My bf and I are planning to relocate from Buffalo, NY to Phoenix, AZ?

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xwideopenskyx

I can completely understand why you would want to move out of Buffalo. Phoenix is a paradise in comparison to Buffalo! I'm an ex-Clevelander. Finding jobs will be easy for you in Phoenix. But you do have some serious issues to consider before you move. The housing prices have shot up considerably in Phoenix and will be much higher than in Buffalo. The heat in the Phoenix valley during the summer is very oppressive. Even though it's a dry heat at 110+ degrees it is just miserable. Most people spend a lot of time indoors just like in Buffalo during winter. I relocated to theTucson area from Cleveland and I absolutely love it! The housing is way more affordable and the climate is a bit cooler at a higher elevation. I've enjoyed being outside almost everyday since I've been here and I sure don't miss the Lake Effect snow, if you know what I mean! There is much more to this state than just Phoenix. You might be surprised what you will find when you start exploring Arizona. Some people love it here and some people hate it. It's all relative. Others will say negative things just to dissuade new people from moving here. They don't want to share their piece of desert paradise with others. Arizona's population keeps growing at a very fast rate and that takes it's toll on everything. Good luck on your move and I hope that you will enjoy Arizona as much as I do.

lotmsotd

I would recommend applying for jobs a couple months in advance. Healthcare should be easy to get a position with, as Pheonix metro has a large retiree population, but I have no knowledge of the sports media market.
I am not sure how familiar you are with Phoenix, so if you haven't lived or visited here before, a couple of questions that you should ask yourself before you move are:
Housing market - are you renting or purchasing? Browse housing prices online. You might want to both get a job before signing a year-long lease or purchasing. From Apache Junction in the east to Suprise in the West in nearly 100 miles, and from far north Phoenix (Carefree Hwy), to Avondale in the south is another 50 miles. And the suburbs of Maricopa and Casa Grande are another 30-50 miles south of that, and growing fast due to housing be half the price of living closer to the city. How far and how long are you willing to commute to work? Estimate that you are going 30 mph during rush hour.
Temperature - NY to AZ is definately a climate change. Daily temperatures are almost always over 100 in the summer, up to 120, though winters are beautiful at 70 degrees. There are other cities in Arizona which remain ten degrees cooler. If you are moving for the climate, I might recommend Tucson, Sierra Vista, or Flagstaff. Flagstaff remains 30 degrees cooler than Phoenix and gets snow in the winter, the others 10 degrees or so (no snow).
If you are moving to be close to family or friends, you may ask them for their inputs on neighborhoods, and for list of local medical centers, and media centers.

chitowncf

Luck you! Absolutely put out feelers to find out if you can get work and how much they will pay. It is a quickly growing metropolitan area and you will have competition. You will probably love living in Phoenix. The people are super. It is a big city with a small town feel.

Lowa

I would say definitely start looking AND applying now.

Trigger

I would start applying for jobs in December...that way you have a month to fly out for job interviews and get moved. I just moved to Mesa, Arizona from California and I came out here in July and moved the first week of August and got a job the first week I was here. Give yourself about 4-6 weeks for job interviews and moving. Good luck and have fun!!!!!!!! Tempe and Mesa are great areas to live in. If you need any information...let me know. Good Luck!!!!!

Eug B

Hi there.
I was in a similar situation to you. I always wanted to move to Phoenix. It seems like everybodies doing it (Either that, North Carolina, or Florida). I'm from NYC.
So this past June I flew out to Phoenix to check the place out for a few days. I absolutely HATED it.
The heat is unbearable. It's like an oven.
You walk for 5 minutes and you're sweating profusely and feel lathergic and dehydrated (and I'm in average shape).
If you're not wearing a hat you can seriously feel the sun baking your brains. It's rediculous. I'd rather take a few 90 degree humid days in a New York summer than having 4 months of that punishment.
The drivers suck. Accidents happen in this region more than anywhere else in the country. People here have an unhealthy obsession with speeding.
The landscape is ugly. The place is naturally brown and musty. Every time the wind blows you get dust in your face. The only thing I liked about the scenery were the mountains. Although, they'd look A LOT better with greenery. It just doesn't compare to the beautiful Adirondacks of upstate New York.
There is no nightlife in the immediate city. The downtown is a ghost town when work is over for the white-collar workers.

Phoenix, essentially, is a suburb of 1,500,000 people with a financial district. It is extremely family oriented. Singles beware. Don't sign any leases.

Greasy Tony

January is a perfect time to move down weather wise.
Try these sites to help you.

www.azcentral.com
www.azfamily.com

Clovie

You didn't mention when you wanted to actually make the move, so we won't be able to answer if it's too soon or not lol.
For example: If you're planning to move in a month, ya, get on the job search..if you're not going to move for a couple of years, then yes, it's too soon.

pugs5678

why

Jessica S

Why are you moving to Phoenix and for what reasons? Out of curiosity! I've lived in Phoenix for two and a half years and I H-A-T-E it! The triple digit weather honestly isn't that bad because there is no humidity. However, your car insurance will go up at least $80-$120/mo. I don't know about Buffalo, but I'd probably pick a different metropolitan area to move. Unless you want to deal with the most stupidest, inconsiderate idiots in the United States.

Aundine

Sorry for this! But, I can't in good conscience give you info on Phoenix besides the people are pretty damned horrible! There is little to no sense of community, the weather is hot, but tolerable, if you have things to do, which there is little of. You won't find the culture you have on the east coast. The people are mean, self absorbed, and rather ignorant. That is the biggest reason I am hauling hieny out of here by next June!

stevsand2000

I have lived in Phoenix for 21 years and I say it sucks, find someplace else. That is my plan!

Blue

Go ahead and browse to get a feel of whats going on w/ cost of living/ economy, but Id say wait til end of Nov to start seriously searching. I work in media as well, your bf may have a hard time, just tell him to be patient. If you are going to be looking for menial jobs (fast food, maid, taxi, retail) or anything in construction you may not want to move here, there are lines of illegals for those jobs, and somehow they get them.

Ive lived here for 4 months so far and am loving it, and the person saying insurance jumps hasnt lived out east, mine dropped 70% from kentucky. If your into shows and the arts there is always something going on.

The city is overpopulated but you can get anywhere in 10 min., because their highway system is amazing (cept for how everyone here cant drive/is easily distracted, seriously, if there is just a car parked! in the Em. lane everyone slows way down and a gridlock ensues, its insane.). A light rail is also going in and the buses actually show up on time. The only thing i dont like is there isnt really a "downtown", there is a skyline but where most cities have a buis. district here its just highrises, apt complexes, and small houses. There isnt really a phoenix "feel" but none the less it's nice here.
PS DONT move to glendale or S phoenix.

Jared T

damn,I feel sorry for you moving to Phoenix,that would be one of the last cities on my list,not only is the heat terrible but the city is so crowded with everyone moving in and Phoenix is like one big suburb,not too much of a city feel.Denver,Dallas and San Antonio are cities with an actual big city feel and downtown.

mr danger

No what you should is fly in next weekend to see what triple digit heat actually feels like, realize that if you're gonna live in a place that's hotter than hell, pollluted & ugly you may as well move to Las Vegas NV and at least be in a place that's more fun.

FILE

START APPLYING NOW. LOW PAY, AZ IS A "RIGHT TO WORK FOR LESS" STATE. NO UNIONS AND LOW WAGES WITH NO BENEFITS. APPLY TO NATIONAL COMPANIES, AIRLINES, HIGH TECH, ETC.

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