Moving to Phoenix (And we don't know the way!)

[X-Forces]

My family and I are planning on moving to the Phoenix area next year when we return (or when I return, my wife comes) to the U.S.A. I am looking to start instruction (well, pick up my CFI and instruct) after arriving.

Beyond the fact that it is hot, we are generally clueless about the valley. Neither of us have been there, nor do we know anyone that lives in the area. My wife has never lived in the U.S., and I have not lived in the U.S. for almost 10 years now.

We need help, and I’m not to proud to beg.

HELP!!!

I have so many things I would like to ask I don’t even know where to begin.

I guess I’ll start with the basics, is there anything we need to know about different areas? Where to go, and where not to?

I know it is all a matter of option, but that is what we need at the moment, opinions. Until we are there to formulate our own it is all we have to go on.

SUPER THANKS in advance!

[MarkE]

Welcome back home! There's quite a few Phoenix area people on here so I'm sure you'll get plenty of help.

[My Flight Surgeon]

Welcome back to the US. That is really a great feeling.

I will start by saying it will depend on where you wan to work. From the far eaast valley to the far west valley (built up areas, not desert) is now more than an hour drive on the freeway. The commute through the middle of town is not good at rush hour. I would suggest first finding the place you want to instruct then look for a place to live close by.

The 4 major area for instruction are Chandler/Mesa, Deer Valley, Goodyear and Scottsdale. ALl are more or less on the fringe of civilization and not close to each other.

I am sure you will get great input here on which place is the best to work too

[X-Forces]

Originally Posted by MarkE

Welcome back home! There's quite a few Phoenix area people on here so I'm sure you'll get plenty of help.

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

Welcome back to the US. That is really a great feeling.

I will start by saying it will depend on where you wan to work. From the far eaast valley to the far west valley (built up areas, not desert) is now more than an hour drive on the freeway. The commute through the middle of town is not good at rush hour. I would suggest first finding the place you want to instruct then look for a place to live close by.

The 4 major area for instruction are Chandler/Mesa, Deer Valley, Goodyear and Scottsdale. ALl are more or less on the fringe of civilization and not close to each other.

I am sure you will get great input here on which place is the best to work too

Thanks for the input.

To add to the complexity of the matter I have not made a final decision on where I would like to do my instructor training, however I was thinking about Deer Valley as my top choice.

We are looking to rent a house, rather then an apartment, for the extra space. There are three of us, and there will be four by the time we arrive.

I was looking at the Surprise area, as there seemed to be an abundance of houses for rent around there. However, I have no idea what the traffic situation is like, or what the area is really like. I can’t draw too good an opinion from most web sites.

City sponsored sites always paint a rosy picture, no matter what area you are researching, and often forums dedicated to moving and relocation, or apartment review sites are filled with disgruntled remarks, from disgruntled people.

I have also spoken to a realtor in the Phoenix area, and he is suggesting (seems to be pushing really) an area called Anthem. I didn’t even know there was an area named Anther until he mentioned it, when I looked at the Phoenix area on various maps and Google Earth I couldn’t find it. That is, until, I started zooming out, and out, and out, and out.

Now I don’t know if anyone on JC actually lives there, or knows anyone who does, but it looks to be way in the sticks, and recently developed I suspect. I am not sure who old the Google Earth image was, but when I looked at the area I could see a large 1.5 sq mile patch where there was nothing built at all.

I assume that the further out of the Phoenix center you go the safer you get? That is a big factor for us, any thoughts?

Well, all feedback is welcome.

Thanks again.

