Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Ha ha , stop giving Francisco a woody!
I think too many people whine about the cold myself! That's all we get on here, ew, it's snow and my fingers are cold. At least your kids summer break is during the good weather! Our break is in our summer heat. If yours was from Feb. to April then you would hate it too! If ours was in the fall or spring it would be fantastic!
That aside, it's hard right now for people who don't have the money to enjoy all this new shopping and more shopping, the McMansion life style and the mini va-cays during the summer. Just like a lot of places, Phoenix is not a great place to live on a budget!
It's an illusion that we are really cheap too! That's only for the first few years your living off the money you made selling your house and getting a cheaper one here. When you settle in you will see it cost just as much, and there is no equity to live off of getting out of here. This is the end of the line. So enjoy the megga shopping while it last!
Ha ha , stop giving Francisco a woody!
I think too many people whine about the cold myself! That's all we get on here, ew, it's snow and my fingers are cold. At least your kids summer break is during the good weather! Our break is in our summer heat. If yours was from Feb. to April then you would hate it too! If ours was in the fall or spring it would be fantastic!
That aside, it's hard right now for people who don't have the money to enjoy all this new shopping and more shopping, the McMansion life style and the mini va-cays during the summer. Just like a lot of places, Phoenix is not a great place to live on a budget!
It's an illusion that we are really cheap too! That's only for the first few years your living off the money you made selling your house and getting a cheaper one here. When you settle in you will see it cost just as much, and there is no equity to live off of getting out of here. This is the end of the line. So enjoy the megga shopping while it last!
I think this WAS the case, but for families moving here now...a house that was 350,000 is now 222,000. A 250,000 is now 180,000. Sooooo, basically housing prices in Phoenix are where they should have been all along, slightly over the national average, but not leaps and bounds over it like in 2005 through 2007.
The "bad" economy all the media outlets were reporting on was the gap between rising home prices, which skyrocketed in Phoenix, and the slower rise in pay. Pay in Phoenix kept pace with the nation and grew, however, home prices here became inflated beyond belief because of speculation, investor purchases, and a buying frenzy from people "trading up."
I suspect that when the economy rebounds, homes prices will plateau and start to increase in value again, BUT within reason and not like in 2005. Phoenix again will be know as a city with a low cost of living, affordable housing, and a high standard of living..even for those on a budget...and people will continue moving here in droves.
I am a 3rd generation natve, so I grew up here, and I feel like I have had a lot of opportunities. I wouldn't hesitate to raise a family here... maybe I'm a moron. I'm also a teacher, and Arizona for sure has a LOT of work to do... we spend like next to nothing on our schools and students. Please don't blame those of us who, depsite this fact, go to work and try to do a hell of a job. I work for Mesa Public Schools, and it is a wonderful district. There are some very poor areas of Mesa, and sadly, this is a major reason why the schools under perform, not cause the teachers stink. Again... get families involved and invested, and you create wonderful communities, and will see wonderful results. I am NOT Mormon, but have friends and family who are, and believe that Arizona (Mesa in particular) is a great place to raise a family. The heat and all the transplants drive my family crazy, and we're planning a move to Connecticut in a few years. I will surely miss the Valley of the Sun. There are some wonderful things about this place!!!
I am a 3rd generation natve, so I grew up here, and I feel like I have had a lot of opportunities. I wouldn't hesitate to raise a family here... maybe I'm a moron. I'm also a teacher, and Arizona for sure has a LOT of work to do... we spend like next to nothing on our schools and students. Please don't blame those of us who, depsite this fact, go to work and try to do a hell of a job. I work for Mesa Public Schools, and it is a wonderful district. There are some very poor areas of Mesa, and sadly, this is a major reason why the schools under perform, not cause the teachers stink. Again... get families involved and invested, and you create wonderful communities, and will see wonderful results. I am NOT Mormon, but have friends and family who are, and believe that Arizona (Mesa in particular) is a great place to raise a family. The heat and all the transplants drive my family crazy, and we're planning a move to Connecticut in a few years. I will surely miss the Valley of the Sun. There are some wonderful things about this place!!!
