Want to leave depressing Salem, Oregon & move to the sunny Phoenix area - Feedback WELCOME! :) (how much, motel)

[GSXRScott]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

All I can say is unless it is a weather related dislike, if you don't like Salem, you are going to hate the South West.

Not at all trying to pick on Steve but I'm not sure why he said that. The Sonoran Desert and the Willamette Valley are complete polar opposites in almost every way IMO. Doubly so Phoenix metro (3.8 million people) and Salem metro (200,000?? people).

[sunluv]

Originally Posted by GSXRScott

One thing I should ad, and I dont mean to rain on your parade but $30/yr is going to have you living in a pretty sketchy neighborhood.

Can't agree thee...what's nice about Phoenix as well as other areas of the southwest is that it's pretty democratic-not alot of money's needed to live comfortably, in pleasant neigbhorhoods. I made the same move to Phoenix 4 years ago without a job, and was fine on all fronts. Obviously it's nice to have a job waiting, but it's not an essential; only a certain segment reading this will understand and/or have take the initiative and know.

The preoccupation by many about schools is IMO vastly overblown..good schools are not rare here; the vast majority are fine and will be effective as long as the student and parents are emotionally engaged.

[sunluv]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering
All I can say is unless it is a weather related dislike, if you don't like Salem, you are going to hate the South West.

Obviously it IS a weather related dislike..anyway there is no reason to hate the sw based on salem. Just say no to drugs Steve.

Someone who is sick of dreary weather elsewhere and values the sw enough to make the effort to come here will be in heaven. Unlike so many who live here who don't value it and could care less.

[LMCA]

One other item to consider with the schools is when they start. Most of the valley is starting next week Monday or the week after. Unless you move in the next week or so your son will be starting school mid year. The Chandler School District has been wonderful for my two kids. CSD is on a modified year round school year. They went back to school on July 23rd and will have 2 weeks off in October. That would be a good time to make a transition if you want to do so sooner rather than later. There are plenty of rentals in the South Chandler area so you should have no problem there. I am a native and work as a rep traveling the entire valley and agree with GSXRScott as to the other areas he listed.

[Storm00]

Originally Posted by johnp292

Absolutely fantastic response.

Thank you

[Storm00]

Originally Posted by johnp292

We moved here from the East Coast about a month ago and so far we love it. There's been some bumps along the way (see this thread -> http://www.city-data.com/forum/phoen...on-thread.html ) but we are still loving it. And its the height of summer so the weather is only going to get better. I agree with the other posters about checking the schools and maybe seeing if you can get a job before you move. I know that's not easy, but its very comforting making that long distance move knowing you have a job waiting for you. You mentioned a casino background there are a lot of resorts in this area. I know nothing of that industry though, and common sense would seem to indicate that its a seasonal business. I've had a couple of brief bouts of homesickness since we moved, but nothing too serious and probably to be expected.

Thanks for your feedback! The scorpions worry me, not gonna lie - however, from all the different threads I've read about them here, they seem to be prevalent in some areas and scarce in others. So I think I will shoot for one of those "scarce" areas.

[Storm00]

Originally Posted by GSXRScott

One thing I should ad, and I dont mean to rain on your parade but $30/yr is going to have you living in a pretty sketchy neighborhood and will have your son going to a high school like Carl Hayden or Trevor Brown. If your son is of any ethnic background other than Hispanic he will be a minority at these schools which may make the transition more difficult.

If on the other hand you have extra money and can afford to rent a house or apartment in a middle class neighborhood ($1200/month house, $800/month apartment) both you and your son should be fine.

Avoid west (Carl Hayden High School), south(South Mountain High School - regular shootings and periodic riots, armed cops patrolling the school grounds etc..) and east (Central and North High School) central Phoenix, central Tempe (Tempe High School), central Mesa and central Chandler.

Good middle class neighborhoods in Phoenix are Moon Valley (Moon Valley High School, Thunderbird High School, Greenway High School), Paradise Valley (not to be confused with the town of Paradise Valley) (Paradise Valley High School, Shadow Mountain High School, Horizon High School), Arrowhead, Ahwatukee has some affordable areas, and Arcadia. Most of Tempe is more or less ok. East Mesa is nice (avoid Apache Junction). Most of Gilbert is nice. Most of Chandler, except downtown is nice. South Scottsdale is a good middle class area.

Thanks for the specific feedback on the schools, love that! Very helpful!

About the income/sketchy neighborhood....I'm not so sure I agree with that. People have said the same here (in Salem) and I know for a fact that if you're smart about it, you can find great places in great neighborhoods even on a small income. I have never lived in a bad area since I've been here - I refuse to. In fact, I never even drive into one part of town at all. *shivers*

I've gathered critiques on the good, the bad, and the ugly regarding where to live in the Phoenix metro area from various threads on here and when searching rentals on craigslist and other sites, have found many places in the supposed "good areas" that would be affordable for me, so I feel pretty good about that part.

[Storm00]

Originally Posted by

Steve Pickering
All I can say is unless it is a weather related dislike, if you don't like Salem, you are going to hate the South West.

Originally Posted by GSXRScott

Not at all trying to pick on Steve but I'm not sure why he said that. The Sonoran Desert and the Willamette Valley are complete polar opposites in almost every way IMO. Doubly so Phoenix metro (3.8 million people) and Salem metro (200,000?? people).

That's what I was thinking! Completely different in most aspects, as far as I can tell.

[Storm00]

GSXRScott
One thing I should ad, and I dont mean to rain on your parade but $30/yr is going to have you living in a pretty sketchy neighborhood.

Originally Posted by sunluv

Can't agree thee...what's nice about Phoenix as well as other areas of the southwest is that it's pretty democratic-not alot of money's needed to live comfortably, in pleasant neigbhorhoods. I made the same move to Phoenix 4 years ago without a job, and was fine on all fronts. Obviously it's nice to have a job waiting, but it's not an essential; only a certain segment reading this will understand and/or have take the initiative and know.

The preoccupation by many about schools is IMO vastly overblown..good schools are not rare here; the vast majority are fine and will be effective as long as the student and parents are emotionally engaged.

I agree!

[Storm00]

Originally Posted by LMCA

One other item to consider with the schools is when they start. Most of the valley is starting next week Monday or the week after. Unless you move in the next week or so your son will be starting school mid year. The Chandler School District has been wonderful for my two kids. CSD is on a modified year round school year. They went back to school on July 23rd and will have 2 weeks off in October. That would be a good time to make a transition if you want to do so sooner rather than later. There are plenty of rentals in the South Chandler area so you should have no problem there. I am a native and work as a rep traveling the entire valley and agree with GSXRScott as to the other areas he listed.

After reading your comment, I went and searched for school start/end times because I was concerned about sports, specifically football (practicing in the high heat). My son plays sports and I'm wondering how that works...I can't imagine practicing in 100+ degree weather with all that gear...but I'm sure they make accomodations somehow...

As far as the school schedule, I think I would actually like that! I've always thought summer vacation was too long - my son gets bored and I swear he forgets half of what he learned the year before by the time he goes back!

Thank you for your feedback!