. Not a fan of roof rats!

Yep, it's just on the other side of South Mountain from my mom. About a 20 minute drive in general.

and more importantly 30 minutes from Suns games j/k... obviously mom's the most important.

That is very cool though after so many years out of state.

[TOO]

https://www.zillow.com/merced-ca/

Feels like you get more in Arizona than you do here

[Kryptonic]

What does say a 4bed 2ba go for in Arizona these days?

Alot....

https://www.zillow.com/florence-az/?sea ... 22%3A15%7D

This is my neck of the woods... and it's an hour from phx. My house is 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath.

I was going to say, it's a pretty big range depending on how upgraded the house is and the age of the house. I'm surprised that they are that expensive out there though, K! I thought the further you get from the center of Phoenix, the better deals.

ETA: OK, looked again and those are all much bigger houses than what I'm looking for. I'm looking at ranch style in the 1800-2100 sq ft range.

Also, my community isn't the status quo. It has a community center, waterpark, fishing, dog park, softball park and various other amenities. The North half of our subdivision is 55+ and the South is single family. The senior side also has the golf course and we all get reduced golf rates (not that I golf...lol). For most, this isn't ideal for going back and forth to the valley, but for us it's great since it was only 12 minutes from work. I love it out here and the small town vibe tbh. I've got used to making the commute to the valley and doesn't bug me... maybe only go once, twice a week.

[Kryptonic]

https://www.zillow.com/merced-ca/

Feels like you get more in Arizona than you do here

Depending on the subdivision, yea... That area looks nice tbh. Especially come... this time of year. LOL

[TOO]

It's been up to 114 with wildfire smoke lol. It sucks here