Looking to Relocate to AZ, but not sure where (Phoenix: how much, new home)

[momontherise]

I should have titled this: Multicultural Family Seeks New Home

My husband and I (both 30) have had it with NY. We are looking to move to Az (our dream since we began dating although we have never visited) sometime in the Summer of 2008. We are an interracial couple with a little girl who will be about 26 months when we move. I am a teacher. He works in Aviation. We are looking to buy a house in a nice neighborhood with a diverse population and academically vigorous schools with a diverse student body. I teach HS English (specialty in teaching low-level readers/ESL) and would love to work near where we live.

Concerns: both my daughter and I have asthma (mostly seasonal/allergy related). We need a place that is easy on that so that I can work out and finally lose this pregnancy weight. We would like a community with good doctors, cultural events, black hair care, and young professional families with children.

Where should we look?

We have heard about Maricopa County (is that in Phoenix?) and Surprise, Az. But other than that, we don't know much.

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

Kristina

[sablebaby]

Do a search on asthma and allergies within AZ and Phx. You will find a lot of information on that. Personally, I warn people with either conditions NOT to move here. We have a lot of things that people are allergic to and our air is really bad. BTW, Phx is in Maricopa County.

[momontherise]

Thank you. I have read up (right after posting my OP) that Phoenix is not good for asthma, but other areas are. We live in NY and I am not sure how much worse it is than the Phoenix area. I am looking for other suggestions though. Any place that is particularly good?

[MotleyCrew]

There are quite a few great spot here in AZ. We spent almost two years driving from N. CA to AZ exploring the state. We landed in N. Peoria up in a community called Vistancia. It was the city we were looking for. Lots of new shopping developments coming our way and some have recently been completed.
You really need to make a trip and drive to the different areas. This forum is fantastic for suggestions of where to live. Some of us love the west side and many love the east. Both have their good spots. The amount you want to spend on a home will also be a factor in your search.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by momontherise

We are looking to move to Az (our dream since we began dating although we have never visited) sometime in the Summer of 2008

You seriously need to visit a few times before you make the move. Moving somewhere w/o visiting is suicide if you ask me. Heck, Id love to live in the Carribbean somewhere (a dream of mine), but Id never ever move w/o visiting extensively first.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by momontherise

Thank you. I have read up (right after posting my OP) that Phoenix is not good for asthma, but other areas are. We live in NY and I am not sure how much worse it is than the Phoenix area. I am looking for other suggestions though. Any place that is particularly good?

I hadn't been to NYC in 19 years and from the looks of it last week, it looked a lot cleaner than Phoenix.

[odinloki1]

Phoenix is a giant smoggy dust bowl. When I go through it I am reminded of LA without trees and without water. Tucson is only slightly better as there is not so much car exhaust destroying the air.

[momontherise]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

You seriously need to visit a few times before you make the move. Moving somewhere w/o visiting is suicide if you ask me. Heck, Id love to live in the Carribbean somewhere (a dream of mine), but Id never ever move w/o visiting extensively first.

I understand however, we have moved plenty without visiting first- college, for work, etc. Honestly, we will make it no matter where we live- that is not the point. And, obviously, we will visit some choices, but we can't afford to visit everywhere. That is why I am here- to get advice about places to live in Arizona.

Thank you,
Kristina

[momontherise]

Originally Posted by sheena

I hadn't been to NYC in 19 years and from the looks of it last week, it looked a lot cleaner than Phoenix.

I work in the Bronx by factories and marsh land and 3 highways- it may be cleaner, but not by much. LOL.

Kristina

[Just.Believe]

I've lived here my whole and my husband and I want to move away. The number one reason is the heat. If you like to sweat year round then you'll be okay Seriously, I literally cry every year at the end of May. That's when it starts to really heat up. Here it is the end of November and I can't go to the store without breaking a sweat (probably has a little to do with my active toddler). But still. It gets hotter and hotter every year. NEVER I repeat NEVER leave anything in your car that you don't want to melt. CD cases get warped in the summers. Back in the day of cassette tapes--ruined, unusable. That's if you leave it in the sun though.

More and more people are moving here and the city is just growing beyond belief. We want somewhere that we can raise a family and have 4 seasons. (Also, not to sound racist, because I'm totally not, there are parts of town that people don't speak english and billboards are in other languages) Even in the nicer parts of town it's still there, not so much the bilboards. I'm sure that's everywhere, but probably more so in AZ.

Come visit in the middle of July and then make a decision.