10 Reasons Not To Move To Tucson (Phoenix: allergy, law, moving)

[re539]

I am one of the many that is considering the move to Tucson.
I have never been to Tucson. I am originally from IL, but did live in Las Vegas, NV for a while. The cost of living drove me out. I moved to Vegas for various health reasons. The Mojave desert delivered on its promise, and many of my chronic health problems disappeared, or were drastically reduced.

After reading through these posts, it sounds as if there are many similarities to Vegas. The North side of Vegas is a gang-banger infested ****-hole. It sounds like a large portion of Tucson is the same.

Finding a job in Vegas, making a living wage, is a challenge. Sounds like Tucson is the same.

I have read many comments on the elevated cost of housing in Tucson, yet I have been in contact with real estate agents, and done my own digging over the internet, and have had no problem finding 1500+ sq ft manufactured homes, on 1+ acres, for well under $100K. I have seen many properties of this description, between $65K-$80K. These places are 5 to 20 miles outside of town, and zoned for horses, so I assumed it would be rural, with little or no crime. Is this not correct? Has the crime over run even these middle-of-nowhere places?

Here in Peoria IL, $65K will get you a 800 sq ft house, with a tiny lot, in the ghetto. Rural Tucson housing looks like an incredible value! If the crime is low in those rural Tucson areas, why don't the people complaining about home prices, move there? What's the catch?

Weather wise, I hear a lot of complaints about the intense heat. I have also read some comments that Vegas is hotter, overall. The only months in Vegas where I truly loved the weather, was June, July, and August. In other words, 90+ degrees. My favorite day, when I lived in Vegas, was when I went hiking when it was 118. That was Heaven on earth! (my health problems cause me to have an extra-ordinarily low tolerance for the cold) So, what gives? Is Tucson hotter than Vegas? Can you feal the humidity difference? I hear Vegas is drier than Tucson. True?

I went to Phoenix to visit. The air there fealt heavy. Not like Vegas. I could breath in Vegas. In Phoenix, I felt like I had a weight on my chest. Can anyone make a Vegas to Tucson comparison?

I have read many comments on the poisonous reptile issues. I did a lot of hiking in the desert outside of Vegas. Some common sense was all it took to keep from getting bit. People make the Sonoran desert sound like it is so infested with poisonous critters, that hiking is not an option. Can someone that has hiked in both deserts, comment?

I have also read comments that one can't even access the desert without infringing on some government property that requires paying admission to access. That really perplexes me. In Vegas, to go hiking, I simply drove about 15 minutes outside of town, pulled the car off the side of the road, grabbed my gear, and off I went. What gives with the Tucson area?

I also have read comments that there is nothing to do in Tucson. In Vegas, year round motorcycling (on and off-road), mountain biking, and hiking are all readily accessible. Outdoor swimming can be done most of the year. What gives with Tucson? Why can't those things be done there?

[anomoly]

You sound like me: a desert rat! Right On!
I love the heat, too. I lived in Palm Springs for 10 years, which is more like Vegas. Tucson is much cooler, and greener. Elevation 2500 ft plays a part. I noticed much more "monsoon season", from Juy through Sept, where heavy rain and thunderstorms were awesome, but humid. I don't think I would have minded that time of year, if I had real "AC", instead of just a swamp cooler, which basically stops working as soon as it gets humid. But, I like the swamp coolers because 1. cost, 2. only bad July, Aug, Sept 3. I smoke, and like the constant air flow. Because I smoke, I'm probably not the best judge of air quality,eh?
So, I liked the weather, about 10 cooler in summer, a little warmer in winter than Vegas, Phoenix

About 'critters' LOL, I think people who aren't familiar with the desert must get freaked out, but I don't think there's any problem. I remember seeing more rattlesnakes, and more coyotes (walking down the street!) in San Diego, probably due to city crowding out their environment. Tucson did have something new for me: JAVELINA! very cool... no 'Florida-like' bugs.
Great hiking, never worried about scary creatures, other than the Police...

Not sure what to make of the 'Government property" issue, doesn't match my experience. There's plenty of open space to roam around in. Now, you do have the Saguaro Natl ..?(park, monument, can't remember) on both sides of Tucson (East and West) I never felt like it was restrictive.

