Asking Locals What They Hate About Living in Phoenix, Arizona

You get used to it a little bit. You don't get used to it where you can just go running out in 150 degree heat. The vitamin C getting in everyone's skin makes everybody really happy. If we could install a beach in Phoenix, that would keep me here forever. So we're here at Soble, which is Instagram famous. Hello in Gilbert, Arizona. And the thing is, some of these people have been waiting since 2 a.m. We're here, man on the street. Everybody's got an opinion about the Phoenix metro area. So rather than just hearing it from me, I'm going to take it to them, ask some questions. And this is the video that every relocator should watch before making the move. All right, we are at Soble today. We're with my man. What's your name? Joe. How long have you lived here? And where'd you move from originally? Are you from New Jersey? Yeah, moved from Jersey. Came here for school. Now I'm living up here in the valley. Went to the U of A for school. Jaden, I was born in California in Fullerton. Serenity. I moved here like five years ago, and I'm kind of from Washington. What's your favorite thing you like about living here in Phoenix? Sunny skies all year round. It gets a little hot at times, but some of the small communities you can find around here. You have to look a little bit, but if you find them, you can find your pretty niche group of people. Honestly, I really just like the food here. Like I think our food is, it's not like California as diverse, but I think we have a lot of really, you know, being close to the border, really like authentic Mexican food. You can't go wrong with it. I do like the heat. I think the winters are really nice. And I just think the convenience of everything. You have a little bit of something everywhere. You have like kind of cowboy life. You have city life. You kind of have it all in one place. So it's kind of nice. And the lakes. It's really organized and clean. When I moved here from Mexico, I was like, wow, this is just straight lines, flat and clean. You know, I thought that was pretty cool. Just being close to stores, restaurants, bars, parks. Yeah, everything is in a driving distance. East Coast is very fast paced and it's go, go, go. And I lived the majority of my life in the East Coast, not knowing anything else. So when I moved here, I thought, wow, people actually can live like this. It was like everyone was on vacation mode. Like everyone still works. Everyone still has their responsibilities. But it was a more relaxed environment. So I'm glad I made the choice. I wish I made it sooner, actually. The opportunity for all the fun places like the like the bakery we're about to try. Actually, I love getting to try fun coffee shops. I work a lot and save a lot of money so I can try fun places like this. So I'm very excited to be able to do this with my family on my day off, too. So what specific spots since you mentioned you like to do this? What are your favorite places to go to? So some of the other ones that I've seen on TikTok that I really like. La La Land is also in Tempe. That's a cute coffee shop. I'm trying to think what other ones. I went to the Coach coffee shop when that one opened up like a month ago, I want to say. That one was a really fun one. That one was probably my favorite coffee that I've had, actually. That one was a tiramisu latte. That was my favorite. Where do you guys hang out at? What do you do here in Phoenix when you're here? I think the cool thing about Arizona is there's a little bit of something for everyone, which is nice. Every year Memorial Day weekend, my family hikes the Grand Canyon. We go rim to rim. And this last year, we just celebrated my husband's 20th year doing it. I feel like people, it's a bit of a melting pot. There's people from so many places and people are just really good, kind people. It's a really good community to be a part of. So what's something that genuinely surprised you about living in Phoenix after you guys moved here? And I take it it was probably during the whole COVID thing. You were like, we got to get out of here. Let's move to, was that, was that the kind of what happened? That was totally the vibe. So I got a fresh start during COVID, moved out here. I was surprised coming from a town of 1,500 people. Wow. I assumed that it would be impossible to meet other people and have fun. And it's been great. I've gotten to make a bunch of new friends and people that I call family, even though we're not related. And that's a cool thing that exists in the Valley. I love it. How long did it take you to sort of adjust to life here in? Yeah, the Phoenix metro area. The first day I moved here, it was 115 degrees outside. And so I figured it would be never. But thankfully, I think within like a few months, I started to get it. It started to cool down. And then I realized that it was worth exploring out and going to see people and having a good time. I have a lot of family in California. So traveling back and forth a lot, you see a lot of the differences. I'd say the infrastructure and the people, the people over there are very, it's very media and attention based over there. And it's always like, oh, what can you give me? What can I give you over here? I feel a lot of people are just like kind for the sake of being kind, not I'm going to be nice to you. And then what can you do for me later? And then infrastructure, the traffic over there, you know, traffic here can get bad, but the traffic over there is just, it's a different level. You can be stuck in three hour traffic and barely move a mile. So I honestly had no idea that people like actually