Considering a move to Phoenix, give me the good, the bad and the ugly... (Tucson: transplants, renting)

[cancerrph]

Thanks everyone, I meant Snakes not "snacks".

[cancerrph]

What about openness to welcome outsiders?

[observer53]

Originally Posted by las vegas drunk

Cancerrph,

Unfortunately, Arizona is a generally a Republican state. In other words everyone for themselves selfish type attitude. You won't get much help from the locals (as you can tell from the above posters) because of that. If you need any information feel free to pm me. I lived there for over 30 years so I will help you the best I can.

"everyone for themselves selfish attitude?" Lots of people have been helping newcomers here for a long time, myself included. I suggested that the OP use the search function because there is such a WEALTH of information already here, both on the broad general questions asked and other related topics. Explaining how to use the search function IS helpful. I use it myself all the time.

To the OP-- I certainly did not mean to sound unwelcoming, If I did, I apologize. Your questions were broad ones (nothing wrong with that) on which there is a wealth of information already here that shouldn't go to waste just because it is not on the front page of the forum.

There are Jewish Community Centers here and several synagogues... that is not my faith, so I don't have a lot of details for you. There was a thread recently discussing the subject, I know, and synapse's post is correct as well. There are many lovely suburbs (I'm biased toward Tempe, but there are others-- where you might be most comfortable depends on what is most important to you to have nearby, and where you are working, to avoid a really long commute).

Summer heat, well, yes, but we do not have to shovel it, and the rest of the year is quite lovely. (And, if we didn't have the summer heat, there would be SO many people here we'd be in gridlock, so we are kind of grateful for it)

Best of luck in your search! (we have WAY more snacks here than snakes!!)

[Ritchie_az]

"Arizona is a generally a Republican state. In other words everyone for themselves selfish type attitude."

Wow, really? To me, it says that Arizonans don't like the government digging into their pockets for worthless and/or poorly run programs. I'd also say things like family values are important (something Las Vegas knows very little about).

[he's so hott]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

If I understand JCC to be "Junior Community College" or something of the sort (my folks are from Overland Park), then you are in luck because the Maricopa Community College system is excellent. There are schools spread all across the valley including Rio Salado for a good selection of online courses.

I think other people answered your other questions better than I could, so I'll let it go at that.

JCC is Jewish Community Center. The main one as the other poster said is in Scottsdale.

[_Charles_]

Unfortunately, Arizona is a generally a Republican state. In other words everyone for themselves selfish type attitude.

Rubbish!! Political affliation has NOTHING to do with character. Some of the most abyssmal people I have ever met described themselves as liberal Democrats - try again.

One will encounter good and bad people wherever they go. The Valley is abit different in terms of social milieu due to the high amount of transience (folks moving in and out) - a situation similar to Southern Cal.

[Serial Mom]

Politics aside.. is it possible to get a lot with more than a 1/4 of an acre? Are there "neighborhoods" with 1-2 acres that are affordable? Do large lots even exist?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Serial Mom

Politics aside.. is it possible to get a lot with more than a 1/4 of an acre? Are there "neighborhoods" with 1-2 acres that are affordable? Do large lots even exist?

Cul-de-sac lots are larger usually. And there are neighborhoods with 1-2 acres surprisingly close in. Affordable though? I suppose it depends on what you mean. It'll cost you maybe 100K more for a comparable home for the lot in the more seedy looking ones. In some "tony" subdivisions 1/2 acre lots go for 200K plus. For all the whining about sprawl here, Phoenix actually is pretty tight-packed these days with 6 homes per acre being the current standard. It closely resembles row housing in places where the oversized McMansions are put on these tiny lots.

You can get larger 8-10K sf lots by going to older neighborhoods - ones built 10-20 years ago when that size was common. Some developments (like Vistancia and Estrella) also have 10K lots, but the homes are the premium ones (300-400K PLUS).

[Serial Mom]

^Yes^ McMansions. lol Affordable for me is under 200,000 - maybe even closer to 150,000.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Serial Mom

^Yes^ McMansions. lol Affordable for me is under 200,000 - maybe even closer to 150,000.

Well, you're probably looking at the small lots then. although you should be able to find a CDS lot for that money in the short term anyway. On the positive side, at least we have block walls around our back yards here and that does provide a sense of private space.