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Desertrat! We just bought a home near Phoenix and I pray to God not all the folks down there are as ignorant as you are. You really need to get a life! I imagine you are uneducated - otherwise you'd realize that all these 'outsiders' buying homes are the ones saving your economys butt right now. If it wasn't for the 'outsiders' buying houses - your house prices would be even sadder than they are now. But I imagine with your attitude and lack of knowledge - you probably haven't thought of that have you??
Desert Rat I have no idea of how old you are but I'll stand by one of my favorite sayings "Age has nothing to do with maturity - it's only how long you've been around for".
Here's another one for you "If you still think the same today as you did 10 (insert any number in here) years ago -you've just wasted 10 ( insert same number here) years of your life". I imagine you are still the same hot head, negative, immature moron you were 10 years ago, and guaranteed to be the same in 10 years barring a miracle. Good luck with life Desert Rat!
Last edited by glasscove; 07-07-2008 at 06:45 PM..
Someone asked how I like Az. And where I'm from? I will try to answer your questions .
I grew up with a friend who moved here back in the seventies. I visited him a few years ago, when I decided to make the move. I decided the northern part of the state for me. I'm renting now and looking for a place to call my own.
The people that are from here, most-not all-don't want you here, and have no problem treating you like it. It's the cities and their pocket books that want you here..and as a native, I can remember my friends and I telling people to go back home years ago. I was also speaking to a friend of mine who is 54, from Ohio, moved here 24 years ago, and said that when she pulled in past a shopping center when she first moved here and the kids were waiving and saying "welcome to Phoenix, now go home". This isn't new, we aren't the "nice" people that our cities make us out to be, and we don't like stupid small town people moving here....and here's why:
Please be aware that if you move here from a small city it does take 20 miles AT LEAST for the average commuter to get to work. Saying that, we have some very nice freeways here. The problem is, that in the last 10 years everyone from everywhere has moved here and somehow not realized that you actually need to go about 73-75 just to get anywhere in a timely manner and not get flipped off or run off the rode. You aren't living 5 min from home anymore, and you're moving to the 5th largest city in the nation-so please come here with the idea that you must change your driving. We like to speed here..and you are allowed to go 9 over on freeways-in fact cops go about 15 over most the time.
Understand that Mesa is not a retirement community. Oh how they've tried to make it one, but you know, we were smart-built a whole place for old people called SUN CITY-and I suggest that if you over the age of 55 and you don't want to be bothered with us "younger" people then you go there and don't try to take over the whole dang city-because we don't care where you move-outside of Sun City you are going to be treated like everyone else. On that same note...Sun City is a very nice city, not newer but updated-very affordable, and real houses. Please don't get scammed into moving into a "pre-manufactured" home on a lot that is not yours where you have to live by someone else's rules. AZ is known for land, and if you don't own your own and you've actually bought a house-then you have been scammed!
------so with that out of the way..please take into consideration these factors before moving here....
We have lots of illegals here. LOTS. Racism was never an issue growing up here..in fact, kind of like a real shocker when you really see it for the first time..and I'm not the only native to say that. But I can say that I can see a problem a brewin' based on the way some people are acting when they move here.
Know that this state is very Republican, with a very liberal side. Always has been..and it just depends on the economy to see which way we go..but I would tell you that in the Presidential election, I don't remember ever seeing our electoral votes going to the Democratic party. We seem to always end up in the red.
Know that lots and lot of people say there is tons to do here..but I see that tons of people hang out in tons of bars. Lots of drunks here. Quite a bit of drugs I've seen in the bar scene..and I no longer do the "scene" anymore because of it all. And I'm not talking, hanging out for a few beers..I'm talking blasted drunk, 9 hour binge drinking cuz it's the only place to hang out with all your buddies, and driving home SLOSHED. I've seen it, I used to work in those places, I know people who still do it..and I was almost even killed by a drunk driver when I was in my teens. The drinking problem around here is ridiculous.
For some reason, every child molester in the United States has moved to AZ. I don't think a day goes by in the news where they haven't caught another one. Keep tabs on the azcentral.com before moving here..it's our local website to the AZ Republic newspaper...and I really suggest you check out what I'm talking about before moving here with children.
And it seems like everyone dislikes their jobs. Sure you find a few who like their jobs..but mostly we have call center's, retail and sales here. Most people don't like that work, but yet everyone I know is always applying for a new job. So remember, even when the economy isn't down, if you apply for something, 100 other people probably are too..and you got to really fight for it here....but the good thing is that there is always some kind of employment opportunity here. So it may take a while, but eventually everyone finds a job.