rode horses here. And there was like a lot of jackpots and just a lot of a rodeo life. When you look at it from the outside, you don't see much of that. You know, you just see the city life. So it surprised me. So it's a desert, but I'm a adventurous woman. And I find it really cool spots. Yeah. One of those things was, wow, my child doesn't have to go to school in that district. Shortly after I moved here, there were one set of schools that I chose where I bought a home based on those schools in that area. And then what happened was the district, all of a sudden, after a year or two, I was here, they shifted and changed the school for my area. So it meant my kids would have been forced to go to that school had I been in a different area. Right. So because we have the freedom to choose, I was able to continue my plans to send my children to the schools that were originally listed in my area. Someday we'd love to. Everyone is really nice. I think it's something about the sunshine, the vitamin C getting in everyone's skin makes everybody really happy. Yeah, we really enjoy it. So how long did it take you to adjust to, not just the weather, but the whole vibe here? I mean, obviously everybody was nice. So was it, did it take long or were you like jump right in? And it was awesome. It probably took about a year since I grew up with the seasons changing. I really missed the snow and like the fall, the sea, the weather. I really liked that. But it's after a while you get used to it. You really like being able to swim year round if you're one of those people. Or I got my blood thin. Or like my blood is definitely thin and all that I've lived here. So I'm one of those bundle up in the winter people, even though it's not super cold here. I think everyone is not from here. Mostly transplants. My kids have all been born here. So now they're, you know, natives. But everyone here is very nice. Everyone's pretty much happy to be here because you've moved here for a specific purpose. And I think the cost of living is still better than California. So I think everyone is still coming here. Now, if you guys are seriously considering a move to the Phoenix metro area, reach out to us. This is what my team helps relocators with every single day. We will take a look at your lifestyle, your budget, things that are important to you, whether you're looking at schools and just overall vibe of the community. We'll take a look at that and find the best place for you. Reach out. My contact info is in the description below. So how do you cope in this summer heat? Is it unbearable for you? Is it as bad as Scotland or can you deal with it? I love it. That's why I'm here. I'm not in Scotland because it's well, I'd rather be too hot than too cold. You know, I learned from a very young age because I've been playing soccer my whole life. You got to kind of move with the elements. So like you got to get up early in the morning to go on a run or you got to wait till that sun goes down and go at six or seven because that's usually when I had practice between seven and nine. You got to kind of bob and weave with the sun or, you know, you can go out and hang out in the pool all day. So it's really and, you know, they say you get used to it. You get used to it a little bit. You don't get used to it where you can just go running out in 150 degree heat. If I'm not in water, I'm pretty much inside. But honestly, at 100, I feel like everywhere in the United States, it gets to about 100 at least at some point. I feel like once it hits 100, it's all the same. It's really not too bad. We embrace it. We actually go to a pool every day, me and my kids to get vitamin D. There you go. I like it. We're all brown and we love it. We don't have to pay for the tan, you know. First of all, swimming is always good. Second of all, I think like halfway through the summer, I think we all get a little bit cranky with the heat, right? And so I usually make a one-day trip up to Flagstaff, go up there. It's usually 70, 80 degrees. It's perfect for walking around, getting outside. Don't get to do that a lot. I say as we're outside right now. You just learn to go from air-conditioned car to air-conditioned building or you're under misters or you're in the water, take little trips here and there, which is nice. But the misters help. We've got misters on our playground and they definitely make a difference. If you could live in one neighborhood in the Phoenix Metro, where would you land? Money is no, you know, object. Yeah, yeah, you're good. Where are you at? So like I said, I currently live in North Scottsdale, North Phoenix area. There's obviously a lot there. Yeah, yeah. And then growing up in Gilbert, there's also a lot of money in there, but it's put towards, you know, family instead of things. So it's kind of tough. They're pulling me both sides. I would probably say just because the food's better up there, probably North Scottsdale, probably up towards like the Arcadia area or maybe Camelback. That sort of area is really nice. They have a lot of nice golf courses up there. So probably around that area. Probably the Queen Creek, Gilbert area, the area we're in right now. Price wise, it's okay. And there's just so much convenience everywhere. No matter what part you're in, there's some kind of downtown or some kind of little spot city in within. And there's all different kinds of people. It's all, it's, it's pretty unique. Gilbert. So I live in Queen Creek, but I would totally move to Gilbert around this area, downtown. Yeah. Now I live over on Crismon and Southern, like right on the edge next to Apache Junction. I love where I'm at right now just