Arizona Vs. California?

[sdduuuude]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=SK in CV]That area is not like CV. And the school districts are decent. Nowhere near as good the CV districts.[/quote]

I don’t know about the schools but I agree with this statement. “Well-irrigated and lushly landscaped” CV (SD) and this (relatively barren) PHX subdivision are night and day :=][/quote]

For the difference between a similarly appointed home in Awatukee vs. CV, (about $500,000), I think you could have some pretty lush landscaping.

You can split hairs all day over whether or not you can get a particular house in SD or PHX for 350K. The bottom line is, $350K gets you crap in SD and a great place in PHX. No two ways about it.

[sdduuuude]

Here’s a fun comparison:

Awahtukee
http://www.redfin.com/AZ/Phoenix/13835-S-Canyon-Dr-85048/home/27824519
5834 sq. ft.
2.32 acres
Backs to a wide open preserve with hiking.
$821,000

Del Mar Mesa
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/5739-Meadows-Del-Mar-92130/home/4524947
5839 sq. ft.
0.32 acres (1/7th the size).
$2,449,000

Carmel Valley, for the same price:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/3857-Banfield-Ln-92130/home/4484133
2393 sq. ft.
Lot is smaller than the AZ house at 4660 sq. ft.
Cost is $24K more

You are in dreamland if you attempt to argue in any way that Phoenix housing remotely approaches San Diego in terms of cost for a given quality.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdduuuude][quote=bearishgurl]And if you don’t mind indulging me, I have several questions about these “theoretical” 4/3 2500 sf homes for ~$350K in PHX:[/quote]

Been in this house. For $325K plus another $20K in improvements, they are living in something nicer than the $900K places we are looking at in Carmel Valley AND it is a huge lot. Same type of location as CV, too, with one of the best school districts.

http://www.redfin.com/AZ/Phoenix/2106-E-Taxidea-Way-85048/home/28112471

The Pix are horrible, and it is updated now. Plus, they have seen appreciation. Probably $450K now.[/quote]

sdduuuude, I can’t see the pics because I don’t belong to Redfin. But you just made my point. The type of property the OP’s friend is looking for TODAY IN Phoenix proper (NOT out in the stix) is approx $450K.

Thus it is likely out of his price range.

…which leaves him back to consideration of Santee, Lakeside and Ramona, where “david” can freely park his boat :=][/quote]

I’m thinking he could go for the standard size lot instead of the .3 acres and shoot for 2,000 sq. ft instead of the 3000+ and be just fine under $350K in that neighborhood, which is a few (hundred) steps up from Lakeside, Santee, and Ramona.

Redfin Search 300-375K

As long as the dude doesn’t have allergies, he’ll do great in Phoenix.

Consider the the CA 9% income tax and that’ll pay for all the AC you need.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdduuuude]Here’s a fun comparison:

Awahtukee
http://www.redfin.com/AZ/Phoenix/13835-S-Canyon-Dr-85048/home/27824519
5834 sq. ft.
2.32 acres
Backs to a wide open preserve with hiking.
$821,000

Del Mar Mesa
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/5739-Meadows-Del-Mar-92130/home/4524947
5839 sq. ft.
0.32 acres (1/7th the size).
$2,449,000

Carmel Valley, for the same price:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Diego/3857-Banfield-Ln-92130/home/4484133
2393 sq. ft.
Lot is smaller than the AZ house at 4660 sq. ft.
Cost is $24K more

You are in dreamland if you attempt to argue in any way that Phoenix housing remotely approaches San Diego in terms of cost for a given quality.[/quote]

Even though I don’t like the inside, I like the “setting” of the first sold comp very much. Can’t really tell if on tract or custom … and price seems high for PHX but probably reflects its privacy

The second sold comp has wa-a-a-a-y more expensive appointments than the first or the third sold comp, and is situated in an area adjacent to dozens of multimillion-dollar custom homes. For this reason, it’s not a good comparison.

