Surprise Real Estate & Information
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Surprise, Arizona – Today
The city of Surprise is home to over 100,000 residents and is located on the western edge of the West Valley. Surprise can be found northeast of El Mirage, west of Sun City, and west/southwest of Peoria. Surprise is 20 miles from downtown Phoenix. Surprise’s current population represents nearly a 300% growth rate since 2000 when there were just 30,848 residents.
Surprise was envisioned as a smaller, bedroom community with the neighborhood amenities of larger cities. Though the city if much bigger today, there is still that strong focus and commitment on that original vision.
Surprise saw amazing growth in the past decade though it has also been hard hit by changes in the housing market. However, major development projects are ongoing and will work to raise the city’s appeal and stature in the future.
Surprise, Arizona - History
Surprise was founded in 1938 by Homer Ludden, a state legislator and developer, who named the city for his home town of Surprise, Nebraska. Surprise originally consisted of only a handful of homes on a square mile of farmland.
Since that time, Surprise steadily grew. In the 1980s through the 1990s, Surprise’s population growth was heavily influenced by retirees coming to the Sun City Grand area.
More recently, new home build activity and lower prices attracted many other residents who were looking for quality, affordable housing options.
City planners, according to the City of Surprise website, had intentions with Surprise were to create a community that would have a “small town feel and big city amenities.”
Great Resources & Information on Surprise
Surprise Real Estate
Surprise is one of several outer Valley cities that has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. From a city planning perspective, planners long envisioned making Surprise a sought-after bedroom community of the West Valley. Surprise probably grew too fast to keep up from an infrastructure perspective but the city is working hard to change this. There are numerous master planned development projects, schools, firehouses, and other projects that will help Surprise catch up and likely propel the city forward.
In 2007, the Surprise City Council approved a plan to build the Valley’s largest indoor mall complex which should complement Surprise well and draw other visitors from around the West Valley. This facility is part of an overall master planned community concept called Prasada that will encompass 3,300 acres of residential, retail and commercial development including the mall. Its location at Highway 303 and Cactus Road will take advantage of expectations for Highway 303 in the future. Ground was officially broken this year.
As well, Surprise is working hard on building new schools, firehouses, and additional community offerings. DreamCatcher Park, Surprise Aquatic Center, Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, and Spring Training Complex are examples of some of the great amenities that Surprise has to offer.
Surprise was hard hit by the changes in the market. As a result, homes are very inexpensive and wonderful properties can be obtained at fantastic prices. In general, Surprise’s home values have always been relatively inexpensive as compared to other Valley cities that are more centrally located though this could change over time.
Commute times in and out of Surprise represent the greatest challenge Surprise currently faces and buyers need to be aware of their “center of personal gravity” and how long commutes would affect them. There are only a few points of access and it will take some time for road improvements to relieve traffic flows.
Surprise is working hard to position the city as something quite special and unique in the West Valley. There are numerous developments underway which will greatly benefit the community there and work to elevate Surprise in the future. Surprise can be a wonderful, inexpensive community to call home.
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