# Buying a house in Arizona **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 7, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353 "2021-02-07T00:47:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrMrmrmr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrmrmrmr/32/5828_2.png) [@MrMrmrmr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMrmrmr)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/21 "2021-02-07T03:58:15Z")
Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/22 "2021-02-07T04:03:23Z")
AZ is kinda nice in winter, I will admit. Especially compared to where the Op lives. ---
**Author:** ![MrMrmrmr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrmrmrmr/32/5828_2.png) [@MrMrmrmr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMrmrmr)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/23 "2021-02-07T04:14:55Z")
We just had freezing rain after a snowstorm. Every thing outside, your car, your sidewalks, coated in a semi impermeable layer. Fun times. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/24 "2021-02-07T14:53:22Z")
Phoenix is a lot like Houston or LA: a relatively character-free urban sprawl. Which might or might not be the OP’s favorite flavor. If you want a city, Tucson is an overgrown college town, much less sprawl-ful than Phoenix and cheaper. Actually a better year round climate than Phoenix too. Although if the OP intends to skip the hottest parts of the year that may not matter. Instead of touristy Sedona you might consider the other towns in the > **[Mogollon Rim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogollon_Rim)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The Mogollon Rim (/mʌɡɪˈjoʊn/ or /moʊɡəˈjoʊn/ or /mɒɡɒdʒɔːn/) is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the northern half of the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately 200 miles (320 km), starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border with New Mexico. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona. > The Rim is an escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plate... such as Payson, Show Low, and Pinetop. The summers are actually OK in those places. I also know those towns are significantly more politically conservative than Sedona. An alternative if quirky small town is your thing is a place like Globe. There are a few others. My creds: extended family in Phoenix for forever, lived there myself 1 year (did not care for it, and I'm originally from the L.A. area). Wife & her family from Tucson. Know people living in Sedona and in Pinetop now and others who've lived in Globe and other small AZ towns. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/25 "2021-02-07T20:29:22Z")
Arizona is a big state. It’s farther north-south than the largest dimension in Wisconsin. The highest point is over 12K feet, the lowest is 70 feet. It’s more than desert. There’s Holbrook, Flagstaff (Arizona), don’t forget Winona, Kingman…and Winslow, Tuba City, Kayenta, Bisbee, Ajo, Nogales, Douglas, Benson, Wilcox, Colorado City, St. Johns, Springerville, Florence, Globe, Blythe, Snowflake, Seligman, Page…etc…These places aren’t even close in politics, temperature, temperament, cost of living, language, ethnicity, religion, wildlife, nightlife. What do you want? But in general, you don’t want to come here. The desert is a harsh place. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/26 "2021-02-07T20:31:39Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Flagstaff (Arizona) Are you sure that’s the one that’s in Arizona? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/27 "2021-02-07T20:49:46Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Are you sure that’s the one that’s in Arizona? According to Bobby Troup Now you go through St. Louis Joplin, Missouri And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty You see Amarillo Gallup, New Mexico Flagstaff, Arizona Don’t forget Winona Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino ---
**Author:** ![MrMrmrmr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrmrmrmr/32/5828_2.png) [@MrMrmrmr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMrmrmr)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/28 "2021-02-07T23:54:33Z")
Thanks for all the information. Looks like we need a month long road trip. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/29 "2021-02-08T10:25:52Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I suggest you go back and read the conversation. OP was obviously drawing a contrast between his current location and the Arizona desert. Since it was obvious, the poster was clearly already aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/30 "2021-02-08T12:41:02Z")
Assuming you are planning on growing old in this house, you need to balance affordability/isolation with access to services, especially medical care. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/31 "2021-02-08T15:28:27Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Prescott is the most racist town in Arizona… The Cowboys really hate the rich pilots, I hear. But a motorcyclist’s paradise! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/32 "2021-02-08T15:49:23Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > especially medical care. Then one of the places to go is Broadway Rd between Recker and Power in Mesa. It’s next to Leisure World and the hospital in the area I call the “Old People’s Medical Center”. I think they have at least one office for every medical specialty and scan/poke/prod/lab type in existance. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/33 "2021-02-08T16:24:55Z")
If you like suburbia Gilbert keeps coming up on various _best places to live_ lists. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/34 "2021-02-08T16:25:25Z")
Tucson is liberal, has a kickass Festival of Books and the Gem and Mineral Show, but it can also be very small town ish; it can be hard to make friends here. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/35 "2021-02-08T16:37:34Z")
If you like Sedona but want a much cheaper alternative, look about 20 miles west. My wife and I have been to Cottonwood on a couple occasions and we really like the area. My FIL was born and raised in the nearby town of Jerome so my wife has some history in the area. My only issue with anywhere in the state of Arizona is the politics. I prefer mine to be a bit bluer than what you find there. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/36 "2021-02-08T19:22:15Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Assuming you are planning on growing old in this house, you need to balance affordability/isolation with access to services, especially medical care. Tuba City it is for the OP! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/37 "2021-02-08T19:31:48Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Tuba City it is for the OP! . I think Tuba City is too “big city”. I think Kayenta is a better fit. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/38 "2021-02-08T19:56:13Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Tuba City it is for the OP! I actually looked that up… and now I can’t get a non-existent commercial out of my head: “What’s the matter, kids?” “There’s nuthin’ to do… and all our wind and brass instruments are tooooo smallll…” (sad tuba note) “Sounds like you two need a shopping trip… in a station wagon big enough for two kids AND… his and hers sousaphones!” “Golly, do you really mean it?” “Well, you’ll have to ask your mom.” “Well, all right, but only if you take me along… to…” All: _“TUBA CITY!”_ ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/39 "2021-02-08T20:59:40Z")
I’ve never lived in or even visited Arizona but have heard many anecdotes about unreasonable home owners’ associations there. As I understand it, huge portions of the ‘inhabitable suburbs’ are under HOAs with, like any other area, various levels of agressive enforcement. Most of these stories are in regard to concerns within the amateur radio community but probably something for OP to consider. That hammock you dreamed of napping in on New Years Day might not be allowed. ---
**Author:** ![MrMrmrmr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrmrmrmr/32/5828_2.png) [@MrMrmrmr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrMrmrmr)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2021, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353/40 "2021-02-08T21:38:50Z")
Yea, HOA are a big no. I went from a old brick farmhouse with A2 zoning, to a town with all kinds of ordinances. What do you mean I can’t have a guard goose and shoot guns in backyard? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-house-in-arizona/932353.md?page=3)