Contemplating moving to AZ

G.R. · #1 (**permalink**) 05-28-2002, 06:33 PM

We are thinking of moving to the Phoenix area. Though we've been there numerous times over the years on business, vacation , etc and have "sort of " looked at some of the areas, homes, etal. we are not that familiar with the city.
We did like the area of Northeast Phoenix south of the 101 and west or east of 51--(Greenway RD-Pkwy area?) My wife would be transfering to an office down around Camelback area--me I can work most anywhere.
In-put would be great via my e-mail:hc38t@msn.com or post here.

Thanks,
Gary Akin

p.s. Need to get out of the Pacific NW

John-Tucson · #2 (**permalink**) 05-28-2002, 09:57 PM

Why Phoenix ??? Arizona is like Washington, Oregon and California because the state is so diversified. Phoenix is HOT, HOT, HOT in the summer. You can plan on running your air conditioner 24 hours a day from mid-June until mid-September. From 110 in the day to a low of 94 at 4:30AM. However, you can live with it for the few months of heat. (I will not mention the cool tempertures here in Tucson). I will say that Phoenix is the Capital, but Tucson has the better basketball and football and baseball teams. I will say on the positive side that Phoenix has a GREAT smog problem. Again on the positive side, Phoenix has a wonderful Interstate system, (when it isn't stopped cold by an accident.) There are a lot of Arizona Cobra owners through out the state. The state has four seasons in the northern half and two seasons from Phoenix south. Any way that you cut it Arizona is a GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. John

G.R. · #3 (**permalink**) 05-28-2002, 10:11 PM

John-Tucson,

Would really like to go to Tucson but my wife's company doesn't have an office there and there is noway she would even consider commuting.
We'd still rather move someplace we don't have to wear sweats or fleece all year round-- and where it is warm or even hot.
Lived there for a year about 30 yrs. ago so I Know what the summers are like(wife too, as she has been there on business a lot during every season over the last couple of years.)
Plus we could drive the Cobra rather than have it sit in the garage 'cuz it's raining.

John-Tucson · #4 (**permalink**) 05-28-2002, 11:29 PM

Gary, Mike Canning is the unofficial "boss" of the Arizona Cobra Club (gang). He lives in northwest Phoenix, Peoria, to be exact. You will see many of his comments on this thread. Mike can lead you in the right direction if you are planning to relocate to that area. My wife is a real estate agent in the State of Arizona and if she can be of any assistance please let us know. John PS> I spent my time as a web footed individual in Washington. Welcome to the golf and picnics of Arizona. John PS, Dump your rain gear. So far this year we have had .68" of rain. This will be a very bad year year for forest fires here.

Neal Jackson · #5 (**permalink**) 05-28-2002, 11:48 PM

Gary,

Any chance of moving to the cool country of Pinetop, AZ? Bout 3 hours NE of the Phx valley area.

Either way, if you relocate to AZ - welcome!

vettestr · #6 (**permalink**) 05-30-2002, 10:20 AM

Hello Gary,
I hope some of this will help but opinions of the best parts of town are like favorite colors. I lived on 17th street and the parkway for a few years and lived in Moon Valley (west of your location) for years. Now live at about 59th Ave and Greenway. Your choice mentioned is an older established area with average size yards and old enough to have outlived the ASSOCIATION FEES and C&C restrictions for the most part. You will have a fair size front and rear yard with maybe even a RV gate on the side possible. 3 bedrooms 2 baths a pool and nice landscape for $125K to $150K should be very easy to find. If you want a Paradise Valley or Scottsdale address forget that price!! Close to the freeways or the 101 and the 51 for the most part were built on top of existing housing and screwed up the value and view of those houses not to mention the resale value. Like any big city there are higher crime spots and bad parts of town but a little checking will tell you about those.
There are many new cookie cutter, 6 feet between houses, same color/theme houses with ASSociation Fees on newer construction around that are available. Some areas will cost an extra 25% for just the name. I agree that you do not want to live next door to the cousin of Jeff Foxworthy with weeds covering the tops of the old cars but hate asking permission from a self appointed GOD to install a sat. dish or what color I can repaint the trim on my house.
Good luck on the search and always look forward to a new Cobra in town. Jeff

Back in Black · #7 (**permalink**) 05-30-2002, 10:36 AM

In the future, the north half of AZ has a lot to offer. But we would NEVER miss out on the summers here in WA! They are awesome, and sometimes even HOT. The evenings can be cool though.
The first year we were here, there were several days over 100 degrees. There are many summer days in the 80s and even 90s here in Western WA... Also, Eastern WA is a genuine desert, very hot in the summer, sparsely populated, and not too far away either!

Either way, I hear Phoenix has a BAD crime, traffic, and smog problem. Tucson or even further north would be my choice, if possible. AZ was our second choice when we escaped Hotel CA in 1991

mikiec · #8 (**permalink**) 05-30-2002, 11:52 AM

Gary,

I've lived it the North West part of town for over 30 years so I'm biased in my opinion.

I like the northwest area as I find it less crowded. It seems to be cheaper to live, with housing costs less than the east.

As Jeff says if you are looking for a new home then CC&R's will apply. Most are not bad but they do limit you in what you want.

Have you contacted the chamber of commerce for a re-location package? Does your wife's job offer relocation assistance?

