Photo by Michael Woodall Urban dwellers will love the view from the waterfront condos at Hayden Ferry Lakeside in Tempe.

Yeah, yeah, you are what you eat. That may be true on a metabolic level, but deep down we all know it’s our neighborhoods that define us. It’s a story as old as time: city mouse vs. country mouse, house vs. high-rise, quaint vs. grandiose. The process of picking where to plant your roots is, in many ways, a reflection of yourself. The right community can embrace your personality and build confidence, comfort you when you’re feeling alone and spark a lifelong romance with your home. But a neighborhood’s personality goes well beyond its ZIP code.

“Creating a community happens in two parts,” says Brent Herrington, vice president of DMB, a major master-planned community builder in the Valley whose developments include Scottsdale’s DC Ranch and Buckeye’s Verrado. “First, you have the hardware – the streets, parks, lights, sidewalks, homes. Then you have the software, and that’s the people stuff. Are the people who live in this community philanthropic? Is there an emphasis on education, social activities, family experiences? Those two parts – the hardware and the software – work together to form a community’s identity.”

The personalities of the Valley’s various neighborhoods vary like a box of chocolates. And the good news is now, more than ever, it’s a buyer’s market. This means the choices and opportunities to get into that perfect ’hood are endless. That said, it’s also important to really examine what you want to make sure you find that perfect fit. Remember, a home is a pretty big investment.

“You really need to be honest with yourself, evaluate things and think about your daily life,” Herrington says.

Don Veidt, a Valley real estate agent since 1998, urges his clients to really brainstorm before they buy. “I want to get to the critical issues of importance to a buyer and establish a prioritized list,” he says. “This includes more than price range and size. We filter for commute, schools, entertainment venues, views, age of the community, etc.”

This year, our list of some of the Valley’s best neighborhoods features a little bit of everything. We want to take some of the head-scratching out of your MLS search. To help, we’ve broken down our list of great streets/blocks/cities by personality types. Whether your life has gone to the dogs (literally), you’re a single who craves great nightlife, you want to be on the edge of sporting action, or you want the perfect nest for your growing family, we’ve found a neighborhood for you. Check out our list and do a little self-examining while you’re at it.