Goodbye Upstate NY, Hello Valley of the Sun (Phoenix: live, metro)

[NYtoAZ2007]

To the original poster: go for it! We just moved from Penfield 2 months ago. We left the morning after a mid-March snowfall and haven't looked back!!

Seriously, we talked about moving for several years, kept an eye on what was happening out west, and finally, we decided it was time. Our reasons were similar to yours: my husband was tired of the layoffs at Kodak, we hated the property taxes, do it before the kids get too old, etc., etc.

I think you mentioned a sister moved out here in January...if she moved from Rochester then I'm sure you're getting some good feedback.

In the 2 months I've been here, I've concluded: For the most part, you will pay the same amount in your mortgage. As you stated, it will be in the cost of the house though, not the taxes. Depending on where you live, you will be able to upgrade from what you had in NY. It's definitely a buyers' market, whether you're building or buying existing. However, lots are very small compared to Rochester area. They're measured in sq. ft., not acreage. Typical lot is under 7k sq ft...I believe that's slightly larger than a postage stamp! You can get larger lots, but they cost money.

Everything else is a wash cost-wise: some things are slightly higher, others lower. Sales tax is comparable. Gas is just over $3. Groceries are higher normally, but the sales are GREAT...Danny (Wegman) should take note!

The west side gets a bad rap (just like Rochester!). We ended up on the west side in our rental (at Vistancia I add for another poster!), and as we get to know our way around we're finding everything we need, everything is new and clean...we're probably going to end up buying on this side.

Driving takes longer: Even if your drive is short distance-wise, it will take longer because there's so much traffic. Think Jefferson road on Saturday.

I have found people to be very friendly and pace does feel slower. Of course, that may be because I'm used to working full time on top of having 2 young children. I'm not working yet so it's been an extended vacation for me the last couple of months!

Spring is beautiful: I had no idea there are so many flowering plants in the desert. The spring weather (April & May) is great: 80s/50s. If you have allergies, you'll still have them, just not grasses. It's now been hotter, triple digit days with 70s at night. It's just what I expected: back "home", we stayed inside due to cold, here you stay inside due to heat. And I know it's just the start...it's going to get hotter. I've had many people tell me to give it 2 summers before gettint discouraged...if you still don't like the heat after that then maybe it's not for you.

Overall, in the short time we've been here, we feel we've made the right move. You sound like you don't have kids, which makes it easier if you decide it's not right for you. I'm loving learning my way around. The change is refreshing!

It's not Utopia, and Rochester isn't the pits...everywhere has good & bad and it's a personal choice and fit..that's what makes the world go around.

What business are you in? Do you know where you're opening an office? Let us know...we may be future customers or employees

[Steve-o]

madison soccer dad, who are you calling a "troll"? Being a little hypocritical are we?

Did you call Chicago a "rust belt" city? hahaha Sure it was built on the beef and pork industry, who cares? Sure beats being known for cheese. Chicago evolved from a swampy marshland to what it is today, theres nothing wrong with its roots, NOTHING. In actuality, Chicago is more of a Phoenix than Phoenix is, Ill let a little history sink in there. If you cant see what Chicago is worth and what it has become, then I wont even bother arguing this with you, its pointless. And even if Phoenix does pass up Chicago's population (in almost 100 years from now), that doesnt mean it will ever amount to Chicago. 100 years from now, Phoenix will just have more folks and more endless tract homes, all resembling one another. It still wont have the soul of Chicago, and you know that. PHX is a boomburg, and yes, we still have those in Illinois, probably the ONLY state in the midwest thats experiencing population bursts in many cities/counties. Chicago will ever expand, same will Phoenix.
http://business.library.emory.edu/in...ago/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city
http://www.gaebler.com/best-city-for...-companies.htm

Actually, as for jobs moving in, PHXs GDP is projected to go DOWN in 2020, from 27th place (current), to 35th place. Chicago holds steady.
Current:
http://www.citymayors.com/statistics...ties-2005.html

Projected:
http://www.citymayors.com/statistics...ties-2020.html


Chicago: rust belt city? Hardly. Its a world city, a global influence, a transportation hub, an economic powerhouse, nationally recognized arts/sciences/research/medical/etc,etc. Other than NYC, no other city in the nation has as much clout as Chicago. Do you even know what a rust belt city is? Good frickin grief!

