Moving to Arizona Pros and Cons

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Are you considering a move to sunny Arizona? What do you think the biggest 'pro' will be? What 'con' are you most worried about? :)

[@jschultzf3]

Not Arizona, but definitely Florida...aren't they similar? 😉

[@WiseMoveAZ]

@@jschultzf3 Fair enough! They definitely have their similarities but I'm a fan of the 'dry heat' rather than the humidity... and bugs! 😂 Thanks so much for watching!

[@prime1collector792]

Actively trying to relocate to AZ.however, the job market is a bit tough to crack.. reaching out to staffing agencies, directly etc.. trying my best.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

@@prime1collector792 So happy to hear you're considering a move to Arizona. We love it here. Where would you be moving from? Hopefully the staffing agencies will be able to help. What field do you work in?

[@prime1collector792]

Wise Move AZ I am in Greensboro, N.C. And work in the Financial Services/Sales Management industry. Hopefully be there soon!

[@sanrhodes295]

Don't come to az . it's midnight and 113 degrees not unusual Aug 3rd

[@cashstore1]

I would like to compliment Lindsey on her enthusiasm and most of all here PERFECT teeth. Really a deceptive video. Arizona is a mountainous state with different elevations with different climates, flora, and fauna. About 60% of the state is much like what she is describing. She is citing the Phoenix area and letting you assume that the whole state has Phoenix weather. A more accurate way of thinking of Arizona is thinking of Phoenix with Miami weather without the humidity. Prescott at 5400 ft is more like living in Tennessee, without the humidity, with Flagstaff and Show low like living in Michigan without the humidity. In the high country there are huge pine forests that is much the same as living in Northern Michigan ( it even has fireflies) . Same with the animals as there is an abundance of Elk and deer. Prescott is much the same (the central highlands). Different Plants and different animals. Cooler summers, with Prescott about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix and Flagstaff 30 degrees cooler. You can get a lot of snow in Flagstaff, and there is a nice ski resort nearby. Same with Show low. Many people will have two homes. One for the summer and one for the winter. The unique thing about it is that you only have to travel a couple of hundred miles to get the climate you want as it's all about elevation. It's not like living in Michigan, where you need to drive to Florida to do the same thing. Mountains people, mountains. Prescott is probably the nicest area for retirement. It's a middle ground where you can go outside in the summer (that is when all the action is) and the winters are mild. For work, you need to go to Phoenix or Tucson. Tucson is bit cooler, and has less traffic. I prefer it over Phoenix. Make sure you lock up your car as there is a lot of car theft coming up from the border. Lots of it in Tucson.

[@truthrecon4404]

Great info, thx.

[@Buckeye_4_Life_]

I visited Arizona for a week last year over Christmas from Ohio...I fell in love instantly, and even in December the weather was heaven...I fell in love with Phoenix..it was a very welcoming city with tons of things to do...I'm saving up to move there soon...🌵🌴🌞😀 Great video..!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Woohoo! We love hearing that! 😀☀🌴 We've lived in a few different places and Arizona is hands down, our favorite! Between the people and the weather, you can't beat it. All the best with your saving and moving, we hope you make it out here soon. If there is anything we can do to help or any questions we might be able to answer, don't hesitate to reach out ([e-mail]). Take care!

[@Buckeye_4_Life_]

@@WiseMoveAZ Thanks so much !

[@oneofakind2359]

Same here!!

[@Buckeye_4_Life_]

@@user-pk2mk3rh8i Thanks for the info. I'm not bringing any kids just myself. And yeah I need to come in August and feel the heat. Although 90 degree temps with 90% humidity is quite unbearable. That's what we have in Ohio in the summer. Plus I want out of Ohio, so simply moving to another part of Ohio wouldn't do me any good. I need a big change of scenery..

[@darrelldixon9044]

