Moving to Chandler, AZ: Chandler Homes for Sale and Local Guide

Chandler is a city of about 279,000 people in the southeast Valley, about 22 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, with I-10, Loop 101 and Loop 202 running through it. It has a restored historic downtown, a large tech and manufacturing job base, and Chandler homes for sale ranging from older ranch homes and downtown lofts to master-planned lake and golf communities.

I'm Terry Day with DeLex Realty. This guide covers how Chandler is laid out, a little of its history, the main areas and kinds of homes, things to do, schools, getting around, and my tips for buying and selling here.

See Chandler homes for sale Call Terry: 602-483-4665

Where Chandler is

Chandler sits in the southeast Valley, with its center along Arizona Avenue (State Route 87) about 22 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix. The San Tan Mountains, on Gila River Indian Community land, rise nearby. I-10 runs along the west side of the city, Loop 101 comes down the middle and ends at Loop 202, and Loop 202 crosses the city. Those two loops split Chandler into three broad parts people call North, West and South Chandler. That freeway grid is one of the reasons people like Chandler: most of the Valley is an easy drive. Arizona Avenue became the state route through downtown in the 1940s and is still the main street through the historic core.

A short history

Dr. Alexander John Chandler, the first veterinary surgeon for the Arizona Territory, bought land south of Mesa in 1891 and built it into an 18,000-acre ranch. Under the Salt River Project's water rules, he subdivided it and opened a townsite office in May 1912, when excursion trains brought buyers to the first land sale, according to the City of Chandler. The Hotel San Marcos opened in November 1913 and drew winter visitors from around the country.

Cotton, grain and alfalfa farms, plus cattle and even ostriches, carried the early economy. Residents voted to incorporate as the Town of Chandler in May 1920, and Chandler became a city in 1954. An Army Air Corps training base opened east of town in 1941. The city grew from about 30,000 people in 1980 to the size it is today, with electronics and manufacturing replacing much of the farmland. The Ostrich Festival still nods to that history.

Main areas and neighborhoods

• Downtown Chandler. The historic square around Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, with restored storefronts, restaurants and the Chandler Center for the Arts. For condos and lofts near the square, see downtown Chandler condos and lofts.
• North Chandler. Many of the city's older neighborhoods, with established streets and ranch-style homes close to downtown.
• West Chandler. Neighborhoods near I-10 and Loop 101, close to Chandler Fashion Center, including the fly-in homes at Stellar Airpark.
• South Chandler. Newer master-planned communities, including Ocotillo, with its lakes and golf, and Fulton Ranch.

Types of homes

Chandler's housing follows its growth. Close to downtown you will find older homes on established lots. As the city grew from about 30,000 people in 1980, builders filled in most of the city with single-family subdivisions, many with HOAs, community pools and greenbelts. South Chandler has more lake, golf and gated communities, and there are pockets of custom and luxury homes. Condos and townhomes are spread across the city, with lofts and condos near downtown.

Chandler niche pages:

• Chandler homes with pools
• Chandler luxury homes ($1M+)
• Chandler golf community homes
• Chandler gated community homes
• Chandler resort-style communities
• Chandler pickleball communities
• Chandler condos
• Chandler move-up homes

Things to do

• Tumbleweed Park. Chandler's largest community park, about 200 acres on McQueen Road, with athletic fields, the Tumbleweed Recreation Center, 18 tennis courts, 18 pickleball courts and the Playtopia play area.
• Veterans Oasis Park. 113 acres in southeast Chandler on Chandler Heights Road, with a 5-acre fishing lake, 4.5 miles of dirt trails, horse trails, the Chandler Nature Center and the Field of Honor veterans memorial. More than 153 bird species have been recorded there.
• Downtown. Restaurants, shops and events around Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, plus shows at the Chandler Center for the Arts.
• Events. The Ostrich Festival is the city's best-known annual event.
• Shopping. Chandler Fashion Center, a regional mall of about 1.3 million square feet, opened in 2001.

Schools

Five public school districts serve Chandler, according to the city: Chandler Unified, Kyrene, Mesa Public Schools, Gilbert Public Schools and Tempe Union High School District. Which one serves a home depends on the address, and charter and private schools add more choices. Always confirm boundaries with the district. My Chandler Unified homes page and the school pages below are a good place to start.

Getting around

Most people in Chandler drive. I-10 connects to Phoenix and Sky Harbor Airport to the north and to Tucson to the south, Loop 101 runs north through Tempe toward Scottsdale, and Loop 202 links east toward Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek. Valley Metro buses serve the city, but light rail does not run into Chandler. Pilots have Chandler Municipal Airport on the east side and Stellar Airpark on the west side.

Jobs and shopping

Chandler has one of the Valley's strongest tech and manufacturing job bases, led by Intel's Ocotillo campus. Many employers sit along the Price and Santan freeways in an area known as the Price Road Corridor. The questions section below lists the largest employers. For shopping, there is Chandler Fashion Center in west Chandler and local restaurants and shops downtown.

Buying in Chandler

Chandler has a lot of choice, so the first step is narrowing it down. Tell me your must-haves, such as a single-story home, a pool, a short drive to work, or a certain school district, and I will show you the parts of the city that fit. On homes in HOA communities, read the CC&Rs early. On older homes, plan on a careful look at the roof, plumbing and HVAC. Every Chandler purchase is different, and I keep negotiating through the inspection, the appraisal and the final walkthrough. If you have or want an FHA or VA loan, see my assumable mortgage guide, and read first steps to buying a home in Arizona.

Selling in Chandler

Buyers here compare your home with others in your own neighborhood and school district first. Pricing it right from day one matters most. Read how to price your Arizona home to sell and my Chandler home values seller guide, then call me for a pricing plan. You can also see DeLex Realty listings in Chandler.

Nearby cities

Gilbert · Tempe · Mesa · Queen Creek

Population and land area come from the U.S. Census Bureau; history, parks and school districts from the City of Chandler. Details can change. Confirm school boundaries with the district and community rules with the HOA before you buy.