Moving to AZ - research thread

Hey guys,

Lets continue here as I have comments all over the place from you guys that I don't want to lose.

Im going to make a list of things Im looking for when I get a few more mins

thank you again for the comments and recommendations.

 

Looking to move to the SW in a few years so I wanted to start doing research as this will be the last move I think and my forever home.

So here are a few basics so far, I will update this as I go along.

So, off we go, this is all very prelim at this time.

Im looking for no winter, I know most of the state will have to deal with 3 months ave 100, which Im ok with as I would rather have that than 6 months of winter and no sun.

So Im wide open to locations throughout the SW , but have kinda thought about AZ as Ive been there a few times and like the desert type deal

1) I want to build a house (nothing large, ranch style, 3-4 bedrooms with office space), maybe 2,000-3,000 sq feet, 3 car garage

2) lot size - .5 acre min but more like 1 acre would be nice, if I can get more, great

3) I don't mind neighbors but not where they are jammed in all over with houses every 6 feet and no room between houses, but in an area with larger lots and neighbors would be fine as I have kids and would like to meet some friends

4) I want to have a nice pool, outdoor kitchen, small waterfall, outdoor high pressure mister type system, you get the idea, but not a million dollar back yard, lol.

5) I don't want to be right in the city, but I need to be 20-30 mins from target, Home Depot, good grocery store (aldi would rule, thats my fav and I see they are all over phoenix and coming to Tucson ). but the idea is not out in the middle of nowhere.

6) I want to build a stand alone small place for my mom on my property, she doesnt need much, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, family room to watch TV, etc), she is currently in a small 1 bedroom rental type deal.

7) I need internet, natural gas, Im ok with well and septic if thats the deal out there.



thats it so far, there is a ton more, but like I said, very prelim stuff .

 

I don't care what @AZBoatHauler says about you, but I think you are awesome because you'd rather be fishing.

 

an example of the type of area that is a no go, just way to packed in there and thats what I have now

I just zoomed in to a random area for example

 

If you want a decent size lot to build on and some space, youre probably looking at the northern outskirts of phoenix or the prescott area. Closer to the outdoors in those areas, too. Tuscon is a dump and flagstaff is a frozen winter hellscape, so that rules them out.

 

something generally more like this idea, these are just basic examples .

 

ya, Im ok with a little bit of a smaller town/city, but as long as I can drive 20-30 mins back into things, hospitals, doctors, larger shopping, etc.

But big enough have some stuff real close like a Walgreens, some food, etc.

I was glancing at New River, just to get an idea of a city or town 15-25K type deal, but then you can drive right back into the BS in like 20-30 mins.

I have no idea about that city though .

I do not want to be in the middle of nowhere, 1 hour away from shit

 

geez, the Tucson is a dump is starting to pile up, exactly why Im doing this, don't want to wind up regretting this

 

New river, cave creek, carefree covers most of the north side of phoenix and tends to have bigger lots and more open space. Plus they're close to Anthem which is the swingers capital of AZ, if you're into that sort of thing.

 

lol, Im 100% not into that type of thing.

can you talk more about why Tucson is a dump? did you live there or have a bad experience?

 

I wish Tucson was a better run city. To me, it's a waste of a great climate, great mountain scenery, a nice University setting etc. Some people like it and there are nice areas, but it just feels like El Paso or Albuquerque to me. Poorly run, interstate town, with more and more border issues, etc.

Scottsdale is truly awesome, in my opinion, but I understand you not wanting to pay a ton unless you're getting the space you need/want. You are paying for lifestyle, location, amenities, and general cleanliness in Scottsdale, although you can now find similar in Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek.

For more space, you might want to look at Queen Creek. It's growing very rapidly, but it's nice and there are still big lots/houses out there. All the stores you need, everything is brand new, close to a regional airport and not terribly far from Sky Harbor Int'l. Well run, good income/demographics, clean, safe. Lots of people who enjoy big trucks, outdoors, space, and a nice quiet life.

Personally, in the Phx metro, I'd stay East Valley, your Scottsdale's, Chandler's, Gilbert's, Queen Creeks.

When you look at other areas, particularly if you're building a new house, make sure you have access to water supplies from a municipality as some of the more rural areas are having some issues with that, wells, and private water. Don't believe the scare headlines that Phx is running out of water and stopping building, that was total BS.

 

Every time I go there it's a bad experience. There's some nice areas closer to the mountains, but going into tuscon it just seems old and crappy. My biggest complaint is that its too far from everywhere else. If you want to go to northern az or utah or colorado, it's just that much longer to drive, and you have to go all the way through phoenix, which is always a pain.