Know your areas before you move here...I have lived in almost every city around over the years...and know the WHOLE Phx metropolitian area like the back of my hand. Lived in Casa Grande (we call it casa grand, btw) back in the 80's-newer houses put up..old town is now a dump. Haven't lived in Maricopa-but if you move there or Casa Grande-be prepared to never have any friends unless they live out there because no one's driving out there to visit you. The only road in and out is the famous I-10-which is overcrowded and connects right before the edge of Chandler with another freeway-then another freeway before Phx. I hear the drive is awful..and my many times in rush hr proved the people right. It's like a snail ride into Phx.
Gilbert & Chandler-both back and forth..nicer towards the outside more than the inside of the city..but they are very pricey..and really, besides the appeal of the houses they really don't offer anything as far as cities go. Tempe-total college town..home of ASU-nice houses in busy work areas-expensive with high HIGH property tax from what I've been told. Mesa-where almost everyone moves to because everything is always NEW NEW NEW(store wise-houses more towards the far eastern side like AJ). Lots of old people, lots of young people..lots of illegals. Downtown area of Mesa is old and dirty. Not too appealing. I live in far east Mesa now, almost by Apache Junction, not far from Queen Creek. I think after years over here I would definitely say I like the far northwest sides of town better.
Apache Junction-retirement community with lots and lots of trailors. It was like, at one time, the retirement community that wanted to live in AZ but couldn't afford Sun City. LOL. Well, lots of druggies there, people living with their 90 year old parents and riding bicycles. Really ghetto. Outer part of AJ towards Gold Canyon, and Gold Canyon itself is pretty nice..but very, very far from the actual downtown Phx area.
Queen Creek-what a nightmare-don't move there. Everyone I know that did regrets it. Far out of the way-a nice 2 lane road for miles to get to an actual freeway to get into town...live there and expect a 25 mile away job to take 2 hours to get to...and that is not a joke. But it is a good investment for 5-10 years from now when they get the roads done-except remember that AZ does not work fast at getting roads improved..and 5 to 10 years is not a joke.
Peoria-very nice in the northwestern part...I grew up there-age 7-18-wonderful memories, great schools in the Peoria district. Downtown Peoria area lots of illegals again. Glendale same thing..but then you have lots of Asian and Middle Eastern people for some reason. That boom came about 10 years back. I would say northern Glendale is a nice area..go past Peoria and it's pretty ghetto. But the good thing about the Glendale area, no matter what area you live in, it kind of feels like a small town there even though it's smack dab in the middle of the west side of the Phx area. People are friendly and there's a good night life scene if you like bars and you are younger and single..I spent my early 20's there..and I very much enjoyed it.
Phoenix..The only part I would even suggest is the northern part of Phx...towards Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Scottsdale is like it's own entity-and unless you have money don't even bother to look at Scottsdale..and really don't bother if you don't have a name. You can move to Chandler or East Mesa or anywhere for that matter in a just as good house in a just as good neighborhood for way less. But if you want to be seen as "high society" or you actually want to buy a mansion, go ahead and move there. I personally have always thought that people put too much emphasis on the name. I grew up in what is now priced as a $400k house in Northwest Peoria, and yet, somehow though I lived the same as kids that grew up in Scottsdale houses, they still acted like they were better than me. And they still do..and they're not...so just a head's up about that lifestyle.
Avondale, Goodyear, Surprise...well a lot of people move out to those newer areas in the middle of nowhere..but it's in the middle of no where.
We just moved from ND to AZ a week ago and we love it here.....
We actually live in Queen Creek and it's nice, we really like it....
and it only takes me 8 min. to get to work and my husband 15 min....
there are lots of places including shopping facilities and eating places
right by where we live.....there is lots to do here......
Wow... poor Desert Rat. You sound like I used to feel - being a native Arizonan and watching everything around me change. Its hard, D-Rat, I feel for ya, but we 'uns gots to try to adapt. We gots to understand that today's Arizona ain't the Arizona of our past. Its a whole new world out there.
The Californians are most likely coming because they can't afford California any more, even though they may claim its because its becoming a "third world country"(?). Whatever that means...
...
But whatever the case may be - they're here, dude! Native Arizonans don't necessarily have to be the welcome wagon (there are plenty of organizations which will do that!), but we could be a little more tolerant and understanding and learn to adjust to what's happening out there.
Good post!
People should understand that it's not just their home town that is getting flooded by out-of-state people moving in. It's that way all over the country, people moving in, housing prices increasing, more traffic, more crime. It isn't "you people from California" who are ruining Arizona as some natives believe. The entire country is changing in exactly the same way, even here in Los Angeles. The population of the country is increasing from births and from both legal and illegal immigration. The increases in population aren't just going to go places other than your native city or state--they're going everywhere.
Actually I don't understand the federal government's immigration policy, or rather their lack of enforcement of any meaningful policy, and I blame that for much of the undesirable part of America's population increases, but that's a subject for a different discussion.
