Moving to AZ - research thread

Thats never been an issued I've faced...

 

, that had me worried.

like, hell, is it that fucked up everywhere down there or what .

the population is WAY WAY higher here and we can walk right in to clinics, etc.

 

This is EXACTLY what I have been experiencing since Dec 18th, 2023 and it has been getting worse. God bless you are healthy and not looking at making appointments every time you turn around. I have had appointments that made me wait 6 weeks. No other doctors had anything sooner

 

thanks, lol.

here , you need to buy stock in squeegees to keep the fuckin humidity off

I also have Carhartt Arctic Extremes work bibs and coat for when I used to work in the field, lol.

 

where are you at that is it like this?

 

It's been my experience that if there's a demographic causes delays in receiving healthcare (Drs booked up for Ortho and vision primarily) it's during the winter when all the snowbirds from the upper Midwest and Canada are in town.

 

You just asked and I am giving my opinions all from things that have happened recently. Hunting Quail/Dove in Arizona City we have ran into the illegals coming through, found multiple skulls/bones and the Border Patrol has stopped me going in several times telling me to wear a side arm at all times. When I went out there once with just me and my dog I was stopped and asked to find another place to hunt because of recent activities. That was the last time I visited my quail/dove golden spot.

Last post in here, I just was trying to help and I would have been very appreciative if someone gave me heads up before I was going into anything blind. You are doing what I did so take the advice you receive and make your won decision.
Wish you well in your retirement future!!

 

This is the area that we bought in a couple years ago. It’s in the Chandler city limits, but it’s considered “county island” and is mostly unregulated for usage. Gives the country vibe but we’re within 5 mins of all the stores and stuff your wife wants. Pretty much all the lots are ~1 acre and range from multi million dollar homes to trailers on the lot. Keep an eye on it, as nice homes pop up every once in a while.

edit, link didn’t work. Please hold.

 

Where is this at, I very much value your experience, didn’t mean to upset the situation at all

 

I said last post but this has me wondering, where are you were you are not having these issues and when was the last time you had to see specialists?

 

I'm in Gilbert... I see an Ophthalmologist annually and just expect them to be booked out 1-2 months, but not because of illegals. Every time I'm in the office it's all seniors and I'm the youngest at 50.

My colonoscopy was a breeze to get scheduled and in the last 8 years I've been in the ER 3X (due to my own stupidity) that required follow-ups with specialists and PT.

My bro-in-law is a DDS so getting in there is a non-issue.

 

When I was working in Anchorage, I had to go up to the Slope for nine days. There's a store in Anchorage that specializes in cold weather hazardous PPE required on the Slope. A very nifty store. Good thing my boss paid for everything. $$$$$

 

This is pretty spot on ^^

 

I lived in the City of Surprise in the West Valley as mentioned in another thread so I don't have much to add with regards to the areas you are looking at. Only thing I will add is that HOA's are a pain in the ass. I remember getting letters from the HOA about oil stains in my drive way once and it turned out it was another house and the idiot documenting it put down the wrong address. Crap like that happened fairly often and became a major nuisance.

I would recommend staying out of a HOA community and away from the HOA Karens.

**Edit**

Also be careful with your alcohol intake. You will get tipsy without even realizing it.

 

Just an FYI, Prescott is at 5300' of elevation (makes the sun feel quite a bit hotter) and it's almost always sunny except for during the monsoons (raining right now as a matter of fact). So 30-50°F with sun feels closer to 60-70°. This makes the winters feel more mild than that chart would make you think. But we get maybe 5-7 snow days a year, and when it freezes they don't salt anything, and the hills + ice combo can really make driving a bit precarious. Some outlying communities nearby are more flat and still very nice (check out Williamson Valley and Chino Valley).

And FWIW: I've lived in Lake Havasu City (20 years), Phoenix (5 years), and Prescott (5 years and counting). Prescott's climate is about as good as you can get in AZ in my opinion

 

I grew up in Tucson, my wife in Phoenix and have explored everywhere in the state. PM me with any questions or recommendations etc. I prefer Tucson. North/NorthWest specially. Marana, Pro Valley etc. All the conveniences of a big metro area but smaller town feel and more space to spread out. Also Tucson = not quite as hot as Phoenix. Still crazy hot but Phoenix is another level of hell....

 

One area that seems largely unmentioned is Wickenberg / Morristown / Whittman area.

From the far side of Wickenberg is about 45 to wally world, hospitals, and everything else. Slightly NW of Phoenix, toward the Toyota proving grounds.

The land isnt as ridiculous as some other parts of AZ close to Phoenix. You arent really far from anything.

Look along the 60 leaving Phoenix outside of Sun city.

 

I visited Prescett 2x during the winter, no snow but it was pretty damn chilly for a southern boy…… but I did like the area a lot and wouldn’t mind a spot out in the hills.

 

Great info guys, appreciate it.

I have a lot of shit to figure out and this helps

 

It can get cold, but even on our coldest days it's usually still going to hit a high of 50°F or close to it. And 50°F and sunny is quite comfortable. I just can't cope with 120°F anymore. That gets old. At least I can wear a jacket and go do things in 30-40°F. I'm not going anywhere when it's 120°F or anywhere near 120°F for that matter

 

It's 79°F here in Prescott (local time 1242pm), and meanwhile its 107°F in Phoenix. #winning lol

 

I am on the eastside of Tucson, it is slightly more lush due to monsoon patterns and there are larger lots all over. I can see the appeal of Phoenix if you are younger and want nightlife or bigger sports/music events and job opportunities. Tucson is more of an outdoors city than Phoenix and I think the experience of the temp difference is bigger than what you see on paper. Endless restaurants in Tucson. Tucson healthcare is excellent as far as I am concerned. Most of my comparisons wrt healthcare are seeing the shitshow my FIL deals with in upstate NY. Certainly lots of dumpy areas in the city and the washes seem to have more homeless than ever but that is everywhere.

Anywhere in the desert is tough come end of August after you have lived here long enough (23 years for me, grew up in PA) So if you can get out of S AZ during the summer, it helps. I was in Flag a few weeks ago and looked at real estate, lol. But it is too damn cold for much of the year. I have spent a little time in Prescott and I like it a lot but it is on the smaller side and the lack of a major university (Embery Riddle is there), larger population/airport, job opportunities, etc. would be an issue for me now.

 

It’s amazing how different viewpoints can be, Tucson is a dump , Tucson is great!

lol

Thanks for feedback guys

 

this time of year isn’t the problem for me, it’s the 20-50 in the 4 cold months , that’s kinda chilly for what I’m looking for I think but I need to think that over

 

I get it. Just know that you might get equally worn out by the seemingly never-ending summers, as you are now by winter weather . Phoenix is liable to hit 100°F any given day from March to Mid-November.

Then again you can get a travel trailer or something and head north during summer to get some respite.

One more note on Prescott's winters though: we fairly regularly will get up to the mid-to-high 60's (lows in the low 30's) in winter for a week or two at a time . Then we'll get some winter storms for a few days, and then back to 50-60s. It's not this 4-month straight "cold" I think you're imagining.

 

good info

 

Tucson is a dump. Wickenburg and Wittmann has too many crazy sovereign citizen nuts. San Tan Valley had too many affordable homes. I would look to Waddell area or Gilbert, Chandler area for homes on an acre. Those area you’ll be looking at 1 million+ for what you’ve described on an acre.