Impressed with Utah (West Valley City, Ogden, Hooper: how much, buying a house, unemployment)

[bfr57]

My wife and I recently visited the area north of SLC, (Plain City, W. Haven, N. Ogden) looking for housing and schools. We're looking at relocating from Tucson as I have a job offer north of the valley. The short 4 days we were there, I was impressed with what I saw. No grafitti, clean for the most part, no gang-bangers running around in their bom boxes on wheels and baggy pants with underwear showing. There was a lot of infrastruture and industry, which we don't have much of, and a lot of building, both commercial and residential. We did hear of CA money coming driving prices up, but that's happened here already. But, we can get a lot more house for the money there than here. I felt comfortable in the areas we were at and the people we stayed with hardly ever lock their doors! I felt a great family value attitude and no religion issues at all. The public schools look they are head and shoulders above ours, but that doesn't take much when AZ rates 49th in the nation. I also liked that the illegal immigrants/Mexican influence wasn't prevelant. It's so bad here! A few things I didn't like was the weather! I'm used to AZ, so getting used to UT will take some time. Didn't like the fact that salt was used on roads in winter as I'm into and drive 30 year old vehicles that don't last in that environment. Another was the bug problem in summer. Where we were looking for housing, I was lead to believe mosquitos were really bad and since we're and outside activity based family, that has me concerned. All in all, we liked what we saw!

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by bfr57

Another was the bug problem in summer. Where we were looking for housing, I was lead to believe mosquitos were really bad and since we're and outside activity based family, that has me concerned. All in all, we liked what we saw!

I do not notice any particularly bad problem with mosquitos, and we have a pond right behind our house. We pay a slight bit of our property taxes for mosquito abatement.

[bfr57]

Coolcats,
What town do you live in?

[coolcats]

Originally Posted by bfr57

Coolcats,
What town do you live in?

The very western edge of West Valley City, recently incorporated from Salt Lake county.

[michelleleigh]

You will love it hear> Spent most of my life in NM (beautiful state but it needs help to say the least) Spent almost 3 yrs in ny Could not find decent green chilli. Been hear for a few months and cant get over the fact that people leave there bikes and stuff out and its still there the next morning. People are so friendly and nice. I cants say enough about Utah oh and it is beyond beautifull out hear. Good luck in wahtever you choose

[Hooper Dude]

To give a comparason concerning mosquitos. I have lived in Hooper, UT (about 40 minutes North from Salt Lake) for a little over two years now. I work at a plant right next to the Great Salt Lake that used to have horrible mosquito problems. Three years ago my plant all but eradicated the mosquitos using technology...not chemicals which is used in most abatement programs. My plant placed several dozen Mosquito Magnet machines around the property and during that same season, the mosquitoes were gone. The machines, if you are not familiar with them, use propane and other attractants to lure the mosquitoes into a vacuum path and catch bag. The mosquitoes then dehydrate and die. Up to 3000 mosquitoes can be caught nightly. The technology to lure and trap mosquitoes has improved significantly since then and the prices for these machines has come down considerably. The old machines used to use propane, ran 24/7 and lasted about 45 days before needing to have their propane tanks refilled. Current technology allows the machine to run only when mosquitoes are active, while using several luring devices. The propane tank can last an entire season too. I recently purchased one of these machines myself for my half-acre of land in Hooper. It cost me $389.50 and had free shipping. It works for 1.5 acres and uses 7 or 9 different attractants (I can't remember how many, exactly). I wanted my backyard back (abatement in Hooper is pretty poorr) bad enough to make this investment. Don't let bugs keep you out of Utah. It is the friendliest state in which I have ever lived. I am reteired Navy and have lived in several different areas. The unemployment is also THE LOWEST IN THE NATION.

[Calibelle]

As far as mosquitos go.... I got eaten alive in the summers of 2000, and 2004. Both were summers when I spent a lot of time near lakes/streams. In 2000, I had a friend who lived right by Utah Lake, and I got eaten alive. In 2004, in the neighborhood I lived in, there was a small stream near my house, and I also had a small baby pool, which I had to get rid of, because it was attracting more and more mosquitos. I finally had to buy that waterproof sunscreen that has the bug repellent already in it. It was expensive, and didn't smell all that nice, but it did the trick.

