Data Centers Are Booming Across the East Valley. Here Is How to Think About Buying Near One.
Data centers are one of the fastest-growing kinds of development in the country, and the East Valley has become a national hub for them. A new survey shows buyers are split about living near one. If you are house-hunting here, here is how to weigh it with a clear head instead of a headline.
Drive around Mesa, Chandler, or Queen Creek lately and you have probably passed one, a large, low, windowless building humming behind a fence. Data centers have become one of the fastest-growing kinds of development in the country, and the East Valley is right at the heart of the boom. So it is no surprise that a recent national survey found people are genuinely divided about living near one. If you are shopping for a home here, there is a real chance you will find a listing close to a current or planned facility. That does not make it a bad buy or a good one. It makes it something to look at clearly.
Set the noise aside and it comes down to a short, honest list of what people raise on both sides. Neither column is the final word. They are simply the things worth understanding before you decide.
| What gives buyers pause | What buyers point to on the other side |
|---|---|
| A low, constant hum from cooling equipment, which varies a lot by facility and distance. | Once built, they are quiet, low-traffic neighbors compared with retail or industrial sites. |
| Heavy truck and construction activity while the site is being built out. | They tend to bring jobs and a bigger tax base that can support local services. |
| Questions about water and power use, which draw a lot of local attention. | Newer facilities increasingly face requirements and scrutiny on exactly those points. |
| The look of a large industrial building near a residential street. | Setbacks, landscaping, and buffers are often required and can soften the footprint. |
The antidote to a headline is a little legwork. Before you fall for a home near one of these sites, or rule one out, get the facts specific to that address.
Before you decide, check these
- Ask the city or county what is actually approved or planned nearby, zoning and development records are public
- Visit at different times of day and evening to judge noise, light, and traffic for yourself
- Read the community and HOA disclosures for anything about nearby development
- Ask your agent for comparable sales to see how similar nearby homes have actually sold
- Think about your own timeline and whether construction phases overlap with your first years there
One honest boundary. Whether a nearby data center helps or hurts a specific home’s value is a question for your real estate agent and, ultimately, an appraiser who knows local sales, not your lender. My job is the financing: making sure that once you have done your due diligence and chosen a home you feel good about, you are pre-approved and ready to move on it. Get the right people answering the right questions and you buy with confidence instead of guesswork.
Data centers are part of the East Valley landscape now, and they are not going away. That is not a reason to fear a listing near one, and it is not a reason to ignore one either. It is a reason to look closely, ask the specific questions, and lean on local pros who know this market. Do your homework, get your financing in order, and you can make a clear-eyed call on any home, near a data center or not, right here across the East Valley.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a commitment to lend, financial advice, or a statement about the value or desirability of any specific property. Survey figures cited reflect third-party data for the period noted. The impact of nearby development on a specific home is determined by market conditions and professional appraisal; consult a licensed real estate agent and appraiser for property and value questions, and the relevant city or county for development plans. CrossCountry Mortgage is a private lender and is not acting on behalf of, or at the direction of, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Equal Housing Opportunity.