I recently posted a reply to the comments about "There's nothing to do in Tucson"... It's obviously subjective and 'relative'. I thought it was hilarious, because I really do think there's alot to do in Tucson..ALOT.
But, that's because I've since been traveling in my RV, mostly in small towns in NM, Utah, AZ, and I now truly know what "nothing to do" means.
But, I'm originally from So. Cal, and I remember thinking that about certain cities too ("it's so boring, etc")

Being a Desert Rat, I'm a freak in winter, and where I'm at in NM, it gets below freezing every night. Most 'non-desert' people don't seem to think that's very cold, but to me, it's been 4 months of brrrrrrrr, way too cold for me! But then, San Diego was too cold for me too...
So, there you go.. one man's critter is another's fascination.
And, I'm an anomaly, after all.
Good luck!

[re539]

Thanks for the great feedback Anomoly!

Sounds like the Tucson summers could be pretty brutal, due to the rain and swamp cooler induced, humidy.

Tucson being "greener" could be an issue. I have had 5 surgeries (so far) and counting, for severe allergy and sinus problems.

I did a little research on Valley Fever. It looks like Tucson is the hot bed for that spore producing fungus that causes Valley Fever. Could be a problem.

What about the rural housing? Is it tranquil and quiet? Or have the burglers and thieves invaded the rural areas too? It looks like some of the rural properties on the south side of Tucson, are pretty close to the human trafficking super highway running through the desert.

[anomoly]

re539--- I can't comment much on housing. I've always been a renter. But you mentioned "South Side", and I can say that's always been considered, ..well, it's North side of Las Vegas!!
I lived in Tucson from '99-'05, from San Diego, so real estate prices were a bargain. Prices have gone up alot, but I don't think anything like Vegas. Tucson has 'sprawled' out, and there's new developments going up everywhere, even changing the face of the south side.

As far as these deals on cheap property outside of town, I ..I..only have an opinion, not real expertise. So, take it for what it's worth.
A non-desert friend, kept pointing out certain things about So. Arizona and NM, how 'trashy' these areas were. It took me awhile to get it. He was describing things "unusual" to him, but things that I realized were not unusual in the desert.

Desert towns are more like the 'old west' frontier than the centralized planned neighborhoods of established urban areas.
In the desert, you see ALOT of mobile homes, some well cared for, usually retirees, but many that give new meaning to the terms 'Trailer Trash', or 'Poor White Trash'.
All the open space out in the Desert seems to attract just about everything: abandoned buildings, vehicles, unwanted mattresses and appliances, bikers, eccentrics, drug users, drug manufacturers, drug smugglers, human smugglers, inbreds, thiefs, absconders, con artists, poverty, abuse, neglect,...Lots of places to escape mainstream society.
And, then ...Some of us just like the peace and quiet.

Smuggling rings have been busted in the nicest areas of cities too, but consider the profile of meth labs. 1. Meth labs smell, 2. tweakers practically glow in the dark, so it's safer out in the desert, away from town.

Tucson has alot of homeless too, because of the weather. Not all are bad or dangerous, but meth is a monster in that town, and nighttime in the desert is a big playground for wanderers, wierdos, mentally ill, wide awake thiefs who've been up for 4 days, and everyone else on the fringe of society.

Then there's the proximity to the lucrative 'coyote-crossing' border, the desperate crossers who've risked their life to get here, the drug smugglers, the endless chop shops for stolen cars.

The ones inside the law are just as lawless. Law enforcement is corrupt, often on the take, and why not? ..they too have a playground of people to exploit, their fears, their ignorance, their previous records. Pull over suspected illegals, search, sieze, money, drugs, they run, you report abandoned vehicle. Cops in Tucson are very trigger-happy, including tasers, and abuse of authority is common; inevitably defended by a code of silence and cover up at every level.

But, Hey, don't let me scare you off LOL!!
That doesn't mean every piece of "cheap horse property outside of town" will be that way, BUT BUYER BEWARE if it sounds too good to be true.
Someone previously mentioned Sahuarita, a nice new area, but you won't find those kind of prices there. Green Valley, retirement community, not cheap either. I would just really investigate, because I'm sure there's some hidden gems out there.

