Are Wages Higher in Arizona/Phoenix?

[Anglefan]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

There are reasons why home prices are generally cheaper in the Detroit MSA and why wages are generally higher here.

Such as?

[Returning2USA]

Originally Posted by Anglefan

Such as?

It's fairly obvious, mate.

[Anglefan]

Fill me in. Maybe demand is higher for houses in Phoenix than Detroit or taxes as another poster said, so wages go up as a result? Just guesses by me but I don't want to assume.

[DetroitN8V]

I actually don't find homes to be cheaper in Metro Detroit. My old house in Oakland County recently sold for $194/sq ft, which is somewhere between what you'd pay in Chanbert and Scottsdale. Now, there are many in the $200+/sq ft in my old area. Now if you're talking about say Redford or Warren, and compare them to Glendale or Avondale, I think you'll find parity on the lower end as well. Property taxes are significantly less here though.

[Anglefan]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I actually don't find homes to be cheaper in Metro Detroit. My old house in Oakland County recently sold for $194/sq ft, which is somewhere between what you'd pay in Chanbert and Scottsdale. Now, there are many in the $200+/sq ft in my old area. Now if you're talking about say Redford or Warren, and compare them to Glendale or Avondale, I think you'll find parity on the lower end as well. Property taxes are significantly less here though.

I find that Warren, Madison Heights, Saint Claire Shores, Hazel Park, and more all seem to be cheaper (some areas are more or less desirable than others) for at least the same quality of the house itself. But most I don't find to be really rough areas like areas of Detroit, Highland Park, etc.

I'm curious, where did you used to live? I live in Ferndale. Any places you'd suggest that area like that or Royal Oak?

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Anglefan

I find that Warren, Madison Heights, Saint Claire Shores, Hazel Park, and more all seem to be cheaper (some areas are more or less desirable than others) for at least the same quality of the house itself. But most I don't find to be really rough areas like areas of Detroit, Highland Park, etc.

I'm curious, where did you used to live? I live in Ferndale. Any places you'd suggest that area like that or Royal Oak?

I guess those blue collar, dumpy areas in MI are less than our lower-middle class areas here, but even on the low end, AZ's are nicer. I think the desirable areas here are very close if not less than those in MI when looking at Royal Oak, the Bloomfields, Birmingham, etc. and comparing them to Chanbert and Scottsdale.

My house was in Royal Oak and would go for well over $200/sq ft now. Mill Ave in Tempe actually looks like downtown Royal Oak with tree-lined streets with bars, shops and restaurants. Many are turned off by the college crowd though,although it's becoming more diverse age-wise. Gilbert has a fabricated downtown but it's smaller and mostly just restaurants. Old Town Scottsdale has probably the largest downtown area in the valley. Roosevelt Row in Phoenix is getting there but still not all that dense nor walkable. Unlike what you have in RO, Berkley, Ferndale, Birmingham, etc., the concept of each city having it's own downtown isn't really a thing here.