Seattle to Phoenix....should we make the move? (Mesa, Tempe: transplants, house)

[wsugrad03]

My wife and I have been talking about moving to Phoenix off and on for the last 2 years. Now I have a job offer for Boeing (Mesa) and 4 days to decide if we should finally make the move.

Here's the pros and cons I can think of from my perspective. Hopefully other Seattle transplants might be able to chime in.

Pros of Phoenix:

1) Cost of living: We'll actually be able to buy a nice home for $450K. Financially, we'll be better off in Phoenix.

2) More sunshine: Perhaps too much sunshine. Overall, the weather will be more conducive to outdoor activities.

3) Okay job market: Phoenix has a lot of defense tech business, which is what I'm currently in, and several other commercial software/hardware tech companies. The "Silicon Desert" is more dried up now than it once ones, but it's not terrible.

Cons of Phoenix:

1) Extreme heat. Miserable summers, which we'll have to cope with.

2) No mountains, no skiing, no green, no Puget Sound, no lakes.

3) Not a "progressive" city. More of a conservative republican strong hold. More plastic, materialistic people.

4) Lack of urban/cosmopolitan energy and vibe. More of a sprawling, sleepy suburb.


Seattle would be a perfect city for us if it wasn't for the weather and the extremely high cost of living. Just trying to decide if we should give up the city we love for a more affordable life in the desert. That's the $65K question.

How did previous Seattle transplants rationalize their move and what do they think of their decision to move to Phoenix?

Thanks.

[movin'on]

Well, I can share my experience moving here from the SF Bay Area - it was a BIG mistake. Sure, I have a lovely house in a great neighborhood and there is always 1480 KPHX on the radio to try to help me in this conservative town, but it's just not the same. In retrospect, I would have stayed put and found a way to make it work. I am not happy here and think it's oh so boring, which it actually is, compared to the Bay Area.

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by wsugrad03

My wife and I have been talking about moving to Phoenix off and on for the last 2 years. Now I have a job offer for Boeing (Mesa) and 4 days to decide if we should finally make the move.

Here's the pros and cons I can think of from my perspective. Hopefully other Seattle transplants might be able to chime in.

Pros of Phoenix:

1) Cost of living: We'll actually be able to buy a nice home for $450K. Financially, we'll be better off in Phoenix.
and the taxes property taxes are much lower
2) More sunshine: Perhaps too much sunshine. Overall, the weather will be more conducive to outdoor activities.
I suffer from SAD but from too much darn sunshine....it never stops shining except at night.

3) Okay job market: Phoenix has a lot of defense tech business, which is what I'm currently in, and several other commercial software/hardware tech companies. The "Silicon Desert" is more dried up now than it once ones, but it's not terrible.
seems like everything pays less here than in Seattle
Cons of Phoenix:

1) Extreme heat. Miserable summers, which we'll have to cope with.
Aint no lie, the summers are beyond miserable, and I mean, I went out side one day, I swear the water in my eyeballs started to boil
2) No mountains, no skiing, no green, no Puget Sound, no lakes.
tons of mountains. lots of lakes, I think at least 4 lakes within 25 miles. Cacti and desert beauty is also beautiful. If you want green, mountains and skying, you have a 2 hour drive up north. Arizona is actually the state with the largest ponderosa pine forest.
3) Not a "progressive" city. More of a conservative republican strong hold. More plastic, materialistic people.
This will be a little hard on you, as it is still on me. However, there are places I have been, such as Texas where youll feel like your stuck in the twilight zone when you talk to people about their weird conservative views. No one here is going to attack you for your views, they just vote red for what ever reason.

4) Lack of urban/cosmopolitan energy and vibe. More of a sprawling, sleepy suburb.
Hang out in Tempe, it aint Seattle, but its like little portland I think

Seattle would be a perfect city for us if it wasn't for the weather and the extremely high cost of living. Just trying to decide if we should give up the city we love for a more affordable life in the desert. That's the $65K question.
youll miss that rain....oh you will DEARLY MISS IT.
How did previous Seattle transplants rationalize their move and what do they think of their decision to move to Phoenix?

Thanks.

I rationalized my move by the price of homes and the huge amount of job opportunities. I now feel that I have to return to the Vancouver Washington area. Homes are cheaper there, the jobs are in Portland, just over the river. Just give me a home with some fir trees in the shade and I will be happy for the rest of my life. Phoenix has everything I was looking for except for not giving me a feeling of home. I think your making a mistake by moving here now, You need to move here in the beginning of summer just to see if you can cut it.

[Foreverking]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Well, I can share my experience moving here from the SF Bay Area - it was a BIG mistake. Sure, I have a lovely house in a great neighborhood and there is always 1480 KPHX on the radio to try to help me in this conservative town, but it's just not the same. In retrospect, I would have stayed put and found a way to make it work. I am not happy here and think it's oh so boring, which it actually is, compared to the Bay Area.

You know, being that your from the bay area, do you find that everyplace in this town looks absolutly the same. walled nighborhoods, stirp mall palm trees (repeat).

I have a hard time tuning in 1480. The signal seems to end right where my home is. I have to tune it in on my computer

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Foreverking

You know, being that your from the bay area, do you find that everyplace in this town looks absolutly the same. walled nighborhoods, stirp mall palm trees (repeat).

I have a hard time tuning in 1480. The signal seems to end right where my home is. I have to tune it in on my computer

Well, I am streaming it right now. I do get it on the radio but agree the signal is weak after 6 p.m. Yes, I do find that everything looks the same

[jd433]

Boy you are in for a big regret. I moved from Seattle to Phoenix about 12 years ago and had to leave because the desert was killing us.

[military spouse]

That's a tough one!! Phoenix has afforded us numerous opportunities for great careers and making more money than we could have imagined making before my husband retired from the military. I LOVE our house. It is nicer than any other house in which we have lived. I love Palm Valley (Goodyear)! However, Phoenix doesn't feel like home. It is just too hot. Too few deciduous trees. No changing of leaves that remind me which season to enjoy at that moment. Hot weather and colder weather with not too much in between. Just make sure that you are moving for the right reasons!! It is a tough decision!!

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by military spouse

That's a tough one!! Phoenix has afforded us numerous opportunities for great careers and making more money than we could have imagined making before my husband retired from the military. I LOVE our house. It is nicer than any other house in which we have lived. I love Palm Valley (Goodyear)! However, Phoenix doesn't feel like home. It is just too hot. Too few deciduous trees. No changing of leaves that remind me which season to enjoy at that moment. Hot weather and colder weather with not too much in between. Just make sure that you are moving for the right reasons!! It is a tough decision!!

My wife was commenting on how this one tree was losing its leaves, and My comment: No its not changing to fall colors, they just couldnt stand the heat anymore and ended up committing suicide.

[Tailofdogma]

You really, really should get a better idea of the area and experience the relentless heat before you just up and come here. It is something that you must experience in order to really appreciate. I'm not going to say anything about the people. Nearly everyone I know is from somewhere else and half of them want to get the hell out of here. The other half love it. It really does take a certain type of person to love this place. I'll still argue that, apart from housing, the cost of living is not really anything to get excited about, much less leave a place like Seattle. As far as the Republicans go, well, yeah. 1480 has Mike Malloy, which kind of makes up for it.

[roundball]

I also listen to 1480.

It would be nice if you had a few weeks to decide. That way you could travel down here for a visit.

That a big decision to make in four days. I moved here without visiting (my wife visited for a few days) and........I like most things. At the same time I don't.