Living in Prescott? (Chino Valley: credit card, house, income)

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

I actually decided not to move to Prescott, I need at least some what of a night life, and I don't really like old people or snobby people.

I just got promoted so I am actually staying in Phoenix until at least March 10.

Be careful, you will be old in the blink of an eye! Just for the record I don't find folks in Prescott to be "snobby" at all. I think, in most cases, you get what you give as it relates to how people treat you.

[KarmaPhx]

If I could afford it, I would move there on a few acres and try to live off the grid, solar power since we're in arizona.

I still can't figure out what I want to do.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

I still can't figure out what I want to do.

Josh - anyone who has read your posts / followed them knows the above.

But, you are young and rest assured, there are a lot of people in the same boat as you - unable to figure out what you want to do - It's OK - you will. Just give yourself the time and space to do so.

[Shasta7]

Cheers....

I'm new to the forum...and didn't even know it existed until today! After reading the posts on this thread I have to say that I find the notion that one is either snobby, old, or a drug addict makes me chuckle. I'm in my 30's, I live part time in Prescott and part time in phoenix. My husband and I bought our Prescott home in 2007 (summer) as a way to get out of the rat race known as Phoenix. Our respective careers, unfortunately, keep us in the valley...for now.

Neither my husband nor I do drugs, and we do not look down on others who are less fortunate. In fact, we have helped people less fortunate and will continue to do so. We would be considered middle class I suppose.

Having written the above, I have established we're not old, (what's the problem with the older generation, anyways??) don't smoke meth and aren't snobs. Well, anyone reading this doesn't really KNOW that but go with it....

My point is....we are two people who mirror many thousands in the community. I have never felt any ill will toward me as an "outsider" and frankly, I found the community very welcoming. Are there old people? Yes. Are there drug addicts? Certainly. Snobs? Sure! But what community doesn't have its share of any of that? Especially in Arizona?

If there's a Mayberry in Arizona, please tell me....I'll put it on my to-travel list the next time I go exploring parts of the state....

[spyderman]

Take what you read on here and any forum with an open mind, there is alot of opinions

[harvestmouse]

Quoting Dellnec:

It's Prescott Valley, Dewey, Chino Valley and some areas of Prescott that have HUGE meth heads living there. Every go to the trailer park area of Prescott? Better bring a gun. Prescott, like Flagstaff, is a huge hangout for transients. I despise going near the Courthouse Square because the homeless and drug addicts just hand out all around that area. Like fly's. Every take a walk down the creek area's near downtown Prescott? It's like gypsies everywhere. Meth heads, homeless, transients, hippies, runaways, drug dealers, and every other thing you can think of.

Can anyone elaborate on this?

Is it as bad as the National Mall, with people camping in the parking spaces and everywhere you turn, someone is at your elbow, trying to get you to give them money? Or like in Portland, they pester you for smokes constantly, they want to get the cig right out of your mouth, argh. Or ABQ and LC, there are people who vanpool up from Juarez and they send their kids to beg, it is very upsetting and heartrending.

I'm considering Prescott but this sounds totally different from the Prescott I visited before, but LOTS changes in 20+ years, of course.

The climate is still fabulous, of course, but if you can't take a stroll downtown w/o the hassle, ugh.

Any info appreciated, thx. I am hoping the meth problem is perhaps being exaggerated? I mean, yes, any is too much, but how bad is it? The crime stats tell a story of a very safe and hassle-free place.

[DellNec]

Originally Posted by harvestmouse

I'm considering Prescott but this sounds totally different from the Prescott I visited before, but LOTS changes in 20+ years, of course.

The climate is still fabulous, of course, but if you can't take a stroll downtown w/o the hassle, ugh.

Any info appreciated, thx. I am hoping the meth problem is perhaps being exaggerated? I mean, yes, any is too much, but how bad is it? The crime stats tell a story of a very safe and hassle-free place.

Well, depending on who you ask, you might get completely opposing views. The Realtors who post on this site will claim that it is not a problem. Others will say it is completely out of control. The truth is in the middle.

