Questions on Scottsdale (home, resident)

[SpeedyAZ]

Where is anyone getting the idea that Scottsdale is a better deal when it comes to cost of living? This week we looked at several houses in the $2.5 million range in Newport Coast (the nicest part of Newport Beach). They were amazing 4000 sq ft+ super luxury homes that would cost AT LEAST $2.5M, if not MORE, in Scottsdale.

Nobody cares.

I think Scottsdale is the most overpriced place in the nation when you consider what you're getting for your money.

You're getting one of the best places to live in the US. Plus great desert scenery, great people, and those amazing Arizona sunsets. What exactly is so great about Newport Beach? You get water...if I wanted water I'd buy a pool!

Scottsdale had the highest percentage of the risky option-arm loans in 2006 and is on track to now have the highest foreclosure rate

Where exactly do you get your information from? I'm a Realtor and that's 100% NOT true.

Newport Coast is most definitely not a bunch of rookie realtors and long-distance salesmen and other sorts of wannabes who "bought" houses on option-arm loans in mickey-mouse Scottsdale.

And how exactly would you know that? Yes there are people in NB that can afford to live there but same goes with Scottsdale.

[AOYAS]

Originally Posted by SpeedyAZ

Nobody cares.

.......

You're getting one of the best places to live in the US. Plus great desert scenery, great people, and those amazing Arizona sunsets. What exactly is so great about Newport Beach? You get water...if I wanted water I'd buy a pool!

.......

Where exactly do you get your information from? I'm a Realtor and that's 100% NOT true.

........

And how exactly would you know that? Yes there are people in NB that can afford to live there but same goes with Scottsdale.

Good post, Speedy! *Some people* are just completely full of misinformation, and continue to post garbage, no matter how untrue or ridiculous it is! LOL.

--That guy (or girl) is clearly trying to boast, but you're correct that "nobody cares" where he looked at houses, and/or how much they cost.

--You're also correct that Scottsdale is considered one of the "best places to live." In fact, for the past two years, Money Magazine (money.cnn.com) ranked the top 100 cities in the entire country to live. Scottsdale was #35 in 2005, and #7 (!!!) in 2006. (Gilbert made the list at #16 in 2006, as well.) Incidentally, Newport Beach was not anywhere to be found in the top 100 either year.

--You're 100% correct that his misinformation about Scottsdale foreclosures is "100% not true." As of the first quarter of 2007, the METRO AREAS with the highest foreclosure rates in the country are:

#1 Detroit, MI (1 in 51 households)
#2 Las Vegas, NV (1 in 57)
#3 Riverside/San Bernardino, CA
#4 Sacramento, CA
#5 Stockton, CA

Nevada had the highest STATE foreclosure rate (1 in 75 households). Colorado had the second highest STATE foreclosure rate (1 in 111). Numerically, California had the highest NUMBER of foreclosures filed (80,595), that accounted for one in every five foreclosures in the country. Scottsdale isn't anywhere close, nor are Phoenix or the state of Arizona, for that matter.

--His last statement is so ridiculous, it isn't even worth commenting on.

Bottom line is that Phoenix and Scottsdale are very beautiful, desirable, thriving places to live...not for everyone, but for many. That's why so many people are moving here. For those who don't like it, move somewhere else. It's really just as simple as that. No point in whining about why you moved. No one cares. Clearly, *some people* won't be happy ANYWHERE they move. *Someone* is obviously not happy in Newport Beach, or he wouldn't spend so much of his time in his new city, on an online forum, trashing a place where he no longer lives. He'd get over the place he left behind, and spend all of his time enjoying his new life in his new city. But, he's not doing that. I suspect the reason is that he's not as happy as he thought he would be, or as he claims to be, in California.

A person would need to have a serious lack of anything better to do, or must be very unhappy in his/her current situation, to constantly trash other places, and "play up" (even if undeservedly) the place where s/he currently lives, without any valid, constructive, or intelligent argument supporting his/her reasons for doing so. It's the same concept as the bully kids on the playground...they're usually the most insecure and unhappy of the bunch...

