relocating boston to arizona (Phoenix, Tucson: real estate, house, rent)

[stratton7]

I am thinking of moving from Boston, MA to somewhere in arizona. Looking for some pointers from anyone who has done anything like this, it will be my first big move...

[exlexisnexis]

I moved from Boston to Florida to Arizona. Get out now!! Many people in Boston are petrified of moving and never try anywhere else. I am telling you almost anywhere is better than Boston,others will follow you but few want to be pioneers.

[kdog]

I'm originally from the Boston area. It's a good place to be from.

[exlexisnexis]

I agree Boston is a good place to be from and to visit.

[BiggsHomes]

What are you looking for in your desire to move to AZ? Arizona has a lot a great places to live. Your first question is do you like hot, mild, or cold? Next, how much house can you afford? Next is do you need a job and what kind? Then of course, do you like big cities, medium cities, small cities, or no cities?

[Boatdrinks]

Boston's an incredible city, and a LOT different from Phoenix. Not only are the cities different, but there's just a completely different vibe here then there is on the east coast. I'd suggest at least a few visits out here before you make the move, and definitely come out in the summer first.

I like it here a lot, but also really like Boston. I was just there a couple weeks ago and had a great time. There's SO much to do there. Certainly there are lots of negatives too. But as to which you'd like better - it really just depends on your likes, income, etc.

[PhoenixRT]

I grew up a little outside of Boston and moved to Tucson when I was 19 with my boyfriend. We lived in Tucson a year and a half, got married and he joined the AirForce...we got stationed in Spokane Washington and now at almost 26 years old he is getting out and we had to decide where to go from Washington state. For us we wanted more city than Tucson but didnt want to deal with winter as he had in Boston and Washington...Phoenix was the perfect choice for us.
You will have events come to town like you do in Boston and that was our big issue with Tucson and Spokane...the cities were not big enough to attract many concerts, sports or other events like Boston does. Phoenix does attract many forms of entertainment which we missed when we moved from the Boston area.
If you use the "T" in Boston then you will be dissapointed by the lack of public transportation in Phoenix-but for us it was easily overlooked. Plus people from AZ complain alot about traffic and commute time but I knew lots of people in Mass who drove to Ayer and then took the T into Boston and then walked to work for an hour and a half to two hour commute each way. So i think new englanders who commute into Boston are better prepared for extended drive times-plus in Mass you drive it in the snow!
You should find real estate more reasonable than in New England depending on what area you want to live.
The weather pattern is similar in that in the winter in Boston you stay inside and run from your heated house to your heated car to your heated office building and HERE in the summer you run from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned work. In both areas there is a season that isnt great (but i think the hot summer is easier than the freezing winter) but we cant all live in hawaii can we!
The only things we miss is the history that we felt in New England AND that Phoenix is no where near the sports town Boston is-so hanging out in Boston with a bunch of Red sox or pats fans doesnt happen-and we miss that. Its a different type of city down here. Although there are things we miss about Boston we won't ever go back to live there. We really like Phoenix.
I would recommend you visit and investigate your chosen career choices/options here as well.