We wanna move from CA to AZ!! (Phoenix, Tucson: insurance, apartments)

[hairdresser79]

Our main concern's are, what are the best areas to live? I have a brother in Phoenix and my husband has his dad in Tucson. Which place has better schools for my children? How much do car salesman on average make there? Or Property Managers? Hairdressers? We pay $1,200 a month here for a 2 bed 2 bath apartment. Can we get a house there and make it with one income? I want to try and stay home with the children, and go to Nursing school, are there good nursing programs there? HELP!!!! We are born and raised Californians and very nervous about moving. Help us ease our nervousness or give us alot of good reasons why we should not move there. Thanks!!

[deem]

First of all I will tell you - to do some homework on Tucson - crime is high and schools are not that great - they are very close to the border
As for Phx - this is medical haven - Mayo Clinic - some of the best medical facilties and doctors are here as well as nurses - heart, cancer. We have had unfortunately experience. Schools are good - there are lots of jobs in the nursing fields - Hairdressers do okay - nothing great - unless you are great and work for an exclusive salon in the Scottsdale area. You will find costs here are extremely low to Ca. Living in the East Valley I can tell you for 1200 a month you can rent a 3-4 bedroom home with a great size backyard in the GIlbert and Mesa area - I prefer Gilbert because the schools are really good - Val Vista Lakes, Sonoma, Patterson
CAr insurance is much lower - we pay complete coverage for 2 cars 1600
food is lower - gas is high(as is everyone's) 3.00 avg gal
car maintenace minimal (except a new battery every couple of years usually covered by the warranty) - new tires every 2-3 years because of the heat on the roads in the summer
Entertainment is much less because you are outdoors most of the year and in the summer swimming or water sports.
as for the house you can get costly if you blow out your air conditioner at the extreme low in the summer - we have a 2 story and keep the air at 85 in the summer and we pay an average over the year of 120.00 some people put their air at 70 and pay over 300.00 a month in the summer - close your blinds and keep the temp about 10 below the outdoors and if over 110 - 85 to 90 will give you reasonable bills
You will probably never use your heat - outside of any RARE cold burst.
Hope all this helps
But check out Tucson - we have friends that moved there and it was a bit of a culture shock in the crime and drugs - lot more wildlife - coyotes, rattlers,
etc
AS for the car buisiness - my brother moved here from Mass 25 yrs ago with a friend in the car business and they have consistently made well over 80-100k a year - they went from selling to financing and still love the business here - everyone loves nice cars - avg to high end - we just love nice, clean cars

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by deem

You will probably never use your heat - outside of any RARE cold burst.

What? I always use my heat (as do my neighbors and friends) in the winter. Our temps go down to 40's-50's during the day and colder at night. Of course we use our heaters.

[deem]

I guess coming from NE originally - a little flannel sheets and sweat shuits during the day in the winter seem to work fine for us - but believe me we hardly ever turn our heat on and my home has never gone below 65
we live in Gilbert - our house faces north?

[sablebaby]

Well then, you are pretty lucky (or smart)! My gas bill doubled this winter to about $145 (as did others that I know). I may have to remember the flannel sheet thing next year!

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by deem

car maintenace minimal (except a new battery every couple of years usually covered by the warranty) - new tires every 2-3 years because of the heat on the roads in the summer

I have heard that due to extreme heat the wear and tear on the engine, paint and dashboard was much higher which makes sense as well but I suppose many do not leave their car exposed to direct sun light during the high temp Summer days?

Assuming apartments have covered parking or even garages available, my concern was parking around my job which might be anywhere since there is no specific area for It type jobs. So, are there parking structures or do people eventually get to park outside due to lack of available parking spaces?

Does anyone use solar based energy in Phoenix at all? Given the characteristics of the region, I'd think solar based heating/lighting would be logical.

[sablebaby]

There are many workplaces that have parking structures, however there are probably many more that don't. So, yes it's common to park outside in the sun, most do this. I don't really ever find an issue with it. I even have leather seats and a sunroof and I still don't have too many issues. Now, the hot steering wheel is a pain. I also hardly ever use a screen for my windshield, in fact, I don't even own one.

On a rare occasion you may have your dash either "melt" a little, or over time crack (like an old car exposed for years). My bf actually had his dash completely replaced in his sports car (only because it's his "baby" and still under warranty). The lip of the passenger airbag was up a little which is common with this type of car. That I'd say is an extreme case.

There is a solar thread that was recently around that explains why we don't use solar.

[shariv]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Now, the hot steering wheel is a pain.

I remember reading a joke somewhere, one of the things was... You know you are in Arizona when you put on oven mitts to stear your car....

You will also develop the ability to stear with one finger.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

What? I always use my heat (as do my neighbors and friends) in the winter. Our temps go down to 40's-50's during the day and colder at night. Of course we use our heaters.

Me too I used my heat all the time in the Winter and I'm from the NE.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by hairdresser79

Our main concern's are, what are the best areas to live? I have a brother in Phoenix and my husband has his dad in Tucson. Which place has better schools for my children? How much do car salesman on average make there? Or Property Managers? Hairdressers? We pay $1,200 a month here for a 2 bed 2 bath apartment. Can we get a house there and make it with one income? I want to try and stay home with the children, and go to Nursing school, are there good nursing programs there? HELP!!!! We are born and raised Californians and very nervous about moving. Help us ease our nervousness or give us alot of good reasons why we should not move there. Thanks!!

I heard the nursing programs were in Tucson. My sister in-law looked uo some programs and didn't find.

All and all you'll probably make it better in AZ California. One income is going to depend on your lifestyle and where you choose to live. I'm sure it can de done. I never could do it on 1 income though.