[AZ_singlemother]

Newport Beach, CA vs. Scottsdale, AZ:

----You cannot compare these two places.

1. The median house/condo value for Newport Beach is 1,000,000 in 2005/Scottsdale is 422,000.

2. The price for 2.5 million dollar homes in Newport Beach could get you an average 3 bedroom 2000 square foot house in Newport Beach if you are lucky. I do see 1 listing for this price 4600 - must be a quick sell.

3. The price for 2.5 million dollar homes in Scottsdale can get you an abundant desert mountain homes in a remote area - over 5000 square feet with 5+ bedrooms.

I wish I could afford that type of luxury; however, live in a apartment that was converted to condos - a Californian investor who purchased many units foreclosed on all units. Guess he was in trouble, living beyond his means.

If you can handle the earthquakes, mudslides, high state tax, excessive property taxes - including supplemental taxes which are outragious in California, then enjoy your little million dollar place.

We will live it up in the desert with more reasonable taxes, earthquake free, awesome mountain views, and less traffic - laid back lifestyle.

[AOYAS]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

Newport Beach, CA vs. Scottsdale, AZ:

----You cannot compare these two places.

1. The median house/condo value for Newport Beach is 1,000,000 in 2005/Scottsdale is 422,000.

2. The price for 2.5 million dollar homes in Newport Beach could get you an average 3 bedroom 2000 square foot house in Newport Beach if you are lucky. I do see 1 listing for this price 4600 - must be a quick sell.

3. The price for 2.5 million dollar homes in Scottsdale can get you an abundant desert mountain homes in a remote area - over 5000 square feet with 5+ bedrooms.

I wish I could afford that type of luxury; however, live in a apartment that was converted to condos - a Californian investor who purchased many units foreclosed on all units. Guess he was in trouble, living beyond his means.

If you can handle the earthquakes, mudslides, high state tax, excessive property taxes - including supplemental taxes which are outragious in California, then enjoy your little million dollar place.

We will live it up in the desert with more reasonable taxes, earthquake free, awesome mountain views, and less traffic - laid back lifestyle.

Ha! Great post! You're entirely correct.

The guy who keeps badmouthing Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the residents of both cities, who continually posts that Newport Beach is so much better than Scottsdale/Phoenix, needs a MAJOR reality check! No contest! On almost every possible level, Scottsdale (and many other areas in and around Phoenix), despite its own problems, is a much better option than Newport Beach, and most of Southern California, for that matter.

[TurcoLoco]

To my question about why would anyone hate a city so much and even create a web site/blog about it, you gave the following amazing answer:

It's called publicity and web traffic. Do you know what 3,000 site visitors a day does for book sales? Using publicity stunts to market has been a big trend lately, and I've even used my Scottsdale blog as a case study in publicity stunt marketing. It's certainly no secret to people who understand marketing and PR.

You know what this is called? It is called scamming not marketing. You use a web blog that is bashing a city and its people to increase traffic to your web blog to gain publicity to sell more books, that is a scam my friend, don't kid yourself or at least don't kid others. Moderator cut: personal insult Oh by the way, I support 4000+ Loan Consultants for a major bank so when it comes to home loans and mortgage, there aren't many people who has a better resource than me. Where did you get your info from I wonder? Or was one of the people at your bar-b-que was Greenspam?

You know what, anyone who googles the words "nevercoldcall" to find your site will also hit the posts on city-data forum and will get to find out more about the so called "#1 seller". I don't care how right you think you are but this much smacktalking and negativity could give you a really bad rep.

[43north87west]

Accurate post by nevercoldcall. That person may not share my specific opinion, but it was on target with what I think as well.

North Scottsdale especially. Not friendly, not genuine either. It kind of reminds me of a lot of people I knew personally, that emigrated from the former Soviet Union in the 80s and 90s. Every one bought a Lexus or a Mercedes, a "Rolex", and a closet full of designer clothes.