[Kristie]

deer valley is in north phoenix.. it's not a bad area to be in considering the location of freeways, stores and so forth...

forget anthem and get a new realtor... he's trying to sell you a nice house out in the sticks where it'll take you at least an hour to get there since it's WAY out there and traffic is nothing but jam city! if he tries to tell you that they're going to widen I-17 from 101 to Anthem, you tell him that that project won't be completed for another 7-10 years and won't even get started for another 2-3 years.. construction will make I-17 up to that area a worse nightmare than it is now...if he tries to sell you pinal county, queen creek, maricopa (town of) or in that area, again.. get yourself a new realtor because he's only looking out for himself. if they say that highways are going to widen and commute time is going to get better, tell him he's full of garbage and doesn't know what he's talking bout because pinal county will never have enough money to get things up to par considering the amount of folks moving into that county as quickly as they are.

if you need transportation information, i can give you that cuz that's what my job is all about.

Surprise is a traffic nightmare too but if your going to be instructing at glendale, it'll work ok for that...altho there will be loud fighter jets overhead all the time since surprise is on approach to Luke AFB (lots of folks complain about that).

If your going to instruct at deer valley, you'll want to live in the north valley, peoria, scottsdale, cave creek/tatum area or even (north) central phoenix (I-17/bell road and north). the closer you live to the airport, the easier it will be as far as traffic is concerned. it can take about 2.5 hrs now to go from apache junction/mesa to goodyear/avondale.

goodyear, avondale and litchfield park are nice areas on the west side and booming quite nicely but I-10 out there isn't going for widening for at least another 10 years.. they might try to expedite it but ADOT only gets oh so much funds each year and they have to be very selective as to what needs are more priority. It looks like the 303 will soon come to the design table in the north valley (RFP's are coming out soon) but that also means it won't be built for at least another 15-20 years if we're lucky.

scottsdale & paradise valley are a few of the *nicer* areas..also a bit pricey too but you get what you pay for! Gilbert/Chandler is nice on the south end if your going to go to williams gateway airport... tempe is great for being centralized in the area...the avenue streets in central phoenix is the area to stay away... i would say from Central Avenue to 80th Avenue going west and baseline to bell road going north are the areas to probably stay out of if you don't want trouble (maryville, tolleson, el mirage, south central)....it's mostly in central phoenix but it's typically in "the avenue's" as east of central ave are "streets".

SSL and HTH

[Chris_Ford]

Live in Chandler. That's all you need to know.

[My Flight Surgeon]

I like Kristie's answer about the "nicer" people living in Snotsdale

If you are looking at Deer Valley, stay reasonable close to the 101. I-17 from the north (Anthem) can be a parking lot in the morning. Surprise is too far off the 101 to make the commute easy and the 303 loop is not freeway yet.

I agree with renting a house. There are plenty on the market since real estate softened and folks got caught with 2 places. There are a couple of realty places that specialize in home rentals.

[X-Forces]

Thanks a lot guys, this is the type of information I was looking for.

Kristie, that is more information then I could have ever hoped for! I had my doubts about the Anthem area from the beginning. The realtor seemed too eager about the region, and when I saw where it was on the map I really didn’t figure it was for us.

We were really looking at Surprise, but what you mentioned about Luke AFB’s approach path has turned me off to the idea like a switch! I love the military, but I love my peace and quiet even more! I have had enough time near air bases to last me a lifetime. Thanks for that heads up.

I guess what would help the most would be me getting into gear and deciding where I am going to CFI, that should make for an easier choice. I guess like you said Doc, stay close to the 101, I’ll keep that in mind. Is there a big difference between being on the inside of the ring as opposed to being on the outside?

I also hear that car theft is rampant in the area? Is that just an exaggeration, or is it real? And when they talk of car theft, are they talking about break ins, or stolen vehicles? Has anyone here been a victim?

Oh, by the way, what is a gallon of gas going for out in Phoenix right now?

Thanks again for all this great information, we appreciate it more then I can express.

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by X-Forces

I also hear that car theft is rampant in the area? Is that just an exaggeration, or is it real? And when they talk of car theft, are they talking about break ins, or stolen vehicles? Has anyone here been a victim?

I went to the movies one night with my girlfriend (at the time). Two hours later, the car was stolen. Found it a year or so later at a chop shop, destroyed.

Other than that, had lots of friends lose stereos and amps. Car alarm highly recommended, and hide any valuables.

