Most livable area in Az twixt mountains and desert ??

[fordy]

.............I am soliciting your help in choosing a livable part of Az , between mountains and Desert that is Affordable . I've been all over NM. and across Az. but don't know much about the state . , thanks , fordy

[Explorer]

New Mexico will be cheaper than Arizona. Look at a climate zone map as we go from about zone 4 to 9. What is livable to one may not be to another. City, town or country? Work or not?

[Little Quacker in OR]

Well Fordy, I don't know what you mean by "livable" but a good friend of mine is right now on the highway(she called from Bakersfield, CA this AM) from Golden Valley, AZ up to the Sacramento are along with her somewhat frail mom as her sis who lives in Sacramento is a Nurse. I think this may mean that their home in Golden Valley would be for rent?

If you are interested, as soon as they get into her sister's house in the Sacramento area and get in touch I can give them some contact info on you if you would be interested at all. As for me that place is so hot and miserable I don't know why anyone would live there. That said, after over 30 years in Las Vegas I do miss the beauty of the desert, I miss roadrunners too. LOL But not the heat, the wind and the dust.

Shoot me an email if you like and I'll keep my eye on the phone in case my friend and her mom call me while they are on the road.

LQ

[pcwerk]

not sure how "livable" it is, but I think I would be in heaven if I had a place
in the White Mountain area, on the border with New Mexico. Almost went
hiking the Blue Range once (had to settle for the Gilas) and its still a goal of
mine. But if you need a job, I guess Flagstaff area is about as good as it
gets in AZ.
pc

[fordy]

Originally Posted by Little Quacker in OR

Well Fordy, I don't know what you mean by "livable" but a good friend of mine is right now on the highway(she called from Bakersfield, CA this AM) from Golden Valley, AZ up to the Sacramento are along with her somewhat frail mom as her sis who lives in Sacramento is a Nurse. I think this may mean that their home in Golden Valley would be for rent?

If you are interested, as soon as they get into her sister's house in the Sacramento area and get in touch I can give them some contact info on you if you would be interested at all. As for me that place is so hot and miserable I don't know why anyone would live there. That said, after over 30 years in Las Vegas I do miss the beauty of the desert, I miss roadrunners too. LOL But not the heat, the wind and the dust.

Shoot me an email if you like and I'll keep my eye on the phone in case my friend and her mom call me while they are on the road.

LQ

...............LQ , I'm gainfully employed , currently ! And will stay so for , Hopefully 3 or 4 more years . I'm just looking ahead and gathering information in anticipation a move in the future . , fordy

[Explorer]

Currently the housing market in AZ is in the top five of depressed areas in the US. Good rental prices and much cheaper homes than three years ago.

If you want to homestead, choices are very limited due to water availability.

[byexample]

Apache County and Navajo County still have very affordable land prices and I find the climate here to be fairly mild and livable. Greatest challenge here is the wind... when it blows it blows.

Rarely gets above 100F in the summer and winters (so far) haven't been any worse than what we got back in the Maryland area where I used to live.

If you want to have a look at properties in Apache County have a look at http://AspenCountryRealty.com. That agent is up in the high country... but I'm pretty sure her listings are county-wide.

[Wolf mom]

I live in rural Navajo County AZ. Navajo & Apache county land prices are the most reasonable in AZ, unless you want a hot border town. Home prices are down 30%. My neighbor has had 10 had acres for sale - for almost 3 years. I'll be putting up 17 acres for sale next summer with electricity & a 450' well. Hopefully it'll sell as I'll carry the mortgage.

Land prices really vary here. The reason is electricity and water. You can buy 40 acres for not much, but you better be into hauling water and being off grid. Oh, taxes just went up also.

If you want to live here and go to a large town - think Flagstaff , although Flag is surrounded by mountains, so there's little land and housing is not cheap - 2 hours away - or Albuquerque, New Mexico. Major airport? Phoenix -3 hours. Major hospital? In Show Low, but most say it's be better to go to Phoenix. Navajo and Apache County are among the poorest in Arizona. Think few jobs, Doctors (specialists) that come up a couple days a week from Phoenix. And cost of goods are higher. Drugs? Rampant - especially meth. Schools - pretty average, none outstanding.

I always have a late frost, so most starts are grown indoors, although some areas don't have the freeze and snow I have. Every place has clay soil and lots of wind.

