We’re possibly moving to Phoenix and have questions? (Mesa: rental car, extended stay)

[OneBeachBum]

Hello,

My family and I currently live in Houston, TX but recently returned from living in Orlando, FL for eight months. Houston has become ridiculously overrun with crime and isn’t really a place where we’d like to raise a family. My wife is originally from Texas and I’m originally from Florida. Anyway, after about eight months in Florida and finding the cost of living to be too far out of whack with the pay and availability of jobs, we returned to Houston and found that after Hurricane Harvey our neighborhood has turned into a war zone and we want out.

We have a desire to try something new where neither of us have been to start a new life and after doing research have narrowed our choices down to Phoenix and Charlotte.

We’re looking at staying in an extended stay hotel for a month or finding a short term lease on an apartment and were wondering if anyone could suggest a decent area? At least a family friendly area. We’re looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom hopefully around the $800-$1000/mo range.

Are companies slow to hire in Phoenix? In Houston we’ve found that most employers won’t call to setup an interview for over 3 months or more.

I’m personally looking for work in an office or warehouse and my wife has experience in offices and telemarketing, will we have trouble finding jobs in those fields?

I’ve heard that traffic can get pretty bad but after driving for a decade in Houston, I’d imagine that it couldn’t be as bad, right?

We have two infant children, are rattle snakes and scorpions a huge problem? I mean I know they’re out there but are they out in abundance?

I’m sorry for writing so much and asking questions that people are probably tired of answering. I also know that people are probably sick of new people moving in, the same thing happened in Texas, so I feel your pain.

Beach Bum.

[viridianforest]

If you're looking for "family friendly", usually Gilbert considers themselves one of the most family friendly. I'm not sure what factors rank this answer, you may want to do an internet search, but I found in Gilbert there are many families with children. Chandler is supposedly another family friendly area.

Although, I am unsure about extended stay or short term apartment leases. In the Gilbert area, there may not be any available as they tend to fill quickly and aren't always within the $800 - $1,000 range. There could be something in Chandler for that price, but I'm not sure.

We have personally found that many companies are quick to contact within the Phoenix area. Many of them will call to set up an interview. Of course some companies will be quicker than others, it depends on their need. However, they were a lot quicker to hire than other areas we lived in. It seems as far as jobs, there's always something - call centers, retail, restaurants, etc.

As far as offices and telemarketing, I honestly don't think you'd have difficulty finding these jobs in the Phoenix area. It seems that there are a lot of them. However, I cannot confirm or deny this 100% because I have never been in these fields.

I remember when my husband was driving us through Houston one time and it was like 7 a.m. - when everyone was probably getting to work. It felt like the scariest thing ever. We've never done it again and if we do need to ever drive through Houston, we do it at like 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. when hardly anyone is out there. I feel like Phoenix traffic makes Houston traffic look like a cake walk, but that's my opinion.

As for rattlesnakes and scorpions, it generally depends on where you live. Smack dab in the middle of the city you probably won't see many if any at all. However, if you live somewhere and have a large desert stretch behind your yard or are in a more rural area then you probably will see them. I know there was a spot we were in in Gilbert for a while that had an abundance of scorpions, but a couple streets over did not have the same problem. Yes, they did come in the house, one time the neighbor complained about being stung multiple times in the year and had family that refused to visit because of it. This was a nice, HOA neighborhood, not anything run down.

However, we never got stung, but our cats killed the scorpions. Most areas I don't think you would need to worry too much, but definitely take precautions. Don't stick hands anywhere that you can't see, don't lift rocks/bricks/large panels of anything with your bare hands because you do not know what could be living under it, keep weeds/grass in the yard trimmed, check in and under children's outdoor toys before they play (inside playhouses, under toy cars they can sit inside, etc.), don't put shoes directly on feet without shaking them out if they have been sitting outside, and always pay attention to where you're going. I've only seen rattlesnakes a few times here, mostly when I was in the car and they crossed the road, and one time I lifted a wooden panel with my bare hands without thinking about it and there was a baby rattlesnake underneath (thankfully, it didn't notice me and I placed the board down as it traveled the opposite way). My first rattlesnake counter was when I was visiting Texas, interestingly enough. Of course they don't seek you out, but just keep in mind they could be around. I would honestly be more concerned about black widows and scorpions than rattlesnakes.

[OneBeachBum]

Originally Posted by viridianforest

If you're looking for "family friendly", usually Gilbert considers themselves one of the most family friendly. I'm not sure what factors rank this answer, you may want to do an internet search, but I found in Gilbert there are many families with children. Chandler is supposedly another family friendly area.

Although, I am unsure about extended stay or short term apartment leases. In the Gilbert area, there may not be any available as they tend to fill quickly and aren't always within the $800 - $1,000 range. There could be something in Chandler for that price, but I'm not sure.

