If I Don't Like ____, I should Live Where? (Flagstaff, Sedona: homes, architectural)

[kdog]

Originally Posted by rich67

KDog can vouch for Kingman, I am sure!

Absolutely. But it doesn't fit the OP's criteria of being located between Sedona and Phoenix.

[roundball]

If you plan on driving into Phoenix a couple times a week (saw your other post) you may think about the NW valley all the way out to Wikenburg or the NE out to Fountain Hills. Maybe the SE Valley on the out skirts of Queen Creek.

You have many options and its hard to narrow it down. Maybe you should just go to a site like zip realty(search and you'll find others) and see where you can get a house in your price range and then call up a Realtor to tell you about the different communities.

I think it would be best to rent for a year somewhere outside the 101/202/303 and get to know the different areas. Some houses are priced so great now that if you have to break am apartment lease it won't be that big of a deal.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by kdog

Absolutely. But it doesn't fit the OP's criteria of being located between Sedona and Phoenix.

Duhhh....next time I should read AND comprehend the original posts... didn't see that part...lol

[caryberry]

You might let employment be your first consideration as the business environment is weak. IT jobs in Phoenix - are few and far between ( and always have been).

[ScottNYC]

I thought Pheonix had a tech sector, or had put forth efforts to bring in online companies..

I really work in the online marketing/advertising business. Companies always need the work, but some agencies are there too.

Does the college have programs for potential future employees when I start my own? In Comm/Advert?

[mikec34]

Originally Posted by ScottNYC

Thanks for the replies. I realize likes would help.

I like/work in internet advertising/marketing.
I like outdoors - canyoneering, caving, climbing.
I like property - not seeing into my neighbor's house 10 feet away.
I like being somewhat remote.
I like mildly fixing up a home.
I would like to get involved with neighbors or community, to help improve the area while maintaining a libertarian handsoff approach to intrusion into lives.

If you have to stay in AZ, based on what you say, I'd try Flagstaff. For a small town it's pretty kickin. Huge college population as well, so it's not your Texas Chainsaw Massacre kind of small town. It's also close to Sedona as others suggested you may like.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by ScottNYC

I thought Pheonix had a tech sector, or had put forth efforts to bring in online companies..

I really work in the online marketing/advertising business. Companies always need the work, but some agencies are there too.

Does the college have programs for potential future employees when I start my own? In Comm/Advert?

Well, it used to really have a focus on electronics (semoconductors, etc.) but a lot of those plants are gone. As far as online related, Google came but is leaving. Insight is here, actually located in Tempe, I think, close to the border with Phx.

Emphasis in luring business seems to be more now on biotech like T-Gen.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by mikec34

If you have to stay in AZ, based on what you say, I'd try Flagstaff. For a small town it's pretty kickin. Huge college population as well, so it's not your Texas Chainsaw Massacre kind of small town. It's also close to Sedona as others suggested you may like.

I was going to start my own business in Flagstaff and gave up. The people here want things to remain the same, and don't want that many newcomers moving in. It's a college / tourist town with very little in terms of high tech.

You'll find very intelligent people working as gas station attendants, listening to NPR -- since the only jobs available for Unviersity Students are service work. Look at Boulder as a successful, high-tech college town with much less unemployment, and where college kids can work at government science labs. Boulder even has its own division of the Chamber of Commerce for young entrepreneurs ages 20-40.

Flagstaff has huge impact fees on new construction and even remodeling, even if you want to add on a few hundred square feet to your existing building.

Sedona really isn't that great either for businesses, when every building has to be the same color, and once again it's a tourist economy.

On the other hand it's a gorgeous part of the US, and despite these issues, many people move here and start businesses and get rich. But it's much harder here than over in Albuquerque or up in Boulder/Denver.

[ScottNYC]

Don't dig flag due to elevation and weather and college town. Maybe I'll find nice aspects when I visit, but not fitting the picture other than it is the largest city in the north. Close to the canyons.

I'm also not keen on high biz taxes or gov constriction on the private sector. NYC does that enough. You really can't get anything in NY without being in some special interest group, which I am not. I prefer to be left alone, but in NYC you cannot. Someone or something is always coming after you for an inch there, another here, etc. It's insane and only worse now under poor leadership and a crap economy.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

I was going to start my own business in Flagstaff and gave up. .

Probably for the best. Flagstaff does not like socialists like you who try to come in, as an outsider, and tell the locals - the "old timers" what and how they should do it. They don't like presumptive people like you -

There is also a very strong NRA presence in Flagstaff - lots of people going around with their firearms on them - on their belt or concealed - I don't think you would like that.