Anything positive about Yuma? (Mesa, Miami: real estate, housing, rent)

[DestinationYuma]

Originally Posted by MAB

And,IMHO Cibola HS is the best.
My little brother is a junior at Yuma high,he chose it because they have a great football team.and he says he likes it.
But cibola is in a better nehiborhood.and people have told me that the best teachers are there.
Theres also a new HS beign finished right now,around the corner from my house.
It will open in 08-2007 it will be called Gila Ridge HS.

good luck choosing

Hello MAB. I've been going through these forums tonight in search of information on Yuma. There is a high possibility of me starting a job in the Yuma Regional Medical Center. Also, I have two girls (not even in elementary school yet), and I have been researching the schools there and I have also found that Cibola HS is the best. Pueblo elementary and the middle school (all of those schools are on 20th, right?) are also highly rated. I figure the hospital is close to those schools, so my best bet is to find something near the schools there. I am glad to hear you say that is a good neighborhood.

Currently I live in Palm Beach, FL and I absolutely hate it. Besides not liking the weather and people, I struggle to pay rent & bills each month... so, it doesn't make sense to stay here. I have found your comments on Yuma the most insightful (along with a few other's postings). Although there is a ton of negative stuff in this forum about Yuma, I don't find most of the "arguments" to be substantial. I KNOW it's hot; that's not a big deal. I currently live in the land of the snowbirds; they impede traffic and fill up restaurants (usually not the restaurants I go to anyways)... not really an issue. The complaints against illegals (and mexicans, in general)... I'm also from San Diego and I *KNOW* that the illegals aren't the problem, I don't think the illegals in Yuma would be different. Why do some people seem to have a problem with all mexicans? Also, being from San Diego, I know all about traffic... For awhile, I worked in Carlsbad and lived in Mira Mesa; just a 20 minute drive (without traffic). Every Friday, after work, that 20 minute drive grew to over 2 hours. 45 minutes of that just trying to get down Mira Mesa Blvd. I'll take the 25mph snowbirds over that anytime.

Anyways, is that Cibola/Pueblo area a good area to find an apartment? Do you know of any good apartments in that area? All apartments look good when you see them online, right? So, if you actually know someone living in that area, I'd appreciate any info.
Thanks,
~Eric

[azloafer]

I go to Yuma at least once a month on my way to California. I would suggest renting before buying. After you are there for a couple of months you will find out why there are so many negative posts.

[songbirdpoet]

Hi,

Would appreciate feedback regarding living in Yuma based on the claim that it has the highest number of days per sunshine each year. Wondering if it would be helpful for the Season Affective Disorder that I suffer with. Anyone out there suffer with this? Plus, I have a couple forms of arthritis. Would think that the dry heat would be very helpful.

songbirdpoet

[DestinationYuma]

Originally Posted by azloafer

I go to Yuma at least once a month on my way to California. I would suggest renting before buying. After you are there for a couple of months you will find out why there are so many negative posts.

Do you mind expanding on that a little? Your previous posts on this thread just say that it's hot and there are a lot of snowbirds. Those aren't exactly reasons to condemn a place. Actually, to me, the fact that there are alot of snowbirds must mean that the place is not that bad. Even though the snowbirds' main objective is to escape the subarctic temperatures of their homes up north, I do not believe they will go to a terrible place just to meet that objective.

So, what else is it that makes it so bad? Well... perhaps it is not so easy to put it words? Everyone will feel differently about different environments. I hate it here in Florida, but there are others that LOVE it. I hated it in Cleveland, Ohio; but, I have many friends and family that won't leave the place. So, I guess it's all up to the individual. However, these kinds of forums are good to get an idea of what some major concerns are about certain areas. They are also good to learn about nice things... and to find out where the ideal neighborhoods and schools are.

BTW, I do plan on renting before buying. But, that is just so I have time to find an ideal neighborhood on my own.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by songbirdpoet

Hi,

Would appreciate feedback regarding living in Yuma based on the claim that it has the highest number of days per sunshine each year. Wondering if it would be helpful for the Season Affective Disorder that I suffer with. Anyone out there suffer with this? Plus, I have a couple forms of arthritis. Would think that the dry heat would be very helpful.

songbirdpoet

Well if sunshine help with SAD then the Arizona desert is about the best place you can be. It sunny and then some. There is a kind of opposite depression you get here though from too much sun. Kind of like, "Is it every going to rain in this god-forsaken place?". I do think that is much easier to deal with than the doom and gloom of seemingly endless cloudy days though.

