Prescott/Prescott Valley/Chino Valley - ALERT TO HOMEOWNERS (Phoenix: sales, hotels)

[TNGalInAZ]

Originally Posted by Jim P

TN gal, I agree with you! We moved out here from MA in 2004, and we LOVE it out here! Sometimes, people who knock Prescott Valley don't know what they lost until they move away. The space, the weather, the nearness to all sorts of great things. One thing I agree with, is that when you expect too much from the people of this city, you may be disappointed. Yes in certain areas, drugs are a problem. But, you have to be smart, and avoid the built up neighborhoods. We were lucky enough to get the cheapest home in Prescott Ridge. Heaven! Secluded, quiet, safe, incredible views. If you can afford a decent sized lot (5 or more acres), you could be very happy here.

Jim P - If I could afford a decent sized lot (5 or mote acres) I would stay. . but can't hardly aford to rent let alone purchase property on the wages here! I'm still doing research on different areas to relocate, had planned to be outta here this summer, but the stars were not lined up so hopefully next summer I can pack the wagons and head out!

[doeadeer]

Aw man, I can't handle what I'm reading here! I posted in another thread that Prescott is where I have always wanted to live (decided that about 30 years ago, however). I live in NW Phx right now, but I have a job interview up there (Prescott) on Monday!!!

I'm so glad I saw this. I also have another interview here in the Phx area. It would be much 'easier' to take a better job here and not have to move (been in my house for 20 years....lot's of 'stuff'!) But, dang, I really wanted to live in Prescott...so I thought!

I'm a single mom....just looking for a safer, quiter place with cleaner air for my daughter. I have heard rumors of the drug issues, but that is here too. I'm just sick of graffiti, dirty air, traffic, etc. You've all given me a LOT to consider! Thank you!

[LBear]

Originally Posted by TNGalInAZ

If I could afford a decent sized lot (5 or mote acres) I would stay. . but can't hardly afford to rent let alone purchase property on the wages here!

That statement is repeated by MANY people here. I have seen dozens of people that I knew personally, LEAVE the Prescott area because of this problem.

[LBear]

Originally Posted by doeadeer

Aw man, I can't handle what I'm reading here! ... I have a job interview up there (Prescott) on Monday!!!

I also have another interview here in the Phx area. It would be much 'easier' to take a better job here and not have to move (been in my house for 20 years....lot's of 'stuff'!) But, dang, I really wanted to live in Prescott...so I thought!

I'm a single mom....just looking for a safer, quiter place with cleaner air for my daughter. I have heard rumors of the drug issues, but that is here too. I'm just sick of graffiti, dirty air, traffic, etc. You've all given me a LOT to consider! Thank you!

Prescott "should" be safer than Phoenix. Prescott DOES have cleaner air, less graffiti, less traffic, when compared to Phoenix. Prescott, for its size, does have a LARGE meth problem.

Prescott is awesome for its natural beauty, its weather, its proximity to hiking, nature trails, the forest, etc. Prescott has thousands of acres of beautiful open land and beautiful mountains. The climate/weather is great. The air is clean. That is why I like Prescott.

Unfortunately, I am not a millionaire, nor do I have a business or job that produces the funds necessary to support a lifestyle here. THIS IS THE MAJOR DRAWBACK of this area. Realtors are salesmen, they will tell you anything (lies) in order to get a sale done. If there was a "throw a pie in the face of a Prescott realtor" day at the local Yavapai county fair, the line would be 2+ miles long.

Here are the KEY POINTS that one MUST KNOW if considering moving to Prescott:

1 - Housing is VERY EXPENSIVE in Prescott proper. If you are moving here so that you can have views, numerous acres of land, be on top of a mountain, be surrounded by Pine trees and nature, get ready to pay $600K+ for you home. Now, this is usually WHAT people want, when their dream gets deflated, they move to Prescott Valley or Chino Valley and buy a "cookie cutter" home without any of the above, for $250K - $300K.