All said, I love it here. 4 seasons, all pretty mild. Lots of elk for hunting. Skiing is close by. Few year round people, mostly friendly. (I live in a "resort" area, but I'm not near town) and as much land as you can afford or would want.

[Goatsandsheep]

[QUOTE]she called from Bakersfield, CA this AM) [/QUOTE
Bad day to come thought early how did she like the fog?

[Old Vet]

There are two places that are livable in AZ and both of them are occupied at the time.

[Explorer]

I don't know about the other one, but this one is well defended.

[Explorer]

For those that want to move to AZ for the weather.

Dust storm wrecks south of Phoenix leave 4 dead

By MARK CARLSON
Associated Press Writer




PHOENIX (AP) -- A sudden dust storm Tuesday spawned a series of collisions involving as many as 20 vehicles on Interstate 10 south of Phoenix, leaving at least four people dead.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said other casualties were airlifted to Phoenix hospitals with severe burns and other traumatic injuries.

A second series of accidents was reported farther south along the main route between Tucson and Phoenix. High winds and blowing dust were also reported west of Phoenix, and the highway patrol was urging drivers headed to Phoenix from California to drive with extreme caution.

The midday accidents led authorities to close I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. It was expected to remain blocked for at least several hours.

Both directions of Interstate 40 in northern Arizona were also closed west of Flagstaff because of high winds and snow.

Traffic backed up for miles as I-10, a major east-west thoroughfare, was shut down in both directions at milepost 190 near Casa Grande. Dust and thick gray smoke from burning vehicles billowed across the flat sprawl of farms and desert.

The highway patrol said a commercial vehicle exploded, so a hazardous materials team was dispatched to the scene.

Video shot by a television helicopter showed the smoking hulks of several big-rig trucks, a passenger van and unrecognizable debris along about 300 yards of the eastbound lanes about 10 miles north of the junction with Interstate 8. In the westbound lanes, an injured person was loaded on a medical helicopter.

More:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...T&SECTION=HOME

[GoldenCityMuse]

Look for something along US 60, either in west NM or e AZ.

[Bandit]

We spent last Feb./March camping around Az. , Lake Havasu , Parker , Bullhead City , Black Canyon City , Liked the temps in BCC the best . Also visited Prescott , Payson , and Sedona on day trips , not sure I could take the summer's , but My old joints never felt better .
Checked out the RE agent in Apache Country above , has a lot of listings saying ( Beautiful Views , Owner has Never Seen Property ) ??????
Bob
Ps.
We wanted to check out the White Mountains area if We can get out that way this Winter.

[knight88]

What is ideal for one can be nasty for another, AZ is a place that can be both or either, Schools generally not good, Taxes kinda high. Water needed. Etc. Cochise county has some nice places, BUT there are always drawbacks and each place is different. We were 2 1/2 miles from the mexico border, not good, with the fence mostly in place it has become much better. High desert temps are pretty good, 10-20 degrees lower than Tucson. Do lots of research and try to visit at different times of the year. Feel free to ask specific questions...

[sunflower-n-ks]

i am watching this thread with interest. It is the exact question I could have asked.

Now, my question: Is the climate in the SW really better for arthritic problems? When I lived in the Phoenix valley, it was before I had the arthritis and animals. Now, I am seeking any possible relief, but would rather avoid the heat of the valleys.

[drakkensdottir]

We lived in Prescott in '99. Loved it. DH had little to no problems with his allergies and arthritis. It had just enough snow in the winter and the summers weren't scorching. Had to move back to Louisiana for family and are considering AZ again in another year or so. However, since we moved, apparently Prescott has been "discovered" -- places that were in the $75,000 range are now running in $100+ which is beyond our pocketbook. *sigh* We'll see where things are in another 6 months.

~Drak

[fordy]

Originally Posted by sunflower-n-ks

i am watching this thread with interest. It is the exact question I could have asked.

Now, my question: Is the climate in the SW really better for arthritic problems? When I lived in the Phoenix valley, it was before I had the arthritis and animals. Now, I am seeking any possible relief, but would rather avoid the heat of the valleys.

.............You are going to achieve a lower temperature during the hot times of the year by location between 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation . But , you'll probably receive colder temps during the winter as well . , fordy