Moving to Phoenix - What is your opinion

[ohsoready2go 0]

I just got a new job in North Scottsdale. My husband and I will be moving in a few weeks (once I find a place for us) from Michigan. Not a lot of people I know have ever been to the area, so I am turning to VJ for some opinions. The best part is that it is going to work out a little better for his Visa process. Here is where I am at so far.....

My Job is located in North Scottsdale, but housing in Scottsdale looks to be really expensive. I am looking at housing in North Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree. It still looks a little expensive, but not too bad. Housing is much more afforable in the south, but I don't want to drive over an hour to get to and from work. I am so lost at finding house with spending more that a few days there on vacation.

Here are some questions.

1. What is your opinion of the Phoenix area?

2. Where is the best place to live in the Area?

3. Where is the worse place to live in the Area?

4. What do I need to be concerned with?

Thanks!

J&P

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It's hot!!!

[sparkofcreation 0]

It's hot!!!

Exactly what I was going to say. I live in Albuquerque, and even people here think that Phoenix is way, way too hot.

One living-in-the-desert tip: in hot weather, drink more water than you think you need. In a completely dry environment, sweating works exactly the way it should: it evaporates as soon as it reaches your skin. This gives you maximum cooling, but it also means that many newcomers don't realize they're sweating because the skin is never really wet (the way you tell is this: if you feel a very gentle cool breeze on your skin that's cooler than the ambient air temperature and feels like it's just blowing across you the way a fan would--as opposed to the way actual wind blows across a wide area--it means you're sweating). Also, wear sunscreen all the time, even if you'll only be outside for a couple minutes.

Not having been there, I don't have any advice about housing, but seriously, if you're out in the heat (whether or not you're in the sun), plan to drink one to two bottles of water every hour.

BTW I can't believe you don't know people who've been there; a sizeable portion of the population of Albuquerque is originally from Michigan, Illinois, or Wisconsin (in that order).

Edited May 20, 2007 by sparkofcreation

[trueimage 0]

But it's a dry heat....lol

I have family in Tucson and they all tell me that crime and gang violence is bad in Phoenix. That's all I know so I would recommend to definately do some research and find a good neighborhood. And yes, Arizona does have a pricey cost of living.

[hmm1 0]

But it's a dry heat....lol

I have family in Tucson and they all tell me that crime and gang violence is bad in Phoenix. That's all I know so I would recommend to definately do some research and find a good neighborhood. And yes, Arizona does have a pricey cost of living.

Yes it is...crime is very high, make sure that you keep full coverage on your car...it has one of the highest car theft ratios in the country...it is expensive as well, I recommend flying out for a weekend and checking it out.

[sparkofcreation 0]

But it's a dry heat....lol

True, 120 degrees with 10% humidity feels better than 120 degrees with 90% humidity would ...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I've heard bad things from people I know who live in Michigan, apparently the entire region is in a state of malaise. If you've got a better opp'ty in a growing area like Arizona, go for it!

[kitkat1 5]

I just got a new job in North Scottsdale. My husband and I will be moving in a few weeks (once I find a place for us) from Michigan. Not a lot of people I know have ever been to the area, so I am turning to VJ for some opinions. The best part is that it is going to work out a little better for his Visa process. Here is where I am at so far.....

My Job is located in North Scottsdale, but housing in Scottsdale looks to be really expensive. I am looking at housing in North Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree. It still looks a little expensive, but not too bad. Housing is much more afforable in the south, but I don't want to drive over an hour to get to and from work. I am so lost at finding house with spending more that a few days there on vacation.

Here are some questions.

1. What is your opinion of the Phoenix area?

2. Where is the best place to live in the Area?

3. Where is the worse place to live in the Area?

4. What do I need to be concerned with?

Thanks!

J&P

Seems like it might be best to start with some internet research:

http://www.azcentral.com/relocationguide04...odoverview.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I just got a new job in North Scottsdale. My husband and I will be moving in a few weeks (once I find a place for us) from Michigan. Not a lot of people I know have ever been to the area, so I am turning to VJ for some opinions. The best part is that it is going to work out a little better for his Visa process. Here is where I am at so far.....

My Job is located in North Scottsdale, but housing in Scottsdale looks to be really expensive. I am looking at housing in North Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree. It still looks a little expensive, but not too bad. Housing is much more afforable in the south, but I don't want to drive over an hour to get to and from work. I am so lost at finding house with spending more that a few days there on vacation.

Here are some questions.

1. What is your opinion of the Phoenix area?

2. Where is the best place to live in the Area?

3. Where is the worse place to live in the Area?

4. What do I need to be concerned with?

Thanks!

J&P

I'm a native of Phoenix - born in Mesa and grew up in Tempe. You might try looking in the Tempe area or N. Mesa for more affordable housing. Phoenix, like LA, suffers from urban sprawl as people move farther out for affordable housing and traffic is already a real problem. Scottsdale's a great place to live if you could find something you could afford.

[sereia 0]

too hot and isolated for me. i've been once and don't plan on ever going back. but never say never. lol but lots of people enjoy it there! i've heard its a great place for new opportunities....good luck!

