Phoenix, the most unaffordable "affordable" place to live (transplants, buying a home)

[asufan]

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

I think if you work a full-time job at at least minimum wage (40 hours) you should be able to afford a studio or 1 bedroom apartment to rent. The fact that you can't is a big problem in this country as it's not specific to Arizona. It's been proven via studies that housing unaffordability drastically increases certain situations like domestic violence, marital rape, theft, etc. Some people do not have support systems that would allow them to have a friend that would provide them a healthy home situation (many people are great friends but would be terrible roommates).


As rent continues to grow, more and more people will accommodate because well, they don't want to be homeless. As a result they go out to eat less, they don't invest in their hobbies, they don't travel, they stop doing a bunch of other things. That leaves a depressed and culturally robbed society, and I don't want depressive neighbors. I want happy and healthy neighbors, they are the ones less likely to do crime, and then my local economy is much better, providing more services people are interested in and grow that neighborhood as a result. When rent rises, everything else stagnates to accommodate because housing is a NEED and is inelastic as a result. If housing was much more affordable, I guarantee that a whole bunch of other sectors in the economy would be doing better right now.

Oh, I wouldn't want the minimum wage person to have to eat out less often. The horror. The fact is, you have to do things to make more money or compromise a little with your living situation until you do. In Southern California people have had to make compromises for years, such as having roommates into their late 20's, sometimes multiple generations under one roof.

[john3232]

Originally Posted by Prickly Pear

I think if you work a full-time job at at least minimum wage (40 hours) you should be able to afford a studio or 1 bedroom apartment to rent. The fact that you can't is a big problem in this country as it's not specific to Arizona. It's been proven via studies that housing unaffordability drastically increases certain situations like domestic violence, marital rape, theft, etc. Some people do not have support systems that would allow them to have a friend that would provide them a healthy home situation (many people are great friends but would be terrible roommates).


As rent continues to grow, more and more people will accommodate because well, they don't want to be homeless. As a result they go out to eat less, they don't invest in their hobbies, they don't travel, they stop doing a bunch of other things. That leaves a depressed and culturally robbed society, and I don't want depressive neighbors. I want happy and healthy neighbors, they are the ones less likely to do crime, and then my local economy is much better, providing more services people are interested in and grow that neighborhood as a result. When rent rises, everything else stagnates to accommodate because housing is a NEED and is inelastic as a result. If housing was much more affordable, I guarantee that a whole bunch of other sectors in the economy would be doing better right now.

Why should you be able to afford a studio or an 1 bed room apartment working minimum wage? Esp. in the popular Phx metro.

Get a roommate.

[jaredC]

Originally Posted by john3232

Why should you be able to afford a studio or an 1 bed room apartment working minimum wage? Esp. in the popular Phx metro.

Get a roommate.

Roomate situation is not for everyone. As a father of a young child, I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing in a stranger into my home with my child. Too many horror stories that start out that way.

And why we are on the subject, minimum wage was designed to create a minimum standard of living to protect the health and well-being of employees. A household of three people making minimum wage couldn't survive in today's market as far as housing and maintaining any standard of living, outside of being homeless, at any rate.

[bobsell]

Originally Posted by john3232

Get a roommate.

Then later, when things get worse, you'll say "get 2 roommates" then "get 3 roommates" then "dude! just get a better job! the catch-22 does not exist!"

Oh wait, you're a landlord. That explains your post.

[john3232]

Originally Posted by bobsell

Then later, when things get worse, you'll say "get 2 roommates" then "get 3 roommates" then "dude! just get a better job! the catch-22 does not exist!"

Oh wait, you're a landlord. That explains your post.

I've seen the 4,5 and 6 roommate situation in one house (San Francisco) and would never live like that. I would make plans to leave the area if that were the case.

[john3232]

Originally Posted by jaredC

Roomate situation is not for everyone. As a father of a young child, I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing in a stranger into my home with my child. Too many horror stories that start out that way.

