Phoenix for teachers? (Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise: relocation, income, lease)

[James9283]

Hello, looking for all opinions or advice here! I am a young teacher looking to relocate and have had several job offers in Florida but am not impressed with the "downside" of the state. Is Arizona or specifically the Phoenix metro area a better spot to relocation for a young teacher?, Please reply...

[sablebaby]

What are the downsides of Florida? Just wondering if they are anything that Phoenix deals with or have in common.

[AZ_singlemother]

Teacher's salaries are very low in Arizona, even Scottsdale. You may want to research states that pay better salaries for Teachers. I don't know any in mind. Am from Washington State. The state has a union which represent teachers but teachers have to fight tooth and nail in Washington state for a livable salary. Arizona is worst.

Look in Colorado, especially Boulder. My uncle represents the education from a national level and this city pays exceptionally well for teachers and anyone in the education system. This area might be your best bet for livable wages and a wonderful lifestyle...

Fort Collens, CO was listed as the most livable city in the US, which is very close to Boulder.

[ibarrio]

What is a good teacher salary in phoenix? I was offered 56K for a 10 month contract. I make 72K for 11 months in California. But the cost of living is much higher in Cali.

With my wife working we will hit over 70K in Phoenix. Is that good for the area?

[AZ_singlemother]

That will not be enough to buy a decent house in Phoenix since the housing has doubled in prices.

But it will be enough to purchase really nice house in Fort Collins or Boulder/Lafayette Colorado.

Your lifestyle will not improve in AZ from Cali that much but will be very liveable in Colorado.

If you are aiming for an excellent lifestyle, you will need to be flexible as far as where you live. So many Californians are flocking here to save money but to find out, they are running into a huge pay cut since...

Arizona is one of the lowest paying states in the nation.

[ibarrio]

I'm sorry. I should have said that I bought a house in Surprise for 210K (Kingswood Parke) .

I want to move there and live in it. I would hope 70 plus would be enough for the Area. A lot of my family makes it on less in the area. My brother in law just bought a house off Val Vista (Mesa) for 240K.

[AZ_singlemother]

Okay, looks like you made your decision, but if you do not like it, sell your house, because for that price, you could get a 3000 square foot house in the areas in Colorado I mentioned and be making more money. I would say at lease 50k per year for just one person.

[SElaine]

Originally Posted by ibarrio

I'm sorry. I should have said that I bought a house in Surprise for 210K (Kingswood Parke) .

I want to move there and live in it. I would hope 70 plus would be enough for the Area. A lot of my family makes it on less in the area. My brother in law just bought a house off Val Vista (Mesa) for 240K.

Yes, if you only paid 210,000 for your house and you are making $70/year, you will do fine here. Who cares how much you could buy somewhere else if that's not where you want to live?

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by AZ_singlemother

Okay, looks like you made your decision, but if you do not like it, sell your house, because for that price, you could get a 3000 square foot house in the areas in Colorado I mentioned and be making more money. I would say at lease 50k per year for just one person.

Chill out.

Making $70k is FINE for living out here, especially buying a home for $210k. That is a good living. Do you what the average income is out here? It's much less than $70k.

[James9283]

Here's the deal, I am in my first year of teaching in MI and am looking to relocate because of family/friends, etc. I have looked into and even interviewed with several schools in both the Denver and the Fort Collins areas but have had no luck. I have heard the teaching market is better in AZ is this true or a myth? I also understand the cost of living is high in both CO and AZ but I was unaware that a young teacher salary of say-40K can't afford a decent place to live, is this really the case?, Is the cost of living a major issue in AZ or is this just within certian areas of Pheonix metro? I would rather be cold with a place to live if you know what I mean!