Is Arizona for us? (Phoenix, Tucson: environment, apartment, rental)

[hammy & waf]

Hello everyone, we currently live in Columbus, OH and we need to move. I have always dreamed of moving away from Ohio someday and I have finally found the someone to do it with. We are starting to save up, originally we were looking at Southern California, but the more I read about it, the less I am wanting to live there. So, we know we want somewhere West, the main factor is a change in weather. We are looking for a place that doesn't have those blistering cold winters until the end of April or our wonderful, crappy, unpredictable weather and one that does have mostly sunny days, weather affects her fybromyalgia and the knee she had surgery on, but not ridiculously hot. Somewhere that would be good to raise a family someday and has a decent job market, we both have warehouse experience, but she also has office experience and i have also experience in a sign shop. We have been doing some research on rental houses and found some decent looking 2-3 bedroom houses in the Prescott, Dewey, Queen Creek, for about $800-850. Does it sound like this might be a place for us? If not does anyone have any other suggestions?

[Gretchen B]

Prescott, Prescott Valley, Dewey have mild weather, especially compared with the midwest. We do have winter, though. By that, I mean we have lows mostly in the 20's from about the end of November until about mid February. Our highs during the winter will be generally in the 50's, with a few days in the 40's. A really cold day here is when the temp doesn't climb out of the 30's. We get rains in the winter, but sometimes we'll get snow, which usually melts within a few hours. In the summer, we'll see a week or two the end of June/first of July where we'll be really close to 100. But then the monsoon season starts about the 2nd week of July and the temps are back down in the 80's or low 90's. Because of the lack of humidity here, it's much more comfortable than in the midwest. Plus we have months of 60's - 70's from about March - May and September - November. I think most midwesterners really like the weather here, especially compared to what we're used to (I'm from Nebraska).

Queen Creek is in the desert just outside of Phoenix and so the summertime temps there are going to be hitting 100++ from May into October. But if you don't like any winter at all, that would be the place.

Jobs in the Prescott tri-city area. Check out the Prescott Daily Courier online (our newspaper), especially on Sundays to get a feel for jobs. Of course, housing construction has really slowed here like it has in most parts of the country. That means that people that were in the trades are looking for work, so you may find lots of competition for the warehouse jobs, although I'm sure experience would be a big plus on getting hired on.

You're right about the rental prices, generally. I would say you might be looking as high as $1100 for something (3bdrm/2ba/3cg, 1500sf) in one of the new subdivisions.

The area has a good rep for schools. Of course they're not nearly as big as the Phoenix area schools. More of a community feel up here, since we're not so big.

Come for a visit if you haven't already. That will give you a good idea about whether or not you'd like it here. btw, Chino Valley (also part of the Tri-City Prescott area) has some affordable housing, too. You'd probably have to drive the 10 miles to Prescott for work, though.

[zonababe]

Gretchen when I read the OP, I thought of you! Gretchen to the rescue!

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by hammy & waf

Hello everyone, we currently live in Columbus, OH and we need to move. I have always dreamed of moving away from Ohio someday and I have finally found the someone to do it with. We are starting to save up, originally we were looking at Southern California, but the more I read about it, the less I am wanting to live there. So, we know we want somewhere West, the main factor is a change in weather. We are looking for a place that doesn't have those blistering cold winters until the end of April or our wonderful, crappy, unpredictable weather and one that does have mostly sunny days, weather affects her and the knee she had surgery on, but not ridiculously hot. Somewhere that would be good to raise a family someday and has a decent job market, we both have warehouse experience, but she also has office experience and i have also experience in a sign shop. We have been doing some research on rental houses and found some decent looking 2-3 bedroom houses in the Prescott, Dewey, Queen Creek, for about $800-850. Does it sound like this might be a place for us? If not does anyone have any other suggestions?

I would suggest Yuma. The warm weather may be good for the fybromyalgia and Yuma has a pretty decent job market. It's 2 1/2 hrs from San Diego. It's a slower paced, less populated Phoenix and rents are pretty cheap...

Good luck on what you decide and best of luck on your move!!

[ibarrio]

I don't $850 would even rent you an apartment in So Cal. If it does it is going to be in the really bad areas. Your better off in Arizona.