[My Flight Surgeon]

I don't think it makes much difference on in side or outside the ring, just live close. Car thefts not just breakins. Most common car is Honda Civic...
Gas running ~ $2.10-$2.30 ballpark. We shop/fillup at Costco!

[X-Forces]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

I went to the movies one night with my girlfriend (at the time). Two hours later, the car was stolen. Found it a year or so later at a chop shop, destroyed.

Other than that, had lots of friends lose stereos and amps. Car alarm highly recommended, and hide any valuables.

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

I don't think it makes much difference on in side or outside the ring, just live close. Car thefts not just breakins. Most common car is Honda Civic...
Gas running ~ $2.10-$2.30 ballpark. We shop/fillup at Costco!

Thanks for that Chris and Doc (My Flight Surgeon is just a bit long, hope you don’t mind the Doc thing?)

I like cars, and I really wouldn’t want to think about one getting stolen. Would you say the car theft in the area is more pro, or just junkies or what not? Either way nothing is worse then having your car jacked, I feel your pain Chris.

As far as the gas goes, hell 2.10-2.30/gal beats the $5.75/gal I am paying at the moment!

I don’t want to be a pain in the a$$ with all the questions, but could you give me a rough, and I mean rough, idea of what your utilities run per month (for a house). Water, electric, gas (if they use gas out there?), phone/cable, ect.

Thanks again, really, Thanks!

[Kristie]

could be a little professional, the stolen "parts" vs stolen "car" is more junkie but i think some of it also comes by way of illegal immigrants too trying to get further north or who knows what...our insurance is high too because there are a TON of people out here that DO NOT have insurance... that's a big problem too so you'll wanna make sure your a defensive driver out here! my car was actually keyed a while ago, i have no idea when... but it'll cost me about $1200 to fix it

we have a pretty big house at 2400 sqft... i'd say our utilities run about $80 (winter) - $300 (summer) for electricity...$70 for water/sewer/garbage..$25 for gas...it's not too bad as long as the house is well insulated! also depends if you have grass in the backyard cuz that can add to the water bill...

i'd actually say that gas is around 2.25 in phoenix.. about 2.30 in snobsdale (where we live).

[X-Forces]

Originally Posted by Kristie

could be a little professional, the stolen "parts" vs stolen "car" is more junkie but i think some of it also comes by way of illegal immigrants too trying to get further north or who knows what...our insurance is high too because there are a TON of people out here that DO NOT have insurance... that's a big problem too so you'll wanna make sure your a defensive driver out here! my car was actually keyed a while ago, i have no idea when... but it'll cost me about $1200 to fix it

we have a pretty big house at 2400 sqft... i'd say our utilities run about $80 (winter) - $300 (summer) for electricity...$70 for water/sewer/garbage..$25 for gas...it's not too bad as long as the house is well insulated! also depends if you have grass in the backyard cuz that can add to the water bill...

i'd actually say that gas is around 2.25 in phoenix.. about 2.30 in snobsdale (where we live).

Wow, it really brings me down to hear about the auto situation over there, guess the cars will be alarmed to the hilt. $1200?? What did they use to key your car, a blowtorch?

The insurance deal is a bit of a shocker! I take it there is no mandatory insurance requirement for autos in AZ? Haven’t seen that since I left Alabama.

The utilities prices sound great, compared to what we pay here. I take it most of the heating in Phoenix is electric? $300 a month in the summer is a bit up there, but I figure the A/C is on non-stop just to stay alive, and I guess it balances out over the course of the year.

Better then what we have over here. We pay heating cost 12 months out of the year based on a “Yearly usage average.” They must take the average usage calculations based on someone living in the Congo, rather then Hamburg, because at the end of every year, without fail, we get an outrageous “End of year adjustment charge” to make up the difference between our usage and the “average”

Either way, I guess we’ll be good to go with our utilities bills.