I'm Disabled, a Veteran, and have been homeless for two years. I'm not a drug addict, just lost my housing two years ago when the apartment complex I was living at in Mesa Arizona was sold to a buyer in Toronto, who promptly notified the tenants living with Section 8 or VASH assistance they had the option to move out or pay full market value rent without assistance. I found while looking for a place to move to, that most low income housing in my area was eliminated in this same fashion by greedy investors and was unavailable to find another place to live. I bought an old van on payments and was forced to start living in it. I did so for a year and was offered a tiny fiberglass trailer on payments. I found that the person I bought it from had mislead me on a clear title, and have had difficulty getting it registered and legal to tow. I have been stranded at a Recreation Area, above Kingman Arizona for seven months now trying to get repairs done to my van. It is no longer safe to drive, and definitely not suitable to tow my trailer. It has been a living hell, upto 128 degrees at times this summer, now dealing with freezing cold at night and heavy winds. Every time I try to get some repairs made, something comes up. I bought a used generator which failed in a couple weeks, had to buy another one, then my emotional support dog Archie was badly bitten and required veterinary care, my air conditioning compressor failed in my Van, I cut my knuckle to the bone and ligaments on some glass discarding some trash which resulted in an Emergency Room Visit. I have been trying to get help, and have not had much success. I was accepted for PATH Rapid Rehousing through the Catholic Charities, but have searched all over Mohave County but found I cannot afford an apartment on my disability income. I have been looking for a room for rent, but no luck. So now I'm in a panic as I was notified by the Catholic Charities Caseworker handling my information, had their computer stolen and now my personal information has been compromised. I am on a waiting list for Section 8, basically started over. I did not choose to be in this homeless situation, and have been doing my best to deal with everything I have experienced the past 2 years. I had to literally give everything I owned away when I lost my apartment EVERYTHING!, I did try and keep my many tools, but those to were lost to a "friend" who was going but keep them until I get settled, but would never respond to my calls or texts. I am absolutely sick of my life. I don't live anymore, I merely exist, and it's not much of an existence at that. I have not showered in nearly 8 months, and haven't bathed in over two years since losing my apartment. My teeth are broken, many missing, and I broke another one recently, not looking forward to the toothache that's coming. I am nearly blind in one eye and can only see clearly with glasses, but I lost one of the lenses. I have reached out to every VA organization or service center I know of for help, but am ineligible. I worked for the Air Force starting my senior year of high school, as a civilian employee and for the next decade. I also simultaneously served 6 years in the Air National Guard, and was honorably discharged, but still don't meet the requirements as I was on active duty for well over a year with Avionics Technical School, and was activated during Desert Storm, but could not deploy with my unit, as I was a 3 level technician straight out of school. I have no family for support, no friends, only a few people I have met while being homeless. I have had a fellow vet brings some water bottles and food items several months back, and just today was given a propane tank, heavy sleeping bag, and nice winter coat by Catholic charities, these were definitely a blessing and will definitely help, but I don't see how I can ever get out of my situation as my limited income doesn't suffice to handle the many needs I currently have trying to get out of my homeless situation along with handling my major dental problems, lack now of a safe vehicle, and trailer registration. Any day the area I am staying may be closed, the BLM Rangers have told me they plan to close access to this Recreation Area soon. I will be in an Emergency Situation when they do, and have no idea yet what I will do .

[@EmilyFarber]

Arizona sounds like a feel-good place to live! I'd love the sun and warm weather...not sure about 106 degrees though...AHHH!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

It really is! I was worried about the heat before I moved here but it's very manageable, you just have to get outdoor activities done early in the morning... and drink LOTS of water! :) Thanks so much for watching!

[@paulbowers5995]

106 is the average and it’s misleading BIG time. You’ll get acclimated and, when you do, 103-107 is actually nice, but you’ll see a whole LOT of days on 112+ in much of AZ.

[@The_King_Slayer]

NO SNOW!!!! That would be amazing!!! Arizona is definitely one of the few places I would leave Colorado for!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Yes, I have to say I don't miss the snow or having winter tires! Thanks so much for watching, Taylor! :)

[@TeamPannellRealEstate]

Great job! I’m moving! Lol

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much for watching! :)

[@livingrightsized6605]

I love Arizona! Thank you for sharing the Pros and Cons and stats!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Me too! Thank YOU so much for watching! :)

[@amyhayslettrealtor1901]

AZ is a no brainer. It’s the place to be.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Not that we're biased or anything, right!? :) Thanks so much for watching!

[@KarinCarr]

I love the type of shoveling you do there! LOL

[@WiseMoveAZ]

It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it! 😂

[@NawarNajiRealEstate]

Arizona is probably a great destination for Canadians to runaway to in the winter months

[@WiseMoveAZ]

It really is! It's been a bit tough/slower with the exchange rate. We haven't seen as many snowbirds buying here, but we have seen some that have sold their homes here and have done very well!

[@cashstore1]

Not all areas of Arizona. Flagstaff will have winter much like Windsor Ontario, however without the humidity.

[@RealtorKateSmith]

Definitely prefer FL for weather and taxes, but enjoyed this tremendous video! Look forward to the next.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thanks so much for watching AND for the kind words, Kate! :)

[@kingchris6998]

Nice job on this video, Arizona looks like a great place to live. 👍

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thanks so much for the kind words, Kris! We really love it in Arizona.