The people that are from here, most-not all-don't want you here, and have no problem treating you like it. It's the cities and their pocket books that want you here..and as a native, I can remember my friends and I telling people to go back home years ago. I was also speaking to a friend of mine who is 54, from Ohio, moved here 24 years ago, and said that when she pulled in past a shopping center when she first moved here and the kids were waiving and saying "welcome to Phoenix, now go home". This isn't new, we aren't the "nice" people that our cities make us out to be, and we don't like stupid small town people moving here....and here's why:
Please be aware that if you move here from a small city it does take 20 miles AT LEAST for the average commuter to get to work. Saying that, we have some very nice freeways here. The problem is, that in the last 10 years everyone from everywhere has moved here and somehow not realized that you actually need to go about 73-75 just to get anywhere in a timely manner and not get flipped off or run off the rode. You aren't living 5 min from home anymore, and you're moving to the 5th largest city in the nation-so please come here with the idea that you must change your driving. We like to speed here..and you are allowed to go 9 over on freeways-in fact cops go about 15 over most the time.
Understand that Mesa is not a retirement community. Oh how they've tried to make it one, but you know, we were smart-built a whole place for old people called SUN CITY-and I suggest that if you over the age of 55 and you don't want to be bothered with us "younger" people then you go there and don't try to take over the whole dang city-because we don't care where you move-outside of Sun City you are going to be treated like everyone else. On that same note...Sun City is a very nice city, not newer but updated-very affordable, and real houses. Please don't get scammed into moving into a "pre-manufactured" home on a lot that is not yours where you have to live by someone else's rules. AZ is known for land, and if you don't own your own and you've actually bought a house-then you have been scammed!
------so with that out of the way..please take into consideration these factors before moving here....
We have lots of illegals here. LOTS. Racism was never an issue growing up here..in fact, kind of like a real shocker when you really see it for the first time..and I'm not the only native to say that. But I can say that I can see a problem a brewin' based on the way some people are acting when they move here.
Know that this state is very Republican, with a very liberal side. Always has been..and it just depends on the economy to see which way we go..but I would tell you that in the Presidential election, I don't remember ever seeing our electoral votes going to the Democratic party. We seem to always end up in the red.
Know that lots and lot of people say there is tons to do here..but I see that tons of people hang out in tons of bars. Lots of drunks here. Quite a bit of drugs I've seen in the bar scene..and I no longer do the "scene" anymore because of it all. And I'm not talking, hanging out for a few beers..I'm talking blasted drunk, 9 hour binge drinking cuz it's the only place to hang out with all your buddies, and driving home SLOSHED. I've seen it, I used to work in those places, I know people who still do it..and I was almost even killed by a drunk driver when I was in my teens. The drinking problem around here is ridiculous.
For some reason, every child molester in the United States has moved to AZ. I don't think a day goes by in the news where they haven't caught another one. Keep tabs on the azcentral.com before moving here..it's our local website to the AZ Republic newspaper...and I really suggest you check out what I'm talking about before moving here with children.
And it seems like everyone dislikes their jobs. Sure you find a few who like their jobs..but mostly we have call center's, retail and sales here. Most people don't like that work, but yet everyone I know is always applying for a new job. So remember, even when the economy isn't down, if you apply for something, 100 other people probably are too..and you got to really fight for it here....but the good thing is that there is always some kind of employment opportunity here. So it may take a while, but eventually everyone finds a job.
Know your areas before you move here...I have lived in almost every city around over the years...and know the WHOLE Phx metropolitian area like the back of my hand. Lived in Casa Grande (we call it casa grand, btw) back in the 80's-newer houses put up..old town is now a dump. Haven't lived in Maricopa-but if you move there or Casa Grande-be prepared to never have any friends unless they live out there because no one's driving out there to visit you. The only road in and out is the famous I-10-which is overcrowded and connects right before the edge of Chandler with another freeway-then another freeway before Phx. I hear the drive is awful..and my many times in rush hr proved the people right. It's like a snail ride into Phx.
Gilbert & Chandler-both back and forth..nicer towards the outside more than the inside of the city..but they are very pricey..and really, besides the appeal of the houses they really don't offer anything as far as cities go. Tempe-total college town..home of ASU-nice houses in busy work areas-expensive with high HIGH property tax from what I've been told. Mesa-where almost everyone moves to because everything is always NEW NEW NEW(store wise-houses more towards the far eastern side like AJ). Lots of old people, lots of young people..lots of illegals. Downtown area of Mesa is old and dirty. Not too appealing. I live in far east Mesa now, almost by Apache Junction, not far from Queen Creek. I think after years over here I would definitely say I like the far northwest sides of town better.
