Phoenix ranks at the bottom for retirees? (Mesa, Yuma: low income, real estate)

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I am tempted to move to a colder clime myself. I spend my summers on a waterfront property up near the Canadian border now and coming back here, even in October, is thermal and visual shock. Phoenix has much to do for people who are into going to restaurants and such and great medical as poster above finds important. But it is a tough place to live once you get past the active retirement years with traffic and the congestion. Sitting in the rocker staring out the picture window at a frozen lake in winter seems oh so much more peaceful than dealing with a freeway closure.

I will say that where they moved to in the Poconos is drop dead gorgeous. I would move there in a heartbeat but it is a resort town and I still have to work

[AndroidAZ]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

Believe me Florida is no retirement haven anymore either. It was once but times change. Notice how the article is pushing Florida. Florida is an extremely overcrowded Peninsula and that is an understatement. It is poorly developed with nonstop development, yet a serious lack of infrastructure. This song and dance rating in the article was probably based on No Income tax and no snow to deal with. Florida is no longer cheap and the add on cost to live here is a big concern for some retirees. The cost of Insurance itself can price a retiree out of this state. Not to mention the substandard medical care and access to Specialist in several regions of Florida. Or the constant yearly threat and stress of violent storms.

Yes Arizona has its problems no place is perfect. However be careful letting articles steer you from one place to another. The only best place is the place that fits our own personal needs. Not what articles think is best.

Fully agree with this. Have traveled to Florida for years (have an upcoming flight to FL to visit friends), really don't see the appeal over Phoenix. Aside from threats from rising waters making it uninhabitable over time, annual hurricane risks of wiping out your home or risk of death / injury, high humidity / mosquitos, unpredictable stormy weather year round, poor zoning and city planning, I guess it is somewhat attractive from a tax perspective.

I have friends who live in Florida and I have to send them regular texts wishing them safety and wellness during extreme weather events, all the while to be glad to be in AZ.

Phoenix definitely is not perfect, but what place is, really?

I find the cold far more intolerable than the heat. Having to spend holidays in the midwest where I freeze my butt off, deal with the nasty salted roads, threats of skidding into other cars on icy days...not sure I see the appeal.

Overall I'll take the heat (and a nice pool) over the freezing cold. Now with coal and oil becoming extremely pricey, winter heat might cost more than summer electricity in Phoenix.

Overall, I'm not sure if it's good or bad news that Phoenix is less attractive to retirees. Many of the highly desirable places in the world are not all that affordable to retirees. It's strange to live in a place that has huge population swings depending on the season, and economy is so subject to snowbirds and retirees. So is it a bad thing that Phoenix is falling on this (arbitrary and biased) list?

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Re: affordability. That's no longer in the vocabulary. Some of the newer active adult locations took off! For instance, look at this one for $875K in Peoria (Vistancia Trilogy) https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...3_M29104-96661

Or this one in Buckeye (Victory) for https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...6_M28323-96692

Or this one 2681 square footer in Rio Verde's Trilogy subdivision for close to $1.5M which is more than $500 a square foot. And it's not on the golf course.
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...3_M12073-56603

Or this 2200 square footer in Pebble Creek (Goodyear) weighing in at $725K https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...5_M16121-62751

Money is coming in from WA, CA, UT, and the Midwest. People are tossing crazy money at these places!

[AndroidAZ]

Yup the rich retirees are coming here since it's still super cheap compared to other desirable locations.

[Greenvalleyfan]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Understood and agree but my parents are in their 70s/80s and opted to move from the Southwest to PA as it was more affordable and not as hot. My In-laws are in Payson and considering moving to TN as Payson is getting too expensive and crowded as well. Weather may be a factor but not for everyone.

Of course there are still areas that would make sense for retirees if not the Metros (Phoenix/Tucson). We have had a few family friends move to Sierra Vista and Casa Grande. My parents were in Camp Verde and Litchfield Park for a while...I don't know why they decided PA outside of affordability and natural beauty. I think they are going to freeze.

