Thinking about moving to AZ (Phoenix, Tucson: houses, job market, landscaping)

[Mya1764]

I am thinking about moving to AZ. I currently live in DE, aka mold capital of the world. My daughter who is 2 has developed allergies to every enviromental element here and has also had severe asthma attacks due to the allergies. I took her to Arizona the beginning of this year and while we only spent one week there she did not have to take any medications while there. We stayed in Phoenix mostly, but took roadtrips to Arizona City, Tucson, Casa Grande, and Tonopah.

Since returning I have searched various websites for houses and property. While there I did look at some properties but was turned off by the dust and plain dirt landscaping in some of the towns. I guess I want my cake and eat it too, but I want to live some place where my daughter can have a normal life. Right now I can't let her go outside due to the dampness and mold conditions. I would like to find a place in AZ where I can have a beautiful view of something other than dirt but not deal with cold or snow. She does worse when it is cold or there is snow on the ground.

Can anyone help me or direct me to an area to check into? I have been searching so long that everywhere is starting to look the same to me.

[RODEO]

I can probably help a bit, post some responses to let me know you're online often, and I'll try to help.

AZ is really diverse in elevation. That makes it tough to be in either desert or mountains, but there are some options.

First, I'd stay out of Phoenix due to air quality, I've heard it's getting real bad, so it would be bad for your child I assume.

I really really like Prescott AZ. small to mid sized town, victorians, views of the mountains, and only mild and shor lived snow (elevation of ~5000ft).

Sedona is even milder - but is costly and a bit snobbish IMHO. But beautiful.

Lake Havasu City is desert, but has foothills to the south. I'd consider it my second choice to prescott. The summers are way too hot for me, but the winters are very very nice.

If ya could do it, live in prescott in summer, and Lake Havasu in winter, that's what I'm hoping to do.

i've traveled most of AZ in my RV this year, looking for a place to call home.

maybe i can help more! GL!

[Mya1764]

I would love to be able to split my time and do a winter home and summer home, but unfortunately I also have 2 school age children as well. So I must choose only once place to call home. I do appreciate any input you can give me.

[BriansPerspective]

I agree with Rodeo. The Prescott area is a fabulous place to live. What kind of occupation are you looking for and what housing prices are you looking for? Those two items may limit your available areas.

[RODEO]

Originally Posted by Mya1764

I would love to be able to split my time and do a winter home and summer home, but unfortunately I also have 2 school age children as well. So I must choose only once place to call home. I do appreciate any input you can give me.

buggshomes agrees, prescott is awesome. see if you can find average temps for prescott. it is known for moderate climate. Winter is mild, but ut has some snow, very light, and gone in a day.

flagstaff is real nice, but colder, thus I didn't mention it.

payson AZ is a real nice town, but I believe it's a little colder than prescott, and I like prescott a bit better.

Kingman Az is nothing to get excited about, but it's nice, and might be a high desert climate, so not as HOT as lake havasu, and definatley not as cold as prescott (although I think prescott isn't that cold - unless you're an RVer.

like biggshomes said, home prices, and jobs may be the next factor to consider.

I'll be around if you have more questions.

[Imissthefall]

I agree...stay out of Phoenix..poeple have so manu problems there with allergies etc... the way my DR explained it to me was that the way Phoenix is it's like living in a fish bowl there so the air quality is not that good.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Imissthefall

I agree...stay out of Phoenix..poeple have so many problems there with allergies etc... the way my DR explained it to me was that the way Phoenix is it's like living in a fish bowl there so the air quality is not that good.

My Dr. says that most people's allergies improve for a time after moving here. Ragweed pollen is a problem in most of the US hut not in S. Arizona. Dust mites don't live thrive here either in spite of the dust and there is less mold in homes because they are newer and the climate is so much drier. However, people develop new allergies - to bermuda grass, olives, and various non-native ornamentals. I have to say that my allergies are much worse on my trips to the midwest than they are here. It seems if you are allergy prone, you are doomed where ever you live. You might find some temporary relief in AZ especially if you move somewhere where there is not a lot of non-native landscaping. That would not be Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott or any of the popular places. Maybe Tombstone or Morenci or something like that.

[Mya1764]

Thanks for all your help everyone. Job market really isn't an issue. I work for a temp agency that has an office in both Phoenix and Tucson, so they will find me work until I can get something permanently. One of my friends here use to live near Tucson, something beginning with an A---- Valley? She liked it there, but she lived there about 10 yrs ago. Meanwhile I will look into the Prescott area.

[aj661]

Mya1764, I think Payson and areas east of there are beautiful (more large pine trees), so is Prescott, but the Phoenix area isn't as bad as most people think. I live in the far east valley (Mesa/Apache Junction). The scenery is, well, desert. But the Superstition Mtns look real good. The brown cloud still shows up in the winter, but it's nothing like it was 20 years ago. Most of that is/was dust anyway. The local news is good about putting out warnings when the ozone levels, pollens, etc. are high. The best thing about living here is that the winters are mild and during the summer, Payson is only 1.5 hours from my house.

One thing no one has mentioned though is Valley Fever. Talk to your doctor about it. If you move to the desert, you WILL inhale the spores which are in the dirt. Fortunately very, very few people have any adverse affects from it or even realize they've been exposed. It seems to affect dogs more than people.
Check this web site: http://phoenix.about.com/cs/health/a/valleyfever01.htm It explains it better than I can.

[sablebaby]

I believe allergies and asthma can be worse here for some. My grandmother moved out here years ago because of the climate and she ended up leaving due to being in the hospital every year. My boyfriend has horrible allergies here where they were much milder elsewhere, like the midwest. I'm pretty lucky as I don't have either, but I think it's because I'm immuned since I was born here.