Moving to AZ (Phoenix, Kingman, Paradise Valley: house, find a job, neighborhood)

[observer53]

There are a lot of areas in the east Valley, (Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa) some of them older, that have larger lots, zoned for animals, etc. but still have houses around so that the whole neighborhood is like that. There are a few areas like that in the northwest Valley as well. To build your own, you are going to have to be out further to get land that is not very expensive.

You really do need to come out and look around at some point.

[drb85650]

Got a price range for buying?
And if you've never been here...........
imagine Ohio in winter, but without snow. Everything barren, no greenery to speak of. Now picture it hot. No, hotter. Hotter yet. Take away the humidity you're used to......there, now you have it. Arizona, or at least a large portion of it, especially the Phoenix area(Phoenix metro area, in relation to what I saw of the Cleveland area, is about 2-3 times as big coverage wise).
You can find lots of areas outside the Phoenix area that will have houses and land. Depends on your desire for heat vs. seasons, or at least a facsimile of seasons. And remember, out here alot of people have cowboy mansions(doublewides), totally acceptable in alot of income brackets. Growing things is a choice that will take effort, not like the wetness and rich soils you've had.
Some of the areas you may want to consider if you don't want the city metro life of Phoenix.....
Prescott valley
Chino valley
Benson
Wickenburg
Kingman
Cottonwood
Camp Verde
Winslow
Holbrook
Bullhead city
Showlow
Sierra Vista
Each has plus and minus's, different climates to the extreme. Arizona varies tremendously in geography and climate. Winter can be mid 60-70's or teens and 30-40's for highs. Summers can be highs of 90-100' for less than a week total, or never go under 100 for months on end.
It will, if you've never ever experienced the southwest, be a culture shock to you.
Jobs....what field is the hubby in?
And here the wife and I are, planning on moving to Ohio or Pennsylvania asap.......

[observer53]

Originally Posted by drb85650

Got a price range for buying?
And if you've never been here...........
imagine Ohio in winter, but without snow. Everything barren, no greenery to speak of. Now picture it hot. No, hotter. Hotter yet. Take away the humidity you're used to......there, now you have it. Arizona, or at least a large portion of it, especially the Phoenix area(Phoenix metro area, in relation to what I saw of the Cleveland area, is about 2-3 times as big coverage wise).
You can find lots of areas outside the Phoenix area that will have houses and land. Depends on your desire for heat vs. seasons, or at least a facsimile of seasons. And remember, out here alot of people have cowboy mansions(doublewides), totally acceptable in alot of income brackets. Growing things is a choice that will take effort, not like the wetness and rich soils you've had.
Some of the areas you may want to consider if you don't want the city metro life of Phoenix.....
Prescott valley
Chino valley
Benson
Wickenburg
Kingman
Cottonwood
Camp Verde
Winslow
Holbrook
Bullhead city
Showlow
Sierra Vista
Each has plus and minus's, different climates to the extreme. Arizona varies tremendously in geography and climate. Winter can be mid 60-70's or teens and 30-40's for highs. Summers can be highs of 90-100' for less than a week total, or never go under 100 for months on end.
It will, if you've never ever experienced the southwest, be a culture shock to you.
Jobs....what field is the hubby in?
And here the wife and I are, planning on moving to Ohio or Pennsylvania asap.......

You complain about the heat in PHoenix, and then you suggest BULLHEAD CITY, the hottest place in AZ?

Did you not know what it was like before you moved here, and now want out?

Highs in the teens or 30s-40s in the winter are pretty rare up north. Only during, or just after, a major winter storm.

I do think ANYONE should come visit Arizona before they do much work toward moving here. The climates here do vary a lot, but the job market in the smaller areas is, if anything, more depressed than in the metro areas.

[drb85650]

Originally Posted by observer53

You complain about the heat in PHoenix, and then you suggest BULLHEAD CITY, the hottest place in AZ?

Did you not know what it was like before you moved here, and now want out?

Highs in the teens or 30s-40s in the winter are pretty rare up north. Only during, or just after, a major winter storm.

