You’re so ready to move out of your state and to Arizona that you have cross country movers on speed dial. There are a lot of areas of the country where the challenges of living there are just too great. And Arizona is very alluring which is why it is growing at an incredible rate over the last few years.
When you are experiencing a loss of jobs in your area, then it is time to move. Or, you are tired of the snowy weather of the Northeast. Maybe it’s the high cost of living in California combined with the environmental issues there. Whatever the reason, Arizona is a very enticing landing spot.
In this article, I will go over several of the reasons people are moving to Arizona and why you should be thinking about it, too.
Lots of housing inventory
All over the state, there are new developments popping up with Arizona homes for sale. This means that no matter where you want to live, you will likely find exactly what you are looking for in a home.
If you are moving for work then you are likely to be looking around the Scottsdale area since it is the fastest-growing area in the state. Employers are always on the lookout for new hires so there is a good chance of finding a job there.
But, some people are also able to work remotely, in which case they can live anywhere. For instance, nature lovers are flocking to Payson which is north of Phoenix and close to some spectacular hiking and other outdoor sports.
People looking for a charming city with lots of character are drawn to Chandler. It is a bustling small city that offers lots of events for families and people of all ages. There are numerous festivals that go on and a lot of boutique restaurants that attract food lovers.
Basically, whatever type of lifestyle you are looking for, you will find in Arizona plenty of options for housing.
The one downside to this trend of a lot of people moving to Arizona is that the housing prices have gone up quite a bit in the last few years. In fact, it is one of the metrics that is higher than the national average as far as the cost of living.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, however. Buying in Arizona can be a good investment since there is high demand. If you plan to flip your house every few years then you can see some nice returns on that investment.
The climate is great
Yes, it is very hot in Arizona. Temperatures can be quite shocking to those from more mild climates. However, it is very dry there which is good for a lot of people looking to get out of the unhealthy humidity of the Northern states.
And, it is sunny all the time. There is an average of 320 sunny days per year. If you hate cold, damp, and gray weather, then you won’t mind the heat. Many people in the North suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder that really impacts their life. Having this much sun can really turn a person’s life around if they have SAD.
The dry air is very good for people with respiratory illnesses as humidity can be very hard on the lungs. The dry air makes it easier to breathe and can help with chest congestion.
And, those with mobility issues will enjoy not having to deal with snow, sleet, and icy weather.
Then there is the fact that there are no major weather related disasters. There are no tornados or hurricanes. It can now in some of the higher elevations with occasional blizzard conditions, but most people don’t live in those areas anyway.
Low cost of living
Besides the issue with housing being on the expensive side in Arizona, the other cost of living metrics are below the national average.
Being an area where it is warm all year, there is an almost non stop growing period. This means that you pay less for your produce than in most places and it is much fresher than you get in many other parts of the country.
Utility rates are on average a bit lower but be careful with those numbers. The heat from May to October requires your air conditioner to be on almost all day and night. Even though your rates may be lower, you could see higher bills just from the amount you consume being higher than other parts of the country. The flip side of that, of course, is that you want have high heating bills in the winter so it basically evens out.
Lastly, healthcare costs are 14% lower than the national average so you will see significant savings there. Even copays are generally lower so you save on the insurance principal as well as the out of pocket expenses. And dentists are also on the lower end compared to the national average.
Taxes
State and locals taxes are a mixed bag. If you are coming from New York or California, then you will love paying lower taxes. The state income tax is between 2.5% and 4.99% which is considerably lower than in the high state tax states. However, coming from Florida or New Hampshire that have no state income tax, this is going to raise your tax burden a bit.
There is sales tax, too that you will be paying that can be as high as 8.4% if you include some local taxes. So, choose where to live wisely to avoid paying the higher end of sales tax.
Conclusion
As you can see, some of the reasons that people are looking to move to Arizona may not work for everybody. It really depends on where you are coming from as to whether it is going to be a move for the positive.
If it looks good on paper, however, then it is likely going to be a good move and set you up for years of happiness.
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