Cleveland to AZ (Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff: foreclosure, houses, find a job)

[azbound95]

So I have been reading the forums trying to get an idea of what people think about AZ overall and areas that I would want to move my family to. It seems to be middle of the road with some saying its great and others saying beware.

I have a customer service background with no degree as of yet and my wife has a dental assisting background and although my wife is still working I have been out of work for 18 months out of the past 2 years and Cleveland weather leaves alot to be desired which seems to lead to a depressing city and miserable people.

We are wondering what area's would be good to move to and if the economy is decent enough in and around Phoenix's suburbs to sustain a decent living with the backgrounds we have. Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated.

[azbound95]

Any opinions or help on this would be greatly appreciated.

[azriverfan.]

I'm sure you will hear the same thing from others but I would discourage you from moving here at this time. I think there are better opportunities in other states. If you are seeking warmer weather, might I recommend Texas such as Houston or San Antonio. Oklahoma doesn't have harsh winters and their economy is pretty strong. The cost of living in Phoenix is considerably higher than Oklahoma and Texas as well. Since you have been seeking work for 18 months, I would probably consider moving to an area with a relativley low unemployment rate and start researching jobs in that area. I'm sorry you are going through this. Hang in there

[xwideopenskyx]

Originally Posted by azbound95

So I have been reading the forums trying to get an idea of what people think about AZ overall and areas that I would want to move my family to. It seems to be middle of the road with some saying its great and others saying beware.

I have a customer service background with no degree as of yet and my wife has a dental assisting background and although my wife is still working I have been out of work for 18 months out of the past 2 years and Cleveland weather leaves alot to be desired which seems to lead to a depressing city and miserable people.

We are wondering what area's would be good to move to and if the economy is decent enough in and around Phoenix's suburbs to sustain a decent living with the backgrounds we have. Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated.

I moved to AZ 3 years ago from Cleveland Ohio. However, I moved before the economy took a nose dive. Job opportunities have declined since then in AZ and across the nation. You will find states that are doing better than AZ, however, the Phoenix area is still doing better than Cleveland, in my opinion. If this is any indication, if you search for customer service jobs in Phoenix area on careerbuilder you will find 438 opportunities, in Cleveland area 251. I live in the Tucson area which has even less opportunities than Phoenix and I am still employed with unlimited OT.For job opportunities in the state of AZ, Phoenix metro is your best bet, followed by Tucson 2nd, Flagstaff 3rd.Cost of living is cheaper in Tucson, in comparison to Phoenix.Tucson is also a bit cooler at it's higher elevation and receives more rain during the monsoon season.Phoenix has a better highway system to get you from one end of the city to the other, Tucson does not.Make sure that you both secure jobs before you move anywhere.Good luck to you!

[krock1dk]

People are miserable and depressed, no matter where you go. And Phoenix is no different. With your background, the truth is that Phoenix is a very difficult city for you to relocate to. It will be hard for you to find a job here. The cost of living is also very overpriced for the FEW good jobs that are available in the area. And the foreclosure mess here is AWFUL. The economy is just as bad here--if not WORSE--than the country as a whole. And the local media is reporting that Phoenix's economy will not 'recover' for several years. The economy of Phoenix and the rest of Arizona is very very cyclic and too heavily reliant on service industries that usually dont offer good paying jobs. This recession has grossly exploited Arizona's weaknesses. Trust me on that. My first advice would be to go to college and get a degree. That is most important. In the end, if you want to relocate I think there are many better options for you than Arizona. Why not Texas, Utah, Colorado, or New Mexico? All are excellent alternatives to AZ, and dont have near the problems or economic ills. Thats a fact. Trust me, there are many better places you can consider over Arizona anyday. In fact, many newcomers that have come here over the past several years are now beginning to move out. I cant tell you this enough.....please reconsider your options on relocating. There are many people who think the grass is greener here--it aint even present--and go home when things downt work out. I am one of them.

[notmuch69]

Houses are dirt cheep in the Phoenix area now. A 5 yr old 2000sf 2 story for $100K is not hard to find. Great opportunities for buyers.
Just be ready for consistent 110+ degree temperatures Jun - Sep, and 100+ degree temps in May and Oct.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by azbound95

So I have been reading the forums trying to get an idea of what people think about AZ overall and areas that I would want to move my family to. It seems to be middle of the road with some saying its great and others saying beware.

I have a customer service background with no degree as of yet and my wife has a dental assisting background and although my wife is still working I have been out of work for 18 months out of the past 2 years and Cleveland weather leaves alot to be desired which seems to lead to a depressing city and miserable people.

We are wondering what area's would be good to move to and if the economy is decent enough in and around Phoenix's suburbs to sustain a decent living with the backgrounds we have. Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated.

We have a guy on the Vegas forum who moved from Cleveland just recently. Cleveland is in the top ten of the fastest dying cities in the USA:

In Pictures: America's Fastest-Dying Cities - Forbes.com

You are better off moving out west than where you are at. I wish you the best.