Doesn't matter that not one of them could take a week off from work without going broke, or that one of them had a penny invested or saved for retirement.

They looked rich to anyone who saw them. Isn't that what matters?

[scottsdaleite]

As a long time resident and Realtor in Scottsdale, I have to disagree with some thing that have been said here. First, Scottsdale does have a reputation among those who can't afford to live here as being "snotty". I don't see it that way at all. Scottsdale is a great place to live and has good schools and shopping. While there are other good places to live in the Valley - like the Biltmore area and Paradise valley, they are much more expensive and there is not the variety of housing that Scottsdale has. Fountain Hills is lovely, but there is quite a long drive and only one road coming into town so it can be a bit of a trial.

In your price range, you would be at the bottom of available housing in Scottsdale - I would suggest you check areas like Old Town (close to downtown Scottsdale and an area that really is a very tight knit community), Raskin Estates (central scottsdale - around Scottsdale Rd and Thunderbird), and anything else in the 85354 zip code.

Hope this helps and I would encourage you to try and stay in the Northeast part of the Valley if at all possible.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by scottsdaleite

As a long time resident and Realtor in Scottsdale, I have to disagree with some thing that have been said here. First, Scottsdale does have a reputation among those who can't afford to live here as being "snotty". I don't see it that way at all. Scottsdale is a great place to live and has good schools and shopping. While there are other good places to live in the Valley - like the Biltmore area and Paradise valley, they are much more expensive and there is not the variety of housing that Scottsdale has. Fountain Hills is lovely, but there is quite a long drive and only one road coming into town so it can be a bit of a trial.

In your price range, you would be at the bottom of available housing in Scottsdale - I would suggest you check areas like Old Town (close to downtown Scottsdale and an area that really is a very tight knit community), Raskin Estates (central scottsdale - around Scottsdale Rd and Thunderbird), and anything else in the 85354 zip code.

Hope this helps and I would encourage you to try and stay in the Northeast part of the Valley if at all possible.

Gosh, I hate rehashing old topics. I lived in scottsdale for a bunch of years as well worked there, too. I think that the scottsdale people who just think the "outsiders" or those who are too poor to live there are the only ones that think it's snobby. Are you kidding me? There's a poster here (that no longer lives here), that I think is way too snobby to realize that he and a lot of his neighbors are snobby. Look around and you'll find them easily! And, yes, I definitely think that you will find them just about anywhere, but money really makes a person think they are better than the rest. I'm not saying all, but many. I just think a lot of scottsdale people are too snobby to even know that's how they're acting. Don't get me wrong, I love scottsdale.

[missusparsons]

Okay, let me see if I can sum this one up:

blah blah blah.

Scottsdale is snobby (but I don't even kick it with *those* people cause their too stuck up)

blah blah

[TurcoLoco]

Yeah this whole "Scottsdale people are stuck up or snotty" topic is getting lame, I mean it really isn't fair to call a group of people 'snotty' just because they have implants or drive cars that worth more than what they make in a year at their job...just not fair...lol.

But seriously, even though I have seen nice to normal people in Scottsdale there are those who think the people living in other parts are a 'lower' class.

scottsdaleiteFirst, Scottsdale does have a reputation among those who can't afford to live here as being "snotty".

Just that comment along makes me see why people feel this way about Scottsdale folks.
Scottsdale is definitely a nice place at least to most part of it but there are several other places in the East and North from what I have seen. Especially food places seem a bit overpriced for their quality. I was at an Italian Gelato place with my sister and nephew couple of weekends ago and for what they charge, the quality left us wanting...my sister's small conservative Italian pastry/gelato shop would blow that fancy shmancy place out of the water!
Same with a Chinese place I had dinner at....a fast food restaurant who charged $8 for chicken and rice...imho, Pei Wei costs less and taste much better!
So far I have not interacted with S people all that much but from what I have experienced, some of them are (dare I say it) act stuck up but I still refuse to believe they are all that way...