Oh, and Valley Fever: yeah, it's common, I guess. My sig other, from San Diego, was in construction, and had alot of symptoms in Tucson.

And, be sure to discover KXCI 91.3 FM,* the most diverse, inspiring community supported radio station you'll ever find. They will open you up to a whole new world of music, music that's been completely eradicated by Clear Channel's monopoly in radio station ownership, and their 'one size fits all' programming.
(I know it's off topic, but hey, I had to give you something positive, after all that!)

[xwideopenskyx]

Originally Posted by re539

Thanks for the great feedback Anomoly!

Sounds like the Tucson summers could be pretty brutal, due to the rain and swamp cooler induced, humidy.

Tucson being "greener" could be an issue. I have had 5 surgeries (so far) and counting, for severe allergy and sinus problems.

I did a little research on Valley Fever. It looks like Tucson is the hot bed for that spore producing fungus that causes Valley Fever. Could be a problem.

What about the rural housing? Is it tranquil and quiet? Or have the burglers and thieves invaded the rural areas too? It looks like some of the rural properties on the south side of Tucson, are pretty close to the human trafficking super highway running through the desert.

I live in one of those rural areas 20 miles southwest of Tucson. The rural areas only occasionally make it on the local news and it's usually someone getting busted for transporting huge amounts of pot. I've seen an SUV pulled over by border patrol full of pot. There are also signs of human trafficking through the desert. All in all, it is a lot safer living out here than in the city
of Tucson. I like living in this area it's very quiet and tranquil.

If you have sinus issues this may not be a place for you though. There is a
lot of vegetation out here and the variety of species is large in numbers.
The last time I counted there are 56 different species of cactii, bushes, trees, etc. on my property alone! That's a lot more than when I lived in Ohio.
It was very surprising! I lost the grass but gained so much more.

There is ALOT to do here contrary to other people's beliefs. The hiking is amazing. I hike all the time and have never had any critter issues. They are out there of course and you have to use common sense to avoid them.
There is always something going on in Tucson or surrounding areas. I never run out of things to do or see. In fact, there is always several choices to pick from. Getting bored is not even in my vocabulary.

[sickofIL]

As far as sinus problems, it depends on what it is that triggers it. I have bad sinus problems but mine are from mold. I haven't had clear sinuses since I was a teenager. Oh and a few other times, when we visited Tucson, and when I visited Phoenix. (haven't been to Phoenix for at least 14 yrs though) We visited Tucson 2 yrs ago at the end of the monsoon season just after the flooding. We weren't even out of the airport when my sinuses began to clear.

Here in Illinois (western Chicago suburbs) there is a mold problem all year. It gets worse during the extremely hot humid days.

I should also state that I also have had sinus surgery. Fortunately only once though.

From all of the times I have been in Phoenix (spent a lot of time hiking) I saw almost no "critters" of any kind. I think some over state it because of the things that the desert has as compared to where ever they grew up. But there are nasty things everywhere. You just don't think about the things where you are from because you know about them. I have also spent quite some time in northeast Brazil. There are quite a few nasty "critters" there too but with a little common sense ytou don't see any.

I have been researching Tucson for a few years now and we still are planning on moving there. We were planning on this spring/summer but with the current condition of real estate, we most likely will be putting off our plans for a year or so. We need to be able to sell out house to move and right now it is taking an average of 5-6 months and sometimes more to sell. My dad is a mortgage broker here so I hear the difficulties all the time.

If we didn't oun we would be moving when our kids are out of school in June.

[actinic]

Originally Posted by actinic

Tucson homicide map 2008.

www.azstarnet.com ®

Welcome to Tucson.

Now stands at 16 homicides through 3/9, double the rate of the last 2 years through this date.

[odinloki1]

Originally Posted by re539

I am one of the many that is considering the move to Tucson.
I have never been to Tucson. I am originally from IL, but did live in Las Vegas, NV for a while. The cost of living drove me out. I moved to Vegas for various health reasons. The Mojave desert delivered on its promise, and many of my chronic health problems disappeared, or were drastically reduced.

After reading through these posts, it sounds as if there are many similarities to Vegas. The North side of Vegas is a gang-banger infested ****-hole. It sounds like a large portion of Tucson is the same.

