Scoping out Arizona Feb 14-16...where should I check out?
 

My girlfriend and I, along with our friend will be scoping out Arizona in just over a week and a half. Ever since moving from Hawaii to Cali a year ago I have come to the realization that this just isn't for me...for a lot of reasons. After doing much research as well as reading on PPOT on people wanting to move we've decided that AZ seems like a great place, and everyone we've talked with have said it's a beautiful place.

Our time is short since these are the only days off my girlfriend and friend could take off, so we're gonna try to see as much as possible in as little time as possible. Not so much the touristy stuff, as there's plenty of time to see/do once we do make it down there permanently. We will be primarily scoping out a few optometry practices for sale for my g/f, as well as a few possible areas that we would consider moving to (haven't researched much yet).

As the drive from the sf bay area is roughly 12 hours we will probably be renting Prius since it gets 3x the gas mileage as my Tundra. We'll be heading out the night of Sat the 13th to make it mid-late morning on Sunday. So far the plan is to check out Flagstaff for a few hours, then head down to Phoenix in the afternoon with a quick stop at Prescott. Spend the night and the following day in Phoenix and then south to Tucson on Tuesday. Probably headed back late afternoon Tuesday.

I know there's a bunch of you guys here (Joe, Rick, Charles, et al) and if you guys have time perhaps we can get together one of these days?

Any comments, suggestions, and recommendations (for food!) are greatly appreciated!

figure out if Pizza bianca is worth the hype. in phoenix.

renting a prius is cheaper than putting gas in the tundra?

The Tundra is capable of getting 22mpg @ 60 mph on flat roads, but city driving is around 13.5mpg, plus it has to drink premium ever since it got supercharged. At 75 mph down I-5 it'll probably get 15mpg. Assuming the Prius gets 45mpg at a $55/day rental fee the more we drive (which it seems like we will be doing a lot of it) we actually come out ahead...enough to pay for a night at a motel...and that's just doing the math in our heads, estimating (high) distances to, from, and around.

As much as I'd like to drive the beast and wreak havoc all the way down south (504hp, 550lb-ft torque) financially believe it or not it makes more sense. Plus I should try keeping the miles down since I'm trying to sell it...

Know anyone that rents a jetta/golf TDi? I'd much rather drive one of these than a Prius!

Flag is 7000 ft elevation, so if you like several feet of snow......
Phoenix will be over 100 for months without a break during the summer.....
We're in Prescott, never gets too cold or too hot. LOTS of old people, so any kind of medical biz would do great!

Scoping out Phx in Feb, hmm.

You may want to scope it out in August before moving there.

I know...I have a feeling we won't be in Flagstaff very long. Drove through last March and there was snow on the side of the interstate...first time I've seen snow in my life. Gonna keep an eye out on the weather forecast though... Prescott was definitely on top of the list, though my g/f specializes in vision therapy for children, which might make it a bit difficult to do in a town with lots of old people!

I'd rather bake in the oven, than to freeze in the cold. It's indeed not the "greatest" time to visit in terms of getting a feel for the oven, but I want out of here ASAP...

besides, it's dry heat. I was in Maryland a few summers ago for military school, and it was 95 degrees with 99% humidity all summer. No thanks!

jeff, curious. what type of work are you in?

work? what is that? :p

before the g/f dragged me out to Cali I was in the automotive (****ty time to be in it) industry. Was in charge of the accessories program for the Hawaii Toyota/Lexus/Scion/Subaru/Suzuki distributor. Also have prior experience on the parts counter (dealer and aftermarket), as well as diesel vehicle repair (army...can't really count it though) as well as metals fabrication (machining/welding) thanks to the air force. Haven't been able to land a job I wanted here, first with Elephant Racing (i dunno, chuck just never called back after the interview) and then with Ducati, both of which I would've loved working for. Tried doing side jobs fixing cars but the dumb city has a code against working on cars not registered to the address, and I've been getting visits by cops who said there have been complaints of me running a repair home business, when all I am working on is my own truck (haven't worked on anyone else's vehicle in months). Ok, that's way too much info than you wanted...

currently if my g/f can find a practice to buy i can put my biz degree to use and run it, so for the near future the type of work i'll be in would be optical, though eventually I'd love to have my own shop...

