Want to move to Prescott Valley, AZ (for sale, apartment)

[jch928]

Hi Brian (BiggsHomes),
Thanks for such a thorough reply to my questions. I appreciate it! I wish I could write my own ticket! That would be great!! I haven't decided whether I will look for a job or open my own business. Perhaps my own business is a good way to go. It's a tough decision. Anyway, thanks for all the information! I researched Albuquerque as well but found that the schools aren't good so private school tuition would be an additional expense there. That's one of the things we're trying to get away from since it is the same case where we currently live. I'm glad to hear so many positive things about PV.

Thanks again!

[Ponderosa]

When I first came to Phoenix many years ago, the thought used to cross my mind, "Who picked this place?. Why don't all the people and commerce in Phoenix just move somewhere nice like Prescott?" With all the posts I see from folks moving there or wanting to move there, I see that my thoughts have become the reality. Too bad, Prescott was one of the places I used to consider retiring too. But with all the growth, and the traffic jams and the strip malls, and the ripped up roads, and the rising taxes from bond issues to pay for this and that, it just seems to be another Gilbert, Goodyear, or Buckeye, albeit a cooler one.

Maybe I'll go check that Wikieup thread.

[BriansPerspective]

My wife and I live on the east side of Prescott Valley. Technically, we're unincorporated, but we use the Dewey post office. Anyway, we don't have the traffic jams and rising taxes that you speak of. Granted, we are 25 minutes to downtown Prescott, but Prescott Valley has most everything we need. We still get to enjoy the nice weather but don't have to deal with the other prolems. So, don't give up hope yet!

[jch928]

Between Ponderosa's post and Biggshome's post, I'm confused. In an area that is growing, I would expect road work and traffic issues. If you're complaining about heavy traffic unrelated to road work though, I'd like to know more.

I have a hard time understanding how traffic can be that bad there with such a small population. Granted, I'm coming from an area with a city population of about 280,000 and a metro population of 450,000. You should see the traffic here! I live about 5-6 miles away from my office and it takes me 25-30 minutes to get home. That's on a good, traffic-is-moving day. So I think all things are relative.

BiggsHomes, I have a question for you. How would you describe the community's general attitude toward this growth and "outsiders" moving in? Sometimes I pick up on an attitude of resistence to it (not from you). I don't want to move someplace where the people are going to be negative or unwelcoming. God knows we've got enough negativism where we live now (South Louisiana), though for different reasons; We are trying to escape it and go to a place with much more hope, vibrance, happiness, positive outlook, etc. Thanks!

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by jch928

Between Ponderosa's post and Biggshome's post, I'm confused. In an area that is growing, I would expect road work and traffic issues. If you're complaining about heavy traffic unrelated to road work though, I'd like to know more.

I have a hard time understanding how traffic can be that bad there with such a small population. Granted, I'm coming from an area with a city population of about 280,000 and a metro population of 450,000. You should see the traffic here! I live about 5-6 miles away from my office and it takes me 25-30 minutes to get home. That's on a good, traffic-is-moving day. So I think all things are relative.

BiggsHomes, I have a question for you. How would you describe the community's general attitude toward this growth and "outsiders" moving in? Sometimes I pick up on an attitude of resistence to it (not from you). I don't want to move someplace where the people are going to be negative or unwelcoming. God knows we've got enough negativism where we live now (South Louisiana), though for different reasons; We are trying to escape it and go to a place with much more hope, vibrance, happiness, positive outlook, etc. Thanks!

Arizona grows by 20000 people a month. Most of the growth is in Phoenix, Tucson, and Prescott areas. You have to imagine the impacts of that. 20000 people per month is 700 per day. That means a new school a week for their kids, a new grocery store every couple weeks, new churces, new chicken joints, pizza parlors etc every couple days and thousands upon thousands more cars on the roads each year.

The impacts on those who live here are immense. Realtors and land developers and builders benefit but the rest of us just see our quality of life go down and down. I don't think there is resentment - maybe in Prescott where the impacts are more recent than in Phoenix where growth is a way of life - just a sense of hopelessness and loss as the vistas are blocked by homes, the roads get congested, the air gets dirtier, the recreation sites get overrun etc.

