Questions on Scottsdale (Phoenix, Fountain Hills, Maricopa: mortgage, loans, foreclosure)

[AZ_singlemother]

Nevercoldcall, I agree with you about snottsdale but Texas is way better than California anyday.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by nevercoldcall

TurcoLoco: Your post proves that you've never spent any time AT ALL in Newport Beach.

I have been living in or around the area since 1992 so I think what I said have some truth in it.
See you fell right into my point, no city is entirely that snobby. Of course there are some decent, sincere people in NP area, after all I have not met every one in the city so 'generalizing' in any sense would be inaccurate social profiling which you made about Scottsdale. Newport Beach is known for its relatively 'younger' rich people who likes to show off which is the quite different than say, Laguna Beach. If you spent some time in both towns you will know what I am talking about or may be not...but who am I to argue, if you like it there then great, enjoy it.
I will be happy to fill in the gap you'd left in the Phoenix area!

PS. More often than not, those who smile and talk to you in So Cal may not give a rat's behind about you or what you are saying...I also lived in TX and agree, you can tell your friends from your enemies in TX quite easily.

[aztoco]

Originally Posted by nevercoldcall

TurcoLoco: Your post proves that you've never spent any time AT ALL in Newport Beach. It's very friendly, laid back, family oriented, and community oriented. People here are actually happy, they even smile and say "hi" to each other, something you're never going to see in Scottsdale!

Like you, I used to believe that Newport was full of rude snobs. Then I spent some time here and realized that nothing could be further from the truth. The myth of Newport snobbery was created by jealous Scottsdale people who feel the need to denigrate anything and everything they can't afford.

And no, I wasn't quick to judge Scottsdale. I wasted 7 years of my life there. I'm more than qualified to comment on it.

Hi there, I'm one of those (former) Scottsdale residents (currently living in Gilbert) who is very jealous of anyone living in Southern California - mainly for the ideal weather conditions, IMO. I'd be there in a second! How can anyone afford it though? We have two children and own a home. Is there a secret street in Newport that I don't know about? I just truly don't understand how any 'normal' person can own a home there. Are they all living in debt? Just renting for a lifetime? Do you have to come from money and just be born into California? I'm not making fun, but I truly want to know how it's done so that I can pack my bags. Right now we are considering a move to Colorado to get out of this heat, but we might end up staying because here we can at least make a relatively short drive to our favorite vacation spot.

[nevercoldcall]

Originally Posted by aztoco

Hi there, I'm one of those (former) Scottsdale residents (currently living in Gilbert) who is very jealous of anyone living in Southern California - mainly for the ideal weather conditions, IMO. I'd be there in a second! How can anyone afford it though? We have two children and own a home. Is there a secret street in Newport that I don't know about? I just truly don't understand how any 'normal' person can own a home there. Are they all living in debt? Just renting for a lifetime? Do you have to come from money and just be born into California? I'm not making fun, but I truly want to know how it's done so that I can pack my bags. Right now we are considering a move to Colorado to get out of this heat, but we might end up staying because here we can at least make a relatively short drive to our favorite vacation spot.

Well, that's a very fair argument. In all fairness, I got my first book published last year (the 2nd comes out this year!), it went to #1 on Amazon the day it was released, and made the New York Times bestseller list 3 weeks later. So, that's how I can afford to live in Newport.

Having said all that, when you look at the housing costs in Scottsdale, they aren't that far off at this point.

There are also a lot of "hidden" costs of living in Arizona. Taxes are now almost as high as California. My car insurance in Arizona was $1,000/year higher than here in CA, and my car registration was $800 higher in AZ. Sales tax was higher in AZ.

And on, and on.

To me, the extra cost of living in Newport is well worth it, especially when you factor in the friendliness of people here. Everyone is so outgoing and friendly and nice and helpful, something I never really experienced in 7 years in Arizona.

[nevercoldcall]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

Nevercoldcall, I agree with you about snottsdale but Texas is way better than California anyday.

How? One of my good friends moved from Scottsdale to Houston and would love to go back to Arizona, or anywhere else just to escape Texas! Houston is filthy and overcrowded. Dallas is a major snob town, and dirty too, and everywhere else in Texas is B-O-R-I-N-G. And HOT. What's the appeal??????? Don't tell me it's cheap, because if I wanted to live cheap I'd have gone to a trailer park in Alabama.

[LVGAZ]

Originally Posted by aj661

It's time to put the Scottsdale drivers vs. Phoenix drivers debate to rest. It's only going to confuse new residents. These are the rules newcomers to the Valley of the Sun must know. Natives and long time residents already know these, so for you, it's only a refresher.