[Ban Hammer 14,460]

invest in ice now

[zyggy 9]

That's funny.. I'm moving from Detroit to Pheonix as well in about a month... and my job is also in North Scottsdale..

We are also looking in North Phoenix for a house.. now I just have to sell mine in Detroit...

[almaty 19]

It's hot!!!

amen, and sand storms

[Otto 83]

I just got a new job in North Scottsdale. My husband and I will be moving in a few weeks (once I find a place for us) from Michigan. Not a lot of people I know have ever been to the area, so I am turning to VJ for some opinions. The best part is that it is going to work out a little better for his Visa process. Here is where I am at so far.....

My Job is located in North Scottsdale, but housing in Scottsdale looks to be really expensive. I am looking at housing in North Phoenix, Cave Creek and Carefree. It still looks a little expensive, but not too bad. Housing is much more afforable in the south, but I don't want to drive over an hour to get to and from work. I am so lost at finding house with spending more that a few days there on vacation.

Here are some questions.

1. What is your opinion of the Phoenix area?

2. Where is the best place to live in the Area?

3. Where is the worse place to live in the Area?

4. What do I need to be concerned with?

Thanks!

J&P

The Phoenix area is pretty diverse - it can be only a matter of a few blocks between poorer looking neighborhoods and affluent ones.

You didn't say if you were buying or renting - I'll assume buying.

There are many neighborhoods along Bell Rd (north Phx), Thunderbird Rd, in/around the Paradise Valley Mall area - close to Scottsdale but without the expense. Nothing in Cave Creek is considered affordable by most.

I'd (without knowing anything else) suggest the above area - east of the 51, south of Bell Rd (but this can vary north or south a bit) to the Tatum Rd area (going all the way south as far as Cactus Rd. You'll find decent neighborhoods (with only pockets of not-so-good) and should be fairly affordable (mid $230-$250s) homes with good schools and close to where you'll be working.

Your Drive-time is a major concern in Phoenix - but you have to live where you can afford. Tempe is south of you, Mesa is south east - but they will require you to be on the 101 (aka morning/evening parking lot).

There are certainly places to avoid - most will tell you South Phoenix, Apache Junction (although this is quickly changing) and some of the North-Central areas (but in no way all of this area).

My opinion of Phoenix in general - it's a great place to live - beautiful weather most of the year (OK, hot in the 90 or so days of summer) - plenty of shopping (more than you'd ever want) - the people are pretty cool (in general). There are plenty of sports (Suns, Cardinals, Coyote's, and Diamond Backs) and the Super Bowl will be there in 2008.

Get a home with a pool - even a small one...

Hope this rambling helps..

[Empress of Groovy 373]

Greetings. I'm in East Phoenix and have lived in the Valley off and on since 1997. The Karin & Otto posting has some good information. Keep in mind that the Phoenix (and Tucson) housing markets went absolutely crazy between 2003 and 2006--I think the average price of a home doubled in something like four years--and prices are finally starting to come down. I think that the area is still overpriced if you consider the usual criteria, such as mortgage-rent ratios, but there are a lot of motivated sellers now, and the market is absolutely flooded. Some people clearly think it's still 2005 and are trying to sell their houses for way too much, but there are also plenty of investors who bought just a bit too late and are now paying two mortgages--and thus are desperate. Are you looking to buy right away?

I have to agree with Karin & Otto that if you're going to be working in North Scottsdale and don't want a hellish commute, I'd avoid the East Valley (Tempe, Mesa). The 101 in that part of the Valley has only existed for about six years, and it is indeed a parking lot during rush hour--which lasts for about half the day. The traffic in this part of the Valley is as bad as the downtown commute in terms of traffic being at a standstill. I'd check out the areas Karin & Otto mentioned (North Phoenix, Paradise Valley Mall area--incidentally, the Paradise Valley Mall isn't in Paradise Valley). There are also some very nice areas in Central Phoenix. I live in the Biltmore area in an apartment. Houses around here are pretty pricey, but there are a lot of nice condos that are affordable. Actually, Scottsdale has some very nice condos as well. It's really the houses that are expensive. You can find affordable condos just about anywhere in the Phoenix area. There were a zillion conversion projects over the last few years, and the market is flooded with them, too. Carefree is pretty pricey, as are Paradise Valley and Cave Creek. But you can always get lucky! And as mentioned, there are a lot of desperate sellers right now.

All in all, I like Phoenix. I'm originally from Massachusetts but have lived in AZ for almost 15 years (I went to UA in Tucson before moving up to Phoenix). There's no getting around the fact that the summer is oppressively hot--we've already hit 100 this year--but you don't have to drive too far before it starts to cool off. Phoenix isn't a particularly pretty city aside from a few "mountain" preserves (Phoenix Mountains Preserve, for example), but the area surrounding it is spectacular. Downtown used to be a hellhole but is getting better every year.

Feel free to send me a PM if you have specific questions. I'm glad to help! Sorry this has turned into such a ramble.