Life in Sedona (Flagstaff, Prescott, Prescott Valley: real estate, house, buy)

[ExNooYawk]

We live in Oregon at present and are happy here but this gloomy weather is getting to me. This is our third winter here and it's not getting any better. I spend so much time in the house. We aren't winter sports people so living near Mt. Ashland does nothing for us. My DH likes to take pictures and I like to play tennis and swim. We're both wonky book people and love to read.

California is out because, well, it's California. So, we have our eye on Sedona. It's dry (supposedly) but has 'enough' rain and a little snow. We haven't been there in awhile but remember all the good stuff from a tourist's POV.

Is finding a house with a pool difficult? Are there scorpions? We've been told that there's not much to do there. We don't care. We don't do much anyway. I'll be happy to sit by the pool, or inside looking out at the lovely landscape, going for walks, batting a few tennis balls and having dinner out. My DH just wants to take pictures.

Comments would be MOST welcome, including sarcastic ones.

[JGatti]

I cannot respond from experience from living there. But after our trip out there last year I decided to have a look at homes in Sedona. I just did it again to make sure I was right and things had not changed. I went to a real estate web site. Typed in min 1600 sqft home with pool and nothing came up under $300,000 That kind of money should buy you that small of a home just about anywhere....but not there.
I don't think Sedona is as developed as other cites or in the same way. Depending on where you live and because of the lack of development I'd guess depending on what part of Sedona your in would determine the amount of critters you'd deal with. If I had to guess though I'd guess there are a lot. Just because the area.
But hey if your wealthy enough to live there you can have the pest control come out weekly right?

[kdog]

With Sedona being at elevation 4500', you'll rarely if ever see a scorpion.

[Arizona Bound]

Hi..
Try using www.realtor.com ... it is a MLS service widely used by all.
After you select the city/state options, it will bring everything up for
sale for the area, then you can use the many options that are located
on the left-side of the page IE: lot size, home size, price range, how
many bedrooms and such. There is also (farther down on page) an
additional amenities (click to open) which you use by checking-off
the boxes.. like pool, central air and such. Then when you are scrolling
down the list of homes and find one you might like... hover your mouse
over the picture and (right-click) open in new window. This will "keep"
the listings page up and you will not have to backtrack.. there is also
a map on the bottom of each (most) listings to show location. For the
Sedona listings, on the map.. you can use what is called, "birds eye view".
by clicking on that.. it will actually show you the home and area.
Many home listings on realtor. com have the birds eye feature on the
maps.. but does not work or is not an option for all cities, but it is for Sedona.
If you search just a bit south of Sedona, like in Cottonwood.. the birds eye
feature does not work.. but for cities and towns that have the birds eye view
feature on the maps.. it's WONDERFUL! Kingman listings have this feature.
Ii is like virtual earth via satelite...
Homes are pricey in sedona. There is an area just south of Sedona called
"Oak Creek" zipcode 86351. Many nice homes.. a bit cheaper than right in Sedona.
You CAN find many cheaper priced homes in Sedona, but with some updates
needed and very small lots. You will find cheaper prices in Cottonwood which
has more of the conviences such as shopping, restaurants, medical.
Good Luck!

[ExNooYawk]

Thanks for the comments (especially the ones about there not being any scorpions). I love Realtor.com and check the listings there often. What I want to know is what 'real life' is like in this place. It's one thing to read about average temperatures but with all the micro-climates we have in the west, are they accurate?

If it's too hot in the summer, we'll haul our little Airstream over to the coast or up a mountain or something. That's not too much of a concern.

More comments welcome!

[observer53]

It can get warm in Sedona in the summer, as it's really a high desert location but it's a short trip to Flagstaff, where it is 3000 feet higher and much cooler. (It's a really short trip (in terms of miles) if you just go up Oak Creek Canyon, but you might not want to take the little Airstream that way.)

[ExNooYawk]

I think hot summers would be okay if we had a swimming pool, or a community pool. I'm thinking it will be hot from, say, May through September?

[smilinpretty]

You might want to look into Prescott, Prescott Valley as a alternative. Real Estate is less expensive in parts of Prescott and Prescott Valley and Chino Valley.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by ExNooYawk

California is out because, well, it's California. So, we have our eye on Sedona.

I'm not sure why CA is out, but if it's because of cost of living, Sedona is definitely not cheap! Also, there isn't much in the way of employment, unless that doesn't matter to you.

[zonababe]

Originally Posted by ExNooYawk

I think hot summers would be okay if we had a swimming pool, or a community pool. I'm thinking it will be hot from, say, May through September?

There is a community pool in West Sedona.