[quote=bearishgurl][quote=flyer] . . . Depending on where you will be working, housing choices in the Valley, like Ahwatukee, Chandler (Ocotillo) Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Desert Ridge and the Anthem developments (some here are “pricey,”) are great for families.
The bottom line is AZ is what it is. . . .[/quote]
Even flyer (fmr AZ resident) acknowledges that those “sprawling ranch” enclaves described by “david” are “pricey.”
[quote=davidaaronhart…]1) Housing cost- For $350k I can purchase a newer home with 4-5 bdrms, and 3 plus baths, with a pool and a 3 car garage for my boat ;)…[/quote]
david, where is the 4-5/3/3 located in or near PHX for $350K? And if it is NOT in PHX, how many miles away is it??
[quote=flyer]. . . In fact, you’ll probably save enough to be able to return to San Diego someday if you so choose.
IMO, this is a far better plan for a young family than burning up everything they make during their peak earning years–living paycheck to paycheck in CA–then ending up with nothing saved in their retirement years.[/quote]
I disagree with flyer on this issue. This assumption presumes a few things that likely will not take place, IMHO:
a) that RE values in CA coastal counties will stay stagnant or fall in the coming years;
b) that a CA worker moving to AZ is going to make more money there than if they stayed in their jobs in a CA coastal county; and
c) that one can make a profit in the future on a house they buy, maintain and possibly improve in the (grossly overbuilt) PHX area in the coming years; and
d) that the family who moves to AZ, by hook or crook, who DOES end up having more discretionary income every month isn’t going to spend it (on water/desert toys and trips to SD to the “beach” to get out of the heat) and end up living from “paycheck to paycheck” anyway :=][/quote]
BG, it’s true that no one really knows how things will develop in CA real estate, or in any other way in years to come, but those were simply my opinions.
My responses to the OP, were based upon the fact that it seems the primary motivation for the move to AZ involves a better job, and, again, my personal opinion is that he is making a good choice.
It’s also true that many people in many states live “paycheck to paycheck,” but I’ve seen more of it in CA than any place else we’ve ever lived, except, perhaps, when we were in Hawaii for 5 years.