And why we are on the subject, minimum wage was designed to create a minimum standard of living to protect the health and well-being of employees. A household of three people making minimum wage couldn't survive in today's market as far as housing and maintaining any standard of living, outside of being homeless, at any rate.

Not it's not but you either learn to make do... or leave. In 1990 a small apartment in SF went for $500-$600 and I found myself priced out. (1984 I was paying $210 for an in-law apartment.)

So, I moved to Dallas and into a studio apartment for $230 a month.

I was a renter all of my adult life (22-62) until I moved to AZ in 2019.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by jaredC

Roomate situation is not for everyone. As a father of a young child, I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing in a stranger into my home with my child. Too many horror stories that start out that way.

I think most everybody would agree with this, but the thread focuses mostly on the financial aspect. The first thing I ask is: why do you think it's your right to bring a child into the world if you're struggling with expenses? I suppose you think the government/taxpayers should be obligated to subsidize your life choices.

Originally Posted by jaredC

And why we are on the subject, minimum wage was designed to create a minimum standard of living to protect the health and well-being of employees. A household of three people making minimum wage couldn't survive in today's market as far as housing and maintaining any standard of living, outside of being homeless, at any rate.

Minimum wage is intended for low skilled jobs such as fast food. A person should never expect to buy a house, own a car, and raise a family on a minimum wage income. Even with this fact, the minimum wage in AZ has been increasing at a faster rate than many "middle" incomes. This state actually has one of the higher minimum wages in the nation, but the average income is still on the low side ($49,823). Personally, I'd be more concerned about the middle class than I would those making minimum wage ... because the majority of the minimum wage earners are high school & college students working entry level jobs at places like Starbucks or Burger King.

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by jaredC

Granted, I cannot say much on the affordability scale in comparison with other cities similar to Phoenix, as I have lived the majority of my life here. But, as someone who has been living here for nearly 30 years, I can weigh in on how this city is starting to become unaffordable, and yet, we are lauded as a destination that offers inexpensive housing and cost of living.

It is actually a bit worrisome. One can actually have a very good income and yet struggle to find affordable housing. Ten years ago if you made $50K annually, you could go a long way. Buy a house, have a nice car and still have enough money left over for the finer things in life. But in today's Phoenix, $50K guarantees NOTHING. Forget about buying that house, you will be lucky to locate an apartment with 2 bedrooms in a half decent area for under $1500 a month.

It is quite depressing really. Just for the heck of it, I decided to look up some old apartments I lived at ten years ago.

The Renaissance Apartments on 43rd ave and Thunderbird
-I lived on the third floor. One bedroom, and paid around $700-$750/month.
Today that very same floor plan is going for nearly double the price! I was shocked to see it going for
nearly $1400!

Newport Landing, which is now Paseo Park on 52nd ave and Thunderbird
-I lived on the second floor. One bedroom. Around 11 years ago I was paying $600/month.
Today they are going for around $1000. Same floor plan.


All I know, is that I wish I had jumped at the opportunity to buy a house before they started inflating housing costs nearly double what they were two years ago.

I compared the cost of living between Phoenix and the other 10 largest cities in the USA and only 2 of them, San Antonio and Houston, were cheaper to live in than Phoenix and Houston only slightly. So even though the cost of living has sharply risen in Phoenix, it's still relatively cheap to live in for a large American city. San Antonio would be the largest city noticeably cheaper than Phoenix.

I considered Phoenix a huge bargain 10 years ago, now I consider it a pretty good value but no bargain.

[NearFantastica]

Phoenix is approaching Los Angeles level pricing, makes no sense to live in Phoenix when you can live in LA for the same price and have access to much better weather, amenities, entertainment, beaches etc

[NearFantastica]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Minimum wage is intended for low skilled jobs such as fast food. A person should never expect to buy a house, own a car, and raise a family on a minimum wage income.

This is false and blatant right wing propaganda. Minimum wage is intended to be a living wage to provide people with a good living, more than a bare subsistence level. This was FDR's vision in 1933. Wages are stagnant and not rising to keep up with inflation nor cost of living, which is why this country is in the mess that its in.