Arizona to Utah advice (Layton, Bountiful: relocate, real estate, property taxes)

[jwarizona1]

I've been viewing some of these "moving to Utah" posts but haven't seen anyone going from Phoenix/Glendale, Arizona to northern Utah yet. Anyone know both areas well enough to compare the weather for me? Maybe nobody is moving from Arizona because they love the heat? I've been here my entire life except for a few years in San Diego, Long Beach, and San Jose, CA. I just can't do the blazing heat anymore. I love to be outside, but it seems the older I get, the worse it gets on me here in AZ. Constant air conditioning in my car/house and sweaty armpits from March/April to November is ridiculous. My hope is that northern Utah has winter weather and snow for 1-2 months and then it's cool to warm with the sun shining for the rest of the year?? 80-90 degrees in the summer months and dry air would be a welcome sight for me. Weather seems to be the biggest concern right now. I'm looking to live by the 15, north of SLC and not be in an area with too much snow in the winter. Before you tell me how much the weather sucks, I'm willing to trade for a hazy winter sky and some snow instead of 8-9 months of too much heat and $500-$600 electric bills in the summer and over inflated home prices that are still too high(thanks California investors). If you tell me that northern Utah is the cooler(temps) version of Phoenix and that you have a white Christmas every year, I'm probably there sooner than later.

BTW, Married, twin 15 month old children, we have family members that are LDS, self employed that can follow wherever I go, home/rent prices are cheaper than what I pay now, only been skiing 3 times and love it, but absolutely love summer/fall sports and being outdoors. My fingers are crossed for a good annual weather report.

[BuhByeCalifornia]

I'm sure more long-time UT residents will chime in here but we moved from Southern California and the heat there could be unbearable at times as well...I think it was around 105+ for the month of August this last summer! Our Cali electric bills were constantly in the 500 - 600+ range.

We moved to No. UT the beginning of Aug 2007 and while the locals were complaining of the heat, I was like, "Heat?? This is NOTHING!" It was probably 90+ degrees but it probably felt more like mid-80's in CA. I've been told it does top 100 degrees every now and then but I don't think it's nearly as consistent as AZ.

When we got our first electric bill ($52), we thought it was missing a zero!

As far as too much snow in the winter...well, supposedly, this has been a harsh winter so far. Like storms every week. I've been told it hasn't been this bad for years. But to tell you the truth, since we have nothing to compare it with...it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. DH and I figure, if we can get through and even enjoy this "more than usual" amount of snow this winter, we've got it made!

We actually DID have a white Christmas a couple of weeks ago, but we were told that's not always the case.

But if you want "less" snow, then I would stay away from the hills and benches...and find a home in the valley floor. If you want to stay north of Salt Lake, there are some nice communities in Davis County, Bountiful, Foxboro area of NSL, and then further north are Centerville, Layton, Kaysville, and Farmington.

Good Luck!

[chazcrew]

Well, the snow and winter cold lasts longer than 1-2 months (usually November through February are guaranteed cold, but sometimes November will be unseasonably warm). The summers are very warm, but nothing like what you've been accustomed to. When it hits 100 here I just want to die; it will hit triple digits several times during the summer months, but it's not a constant thing like in AZ. Spring and Fall are too short, but the weather is perfect while they last: not too hot, not too cold, beautiful colors in the mountains, and perfect for hiking, biking, and camping.

There's no guarantee of a white Christmas, although we got a very nice one this year. But many years there's no snow to be seen on December 25, at least in the valleys. The mountains will often have snow. The beauty of snow here is, it tends to melt off in the valleys, but stays in the mountains for skiing. Best of both worlds in my book!

[dannorski]

i am from illinois lived there about tweny years been in mesa ariz for fourty years i am sick of the heat in oct of 06 we bought a house in north ogden almost four thousand sq feet six bedrooms our elec and gas are on the budget plan and we pay 90 dollars for each we love it there even though this winter is a little colder then usual

[dojilynn]

I think No. Utah is exactly what you are looking for. I have family that I visit occassionally in Mesa, AZ, and I can hardly stand the heat. Utah has only a few days that get into the triple digits, but they are usually only up to 105 (highest I remember seeing), never above 110 like I see in Arizona frequently. Like a previous poster said, you will hear people complaining of the heat on these days, but you won't think it's bad. Winter is cold more often than it is snowy, but it is endurable.

[Aerorick]

You'll be fine anywhere in Utah. And it sounds like you have family here already. But I do get a kick out of the "thanks California investers" comment. As long as Californians are blamed for everything wrong with the world you might as well throw high home prices in with it. Last I heard Utah doesn't have an 800 mile coastline ,the 8th largest economy in the world or 60 degree average tempertures so I doubt it has been much of a hotbed of real estate investing.

[Purplegrapes]

When we got our first electric bill ($52), we thought it was missing a zero!


lol I loved that....

[carlymac]

Actually, I think much of the rise in home prices IS due to out of state investors. From what I've heard, they buy cheap properties in Utah with no intention of living in them, gut and re-do them and try to resell for double or more what they paid. It seemed to me to be a post Olympics phenomenon after Utah finally got recognized on the map. No one knew much about it before that. Unfortunately, that whole plan worked for awhile but now it's biting them (the investors) in the behind. Locals can't afford the elevated prices. And there aren't enough folks moving in from more expensive real estate areas to buy up the homes that are supposedly still cheap compared to where they are moving from. (Clear as mud?)

So it's not Californians investing for their personal residences, just wealthy people trying to make more money.

[Aerorick]

Utah is fine. Come on in. The more people from outside the state the better. Then maybe the conceptions of people from California or anywhere else will start bearing some degree of reality. Home prices are set by whatever someone will pay for them. I've know a few people who did the flip thing with a house. But they certainly didn't do it long distance in another state. The only way to make any money on that venture is to do a lot of the work yourself. And you can't do that if your 500 miles away. This state does not have a lot of well paying industries or union jobs. And the misplaced anger of Californians because of the absurd notion that were all rich from selling our million dollar homes is common. When it's actually a case of artificial inflation that occurs when prices for homes, cars, food etc. go up EVERYWHERE and wages in Utah don't. Trust me, if I had make enough money on my house sale in California to buy some half million dollar house somewhere to retire in paradise, it sure wouldn't be in Utah.

[dogmom]

Come on home to Southern Utah! Can't beat it for scenery, weather is good, yeah it gets hot in the summer, it gets hot in Northern Utah, too...that's what they made a/c for! Property taxes are lower, car insurance is lower, we are an hour and a half from Las Vegas for fun and adventure..

Our house is for sale...buy mine! As many folks on this board know, we were going to relocate back to Northern CA, due to our kids being there, but we are now going to stay, just a little smaller house...It really is lovely here, more shops and restaurants are coming our way...the new In n Out burger is about a mile from us...

Think southern Utah!