 

great feedback, thank you, Ill check out those areas.

and I have some concerns with Tucson's and border issue and crime increases, Ive read some not so good news on that so far, Im still gathering data though.

there was some conflicting data info on crime increases and a prison release in Tucson and I need to get to the bottom of that, before I rule it out.

 

This is just an example of what you can find in QC in terms of size, house quality, price. Gated community, nice house, 1 acre lot. Some nice space. If you don't want an HOA, it would rule it out, but at least this gives you an idea of what's out there. https://www.redfin.com/AZ/San-Tan-Valley/35615-N-Caballero-Dr-85144/home/27194058

 

is Tucson like some of these fellas are saying, old and shitty and not well run, border problems, crime increase, etc?

not sure where your at.

Ill check out those areas you mention.

 

ya, not wanting 4 seasons, no.

something like this is what I kinda have in my mind, flexible of course, but for sure no 4 seasons.

 

this is presscott, I would have to think over if I wanted that cold for a lot of the year, hope that helps narrow it down

 

those 4 months with only 50 for a high and way down into the 20s isnt very appealing for me I don't think

 

very nice

looks like they are asking way too much, been for sale forever and them saying you need a jumbo loan means its outside the normal range for that area

look at the interest rate, lol. ya right

but thats the flavor that I like

property taxes 362 a month, fuck, that makes me want to throw up, that would be INSANE here, mine are almost a 1000 a month and I have a .25 acre and nowhere near that value

 

If you are looking into Phoenix, Queen Creek and Gilbert is where I lived primarily. When I moved to Queen Creek it was tiny and a lot of farm land, that is almost all gone now and the place has been built up quite a bit since then. You can still find homes out there with land. There is a community there with an airstrip and the lots are nice and big to accommodate hangers, it was called Pegasus, unless it was changed since the last time I was there. Gilbert, unless you looking to drop a few million you will be hard pressed to find a lot of land there. Gilbert has gotten crazy expensive in the recent years. One word of advice is to stay away from Apache junction! Don’t want to be living next to crack heads.

 

thanks, Ill check out those areas., thanks for the warning about the south side, this is as much of a dude don't go there as it is a hey this area is nice, lol.

I would not be in downtown or right in Phoenix, no way, but the outskirts would be fine if not too remote, and then have to drive into the bigger city for certain things

Im used to bigger type areas so we may have slightly different tolerances on traveling to or in a big city. I don't want to live there, no but If I have to go in parts of it to go to doctors, or certain specialty things thats ok.

Phoenix is a postage stamp compared to here.

 

ya, a few million is out, Im fairly well off, but Im not dropping that on a house

 

Just my $0.02

1) Way too close to a border that is not being controlled. Try making a Doctor appointment and get in within 2-3 weeks

2) Water is already being controlled and Golf Courses, etc. are being restricted on the amount of water that can be used

3) The price of everything in AZ seems to have gotten way out of control (never been on a fixed budget in my life until now)

4) There is in the works statewide where there will end up having a cost to visit any place to wheel off-road. May take years bit you are looking at years out

5) I have lived here for 25 years now and the last 3 years have been the hottest

6) Never seen construction go on for so long and as soon as it is done it is ripped up again. HELLO PEOPLE?!?!? Not sure what and why this is necessary but it is my money paying for that

When I moved from St. Louis my family told me I was crazy to move in the desert. I told them it was better than staying in the house for months during the winter. Now I am finding myself hiding from the Sun. I have played multiple games of Golf in one day at 115 degrees and thought not much of it. Now there is no way I would try. I live on a Golf course and it has been empty basically then the other day when it was raining it was hard finding a tee time. Not just me, everyone is feeling it. Like I said, it was not as bad weather wise 25 years ago like it is now.


Good luck with your decision. We have been looking at where to retire to for the last 5-6 years and been in NM, NV, UT, CO, WY and then we researched and made our choice. Just trying to give you things to look for. Stores near you, Hospitals, etc. are all subject to change before the time you get to where you are going so just saying, research is your friend and really pays off.

 

San Tan Valley...

 

wow man, thats pretty nice and right up my alley

 

Not really sure what you budget is but there are areas of Fountain Hills and far east Scottsdale with properties like you are looking for.

 

ya, thats disheartening, I don't want to deal with shit like that

 

Im not really sure what I want to put at this right at this moment, but lets just say <1.25 for now.

since its a few years out, who knows what will happen with rates and property values.

no matter how much money I have , paying a jumbo loan like that one listing at 7.5 % is not going to happen, fuck that.

so ya, lets rule out anything north of 1.25 for now.