Finding a job in Vegas, making a living wage, is a challenge. Sounds like Tucson is the same.

I have read many comments on the elevated cost of housing in Tucson, yet I have been in contact with real estate agents, and done my own digging over the internet, and have had no problem finding 1500+ sq ft manufactured homes, on 1+ acres, for well under $100K. I have seen many properties of this description, between $65K-$80K. These places are 5 to 20 miles outside of town, and zoned for horses, so I assumed it would be rural, with little or no crime. Is this not correct? Has the crime over run even these middle-of-nowhere places?

Here in Peoria IL, $65K will get you a 800 sq ft house, with a tiny lot, in the ghetto. Rural Tucson housing looks like an incredible value! If the crime is low in those rural Tucson areas, why don't the people complaining about home prices, move there? What's the catch?

2 Hour no-highway-50-stoplight commute in which you have to deal with every senior citizen in the country behind the wheel and you will spend all of the money you save on gas. No water. Skin cancer, no shade. Anywhere where you found a $65K place I doubt is very desireable. Most of the nicer areas (Vail, Corona de Tucson) that are zoned for horses and within the distance you say are easily above that if you want an acre, or there will be a lot of neighbors that you will not want to live within 10 miles of. I used to teach in Vail and the only property affordable for a single teacher (the price range you speak of) was the neighborhoods where all of the really screwed up stories came from.

Weather wise, I hear a lot of complaints about the intense heat. I have also read some comments that Vegas is hotter, overall. The only months in Vegas where I truly loved the weather, was June, July, and August. In other words, 90+ degrees. My favorite day, when I lived in Vegas, was when I went hiking when it was 118. That was Heaven on earth! (my health problems cause me to have an extra-ordinarily low tolerance for the cold) So, what gives? Is Tucson hotter than Vegas? Can you feal the humidity difference? I hear Vegas is drier than Tucson. True?

Probably, the sun feels much more intense because of the elevation. I can't sleep in the heat though and I love the cold. So this is my hell, hence my negative attitude.

I went to Phoenix to visit. The air there fealt heavy. Not like Vegas. I could breath in Vegas. In Phoenix, I felt like I had a weight on my chest. Can anyone make a Vegas to Tucson comparison?

Tucson I think is better simply because less cars. But as the urban sprawl increases so will the smog.

I have read many comments on the poisonous reptile issues. I did a lot of hiking in the desert outside of Vegas. Some common sense was all it took to keep from getting bit. People make the Sonoran desert sound like it is so infested with poisonous critters, that hiking is not an option. Can someone that has hiked in both deserts, comment?

I still don't find any enjoyment in carrying over a gallon of water, covering myself with half a bottle of sunscreen and wearing a hat that could shade an airfield every time I wish to enjoy the outdoors. I have gone hiking and no problems, but it seems much less enjoyable when I have to spend so much time reparing (and I also have to drive 45 minutes each way to a good hiking trail because it is too expensive to live closer) I don't find 50 different shades of brown that beautiful either.

I have also read comments that one can't even access the desert without infringing on some government property that requires paying admission to access. That really perplexes me. In Vegas, to go hiking, I simply drove about 15 minutes outside of town, pulled the car off the side of the road, grabbed my gear, and off I went. What gives with the Tucson area?

Nah you can do this. Its parking, not trail access that costs all of the money. My fiances parents are loaded and they live very close to Saguaro East and go hiking there a lot and they just walk there.

I also have read comments that there is nothing to do in Tucson. In Vegas, year round motorcycling (on and off-road), mountain biking, and hiking are all readily accessible. Outdoor swimming can be done most of the year. What gives with Tucson? Why can't those things be done there?

Dry heat, intense sun, no water sure if you only want to do things for maybe a 1-2 hour stretch, anything more and you have to carry half your body weight in water to prevent passing out from dehydration. Perhaps if you have a pool or want to make a nice long commute to a public pool. If you want to swim though, you should live near somewhere that does not have water conservation as such a big issue.

[Clnconcpts]

I've heard the vail school district was one of the best in the tucson area

[odinloki1]

Yeah its a good district. If you want kids to pass the AIMS test. It pays the least.