HOW TO DRIVE IN PHOENIX:
1. You must first learn to pronounce the city name, it is: "FEE-NICKS".

2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 7:00pm. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On Loop 101, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy".

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Phoenix has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest muffler go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, East Valley , SUV-driving, cell phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.

5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out, and possibly shot.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's another offense that can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent and continuous in Phoenix. Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, skunks, dogs, barrels, cones, cows, horses, cats, mattresses, shredded tires, Squirrels, rabbits, crows, vultures, javelinas, roadrunners, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.

9. Maricopa Freeway, Papago Freeway and the "I-10" are the same road. SR202 is the same road as The Red Mountain FWY. Dunlap and Olive are the same street too. Jefferson becomes Washington , but they are not the same street. I-17 is also called The Black Canyon Freeway as well as The Veterans Memorial Highway. And if all that isn't enough to remember SR 51 has recently been renamed to Piestewa Freeway because Squaw Peak Parkway was too easy pronounce. SR 101 is also the Pima FWY except west of I-17, which is also The Black Canyon FWY, and The Veterans Memorial HWY. Lastly, Thunderbird Rd. Becomes Cactus Rd. but, Cactus Rd. doesn't become Thunderbird Rd. Because it dead ends at a mountain.

10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be tail-gated and "flipped off" accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. For summer driving, it is advisable to wear potholders on your hands.

This is GREAT!!! DEADON!!! I love THIS!! This my friends is how it is ....
Love it and thanks to the Author AJ661

[aj661]

Originally Posted by LVGAZ

This is GREAT!!! DEADON!!! I love THIS!! This my friends is how it is ....
Love it and thanks to the Author AJ661

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, but I am NOT the author!. Just passng on an old e-mail...

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by aj661

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, but I am NOT the author!. Just passng on an old e-mail...

Still.....it as really entertaining to read! Thank AJ!
I think SUV/Van driving, cell phone talking moms have the right of way in every part of the country....sad but true!

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by aztoco

I just truly don't understand how any 'normal' person can own a home there. Are they all living in debt? Just renting for a lifetime? Do you have to come from money and just be born into California? I'm not making fun, but I truly want to know how it's done so that I can pack my bags.

The secret is called "Option Arm" my friend, don't let NeverColdCall fool you, unless you got boat load of money or generating bookoo bucks every month, living in Southern (or pretty much any other part) California will likelt to be not feasible for anyone. Many people are living in debt, I did work as a loan processor and jr underwriter for 2nd Home Mortgages and back in the late 90s that was the case, I can only imagine things gotten a lot worse. Some analyst believe more and more people who bought a home in OC, CA in the recent years will be defaulting on their mortgage payments and some of them already had!

I have been checking the rentals in Fee-niks area and they are at least half as costly! Some parts of Scottsdale might have houses that cost similar to the prices in Orange County BUT not for the same house.
Any similar house would cost much more in any part of Orange County. My friend register her car and she said it was about the same. Sales tax can be anywhere from 7.75% to 8.25% in CA and I believe it is close to what it is in AZ, someone correct me if that is not the case.
The weather is a little warmer (in AZ) or about the same during the FALL, Winter and early parts of Spring. Summers are definitely toastier in AZ for at around 3 months at an average of 17-20 degrees higher in AZ but about 30%-40% less humid as well....
For someone who like the weather in Seattle, Fee-niks would seem like hell and not a good place to live.
Imho, NeverColdCall seems a bit too biased and opinionated towards certain things, not saying he's totally incorrect but seems a little exaggerated or contradicting in some ways which makes it hard to take him too seriously.
I feel that he tends to belittle others or at least prove himself right by bragging about his book being "#1 seller", etc..

Why would the author of a #1 seller be so passionately and consistently talking down about a city? Even create an Internet hate-site about it?
What would that prove or help?
Not trying to insult by any means but it doesn't make any sense to me.
I generally ignore or move away from things that bother me and don't even think about them...

[movin'on]

Well, I live right where you speak of. It's nice enough and I suppose if you have a family, it will work. Me personally? My screen name belies what I've done. I have NOT moved on and finally will take the plunge, one of these days. Yes, I have a beautiful house in a great neighborhood, but the people are strange in this metropolis. It's one GIANT move from somewhere else. Blah blah blah, I'm just in a venting mode.

If I live in the nicest of nice and am still miserable, well.........where are you moving from? That's a very important question and forgive me if you mentioned it elsewhere in this thread.

This place is boring, but then it's all relative.

BTW, in perusing this thread it seems most of you raving about Scottsdale don't live here. It ain't all that, but it beats Phoenix.