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Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:30 am
by summerof42
Looking to move from the Midwest in 2021 for much anticipated retirement since I can’t tolerate the winter or cold.

Made a few a few trips to Scottsdale where I have a few friends, but. . . Cost of real estate is crazy there.

Considering Anthem and saw a great condo complex on line and incredible outside park facility, but other than that not all to familiar and looking for input.

Prescott is too far north and I prefer the warmer weather.

Looking forward to your input!

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:18 am
by Workaholic
summerof42 wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:30 am Looking to move from the Midwest in 2021 for much anticipated retirement since I can’t tolerate the winter or cold.

Made a few a few trips to Scottsdale where I have a few friends, but. . . Cost of real estate is crazy there.

Considering Anthem and saw a great condo complex on line and incredible outside park facility, but other than that not all to familiar and looking for input.

Prescott is too far north and I prefer the warmer weather.

Looking forward to your input!
My parents have snowbirded out in Scottsdale for 17+ years and from what I know of Anthem, it's a nice community with tons of families living there. Do you want to be in a community more focused on 55+ or somewhere with a more diverse population?

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2021 7:31 am
by Sandtrap
summerof42 wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:30 am Looking to move from the Midwest in 2021 for much anticipated retirement since I can’t tolerate the winter or cold.

Made a few a few trips to Scottsdale where I have a few friends, but. . . Cost of real estate is crazy there.

Considering Anthem and saw a great condo complex on line and incredible outside park facility, but other than that not all to familiar and looking for input.

Prescott is too far north and I prefer the warmer weather.

Looking forward to your input!
Live in Prescott, have friends in Scottsdale, Anthem, etc.

Anthem is a very nice area, North of Scottsdale, and a bit out of the main city traffic and congestion and density. It is North of the 101 loop which can also get gridlocked where it meets I-17 as well.

There are major stores in Anthem and it is close to Scottsdale and the rest of Phoenix down to Tempe via I-17 and the 101 loop thus avoiding crowded I-17. The community was well designed ahead of time and has a good "feel" to it.

The deeper you locate East of Anthem on 101, there are also a lot of nice areas but sometimes traffic can get pretty dense at dif times of day. There are more stores and things but also more density and overall congesting (lots of people and cars) and so there's that feeling of that a bit that some like or don't mind or don't like.

The farther West of Anthem opposite the 101, when you go across I-17 to the West, is a very different "feeling" with some nice community areas, some older areas, some industrial areas, etc. So . . . . it depends.

As Anthem is immedietly off of I-17, there's quick access to go North to Sedona, Flagstaff, etc, all the way to I-40 which goes E/W cross country in the mid. USA. Or South to I-10 which goes E/W cross country in the lower USA.

Be careful of high HOA and other fees in some condo/townhouse/community home developments.

Summers, like the rest of the Phoenix area, can be brutal for a few months with highs reaching 120. But, as soon as the sun is low in the sky, things quickly cool down. Most folks do a lot of outdoor things in the early morning and finish by late morning. The rest of the year is very nice and moderate.

Unlike some areas in Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Tempe, etc, Anthem is a good value per dollar depending on if you find a good buy.
If you can afford it and can find the right spot, Anthem is a very nice, newer feeling, area to live.

j :D

IMHO: as a nearby resident, a lot of Anthem has this "feeling" to it.
Image

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:23 pm
by p14175
Lived in the Phoenix Metro area for 50 years. Retired to southern Az -- yep! down by the US-Mexico border. The air is clean down here, not so much in the Phoenix area even with emissions testing in Maricopa County. I don't know a lot about Anthem except that it has washes that run through it and some of the homes get flooded on occasion. You will be sorry if you don't look at other parts of Arizona before making a decision.

Yes there is Scottsdale, but there is also Prescott, Payson, Pinetop-Lakeside, Globe-Miami, Safford, Sierra Vista, Yuma, and Bisbee. All of which are better places for retirees than Phoenix.

Ugly places include Tucson. Yuck! [OT comment removed by moderator prudent]

Anyways, Az is not a good place to retire if you have a really high income. Check out 2020 AZ Prop 208.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:37 pm
by rockstar
Anthem is really far north.

If you want to stay closer to metro, you can live in the east valley: Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. I'd give Mesa a pass though. All are much cheaper than Scottsdale.

If I was going to retire here, I'd go north of Phoenix maybe Strawberry or Pine or Prescott. If I wanted to pay a lot, I'd move just south of Sedona.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:45 pm
by kramer
Although I know it's a big improvement on the cold of the Midwest, I find that area too cold in the winter, 5 months with average lows in the 40s. Best wishes on your retirement!

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2021 11:28 pm
by phxjcc
You might try posting on city-data.com.

I remember when it was being built. Looked nice, huge planned community.

If you want to go north to Sedona or Flag, GCNP it has its advantages.

I left PHX in 2006, so I don't know about it now.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:40 am
by Pacific
rockstar wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:37 pm Anthem is really far north.

If you want to stay closer to metro, you can live in the east valley: Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. I'd give Mesa a pass though. All are much cheaper than Scottsdale.

