Tempe

With all the excitement about the opening of Valley Metro Light Rail last month, and the high hopes of both businesses and residential areas clustered around the light Phoenix and Tempe light rail stations, I felt obligated to take a trip on Metro as soon as I could. We were out of town for the official opening festivities on Dec. 27 – but arrived back in Tempe on Dec. 31, the last day of free ridership on the Light Rail, and the trip home from the airport on light rail seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Usually a 10-minute, $20 taxi ride (including tip) from the airport to our home, we decided to test the light rail system in. (My wife was less enthusiastic and claims that I still owe her not only the $20 we saved but also the hour of additional time it took to get home!) We didn’t have to wait long for the shuttle at Terminal 4 and were at 44th & Washington within 10 minutes of picking up our bags. We waited at the light rail station another 10 minutes and boarded the light rail car bound for downtown Tempe. Another 10 minutes and we were at the College/5th Street station, heading to find our free neighborhood shuttle (Orbit). Another wait, and another 10 minute light rail ride. And then, the walk from College Avenue to our home. Normally a quick stroll, but with bags it seemed much longer.

So we had loaded ourselves and our four bags on and off a shuttle bus, a light rail car and a microbus that morning and spent zero dollars but an hour longer than usual on our trip home from the airport. (That one-way trip on light rail would now cost $1.25 each – so still a deal.) Our conclusions:

1. There’s not much room on the light rail for luggage on any of those modes of transportation
2. What might be fine in December will definitely not go down so well in June
3. It’s great to have the light rail option when no-one can be talked in to picking you up at the airport!

And finally, we’re already hearing anecdotal evidence of an increase in business and general activity around the light rail stations. It will be another few months before there’s any hard evidence of a turnaround in those residential neighborhoods, so stay tuned!

Tempe’s community is a microcosm of the real estate market in the Phoenix area. The rectangle that represents the Tempe community is evenly divided into 4 zip codes – 85281 through 85284 from north to south. Downtown Tempe, Arizona State University and historic Tempe buildings are all located in 85281, and a journey south from this area is a veritable history of real estate in Arizona. As the city developed south over the past 50 years there are samples of styles and periods of Arizona residential real estate represented throughout the city and Tempe communities.

85282 covers the area from Broadway to Baseline and was built from mid 1950s to early 1970s. This Tempe community is characterized by block homes on medium to large lots. A few of the older neighborhoods still have flood irrigation systems, which has meant a lot of large trees and, consequently, shade. Due to the proximity to ASU these neighborhoods have always maintained their value. In the past decades many homes in the community have become rentals, but as the flight from the suburbs of the Valley continues, these older homes are attracting new owners with remodel and upgrade ideas. There are some opportunities in the community to buy in the mid $100,000s all the way to million dollar homes in pockets of custom home subdivisions.

The 85283 community stretches from Baseline to Elliot and was built from the early 1970s into the 1980s. The Lakes, Kiwanis Park and Ken McDonald Golf Course were part of the community development in this area. Again, a wide range of prices is available from small 1100 square foot homes in the $100,000s to million dollar waterfront homes in The Lakes. Typically waterfront property starts at $500,000. Marcos de Niza High School is in the center of this community, and many fine neighborhoods are represented here with block homes and medium-sized lots in the $300,000s.

85284 is where home prices have been the highest in Tempe’s communities. It contains several gated communities with homes close to the million-dollar mark, and the older and sought after Pecan Grove subdivision. There is a county island with very large lots that have horse privileges with street names like Citation and Secretariat. Warner Ranch Estate is one of the largest subdivisions in Tempe and has historically been a popular area for young families. This area is in the Kyrene Elementary School District and Corona Del Sol is the High School.

The community of 85281 is north of Broadway and extends north of Tempe Town Lake to the
Scottsdale border. I have saved this zip code to last because it has everything! Due to in fill projects and redevelopment, we find everything from small homes on large lots from the 1940s and earlier, to brand new small subdivisions tucked in older neighborhoods. But most importantly the development of the Downtown community and the lake has meant that Tempe is moving into the 21st Century with mid- and high-rise condo projects on the lake and in and around the downtown area. Finally with the advent of light rail that will run right through the middle of this community, we will be seeing a resurgence in the neighborhoods along the light rail corridor and a lot of mixed-use development right along the rail line.

So the communities of Tempe are a reflection of the entire Valley in terms of types of homes available. Tempe (and in particular 85281) truly offers homes for every taste and pocket book.