HELP! Might move to Phoenix (AZ)

[Amorphous02]

Anyone from Phoenix? How much do you pay for cooling? Will my delicate baby girl get hurt by the sun?
I am scared...I am from WI and I dont want to move.
What good stores do you have? What is the base price of produce and Flowers at the Farmer's Markets?
Please help.
Some of my friends love it there, but i am concerned. I am actually moving from the land of milk..

[jodi]

My best friend from high school moved to Phoenix and sells real estate there - if you think this might be a probable move, maybe I can put you in touch with her to talk about the different areas of Phoenix. She lives in Anthem now, but used to live in Surprise. There are a lot of new developments popping up all the time there.
As for me, I have only visited her there once for a long weekend, so I'm afraid I can't answer any of your questions. PM me if you want to get in touch with her and I'll see if she's available -

[Amorphous02]

AAh Jodi, you are from Central NY1
How lucky. You must have been to the Flemington outlet mall.. so lovely. As is Mohank.
thank you for your offer. The problem is that DH is agreeing to a smaller salary for the experience! Really hurts since we have a baby.... she deserves better.
May be your friend will come in handy when we look for a cheap 3br 1-2 ba with a yard.
Thanks again for responding. This might help me so much.

[jmjj215]

I was born and raised in Phoenix but don't live there now (mainly because housing got away from us and we wanted to live where we could afford a house). I'm not sure how much cooling is there - it would totally depend on the sq footage of your living area.

It's nice there.

From Nov 1 to May 31.

[flash]

Hey girl, when are you moving?

My brother lives near Phoenix, and a childhood friend lives in Phoenix. It's quite nice, but it will be a change!

[debtfreeme]

My ex lives in phoenix. He loves it there. There are lots of great things to do. But with your daughter teach her now that sunscreen is something that goes on before you get dressed, every day!

It is a nice town and some areas are still pretty cheap. Be careful of the scorpions. Be religious about checking shoes and clothes before you get dressed. the stores are the same as everywhere, Albertsons, Safeway, target, Wal-Mart. there are lots of specialty shops and great malls (good for when it gets to hot.) but be ready to run the AC all day and night which can be expensive. He was in a two bed one bath apartment about 750 square feet for about 125-135 per month in electricity and he runs his ac all the time. ALL the time.

It really depends upon what size house you get. Talk to a real estate agent and be sure about the area you decided to rent or buy in. Lots of great homes and the housing (to me as I live in CA) is very reasonable.

I love it there, even besides the weatehr and would move there if i made as much monty there as i currently do. Oh and if we were still togetehr, but i made the right choice on that one.

Enjoy it if you move there.

[Amorphous02]

Thank you so much for the info and support everyone. I love WI with all my heart. Its the land of milk,honey(beer) and the Green Bay Packers. We are close to Michigan and chicago, Il. hubby says we will be close to LAX and San Diego...I know those places like the back of my hand, lived there for 9 mos and explored Everything. Great zoos, close to Yellow stone, Grand canyon. (Come and Visit me or my best friend. Our doors will be open). I mean it Flash and
debtfreeme. I love WI. My tears are the size of my cat's paws, which are huge. Sunlight gives me migranes. I am a night person. I used to live in the lab: untill 1 am. Security people and i were on a first name basis from day three..
I love WI..bohooo

Look at it this way. You will probably have a pool in your back yard (when you fly into Phoenix, all you see are all the swimming pools), and you no longer will have to worry about your heating costs.

[Amorphous02]

Originally Posted by taking charge

Look at it this way. You will probably have a pool in your back yard (when you fly into Phoenix, all you see are all the swimming pools), and you no longer will have to worry about your heating costs.

Hmmm.. not bad. But what about my baby? Its dangerous. Will have to pick one with a yard and get an inflatable. I know: i will get a house with a basement and restrict myself and baby there!!!( hate sunshine)

[jodi]

Ummm...I haven't been through a lot of houses in Phoenix, but I have been through enough with my friend (the real estate agent) and none of them had basements. I think that's more of a northern thing...but I could be wrong.
I live in central NY near Syracuse - close to the Waterloo Outlets, but not sure where Flemington is. Is it nearer to the city? We're about 5 hours from NYC. Sounds nice though!

[lrjohnson]

Well, I wanted to say you can get used to anything and find good anywhere, but I am verty concerned that you say you have sun induced migraines. If I were you I'd have a long talk with my doctor about what I could do to mitigate the situation, and if it's really possible for you to mitigate it enough to not be in pain. Migraines bite hard.