Phoenix: sure its new, but if you think its air is clean, its usually ranked near the top of polls for cities with bad air quality. Once again youre wrong.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/30/national/main2629087.shtml (broken link)

Same goes for the school issue in PHX, its nationally known to have the worst rated school system in the USA, unlike IL which ranks very high. Sure there are good and bad schools in BOTH areas, but on a whole, AZ is the worst. Did you not see the rankings this year?
http://www.bpa.arizona.edu/docs/press/2006/01/ArizonaDailyStar_State_has_plenty_of_faults_Jan27_ 2006.pdf (broken link)

Chicago suburbs: where did you live, if you even lived here? If you had a hard time finding a good suburb, you must not have looked around much. There are HUNDREDS of suburbs, all with amazing qualities, some good, some bad, just like every city in the world. Yes taxes are high, but you get what you pay for. Ever visit Kane or DuPage or Lake or western Cook or McHenry Counties? Didnt think so, or else you wouldnt say anything bad.

Ive been visiting AZ since I was a wee lad, still continuing to this day. I have family there and have explored that state 100 times over. I almost guarantee that I know more about the state than you do. Just because I live here doesnt mean I cant voice my opinion on AZ, who are you to say that anyways? In fact, if I didnt have my son, I would have moved to AZ long ago. To call me a troll was uncalled for. Unless you know me and my background, you shouldnt speak, makes you look silly! In fact, Ill be down there again in a few weeks for 2 weeks again visiting family.

So, be sure to click on the links provided, and I hope you learned something today! ;-)

[vegaspilgrim]

Wow, here we go again... steve-o and madison dad have entered the bar again... everybody stand back, there's gonna be duel!

I think the information that steve-o is conveying is correct; just not his attitude. Chicago is bigger, better, and more prosperous than Phoenix, hands down, no contest. But Phoenix can be a nice place to live in its own way. Don't move to Phoenix because you want to escape somewhere else; move to Phoenix because you like Phoenix. This city is chock full of people who come here with some kind of agenda to escape whatever podunk region they come from. The same people who are miserable where they come from will be miserable here. Liking Phoenix does not mean you have to bash Chicago. They are apples and oranges; you can barely compare the two.

[Steve-o]

Very well said vegaspilgrim. PHX is PHX, CHI is CHI. You cant compare the two, other than both cities are large. CHI has bad winters at times, PHX has bad summers. Both have lovely areas, both have hardcore ghettos. But seeing people bash Chicago when they know absolutely nothing about it, well, that pisses me off. LOL I think it would **** anyone off to have someone proclaim their city is something that it truly is not, ya know?

Reasons I love PHX: family. I have lots of family there, and it keeps me going back several times a year. Mountains. Here in IL, we dont have any, we have hills, but no mountains to climb. I enjoy climbing PHXs mountains (Ive climbed C-back, Piestewa, Mummy, Pinnacle). Hiking, I LOVE hiking the Sonoran. Ive probably logged over 150 miles of hiking in PHX, just within the last 10 years! Wildlife. Im a big sucker for scorps, tarantulas, snakes and centipedes, and PHX has them in abundance, its a giant candy store to me out in PHX. Mexican food. Mmmmm, I LOVE PHX's (and Santa Fe's too) Mex, especially Macayo's in Scottsdale, even though I got food poisoning once from their taco meat. Old Town Scottsdale. Yes, I still enjoy it after all these years, especially Ortega's, I ALWAYS bring something home from G. Ortega's. Heard Museum, awesome place! As is Taliesen West, Im a FLW fan, seen all his homes in CHI and WI, loved his desert version, very cool!

