Thinking about moving to Arizona

[zgrins1]

Hey guys.
Me and my family has lived in a Commie state for a long time and I think we finally had enough. We keep thinking about moving to Arizona, since our last vacation there in August. We are thinking about Tucson area. I'm looking for recommendations. I'm interested in moving to a neighborhood with descent schools since my son is ten and been doing great in school and newish built houses. We are also open to buying some land and building there as long as it will not financially overload us. I know prices have gone crazy lately. Just looking for some input from those who know the area. Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

[C-grunt]

I think most of the forum members live up here in the Phoenix area.

Im not sure but I think buying land anywhere near Tucson is going to be pretty expensive. Rule of thumb in Az is land near the big cities or up in the forests is going to be pricey. Though there are some places up north and east of Payson where land is pretty affordable, but you arent near any big cities.

[ndmiller]

We've vacationed in Tucson twice in the past 3 years (June most recently) and during the weeks we were there we also thought about moving there. What hooked us was the people, the topography/scenery, the food, and new places to go within 3-5 hours by car or motorcycle. Good luck on your research, let us know how it goes.

[zgrins1]

Thank you guys for your responses. We are not yet set on any exact location at this time other than Tucson area. Also buying land is one of the options not a requirement. I'm just looking for areas with lower crime rate and hopefully better schools that are more dedicated to teaching students and less into indoctrination (if there's even such a thing anymore). Just trying to get a general idea what is what around there. Thanks.

[556Cliff]

You think you can handle the heat? Because that alone would keep me out of Arizona. I'd move to Texas which doesn't have it nearly as bad for the heat, but the high humidity sucks there.

[C-grunt]

You think you can handle the heat? Because that alone would keep me out of Arizona. I'd move to Texas which doesn't have it nearly as bad for the heat, but the high humidity sucks there.

Ill take 115 degrees with 15 percent humidity over 95 degrees with 80 percent humidity any day.

[C-grunt]

Thank you guys for your responses. We are not yet set on any exact location at this time other than Tucson area. Also buying land is one of the options not a requirement. I'm just looking for areas with lower crime rate and hopefully better schools that are more dedicated to teaching students and less into indoctrination (if there's even such a thing anymore). Just trying to get a general idea what is what around there. Thanks.

I know Tucson has some rough areas but I do believe they are in the lower income areas. Im assuming with land being an option, you arent looking at those spots.

I have a couple friends down there. Ill message them and ask them about the areas to look in.

[556Cliff]

Ill take 115 degrees with 15 percent humidity over 95 degrees with 80 percent humidity any day.

Either way you're trapped inside and can't really do anything outside in the Summer. I'm picking the place where I won't get 3rd degree burns on my hands from touching the door knobs from inside the house. ;) And the Winters are usually nice in Texas anyways since humidity isn't really noticeable when it's 50/60 degrees outside.

[zgrins1]

Thank you for your replies guys. To answer some of your questions we are looking for some nicer areas. Heat will not bea problem as we spent 2 weeks there in a Summer with temperatures being 102 -104 and a couple of days 110 to 112 and being outside most of the time. Other than drinking an ungodly amounts of water we did not find it extremely uncomfortable. I just felt in love with Saguaro park area. Plus it looks like I can find a job doing the same thing I do now easier in Tucson then around anywhere else in AZ.

[556Cliff]

Heat will not bea problem as we spent 2 weeks there in a Summer with temperatures being 102 -104 and a couple of days 110 to 112 and being outside most of the time. Other than drinking an ungodly amounts of water we did not find it extremely uncomfortable.

Wow, I got to experience a lot of hot days up here in Washington this year with a lot of them working outside in the high 90s, which made anything in the 80s seem (somehow) pleasant. But the one day that reached 111 degrees was completely unmanageable... I couldn't even open my eyes all the way.

Some people are built different.

[Defaultmp3]

Housing sucks in Tucson right now based of off what I've heard my house hunting friends say. Just the nature of the overall housing market, coupled with Tucson's expansion in the past decade or so. Lot of folks willing to pay cash over asking, it sounds like, based off of my friends' experiences getting outbid.

Tucson is also a fairly left-leaning city. I am originally from Texas, and usually describe it as being the Austin of Arizona (left leaning, casts itself as being quirky). Phoenix would be like Dallas (big, no character, shit traffic).

