Questions for buying a house in Sahuarita (Tucson: apartment, renting)

[IZZYJOE69]

I am going to be moving to Sahuarita for work and am thinking about buying instead of renting. I was curious about the different types of utilities that are needed in Az, I will be moving from Massachusetts. What is a rough estimate for your monthly garbage, water, sewer, gas & electrical bills? I don't think am missing any other utility but if you can think of any...Any insight on anything that is very different or that a buyer not from the area should be aware of will be great.

[twojulybabies]

Well, IzzyJoe, that's a heck of a question. Garbage and water is usually billed together. Mine is about $50 a month. My gas bill is about $25-30 a month, but I only have the hot water tank on gas. Electric - that's a tough one.....Will you have central a/c and/or evap? Will you have a pool? What size house are you buying - square feet? My highest electric bill was in the summer (no surprise there) - I had 2 months of over $300 each, last month was about $95 - I used the heat quite a few times in December.

I would love to give you specifics, but there are too many variables. Give us some specifics and we can help.....

[IZZYJOE69]

What exactly is an evap? Pardon my ignorance, but that is why am trying to find out as much as possible. In regards to size of house, I am not sure yet either, I can tell you a price range of what am looking for is around 170000...

[twojulybabies]

An "evap" is an evaporative cooler - you will find them in many homes in lieu of or in addition to traditional a/c. They use less electricity, so ultimately, people use the evap cooler in the warm months to save electricity, but use regular a/c during monsoon season due to the humidity. Now we don't have the type of humidity you'd find back east. Monsoon can run from July to September.

I have found that people with asthma or allergies tend to look for homes with traditional a/c. With an evap, you are removing the moisture from the air (as well as cooling the air) which makes it cooler, but you leave a door or window(s) open to assist in air flow.

170K in Sahurita could still get you close to 2000 square feet, so my guesstimate would be $200-$300 a month in electric, in the summer months. Less in the winter/spring, etc. If you have a pool, you have to run the pump more in the summer as well. The general rule is 3-4 hours a day plus 1 hour for every 10 degrees over 70. So, I would run mine at night for a few hours and then have it come on around 1 pm and run it for a couple of hours there.

I came from upstate NY, so I am sure you will love your new heating bill!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by twojulybabies

An "evap" is an evaporative cooler - you will find them in many homes in lieu of or in addition to traditional a/c.!

I doubt newer houses would have swamp coolers...

[michael krotchie]

Yep swamp coolers won't be in new homes (unless the owners craved one and installed it themselves).



Take a look at the Tucson MLS for your home search if you haven't already. Are you looking to buy in a community, ala Rancho Sahuarita, or did you want some land and privacy? Either way you'll have plenty of options.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by michael krotchie

Yep swamp coolers won't be in new homes (unless the owners craved one and installed it themselves).

Take a look at the Tucson MLS for your home search if you haven't already. Are you looking to buy in a community, ala Rancho Sahuarita, or did you want some land and privacy? Either way you'll have plenty of options.

Since the OP is talking about bills, too, I’ve gotta tell ya I'm amazed by my house, Michael! Last month that was sooo cold and I like it warm at home, I had $83 bill (it'll probably be the highest of the year) on an all-electric, 1,448 sq.ft, 2-story house, all cold tile downstairs! I paid about the same in a 980 sq.ft. single-story apartment, without a washer and dryer and second fridge.

[michael krotchie]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Since the OP is talking about bills, too, I’ve gotta tell ya I'm amazed by my house, Michael! Last month that was sooo cold and I like it warm at home, I had $83 bill (it'll probably be the highest of the year) on an all-electric, 1,448 sq.ft, 2-story house, all cold tile downstairs! I paid about the same in a 980 sq.ft. single-story apartment, without a washer and dryer and second fridge.

That's pretty good. I guess all these advances in construction technology has some merit eh? Everytime I hear a buzz phrase like "radiant barrier technology" I find it hard to not roll my eyes but maybe there is some truth to it.

I guess since you like it warm at home your summer bill won't be too terrible either eh?

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by michael krotchie

That's pretty good. I guess all these advances in construction technology has some merit eh? Everytime I hear a buzz phrase like "radiant barrier technology" I find it hard to not roll my eyes but maybe there is some truth to it.

It must be true. First of all it's 2x6 construction, the insulation evidently is very good, and we have solar heaters. Granted, we're on a different TEP rate because of that, but the difference is about 5 or 6 bucks really...

I guess since you like it warm at home your summer bill won't be too terrible either eh?

Nope - about $65-75 max in summer. I've had quite a few $35-45 bills during nice months.

[twojulybabies]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I doubt newer houses would have swamp coolers...

True, but we don't know what he's even looking at buying.