Connecticut is BEAUTIFUL but their winters are brutal and the cost of living makes Manhattan look cheap. I hope you like it, the attitude in Connecticut is...very "interesting."
I agree...but you should try putting your kid in a carseat when its below zero out, your nuts are shriveled up, nipples hard with snot freezing down your mouth into the esophogus! its lovely! Then you'll say Oh, phoenix is heaven! I'd rather deal with heat than cold...
We originally are from N.D. Our oldest two were born there. Both of our youngest 2 were born here (3 still in car seats) and its much more convenient in AZ. car starter helps in ND but,.........I rather have months over 100 then months at -0.
I would like to share an anecdotal account. I had several friends who were college graduates majoring in education. They wanted to be teachers here. All of them were substituting at Kyrene, Scottsdale and other fine school districts. They were waiting tables at night to make enough money to survive while they substituted. At the time, I knew nothing about the educational system in Arizona and was puzzled why they didn't just accept a ful time job in another district instead of wasting their time substitute teaching. Apparently this is a pretty common practice because people don't want to teach in bad districts and the good districts are extremely competitive and in high demand among teachers. These people stated they had to sub for about 3 or 4 years to get a full time positon at Kyrene and other fine schools. They all stated the education was amazing in those districts and were willing to wait it out. These people could have moved elsewhere but were willing to sacrafice and take a major pay cut for years just to be able to teach in those nice districts. That speaks volumes about the quality of many of the teaching jobs in this state. I don't think every teaching position is a dreadful and difficult job in this state. Again, it depends on the school district. Many Mesa public schools have large populations of immigrant students so I can understand why some of those positions can tough. I also know teachers who have taught in Glendale and their experience was similar to many of the horror stories shared here. However, those teachers had no experience and were applying for jobs out of college and were willing to go to a poor district rather than substitute teach for years because their husbands were in graduate school and were only going to be here temporarily.
Last edited by azriverfan.; 07-02-2008 at 11:13 PM..
Ha ha , stop giving Francisco a woody!
I think too many people whine about the cold myself! That's all we get on here, ew, it's snow and my fingers are cold. At least your kids summer break is during the good weather! Our break is in our summer heat. If yours was from Feb. to April then you would hate it too! If ours was in the fall or spring it would be fantastic!
That aside, it's hard right now for people who don't have the money to enjoy all this new shopping and more shopping, the McMansion life style and the mini va-cays during the summer. Just like a lot of places, Phoenix is not a great place to live on a budget!
It's an illusion that we are really cheap too! That's only for the first few years your living off the money you made selling your house and getting a cheaper one here. When you settle in you will see it cost just as much, and there is no equity to live off of getting out of here. This is the end of the line. So enjoy the megga shopping while it last!
Not everyone is reckless with their money. Plenty of people moved from CA (or elsewhere) bought an affordable (for THEM) house with a decent (over 20%) downpayment and banked/invested the rest of the money they "MADE" from selling the other property.
And believe me, not everyone used their house as an ATM machine, draining the equity as property values rose only to find themselves upside down now that the market is correcting itself.
That you find this "the end of the line" is pretty sad. I speak for the others that find this area enjoyable, pretty afforable and a nice place to live....it's more than megga shopping, whatever that is. Pretty much everyone lives on a "budget", some larger than others. It's hard for me to feel sorry for anyone who came here with a chunk of money from selling a property that had appreciated in CA, then bought a house they knew they couldn't reasonably afford here, ran through the new houses equity on buying frivolous THINGS and now are blaming Phx for their woes.
And to all the people thinking of moving here: I'm not a cheerleader for Phx, but I've lived in a few large cities and Phx certainly has plenty to offer. There are good schools. If you have children do a little research before you move here and find a school district you feel comfortable putting your child in, then find a house or apartment in that area.