Well there's lots of kids too, but this is a retirement destination I guess because of the weather.
Downtown Prescott is really cool. It's where they filmed "Back to the Future". Across from the courthouse is Whiskey Row (makes sense). The bars have been open since 1886. This is really a car town too. Incredible amount of streetrods and old VWs and car stuff going on almost every weekend. 80 plus Porsches in town, and Prescott is a relatively small town.

JUST WATCH OUT FOR THE F?$#&+N PHOTO RADAR!!!!!

My opinion of Phoenix....Little L.A. Smoggy and dirty without the ocean breezes to clear it out. Lots of crime. Crowded streets and freeways. OK to visit this time of year, but no way in the summer! Dry Heat? You carry a rag to open the door because you can't grab the handle/doorknob bare-handed.

Thanks for the info Rob! Didn't know there were so many Porsches in town. I think I'm gonna like Prescott...which route would you recommend taking coming from Flagstaff to Prescott? How cold does it get in the winter?

Read a lot about the photo radar...will definitely keep an eye out.

I know Phoenix gets HOT...but my idea of freezing is anything below 50 degrees...

I have been looking into AZ as well for a relocation, for me, I am liking Tucson. I love the heat, and after getting pummeled with several feet of snow so far this winter (and a couple more feet this weekend) I can't get there fast enough. Just my 2 cents. (P.S. I am a wrench as well)

Yeah and I think Tucson is not as hot as Phoenix? We'll see when we stop by...

mmmmm...cracker barrel. hahaha

i love tuscon. i would love to build a home into a hillside there. solar panels, indigenous landscaping. nice deck to shoot the zombies back.....

Prescott is exquisite - drive the 89A enroute to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. It will make you regret renting the prius - LOL! There's this crazy little outer-space-alien themed diner in Sedona that's a blast to have lunch at! I love Flagstaff and all of the Grand Canyon area plus Lake Powell.

Phoenix is one of those places that I can tolerate because it's near places I "get" to be. Real easy to find your way around because the city is gridded. I most enjoy staying in the Mesa area so that I can go play in the Superstition mountains.

Funny - I'll be in AZ that same weekend with my mother and son at a bicycle race outside of Tucson. Tucson is two thumbs way, way up by the way.

angela

Quick way is 17 to 169 to 69.
Oak Creek Canyon (89A) meanders from Flag to Sedona to Cottonwood to Prescott. Parts of it were closed a couple weeks ago because of flashfloods, but I'm sure it's open now.
It can get cold here at night. We are a mile high! Mid 30s, but up to 50s during the day. Humidity...10-15%.
We moved here from Palm Springs area about 18 months ago. When it hit 121 degrees in PS, we had to run. Couldn't breath. The high here in the Summer is 90, usually cooler. Probably the cleanest air in the country! Stars at night are mind boggling.

thanks angela! I think lunch at the outer space alien themed restaurant is a must! as of right now the prius seems most likely (unfortunately) so perhaps we'll have to see what those skinny tires can handle ;)

Rob - geez...sounds kinda cold...but I'm willing to bundle up for the right place to live!

Yeah, we've figured out you can put on a sweater over a sweater and then a jacket and be warm, but you can only take off so much until you're naked....and then it's still hot!
Actually we are SoCal born and raised on the beach, so this IS winter to us. But you get used to it real fast. I'll go to work with a long sleeve shirt and it's 40 something and I'm comfortable.

heh...I don't think i own that many sweaters/jackets...never did need them that much in Hawaii! Does it snow much in Prescott? How long does the Porsche have to stay in hibernation?

