Where to build a house? - Phoenix Area?

My husband and I (and 2 year old son) are interested in building a house in a community outside of the Greater Phoenix area, but don't know where yet (we don't live in AZ). Could anyone guide us to which areas to look in to? i.e. Casa Grande, Buckeye, etc.

We would like to be no further than 40 - 45 minutes drive outside of Phoenix, but don't know which direction yet though. can anyone give us their thoughts? Pros and Cons?

Thanks for your help!

I hate to tell you this but Case Grande is farther than 40 to 45 minutes away from Phoenix. Buckeye would be your best bet for your needs.

I say Buckeye. Casa Grande is becoming more of a retirement area than anything, and it's difficult to get away from the interstate noise. On the other hand, it's very much its own town and already has shopping and services built up. With traffic though, it would take you closer to an hour to get into Downtown Phoenix.
You should also look at Maricopa (the town) and the Queen Creek area. Both have been developing quickly with Phoenix commuters over the past few years.
There's also Black Canyon City, and New River isn't completely suburban yet.
Cons for most of these places is that they're isolated, have limited services and you'd have to fight traffic every time you wanted to go into Phoenix.

I live in Gilbert the east side of town. I love it and would only recommend this side of the city (east or south east). My brother tried living on the other side in a couple of different cities only to find they kept coming to this side of town to do things. The schools are better out here and the social economics are a little better because they are fairly newer cities or towns. Gilbert is a family town! Good luck, the market is really good for buying preowned homes there is alot to choose from.

South of Phoenix - My inlaws live in Buckeye/Avondale area...all new housing there now....and not too far from Phoenix...freway real close.

Northwest of Phoenix - Wittmann is great....acre lots and only 30 mins away from Downtown Phoenix... friends just had a house built there...

West of Phoenix - glendale is growing..thats where the SUPERBOWL 08 was...all new housing!!!

Southeast of Phx - Mesa/chandler/Gilbert..growing too but with prebuilt homes...not too much land to build a home..