[jch928]

Ponderosa -
I can understand that point of view. I just think it's unrealistic for anyone to think a city will not grow (unless it has major problems; see below).

Also, 20,000 a month is a lot, but I'm sure the 700 new people per day aren't all going to the exact same place, driving the same streets, etc. I guess I'm just getting a sense of pessimism from what you're saying. Perhaps that isn't what you intend? Personally, I'm hoping to start my own business when I move, so growth is exciting, in my opinion. Where I live now, the atmosphere is very negative and there are far more people moving out than moving in. You can count us as 4 more on the way out.... We want better lives and more importantly, better futures full of possibilities for our children.

Thanks for your posts and info.

[Ponderosa]

I don't want you to feel pessimistic about it. But after you have been in your new area for a couple years, I think you do look around and say that it was better on the day you arrived than it is now. Again, in PV for the short run, the impacts are probably favorable and increase quality of life as more shopping, eating places, newer schools etc. go in. But at some point, the growth begins to bring the place down. Phoenix is like that. It would be very hard to make an argument that those of us who were here benefited from the last 3 million or so people who moved here.

Anyhow, best of luck to you on your move and in your future in Arizona. In spite of the negativity you see on the forum, this state offers many wonderful opportunites for those who choose to live here.

[jch928]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Anyhow, best of luck to you on your move and in your future in Arizona. In spite of the negativity you see on the forum, this state offers many wonderful opportunites for those who choose to live here.

Thank you! I appreciate it.

[Gretchen B]

Hi jch928 - I live in the Prescott area, too. I moved here about 5 years ago. The area is growing, but nothing like it is in the Phoenix area. Most of the changes to PV (Prescott Valley) are nice. PV grew so much in the 80's/90's that there were alot of strip mall along the Hwy 69 corridor. Now they're getting a "town center" shopping area going. It does involve several big box stores, and some are not happy about that. I personally have mixed emotions about it (like the convenience but hate to see the Mom & Pop's shut down, which invariably happens).

Prescott, on the other hand, is pretty much land-locked and there's not much growth in the central area. As you head to the north, though, there are several new residential areas.

After being here for over 5 years, I must say I like Prescott/PV as much now as I did then. I do hope that the recent commerical builds will not begin a wave of over-development. We do have great weather here, and taxes are so much lower than many other states, that I think Prescott/PV will always be an area where people look to relocate.

I hope you'll not be discouraged to the point where you don't come and check out the area.

Gretchen B

[jch928]

Originally Posted by Gretchen B

I hope you'll not be discouraged to the point where you don't come and check out the area. Gretchen B

Hi Gretchen,
Not to worry - we already visited last summer. We were there in early August. We weren't able to stay long but we toured the areas quite a bit, even looked at houses, and spoke to several very nice people. We fell in love with the weather instantly. August in south Louisiana is just disgusting - there's no other way to describe it. Hot and very sticky. Anyway, we loved that we could eat outside at Macayo's (sp?) and drink a frozen margarita that didn't lose its last bit of frost on the glass for 45 minutes!! That's unheard of here! We were the fools driving around with the windows down and our hands outside. haha!! The Prescott and PV areas were really nice. We briefly saw the new town center area, toured houses in Granville, Proghorn and Stoneridge. We looked around Prescott and stayed at a little hotel by the courthouse. It was beautiful (Prescott, not the hotel).

One hesitation I have is due to the small size of the areas, relative to where we live now. But our priorities are the kids' schools, our day to day lifestyle and climate. We hate that where we live now is so hot and humid and SO FULL of mosquitos that it's a deterrent to going outside to play with the kids. We still have to swat mosquitos in the winter!

We are also concerned about the apparent lack of higher level, better paying jobs there. We do have hopes of opening our own business(es) but in case that doesn't work out, it would be nice to know that there are jobs there too.

Anyway, I'm getting too detailed. Thanks for your input and any other information you may offer. We appreciate it. By the way, where did you move from?