Let the gang know as your visit approaches. I should be around and I just got my 993 back the other day. PM Eric Coffey and have him show you some houses. That's how my wife and I did our move here. We didn't know where she was gonna work and only had one weekend here to find a place to live. It worked out fabulous. We have 3x the living and garage space for less rent than my condo mortgage payment in VA was and my wife found a job within three weeks, paying more than her already cushy job in DC and it was only 20 min. from our house. Eric is the most patient realtor, as he's been showing us houses for almost a year now and we're pretty close to closing on one.

We had considered going through USAA's movers advantage program as we met an awesome realtor here when we were considering purchasing a home, but this sounds even better! Will PM Eric...thanks Rick!

We got about 4" first part of last week, gone two days later. Only snow we've had so far this winter. There is some left in the shady areas higher up around town.

The 911 is driven every week, no hibernation! I just don't take it out in rain or snow. Other rides for weather days. Some GREAT roads around here. Going south out of Prescott on 89 is a roller coaster. Lots of Porsche guys come up from Phoenix just to play on 89.
If you have your Tundra here you can literally drive from here to Phoenix (100 miles) on dirt roads. More dirt roads in Arizona than any other state.

Well I lived in Prescott, AZ for about eight years so I'll share some thoughts: It is a great little town and as mentioned, it was discovered as a place to retire to. Prescott was named "best place to retire" or something several years ago and then "BOOM!". A lot more growth. That's okay, I think a lot of the Californians brought some cool, old cars with them. There are quite a few older Porsches in town, my neighbor had 928.

There is also a fair sized gay and lesbian community in Prescott (not that there is anything wrong with that). Check out prescottpride.com if you're into that.

Being right next to Prescott National Forest is great, clean air! There has been talk for several years of emissions testing coming to Yavapai County. (it is only a matter of time) That would suck but on the other hand if you see the air in nearby Verde Valley on some days then maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea long term.

With the growth has brought increased traffic. I was lucky, I lived five minutes from work. If you lived in Diamond Valley, Prescott Valley or Dewey, the AM and PM traffic can be heavy.

The weather in Prescott is nice, summer especially. Winters aren't bad but can get cold at times. I worked outdoors at night often and it can easily get down to the 20s or even dip into the teens. It doesn't snow as much as it used to if you talk to long time residents. What can be a pain is if it rains early evening and then freezes later on - icy roads. They use volcanic cinder (read: rock chips in paint) and magnesium chloride to clear the roads. It is never so bad that you need a winter beater.

I wouldn't mind moving back to Prescott or any number of places in Northern AZ but my wife can't stand even a little bit of cold. I'm working on her though.

While many films have been shot in Prescott, "Back to the Future" was shot on the Universal back lot. The courthouse does look similar.

Thanks for your input Kurt. What are your thoughts northern Phoenix, if you're still in the area?

I live as far north in Phoenix as you can, one mile south of the northern city limits line. I love it. It was less crowded here than inside the 101 loop. We're probably buying a house in Cave Creek and will neighbors with ODDJOB UNO and Joeaksa.

Like Rick says, north of the 101 freeway is nice, less city like and more desert-like (for some communities). Cave Creek and Carefree are very nice as is North Scottsdale. Out of the price range of many before but do-able now with the economy.

Hmm...will check it out. Looking at google maps it certainly seems less crowded, which is nice.

Any parts that should be avoided? A partnership opportunity just popped up for the g/f in Laveen; how is that area?

Same as what Rick said. Let us know and we can all get together. I am flying from 11-15th but should be here otherwise.

Yes Phoenix is hot from mid-June to mid-Sept, but right now its 70 degrees and sunny. We bake for 3 months in the summer for 9 months of paradise.

I love the desert and will be moving sometime in the next 5 years to the Wickenburg area. Nice small town and close enough to "civilization" that you can drive there in an hour. Also can drive to Flag in an hour or so.

Tucson is a wonderful city and is pretty big (800,000) but feels like a small town. Would live there if I could but job is here.

Stay away from South of 101 loop up North. Its become the "low rent" areas. I live North of 101 on Cave Creek road and like the area. If you can the city of Anthem, which is about 12 miles North of where I am is a nice area and believe thats where Rick lives.

