Sedona Sheep - 2/24/2010

I recently moved to the Verde Valley and landed a job in the Tourism industry to help pay the bills. I have never had to give up so much self respect in my life to land a job. Sedona is the most evil place on earth, there is nothing spiritual about it. These modern day sweat shops don't supply even basic neccessities for their employees. You must pay for your own training, certifications, and be expected to work for nothing unless you book a sale or a tour. These companys are hiring those of us that are so hungry we can't say no. If they continue to stifle the employees crime is only going to go up. People I work with must work 2 or 3 jobs to try and get by. The people that serve you in Sedona are peasants. Shame on all of you. Wake up and demand that the businesses you patronize pay their employees a fair wage.

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Fragile beauty - 12/31/2009

Sedona should have been a National Park. It is in a transitional phase in danger of being wrecked by business and developers, or protected by environmentalists. We shall see what the outcome will be...

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Paradise on Earth! - 11/13/2008

Sedona is the most beautiful place possible for a first or second home. Residents are friendly and welcoming, well educated, active in the community and just simply happy people! The envoronment is exceptional and promotes a healthy lifestyle. There are many organizations and activities that appeal to almost every interest, cultural events are plentiful and the weather allows for outdoor activities (golf, tennis, hiking, etc.) 12 months of the year. Artists as well as retired CEO's love it here. Many other amazing places in the west and our most beautiful national parks are within a day's drive. The cost of living is low compared to some other popular places in the west. Phoenix, Scottsdale, Flagstaff and Prescott are a short drive away, but what a treat to then return to the serenity of home in this little Grand Canyon of the southwest!

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Sedona is a tourist trap - 5/13/2008

I loved Sedona many years ago when it was truely spiritual now it is just a new age over priced tourist trap.Sedona's nature is absolutely beautiful which is why many move there but they soon realize it is a great place to visit not to live.The town is full of locals that are in religious cults(I'm serious) and if your not in their group they will not be friendly towards you.I would say take a long vacation there and really feel out the vibe before moving there.

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Wonderful Southwest Climate in Sedona - 3/30/2008

Having lived in 10 states and 3 countries, I can honestly tell you that Sedona has the best climate of anywhere I've lived. We are located at about 4000 ft. above sea level. We do have 4 seasons, but they are on the mild side for the southwest. Sedona gets about 2-3 snowfalls a year, which is absolutely spectacular on the Red Rocks, but it has melted by the afternoon. No snowplows necessary. I believe we have about 10 days over 100 degrees/yr. Whatever you see for Phoenix temperature on the news, figure we are 10-15 degrees cooler and we are about 10 degrees warmer than Flagstaff. July is the hottest month with average high being 96 degrees. Our coolest month is January with the high average being 52 degrees and average low being 37 degrees. The highest himidty months are mid-July through mid-September which runs with the monsoon season. Some years the monsoon brings frequent rains during that time, and other years it doesn't produce the rains we'd like. Overall, it offers great year round weather, though the best weather months are March, April, May, October & November, which correspond to our busiest tourist months as well.

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flat market - 3/26/2008

Sedona house prices approximately doubled between 2003 and 2006. Since then they have stagnated and come down a bit. The market is really quiet, but land and housing will always be scarce here due to lack of private land and use restrictions.

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Rimrock - 2/5/2008

Rimrock is a small country town approximately 5 miles north of Camp Verde, 25 minutes from Sedona and 45 miles south of Flagstaff. It's quiet, safe and the climate is moderate. Hotter than Flagstaff but cooler than Phoenix. It has a lot going for it. Close enough to Sedona to enjoy but a whole lot less expensive housing and cost of living. Very low crime and easy, relaxed living. Lots of historic native american ruins/sites. Hiking, nature, absolutely great place to live. www.bennyville-spiritofthedesert.com

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Weather Sedona - 11/4/2007

We have lived here in Sedona for 12 years which would categorize us as old-timers. If a person is active, loves the outdoors and takes advantage of being in a place where hiking is out your backdoor than this might be the place. It is remote in that medical facilities and specialists are not too numerous so state of health might be a factor in choosing this area as a place to live. Also shopping for major purchases might take you to Flagstaff (a beautiful 45 minute drive north) or to Phoenix (a two hour drive south) Summer temps are typically high 90's to low 100's June - September. Depending on your tolerance for heat, this should be a consideration, especially if this is your primary residence. Many folks migrate elsewhere in the summer.

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the big downside to Sedona - 10/25/2007

Housing is expensive. The cheapest SFR, which is usually a manufactured home runs over 300K. The market is very slow right now, but prices are not coming down much.

