Moving to Arizona from Upstate New York (Phoenix, Mesa: apartments, rental)

[vanSmack]

Hey,

I am planning to move to the Phoenix area at the beginning of November.

The main reason I want to leave Albany, NY is the brutal weather. The winters are unbearably cold while the summers are so humid my glasses fog over the minute I step outside. Did I mention that I HATE SNOW!!!! I never want to deal with it again.

I also understand that the Phoenix area is an excellent place to land professional level I.T. jobs, as opposed to Las Vegas, which seems to be a "who you know" type of place. I considered moving to Vegas but am not particularly interested in the casino industry.

My questions are as follows:
1) How is the Information technology job market there?
2) Which areas are the best places to live considering that I will be renting an apartment in the $800 a month range?
3) Which are the places to avoid?

I was considering renting an efficiency near the Fiesta Mall in Mesa for the first month or so until I could find employment and then find a place convenient to work. Does anyone know about this area? W Southern Ave & S Alma School Rd

The only time I visited the Valley of the Sun was back in 2003 where we stayed in the Tempe area (Rural Rd & Apache Blvd). I thought it was very nice compared to Albany, NY which, as anyone who has ever been here should well know, is the armpit of the world.

Any info you could share on living in Phx area would be appreciated.

Thanks

[tismekll]

Originally Posted by vanSmack

Hey,

I am planning to move to the Phoenix area at the beginning of November.

The main reason I want to leave Albany, NY is the brutal weather. The winters are unbearably cold while the summers are so humid my glasses fog over the minute I step outside. Did I mention that I HATE SNOW!!!! I never want to deal with it again.

I also understand that the Phoenix area is an excellent place to land professional level I.T. jobs, as opposed to Las Vegas, which seems to be a "who you know" type of place. I considered moving to Vegas but am not particularly interested in the casino industry.

My questions are as follows:
1) How is the Information technology job market there?
2) Which areas are the best places to live considering that I will be renting an apartment in the $800 a month range?
3) Which are the places to avoid?

I was considering renting an efficiency near the Fiesta Mall in Mesa for the first month or so until I could find employment and then find a place convenient to work. Does anyone know about this area? W Southern Ave & S Alma School Rd

The only time I visited the Valley of the Sun was back in 2003 where we stayed in the Tempe area (Rural Rd & Apache Blvd). I thought it was very nice compared to Albany, NY which, as anyone who has ever been here should well know, is the armpit of the world.

Any info you could share on living in Phx area would be appreciated.

Thanks

I wouldn't recommend that area. I know exactly where you are speaking of and there is quite a bit of crime over there.
Plenty of IT jobs..Google is here..ASU, etc.

[Lehi]

Originally Posted by tismekll

I wouldn't recommend that area. I know exactly where you are speaking of and there is quite a bit of crime over there.

I was going to say the same thing until I read that he thought the area of Rural and Apache in Tempe was nice LOL! I'm out of touch with rental prices so I don't know what $800 a month will get you but I would look south towards Chandler or Gilbert unless you don't mind going farther east in Mesa.

[tismekll]

Originally Posted by Lehi

I was going to say the same thing until I read that he thought the area of Rural and Apache in Tempe was nice LOL! I'm out of touch with rental prices so I don't know what $800 a month will get you but I would look south towards Chandler or Gilbert unless you don't mind going farther east in Mesa.

Yikes, I guess I didn't catch that..NO for Rural and Apache!!

[SpeedyAZ]

My questions are as follows:
1) How is the Information technology job market there?
2) Which areas are the best places to live considering that I will be renting an apartment in the $800 a month range?
3) Which are the places to avoid?

1) ABUNDANT IT jobs, look in Chandler and Gilbert.
2) $800/ month is reasonable, I'd personally look on apartments.com to see what it'll get you.
3) Generally Mesa, Apache Junction, and some parts of Glendale.

[vanSmack]

Originally Posted by Lehi

I was going to say the same thing until I read that he thought the area of Rural and Apache in Tempe was nice LOL!

The context was "Compared to Albany, NY". It was also during the month of February 2003 when there was over 2 feet of snow on the ground and sub-zero temperatures here. 70 degrees in Tempe, palm trees, sunshine, etc...I guess anything would have seemed nice at that time. Thanks for the info though.

[Lehi]

Originally Posted by vanSmack

The context was "Compared to Albany, NY". It was also during the month of February 2003 when there was over 2 feet of snow on the ground and sub-zero temperatures here. 70 degrees in Tempe, palm trees, sunshine, etc...I guess anything would have seemed nice at that time. Thanks for the info though.

Ah, you were talking about the weather. I thought you were talking about the neighborhood. I looked at apartments.com there are some short term rentals available, don't know about furniture and such but you might check it out. Let us know if you find something and we might be able to give you a better idea of the neighborhood.

[freeverrsee]

Well I can answer one of your questions!! Your asking about what is one of the best places to avoid is?? Well.... It all depends on if you like the heat!>> I on the other hand would stay away from any part of arizona!! I had such a horrible time in Arizona after living there for about 7 yrs. So my advice to you is to stay in New York If you don't like the heat or consider moving to a different state.

Best Wishes
freeverrsee

[loose cannon]

Alma School and Southern is not that bad. I lived there. Select Suites! There is a great bar called Septembers a few blocks east off of Country Club. The Irish sports bar close to the Suites is not reccomended.

[a1m1700]

Originally Posted by vanSmack

Hey,

I am planning to move to the Phoenix area at the beginning of November.

The main reason I want to leave Albany, NY is the brutal weather. The winters are unbearably cold while the summers are so humid my glasses fog over the minute I step outside. Did I mention that I HATE SNOW!!!! I never want to deal with it again.

I also understand that the Phoenix area is an excellent place to land professional level I.T. jobs, as opposed to Las Vegas, which seems to be a "who you know" type of place. I considered moving to Vegas but am not particularly interested in the casino industry.

My questions are as follows:
1) How is the Information technology job market there?
2) Which areas are the best places to live considering that I will be renting an apartment in the $800 a month range?
3) Which are the places to avoid?

I was considering renting an efficiency near the Fiesta Mall in Mesa for the first month or so until I could find employment and then find a place convenient to work. Does anyone know about this area? W Southern Ave & S Alma School Rd

The only time I visited the Valley of the Sun was back in 2003 where we stayed in the Tempe area (Rural Rd & Apache Blvd). I thought it was very nice compared to Albany, NY which, as anyone who has ever been here should well know, is the armpit of the world.

Any info you could share on living in Phx area would be appreciated.

Thanks

My sister lived in that place, she didn't mind but she also lived on 12 street and McKinley at one time You can do better than that. Why don't you look into the Awhatkee area. They have many apartments in all price ranges. It will be an easy commute to the East Valley cities and downtown.