Connecticut Transplant (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe: sales, apartments, rentals)

[S1106]

I just got the news last week that a transfer from CT, where I currently live, to Scottsdale AZ was approved so I am doing some research. I am single, in my late 20s and very excited to be joining a new city and state.

I am trying to get the lay of the land and any help or suggestions about the area, where to live, important things to know etc would be great! If the office is in Scottsdale is it still a reasonable commute to live in Phoenix or is Scottsdale a good place for someone my age? What are taxes like in AZ? I know it will be less than CT but not sure by how much. Very excited to be moving in the next few months!!

[AZJoeD]

More info please.

Scottsdale is a large area so knowing where your office is will be helpful. Also what is your budget and space requirements?

Scottsdale certainly is an option, but some parts of Phoenix may work as well or better for you. A lot depends on what you like to do. Do you enjoy outdoors like hiking, biking, golf, tennis, etc.? Do you prefer nightlife or quiet & peaceful? Do you need a community with amenities like health club, pool, etc.? Is walk ability important?

Taxes (I assume you mean property taxes) will be about 1/3 of CT.

[sandy6879]

Welcome - we moved here from CT about 5 years ago.

The one thing that AZ has that CT doesn't in most areas is HOA dues. Keep that in mind when deciding where to live - it can make your "lower cost of living" even out pretty quickly if you end up in an area with a higher HOA fee. You'll be able to find a lot more single family home rentals if you want to go that route than what CT offers. Personally, I don't see a huge difference in COL when you compare the total cost of living here (water bills are significantly higher as well, food costs are about the same or more for certain items, etc). Sales tax is significantly higher here as well.

I agree though, more information is needed in terms of what you're looking for before any real recommendations on where to live can be made.

[BIG CATS]

Scottsdale is the perfect city for people your age, specifically areas around Old Town (Scottsdale and Indian School Rd area). You can always opt for Tempe, which has a large, youthful population, too. Where will your office be located in Scottsdale?

[S1106]

Thanks all for the comments! My office is in 85254 area code and I would prefer no more than a half hour or so commute at least until I can get a feel for the area. I found some apartments within my budget in the 85032 85260 85258 and 85254 area codes. Are these good, any other suggestions?

[dvxhd]

Originally Posted by S1106

Thanks all for the comments! My office is in 85254 area code and I would prefer no more than a half hour or so commute at least until I can get a feel for the area. I found some apartments within my budget in the 85032 85260 85258 and 85254 area codes. Are these good, any other suggestions?

I wouldn't live in those zip codes... but I have a clear definition of what I want in an area, which might be different from what you want and need. Perhaps if you'd share more of what you want out of a neighborhood aside from proximity to work, you'd get better insight. I live within 15 minutes of the downtown areas of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. All basic services are within 5 minutes of me, I'm within walking distance of the light rail, people in my area are young adults, my part of town is affordable, I have a lot of ethnic restaurants near me, I'm closer to where many LGBT people are, some basic things are within walking distance, there are numerous late-night and 24-hour amenities close to me, etc. That matters to me and I factored that in when choosing a place. You need to provide more details to get better insight to help you find a suitable neighborhood for yourself.