Yeah, I don't think you will find any basements, but you can wear sunglasses and sun hats, and lots of gauze, and stay inside anyway all you can during the day, cause 115 is hot, no ifs, ands, or buts

You can go to www.realtor.com and scope out some properties

[Amorphous02]

SCORPIONS, MIGRANES, 115C, no basements : is it a country cursed by God?
I am truly scared because my baby is sooo very active. Out kitten has to investigate everything... My babies. Please say aprayer that we dont go there. I need all the positive thoughts i can get. Hating AZ already.

[Bluezy]

It's sounding as if you have already made up your mind that you won't be liking Phoenix. I'm sorry to see that because Phoenix was a great place to live. The people were great there! I'd go back to Phoenix in a minute if a job opened there.

Babies are resilient. They will make the move just fine (my CJ did the same) Use baby waterproof sunscreen and keep them in a shaded area.

Scorpions are to Phoenix as palmetto bugs are to Florida. Every locale has its "critters". The lack of a basement means there is one less area of the house to clean. Please note that property is expensive in Phoenix. I remember taxes running on the up side as well.

Basha's was a place where I could find good deals on food. There are Wal-Marts there also. If you tire of the desert you can drive north for an hour and go to Sedona or further to Flagstaff for holiday or to see snow in winter.

All the best to you with your decision to move! Cheers!

[Total Extreme]

I grew up in Tucson, its about an hour and a half drive. When I was in 3rd grade, 1976, we moved to Pheonix for one year. It felt too big way back then. I cannot imagine it now.

[jaksilee]

My mom moved to Phoinex about 7 years ago from Wi (Janesville, 45 min south of Madison)and she really likes it. Her allergies and breathing problems went away, she doesn't have to pay for heat in the winter, and she has a pool open all year round. Yes is can be alittle warm in the summer (I just got back and while I was there it was only in the high 80's low 90's, but after I left it went to 110) but just think no more winter's with a ton of snow! I bet your family will love to come visit you you for thanksgiving and xmas, since it will be warmer by you.

[Amorphous02]

I am scared of the scorpions and the rents are high..
$1000 for a 2br... NJ is cheaper!
I dont hate AZ, just dont want to live there for the next 30 years.
Other than that I like the idea of a year round farmers market , open air concerts etc..

[Marcymox]

hi- I'm new here, so I guess I'll just jump in and start posting!

I'm from AZ- ask me anything!!

the bad first-
Yes it's hot here- the electric bills are high- I won't lie. Our elec. company raised the rates. 200.00 or more in the summer
BUT- we don't have to pay high heating costs- all evens out I suppose?? I didn't even turn on my furnace last year. just used a couple extra blankets.

people in AZ have babies- and they are all just fine they use spf 50 in delicate infant skin, babies wear cotton rompers, cute hats and are kept out from the heat of the day.

The houses here are nice, tile roofs, desert landscaping, cactus, palo verde trees. When we first moved here we would see javalinas and roadrunners. now that the houses are all built up it's usually quail and bunnies. Lots of pools, and lots of local public pools if you don't have one of your own. 1.00 to get in.

The whole city is built on a square grid- so i'ts very east to find your way around. - you learn the lay of the land very quickly. Avenues are on the west side of town, streets are on the east side of town- divided by central avenue. Numbered strees run north south, Named streets run east west. 2 major freeways, I 17 goes north/south, I10 is east west with several "loop" freeways going all around.

we have lots of shopping here, tons of nice malls, zillions of places to eat, several waterparks, new major league football staduim, science and art museums, space center, Imax, zoos, botanical gardens and lots of southewest and indian themed places to go. - you won't be bored.

Someone else suggested checking out realtor.com- just type in a zip code like.. 85029, or 85038 and see what an "average" phoenix house looks like and what the costs are. I like to sort that site so I can view only the houses with pictures.

what else would you like to know?? moving stinks but it's not awful here.

[tgavin71]

Quite frankly I don't think Phoenix is the problem. I think it is moving out of your comfort zone full stop. What does your DH expect to get out of the experience? Could he move there and then the rest of you in a few months? That way if he doesn't like it your whole life wont change.

[Amorphous02]

Great feed back , tgavin , Marcymox. Thank you so much.I said as much to hubby: u go!
I wont.
I am scared of the scorpions. We are never satisfied with the baby proofing. add to the mix exploring fingers and scorpions.
so He did start looking at Chicago. Everything is in a flux. Keeping my fingers crossed!