Apache Junction-retirement community with lots and lots of trailors. It was like, at one time, the retirement community that wanted to live in AZ but couldn't afford Sun City. LOL. Well, lots of druggies there, people living with their 90 year old parents and riding bicycles. Really ghetto. Outer part of AJ towards Gold Canyon, and Gold Canyon itself is pretty nice..but very, very far from the actual downtown Phx area.
Queen Creek-what a nightmare-don't move there. Everyone I know that did regrets it. Far out of the way-a nice 2 lane road for miles to get to an actual freeway to get into town...live there and expect a 25 mile away job to take 2 hours to get to...and that is not a joke. But it is a good investment for 5-10 years from now when they get the roads done-except remember that AZ does not work fast at getting roads improved..and 5 to 10 years is not a joke.
Peoria-very nice in the northwestern part...I grew up there-age 7-18-wonderful memories, great schools in the Peoria district. Downtown Peoria area lots of illegals again. Glendale same thing..but then you have lots of Asian and Middle Eastern people for some reason. That boom came about 10 years back. I would say northern Glendale is a nice area..go past Peoria and it's pretty ghetto. But the good thing about the Glendale area, no matter what area you live in, it kind of feels like a small town there even though it's smack dab in the middle of the west side of the Phx area. People are friendly and there's a good night life scene if you like bars and you are younger and single..I spent my early 20's there..and I very much enjoyed it.
Phoenix..The only part I would even suggest is the northern part of Phx...towards Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Scottsdale is like it's own entity-and unless you have money don't even bother to look at Scottsdale..and really don't bother if you don't have a name. You can move to Chandler or East Mesa or anywhere for that matter in a just as good house in a just as good neighborhood for way less. But if you want to be seen as "high society" or you actually want to buy a mansion, go ahead and move there. I personally have always thought that people put too much emphasis on the name. I grew up in what is now priced as a $400k house in Northwest Peoria, and yet, somehow though I lived the same as kids that grew up in Scottsdale houses, they still acted like they were better than me. And they still do..and they're not...so just a head's up about that lifestyle.
Avondale, Goodyear, Surprise...well a lot of people move out to those newer areas in the middle of nowhere..but it's in the middle of no where.
You have no right to tell people not to move to a state just because you don't like out-of-staters. You come off as extremely concieted and rude in this thread. I think I'll tell all my friends looking to move to move to AZ just to make you mad
You have no right to tell people not to move to a state just because you don't like out-of-staters. You come off as extremely concieted and rude in this thread. I think I'll tell all my friends looking to move to move to AZ just to make you mad
Well first of all, I don't see where DesertRat told people to not move to Arizona. Second, I've had the opposite experience when telling Arizona residents I was thinking of moving there from California, they welcomed me and said things like they loved their town and hoped I would too. And finally, he does have a right to tell people not to move to Arizona (even though I can't find where he said that.) It's called freedom of speech and it's guaranteed by our Constitution. And you've got the right to laugh in his face and tell him he's FOS.
History shows that war is inevitable at reducing population. It always has been at some point. Not that I condone war. Even if the population continues to grow, I think if we rethink the way we structure society, it can be accommodated. Restructure what we do with technology and how. Put funding in the right places. Problem is there is too much greed, and want for power. All the narcissists of the world would hate a perfect happy world.
Ama
Remember too that once a country's birthrate drops below 2.1 children per woman (replacement level); we will soon be discussing population decline.
Even Mexico's birthrate is 2.4 down from 7.3 in 1962.
Desertrat! We just bought a home near Phoenix and I pray to God not all the folks down there are as ignorant as you are. You really need to get a life! I imagine you are uneducated - otherwise you'd realize that all these 'outsiders' buying homes are the ones saving your economys butt right now. If it wasn't for the 'outsiders' buying houses - your house prices would be even sadder than they are now. But I imagine with your attitude and lack of knowledge - you probably haven't thought of that have you??
Desert Rat I have no idea of how old you are but I'll stand by one of my favorite sayings "Age has nothing to do with maturity - it's only how long you've been around for".
Here's another one for you "If you still think the same today as you did 10 (insert any number in here) years ago -you've just wasted 10 ( insert same number here) years of your life". I imagine you are still the same hot head, negative, immature moron you were 10 years ago, and guaranteed to be the same in 10 years barring a miracle. Good luck with life Desert Rat!
For the record:
Housing prices flat exploded and not just here in the Phx area in the early 2000's-----the market was due for a correction-----and, we have not seen bottom yet.
Hmmm - the vibe given by the OP is similar to that of a turd in a punch bowl.
I am a native of this state and having left to see what the rest of the country offers and finally come home - I say bring on the changes. Sure there are concerns and growing pains, but anything worth having takes a lot of effort and difficulty to obtain.
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shut up
