The good and bad of the Valley
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8/10/2006
I've lived in the Phoenix area for over 2 years now after having moved here from Buffalo, New York, its an imporvement over that down and it does have many benefits. Obviously the number one benefit here is the weather and the surplus or outdoor activities. Pretty much from mid October until mid may you can expect very nice weather, with the coldest temperatures being a chilling 30 degrees at night maybe one time in December. If you love golf, this is a great place to live as there are more gold places in Phoenix than any other city in the world. You can find anything from low grade municipal courses to some of the finest resorts in the world. There are many ways to get out of the city fast if you wish as well, San Diego, los Angeles, Las vegas and Flagstaff are all withing a few hours drive, plus there's tons of national and state parks for the day tripper.
Now, thats the good the bad also exists here as well. the worst thing about Phoenix, the summer. Good god is it hot!! Yes its dry but 115 is 115, and trust me you don't want to be doing anything physical in that heat. You can still find great golf deals in the summer though and its well worth it if you avoid the peak hours of 10-3. the other major problem is the housing market which has skyrockets in the last few years. If you bought a house here a few years back you are in good shape, but if are trying to buy one now, good luck! the area is expanding so much that many people commute and hour plus every day to work, not my cup of tea. the cost of living isn't horrible other than the housing.
So if you consider moving here just ask yourself 2 things. Can I stand the heat, and can I afford a house? If the answer is yes to both, then welcome to Phoenix!
Michael | Scottsdale, AZ