I do think ANYONE should come visit Arizona before they do much work toward moving here. The climates here do vary a lot, but the job market in the smaller areas is, if anything, more depressed than in the metro areas.

Some people will like that extreme heat ob53. Wasn't thinking about myself, but what the newbie to AZ escaping the midwest might like. Not all about me.
Going on 24 years here ob53, most in Phoenix. And worked for a year in Bullhead, saw 126' unofficial. Far as I know, any of us are free to move wherever we wish(so far, could change before 2012)
When I lived in Flagstaff, we experienced alot of days with actual highs in the, gasp...30-40's.
Depends upon op husbands line of work.
Not changing anything I posted, but thanks for your opinion too ob53.

[jacketmomma]

must be all the space between subdivisions. They r right. I just moved here and it was hard to find a location. u have several questions to ask ur self. HOW HOT do u want it? Do u want grass and trees? Do u want lots of land r do u mind subdivision city? Do u want City living or not? Many Many Many questions. Then VISIT!! GOOD LUCK!!

[MsNick]

I would suggest the northwest area- around loop 101 in glendale. The neighborhoods are nice and quiet and you'd be surrounded by major shopping areas. Plus you'd be close to the fwy.

[MotleyCrew]

I would suggest you come and stay for a couple of weeks to explore the different areas. We had to make many trips back and forth before we found out place. You have plenty to choose from. We stayed in Scottsdale and went from there. It was always a very plesant vaccation.

[beke]

Have you gotten yourself set on the Phoenix Valley?

[erinelf]

The safest place to live is either North Phoenix or Scottsdale

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Lecia1965

First off thank you for all you help!! No I have never been to AZ. We want to move where is hot all year round no tonado's to worry about and we have just heard that it's a great place to live. We live out in the country now in Ohio and love it, there are houses around us so no I don't want to be out in nowhere land. My husband would love it but I need people, I'm a people person. Our daughter is 6 so ya kids around for her would be great. We want to have some land we don't want to live were the houses are on top of eachother and so close together. My husband would need to get a job, well he will before we move but live somewhere he doesn't have to drive very far too. It's going to be a year or so before we move. I just wanted to get an idea on the best place to live. I'm sorry i didn't give to much detail in the beginning. Lecia

As someone who has been reading this forum and asking question for a long time trying to figure out if Az would be a good fit for my family and me I'd suggest you do more than just ask the questions you did. You need to visit in July for one. Also read read read. Your going to find so many opinions it will make your head spin. Many move there from your area and love it, many hate it. People who have lived there a long time will gripe about the heat other won't. So many post's about crime and kids not playing outside. There is so much more than just moving to where it's hot out year round. It's warmer year round but not hot year round from what I gather. I know my brother has been out there 30+ years and they have a need for jackets at times. Another thing you will find posted often is people are not as friendly, then you will have people that say that is not true. But I've read more often that people are not friendly or neighborly.
I'm not trying to sound nasty or negative but some of your reasons for wanting to move seem a bit silly. Tornado's? Have you ever looked up photo's of the monsoon season? I think it's pretty amazing but the lighting is scary crazy. It has to hit somewhere and it dances across the area like mad. Should that deter you? No not at all but if you want to move to get away from tornado's I'm just saying you should research more about where your going. Also the heat like extreme cold can be deadly. There are also other things to consider. The insects, the snakes etc. All things that are over dramatized.....BUT you should be aware of. I've read many many posts about people having scorpions in their home, their sting is noting worse than anything you would get in your home in Ohio ( bee, hornet, yellow jacket etc) but people for whatever reason make a big deal out of them AND their misunderstanding of them keeps them from going there.

Anyway I just wanted to point a few things out to you. This forum is filled with answers to just about any questions you may have. Search them, and read them. Most of all visit. Make a list, pro's and con's and really think if you want to make that move. Oh and one more thing. I have not seen any area where the homes were not pretty much on top of each other. A resident would be able to direct you better to an area like that. But out of all my searches I've never seen a neighborhood like the one I live in out there. But then again apples and oranges. Good luck.