We have personally found that many companies are quick to contact within the Phoenix area. Many of them will call to set up an interview. Of course some companies will be quicker than others, it depends on their need. However, they were a lot quicker to hire than other areas we lived in. It seems as far as jobs, there's always something - call centers, retail, restaurants, etc.

As far as offices and telemarketing, I honestly don't think you'd have difficulty finding these jobs in the Phoenix area. It seems that there are a lot of them. However, I cannot confirm or deny this 100% because I have never been in these fields.

I remember when my husband was driving us through Houston one time and it was like 7 a.m. - when everyone was probably getting to work. It felt like the scariest thing ever. We've never done it again and if we do need to ever drive through Houston, we do it at like 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. when hardly anyone is out there. I feel like Phoenix traffic makes Houston traffic look like a cake walk, but that's my opinion.

As for rattlesnakes and scorpions, it generally depends on where you live. Smack dab in the middle of the city you probably won't see many if any at all. However, if you live somewhere and have a large desert stretch behind your yard or are in a more rural area then you probably will see them. I know there was a spot we were in in Gilbert for a while that had an abundance of scorpions, but a couple streets over did not have the same problem. Yes, they did come in the house, one time the neighbor complained about being stung multiple times in the year and had family that refused to visit because of it. This was a nice, HOA neighborhood, not anything run down.

However, we never got stung, but our cats killed the scorpions. Most areas I don't think you would need to worry too much, but definitely take precautions. Don't stick hands anywhere that you can't see, don't lift rocks/bricks/large panels of anything with your bare hands because you do not know what could be living under it, keep weeds/grass in the yard trimmed, check in and under children's outdoor toys before they play (inside playhouses, under toy cars they can sit inside, etc.), don't put shoes directly on feet without shaking them out if they have been sitting outside, and always pay attention to where you're going. I've only seen rattlesnakes a few times here, mostly when I was in the car and they crossed the road, and one time I lifted a wooden panel with my bare hands without thinking about it and there was a baby rattlesnake underneath (thankfully, it didn't notice me and I placed the board down as it traveled the opposite way). My first rattlesnake counter was when I was visiting Texas, interestingly enough. Of course they don't seek you out, but just keep in mind they could be around. I would honestly be more concerned about black widows and scorpions than rattlesnakes.

Thank you for the reply, this is about the most genuine and thorough response I think I’ve ever had, so thank you.

[yukon]

I used to live in Houston. PHX traffic is a breeze compared to Houston. My drive in Houston was about 30 miles from the office and took an hour minimum no matter what time of day it was. My drive in PHX is about 26 miles and it takes me 25-30 minutes outside of rush hour (I usually work 10-6 to avoid traffic, works great). The weekend traffic is easy-peasy here compared to Houston. And unlike Houston, there are usually several alternate routes to get to where you need to be in PHX. Houston, you usually had one way and that was it.

I'm in Mesa, by the canal, but so far, no scorpions (fingers crossed). I'm in an older established area and the complex treats for pests regularly.

Can't help with the rest of your questions, sorry!

One thing to keep in mind. Charlotte will be pretty and green, much like you're used to in TX and FL. It will be humid, too, like TX and FL. PHX is dry and really only has 2 seasons: hot and comfortable. The summers can be brutal if you don't like heat. Personally, I'll take dry heat over humidity anyday but I grew up in PHX so I knew what I was getting into when I moved back. Charlotte weather may be more like what you're used to. Not saying either is bad, they're just different.

[yukon]

PS Like Houston, the metro is HUGE. Find temporary lodging in a central area, then rent somewhere longer term once you know where both of you will be working. If you can both get flex time, you'll be able to pick from a wider range of places to live. If one or both of you has to work traditional hours, you'll want to be as close to work as you can.

[Hal Roach]

1000 will not cover one month in an extended stay suite. There is one on Indian School, near W 6th Ave. Reviews are horrible. I would guesstimate 319 per week + lots of taxes.

[BIG CATS]

Well, if people keep moving here in droves (like they're doing), it wont be long before our traffic is equally as bad as Houston's. Too many Texans moving here lately. What gives? I thought TX was the "holy grail"??? I see em here flying their Cowboys flags and TX stickers on their cars. If youre so proud of TX, go the heck back!

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Well, if people keep moving here in droves (like they're doing), it wont be long before our traffic is equally as bad as Houston's. Too many Texans moving here lately. What gives? I thought TX was the "holy grail"??? I see em here flying their Cowboys flags and TX stickers on their cars. If youre so proud of TX, go the heck back!

Texans flocking to Arizona? That totally doesn't compute.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by Colt AZ

Texans flocking to Arizona? That totally doesn't compute.

You seriously don't see TX plates every few minutes out here? I certainly do. They're everywhere! Now that I mentioned that, you'll start to notice them yourselves.


There was a thread on this not too long ago. Someone else is observant like I am, apparently.
anyone else notice the huge influx of texans in arizona lately?

[DetroitN8V]

A lot of my rental cars throughout the country seem to have Texas plates. I don’t think license plates alone are any way to gauge where people come from.