Moving to AZ - research thread

I would say on average its more like 10-15 years, they get abused in AZ. A lot of Midwesterners like it in the upper 60's to low 70's inside, the longer you live here the closer to 80 and the longer the HVAC will survive.
Track homes are much closer to 10, exterior walls 6.5 feet apart and it just bakes them between the houses.

We moved in 22 and replaced a 1998 Trane. It was completely shaded its entire life. They can survive but we didn't wait to see how well it preformed in the summer, we replaced it without turning it on.

The 3-5 days of no AC in the summer is something you quickly realize is almost entirely avoidable, with off season servicing, and something you wont enjoy. Its not easy to fall asleep when your in a puddle of sweat, its midnight and 95 inside.

Something you might also come across but less likely these days is a Swamp Cooler. Evap cooling was very very popular and is not something you want these days.

 

A Heat pump is just like a normal AC that can reverse its Hi/Lo side. Same phase change gas, same base function components inside just with an added reversing valve.
They are smaller and more efficient, but still the same parts will break, blower, condenser and recharge are what seem to get serviced/replaced again and again.
Also as the gas is changing again this year, it last changed in 2010 as well, I dont remember how much of a premium you have to pay to get the older stuff but i remember it being exponentially higher.

 

ok, thanks, ya this isn't a track home, over an acre so maybe that helps not being packed in there

The more I read, the less of a bigger deal these heat pumps seem out there, so thanks for that info

and ya, when its 104 out, you don't need it at 65 in the house, lol.

 

they sent me their escrow analysis, their homeowners is only 1223 a year, Im shocked, I was thinking like 6-7K the way it was talked about before.

 

What’s the insured value???? Makes no sense for a home well over $500k

mine is 2.5x that for $500k dwelling coverage with a $2k deductible.

 

ya, I cant imagine Chase (their lender and escrow agent) would allow a really low value, but I was thinking the same thing seems low.

Im going to ping them again and see if I can get a copy.

 

I had to replace a 24 year old 5 ton heat pump which covered about half the house about a year ago. We swapped it out with a 4 ton plus a single mini-split to service the single room which we rent out. The other half of the house is still on an old 3 ton unit but we never turn that on for heat in the winter. My bills went down consistently ~40% for almost every month throughout the year.
3900 sq ft. house.
Also, no natty gas out here on the NE side of Tucson either. I miss cooking with gas but I got over it.

 

hell, looks like this is legit, got my own quote for this crib Im initially interested in and its right what they said, about 1300 bucks

 

Something else to think about, maybe stated earlier, emissions are only enforced in Tucson and phoenix. I just registered my wife’s car again for 5 years, $186.

 

K, small factor but thats cheap

you have to pay 150-200 a year here just for your license plate, lol.

 

Take that with a grain of salt lol - AZ MVD does registration based on the value of your vehicle. Your 2023 Tundra will be more like $600/year.

 

Well where I am, you have emissions, safety inspection, and personal property taxes, which are damn expensive.
Wife’s car is gonna keep AZ plates as long as possible. We’ll move back eventually, but she has too good of a gig right now.

 

good looking out!!

thanks, company expense on that one anyways though, but my wife's Sienna isnt cheap either

 

Just curious, what kind of car is she in? I think I'm finally at the sub-$200/year reg on my 7 year old truck

 

We've got a couple newer vehicles in our fleet and registration always sucks... but we had been able to write it off for the last few years. That's done this year though with my wife shutting down her business.

 

FYI, my 2017 tundra is taxed at approximately $900 a year personal property taxes, registration is about $75, $40 for yearly inspection.
My 12’ flatbed trailer with lifetime registration still has $150 yearly personal property tax.

 

I’m at $170 for the truck, $400 for the LC, and $50 for the Tree.

 

2013 camry.
Don’t mind the reg fees. That damn personal property tax is a kick in the balls though.
Any N VA peeps can confirm.

 

I need a new CPA that's willing to commit tax fraud.

 

Continuing my little tirade, my buddy is retiring in July, I’m having an award made and went to a local trophy shop to get the nameplate thing made. Standard 2”x8” brass engraved thing. Quoted $84 here locally in VA. Called place in Yuma, $18. Easy decision.

 

vail

 

any of you guys go here?

https://arizonajourney.org/patagonia-lake-az-see-patagonia-lake-state-park/

starting to think through if I want to bring my dads small old fishing boat (16' , kinda narrow beam, 50hp outboard). Or just leave it up in Northern MN for my 2-3 weeks in the summer.

 

It’s a cool little lake, some fun boat to campsites I’ve done before. It is a small lake, but we have 4+ larger ones in the basin region that are popular as well.
But if your camp site needs are like your home needs, Patagonia kinda sucks; all the RV sites are STACKED on top of each other.

 

I'm not a camper, so just a daily fishing trip type deal to use the boat is all I was trying to think over.

so I was trying to see what places there are to use a small boat, waves have to be pretty small, etc its small and lightweight, gets uncomfortable in 2 footers or more

 

Parker canyon is another one(some have HP limits I believe) or my favorite is Riggs flat, but thats trolling motor only and the lake is only 14 acres if I remember, but that’s definitely a camping at lake(that’s why we love it)

 

Weve camped there a few times...

Nice little lake with some scenic trails around it. Lots of bird watchers go there are certain times of the year..

 

Love Riggs Flat...good dispersed spots by the lake too. Questionable if the new trailer will make it up the mountain... I think the max overall length is 40' on the road up.