If I was going to retire here, I'd go north of Phoenix maybe Strawberry or Pine or Prescott. If I wanted to pay a lot, I'd move just south of Sedona.
Are you sure you are thinking of Anthem? It's only about 25 miles north of Phoenix.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:29 am
by rockstar
Pacific wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:40 am
rockstar wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:37 pm Anthem is really far north.

If you want to stay closer to metro, you can live in the east valley: Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. I'd give Mesa a pass though. All are much cheaper than Scottsdale.

If I was going to retire here, I'd go north of Phoenix maybe Strawberry or Pine or Prescott. If I wanted to pay a lot, I'd move just south of Sedona.
Are you sure you are thinking of Anthem? It's only about 25 miles north of Phoenix.
Phoenix is a sprawl like LA. Map Anthem to the airport. It's far out.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:36 am
by bloom2708
We have done VRBO in Anthem many times.

I love the walking paths, design and smaller town feel. Elevation variety. Good grocery and a Walmart.

It is 35 minutes from Chase field. It is easy to get most places. It is a bit farther out for the various hikes around Phoenix.

It is a bit farther out, but that has some appeal. It will mostly likely get swallowed up by the sprawl of Phoenix at some point.

Anthem would be my #1 pick if I could move. We had a chance to buy a home in 2011 for $160k. That 4/2 is now $400k or more.

Houses are closer together, but they have tall walls and each back yard has a good feel. Not for everyone, but I like Anthem.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:41 am
by Sandtrap
Pacific wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 12:40 am
rockstar wrote: Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:37 pm Anthem is really far north.

If you want to stay closer to metro, you can live in the east valley: Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa. I'd give Mesa a pass though. All are much cheaper than Scottsdale.

If I was going to retire here, I'd go north of Phoenix maybe Strawberry or Pine or Prescott. If I wanted to pay a lot, I'd move just south of Sedona.
Are you sure you are thinking of Anthem? It's only about 25 miles north of Phoenix.
+1
From North/mid Scottsdale, go West on the 101 Loop, turn right at I-17 North, go that way a couple minutes, turn right at Anthem.
202 can be quick as they've finished most of the widening and fixing of loops and ramps and things.
About 29 freeway miles from lower/mid Scottsdale, much less from upper Scottsdale end.

j :D

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:42 am
by Sandtrap
bloom2708 wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 10:36 am We have done VRBO in Anthem many times.

I love the walking paths, design and smaller town feel. Elevation variety. Good grocery and a Walmart.

It is 35 minutes from Chase field. It is easy to get most places. It is a bit farther out for the various hikes around Phoenix.

It is a bit farther out, but that has some appeal. It will mostly likely get swallowed up by the sprawl of Phoenix at some point.

Anthem would be my #1 pick if I could move. We had a chance to buy a home in 2011 for $160k. That 4/2 is now $400k or more.

Houses are closer together, but they have tall walls and each back yard has a good feel. Not for everyone, but I like Anthem.
+1
I also looked at Anthem in 2011 or so. Missed out on some great deals. Shucks.

j :D

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2021 3:00 pm
by rockstar
AZ home prices spiked when the SALT cap went into effect. Lots of migration here.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:11 pm
by Carefreeap
summerof42 wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:30 am Looking to move from the Midwest in 2021 for much anticipated retirement since I can’t tolerate the winter or cold.

Made a few a few trips to Scottsdale where I have a few friends, but. . . Cost of real estate is crazy there.

Considering Anthem and saw a great condo complex on line and incredible outside park facility, but other than that not all to familiar and looking for input.

Prescott is too far north and I prefer the warmer weather.

Looking forward to your input!
How often will you be using Sky Harbor Airport? If a lot, I'd probably skip it. I-17 really can be a mess.

The developer Del Webb (now owned by Pulte) was an experienced planned community developer which developed many "Sun City" type developments for seniors. The closest development to my AZ house is Terravita and I have several friends who really enjoyed the "Lock and Leave" feature as well as the community facilities which are a real bonus to new residents who want to make friends.

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:14 pm
by Carefreeap
rockstar wrote: Sun Jan 17, 2021 3:00 pm AZ home prices spiked when the SALT cap went into effect. Lots of migration here.
This has been happening every 10 years or so at least since the 1980s. The red headed contrarian in me would love to buy a condo in SF "on the dip". :wink:

Re: Retirement: Anyone here from\live in Anthem, AZ?

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:44 pm
by rockstar
Carefreeap wrote: Mon Jan 18, 2021 9:11 pm
summerof42 wrote: Fri Jan 15, 2021 1:30 am Looking to move from the Midwest in 2021 for much anticipated retirement since I can’t tolerate the winter or cold.

Made a few a few trips to Scottsdale where I have a few friends, but. . . Cost of real estate is crazy there.

Considering Anthem and saw a great condo complex on line and incredible outside park facility, but other than that not all to familiar and looking for input.

Prescott is too far north and I prefer the warmer weather.

Looking forward to your input!
How often will you be using Sky Harbor Airport? If a lot, I'd probably skip it. I-17 really can be a mess.

The developer Del Webb (now owned by Pulte) was an experienced planned community developer which developed many "Sun City" type developments for seniors. The closest development to my AZ house is Terravita and I have several friends who really enjoyed the "Lock and Leave" feature as well as the community facilities which are a real bonus to new residents who want to make friends.
This. I-17 is one of the worse maintained highways here.