[Imissthefall]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Well if sunshine help with SAD then the Arizona desert is about the best place you can be. It sunny and then some. There is a kind of opposite depression you get here though from too much sun. Kind of like, "Is it every going to rain in this god-forsaken place?". I do think that is much easier to deal with than the doom and gloom of seemingly endless cloudy days though.

I couldn't agree more. You can count on one hand how many times it rains in a year. And there are never any clouds..ok maybe one or two but there not like the big fluffu clouds..they are very little and thin. To me it seemed like clear and sunny 100% of the time so yes...Yuma would be a good place for SAD.

[Imissthefall]

Originally Posted by DestinationYuma

Do you mind expanding on that a little? Your previous posts on this thread just say that it's hot and there are a lot of snowbirds. Those aren't exactly reasons to condemn a place. Actually, to me, the fact that there are alot of snowbirds must mean that the place is not that bad. Even though the snowbirds' main objective is to escape the subarctic temperatures of their homes up north, I do not believe they will go to a terrible place just to meet that objective.

So, what else is it that makes it so bad? Well... perhaps it is not so easy to put it words? Everyone will feel differently about different environments. I hate it here in Florida, but there are others that LOVE it. I hated it in Cleveland, Ohio; but, I have many friends and family that won't leave the place. So, I guess it's all up to the individual. However, these kinds of forums are good to get an idea of what some major concerns are about certain areas. They are also good to learn about nice things... and to find out where the ideal neighborhoods and schools are.

BTW, I do plan on renting before buying. But, that is just so I have time to find an ideal neighborhood on my own.

Like you said some love it some hate it. You'll just have to live there and decide for yourself. Renting is good until you are ready to buy. Due to the big military population there are a lot of rentals. Also...still a good time to buy in Yuma, sellers are coming down from there prices and homes are taking a long time to sell so it's your market and that gives you some leverage. Yumaera.com has some great listings..good luck.

[azloafer]

You are doing the right think by renting. Since everything is relative, you will learn what you like and dislike during your rental phase. You will either like it and buy a home or move on. Good luck.

[Melstarr]

I have lived in Yuma for a little over a year. I have lived in Dallas TX (19 years), Southern and Northern California (7 years), Tucson AZ (4 years), and finally Yuma. I didn't move here for a job. I moved here for love; the love of my life, who was born and raised here.
My perspective was dim from the beginning because I consider myself a city girl; an educated ex-Californian who grew up in a suburb of the big gray city of Dallas. I came to Yuma after being laid off 3 times in a row in the 4 years I lived in Tucson. Even though I found a good job in Yuma I became very depressed half way through my first year. However, I sought help and have improved very much.
I was very surprised that I actually enjoyed the summer here in Yuma. There is a lot of water here and I was able to go to the river with friends and take trips down to the gulf of Mexico which is only an hour away. Also, San Diego is only a two hour drive away.
Of course we dread summer's heat. It's hot in Dallas too with lots of humidity. You simply pick your poison. The winter in Yuma is beautiful.
My only complaints about Yuma weather would be the windy days which kick up so much dust that the mountains are obscured, and the flies that are simply everywhere all summer. These flies do not bite though, like the big flies up in the northern midwestern states.
Life is about who you are with, not necessarily where you are. I am lucky to have a good relationship, full time job with benefits, and interesting teaching opportunities at the community college where I teach part time.(which happens to be the 3rd best community college in the state of AZ).
If you want to go where the grass is greener, move to northern California. You won't be able to afford to live or eat or do much of anything but at least the weather is pleasant.

[songbirdpoet]

Hey thanks everyone for the honest evaluation of how it would be like living in Yuma with Season Affective Disorder. I will take all that great feedback into account. I suppose one could get over-exposed to too much sunshine/light and long for seasonal changes. I still enjoy the Spring/Summer/early Falls here in Maryland. Guess I just need a place to stay with a purpose for November through February. Visiting is always a good idea.