Things I dont like about PHX: summer weather, horrid stuff. Blah suburbs with blah homes (minus Scottsdale, Carefree, Biltmore-area of PHX, Fountain Hills). The massive illegal problem (we have that here in CHI-land too).

Seriously, I have no problem with PHX other than those few things.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by NYtoAZ2007

To the original poster: go for it! We just moved from Penfield 2 months ago. We left the morning after a mid-March snowfall and haven't looked back!!

Seriously, we talked about moving for several years, kept an eye on what was happening out west, and finally, we decided it was time. Our reasons were similar to yours: my husband was tired of the layoffs at Kodak, we hated the property taxes, do it before the kids get too old, etc., etc.

I think you mentioned a sister moved out here in January...if she moved from Rochester then I'm sure you're getting some good feedback.

In the 2 months I've been here, I've concluded: For the most part, you will pay the same amount in your mortgage. As you stated, it will be in the cost of the house though, not the taxes. Depending on where you live, you will be able to upgrade from what you had in NY. It's definitely a buyers' market, whether you're building or buying existing. However, lots are very small compared to Rochester area. They're measured in sq. ft., not acreage. Typical lot is under 7k sq ft...I believe that's slightly larger than a postage stamp! You can get larger lots, but they cost money.

Everything else is a wash cost-wise: some things are slightly higher, others lower. Sales tax is comparable. Gas is just over $3. Groceries are higher normally, but the sales are GREAT...Danny (Wegman) should take note!

The west side gets a bad rap (just like Rochester!). We ended up on the west side in our rental (at Vistancia I add for another poster!), and as we get to know our way around we're finding everything we need, everything is new and clean...we're probably going to end up buying on this side.

Driving takes longer: Even if your drive is short distance-wise, it will take longer because there's so much traffic. Think Jefferson road on Saturday.

I have found people to be very friendly and pace does feel slower. Of course, that may be because I'm used to working full time on top of having 2 young children. I'm not working yet so it's been an extended vacation for me the last couple of months!

Spring is beautiful: I had no idea there are so many flowering plants in the desert. The spring weather (April & May) is great: 80s/50s. If you have allergies, you'll still have them, just not grasses. It's now been hotter, triple digit days with 70s at night. It's just what I expected: back "home", we stayed inside due to cold, here you stay inside due to heat. And I know it's just the start...it's going to get hotter. I've had many people tell me to give it 2 summers before gettint discouraged...if you still don't like the heat after that then maybe it's not for you.

Overall, in the short time we've been here, we feel we've made the right move. You sound like you don't have kids, which makes it easier if you decide it's not right for you. I'm loving learning my way around. The change is refreshing!

It's not Utopia, and Rochester isn't the pits...everywhere has good & bad and it's a personal choice and fit..that's what makes the world go around.

What business are you in? Do you know where you're opening an office? Let us know...we may be future customers or employees

Personal opinion seems to be offensive to some folks. I'm glad it isn't for you and you are from New York.

I don't dare say anywhere in NY is the pitts and Phoenix is utopia, even though I spent 26 years in one place and 19 in another and have formed an opinion of both.

I'm glad you are enjoying Phoenix as much as I did, many happy years to you in the Valley of the Sun.

[bigjdotcom01]

Originally Posted by NYtoAZ2007

To the original poster: go for it! We just moved from Penfield 2 months ago. We left the morning after a mid-March snowfall and haven't looked back!!

Seriously, we talked about moving for several years, kept an eye on what was happening out west, and finally, we decided it was time. Our reasons were similar to yours: my husband was tired of the layoffs at Kodak, we hated the property taxes, do it before the kids get too old, etc., etc.

I think you mentioned a sister moved out here in January...if she moved from Rochester then I'm sure you're getting some good feedback.