Except for its substandard lot size, the third (recent) sold comp is pretty comparable to your orig PHX sold comp at almost twice today’s value of the PHX comp. Like it or not, ~400K is the difference in value between comparable properties in CV (SD) and Awatukee (PHX).

sdduuuude, you’ve been looking in CV for awhile now to purchase a primary residence and you’re actually FROM AZ! Had you given any thought to moving back there to get the “home of your dreams” for half the price?

…. just making a suggestion (in case you hadn’t considered it) :=]

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdduuuude][quote=bearishgurl][quote=SK in CV]That area is not like CV. And the school districts are decent. Nowhere near as good the CV districts.[/quote]

I don’t know about the schools but I agree with this statement. “Well-irrigated and lushly landscaped” CV (SD) and this (relatively barren) PHX subdivision are night and day :=][/quote]

For the difference between a similarly appointed home in Awatukee vs. CV, (about $500,000), I think you could have some pretty lush landscaping.

You can split hairs all day over whether or not you can get a particular house in SD or PHX for 350K. The bottom line is, $350K gets you crap in SD and a great place in PHX. No two ways about it.[/quote]

sdduuuude, I’m not debating whether RE is cheaper in PHX than SD. It undoubtedly is.

I’m simply stating that you pay for exactly what you get in this life.

Believe it or not, there ARE properties comparable to your PHX listing in Santee, Ramona AND Lakeside (CA)! They just aren’t $350K but could possibly be $450-$550K.

Your PHX sold comp ISN’T likely $350K today.

And you have still failed to address the issue of the RV access. Even if your 2 yr old sold listing was STILL worth $350K today, the OP’s friend likely won’t be able to park his boat there.

Yes, the OP’s friend could get a smaller house in PHX, without HOA (to lord over his boat-parking). I have no doubt that he could afford that. But would it be “new” or “near new” and still be close to town??

Probably not … not even close. So it wouldn’t be what he wanted (which was *newer*) and he would be in the same buyer-situation as he is here. So he may as well consider Santee, Lakeside or Ramona (~20 miles from work) enabling him to continue to surf as much as he can 🙂

It’s the same scenario in EVERY major city in the country, sdduuuude. The BEST locations were built on long ago. What was left for *newer* construction (after 2000) was lots in much lesser-desirable locations, mostly encumbered by HOAs.

I was trying to keep this discussion an apples-to-apples comparison, which I realize can be difficult when we are talking about a “coastal mediterranean climate” vs. a “desert floor climate.”

They are vastly different environments. Those differences actually make RE in many SD County communities look like a bargain, IMHO.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=sdduuuude]sdduuuude, you’ve been looking in CV for awhile now to purchase a primary residence and you’re actually FROM AZ! Had you given any thought to moving back there to get the “home of your dreams” for half the price?

…. just making a suggestion (in case you hadn’t considered it) :=][/quote]

Clearly, you didn’t read the part about choosing between falling asleep and breathing clearly vs. being wide awake but unable to breath and suffering from sneezing fits.

[sdduuuude]

So, you don’t think you could squeeze an RV or boat in somewhere on that 13,000 sq. ft. lot ? Really ?

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdduuuude][quote=bearishgurl]sdduuuude, you’ve been looking in CV for awhile now to purchase a primary residence and you’re actually FROM AZ! Had you given any thought to moving back there to get the “home of your dreams” for half the price?

…. just making a suggestion (in case you hadn’t considered it) :=][/quote]

Clearly, you didn’t read the part about choosing between falling asleep and breathing clearly vs. being wide awake but unable to breath and suffering from sneezing fits.[/quote]

Ha! I didn’t realize that allergy problems caused YOU to leave your home state, sdduuuude!

Have you ever tried immunotherapy? I finished my 27-mo treatment with a well-known ENT here in SD just short of 30 years ago and I am cured for life 🙂 …. so far at least. I used to have terrible allergic reactions to several grass and tree pollens so I hear where you’re coming from.

