Moving from Richmond VA to Phoenix AZ(need advice) (mortgage, transfer)

[RRW0601]

So in the middle of july (god help us) my family and I are moving from Richmond VA to Phoenix AZ. I work for Bank of America and I will be transferring and my wife works for suntrust bank as a mortgage closer. She wont have a job when we move because apparently suntrust doesn't exist in Arizona. Her main concern is finding a job in that same field. Does anybody know what the market is like for a mortgage closer or even a job similar to that??? Also I heard from some people that the heat is out of this world but then I hear from other people that its actually not that bad and here in the south its worse because of the high temp and high humidity so I just wanted some more feedback on that. Preferably someone who has experienced both climates. I also want to know your opinion of Phoenix AZ as a whole. Are there any surprises I need to know???We are mainly moving because we want to experience something new and in Richmond there aren't to many things to do as a family. Im also a huge sports fan so being in a city that has all 4 major sports teams is awesome. The only down side I see to it is that I have two daughters (7 and 6) and they will be away from their families because all of our family is here. But any type of advice would be great to help us better prepare for our life changing move in 3 months. Thanks

[observer53]

No one can tell you how you will all react to the summer heat, it's an entirely individual thing. It is VERY different than the humidity combined with heat that is found in the southeast. It gets somewhat more humid here in the "monsoon" season starting in late June through September (there are some breaks, with drier air, during that time) but it is still not as humid as in other places.

Phoenix will be very different from Richmond, in many ways. The desert southwest and the south really are two very different places, starting with climate and geography, but it doesn't end there. I can't really tell you what will "surprise" you, as I don't know what you know already, or what your preconceived notions are about anything except the summer heat. There's a wealth of information on this forum that you should spend some time reading.

[goolsbyjazz]

Observer53 is right, people respond differently to the heat. I lived in NC before moving to Phoenix and will try my best to describe the summer heat. In North Carolina I found it hard to breath at times in the summer because of the humidity whereas out here that hasn't been an issue. However, I feel the sun is extremely more intense here because of the lack of humidity. Back east, there was no escaping the humidity, but out here stepping into the shade during summer one can definitely feel a cooler, much more bearable change. Think sauna (east) vs convection oven (Phoenix). The two cities are very different in nearly every way. My advice to you is to not look for ways that Phoenix is like Richmond, but to be open and take Phoenix for what it is. It took me two years to adjust to life in the desert because I couldn't let go of what I had in the east. However, once I got past that period of time I was able to see and appreciate the "beauty" of the Sonoran desert. There were plenty of jobs for mortgage closers before the crash, now I am told (by friends in the industry) there are jobs out there, but far fewer. I wish your family well with the move.

[RRW0601]

Thanks observer and goolsbyjazz for the input. NC and VA summers are quite similar and that's exactly how I feel when it gets in the high 90's here. Its hard to breathe. Yeah I remember visiting Phoenix last October and it was in the high 80's and it felt great but the sun was quite intense and I wasn't use to the sun being that bright. But at night it felt awesome. Im sure however I feel about the summer I will adapt and make the best out of my move. thanks again guys