2 - Jobs. This is still a "small business town". This town made its name and money on CALIFORNIAN RETIREES. There is A LOT of wealthy retirees living in Prescott. Most of the work in Prescott is SERVICE JOBS. They DO NOT pay well. $8.00-$10.00 a hour is about the norm. If you are looking for BIG CITY pay, you WILL NOT find it here. Realtors, home construction and real estate deals is where MOST of the people made their mega bucks here in Prescott. There is an inside town joke stating that everyone living in Prescott is a real estate agent.

3 - Services - While it is growing. The availability of stores, services, specialty shops, nightlife is LOW. Whiskey Row gets OLD, like after 2 days... IF you are used to Phoenix or any other major city and its availability of shops, restaurants, nightlife, etc., DON'T expect that here.

4- Hospitals. While we just had a new hospital open up in PV. It does NOT have the same professional qualified care that Phoenix has. I can't stand the people who think that it does because they DO NOT know what they are talking about. THE FACTS ARE FACTS.

EVERY TIME, let me repeat that, EVERY TIME, a major accident happens, THEY NEVER, let me repeat that, THEY NEVER transport to any of the Prescott hospitals, THEY ALWAYS, let me repeat that, THEY ALWAYS transport by helicopter to PHOENIX!!!! Head trauma, major trauma is ALWAYS transported to Phoenix.

Major car accident? Well there is the PV hospital 500 feet away from where the accident happened! What do they do? They call in the helicopter and take the person to John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix, over 90 miles away.

Now, why is it that any major heart surgery, IS ALWAYS conducted in Phoenix and NOT PRESCOTT!!!

Am I getting my point across??? Prescott does NOT have the same abilities and resources that Phoenix has in regards to medical health care. Plan & simple. Anything major MUST be done in Phoenix.

5 - Small town mentality. If you are used to change and growth, better just turn around and head back. EVERYTHING out here that has to do with change or growth (new roads, better roads, more stores) WILL GET PROTESTED. Lawsuits, petitions, etc., is the NORM for any new business or growth in Prescott. They announce that a new road/highway will be built to help traffic. Guess what??? Groups will form to protest it. They announce a new store/mall is coming. Guess what??? Lawsuits will be filed to prevent it.

So, at this point, your dream home has collapsed, your pay is low, you get bored of shopping at Gateway Mall, the nightlife is non-existent, you have to drive to Phoenix for good health care, and now you are in the predicament that the previous poster is.

NOW, if you can go back to the mindset of:
"Prescott is awesome for its natural beauty, its weather, its proximity to hiking, nature trails, the forest, etc. Prescott has thousands of acres of beautiful open land and beautiful mountains. The climate/weather is great. The air is clean. "

If you can take the above mindset and use that ALONE for you reason to live and stay here, then you might be OK. If nature, scenary and air quality is enough reason to stay somewhere, then you can make Prescott home.

That is my take on it after living here. While some people may differ, (aka Realtors on this forum looking for new clients), I believe I am being STRAIGHT-FORWARD and truthful in my view. I am not trying to sell you anything, I am not trying to paint a skewed picture, I am telling you LIKE IT IS. IF after all this, you can still move here, then YOU will have prevented yourself from regretting your decision once you move here. You will have prevented heartache from making a wrong decision. The realtors, the Chamber of Commerce, or anything to do with $$$$, will ALWAYS lie and say things to make you move here.

[doeadeer]

Thanks for all the HONEST feedback. I'm debating whether to cancel my interview or not. The job is with the City, and the pay is quite a bit better than 8-10. But, if I can't find a decent place to live (within my means), why bother, ya know?

I've seen several places there (mostly manufactured homes, which is OK with me) that I can afford. And I really don't want to live in the PV area.

[Gretchen B]

doeadeer - I think that's really sad that you would want to cancel your interview because of what you read on the forum. When I first moved here, I worked as an accountant for someone who had moved here from Florida. He said he sometimes couldn't believe that he lived in such a great place as Prescott. At the time I thought that was a little "over the top", but the longer I live here the more I agree. That's not to say that Prescott is perfect. You won't find that anywhere. But are there many positive things here? Absolutely!!! I made a trip down to Phoenix today. I enjoyed the shopping, but after a day of fighting traffic, dodging people in a crowded mall, and feeling like I'd better watch my purse, I was so happy to get back up to Prescott. The weather was finally a little cooler down in Phoenix today, but it has been such nice crisp (and fresh) fall weather up here.

