New to Arizona - Need advice on Real Estate

[Michael LemMon]

I am highly considering buying a property in Arizona due to significantly lower prices than my current market (San Diego). I am interested in the Scottsdale area and have also heard great things about Chandler & Tempe (and not so great things about Mesa). Any thoughts, recommendations, or general facts on those areas would be appreciated. Some additional facts on my mindset and what I am looking for:

• -I would ideally like to turn this into an investment property down the line, so would like it to be in a good market for that. I will most likely "live" in it to start to qualify for the FHA loan.
• -I like the idea of Scottsdale because the vibrant social scene and baseball stadiums (I'm a male in my 20s and SF Giants fan)
• -I am looking for a single family home (3-4 beds + pool)
• -Ideally would like to keep budget under $500k and from what I've seen that is not very doable in Scottsdale, but seems obtainable in Chandler
• -I've heard Mesa is a dirtier more crime ridden town (which I don't understand if its in between Scottsdale and Chandler)

Morale of the story is I know nothing about AZ and want to invest in a place i wouldn't mind living, but with great rental potential. Please be as brutally honest about these areas or if my expectations are unreasonable. Looking to learn. Thanks~

[Melanie Johnston]

@Michael LemMon Using your 3-bedroom criteria:

• Nothing changed in Scottsdale...there just isn't enough inventory.

• In Chandler a great house came on the market just under $400,000. It will go fast.

• In Gilbert we dropped to $415,000.

• And in Mesa, a nice house with a pool will start at $400,000.

More houses are coming on the market daily, not as many as we need, but they are going active.

In fact, if you want to know how our market has been working the last 6 weeks...On Wednesdays/Thursdays new properties go active in the MLS. Showings are generally on Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays with offers due either by Sunday night/Monday morning/Monday night. So if you see a great active listing on the MLS on Monday don't get excited. Chance are it's at the end of the weekend cycle and it's about to be changed to "Under Contract" or "Pending."

One advantage getting listings from an agent through the MLS offers (vs. Zillow and Redfin) is the COMING SOON status. These are homes that are not yet active, but may be available to show--and even write offers on. These listings don't get fed to the online portals like Z and R.

Be sure to ask to have COMING SOON listings included in any Metro Phoenix MLS searches someone sets up for you.

Hope this helps!

Melanie