[@NawarNajiRealEstate]

Great video Lindsay. Well put together.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thanks so much for watching, Nawar! :)

[@JeffLandreville]

Amazing content and super professional! Love it!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@ryanpazder4745]

Great video Lindsay! My favourite pro is floating in the pool in the heat! 🍹👍

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much for watching! Between the pool and the AC, Arizona summers are very doable. :)

[@robe140]

Wow az looks cool but i think it is HOT in the summer.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

We love it here, but you're right the summers can be HOT! :) Thanks so much for watching, Rob! :)

[@l.w.8195]

We are looking into the areas of Anthem and Prescott/Prescott Valley but we are leaning toward Anthem. Our main concern is expansive soil, collapsible soil, and soil shrink/swell potential which comes up with our search of Anthem. How prevalent are these soil types in Anthem? Has there been a lot of problems with the homes in Anthem in regards to settling and foundation issues? And what foundation types are in Arizona besides slab and post tension slab since there are no basements? Also which side of Anthem has Phoenix water that is not on the country club side. Would it be wise to get a home inspection plus a foundation inspection? Thank you for your time and help. Have a great day.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Hi L.W.! Thanks for the comment. We are so excited to hear that you’re considering Anthem. We might be a little biased but we absolutely love it here. Let me try to answer all of your questions in order: 1) Soil: It is clear you have done a ton of research! That’s awesome! Have you visited this website? websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx This allows you see the composition of soil in specific areas of the state (including Anthem). I have not come across any issues with soil in Anthem in any of our transactions to date, but it always something that needs to be investigated on a case-by-case basis. 2) Settling & Foundation Issues: It is typical for homes in Anthem (and across the valley) to have settling cracks, however, I have never come across any that need more than taping, patching, and painting. That being said, it is definitely something our inspectors look for and will advise if they feel a particular crack requires further investigation by an engineer or other professional. 3) Foundation Types: As far as I know we only have poured concrete slabs and in Anthem. You correct, we do not have basements. 4) Utilities: Anthem Parkside West (i.e. all parts of Anthem west of the I-17) receives City of Phoenix services, while Anthem Parkside East & Anthem Country Club receive private utilities. We have a whole video where we break this down in more detail if you would like to check it out (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp-UXqyig9x3has). 5) Inspections: We always encourage our clients to get any and all inspections they would like. While we haven’t had any clients conduct a foundation inspection, it is certainly something you would be welcome to do! I am thinking it might be helpful if we send you a copy of the Buyer Advisory. This is a really valuable document, with a ton of resources for anyone considering purchasing in Arizona. If you’d like me to send over a copy, just let me know. Please don’t hesitate to send us an email ([e-mail]) or give us a call (623.216.5075) with any other questions. I hope this is helpful! Have a great afternoon, Lindsay

[@l.w.8195]

@@WiseMoveAZ Thank you so much for your quick reply. I have gone to that soil website and it is not very user friendly but I think I figured it out :) With homes being built in recent years would a copy of the soil report be available to the buyer upon request if there is one available? Are there any flooding issues in Anthem? Are the homes on Anthem Parkside West the oldest area? I just found a buyer advisory guide on the Arizona Associate of Realtors site. By the way your website is top notch really appreciate all the info on it. Thank you so much once again for your time. Have a beautiful evening - Libby

[@WiseMoveAZ]

@@l.w.8195 Our pleasure, Libby! You are so right, it is not the most user-friendly website! Unfortunately, I don't think it would be likely to get a copy of an existing soil report. It is certainly something that can be requested of the Seller, but I suspect this isn't something most Sellers would have in their files. Also with the market being as competitive as it is in Anthem at the moment, you typically want to submit as simple of an offer as possible in order for it to be considered (we are seeing quite a few multiple offer situations right now, and any additional requests of the Seller can put an offer in a precarious position). I think the best bet would be to get in touch with someone who specializes in soil testing in advance, talk to them about how long it takes to conduct testing, see how much it costs, etc. The inspection period in Arizona is typically 10 days, so hopefully they can return a report within that time frame. If not, we may need to request a longer inspection period up front. I believe there was a flood in Anthem at some point, but unfortunately that was prior to my living here. I would need to do a bit more research into that. We do have monsoon season, which can bring a lot of water all at once. That being said, there are washes throughout the community that do a great job of diverting water when it comes. Last year we had a lot of water in September and it was really cool to see the washes in action! Also, as long as you are properly maintaining the grade of your lot, cleaning gutters, maintaining your roof, etc. you should be in great shape during the monsoon season. Anthem is quite elevated compared to other parts of Phoenix, which seems to help. All of the homes in Anthem are roughly the same age (being built over the span of roughly 9 years). Construction started in 1999 and it was almost completely built out by 2008. They were building on the west side of Anthem and the east side simultaneously. The exception is Circle Mountain Ranch. This is a neighborhood of 202 homes that was added to the west side of Anthem starting in 2017. There is still a bit of construction going on in Circle Mountain, but for the most part it is almost completed. Perfect, I am glad you were able to get your hands on the Buyer Advisory - it is a great tool! If anything in there prompts more questions, please let us know. Thank you so much for the kind words, they mean a lot! We have a lot of fun with our videos and website. If there are any other topics you'd like us to address in a future video, please let us know, we'd be happy to cover it! Take care & have a great evening! Lindsay