I don't know about schools since I don't have kids, but there is expansion noticeable in the NW side, close to Marana, where a number of newly built/in development neighborhoods are springing up.

[CRAMBONE]

Either way you're trapped inside and can't really do anything outside in the Summer. I'm picking the place where I won't get 3rd degree burns on my hands from touching the door knobs from inside the house. ;) And the Winters are usually nice in Texas anyways since humidity isn't really noticeable when it's 50/60 degrees outside.

You don’t duck hunt do you? Personally I can tell a difference between winter in the Deep South and being cold some where that isn’t as humid. This humidity gets in your bones and makes everything feel wet. I really liked the northeastern region of Arizona. It was really pretty and had greenery.

[556Cliff]

You don’t duck hunt do you? Personally I can tell a difference between winter in the Deep South and being cold some where that isn’t as humid. This humidity gets in your bones and makes everything feel wet. I really liked the northeastern region of Arizona. It was really pretty and had greenery.

Nope, I don't hunt anything except for online sales on guns and ammo. ;) I'm not against hunting, it's just not my kind of hobby and I don't do well with the sight of blood.

Here in Washington it's usually pretty high humidity all Winter long (99% for a lot of it and the Spring too), but I never venture outside too much in the Winter here (way too cold for me). But when Spring rolls around and it's in the 50s and 60s with 85% to 99% humidity I don't really have issues with that and that's basically what a Texas Winter is, like Spring in Washington.

I'd definitely need nice greenery though. Coming from Washington I need some forests around me and that's another reason I've liked the looks of East Texas... Just not a fan of desert locations and scrub brush.

I'm not moving yet, but I like to think about it sometimes.

[titsonritz]

Ill take 115 degrees with 15 percent humidity over 95 degrees with 80 percent humidity any day.

^^^Without question, you can have that hot, humid crap.

If I was moving to AZ, it would be in the north, something like between Flagstaff and Prescott.

[VIP3R 237]

^^^Without question, you can have that hot, humid crap.

If I was moving to AZ, it would be in the north, something like between Flagstaff and Prescott.

This. Prescott is gorgeous but housing is high, of course everywhere from Arizona to the Canadian border is out west.

[C-grunt]

From my buddy:

Stay away from Tucson city limits. Corona de Tucosn, Sahuarita, Marana and Vail are all good areas. I live west of Tucson in the county.

[C-grunt]

N
I'd definitely need nice greenery though. Coming from Washington I need some forests around me and that's another reason I've liked the looks of East Texas... Just not a fan of desert locations and scrub brush.

You know like a third of Az is forests?

It's not Washington type forests (my sister lives in Yelm) but it's decibel not desert.

[556Cliff]

You know like a third of Az is forests?

It's not Washington type forests (my sister lives in Yelm) but it's decibel not desert.

That is actually surprising to me... I had to go look at Google Earth to check it out and there is indeed a green strip forest-like terrain running East to West through the middle of the state. I always thought that Arizona was just a big & flat, sandy, dry desert with a big canyon running through it. It's still too hot there, but it's nice to know it has more inhabitable greener areas.

[zgrins1]

C-GRANT thank you for your suggestions. We will definitely check those places out. Nether me nor my wife have any inclination to live in a city. We are looking for more of a suburban feel where your property can be at least 100ft away from your closest neighbor. Also since we are still open to where we can move do you guys think that moving closer to Phoenix is a better idia? I just don't want to end up in a same type of environment as we have here in Illinois. Thanks again.

[greybuff]

Tucson has always seemed pretty liberal to me. If you are looking for land check out around Florence, we camp south of there and it's pretty nice there in the winter. Anywhere in the low desert will get hot in the summer. I have a small house in Clifton Az. (SE AZ) that needs to be finished that I would sell (health issues wont let me finish it). It sit on the San Francisco River and looks out to nothing but mountains as far as you can see.

[C-grunt]

That is actually surprising to me... I had to go look at Google Earth to check it out and there is indeed a green strip forest-like terrain running East to West through the middle of the state. I always thought that Arizona was just a big & flat, sandy, dry desert with a big canyon running through it. It's still too hot there, but it's nice to know it has more inhabitable greener areas.

Definitely isnt flat. We are one of the "Mountain States" with an average elevation of around 4000 feet. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon (where the main park is located) sits at 7000 feet. Also the mountain towns dont get hot like the desert towns. The average high temperature in July for Flagstaff is in the low 80s. It does get really cold there in the winter though.

