Thinking of moving to Arizona (Phoenix, Tucson: 2009, vehicle registration, credit)

[Alexis2009]

We're from Pennsylvania, but are thinking of relocating. We like Arizona, Florida, Texas, and California. The heat doesn't bother us. What are the property taxes like in Arizona? How about school taxes? What other taxes do you have? What cities have safe areas where we could buy a house for around 120K? Our interests tend toward cultural, museums, outdoors. What are your experiences and recommendations?

[observer53]

Well, the first question would be whether you need to find jobs. If so, you need to do that before you come here, or have a large financial cushion.

Property taxes are lower here than in many other states (including Florida and California, don't know about Texas). School taxes are included in the same bill. I pay a little over 2000 a year for a 2100 sq ft home. There is also personal property tax on vehicles, which is paid as part of annual vehicle registration.

There are safe areas where you could find a home in that price range, especially in the current market.

There are very good theater companies based here, as well as symphony orchestras in Phoenix and in some of the suburbs, the Heard Museum, which is world famous for southwestern/Indian displays; Phoenix Art Museum. Arizona State University offers a lot of cultural events/opportunities.

I would suggest a visit to get a feel for what it is like here. The summer heat can get very tiresome (at least it is a drier heat than Texas or Florida), but the weather the rest of the year is lovely.

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by Alexis2009

We're from Pennsylvania, but are thinking of relocating. We like Arizona, Florida, Texas, and California. The heat doesn't bother us. What are the property taxes like in Arizona? How about school taxes? What other taxes do you have? What cities have safe areas where we could buy a house for around 120K? Our interests tend toward cultural, museums, outdoors. What are your experiences and recommendations?

I'm from Suburban Philly, you will be peasantly surprised. Property taxes on 120,000 would run approximately $1,200 and you can get a credit against that if either of you are disabled and you don't have a lot of income. I lived near phoenix but got out because the heat became opressive and traffic was awful.
I live in Sierra Vista now, near Tombstone, on the Mexican Border. It's remote but beautiful. I'm at 4,650 so heat isn't a problem. The high today will be 59f although 75f is more the average. It's 60 miles to Tucson, which is about the same size as Pittsburgh. I laugh when I look at my old house on Zillow.com and see the taxes are more than double what I'm paying here for a house worth 1/3rd of mine.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

One of your choices, TX, has high property taxes as they have no state income tax.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

One of your choices, TX, has high property taxes as they have no state income tax.

Same situation in Florida.

[krock1dk]

Why Arizona? Its overgrown with illegals, too much pollution, abysmal social services, no jobs anywhere, too many people competing for so few jobs available, and the absolute WORST education in the country (seriously true). Is AZ the best you can do? Why not try New Mexico? Its an excellent alternative to AZ and doesnt have nearlly the problems AZ does. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are nice. Arizona is not the state people think it is. But no matter what state you go to, you absolutley MUST have a job lined up B4 moving. Period. I cant stress that enough. In the short term, your better interest is to stay put in the meantime.

[notmuch69]

You say you don't mind the heat but if you're going to live in Phoenix I would recommend visiting for a week in July or August. 110+ degrees is very common June - Sep.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

Why Arizona? Its overgrown with illegals, too much pollution, abysmal social services, no jobs anywhere, too many people competing for so few jobs available, and the absolute WORST education in the country (seriously true). Is AZ the best you can do? Why not try New Mexico? Its an excellent alternative to AZ and doesnt have nearlly the problems AZ does. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are nice. Arizona is not the state people think it is. But no matter what state you go to, you absolutley MUST have a job lined up B4 moving. Period. I cant stress that enough. In the short term, your better interest is to stay put in the meantime.

So, if it's so much better in NM, have YOU found a job there? I'll bet the competition is stiff there, too. I agree that moving to ANY state without a job or a huge financial cushion or safety net is not a good idea. But to paint AZ as the only state with many or all of the problems you list is, at best, disingenuous.

You hate it here. You blame this whole state for the fact that your employer laid off a bunch of people after you moved here, and now, for whatever reasons, you can't get out and go back to the midwest to your family.

Advise the OP to stay put, yes, but to continue to treat AZ ( in every thread where someone is thinking about moving here) like it's the only state with numerous problems gets pretty tiresome, and I can't imagine that it makes you feel any better.

[Stumblina]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

Why Arizona? Its overgrown with illegals, too much pollution, abysmal social services, no jobs anywhere, too many people competing for so few jobs available, and the absolute WORST education in the country (seriously true). Is AZ the best you can do? Why not try New Mexico? Its an excellent alternative to AZ and doesnt have nearlly the problems AZ does. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are nice. Arizona is not the state people think it is. But no matter what state you go to, you absolutley MUST have a job lined up B4 moving. Period. I cant stress that enough. In the short term, your better interest is to stay put in the meantime.

I was wondering when the AZ bashing was gonna start! Moderator cut: personal having lived in Michigan all my life I can tell you why so many midwesterns pick AZ to move to -- the weather. You guys warn us all the time of the 110+ summers. Well, if you wanted to know about moving to Mich or Penn, we'd warn you about the wicked winters, complete with -0 temperatures, ice storms, blizzards, etc. and the hot, humid, sticky summers. I think when people decide to move to another state, a lot of it simply has to do with "change." Change of scenery, weather, whatever. For me, personally, I want to move to AZ cuz I LOVE the hot weather. Yes, 100+ is okay with me (as long as I have a shady spot to sit in). I spent a whole day in Death Valley driving around in a convertible with the top down and it was 115+. Not a problem for me. I also find the desert landscape to be absolutely beautiful -- sort of peaceful and spiritual.

It's okay to inform people of what they should expect -- both the good and bad, Moderator cut: personal ! No matter where you go, you'll find good and bad with your surroundings.

[notmuch69]

The mountains can provide relief in the Summer and the valley is great in the Winter. Snowbirding is the best way to go.