Possibly moving to AZ. Q&A time.

[Iraqgunz]

I live in Maricopa county and shoot in the desrt all the time. As long as you are within the law you are GTG. Sheriff Joe runs the place and he is very pro gun.

Regarding shooting, Ben Avery can be very crowded at times. If you just want to shoot out in the desert, a cop told me you have to do it outside of Maricopa County. I am not sure if that is true, but apparently his department thought it was because he made me pack up my stuff and leave (no citation though).

[Irish]

I spend a lot of time in Phoenix around the Biltmore/Scottsdale area and it's nice. My buddy lives in Fountain Hills and if I moved out there that's where I'd start looking.

There's some property just up the road from there that butts up to Tanto National Forest and I spent a good deal of time looking in that area. There are screaming deals and you could walk right out your back yard into the national forest.

Looks like a really nice area! Thanks Marc

[Irish]

I wouldn't recommend Anthem or New River if you plan to go into Phoenix for a daily commute.

I appreciate your insight. I have an in home office so no commute for me. I do fly 3 round trip flights a month though so that is definitely a consideration but I don't mind a 45 minute commute to the airport if it puts me in a nicer, quieter, larger lot type of community.

[500grains]

I would like to add a thought applicable not just to Phoenix but to anywhere:

Try to locate in a neighborhood that is NOT NOT NOT served by the public buses. I don't think I need to explain why.

[donlapalma]

I've lived in Glendale, AZ since 2006. I like the area, but feel too far from a lot of the things that a young single guy would want to do in the evenings and weekends. So most nights I just stay home. Obviously, this would be different for a family man. However, my sister and her husband who also live in Glendale with a 8 month year old also complain about accessibility to a variety of eating establishments. Lots of strip malls and chain restaurants on the west side. It tends to get boring. Not sure if that's important to you, but thought I would note it.

I agree with everybody's comments above. Also, consider Paradise Valley and the Moon Valley areas which are essentially north / central Phoenix. Nice centrally located areas with reasonable access to Scottsdale, downtown, airport, etc.

Good luck.