I’m a Real Estate Agent: These 4 Arizona Cities Are Safe and Affordable
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Levi Leidy
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Finding a place to live that’s both safe and doesn’t break the bank can be tricky at best. But don’t worry! GOBankingRates spoke to real estate experts who have the inside scoop on the Arizona towns that provide peace of mind when it comes to both safety and affordability.
Here are four Arizona cities that are both safe and affordable.
Gilbert
Gilbert is a city that’s growing fast, and it’s got a lot going for it. Rebecca Hidalgo Rains, who’s been helping people buy and sell homes in Phoenix for over 30 years, thinks Gilbert is a great choice. “Gilbert and Chandler are great spots right now that are both affordable and safe,” she shared.
What makes Gilbert special? Well, it’s pretty new as far as cities go. “These areas are relatively new community-wise and are growing quickly,” Rains said. This means there are lots of new homes and neighborhoods popping up. New areas often mean safer places to live, and the prices aren’t as high as in older, more established (read: fancier!) parts of town.
Chandler
Right next to Gilbert is another city that Rains recommends: Chandler. Just like Gilbert, Chandler is newer and growing fast. This is good news if you’re looking for a safe place to live that won’t cost a fortune.
Rains pointed out, “These are also great areas with new homes being built and new communities being built which provides added safety and more affordable homes.” New homes often have better security features, and new neighborhoods are usually planned with safety in mind. Plus, because there are lots of new houses, the prices tend to be more reasonable.
Queen Creek
If you’re OK with living a bit further from the big city, Queen Creek might be just the place for you. “Queen Creek and San Tan are another area on the outskirts of Phoenix that are fairly new areas that are starting to see a boom in home building,” shared Rains.
What does this mean for you? Well, because Queen Creek is newer and a bit farther out, the houses there are “still relatively cheaper than other more defined and prominent areas.” This makes them “more affordable and safer since they are so new,” according to Rains.
San Tan Valley
San Tan Valley is right next to Queen Creek and has a lot of the same good things going for it. It’s not actually a city, but it’s a place where lots of people are moving.
Just like Queen Creek, San Tan Valley is seeing lots of new homes being built. Rains explained that these areas “are growing quickly as more people are moving to the Phoenix area.” This growth means more choices for people looking to buy a home, and often at prices that won’t make your wallet cry.
What’s Happening in the Phoenix Area?
Now, let’s zoom out and look at the bigger picture. Christy Walker, real estate broker and owner of Re/Max Signature, has some interesting things to say about what’s happening in and around Phoenix.
“Since May, median prices have dropped 1% from $455,000 to $450,000,” said Walker. This means houses are a tiny bit cheaper now than they were a few months ago. But don’t get too excited – prices are still higher than last year. Walker added, “Compared to last June, prices have raised 3.3%.”
The good news is that there are more houses to choose from. “Active inventory for this area has also increased 81.2% since last June,” shared Walker. “Listings in the Phoenix market are finally rising to almost a three-month supply, allowing buyers a long-awaited choice.”
This is great news if you’re looking to buy a house because the options are plentiful.
More From GOBankingRates