It's not for everyone and if you don't like hot weather DON'T move here.
If you can't manage your money and feel compelled to spend every cent shopping for junk to keep up with your neighbors you will certainly find yourself in a financial hole.
Don't buy a house you can't afford. Buying a house is the American Dream...it is not a right. Renting is usually much cheaper. Rent and save your money until you can honestly afford to buy, then buy a house that is reasonable. Because you are 30 years old and have a job does not mean that because some idiot real estate agent shows you a 4,000 sq. ft. house with a pool, spa and media room, you can actually sustain mortgage payments, utilities, taxes, upkeep...not to mention food and clothing.
If you want to see opera and feel a city is a cultureless wasteland without it, move to NYC or SF. Don't move to Buckeye.
If you hate large suburbs where the houses look alike and there are HOA's that strictly enforce the rules DON'T MOVE TO A SUBURB WITH HOA'S.
Oh, I'll stop now as this is turning into a rant. Just, honestly...Phx has it's shortcomings and it is extremely hot in the summer, but there are so many positives. I just can't imagine why people move here without doing a little research, and then once here are horrified at what a hell hole they are being forced to live in. Life is too short. If you find it such a miserable place, do yourself a favor and move to a better place.
I am loving all the positive posts, sorry I turned this negative....I'd just like to shake these gloom and doomers sometimes!
Not everyone is reckless with their money. Plenty of people moved from CA (or elsewhere) bought an affordable (for THEM) house with a decent (over 20%) downpayment and banked/invested the rest of the money they "MADE" from selling the other property.
And believe me, not everyone used their house as an ATM machine, draining the equity as property values rose only to find themselves upside down now that the market is correcting itself.
That you find this "the end of the line" is pretty sad. I speak for the others that find this area enjoyable, pretty afforable and a nice place to live....it's more than megga shopping, whatever that is. Pretty much everyone lives on a "budget", some larger than others. It's hard for me to feel sorry for anyone who came here with a chunk of money from selling a property that had appreciated in CA, then bought a house they knew they couldn't reasonably afford here, ran through the new houses equity on buying frivolous THINGS and now are blaming Phx for their woes.
And to all the people thinking of moving here: I'm not a cheerleader for Phx, but I've lived in a few large cities and Phx certainly has plenty to offer. There are good schools. If you have children do a little research before you move here and find a school district you feel comfortable putting your child in, then find a house or apartment in that area.
It's not for everyone and if you don't like hot weather DON'T move here.
If you can't manage your money and feel compelled to spend every cent shopping for junk to keep up with your neighbors you will certainly find yourself in a financial hole.
Don't buy a house you can't afford. Buying a house is the American Dream...it is not a right. Renting is usually much cheaper. Rent and save your money until you can honestly afford to buy, then buy a house that is reasonable. Because you are 30 years old and have a job does not mean that because some idiot real estate agent shows you a 4,000 sq. ft. house with a pool, spa and media room, you can actually sustain mortgage payments, utilities, taxes, upkeep...not to mention food and clothing.
If you want to see opera and feel a city is a cultureless wasteland without it, move to NYC or SF. Don't move to Buckeye.
If you hate large suburbs where the houses look alike and there are HOA's that strictly enforce the rules DON'T MOVE TO A SUBURB WITH HOA'S.
Oh, I'll stop now as this is turning into a rant. Just, honestly...Phx has it's shortcomings and it is extremely hot in the summer, but there are so many positives. I just can't imagine why people move here without doing a little research, and then once here are horrified at what a hell hole they are being forced to live in. Life is too short. If you find it such a miserable place, do yourself a favor and move to a better place.
I am loving all the positive posts, sorry I turned this negative....I'd just like to shake these gloom and doomers sometimes!
This was NOT a negative post but an honest and "real" one! Good job I think people need to hear this. Keeping up with the Jones isn't always realistic or right.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.