For the AZ crowd

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alamocdc

alamocdc

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Apr 26, 2005
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Location
San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Not that I have a snowballs chance in H E double hockey sticks, but I've applied for a promotion to Luke AFB. Since I grew up mostly in the West Texas desert I'm well aware of the climate. My question is one of housing. Some time back, the Phoenix area was the fastest growing in the nation. That being the case, I'm concerned about housing costs. Just for reference, what would an 1800 sq ft Ranch be running out there (decent neighborhood)? All the kids are grown so schools are not an issue. I just need something with a larger enough out buliding for my shop. Should this come to fruition, I may even look for something out in the sticks (if that sort of thing is available).

Wait just a minute. I seem to remember something about Anthony being a realtor. HHMMM.

What say you guys and gals?

TIA
 
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Well the bad news is about a year and 1/2 ago the marker went crazy. The good news is in the past several months it has slowed down quite a bit so prices should be going down soon.
I am not quite sure where Luke is but I think it is Glendale which is on the other side of town from me. Prices matter quite a bit depending on the area and the age of the house. Everyone want new houses right now so you can get deals on older homes (10 years plus). In my area of Gilbert which is pretty new 1800 sf would probably be in the 250,000 to 300,000 range.

Drop me a pm if you have any questions, I will be off line for about a day and 1/2 so I will get back to you when I get back in town.
 
YIKES! Does Phoenix think it's LA? Yes, Luke is listed as being in Glendale. Older homes don't bother me. I get the seller to provide a warranty and it's always worked out for me. Thanks, Mike!
 
Originally posted by vick
<br />Well the bad news is about a year and 1/2 ago the marker went crazy. The good news is in the past several months it has slowed down quite a bit so prices should be going down soon.
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You might call it good news, but I am holding three homes for sale right now and it's killing me [:0]

Billy, I'm not a realtor, just an investor. wish I had a home where you are looking. [:D]

If you go to my web site and look in the links section, you see a link for a realtor, that is my friend Kevin, drop him a note and tell him I referred you and the area you are looking and ask him for market search. He should be able to get you a list of properties to give you an idea.
 
Thanks, Anthony! Sorry I called you a slimey realtor. [:D]

Edit: Okay, before anyone out there who is really a realtor jumps my case, I DO NOT consider realtors slimey. Just Lawyers! JK, Jim! That was a joke for Anthony's benefit.
 
Billy,

LOL...you can be worse than I. You just kept on digging a hole there buddy LOL.

Wow, those prices are HIGH! (well compared to San Antonio, TX atleast [:D])
 
Billy I am used to being on the bottom of the food chain [:D]

Insurance salesmen, car salesmen & lawyers [:D]
That is why I am striving to be a penturner, to elevate my status some what [:p]
 
Billy my wife says I am crazy and it is closer to 220,00 to 240,000. I believe the area you are looking is cheaper
http://www.azcentral.com/rre/rre_sub_searchallhomes.html
the above link should give you a good idea in your area. Keep in mind when figureing out the sf you need most homes here do not have basements.
 
That's funny, I've never considered you being low on the food chain. I must be down there with you... gonvernment employee and all that. [:p]

I just remembered something... LOML is a HS Math teacher (the best in her HS and I'm not just biased). How are the teaching salaries out there?
 
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br /> ... LOML is a HS Math teacher (the best in her HS and I'm not just biased). How are the teaching salaries out there?
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From what I hear, lower than the food chain. [V] I do not want to get into that big teacher fiasco we had here last year [:D] But in general, I think saleries are lower in AZ than most parts of the country. My one friends wife is realatively new teacher 3 years, making 24K and I thing the norm is about 30K
 
Now that's an interesting concept. She takes a pay cut and the cost of living is higher. Looks like I'll have some soul searching to do if they offer me the job.
 