I don't know how they'll do it after living in Arizona. My house is under construction and hope this will be my last winter in MD. And, hoping I have many warm winters in Arizona. Humidity on the east coast is getting harder to deal with also. Being stuck in the house winter and summer sucks.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Greenvalleyfan

I don't know how they'll do it after living in Arizona. My house is under construction and hope this will be my last winter in MD. And, hoping I have many warm winters in Arizona. Humidity on the east coast is getting harder to deal with also. Being stuck in the house winter and summer sucks.

I was going to let you in on the dirty little secrets about "warm" winters and "dry" summers in Arizona, but don't want to burst your bubble.

[john3232]

Originally Posted by AndroidAZ

Fully agree with this. Have traveled to Florida for years (have an upcoming flight to FL to visit friends), really don't see the appeal over Phoenix. Aside from threats from rising waters making it uninhabitable over time, annual hurricane risks of wiping out your home or risk of death / injury, high humidity / mosquitos, unpredictable stormy weather year round, poor zoning and city planning, I guess it is somewhat attractive from a tax perspective.

I have friends who live in Florida and I have to send them regular texts wishing them safety and wellness during extreme weather events, all the while to be glad to be in AZ.

Phoenix definitely is not perfect, but what place is, really?

I find the cold far more intolerable than the heat. Having to spend holidays in the midwest where I freeze my butt off, deal with the nasty salted roads, threats of skidding into other cars on icy days...not sure I see the appeal.

Overall I'll take the heat (and a nice pool) over the freezing cold. Now with coal and oil becoming extremely pricey, winter heat might cost more than summer electricity in Phoenix.

Overall, I'm not sure if it's good or bad news that Phoenix is less attractive to retirees. Many of the highly desirable places in the world are not all that affordable to retirees. It's strange to live in a place that has huge population swings depending on the season, and economy is so subject to snowbirds and retirees. So is it a bad thing that Phoenix is falling on this (arbitrary and biased) list?

Sausalito in Northern Cal.

That's where I would live if money wasn't a concern.

[Greenvalleyfan]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I was going to let you in on the dirty little secrets about "warm" winters and "dry" summers in Arizona, but don't want to burst your bubble.

As long as I don't have ice hanging off my butt while I'm snow blowing like I do now, it'll be good. Yep, I know about monsoon season also. Lol

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by Greenvalleyfan

I don't know how they'll do it after living in Arizona. My house is under construction and hope this will be my last winter in MD. And, hoping I have many warm winters in Arizona. Humidity on the east coast is getting harder to deal with also. Being stuck in the house winter and summer sucks.

So...interesting story from helping to move them. We were dropping off the UHaul at this little dealership out there. The attendant asked how everything went and I said "2800 miles with no issues". We talked a little bit and told him my parents were retiring there and he asked "Why would they want to retire HERE?" I just responded "Have you seen where you live? It is beautiful out here."

Moral of the story...I think everyone wants change at some point. Hate the winters and rain...move to the desert. Sick of 120° summers and lack of humidity? Move to a coast or back east. The only happy medium I have found is California and then you are paying the price to live there. It is just the desire and perception that you are escaping to somewhere "different".

We still get weather...we still get freezes in the winter (normally 1 or 2), Northern AZ gets snow, sometimes we get snow in the lower elevations, we get dust storms, dust devils, flash floods, monsoons...usually nothing catastrophic but the relentless sunny days will get to you eventually.

Anyway...plenty of threads on AZ weather and climate as well as the variability of elevation to that climate. Hope you enjoy it as much as you think you will.

[scully2010]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Phoenix is too crowded for retirees now. It is nothing like it was back when they put in all those trailer parks in Mesa for retirees. Sun City is now overpriced and out of reach for anyone not coming from a high cost of living area where their home sold for more than they cost here. Crime is rampant everywhere these days.
Outside of Phoenix, though, there are still a few places that might be desirable. Yuma?

I remember those from the early 90s! My friends had a grandma who lived with her boyfriend in a really nice mobile home park in Apache Junction.