In the 2 months I've been here, I've concluded: For the most part, you will pay the same amount in your mortgage. As you stated, it will be in the cost of the house though, not the taxes. Depending on where you live, you will be able to upgrade from what you had in NY. It's definitely a buyers' market, whether you're building or buying existing. However, lots are very small compared to Rochester area. They're measured in sq. ft., not acreage. Typical lot is under 7k sq ft...I believe that's slightly larger than a postage stamp! You can get larger lots, but they cost money.

Everything else is a wash cost-wise: some things are slightly higher, others lower. Sales tax is comparable. Gas is just over $3. Groceries are higher normally, but the sales are GREAT...Danny (Wegman) should take note!

The west side gets a bad rap (just like Rochester!). We ended up on the west side in our rental (at Vistancia I add for another poster!), and as we get to know our way around we're finding everything we need, everything is new and clean...we're probably going to end up buying on this side.

Driving takes longer: Even if your drive is short distance-wise, it will take longer because there's so much traffic. Think Jefferson road on Saturday.

I have found people to be very friendly and pace does feel slower. Of course, that may be because I'm used to working full time on top of having 2 young children. I'm not working yet so it's been an extended vacation for me the last couple of months!

Spring is beautiful: I had no idea there are so many flowering plants in the desert. The spring weather (April & May) is great: 80s/50s. If you have allergies, you'll still have them, just not grasses. It's now been hotter, triple digit days with 70s at night. It's just what I expected: back "home", we stayed inside due to cold, here you stay inside due to heat. And I know it's just the start...it's going to get hotter. I've had many people tell me to give it 2 summers before gettint discouraged...if you still don't like the heat after that then maybe it's not for you.

Overall, in the short time we've been here, we feel we've made the right move. You sound like you don't have kids, which makes it easier if you decide it's not right for you. I'm loving learning my way around. The change is refreshing!

It's not Utopia, and Rochester isn't the pits...everywhere has good & bad and it's a personal choice and fit..that's what makes the world go around.

What business are you in? Do you know where you're opening an office? Let us know...we may be future customers or employees

Thanks for the feedback. It is nice to see another from Rochester moving out here. I am originally from Buffalo though with a pit stop in Rochester.

It looks like we will be making the move in mid-july! It should be fun moving right in the middle of summer! I guess we will get a true taste of the summer heat right from the start!

[JustinH]

Myself and my long time girlfriend are moving from Buffalo to Phoenix this summer for her to attend a masters program.

Perhaps us western new yorkers should get together for some congratulatory drinks when we all arrive?

haha..

[bigjdotcom01]

Originally Posted by JustinH

Myself and my long time girlfriend are moving from Buffalo to Phoenix this summer for her to attend a masters program.

Perhaps us western new yorkers should get together for some congratulatory drinks when we all arrive?

haha..

Sounds great! Do you know what part of the Valley that you will be moving to? We are going to be buying a house in the southeast valley.

[30apples]

When you get to Az you will see what all the tax money paid to NYS is for--services! You generally get what you pay for. Many of the excellent services such as good schools, well trained teachers, good city services, wonderful parks, etc, etc., will be missing or of lesser quality in Phx and AZ . But if hot weather and no snow -shoveling are your priorities, you will get that for sure, as well as much worse air quality. You can verify the latter on many sites, such as Money Magazine's Cities Rankings web-site.

[Steel87]

Why would anyone be comparing Chicago to Phoenix? A world alpha city, third largest metro in the US, hundreds of years of history and prosperity....thsi comparison can only be on weather. And Steve-o you are the first person to not complain about CHicago weather. I visited chicago for so many years (cousins lived in Gold coast, evanston, right outside in morris, and lake bluff) and everyone we had ever met complained about the weather. From what I've experienced..AZ>Chicago weather, any day. As if Chicago has any better summer weather (stayed at northwestern for 3 months during the summer, it was horrible) and the winters....enough sid.