Help me!! Want to Move to ARIZONA / NEW MEXICO-ish

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Prescott, AZ sounds like it would be great for you. Only gets into the 90s sometimes in the summer, in the winter it snows every once in a while, but it doesn't stick for more than a couple hours. My dad has lived up there for a few years. The forest is just to the south of Prescott, literally a 10 minute drive and you'll be in the forest. But Prescott itself is a high desert.

Payson, AZ is more forest-y. Smaller town but big enough. Similar weather to Prescott, but maybe a little colder (nothing like you're used to).

Phoenix, boy is it hot. Going to be 105 on Friday. I'm not kidding. Phoenix has got to be the easiest city in the U.S. to get around. Go on Google Maps and zoom in, it's all North-South & East-West streets. Traffic isn't too bad, nothing compared to LA. Our winters get into the 30s sometimes and the windshields freeze up a couple times a year.

But for job availability, Phoenix-area is probably the best. Phoenix is connected to other cities, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Glendale, Avondale, Tempe etc. It's all one big city. Try to stay away from West Phoenix (Glendale, Avondale, Tolleson) as it's a little rough there. Also South Phoenix is a little rougher too. The East valley such as Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert is very very nice. Very clean and much nicer neighborhoods, but the houses are still affordable. I live in Mesa technically, but commute to Phoenix everyday (15 miles or so to Phoenix).

If you want to live a little more rural, look for Queen Creek, AZ, Maricopa, AZ, and Buckeye, AZ. Queen Creek is to the South East of Phoenix, Maricopa to the South, and Buckeye to the West. All are out far enough that they're a bit separated from the city but not too big of a drive into town. Houses are more affordable there as well and they're newer houses.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I've lived here my whole life.
 
If you're interested, my brother's house in the DFW mid cities is coming up for sale shortly. 3 br in need of updates,
Going to ask around $120k, most of the houses in his area sell around $140. Normal residential, about a mile south of the hoity- toidy that is southlake....
 
Most important question...

Does the OP and his wife have jobs lined up ?
Sometimes it difficult to move without guaranteed work lined up.
 
For employment, culture, diversity, and a large choice of communities...Phoenix is a great place to start. The prices improve for real estate the further out you go. I had a vacation home just north of Florence. Great area if you like to be almost halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. Case Grande is a decent area as well with lots of shopping for the ladies and easy access to nature areas if you like the desert.

If crime and run down neighborhoods (in many places) turn you off....I honestly would avoid being too close to Tucson. It's a fine place to visit, but if you don't have enough money to live in a nicer community...it's a bit dicey. Of course, many of the hills nearby have some very nice neighborhoods.

One thing about Southern Arizona is, as mentioned time and time again...is the extreme summer heat. I didn't mind it much, but many folks stay inside almost all summer and only go out at night (still hot) or stay in homes, malls, etc. But I was in up to 115 degree heat part of the time and I got used to it (with precautions). The rest of the year is typically astoundingly perfect temps.

I've not been much to Northern Arizona so I can't give any info worth anything.

Southern Utah is very nice. Beautiful rock formations/colors. But stay away from most of Salt Lake.
 
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I hope to some day find myself living in AZ. Seems like the last bastion of conservative living in a region that is overrun with snooty..well you get what I'm saying.

The one thing about that region is in the summer it can feel like the sun is literally 10 feet away from your skin. It's a heat and burn that you don't feel anywhere else.

The lack of natural disasters and dry climate means stuff stays around. Buildings just survive, but they fade from the UV rays.

Also you'll have to start using skin moisturizer year round. I would almost always get nosebleeds when I visited the SW. Cracked and bleeding knuckles were common too.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994

Phoenix, boy is it hot. Going to be 105 on Friday. I'm not kidding. Phoenix has got to be the easiest city in the U.S. to get around. Go on Google Maps and zoom in, it's all North-South & East-West streets. Traffic isn't too bad, nothing compared to LA. Our winters get into the 30s sometimes and the windshields freeze up a couple times a year.



Unless it has changed since I was there, the highways were always gridlocked. When a monsoon hit, they'd sometimes have to close sections down due to flooding.
 
Central New Mexico had decent seasonal weather that is not extreme. Roswell has a lot to offer if you can get past the UFO [censored]. I believe the population is approaching 50,000, so unless you are very picky, services there should meet your needs.Closest larger city is probably Lubbock, Texas with Albuquerque a few more miles.
 
Originally Posted By: earlyre
If you're interested, my brother's house in the DFW mid cities is coming up for sale shortly. 3 br in need of updates,
Going to ask around $120k, most of the houses in his area sell around $140. Normal residential, about a mile south of the hoity- toidy that is southlake....


Is your brother in the Hurst/Euless/Bedford area? Best friend of mine lives in Bedford and loves it. I'd love to see the Zillow listing for your brother's place. Pm it to me if you could,we're considering that area.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: earlyre
If you're interested, my brother's house in the DFW mid cities is coming up for sale shortly. 3 br in need of updates,
Going to ask around $120k, most of the houses in his area sell around $140. Normal residential, about a mile south of the hoity- toidy that is southlake....


Is your brother in the Hurst/Euless/Bedford area? Best friend of mine lives in Bedford and loves it. I'd love to see the Zillow listing for your brother's place. Pm it to me if you could,we're considering that area.


North Richland Hills,nearest major intersection is Davis/Starnes. it's under contract with the local century 21, but not on the MLS until he moves out and hands it over to the realtor, likely around the 25th.
 
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Sell your xB and buy a late model camry, your xB wont handle the heat but that Camry's smooth transmission and clean floors are comfortable.
 
You will wish you moved to the southwest sooner.

Done wonders for my health and well being.

I am in Central Texas.

Tempe AZ or Mesa AZ are nice suburbs outside Phoenix.

Plenty to do, and a drive up to see some snow in Flagstaff if you want to see it again.

We are about 200 miles "south" of Phoenix, but we are a little cooler and more humid. I actually prefer dry heat.

Construction might be a tough business, I work in an office and have a pool at home and good AC everywhere.
 
Loving all the posters from Tx. Definitely lots of nice affordable areas. The ones in DFW,where are the best places to look for affordable homes in nice areas?
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Have you ever visited AZ during summer time? If not, you definitely should. You'd be jumping from one extreme to another. Make sure you can handle it.

Arizona summer is like the oven. Outdoor activities are limited to 9PM to 5AM.
 
San Diego area is a nice place to live, there are plenty of good paying jobs in San Diego County. The only problem is housing is so expensive, especially if you want to live within walking distance to the beach, nothing under half million even 2 bedroom condo costs more than that.
 
Several years ago I wanted to relocate to Vegas. I booked a trip and spent three weeks there in August. I left two weeks before my wife and son, they came out for the last week of the trip. After the third day there I called my wife and told her there was no way in [censored] I'd live there in that heat. I suggest if you plan on relocating spend some time there, get a feel for the people and the climate.
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
San Diego area is a nice place to live, there are plenty of good paying jobs in San Diego County. The only problem is housing is so expensive, especially if you want to live within walking distance to the beach, nothing under half million even 2 bedroom condo costs more than that.


90% of people can't buy a house there so why bother dreaming about living there ?

Texas is good if you have to stretch your income.
 
Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Arizona summer is like the oven. Outdoor activities are limited to 9PM to 5AM.


wish everyone from California thought that!
wink.gif
 
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