confused and cold (Phoenix, Tucson, Sierra Vista: housing, rent, trailer)

[vlux]

Hi all have lived in s.e. wisconsin all my life and hate the winters. My problems this, I would like a place where me and the wifecould get away to at least 2 times a year for a few weeks during winter and fall. Eventually from Jan to may, then retire and move. I have checked Florida but the summers of High humidity arent for me, neither are the lot fee's. I like the idea of a trailer but dont believe in the lot fee's, selfish want it to be mine. So Im thinking arizona. I love the heat always have being a carpenter. So where does a person start. Do I buy the land and then do the well if possible, is hauling it in that weird and is this that common. I am new to this site and have read the info and opinions on Ash fork arizona. Love the site. Dont mind a place out in the sticks, have had enough of people. Will be able to spend 20k-30k. Where do I start, thanks Vlux

[spyderman]

Hey we are almost neighbors, Im in Waukesha, we are looking at Kingman in the next year or so, good web site to read up on details.

[MotleyCrew]

I am not sure there are places that cheap in AZ. Some of the realtors may be able to help you. Best of luck

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by MotleyCrew

I am not sure there are places that cheap in AZ. Some of the realtors may be able to help you. Best of luck

About the only area that pops into my mind in that $20k-$30k/acre price range is the Juniper Woods Ranch area up by Ashfork. It's really pretty, but most of it is "off-grid" (no electricity), but there's a few parcels up there with electricity. Solar power is what you'll generally find, though. Possibly a few parcels in the Paulden area or maybe even Chino Valley or Dewey areas. Problem is, most are 2-acr minimums, so then you're closer to $50k for a nice parcel.

For just a regular sized in-town lot, there's Spring Valley (small town of about 1,000 in the high desert close to the Hwy 69/I-17 interchange.

What about the Kingman area? I don't know prices over that direction - might be a possibility.

[AzDreamer]

If you are looking for a warm winter getaway spot you might want to look at a climate zone map. Ashfork is in northern AZ and winters there are colder than Phoenix. Below is a map of Southwest climate zones.

Climate Zones-Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico

[LordBalfor]

Well, we bought land down near Benson (at J-6 Ranchettes, just west of Whetstone) last year about this time. We bought a 1-acre lot zoned for either mobile or site-built homes and paid a bit under $30,000 with power and phone to the lot. We'll need to put in a well (water depth is just a bit over 300 feet). Our plan is to wait another few years (maybe 4-5) then put in a well and prepare the site. Then with sometime between then and when I retire (max 7 more years out) sell our home in Seattle and purchase an nice double or triple wide mobile along with our pool and landscaping (hopefully paid with by cash).

I'm extremely happy with our location - weather is mild, easy access to I-10, 10 minutes into Benson (town of 5,000 or so with another 10,000 maybe in the general area, has a Safeway, big new Walmart), 40 minutes to downtown Tucson and about the same into Sierra Vista (40,000 or so people, with the usual assortment of stores). Weather is mild in SE Arizona - not as hot in summer as SW Arizona nor as cold in winter as Northern Arizona. According to an online weather station very near my properties average summer highs peak at 92 in June while Jan highs are around 59 or so.

Ken

[BiggsHomes]

Originally Posted by vlux

Will be able to spend 20k-30k. Where do I start, thanks Vlux

Take a look at Cordes Lakes. It's about an hour North of Pheonix and a half hour North of the outlet mall in Anthem. You can buy a 0.25 acre lot for around $20K. You can then put a Manufactured Home on the lot. The area has a Private Water company and electric. You will need a septic system and a propane tank if you want gas.

Your problem would be if you wanted to live in a temporary motorhome on the property a couple times a year. There are Yavapai County zoning codes that prevent you from living in a motorhome on Residentially zoned property. You can live in a motorhome while you are building a house on your property or you can temporarily live in a motorhome if there is a permanent residence on the property, but you cannot simply live in a motorhome on a piece of vacant land that is zoned Residential. If you are out in the middle of nowhere, chances are that no one is going to complain. If you live near more developed areas, neighbors are going to complain to the County.

[vlux]

Thanks everyone, very helpful. Its hard when you dont know area, climates diff., codes very. I guess Ill have to shedule a dozen diff places. Complicated when you think about it, then there's diff realtors to line up, oh well, price we pay to get warm

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Gretchen B

About the only area that pops into my mind in that $20k-$30k/acre price range is the Juniper Woods Ranch area up by Ashfork. It's really pretty, but most of it is "off-grid" (no electricity), but there's a few parcels up there with electricity. Solar power is what you'll generally find, though. Possibly a few parcels in the Paulden area or maybe even Chino Valley or Dewey areas. Problem is, most are 2-acr minimums, so then you're closer to $50k for a nice parcel.

For just a regular sized in-town lot, there's Spring Valley (small town of about 1,000 in the high desert close to the Hwy 69/I-17 interchange.

What about the Kingman area? I don't know prices over that direction - might be a possibility.

Remember that the land/housing market here in Arizona is imploding as we speak

Prices went way too high too fast a few years ago and are 'resetting' at more realistic levels.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Remember that the land/housing market here in Arizona is imploding as we speak

Prices went way too high too fast a few years ago and are 'resetting' at more realistic levels.

I agree prices went too high too fast, but the problem with my area (Prescott and surrounding towns) is that while it's true land isn't selling very quickly, the prices are still holding high. I do think we're in for a major correction on the parcels that are overpriced. However, in our "way out" areas (like Ashfork, Spring Valley, Cordes Jct, Paulden), some of those prices never skyrocketed so a lot of those parcels are actually selling because they are reasonably priced. Right now our MLS has over 180 land listings (mostly in the Paulden/Ashfork/Seligman area) that are 1+ acres and priced under $35,000. In fact there are some 10-acre parcels priced below $25,000.

But after re-reading the OP's post, I think he may want the hot desert weather rather than northern AZ weather.