Thanks again.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by X-Forces

[color=black]Wow, it really brings me down to hear about the auto situation over there, guess the cars will be alarmed to the hilt. $1200?? What did they use to key your car, a blowtorch?

no.. regular key.. just long.. and i have a BMW so the costs are not as cheap as they would be over in deutschland!

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by X-Forces

I like cars, and I really wouldn’t want to think about one getting stolen. Would you say the car theft in the area is more pro, or just junkies or what not? Either way nothing is worse then having your car jacked, I feel your pain Chris.

I would say it's professional. All of my friends who had equipment jacked had it done in a very finessed (its a word now?) way.

As for car getting jacked, it was my ex's car, not mine. She's a doctor now so she ain't hurtin' I drove a 96 Dodge Intrepid. Nobody wanted to touch my stuff.

[X-Forces]

Could anyone explain where the boarder lines between some of the towns surrounding Phoenix area?

Towns such as Glendale, Surprise, Peoria, Scottsdale. I see all of them on the map, but I can't tell where one starts and the other ends.

One area that particularly baffles me is the area north of Peoria and Glendale, but south of the 101 ring road (and a bit north of the 101). What area is this? Is this Glendale, is it that large? Is it just considered Phoenix?

It makes it easier to do searches of areas when I know exactly where the area is considered to be. Anyone know of any on line maps that show the boundary lines?

Thanks in advance.

[My Flight Surgeon]

They just blend together. You don't even know when you drive from one to the next.

The area south of the 101 is Peoria toward the west, then Glendale closer to the I-17, then Phoenix east of the I-17. Pretty general but the city limits tend to wander a bit.

School districts are worse yet, I live in Phoenix but am in the Glendale school district.

[Kristie]

I'll send some or get you the links when i get to work on monday.. i know where quite a few boundary maps are.

[X-Forces]

Thanks again all!!!

[Chopshop]

If you have Jaa cfi already there are some options, personally I would stay away from DVT for ratings and instructing as they are expensive and not much work when you get your CFI. I would shop around get cfi and get 200 dual given asap and go work for one of the euro outfits oxford, satc, Lufthansa. Pay is 100x better not much ground MOTIVATED students. You want to be around Falcon field in mesa or good year. Mesa look redmountain ranch area, Goodyear estrella mountain ranch. Not sure what you are looking to spend.

[rcb]

If you work at IWA, you can live out towards Apache Junction. Some nice stuff going up, < 30 min drive from IWA.

At IWA:
Mesa Pilot Dev. Where I worked. No comment.
UND
All ATPs

Lots of cool stuff in the pattern there. F-104, EC-130, 747, Extras, LOT of helos.

[X-Forces]

Originally Posted by Chopshop

If you have Jaa cfi already there are some options, personally I would stay away from DVT for ratings and instructing as they are expensive and not much work when you get your CFI. I would shop around get cfi and get 200 dual given asap and go work for one of the euro outfits oxford, satc, Lufthansa. Pay is 100x better not much ground MOTIVATED students. You want to be around Falcon field in mesa or good year. Mesa look redmountain ranch area, Goodyear estrella mountain ranch. Not sure what you are looking to spend.

Thanks for the suggestion, but all of my aviation experience is U.S/FAA. We are looking to get away from Europe, at all costs! (At least for a while). I still have not made a final decision as to the flight school. Interesting comment about KDVT? I am not concerned about the flight school cost, as I only need some instructor modules and I'm set.

Originally Posted by rcb

If you work at IWA, you can live out towards Apache Junction. Some nice stuff going up, < 30 min drive from IWA.

At IWA:
Mesa Pilot Dev. Where I worked. No comment.
UND
All ATPs

Lots of cool stuff in the pattern there. F-104, EC-130, 747, Extras, LOT of helos.

I am looking into ATP as well, thanks for the info (I am a bit far along for Mesa). I must confess, I have not looked into that area as thoroughly as the N and NW areas of the region. I was led to believe that there was higher crime in the area you are referring? This, of course, is only from I read and is probably not entirely accurate. I'll give it a look

Thanks again.