[C-grunt]

OP here are some pics Ive taken of the northern/eastern parts of Az.

Flagstaff in the summer. Trip we took to see the Lowell Observatory.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923287598_fae2877434_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVagd)20180725_103637 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVagd) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923973596_23ce76de0a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYFbL)20180725_103526 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYFbL) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

Pics of Flagstaff last winter. First is when we got there and the others are the next morning.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923287543_1408c8c513_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVafg)20190320_150743 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVafg) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098317_8441e1267d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjg8)20190321_063217 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjg8) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923973421_bc42596f78_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF8K)20190321_071017 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF8K) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

Here are some pics from a camping trip in the north/east near Payson.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098307_628d4ae471_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjfX)20190614_191046 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjfX) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098152_92b5b29719_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjdh)20190831_123018 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjdh) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098122_293a3e5249_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjcL)20190615_192327 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjcL) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923973166_42c9da4681_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF4m)20190901_111537 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF4m) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

[Bodie275]

Phoenix is hotter than Tucson, but I think it has better 2A representation. If you do move to Tucson, I suggest Marana (NW Tucson). Better schools than TUSD (I would move out of state before letting my kids go to a TUSD school). Sauarita is nice, too. If you look at Marana and want land, west of the town and north into Pinal county has some nice tracks of desert. We bought 3.5 acres on Dove Mountain (not IN Dove Mountain, but ON Dove Mountain) and just as the economy turned up (ya' know, when the last guy was president), the area exploded in housing. Just drive north on Twin Peaks from I-10.
Anyway, PIMA county is governance is a clown show that only mirrors the Tucson City Clown'cile. Otherwise, we love the state's gun & knife laws and it's diversity of flora & fauna. We're just hoping that the mass exodus of Blue Californians won't turn the state purple or blue... damn. Never mind

[zgrins1]

I want to thank everyone for your contribution to this thread. I have got the leads I was looking for. Now one more question that I started to ponder about after reading your replies: if you were to move to Phoenix area where would you go?

[donlapalma]

I want to thank everyone for your contribution to this thread. I have got the leads I was looking for. Now one more question that I started to ponder about after reading your replies: if you were to move to Phoenix area where would you go?I live in Phoenix. What are your must haves?

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[Pappabear]

You think you can handle the heat? Because that alone would keep me out of Arizona. I'd move to Texas which doesn't have it nearly as bad for the heat, but the high humidity sucks there.

I moved from Dallas to AZ in the middle of the summer, the weather was much worse in TX. Bugs and humidity are insane. And I like TX but weather wise you get ice storms, tornadoes ...TX does not get a bad rap for weather, but it should. YMMV

PB

[556Cliff]

I moved from Dallas to AZ in the middle of the summer, the weather was much worse in TX. Bugs and humidity are insane. And I like TX but weather wise you get ice storms, tornadoes ...TX does not get a bad rap for weather, but it should. YMMV

PB

I don't doubt you, I've been looking at Texas for a few years now and even though Dallas is a bit North and West of where I've been paying attention to it still has the same lousy humidity in the Summertime.

All I know is that I wouldn't want to live in the more desert Western regions of Texas because it usually gets far too cold in the Winter and far too hot in the Summer for me... The older I get I'm just not a fan of extremes in temperature on either end of the spectrum. But, I know I wouldn't handle the humidity of an East Texas Summer very well either. I'm thinking it would maybe be a great place for a Winter house, not that I could afford to own and maintain 2 separate places for different times of the year... I'm just dreaming though, so what the heck? ;)

Bugs? I'm not sure how badly that would bother me since I'm an indoors cat most of the time anyways.

[zgrins1]

Thanks guys. To donlapalma :I'm looking for safe and good neighborhoods, good schools, my new house has some pivacy, preferably around 100ft or more away from my closest neighbor. Thanks.

[tucsondirt]

Everything said about Tucson has been pretty accurate, I live in Marana and the grade schools are okay but not keen on the middle schools/high schools. Canyon Del Oro (CDO) school district is better and Catalina Foothills has the highest scores. Both school districts have higher tax rates and pricier properties.

Tucson is cooler than Phx and cools down more in the evenings/mornings. As people have said, it’s pretty liberal here though.
Phx is redder but I too fear the influx of liberals fleeing CA may have an adverse effect too.

