? about commuting time, traffic to Phoenix

I have just taken a travel assignment at Paradise Valley hospital near Phoenix. We currently live on a farm and would like to find housing far enough outside the city so we will not be too shocked by crowds and traffic. I will be working 10 a-10 p so the traffic hopefully will have died down a bit, but what would be a reasonable distance to commute and not be too burned out by the drive. We are looking as far south as Casa Grande, Eloy and Florence. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what a reasonable commuting distance might be. I am originally from Atlanta so I am not a stranger to traffic, but I did not like it then either! We love our little farm in the Ozarks, but are looking to get away from the winters here. It seems that rent in the Phoenix area was about $1000/mo. minimum, so we were thinking if we liked the area we might just as well buy something inexpensive as a second home and return every winter. Any comments or information about the area would be appreciated. Thanks.

Casa grande, florence and eloy are all over an hour from Paradise Valley. Chandler is less developed than Phoenix, although they seem to be building up there too, and the commute is less than an hour. Well at least less than the others. Personally, I think they are all too far and would stick with the north Phoenix area. Traffic can be a nightmare here. I am not sure about the rents being over $1000. It will really depend on the area.

I am moving to an area called Surprise on the outskirts of Phoenix. It is less developed than Phoenix. Here is a link to the house we bought. With upgrades we paid about $170,000 and added two bedrooms (the base was $147,000 as we bought at the pre-grand opening). Comes with all appliances and granite counters.

http://www.trendhomes.com/sf-fp-204.html

Can you only get the assignment at Paradise Valley. Some of the outlying towns have pretty big hospitals too. I wouldn't think you would have a problem, especially in ER or ICU because all of the snowbirds come down then. Plus, I have heard of some hospitals offering upwards of $100 bonuses per shift for working overtime during the "snowbird" months.

We had not planned to try to come to Az until cooler weather, but the hospital where I currently work is not renewing any contracts after the current ones are completed, so I took the Paradise Valley job because of the hours. It seems like everything else was night shift. My hubby and I want to be able to explore and visit other areas while we are there, so the hours work better for my body to do that. Maybe I can work PRN via an agency to pick up some extra if I want it. I hadn't really looked at the north side of Phoenix, but will continue to look. We have a call in to a realtor who can probably guide us to something we can afford, I just don't know the area enough to make an informed decision yet. I will probably go out first and begin the search for a place and then my hubby and the dogs will come when I find something. Thanks.

Casa Grand would be a heck of a haul even without rush hour traffic.

If you're looking for a newer home, the NW side of town would be a better commute. There are older homes, not too far from PV Hospital, that I'd guess would be reasonable rent.

Andrea,

Your new home looks great! I hope you will be very happy there. It's amazing what you get for the price. That would only buy a teeny-tiny studio apartment where I live in central, NJ (and you still have to deal with the brutal winters). I'm thinking down the road of maybe moving to Scottsdale. What are your thoughts about Scottsdale ie. like/don't like? Is traffic an issue there too? And do you ever worry about whether there will be enough drinking water available for everyone out there because it doesn't seem to rain very much? Thanks, Stephanie

Casa grande, florence and eloy are all over an hour from Paradise Valley. Chandler is less developed than Phoenix, although they seem to be building up there too, and the commute is less than an hour. Well at least less than the others. Personally, I think they are all too far and would stick with the north Phoenix area. Traffic can be a nightmare here. I am not sure about the rents being over $1000. It will really depend on the area.

I am moving to an area called Surprise on the outskirts of Phoenix. It is less developed than Phoenix. Here is a link to the house we bought. With upgrades we paid about $170,000 and added two bedrooms (the base was $147,000 as we bought at the pre-grand opening). Comes with all appliances and granite counters.

http://www.trendhomes.com/sf-fp-204.html

Can you only get the assignment at Paradise Valley. Some of the outlying towns have pretty big hospitals too. I wouldn't think you would have a problem, especially in ER or ICU because all of the snowbirds come down then. Plus, I have heard of some hospitals offering upwards of $100 bonuses per shift for working overtime during the "snowbird" months.

hi can i ask how long it takes u to get to phoenix from surprise and is surprise developed meaning grocery stores etc abundant?

I have just taken a travel assignment at Paradise Valley hospital near Phoenix. We currently live on a farm and would like to find housing far enough outside the city so we will not be too shocked by crowds and traffic. I will be working 10 a-10 p so the traffic hopefully will have died down a bit, but what would be a reasonable distance to commute and not be too burned out by the drive. We are looking as far south as Casa Grande, Eloy and Florence. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what a reasonable commuting distance might be. I am originally from Atlanta so I am not a stranger to traffic, but I did not like it then either! We love our little farm in the Ozarks, but are looking to get away from the winters here. It seems that rent in the Phoenix area was about $1000/mo. minimum, so we were thinking if we liked the area we might just as well buy something inexpensive as a second home and return every winter. Any comments or information about the area would be appreciated. Thanks.

I would say anything over 10 miles from the hospital would burn you out on the drive. Casa Grande, Eloy, and Florence are WAY TOO FAR TO COMMUTE! It can take more than an hour to commute from one end of Phoenix to the other when it's not rush hour!

Example - I live in N. Phoenix (maybe 8 miles west of PV Hospital) and driving to Gilbert to see my cousin in NON-RUSH hour traffic is 45 minutes via freeways. From my house to the airport in NON-RUSH hour traffic is 30 minutes.

If anything, you want to go far north of Phoenix if you are going to commute to PV. The cities you mention are all south.......meaning you have to drive all through Phoenix to get there.

You might like far north Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem. They are not cheap though.

...........Oh never mind, I see I am replying to a very old post.

hi can i ask how long it takes u to get to phoenix from surprise and is surprise developed meaning grocery stores etc abundant?

Where in Phoenix? Phoenix is huge. From downtown to Suprise.....oh 45 minutes. Yes, Surpise has grocery stores. It is very devolped now.