You do not want Cave Creek or Carefree. Nice areas but way overpriced and terrible "land use" restrictions. Friend of mine owned a 5 acre lot/house. He was allowed to do what he wanted with 1/5th of it due to restrictions, and the rest had to be left "to nature" so he moved out after a few years.

Go to Cave Creek and then head West. These areas all the way to I-17 and on the Western side of the highway are still nice, have some acreage with them and reasonable place to live.

BTW, Driving South on I-17 the areas West of the highway in the city (from Glendale road to I-10) are VERBOTEN at night. This is where the gangs, hookers and so on come out at night and you do not want to be there.

Get ahold of Eric and he will help you with this.

Laveen is way south. If your GF ends up working there, you will not want to live north of the 101, as the commute would be hell. I work from home and have almost never had to deal with real traffic here, unless going to the airport around rush hour.

I have some friends in Laveen and they are desperate to get out but can't sell their house. Stay away....

oooooh..."land-use" restrictions are bad. similar to the crap i'm dealing with right now, except they're city codes.

thanks for all the insider info everyone...gonna start planning the trip on streets and trips so everything is laid out.

The other thing are HOA's. Home Owners Associations can be a PITA and frankly I will NEVER own a house with a HOA. Lots of areas around here have them, but there are other areas without them.

Up to you but they are not for me.

Same here. Can't stand HOA's. If I buy a house I want to be able to do whatever the damn hell I please. Is the HOA's there by cities or ?? Is there a list of them with HOA's? I'd like to avoid those...

hmm...time to PM Eric...

Jeff...good luck!

They vary by area. Some areas have them while some do not.

Eric can help...

Any housing complex that has a common area (park, swimming pool, etc) is going to have an HOA.

Any complex that is locked together (condos) that require everyone to get maintenance at the same time will have an HOA.

HOA is the only way to get everyone to pay their share for maintenance of common items.

HOA on a condo will kill you a lot of times, houses, not so bad. Huge restrictions (no parking a boat out front, etc etc)

rjp

There are actually a lot of areas inside the 101 loop with no HOA, where, if you drove through there, you'd be sure they have HOA's. I was just riding past some cookie cutter, planned development today with a big farmhouse and horse yard in the middle of it, obviously belonging to someone who refused to sell out to Pulte or Del Webb. Cave Creek has a few neighborhoods with and without HOA's. Check them out.

I love AZ so much it's nuts. Just today I was plinking at Usery range with my spoon and a buddy's AR. We could go on and on about where is best to live but in the end it's all about what you want. Well, that and where the gf lands a gig. First off, RENT a place. This is a fantastic time to buy but be patient. I live in NE Mesa around Power and Mckellips. Joe, LeeH, CUL8R and a few others have been out here and I won't lie that it will feel far. But honestly from my house to Sky Harbor airport is 30 minutes without traffic. I can be from my place to open desert in 5min and that will never change because it's Tonto Nat Forest. My place to Payson is just over an hour and on the Mogollon Rim is 90 min. Camping, fishing, snow, hunting. Me to Flagstaff can be 3.5 hrs. Me to RickLee is an hour. I like Ahwatukee and downtown Phx. There's a friend that has a wonderful old home near the Willow area.

Tucson? I pass. Many others here love it but not me. If you like traffic, go for it. It's a small town pretending to be a big one. But hey, that's me.

Prescott? Love it. And it's pronounced "Pres-kit" like "biscuit".

Flagstaff? Love it.

And get a spoon. It's an open carry state.

Nevermind. This place sucks. Don't move here. Nothing to see. I hear New Mexico has free houses. So does Nevada.

:D

actually thanks to Rick's post a while back about the Utah CCW permit, me and the g/f went and got ours ;) kinda miss holding and firing...something ever since i got out of the military.

what i really want? is 15-20 min away from civilization, so i can do whatever the hell i want, whenever the hell i want. not so sure on what the g/f wants yet :p

Assume you meant OUTSIDE of the 101 loop? I would not think of living anywhere inside the 101 loop unless it was Paradise Valley or Snottsdale areas.