Is Prescott as safe as it was 20 years ago?
Definitely NOT.

A lot has changed, this includes the larger amount of drugs and transients, and a gang problem, which it did not have 20 years ago. Prescott and PV have a gang task force to combat the gangs.

The Courthouse area will always have the transients. As will the outlying areas. Prescott' climate attracts them, as does the meth and other drugs readily available. Sleeping outside in Prescott' climate is more tolerable than Phoenix in the summer or Flagstaff in the winter.

On Feb. 28th, 2007 the Prescott Valley Tribune reported,
“PV’s violent and property crimes up 18% in 2006″. A by-product of the growth.

You have to come out and see how it has changed. Walk around, drive around, read the local papers, go to the Police station and get info on the crimes. Remember Realtors want you to move here, so they will tell you anything you want to hear, others hate growth and despise your presence, so they will want you to go away. The truth is in the middle. It's not as safe as it was, yes we have gang problems now, yes we have violent crimes, rapes, murders, aggravated assaults, but Prescott is not as bad as Phoenix, it's much safer than Phoenix.

One thing for sure, you better have a large cash reserve, as finding a GOOD PAYING job will be next to impossible. Latest poll in Prescott shows that 43% believe the economy is getting worse.

[harvestmouse]

Well, heck. The Internet ate my post.

Thx Dellnec for your reply. Yes, a person has to go to a place to see for themselves; I am still at the stage of planning which communities I'll go to and which I'll just mark off the relocation list.

I don't like to hear about all these transients; what is the will of the people? We don't tolerate them here where I am in West Texas. At all. Our climate is very agreeable especially the non-summer seasons, but the populace makes it extremely unfriendly to them. Not saying anything against them, except I don't want transients around, personally.

I would think that your crime rate going up is more a reflection of the meth than the growth. I base this on the problems in crime very small towns are seeing that are riddled with meth and that have actually lost population but seen crime increase.

I don't need a local job, I work via the net. I think we all could use buckets of money wherever we move. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, real-estate-wise, in Prescott. Shouldn't be long now. That ought to get some squeals out of those upside-down on their houses. "No! No! Not here! Never here! It won't happen!"

LOL I'm surprised some communities haven't tarred and feathered their real estate agents and run 'em out of town on a rail.

So, expect panhandlers and people trying to sleep in your yard in Prescott? Hmmm.

[LinaJo76]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

I was offered a scholarship to a college in Prescott, and I am considering moving up there for 1-2 years, but I have a few questions.

Does prescott still have a drug problem? (hard drugs)

Is the town full of rednecks and old people, or does it have some sort of a night life?

We are a younger couple who would be moving, we want to be able to still go out and such on the weekend but I am not expecting much on the weeknights obviously.

I don't want to live in a town where everyone is going to consider the younger crowd "punks" and give that automatic sense of dislike.

To answer all your questions, yes there is a big drug problem here. There are many meth addicts, marijuana addicts, pill addicts, and alcoholics here.

There are many rednecks and retirees here too. Many of the old folks are mean, so don't get too friendly with them. Most here don't take regular baths or showers most times here.

The nightlife here is not all that great. Yes, there are many bars, pubs, and lounges. But no nightclubs, sorry. Some of the bars quit having live bands anymore. So, the weekends are boring now.

Well, there is a lot of racism here too. Most look bad at black people who come in or Asians too. It seems like only Hispanics, Native Americans, and whites are allowed here, it seems. The "punks" are normall just the potheads and meth heads here.

[LinaJo76]

Originally Posted by poolgirl51

Be careful, you will be old in the blink of an eye! Just for the record I don't find folks in Prescott to be "snobby" at all. I think, in most cases, you get what you give as it relates to how people treat you.

Well, they are snobby at Applebee's, Chili's, and Buffalo Wild Wings restuarants here. No, the old people here are mean and have no respect for others. Like they don't want to help others out here. At least when I get older I will.