If you are interested in Phx, there is a large gun range NW of town on I17 and AZ74 ,Ben Avery shooting complex. They have a variety of ranges including long distance out to maybe 1000yds if that’s your thing. N of Phx is Anthem and New River, both growing communities not too far North of town.

In between Tucson and Phx are Florence and Casa Grande, smaller more rural communities.

I do love AZ gun laws and the shooting opportunities here. There are two public ranges, at least one private range, and two indoor ranges. Plenty of available competition events although I don’t compete.

Best wishes on your plans to relocate, bring your sunscreen!

[zgrins1]

Thanks tucsondirt

[titsonritz]

I moved from Dallas to AZ in the middle of the summer, the weather was much worse in TX. Bugs and humidity are insane. And I like TX but weather wise you get ice storms, tornadoes ...TX does not get a bad rap for weather, but it should. YMMV

PB

West Texas is more like Arizona where central and east Texas is more like the south.

[titsonritz]

I moved from Dallas to AZ in the middle of the summer, the weather was much worse in TX. Bugs and humidity are insane. And I like TX but weather wise you get ice storms, tornadoes ...TX does not get a bad rap for weather, but it should. YMMV

PB

Double tap

[donlapalma]

Thanks guys. To donlapalma :I'm looking for safe and good neighborhoods, good schools, my new house has some pivacy, preferably around 100ft or more away from my closest neighbor. Thanks.

Sorry for the delayed response. My first thought would be East Valley (i.e., Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, and Tempe). The further out you get from central Phoenix, the better chance you will have at owning a lot that will more spaced out from your neighbors. There are some old "horse properties" that can be found more in the city-center, but those come with a hefty price tag as you can imagine. Send me a PM if you want to get even more detailed than that.

[fred]

Sorry for the delayed response. My first thought would be East Valley (i.e., Apache Junction, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, and Tempe). The further out you get from central Phoenix, the better chance you will have at owning a lot that will more spaced out from your neighbors. There are some old "horse properties" that can be found more in the city-center, but those come with a hefty price tag as you can imagine. Send me a PM if you want to get even more detailed than that.

This is good advice... We live in Gilbert. It's pricey but way nicer than Sahuarita which is where we used to live (my opinion). Warning, they are building a ton of huge apartment complexes here that look like prisons. California is coming.
The Sonoita area gets my vote as the best place to live, if you can afford it.

[czgunner]

Good luck with your planned move. The best thing I ever did was move out of WA to WY. Love it here more than I can say.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[Redsoxnation]

Do it.

I have lived all over the United States while active duty for 20 years and I lived in both blue and red states and for me and my experiences, Alaska and Arizona along with Utah are the best states in the Union. No other states come close.

[zgrins1]

Thank you guys for all of your advice. Unfortunately our plans to move have been postponed due to unforseen circumstances. We are still planning to go ahead with a move later this year.

[OutofBatt3ry]

OP here are some pics Ive taken of the northern/eastern parts of Az.

Flagstaff in the summer. Trip we took to see the Lowell Observatory.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923287598_fae2877434_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVagd)20180725_103637 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVagd) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923973596_23ce76de0a_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYFbL)20180725_103526 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYFbL) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

Pics of Flagstaff last winter. First is when we got there and the others are the next morning.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923287543_1408c8c513_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVafg)20190320_150743 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzVafg) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098317_8441e1267d_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjg8)20190321_063217 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjg8) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923973421_bc42596f78_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF8K)20190321_071017 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF8K) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

Here are some pics from a camping trip in the north/east near Payson.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098307_628d4ae471_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjfX)20190614_191046 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjfX) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098152_92b5b29719_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjdh)20190831_123018 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjdh) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50924098122_293a3e5249_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjcL)20190615_192327 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzZjcL) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50923973166_42c9da4681_o.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF4m)20190901_111537 (https://flic.kr/p/2kzYF4m) by chase (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157376915@N07/), on Flickr

I love northern Arizona. I spent many weekends as a kid camping in those pine forests.

[Buick Guy]

Hi. Long term resident of AZ here.
Up North or South is where you can find decent chunks of land at good prices.
I don't sell land or have any connection to anything listed, BTW.

https://www.landflip.com/land-for-sale/arizona/2-p/lp-s

https://www.landwatch.com/arizona-land-for-sale/tucson-southern-region/sort-price-low-high