You migt want to give John-Tucson's wife a call for additional information.

Mike

Jason Lee Nye · #9 (**permalink**) 05-30-2002, 06:30 PM

I live and grew up on the NW side of Phoenix. NW area is just as nice as the NE side and you get more house for the same money. Just my opinion.

Welcome to Arizona, it really is a great place. Yes Phoenix can get hot in the summers but remember you are 2 hours from the pines, 4 hours from Rocky Point or 5-6 hours from California. Utah and Colorado is a jump away. If you like the outdoors, there is plenty of fishing, hunting & hiking. If you are into the offroad thing, plenty of rocks, washes and mountains to roll around in. You are not limited like other states as in the terrain being the same. Here it seems the terrain changes drastically every 30 miles up and down mountains to open ranges.

p.s. just don’t feed or get to close to Mike, he bites.

mikiec · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2002, 11:17 AM

Gary, Don't worry I only bite the young and tender,,,,

Mike

Jason Lee Nye · #11 (**permalink**) 05-31-2002, 11:24 AM

Mike just gets upset that I can still see and hear.

chopper · #12 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 03:52 PM

A minor dissenting opinion from the NE region around Phoenix, namely Mesa. I live about as far out as you can get and still be in Mesa, almost to the county line and just west of Apache Junction. State park just north of me, shooting range two miles down the road, view of the Superstition Mountains out the front door. I would point out that they are presently working on the 202 freeway which goes around the north side of the east valley and, if we can ever believe the politicians, should be finished through Power Road (three miles west of my house) by the end of the year. This will give a relatively straight shot into the 101 and downtown Phoenix area. It’ll be about 20 miles but all divided freeway. Housing costs are more reasonable here than in areas closer to Phoenix if that’s a concern. If you’d like any info, drop me an e-mail. Good luck during the transfer & move.

mikiec · #13 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 05:16 PM

Chopper is right about the area finally getting some decent roads to get around on. And his side of town is still affordable. Just close to New Mexico

It used to take, 20 years ago, over 1.5 hrs to get to his area from the NW valley. Now less than 45 minutes.

Remember where ever area you move to ....there are plenty of Cobra people to hang with.

Mike

jayscobras · #14 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 06:02 PM

IT'S A DRY HEAT..................THEN AGAIN SO IS AN OVEN

COULDN'T RESIST

MIKIE, SEE YOU AND HERSH IN COLUMBUS

JAY

G.R. · #15 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 06:04 PM

Guys, thanks for the replies. The reason we are looking in that area is that my wife would only be about 20-30 min away from her office, except on the rare times she would have to go into downtown. She is really sick of long commutes!
When we were last down there for a few days we deliberately made the commute during afternoon rush hour to a house we had looked at for sale in that area. Vic loved it, and said "I would really like this area to live in."
Me I'm a carpenter/contractor, been one for 30+- yrs. figure I can work most anywhere-- though now I'd sort of like to work closer to home until I decide to retire and be a "Cobra Bum" .
Was going to be a "boat bum" again but the wife decided she wanted a more land-based retirement, and boats no longer fit into her scheme of things--Loves cars though and still me

after all these years.
Would like any additional info on that area or comparable.
Gary
ps anyone interested in an offshore cruising sailboat?or a summer home on a beautiful little island in WA or both?
I've gotta get out of this rain. You all get what 300+days of sunshine--We get 300+days of rain,clouds,mist,rain, with rain breaks

Gotta go clip the webs growing between my toes

Jason Lee Nye · #16 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikiec
Chopper is right about the area finally getting some decent roads to get around on. And his side of town is still affordable. Just close to New Mexico

It used to take, 20 years ago, over 1.5 hrs to get to his area from the NW valley. Now less than 45 minutes.

Remember where ever area you move to ....there are plenty of Cobra people to hang with.

Mike

Just remember the cooler ones are on the NW side!

Dino · #17 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 06:16 PM

All I can say is SEDONA! Too bad there are no techie jobs there. Verde Valley is absolutely beautiful. I've been there a couple of vacations and fell in love.

It's one of my top 'when I retire' spots. Too bad I won't retire for 25 years....

Good luck in your search.

mikiec · #18 (**permalink**) 06-06-2002, 10:48 PM

Jay.. Ginny and I are looking forward to DVSFII. Meeting yourself and as many of the invisable ones on Club Cobra. Sadly I'll be without my Cobra. I was going to drive but some compressed discs in my neck messed up that plan. And yes, it is a very very dry heat. More akin to a blast furnace. Today 110 degrees...

Hopefully Hersh will have the GT done in time. I'll know more this weekend.

Dino I love Sedona. Get there at least once a month. I agree a great place to retire...But you will need deep pockets.

Gary...Are you looking for new or older home? If new I can get you some info from the areas new home sales offices.

Jason... Any body driving a COBRA is cool...
even you

Neal Jackson · #19 (**permalink**) 06-08-2002, 07:44 PM

Mike,

110 degrees??? Huh? It was only a scorching 80 or so here today - had to barbeque on the front porch. Cool Cheetah Country.

mikiec · #20 (**permalink**) 06-08-2002, 09:49 PM

Neal,

At least here when you get your Krispy Kremes warm they stay warm all day long.

Ginny and I will be in your neck of the woods for the Run to the Pines later this year. Hope to see you again then.

Mike