[@CyndeeHaydonFL]

Great tips and insights on moving to Phoenix AZ

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much for watching, Cyndee! We had a lot of fun coming up with ideas for this video!

[@MyRealtorKerri]

You made me want to move to Arizona! If only I could 😩😩😩 amazing video as usual! 😍

[@WiseMoveAZ]

That would be SO fun, Kerri! But it looks so beautiful where you are too. Thanks so much for watching, as always!

[@MyRealtorKerri]

@@WiseMoveAZ Maybe one day! ;) I have a hard time with the cold, although I do really love the change of seasons because each season has its own beauty. BUT...that cold is definitely hard sometimes. -50's is just not my thing lol.

[@edmontonexpert]

Love this! I want to move to Arizona! So many things to do

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thanks so much, Jenn! You absolutely should! Or at least come for a visit! 😊

[@schmidtandcompany]

Great video! Love this pro and con list--very useful for potential movers!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much for watching, Cindy-lou! :)

[@mileseyecute8474]

Wait y’all, did the cons half of the video get edited out right before posting?

[@JacquelineKraszewski]

Nice job, that's a lot of sunshine!!!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thanks so much, Jacque! We are spoiled with sunshine here!

[@janellekean9055]

Thanks! Great information ❤

[@WiseMoveAZ]

So glad it was helpful, Janelle! Thanks so much for watching!

[@angelsasmrchannel]

There's a reason why housing here is so cheap. #dontdoit.

[@CoriSellsNJ]

I want to move there any I've never even been to Arizona!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Yes! That would be so fun! :)

[@alexburket1536]

number 3 alone is the reason we moved from CO to AZ

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Yay! We are SOO happy you did! :)

[@LauriHowes]

I look forward to wintering in Az for the weather when we retire.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

It really is the perfect place to spend your winters. Thanks so much for watching, Lauri!

[@christinepatterson3829]

Sounds like a great place to live.

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much, Christine! We think so too... although we might be a little biased! 😂

[@mileseyecute8474]

Where are the cons?

[@WiseMoveAZ]

It's a bit tongue-in-cheek! 😂 We have lived in so many different places and this is hands down our favorite. Thanks so much for stopping by, Miles! 😊

[@BerniceTaylorFitness]

Great job in presenting this. it was very helpful to potential buyers, Makes me want to move there!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thank you so much! We absolutely love it here and love being able to share all the great things about Arizona!

[@coleoberdorf4466]

Looking to move here from Wisconsin..as much as I love my home state, seeing gray and being freezing all the time in the winters sure takes a toll on you. Great video!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

Thanks so much, Cole! I'm originally from Canada and we had some brutal winters too, so I can definitely empathize with you on that. We were actually showing houses to a lovely family from Wisconsin today that's thinking about making the move to Arizona. :) If there's anything we can do to help, don't hesitate to reach out ([e-mail]). Stay warm over there!

[@coleoberdorf4466]

Wise Move AZ hey just thought of something! What kind of cars do people usually daily drive? Like convertibles, jeeps, or just economy cars? I know it varies on the person but I’m just thinking on average. And I’m guessing light colors? (white, sliver, etc) Thanks!

[@WiseMoveAZ]

@@coleoberdorf4466 Good question! I'd love to say everyone drives convertibles... that sounds so glamorous! 😆 Truthfully, I think it's primarily a mix between SUV's and cars. For most people I think it depends on how long their commute is, the fuel economy they want, and what they will be using the vehicle for. I do think that people tend to lean towards lighter colored cars. That being said, I drive a black sedan and I don't find it any better or worse than a lighter car in our summer heat. As long as it has air-conditioning and is reliable, you're good to go! Feel free to send any other questions as they come up. Take care!

[@coleoberdorf4466]

Wise Move AZ thanks much!