Unfortunately, I believe my old doctor is now deceased.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=sdduuuude]So, you don’t think you could squeeze an RV or boat in somewhere on that 13,000 sq. ft. lot ? Really ?[/quote]

Sure, if the RV gate could be made wider and the side yard was wide enough. But it won’t be able to sit higher than 6′ (trailered, which is the highest RV gate the city will likely allow) due to the CC&R’s. At least those are the fence guidelines here in SD County.

We don’t know the lot configuration, exactly. All we know is the boat cannot be visible at the curb.

I’ve personally been down all of these roads a time or two in my life :=0

Hopefully, it’s not a cabin cruiser or fishing boat :=]

[MistaVista]

There seems to be a lot of confusion and manipulating to make points regarding Santee, Ramona, etc. They area my wife an I are looking at is Scottsdale which as my friend who lives in Arizona described it ” is the La Jolla of AZ”. Top notch schools, very nice. This move would be for a promotion which would result in a much larger overall Salary (almost double). The role is a sales manager with a four state territory versus a sales rep with a territory from 52 south to the border. My wifes current company (Sorrento Valley), the controlling share was purchased by a hedge fund a little over a year ago. While the pay is good the overall pay and quality continue to decline and the Vulture capitalist continue to pinch everyone to inflate their numbers and prepare to sale. Point is time here seems to be limited. The key components bearish gurl is not acknowledging are 1) the future of the CA school system and the state 2) That for $350 this is a house that doesn’t need work, is larger, and has high end finishes. To maintain our current Salary levels my wife would simply need an very modest paying job 50k which is very attainable since she has a college degree and a strong resume. You factor additional cost such as Gas (about 75 cents cheaper a gallon), taxes, etc. This is not even close to even with a home in Santee that will definitely need money invested. I applaud your efforts to try and make these comparable situations, but one offers financial stability and a stronger future for my children while the other offers better weather for 3 months out of the year. Yes I will miss friends and surfing, but I haven’t surfed every weekend since before my daughter was born and see my friend every other month. The drive is close enough we can leave early morning and be here by lunchtime.

[SK in CV]

David, I just made the move from SD to Scottsdale about 18 months ago. I don’t really get the “la jolla of AZ” thing. Obviously, we all have different perspectives, but from mine, La Jolla is the ocean and the views. Scottsdale doesn’t have those. But it does have very nice neighborhoods that pretty much run the gamut as far as price is concerned, except for the top end, if there is anything here that matches the homes in LJ Farms or Mt Soledad, I have no idea where they are. It does have fine restaurants and shopping, and a little tourist area. And the heat thing is something that has to be considered.

If you’d like any limited insight I might be able to provide, feel free to ask me here or message me.

[spdrun]

SKANKSDALE! I love the smell of hair bleach in the morning!

[bearishgurl]

[quote=davidaaronhart…]There seems to be a lot of confusion and manipulating to make points regarding Santee, Ramona, etc. They area my wife an I are looking at is Scottsdale which as my friend who lives in Arizona described it ” is the La Jolla of AZ”. Top notch schools, very nice. This move would be for a promotion which would result in a much larger overall Salary (almost double). The role is a sales manager with a four state territory versus a sales rep with a territory from 52 south to the border. My wifes current company (Sorrento Valley), the controlling share was purchased by a hedge fund a little over a year ago. While the pay is good the overall pay and quality continue to decline and the Vulture capitalist continue to pinch everyone to inflate their numbers and prepare to sale. Point is time here seems to be limited. The key components bearish gurl is not acknowledging are 1) the future of the CA school system and the state 2) That for $350 this is a house that doesn’t need work, is larger, and has high end finishes. To maintain our current Salary levels my wife would simply need an very modest paying job 50k which is very attainable since she has a college degree and a strong resume. You factor additional cost such as Gas (about 75 cents cheaper a gallon), taxes, etc. This is not even close to even with a home in Santee that will definitely need money invested. I applaud your efforts to try and make these comparable situations, but one offers financial stability and a stronger future for my children while the other offers better weather for 3 months out of the year. Yes I will miss friends and surfing, but I haven’t surfed every weekend since before my daughter was born and see my friend every other month. The drive is close enough we can leave early morning and be here by lunchtime.[/quote]

Sounds like you have already made a decision to take the new job and move your family, david.

