Response to Stephen
-
2/17/2006
Sorry to hear that you now dislike Phoenix after 12 years. Your main complaint appears to be the cost of housing, which, I admit, after 40% appreciation in the last year, it has become expensive vs. incomes. While Phoenix has always had home prices less than the national median, this run-up is rather odd. Apparently, those people that couldn't get into the Las Vegas and Southern California markets decided to try here and ruin it for the vast majority of residents. Rents on the other hand haven't seen such an increase so if you come here to rent, it won't be too bad. Around 600-800 for one bedrooms, 700-950 for two bedrooms. Also true is the fact that Phoenix isn't 'green'. I take somewhat of an exception to this because as deserts go, Phoenix is quite green. Climb any mountain in town and see how green it really is. Las Vegas in my opinion is MUCH worse--it's entirely brown. At least Phoenix's meager precipitation can sustain some plant growth. Phoenix has more municipal park land than any other city in the world--one park is larger than Manhattan! But, it isn't 'green' by Eastern standards. I have found people to be rather friendly but long-term friendships require some effort. Here, we live the reverse of everyone else: stay in for the summer, go out for the winter.
Michael | Phoenix, AZ