[nunusguy]

Last year Texas was #2 in the country in deaths from W.Nile.
Not a surprise, but then I was stunned to see that #1 was Idaho, which of
course is contiguous with Utah.
I couldn't help but wonder how much of that problem in Idaho has spilled over into Utah ?

[Trebek]

I live on a river and the mozzies are terrible. We also have chickens which convey the virus.

Two years ago my son contracted West Nile virus. It gave him a strong headache, and wiped him out for about a week. About once a day he would spring up and be back to normal for about three hours, play outside, eat alot, and then crash for the next 12 hours or so, sweating now and then. The headache was caused by swelling of the brain (which in a few cases can result in meningitus). He said the sickness isn't unpleasant (no nausia/vomiting), but it was debilitating for about a week, he was in quite a daze. Aspirin was sufficient for the headaches and spurts of fever. He had a healthy appetite that week! He still won't wear insect repellent to this day.

The doctors can't really do anything for it, but assured us that only about one out of 100 people die from the virus, and those that do die usually are in a weakened state of health due to age or other things.

Research the subject on the web, it's really not that deadly of a disease. My guess is that its about as dangerous as the regular strains of Flu, but without feeling so awful as flu symtoms seem to make one feel.

The insect repellent people of course put "protects you from DEADLY West Nile virus" on all their products.
I hear those mosquito machines, mentioned earlier, are the real deal. The Army invented them and use them in jungle environments.

[GypsyLee]

Originally Posted by bfr57

My wife and I recently visited the area north of SLC, (Plain City, W. Haven, N. Ogden) looking for housing and schools. We're looking at relocating from Tucson as I have a job offer north of the valley. The short 4 days we were there, I was impressed with what I saw. No grafitti, clean for the most part, no gang-bangers running around in their bom boxes on wheels and baggy pants with underwear showing. There was a lot of infrastruture and industry, which we don't have much of, and a lot of building, both commercial and residential. We did hear of CA money coming driving prices up, but that's happened here already. But, we can get a lot more house for the money there than here. I felt comfortable in the areas we were at and the people we stayed with hardly ever lock their doors! I felt a great family value attitude and no religion issues at all. The public schools look they are head and shoulders above ours, but that doesn't take much when AZ rates 49th in the nation. I also liked that the illegal immigrants/Mexican influence wasn't prevelant. It's so bad here! A few things I didn't like was the weather! I'm used to AZ, so getting used to UT will take some time. Didn't like the fact that salt was used on roads in winter as I'm into and drive 30 year old vehicles that don't last in that environment. Another was the bug problem in summer. Where we were looking for housing, I was lead to believe mosquitos were really bad and since we're and outside activity based family, that has me concerned. All in all, we liked what we saw!

>>>>> I moved from CA to UT. I love the beauty of this state! My schools were wonderful!

I can tell you first hand these particular areas are very nice areas. They do have some 'bully' problems at some of the schools and some gang problems. It's nowhere near what the larger cities deal with.

There is overcrowding in the schools like most of the schools in Utah (I graduated with 400 students). But the area out there is growing and there's more opportunities for housing. The view of the mountains from those areas is breathtaking every day! I could actually see them compared to the CA smog covering the mountains! LOL

*TIP* When buying a house out there make sure if you are in an area where the Water Table is High. Check with the city, don't trust the owner or builders to tell you. In some areas the Water Table is high and if the builder built a basement in the house the potential for it to flood is high. Many areas around there avoid basements because of this but we had a builder who did it anyway..we suffered the consequences! Our mistake!

Plain City is a great area. Watch for the Water Tables there. Housing is plentiful. You can usually get a house with a little bit larger yard. Schools are good but crowded.

W. Haven very similar to Plain City. A little more expensive housing even though they are so close to each other. Depending on the zoning the schools may be the same as Plain City.

N. Ogden is considered more upscale. It's a bit more expensive to live there. The schools are big and crowded.

The people in these areas have always been great!

Good Luck!