Everytime anybody says anything nice about our area on the forum, we get bombarded with personal slams, so most of us have just quit saying how we really feel about Prescott - that we really like it here. I'm just very sorry to hear that you're not even going to "check us out" and decide for yourself whether or not you like Prescott.

[doeadeer]

Oh, I've been 'checking you out' for a LONG time. And I still want to live there. I guess, in all truth, I'm a bit scared to make a move...so maybe I'm using these negative posts as a 'crutch'! Again, single mom, own my home for 20 years and I am scared to death to make such a big change, I guess. I just really want to get my daughter out of here...and of course...she doesn't want to go!

I'll be there on Monday, regardless. Hey, I already took the day off from work, why not spend it up there!?

Oh, and continue to keep the 'good stuff' to yourself....we don't want EVERYBODY moving there!

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by doeadeer

Oh, I've been 'checking you out' for a LONG time. And I still want to live there. I guess, in all truth, I'm a bit scared to make a move...so maybe I'm using these negative posts as a 'crutch'! Again, single mom, own my home for 20 years and I am scared to death to make such a big change, I guess. I just really want to get my daughter out of here...and of course...she doesn't want to go!

I'll be there on Monday, regardless. Hey, I already took the day off from work, why not spend it up there!?

Oh, and continue to keep the 'good stuff' to yourself....we don't want EVERYBODY moving there!

All the best to you on your interview Monday. That is a big step to make a move after 20 years in the same house. We moved here after living in the same area for 20 years 1300 miles away. I couldn't believe how difficult that move was . . . but somehow very liberating. Now that we've been here for over 6 years, we haven't regretted it once.

It's important to really check things out for yourself before you leap. Visit the schools. Talk to local people. You'd be surprised how easy it is to strike up a conversation with a local in a restaurant. Most are very happy to tell you about the pros and cons of living in Prescott and their likes and dislikes.

You're right, it's kind of a double-edged sword. I don't think it's so much the posters on the forum that entice people to move to Prescott. I think it's probably more the articles in magazines that name Prescott as a top place to retire, etc. And the very thing that most people love about the town - it's smaller size and charm - are definitely in jeopardy of being lost because of too much unrestrained growth. (I guess I'm probably one of those folks Pettrix talks about that doesn't want to see a lot of big box stores and the decimation of our landscape.) It's been said it's not fair for people to want to move here and then throw away the key, but that's what most of us all want to do.

[doeadeer]

Yep, after I move there, I'm going to join THAT bandwagon!!!! (Slow the growth!)

[LBear]

Originally Posted by doeadeer

Yep, after I move there, I'm going to join THAT bandwagon!!!! (Slow the growth!)

While I find that "bandwagon" and mentality, disagreeable, I will be nice about it. I will say that it is hypocritical to move to a place and then protest anyone else wanting to move there.

When I moved to Prescott, at first I wanted everyone else to know about it and make the move also. After "reality" sank-in about the hardships that myself and many others were going thru, I wanted to let others know the negatives of the area, so they would not find out the hard way after they moved here.

Some people love it, others hate it, others are in the middle. It has pros and cons and people SHOULD have researched BOTH before moving here or anywhere else for that matter. That is what this FORUM is about. Reading and listening to BOTH SIDES.

What really bothers me is that there are realtors lurking on this site. Some are open about who they are, others keep it quiet. What I have witnessed is that some of them are here "selling" the area and looking for clients. They are the quiet ones. While the FORUM rules DO NOT ALLOW such practices, they are relatively more reserved about what they are doing, but it is quite apparent in what they are doing.

Anyways, I do hope you make a wise decision, whether you move here or you don't. Remember, do not make an "emotional" decision, that is what A LOT of people do when they see an area. The beauty of an area, while appealing and exhilarating, this will wear off and reality will set-in. It is like buying a new car. The car dealers use this "emotional" drive to sell their cars. Realtors use the same thing. Both are salespeople and both use this.

Just read and research and be careful.