Learn me about Arizona (and Phoenix)

[Picklz]

So,

I'm kicking the idea around of moving to a warmer climate again, I've done this before but the more winters I spend in MN the more I really want to move elsewhere and try something new. I've been thinking about Arizona recently and thought I'd see if anyone here has lived there, knows someone who lives there, or has visited there that has any tips, suggestions, opinions, etc of the area, specifically Phoenix and the surrounding area.

Main reasons for AZ are - Nearby stuff that interests me (mountains for snowboarding, grand canyon for many shens, mountains/woods/etc for hiking/camping, vegas ~5 hours away, San Diego / Coast not much further, WAY better gun/car laws and lower cost of living than California, etc.

Not looking for anything specific just anything and everything you may have to offer I suppose. The ideal situation is I would keep my current Job here and just work remote 100% of the time, and rent my townhouse out and rent down there for a year or two to see how I like it, feel the neighboorhoods out, etc.

So yeah, if you've got anything, please share!

 

[ohsixspeedsix]

Obviously the first thing I can say is, talk to Jacob and Nikki. lol. I know she loved it down there and Jake moved back mostly for family. I'm sure the biggest + is the climate. The only thing i really know is that Jake mentioned some bad crime as in break-ins to cars and houses and stuff around Phoenix. But I'm sure it just depends on the area. Lotsa illegals as well haha.

 

[Picklz]

Word to that Hayden, I talked to Jake for a while last night, as with anywhere there's good areas and not so good areas, sounds like it can be very pocked there two which isn't that surprising all things considered. A garage would be a 100% must for me so at least the car(s) would be fairly safe at home.

Also curious if anyone has dealt with long-distance moving, I suspect AJ might be able to help here as far as what services are available, approximate costs, etc. So far I've looked at Uhaul/Budget as well as one trucking company that drops a trailer off, you fill/pack it, then they haul it and drop it off again to be unloaded. Both are expensive but I don't think there's much getting around that.

 

[AJ]

Jana can chime in a bit about AZ as her parents own a home down there as well and she spent a lot of time there. I was just down there for my first time when we took Lilli and liked it, but thankfully it was not summer.

For moving, yeah, I can point you in a lot of directions, keep in mind taxes of moving household goods allows for a deduction.