San Antonio from Phoenix?? (Houston, Dallas: transplants, houses, college)

[Mamawest]

I've posted a few threads on here lately and my husband and I are really having a hard time deciding if we're going to make the move to San Antonio or not. Our biggest hold up is the great friends that we've made here in AZ. We know that we can make friends when we move, it's just hard to adjust to... ya know?

Has anyone on here made the move to SA from the PHX area? Would love to get your opinions.

Thanks!!!

[210]

A neighbor of mine just moved here from the Phoenix area about three months ago, I don't know him too well but when I see him tomorrow I'll ask how he's liked it here and to compare the two.

But until then I'm sure there are some transplants from the Phoenix area who can help you. This is a very informative forum.

[adtobias]

our neighbor also just moved from phoenix and love it. they said the humidity is a little hard to get use to. they like the quality of life here

[Mamawest]

Any info that you guys could get for us would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thank you!!

[TerpsandHorns]

I thought all Phoenix residents hated San Antonio. After all the Spurs seem to beat them at will and ruin yet another great 60-win season for the Suns.

LOL

Anyway

Other than desert El Paso (and smaller western towns), San Antonio has probably the closest climate to Phoenix. It is much more humid than Phoenix. But, it tends to be much less humid than Houston. It has warm mild winters like Phoenix. Dallas can be downright bitter cold winter. However, If you look to the far northern SA suburbs, a unique drying microclimate effect of the hill country makes those areas semi-arid and quasi-mediterranean like inland central California.

San Antonio really excels versus Phoenix in 4 areas.

First, It has the best traffic in all of Texas big cities. Phoenix probably has the worst traffic in the country.

Second, it has a very defined central downtown entertainment, business, and lesiure area. The Phoenix metro is more of a giant suburbs with no real downtown vibe-like presense. The phoenix/scottsdale people have tried in recent years, but it is a long way to go.... You will greatly appreciate a central core especially one with such history & cultural assets.

Third, jobs actually pay about the same in SA versus PHX. But, the houses in greater SA will cost you half as much....look for improved savings in gas prices, food, and utilities too!!!!

Fourth, it is a city that loves to Celebrate. There seems to a be a city-wide festival or party just about every other week. Young (at heart) Fun, friendly people is the rule not the exception. Phoenix is more of a quiet retirement area.

...

On the downsides, don't expect to make millions on your home in SA. The houses appreciate the same slow pace in boom or bust times. Property tax bills will give you a little sticker shock too!!

If you are in love with college sports, or any pro-sports other than the NBA...well San Antonio can't compete with PHX full slate of athletic events. But, the Spurs capture the imagination of the city much more like a collegiate frenzy than a pro team. It is great fun.

I can keep going on and on...

But I say, move to your new Giant house in San Antonio, TX for half the price, and use the thousands of dollars you save in Cost-of-Living to go back and visit Phoenix as often as you like...

[aaron210]

Your old city manager is our current one. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

[Mamawest]

[quote=TerpsandHorns;929704]I thought all Phoenix residents hated San Antonio. After all the Spurs seem to beat them at will and ruin yet another great 60-win season for the Suns.

Actually, I only moved to the PHX five years ago... from Ohio... so I should REALLY hate SA because of that, not because of PHX!!

Thank you so much for all of the information, it was really helpful!!

[Robert123]

I think that whether or not you will be happy in SA depends on your personality and what you are looking for. You can search my past posts which give a negative spin if you want to balance them against the positives. People in SA are more personable than they are in PHX, so that would make a former Ohio person happy. But there is a stream of negatives--mostly relating to the culture, that you can find in my past posts if you care to. Good luck.