20 Years of Experience
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10/27/2006
With 20 years of experience, here's the scoop: 1)Weather is "California" from mid-Oct to mid-May, otherwise very dry heat, >80 at night. No snow, little rain, lots of sun. Winter outdoors, summer indoors. Hike, bike, climb, swim all you want. 2)The desert is surprisingly green up close but brown from a distance. If you want shade trees, live in the older areas like Central Phoenix. Suburbs are too recently developed and are desolate, including Scottsdale. Drive 2 hours to pine forests, snow, skiing, fishing, etc. 3)Traffic is bad like all other major cities but streets are laid out in rational grid with timed stoplights. Go 41MPH on the major streets and you'll get there in no time (except rush hours). 4)Arts & Culture are lacking due to overwhelming growth. It takes time for this to develop, and that's what's happening now. 5)Easy to find work, but 'right to work' state, so no employee rights. Higher-paying jobs develop slowly, just like Arts & Culture do. Business opportunities abound. 6)Higher crime due to poverty, with many unskilled laborers flocking here to 'get rich'. There are many impoverished areas (south side, west side). 7)Housing was relatively cheap until '04-05. Now, it's in line with what it should be considering the assets Phoenix offers, but if you buy, buy for the long term because appreciation will be slow. Good apartments are getting hard to find as too many have gone condo. 8)Air pollution is a problem in dry winters, when rain would help diminish dust. Geography is the source and there's no solution. 9)Politically conservative (due to uneducated ignorance IMHO). 10)Phoenix is HUGE so find your small corner of it and enjoy! Overall: Not heaven, but better than most.
Abhd | Phoenix, AZ