Why move to Tucson? (sales, buy, property taxes)

[liloo]

Hey CJ58- I don't know what type of age level or subject you were teaching before, but I have seen some ads recently on craigslist here in Tucson looking for all types of teachers to fill positions at a new charter/alternative learning type school. I don't know the details, but it may be worth checking out. As for Tucson itself, I have only been here for a short time, but I think it's great. The biodiversity and fecundity of this place blows my mind on a daily basis. People are friendly and helpful and the overall vibe is really relaxed.(Some people hate this, but I love it.) People will always have good and bad to say about a place, but if you've spent time here before you should have somewhat of an idea on what to expect. Good luck to you.

[sierraAZ]

Oh, I haven't seen your post.

Originally Posted by tijlover

I've strongly considered Tucson for a move, for that reason mainly, being closer to Nogales. And I understand they have bus service to Nogales from Tucson? Geewhiz! That'd be perfect!

Yes, there are shuttles to Nogales. If you drive, depending on where you live in Tucson, it takes about 1 and 1/2 hours or so. It takes me about 1h 15 min starting on the SE side of town and taking the back road down to Nogales, not I-19.

There used to be flights to Hermosillo. Not sure if they are still around.

From viewing the other posts here, did I miss something, the proximity to Nogales? And a how-many-hour drive to Juarez?

Well, Juarez is across from El Paso, and El Paso is in TX , so it's not that close. The distance is about 300 miles. I remember arriving there once in the early p.m., but I don't recall what time we left or how many stops we made... I'm not into fear-mongering, but at this time even I probably wouldn't go to Juarez... Of course, that's entirely your business.

[w1ngzer0]

I will add another one:

Because Sierra and Zony live there, what other reason do you need?

[PylesinAZ]

I moved to Tucson from Florida about 3 years ago. BIG MISTAKE>
I will say that Tucson has two things going for it:
1. Nicest people (locals) that you will ever meet
2. Nicest weather that you can possibly have (if you like sunshine and blue skies)
Other than that...
Not one other thing is worth mentioning. I am trying my best to get out of here as soon as possible. My house is for sale and my wife is as ready as I am.
Texas is the next stop and if it sucks, then we are going back to Florida.

[ruready1st]

I was born and college educated on the East Coast. Lived in Massachusetts, New York State, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and South Carolina before coming to Tucson. I lived in Tucson for 10 years. I love it. I call it home. We had to move recently and I cannot wait to get back.

The Vail School District served my daughter well and I didn't realize how decent it was until we moved.
The housing prices are reasonable. Not to expensive, not cheap either.
The price of electricity is dirt cheap.
The price of gas is consistently lower than the national average.
Groceries are less. There are some great deals since there is competition. Many stores in Tucson double coupons, sometimes even triple.
The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation programs are fabulous.
There are parks and playgrounds usually within 1 mile of where you live.
There are things to do with your children that are free or inexpensive.
A day at the Tucson Zoo is great at least once a month ($48 annual member) with toddlers and in the summer there is the wet splash area. I never knew what a nice little zoo it was until we moved.
The prices for things are cheaper, even the YMCA membership and activities are less.
You get one stop shopping for your trash removal, water and sewer. All reasonably priced. Again, not something you realize until you move somewhere that cost you monthly trash with one company, water with another and sewer seperate too. Just odd.
There are many areas of town that you have a choice for your high speed internet. I have 2 choices where I live now, satellite or cable, both way more expensive than Tucson. Competition is a good thing.
People overall are trustworthy, friendly and nice. You can get to know your neighbors if you choose to. I lived in 4 different neighborhoods in Tucson and all of them I knew people in at least 6 houses in my neighborhood within a month of living there. I made some great life long friends with some of them. I can tell you stories of my many neighborhood experiences in other cities that were miserable. Never so many positive as Tucson.
In general people in Tucson want to help you if they can, or they will direct you to someone else. Oh sure there are exceptions, but I have some good comparisons now.
Monsoon season is the neatest time. The sights, smells and sounds are so unique.
So much sunshine.
Sunsets.
Native foliage, plants and trees that are green even though it is a desert. Saguaro Cactus.

There are so many reasons to live in Tucson, I could go on and on and on.
You really can get an appreciation for something when it is taken away. I have to go cry now, I'm so homesick for Tucson.

[PaulaDav]

We lived in Tucson from 2003 until 2008. We had to move thanks to the crappy economy. We loved it there. We are from Memphis and that is where we moved back to. We lived in the Picture Rocks area. Our kids went to Marana Schools which were absolutely great. We miss being out there EVERY single day!! It is a truly pleasant place to live. We like the laid back attitudes of the folks there and people were very welcoming to us. We will move back in the future.

[sickofIL]

I was born and college educated on the East Coast. Lived in Massachusetts, New York State, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and South Carolina before coming to Tucson. I lived in Tucson for 10 years. I love it. I call it home. We had to move recently and I cannot wait to get back.

The Vail School District served my daughter well and I didn't realize how decent it was until we moved.
The housing prices are reasonable. Not to expensive, not cheap either.
The price of electricity is dirt cheap.
The price of gas is consistently lower than the national average.
Groceries are less. There are some great deals since there is competition. Many stores in Tucson double coupons, sometimes even triple.
The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation programs are fabulous.
There are parks and playgrounds usually within 1 mile of where you live.
There are things to do with your children that are free or inexpensive.
A day at the Tucson Zoo is great at least once a month ($48 annual member) with toddlers and in the summer there is the wet splash area. I never knew what a nice little zoo it was until we moved.
The prices for things are cheaper, even the YMCA membership and activities are less.
You get one stop shopping for your trash removal, water and sewer. All reasonably priced. Again, not something you realize until you move somewhere that cost you monthly trash with one company, water with another and sewer seperate too. Just odd.
There are many areas of town that you have a choice for your high speed internet. I have 2 choices where I live now, satellite or cable, both way more expensive than Tucson. Competition is a good thing.
People overall are trustworthy, friendly and nice. You can get to know your neighbors if you choose to. I lived in 4 different neighborhoods in Tucson and all of them I knew people in at least 6 houses in my neighborhood within a month of living there. I made some great life long friends with some of them. I can tell you stories of my many neighborhood experiences in other cities that were miserable. Never so many positive as Tucson.
In general people in Tucson want to help you if they can, or they will direct you to someone else. Oh sure there are exceptions, but I have some good comparisons now.
Monsoon season is the neatest time. The sights, smells and sounds are so unique.
So much sunshine.
Sunsets.
Native foliage, plants and trees that are green even though it is a desert. Saguaro Cactus.

There are so many reasons to live in Tucson, I could go on and on and on.
You really can get an appreciation for something when it is taken away. I have to go cry now, I'm so homesick for Tucson.

I agree completely! We cannot wait until we can move. Hopefully the economy will get better (housing market specifically) soon after my wife finishes school and gets her RN (June 2010) we will be able to begin planning again.

[nicnic1]

Originally Posted by liloo

......Why am I noticing that a lot of the Tucson haters from Michigan?...Strange...

I dunno, but I lived in Michigan (metro Detroit area) from 1996-2003 and wild horses couldn't drag me back.

I also found the "people in Tucson aren't friendly" remark from a Michigander downright hilarious.

[Nicole4242]

Do not move here!!! It is overcrowded, hot and in the winter it is freezing cold!

[actinic]

Did I hear the De Anza closed?