I’m going to take umbrage with what I believe are “misconceptions” posted here about the apples-to-apples comparison of $350K houses (IF they exist) and “school quality” between the two locales of Scottsdale and (North)east SD County (emphasized above):

david, why don’t you show us Piggs a link to $350K “sample property” that YOU would place an offer on in Scottsdale. Is it actually a house … or a condo? If a house, is it a 4-5/3/3’s with a pool as you described here? And is it completely ready for you to move into at COE? And do you propose to park your boat on a $350K property in Scottsdale? 🙂

How much does dry boat storage cost in the PHX area?

It is not “3 months out of the year” that the “weather is better” in SD v. PHX. It’s more like 9-10 months out of the year.

Re: your new “four state (sales) territory,” in the higher-paying job you are thinking of taking: Could that possibly be AZ, NV, NM and TX?? Have you driven any of these dozens of lonely roads, david? Do you realize that on many of these roads that there are no services whatsoever for a 100+ mile radius? How do you think you would like being alone for hours on end in 100++ degree heat in the middle of nowhere? Have you ever followed commercial vehicles for 75 miles or more where it was too narrow to pass? Have you ever driven through 100 mi long Indian reservations? Have you ever pumped gas with flying black beetles all over you, your vehicle … and the gas pump the whole time you’re parked in the fuel bay? And, I’m assuming you speak Spanish??

Just wondering ….

Re: your the “$50K” job you think your spouse will “easily obtain” in PHX: Don’t you realize that there are many thousands of people with “strong resumes” and even “graduate degrees” all over the country who can’t find work for even $25K annually? Many with likely decades more work experience than your spouse? Do you realize that PHX is traditionally a lower-paying area than SD?

I don’t think you will be able to “maintain your current salary levels” and live in AZ in the way you are dreaming of.

******

And we haven’t even addressed here if david and his spouse will be leaving relatives behind in SD.

Note: this post really isn’t about david’s “choice” anymore. It’s about all ALL Piggs who think the “grass will be greener” for their families (pun intended) if they relocate to what they perceive to be a “cheaper locale.”

SK, can you chime in here and tell us what this young family can buy for $350K in Scottsdale proper (or within its so-called “acclaimed” school district)?

Thanks for any help :=]

[Ren]

We have a few households full of relatives in AZ, every one of them hate it there but are stuck for various reasons (military, pensions, child custody). All also plan to move to SD to retire.

You may think you can tolerate the heat, but you really need to visit Phoenix in late summer to experience it for yourself, if you haven’t already. You know how it feels when you get in your car after it’s been sitting for hours on a hot San Diego (90+) day. That’s exactly how it feels walking out of a building in Phoenix. No big deal if you’re just visiting, but imagine all those parking lot walks during all the errands you run as part of everyday life. It sucks the energy right out of you.

If it was just me, I wouldn’t put an AZ move completely out of the question, but I would never consider subjecting my kids to that (or myself to my kids as they go stir crazy indoors).

I do like the desert landscaping. As long as everything is neat and tidy, a dozen different shades of brown can look pretty good.

[sdduuuude]

[quote=bearishgurl]Ha! I didn’t realize that allergy problems caused YOU to leave your home state, sdduuuude![/quote]

It didn’t, but it keeps me away. I left for graduate school and realized how awful it was after I left. I went home for Spring Break after a year of allergy-free living and thought I was going to die.

While I think Paradise Valley is nicer, more like the La Jolla of AZ than Scottsdale, I think the AZ transplant is going to be just fine. I just hope their respiratory system is amenable to the desert environment. Winter in AZ is like paradise, really, and few things are more pleasant than rain in the desert.

I’d suggest getting one of those Southwest Airlines credit cards. Charge everything on it, earn free flights and use them to go surfing in SD.

Or, substitute wakeboarding for surfing. If I recall, there are more boats per capita in AZ than any other state. They must store them somewhere.

[Author]

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