Sedona (Tucson, Flagstaff, Cottonwood: ski resort, real estate, renting)

[lutarian]

Hello everyone.

I have heard Sedona is very beautiful. It it just rocky or lots of trees with the rocks?

I am basically looking for a beautiful place with mild winters, clean air, water and soil, low crime, decent schools and good health care with plenty to do for my family. (me, hispanic wife, 2 boys...13 and 18 years old)...also..what is housing like...we would be renting for the first year and would like to pay no more then 2k per month. Jobs don't matter. Thank you.

[lutarian]

So can anyone tell me more about Sedona and the surrounding area?

[Route_66_traveler]

Sedona has both rocks and trees. In fact here is the city-data page here on city-data.com You can see the pictures of Sedona, and surrounding area.

Sedona, Arizona (AZ) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

[LordBalfor]

Here, look for yourself. This is one of my travel albums and the first 3 pages are all of Sedona:

Arizona (mostly July/August 2007) pictures from arizona photos on webshots

Or, simply search on your own for photos and or video of Sedona with Google etc. PLENTY of such images out there - for the simple reason that Sedona is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the country.

It's no surprize it's very expensive there. The rich can afford to live whereever they want - and one of the places they choose is Sedona.

That says a LOT right there.

Ken

[Jasmin71]

We went there on vacation it is 100% heaven !!!

But very very $$$..... a reg mobile home ( old one at that) cost over 250.000 no yard or anything

[Greatday]

Sedona, and the Red Rock Country, are wonderful. It is one of the few places on the planet with the extreme red soil that Sedona enjoys.

From "Castle Rock" to "Coffee Pot" to Grasshopper Flats (West Sedona), to Oak Creek Canyon - to the Switchbacks going to Flagstaff - the Sedona / Verde Valley area is an area of a large and diverse group of residents.

Summers can be somewhat warm - 100 degree days are not unheard of. Winters are generally mild - Spring and Fall are delightful.

Sedona is laid back yet, active too. Many, many artists and artisans call Sedona home.

Cost? In and immediately around Sedona - can be a little pricey (depending upon ones budget). If you travel west a little toward Cottonwood, you will find the prices moderating -

It is worth the exploration!

[Riverock]

Sedona is an artsie kinda hippie town (no diss intended), very beautiful and very expensive! Always full of tourists, and that can get old quick.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Riverock

Sedona is an artsie kinda hippie town (no diss intended), very beautiful and very expensive! Always full of tourists, and that can get old quick.

I agree, Riverrock.

Having experienced tourist destinations in the past . . . NEVER AGAIN.

Beautiful scenery, great art shops and interesting restaurants all attribute to a great to visit but, as you stated, living could get old.

[hapi]

Hello! We have been looking Sedona over for a possible move there. Found it absolutely beautiful and although it's an expensive area to buy, there "are" great deals available right now in home purchase even in the most scenic spots, with some patience and good luck hunting. And incredible homes for under 300,000 if willing to live in nearby Cornville or Cottonwood areas which are still nice but not as scenic. Saw more than one in Cornville for around 298,000 that were fairly new, from 1800 - 2,000 sf, w/pools and patios and view of Mingus mtns. But don't give up on Sedona housing, bargains are there. Yes, the upper Sedona is absolutely tourist mania but West Sedona and Villiage of Oak Creek are not. There IS a horrible current, temporary traffic problem right near the Y and below the upper Sedona mania...due to them working on the roads there w/traffic backed up. But ONLY in that area. Understand it will be that way for a couple of years, then should be great. You can exist without going there most of the time however. Decided against buying in our fav. area of Villiage of Oak Creek however because of having to go through that to get there. An enchanting community of super friendly people it seems. Going to find that home somewhere here soon!!!!!

[Cat_Person]

I lived right outside of lovely Sedona. Jerome is a fun spot too, albeit tiny but filled with history. One must get used to tourists as they supply most of the local economy. Sedona gets a bit of snow (it melts right away) due to it's proximity to Flagstaff (45 min away and approx 7,000 elevation) from Nov to about April. Yes, there's a ski resort 1 hour away, which seems kind of strange when you're in a desert-y place. One thing that people neglect to mention is to watch for scorpions (both indoors and out, only a problem if you are allergic) their bite is like a yellowjacket sting. There are also rattlesnakes about, be careful when you hike especially in Apr. and May when the babies hatch. Then there is an occasional javelina (common in PHX, not so in Sedona but they do show up). They are wild pigs that roam the "outback", easier to evade if you don't have a dog with you. There are some bizarre desert characters, but really not so bad...you just learn to live in the desert.

Sedona is more well known for the Metaphisical crowd, but there are also cowboys, conservatives, Bible types who have been in town alot longer. People seem to live peacefully since everyone depends on tourists.
Red Rock News is a great local Sedona newspaper. Less expensive areas to consider are:

Lake Montzuma:25 min away, retirement community, cheaper than Sedona or Flag. Man made lakes are common in AZ

Jerome: Cute artsy town, a bit "bohemian" less expensive but not many jobs.

Cornville& Clarkdale: Down home feeling here, lots of cowboys, cheaper & you'll find lots of manufactured homes on land. Family feeling community although very small. Cheaper...20-30 outside of Sedona.

Cottonwood: When Sedona & VOC (Village of Oak Creek) housing prices followed Californiain to the abyss...this is where everyone went. A mixture of people here...all types. Cheaper than Sedona & VOC.

These other areas are not as scenic, but most within 20-40 min drive.
Stay away from Flag unless you like 110+ inches of snow per yr. The snow lasts from Nov to last April at least. Flag is the gateway to Williams (cute little "train town") and the Grand Canyon. Be prepared for the presence of tourists wherever you go in AZ. Snowbirds bring lots of money in and that's just the way it is. People come to Northern AZ for the skiing in the winter, escape winters in PHX and Tucson and impact the entire state.

Check local newspapers instead of Craigslist for homes & jobs. The Sedona page @ CL is about a year old, not many know it exists. Things are cheaper in the newspaper anyway.