<b>I think you have that wrong, you need an 1800 sf shop and a 280 sf living quarters. I have spent weeks in a cruise ship cabin of only 180 sf. MORE TOOLS! </b>
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />Thanks again, Mike, I'll check it out. BTW my 1800 sq ft Ranch up here doesn't have a basement either. Just a 280 sq ft shop (too small!).
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Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />Thanks, Anthony! Sorry I called you a slimey realtor. [:D]

Edit: Okay, before anyone out there who is really a realtor jumps my case, I DO NOT consider realtors slimey. Just Lawyers! JK, Jim! That was a joke for Anthony's benefit.
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[B)] I'll remember that Billy! [:D]

BTW, those prices are still better than the DC area. 20 miles outside the city's boundaries, 1000 SqFt homes are $350K and more! (and that's for a townhouse)
 
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />That's funny, I've never considered you being low on the food chain. I must be down there with you... gonvernment employee and all that. [:p]
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No, no, no, you got it all wrong! Gov't employees are high up on the food chain, lower on the food chain is Gov't contractors, such as myself. [:D]

And I concur with JimGo, prices out here are through the roof. A $190K house in 2000 is going for ~$500k now, and this is about an hour south of DC! [xx(]

Cheers,
Draken
 
Last year the housing market went up 42%. But being at Luke you could move out where they are still building a little less expensive. I'd say for 1800sq.' 300K is going to be farily common. I just appraised my 1930sq' house at 356K to get rid of PMI. The value has double since we built it a little over 2 years ago.
One thing to keep in mind is you may want to stick to older houses because in newer neighborhoods the HOAs would never let you put up an outbuilding of any decent size. You have problems if they see your garden shed over the fence sometimes. In the newer builds you'd be better off looking for 3-4 car garages. My truck pulls driveway duty ever since I got a lathe. But at least I get 2 of the three stalls.
 
An ex-coworker sold their house here, moved to Texas bought a house twice as big and had money left over. I keep telling my wife we are never moving again, we couldn't afford to even buy the house we are in now much less upgrade. I don't know how we are still the fastest growing county in the US.
 
Originally posted by alamocdc
<br />Y'all ain't gonna believe this. The payscale is $1000/year less there and housing is double. Something don't smell right!
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It's not the smell Billy, it's the sunshine, and it aint FREE [:D]
 
Billy, Az is a right to work state. We are bass ackwards. Teachers here get the short stick due to not being able to unionize.

Looking for a home on the west side of town still gives you better options then the east. You might get lucky and find a small piece of land. 1/4 acre or so[:D] I bought my house 2 years ago. 1500+sq ft for 150k. Houses similar to it in the neighborhood are selling for 240-260.

good luck in your decision. Let us know if you decide to join us. BTW its not just the sun, its the californians and golf courses that caused the price inc. [:p]
 
Tom is right...the Californinans are driving the prices up. Believe it or not, they (and some Germans) are starting to "invest" here in Texas too. R/E prices are starting to rise here too!!!

EDIT:
Toyota opening a major assembly plant here in San Antonio didn't help with the prices either. I am not complaining though...it really is good for the economy. [8D]

BTW, prices here are still VERY cheap compared to California, DC or Arizona in this matter. I bought my 1800 SF 70's house w/ 1/4 acre lot 8 years ago for $73,000...and to date, value is still hovering around that price. [:D] As I said it looks like it will change soon though.

As my preparation to have a slice of this forth coming cake, I am taking some Real Estate courses at night and hoping to get licensed before the year ends [;)].
 
Tell me about it. I had a 3000 sq ft brick home built in San Antonio (1997) for $116k. Homes that large weren't selling that fast in 2001 and I lost $8k on it. [:(!]
 
I'm in the eastern edge of Glendale (Luke is on the western edge) and my 2000+ sqft house, built in 1972, with pool filling back yard, 2 car garage, is now worth about $280K.

I have been looking for a property either with a shop, or room to build a shop. They have all been in the $375K+++ range. One I looked at was 2300sqft with 2 car garage, on 1 acre, and a bare back yard, at least it had block fence around it, and they were asking $550K.

Another at 2120sqft, on 1 acre with 1 car garage and a shop in the back yard, that is in need of some major work has a sale pending at $430K.

I have seen some that are more reasonable, but are further away than SWMBO wants to commute.

Not that I have been looking at them, but there have been some in the same area that have sold in the $1-1.5 Million range. Some of the neighborhoods on the western side of Glendale are pretty run down and even unsafe. Make sure your realtor isn't trying to sell you a pig in a poke.

Let me know if I can be of any help.

JimQ
 
Originally posted by Dario
<br />Tom is right...the Californinans are driving the prices up. Believe it or not, they (and some Germans) are starting to "invest" here in Texas too. R/E prices are starting to rise here too!!!

As my preparation to have a slice of this forth coming cake, I am taking some Real Estate courses at night and hoping to get licensed before the year ends [;)].
Click to expand...

Dario, if you do that you will have to downgraded from woodseller to dirtseller.[:D]
 
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