As usual, this is a post inspired by an email from a (potential) client.  Her husband has a new job in North Scottsdale, they move this summer, and like all of us, needs a family friendly neighborhood and great schools.  Oh, and it would be nice if her husband didn’t have to spend half his day in traffic.

That started the brain gears working.  Scottsdale huh?  After getting real honest with myself, I realize that I tend to shy away from Scottsdale because I am a self-proclaimed Cheap Mom.  And frankly, in Scottsdale you pay more for your house simply for the name.  Location, Location, right?

But more important to me than money is Family.  And if my husband’s job was in North Scottsdale, I would gladly pay more for a house to simply get more time with him.  Especially knowing how good the Scottsdale School District is. 

So, what are our options??  Family-friendly in and around Scottsdale without breaking the bank, i.e. less than $750k.  Let’s start with Scottsdale itself.  McCormick Ranch is the first to come to mind.  Located along Hayden Rd, around the Hayden/Via de Ventura area, it’s more “central” Scottsdale.  Older homes, which in AZ means prior to 1990, lends a wonderful sense of individuality.  The schools are great, the people are real.  It’s a very highly regarded place for families in Scottsdale.

My next thought if you have to commute to North Scottsdale is a lovely neighborhood in Peoria.  At 75th Ave and Deer Valley Rd., it’s right off the 101 freeway, giving you a nice easy drive.  It’s called Silverton and the location can’t be beat.  Freeway, mall, groceries all within five minutes.  Awesome city pool within walking distance, along with all 3 of the excelling schools.  I sold a home there last year and just loved the great floorplans and the very friendly neighbors.  Prices are very reasonable, especially compared to Scottsdale.  You can get 3,500 sq feet for under $400k.

Lastly, if you wanted to be a little “away from the city”, you might try Anthem.  A brand new community that has sold like hotcakes because of it’s intense focus on family values.  Tons of amenities, good schools, bit of a drive though, about 20 minutes north of Phoenix.

So, what’s your question?  Where do you want to live?  What’s the balance of best commute and best neighborhood and best bang for your buck in this crazy Arizona real estate market??