[collected_eve]

The job market the the Prescott, Prescott Valley area right now is HORRIBLE! I count my lucky stars every day for having the job that I do now, I've been in this position for over a year & a half now.
I've been applying for Office/Receptionist positions for over 6 months now, have scored 2 interviews, but have had no luck getting the position.
I do not think that Prescott is good for raising a family b'c of it's high crime & loads of drugs in this area. Let me not even get into the many halfway houses, recovery homes & the loads of people that live here only for those reasons.

[runnergrl]

I am in southern CA and have been here for 2 yrs...DONT come here!!! it is insanely expensive and since you all are from the midwest...you will have a bit of a shock over the culture here. I am from the south and have lived in CT, OH, NC, GA and AZ...this has been the worst place as far of finding decent people...ie "normal" people especially in southern CA. The place itself is scenic and breathtaking in some places...but the high cost of living, the volume of traffic, and bunch of other things I care not list is just not worth it in my book. With that said, I think AZ would be choice to consider...it is more affordable...and I felt that when I lived there (SE valley of phx) if folks werent local, alot of them were from the mid west...which I liked. We lived in Columbus...and although I didnt care for the weather (afterall I am a southern gal), I thought the people were priceless...caring, giving, neighborly...good sense of community. I loved that fact that midwesterners were present where I lived...it is part of what I think gave the area its overall appeal. That's my 2 cents.

For cities...try Globe...still close enough to the city conveniences like medical and shopping and jobs. Sierra Vista is supposed to have one of the most temperate climates in AZ...as far as the city, though, I dont know much. It is located in southern AZ...Tucson would be the closest big town...try Tucson too...it is a nice place. Good luck with your adventure in moving!

[Mo_reen]

Hi Guys...
I am new here and was looking up exactly what you are posting about. My husband and I are just looking into areas of the country that we may be interested in moving to in the future and for some of the same reasons you are looking. We live in Buffalo and just can't take these winters anymore! My husband doesn't want to deal with snow anymore but I don't want to live in an "all brown" landscape so we are kinda butting heads over this. I love the green environment of NY and of course, the seasons. As long as the winters weren't AS LONG as it is here (and cold and windy) I could deal with it. So... if you don't mind sharing the information you may have found, I'd love to hear it. I will keep on searching as well.
Thanks!!
Maureen & Frank

[BiggsHomes]

Originally Posted by Mo_reen

Hi Guys...
I am new here and was looking up exactly what you are posting about. My husband and I are just looking into areas of the country that we may be interested in moving to in the future and for some of the same reasons you are looking. We live in Buffalo and just can't take these winters anymore! My husband doesn't want to deal with snow anymore but I don't want to live in an "all brown" landscape so we are kinda butting heads over this. I love the green environment of NY and of course, the seasons. As long as the winters weren't AS LONG as it is here (and cold and windy) I could deal with it. So... if you don't mind sharing the information you may have found, I'd love to hear it. I will keep on searching as well.
Thanks!!
Maureen & Frank

You could try living on a golf course in the Prescott area. Then you get the best of both worlds - green-scape and nice weather. We left Maryland partly because of the weather. We love the green as well, but with green, you get cloudy, overcast skies. Now we have sun year-round. Even when it is 40-50 in the winter, the sun makes it feel warm out. The difference is quite amazing. Prior to moving here, we did a lot of research on the weather. If you want green and warm, your only choice is Florida or Hawaii. In Florida, you get high humidity, bugs, and hurricanes. In Hawaii, you're locked on a small island and everything is very expensive. Southern California has nice weather, but the prices are astronomical and the cities and traffic blend into a nightmare.

Another thing to consider is whether you can handle the open space. It sounds strange, but sometimes people who grew up back east, surrounded by trees, get a little agoraphobic in the west. Back east, you cannot see very far and out west, you can see for miles. Sometimes the change is discomforting to people. The reverse is also true. People who grew up out west sometimes get claustrophobic back east.

Good luck with your research!

[amatrine]

You rent newer homes in West Phoenix starting at 900 a month. The house I am in is up for rent in Mesa at 895 a month through desert wide properties. We rented here for 4 years and its been good to us. This is a good neighborhood. Dobson and guadalupe, the old Dobson Ranch. It borders Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe. Low crime and quiet. The neighbors house just rented for 1100 a month . This one is cheaper because it needs some updating, but not bad for the neighborhood.

Ama