I visited Phoenix with hopes of moving there...my 2 cents (Scottsdale: appointed, house)

[where_to_move]

I was really excited about living in Phoenix (moving from midwest)...went in May to check it out. I felt when I got there...a little disappointed with the following.
#1: not very pretty--seemed smoggy with small brown hills in background.
#2: all yards had huge 6-8 ft cement fences for privacy...so it didn't even look very appealing...this included the nice neighborhoods.
#3: suburbia.....the homes that we were looking at our price range was around $400k....seemed too close together, too congested.
#4: overall, too congested of an area.
#5: hot as heck in the summer. we went 2nd weekend of May, it was 108 degrees, the kind of heat that my mouth felt dry & my eyes were drying out. Literally as if you were sticking your head in the oven.


Ok, so those were the reasons I wasn't super excited about it...due to those reasons it dropped low on my list. However, for those midwesterners or those ready to get OUT OF THE COLD....it is hard to forget their big POSITIVE FACTOR, NICE WARM WINTERS............

For that reason alone, we kept contemplating about it...but at this point we are now looking at TN or CO (I know it has winters, but the winters are sunny which is a big improvement from dreary gray midwest winter nights)

Hope my 2 cents worth could be valuable. This was not meant to hurt anyone's feelings, for those who love Phoenix. Just an honest stranger giving their 2 cents worth for anyone who may look at factors similar to us....
Good luck to everyone with re-locations.......

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by where_to_move

#2: all yards had huge 6-8 ft cement fences for privacy...so it didn't even look very appealing...this included the nice neighborhoods.

Absolutely one of my favorite things about living here - or in many places out west. I can't fathom having a BBQ or just sitting outside reading the paper with all the neighbors staring, minding my business. Yuck!

[sablebaby]

I'm glad you came out to visit to see what it's all about. You never know about a place until you spend some time there.

I agree with your #4 and #5. The others I quite enjoy. I think it's quite pretty here (but since you're from the midwest I can understand where your coming from!). I love that we have privacy in our backyards! #3, yes I agree that they are close, but in your price range the homes are nicer.

Good luck on your search!

[OntheMoveAGAIN]

Amusingly enough I found the concrete walls really appealing when I visited Az recently. Here in Colorado We have split fencing around our land and I won't let my children out in the yard without me for fear of someone taking them!

I loved living here in Colorado and if you are interested in living in Col Springs I have a house on the market in your price range on 0.6 Acre lot.

It's definitely seasonal here but like EVERYWHERE there are pros and cons for living here too.

Take Care.

P.s. I'm actually originally from Ireland -It has pros and cons living there too

[Steve-o]

WOW, Im really surprised to find people that like the concrete fence thing. I think theyre hideous. Reminds me of something you find in prison or in Compton. A nice white picket fence is appealing, or any wooden fence for that matter. The concrete fences are ugly as sin. I really like the adobe-styled ones you see on the nicer homes, you know, the stucco-looking ones, not those horrid brown cinder block thingamajigs...

[sablebaby]

AZ used to have the wooden fences but with the fierce summers they crumble. So, everyone went with concrete for a sturdy fence. They work so much better! And yes, putting stucco on them make them look better, imo.

[sweattea]

I love the cement fences it looks neater and I love the privacy.

[Boatdrinks]

Before I moved here, I thought those cinderblock fences were hideous too. I thought it would feel clausterphobic. But I've since grown to love them. You can't beat the privacy, and you can be sure your pets won't squeeze through (though I've known some dogs to scale them). They're durable too, and much easier to paint then wood fences.

All you have to do is plant a bunch of shrubs around your yard, and you'll never notice the wall...and the great thing about this area is your flowering shrubs will actually be flowering all year long!! or most of the year, anyway....it's a bit chilly out now.

[PhxGuy520]

#1: not very pretty--seemed smoggy with small brown hills in background. (Welcome to the 5th largest city in the country, big city + no rain means smog, can have it both ways. Those brown hills are called "foothills". Maybe some more research is in order.)

#2: all yards had huge 6-8 ft cement fences for privacy...so it didn't even look very appealing...this included the nice neighborhoods.(being from Indiana this was strange too, but you get used to it really quick.)

#3: suburbia.....the homes that we were looking at our price range was around $400k....seemed too close together, too congested. (400k???, what the heck are you looking at? I got a nice 1800+sq ft, 4 bedrooms and a pool for just over 280 in Gilbert. If you want to live Scottsdale you pay for it, just like any city)

#4: overall, too congested of an area.(Phoenix is VERY spread out for a big city, not sure what you mean by this)

#5: hot as heck in the summer. we went 2nd weekend of May, it was 108 degrees, the kind of heat that my mouth felt dry & my eyes were drying out. Literally as if you were sticking your head in the oven. (People dont live in Phoenix for the 3 months its over 100, we live here for the 9 months its GORGOUS. Where else besides Hawaii and Cali can you find that)

[Ladywithafan]

......years ago, my xhusband & I were out in Sedonna & around the whole state in general on a vacation, sightseeing trip....we actually ended up desiging our home in Florida with what we saw in AZ....well, as luck would have it....built the house, had kids, got divorced....now almost 10 years later, my xhusband is in the Oro Valley, my boys are with him as they are allergic to the mold in Florida, and my boyfriend of almost seven years and I are so totally ready to move to AZ as well.

....We have the big stuccoed, concrete walls around our home on Tampa Bay...I love the privacy they give as well as keeping intruders out. Probably why we'll do just fine out in the big P.

....I love big cities, I moved to NYC having never even been there & loved it. I know Phoenix isn't NYC but what the hell...moving is always an experience!

...I'll try out the desert~