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Bring 2 million leave with one million - 10/15/2007

The price of food, housing and entertainment is very high in Sedona, The pe locals who used to be down to earth, are becoming very snobby. The others are the second-home buyers who are very much the Palm Springs crowd. It is a city of beauty and spiritualiy but it is overbuilt and destroying the red rocks for resorts and shops. Wages and benifits are very low. It is a beautiful place to visit though on the way to the Grand Canyon.

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Left after 10 years - 8/5/2007

Most everyone that moves to Sedona does so after falling in love with it on vacation. Tourist hit the city in Spring and Fall (Summer tourism is low because most people "think" it gets as hot as Phoenix). Here are a few things I learned from living there: Most people hold 3 jobs in order to make ends meet. Forget benefits or insurance coverage, employers don't offer them, they are just looking for part-timers. There are no malls, nearest is in Flagstaff 45-50 minutes away up a mountain. One emergency medical facility (cut off by a creek if you live in the Village of Oak Creek). The next largest medical facility (hospital) is in Cottonwood 40 minutes away. The only industry that thrives is tourism--resorts pay just barely above minimum wage and the hours are horrible. Retail slows down and lays off employees when tourism slows. Everything closes down at 9 pm. No night life at all. Street lights turn off. You are taxed and fee'd to death by the National Forest collecting parking and hiking fees. Traffic leading to the Sedona is basically one road in/one road out. If there is a stall or accident, expect delays! You wouldn't think so, but it snows in January/Feb./March and some years even into April. In 10 years there were 2 Easter Days with snow. People are extremely friendly and love their community and land basically because they choose to be there. Housing costs is outrageous. Check out home sales in Sedona on www.realtor.com or others. Look for another place with the great climate, natural beauty and friendly people that is more affordable. (I'm still looking) As for Sedona, believe me, just keep visiting!

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sedona - 4/8/2007

great climate ..to many tourist!

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Beautiful area, great climate - 1/15/2007

The red rock mountains are just astounding and there are sunny blue skies 6 days out of 7! Not too hot, not too cold. After living in Hawaii for 15 years, Sedona is a great area to live on the mainland.

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Warm and Wonderful Cocoon - 12/10/2006

I lived in Sedona for 2 years, and loved a lot about it. It may be the most beautiful place I've ever lived, and the pace is easy, to say the least. Friendly people, everything(PO, supermarket, health food market) was 10 minutes away, but I felt a little isolated since the rest of the world is effectively 2 hours away.. Phoenix, the nearest "real" city and the airport are 2 hours away(and not a pleasant place at all), and of the alternatives- Flagstaff or Cottonwood-one's a drive straight up the mountain for 45 minutes, and the other doesn't really have more to offer than Sedona does. I am going back in January 2007 for a week or two, and I am really looking forward to it. I think the ideal way to enjoy Sedona is as a retreat from the hectic world, and the perfect situation would be, for those of us who love Sedona and still want to be "more of this world", to spend a couple of weeks now and again. It is astonishingly beautiful, with lots of galleries to explore, red rocks to hike in, great restaurants, and kind relaxed people. Highly highly recommend this wonderful place to visitors, and for those considering moving there, if you are ready to cocoon forever or for awhile, you couldn't do better than Sedona.

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Too expensive! - 9/14/2006

I lived in Sedona for 7 years. You can't work enough to afford a decent home there. Speaking of work there isn't any good work to be found, unless you want to work a minimum wage job at a resort or resturant. No thanks! There is a saying in Sedona. People come to Sedona with money, not to make it. That is the best way for me to describe it. It is beautiful, but you pay dearly for it. Your better off in Phoenix commuting up to visit on the weekends anyway. Sedona is not perfect. When you live there you deal with tourists and traffic that they bring year-round!

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different and unusal - 12/30/2005

Sedona is very artzy and different for most towns--there are no big box stores which keeps it a quaint artzy town--the residental housing there is awesome --it is true-- it is unlike any other place. Very beautiful--any one who can afford to live there is very lucky. Love it!

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Unlike any other place - 9/5/2005

Lived there for over 2 years....why did we leave?? Closest quality medical care is in Phoenix....however, the landscape is uncomparable; I never tired of it. Weatherwise, it's warm in the summer, but dry and we had snow for Christmas, but it was gone in a day or so. Great places to eat and shop for food for a small area, whether you like healthful, exotic or average American fare. I made friends easily; some very vital, wonderful people live there. I visit, but do miss living there very much.

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