Moving from Canada to US (Phoenix, Scottsdale: rental car, sales, rental)

[sablebaby]

Yes, Scottsdale is a great place to live. I would say it's safer, but there could be more theft. The rich have more to steal from. I lived a few blocks outside of 85254 and I had my car broken into several times and eventually the whole car was stolen. Whereas when I lived downtown I had nothing touched! The rents in Scottsdale would be closer to $900-1200 a month for a one bedroom. But it's worth it in my opinion, if you can afford it. It's very nice up there.

I spent majority of my life in the 85032 zip. Parts of it is older homes that are being fixed up. And the other parts are nice and a bit newer. Stay away from "The Square" it's all the area between Bell and Greenway, and 32 st and Cave Creek. There ae new developments in there but it's still not the greatest place to live, but it's also in the 032 zip.

I don't know much about tempe or the other zips you mentioned personally.

Utilities are a bit high now, and might be getting higher. Of course it's high in the summer and low in the winter. Ours always run in the mid to high $100's in a two bedroom apt in July, Aug, and Sept. The rest of the year it's usually below $100, even as low as $50 (winter). It also depends if you have gas heat or not, that will lower it a bit.

[smartcuty]

Thank you Irwin,

Yes Toronto is a very big city, but the weather is very depressing almost for 8 months & even the summer time it rains a lot, sunshine is not the usual scene

I like urban life & downtown flavor, but how many times you will go to a downtown in a year if you live & work just half an hour away from it?

So I wonder if Phoenix is not very urban style, can Las Vegas be or it's just the casinos' district?

Sablebaby,

Doesn't the car insurance go up when you have all those break-ins & thefts?

[smartcuty]

Irwin,

How long have you stayed in Toronto & where?

It is safe, you can walk up till midnight in most areas, but it's quiet too, except for downtown area

[irwin]

Originally Posted by smartcuty

Thank you Irwin,

Yes Toronto is a very big city, but the weather is very depressing almost for 8 months & even the summer time it rains a lot, sunshine is not the usual scene

I like urban life & downtown flavor, but how many times you will go to a downtown in a year if you live & work just half an hour away from it?

So I wonder if Phoenix is not very urban style, can Las Vegas be or it's just the casinos' district?

Sablebaby,

Doesn't the car insurance go up when you have all those break-ins & thefts?

I know the weather concern. I was thinking the same way when I moved from Washington (and D.C.’s weather is milder than Toronto). But remember that the summers here are really hot. In many ways the summers here are like the winters in a place like Alaska. It’s pretty brutal.

I have been downtown to Phoenix twice and I have lived here a year. Once was for an interview and once was for a baseball game. You have to realize that there is simply nothing down there. Albany has a better downtown. Unlike real cities, the percentage of people who work downtown in Phoenix is low. Most people work in the suburbs. Really, the only thing downtown is the baseball and basketball stadium. They are trying to build up downtown (ASU is moving students down there, metro line, etc), but it is a long-term project and it may never work. People just don’t think in terms of urban lifestyle here and I doubt that will change.

As far as Vegas, others may be able to provide more information, but my experience seems that any urban lifestyle there would revolve around the Strip (casino district). There are a lot of high rise condos in Vegas around the Strip, which provides another living option that Phoenix simply doesn’t provide. The nightlife also seems more sophisticated (more NYC-ish) than Phoenix’s, but I’m sure it could get old. Maybe if you’re really into gambling…who knows.

[Nea1]

Yes the sophistication of prostitution!!!! Las Vegas, place is a crime ridden gamblers paradise.

[smartcuty]

I am not into gambling that much, maybe once or twice a year just for fun

But my concerns are about safety, driving, standard of life & people, it's very important that you live around decent people, it's the people who make-up for the place not vice versa

As for urban style, I am afraid I can get bored easily in Phoenix, but remember Toronto doesn't provide much for outdoor activities with kinda wicked weather like the one we have for 6-8 months at least

As for the heat, it's not dangerous to drive & it doesn't prevent you from going out with your car & drive on a 5"-10" pile of snow

As sablebaby explained before, I understood that Phoenix streets are all lit, so it's not like Charlotte, NC for example or some places in Long Island, NY

I do value other opinions & to tell you the truth I got hesitant somehow specially with being offered slightly less salary than Toronto, but I still feel it's not that bad out there

Is Phoenix as hot as the Persian Gulf for example 110F?

[ColdCanadian]

At the risk of being rejected twice, welcome to the board from Mississauga, Ontario.

I have grown up around the Toronto and I too am cold more than half the year. How long have you lived around here? Have you become grown to become frequently irritated by layers, coats etc. neccessary to fight even the smallest goosebumps? Do you rejoice when we get record-breaking highs like I do? Did you enjoy this past July? I don't remember if it went below 18 C or 65 F even one morning. (temp. at or before sunrise)

I've never been to Arizona, but flew over it on the way to Los Angeles. I think I'd like to visit sometime though. I hope wherever you move you enjoy it!

[irwin]

Well, the driving here is terrible and traffic is everywhere. So, living close to work can be important unless you like spending a lot of time in your car. Again, public transport really isn’t an option out here right now, so be ready for that (no subway, no commuter trains, etc).

The people will be different from most people you meet in larger cities. People are nice, but I see them as generally more naïve, less sophisticated, and less educated. They are definitely less worldly, especially when compared to people from Toronto. Remember that there isn’t the immigrant community here like you have in Toronto or New York. Basically, and this is a huge generalization but helpful none the less, there are white people and Hispanics.

But, people are nice here and the culture is much more laid back, even compared to California. It is still relatively cheap to live here and the economy seems strong (although I still wonder what people really do out here because for its size, Phoenix doesn’t have a lot of major companies based here). I hope you take my advice with a grain of salt because I think I value things that others who like Phoenix really don’t care about (culture, urban neighborhoods, walk-ability, cosmopolitan feel). If you don’t mind losing some of that as compared to Toronto, you can still get a nice house here with a yard, and a 2-car garage for a fairly reasonable price.

Oh, and it is hotter than 110F….more like 115F.

[Nea1]

The traffic isnt that bad, we lived in DC and that is the worst in the US, it does get hot but rightnow itis 65 degrees with a high of 85 for the day, cant get better than that. there are alot of great people here, we have made alot of friend in the short time we have been here. yes the urban scene is lacking, but there is alot todo here, lakes and camping and hiking, San Diego is about 6 hours away, Colorado is a few hours as well. Dont let people scare you it is nice here, pros and cons like anywhere else.

[smartcuty]

Irwin & Nea1,

The probem is I am offered a 10% lower salary in Phoenix than Toronto thinking that it is cheaper there to live

I think I will give it a try but I am not sure on the long term how it will be, the most important is safety & economy, urban life is required but to tell you the truth, after working 8-5, what do you do except resting & during the weekend, one day for shopping & the other for hanging out, so not much time left

I don't like darkness & I just hope there is enough light at night

ColdCanadian,

I was happy we had a good winter & summer this year, but I am tired of snow & wind chills, I have been here for quite a while now & the problem is the weather is very unpredictable in Toronto, not to mention that affects people's modes as well, did you like LA, California?