because the community and people are great. However, I'm like, I think I want to be a city guy. I would love to check out downtown Phoenix a little bit more. But everywhere I go, I tend to fall in love with it. Depends on what it's got. They've all got different stuff. I don't particularly. I think that Tempe anywhere in Tempe. I know that that's kind of controversial. I think that that would be a lot of fun though, just because of the walkability, like the access to everything that you have there and stuff. It is expensive, a little more expensive to be down there, but it's just, it's gorgeous. The city vibes. I have friends that live like in the ASU campus and it's just gorgeous. I love it over there. I think right where I am. I'm off of Cheyenne 101. I have like a little five mile bubble and everything is there. You have shopping, restaurants, schools. So I love where I am. What do you think about affordability in terms of, I guess between here and Bullhead City, although it's been a while. It's definitely more affordable to live in Bullhead City, but also you don't get a quarter of what you get here. So I think that you're definitely paying just like anywhere else. You're paying for what you get and what you're surrounded by. It's also much like dirtier there and stuff. So I think from the, you can't compare the two, but I think in Arizona in general, it's, it's cheaper. The reason I moved was for affordability. I'm always looking for a good deal and I really appreciate getting to be financially savvy in that regard. And so that helps dictate where I go, but then I'm always looking for good stuff around it. I think it is not affordable. No, I don't. I can't find a home under half a million. So when I moved here, it was definitely more affordable here than it was on the East Coast. Property taxes on the East Coast are outrageous. So I was definitely happy to see the cost of living was lower here. It was a little bit more affordable in Colorado from where we are here. But I think that that is also given to the fact that, like I said, we have a lot more access. Where we were in Colorado was a little bit more, a little bit more rural, I want to say. So a little bit less fun things and stuff like that. You're paying for the experiences and stuff ultimately, which is great. My husband's in construction and the market is definitely boomed here. It's definitely more expensive than it used to be. Certainly more than 22 years ago, but definitely more affordable in California. So I think everyone should still come here. You still get more bang for your buck. You get more square footage. You get a bigger backyard, better schools. You can go out to eat at the end of the month, right? You're not living paycheck to paycheck. So I think it's great here. On a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you in Phoenix? If it's not a 10, what would possibly make it a 10? I'm like a 9. The only thing that's keeping me from being a 10 is the fact that from here until probably September, we're going to be a little sticky and all probably smell each other, which is unfortunate. I would give it an 11. Oh, wow. I think it's great. I'm probably saying 8. I love some of the cuisine around here. Love the food, some of the areas. Maybe a little bit more community. Like I said, you have to really kind of look for those communities where maybe back at home you could just bike down the street, bike to your local pizza shop or, you know, a little easier to find it. The thing's more a little condensed there. Here it's a little more spread out. You may have to look for it a little more. That's what made. An 8, but I would like more concerts available closer to Phoenix. Like theaters. I like that theater, you know, but I would like more entertainment. I'd probably say a solid 8. You know, I've traveled. I've wearing a little bit. I've traveled a little bit. So I've seen different places. I'd probably say public transit, definitely. Cost of living can be a little cheaper, but that comes with the territory of a lot of people moving here. But I say public transit needs to definitely improve. Other than that, you know, you kind of get what you pay for here. You get sunny skies all year round. People are nice. You can't really ask for too much more. Gas prices can go down a little bit, but, you know, it is. But yeah, no, other than that, yeah, I'd probably say 8.5. I've lived in all the places. I've lived in Gobert, Queen Creek, Santan, Phoenix. I've lived in all the places, Casa Grande. And I truly think you're, if you're comparing it to other states, I've lived in probably like a 9 and just on happiness level. I think that you just can't be not happy here. It's cheaper. It's the sun makes you happy. The people are nice. I just think you're never bored. I think it's the life is good here. I would say I'm at an 8. What would make it a 10? I mean, obviously more croissants. That would be a good one. But I think what would bring it up would maybe be like, if the temperature, if we had like a new law that maxed it out 100 degrees, that would be perfect. We can, yeah, we can ask and try to get that done. I believe, yeah, everybody's up for reelection. So that'd be something we could put on the ballot. What would make you leave Phoenix? Or have you ever thought about it? I mean, you're kind of getting into your age where you might make some different life choices. Has anything ever drawn you away? Or have you ever wanted to leave? So my dad always told me this, and it was honestly really good advice. He's like, when you go somewhere along, you know, for vacation or whatever, you're going to be there and you're going to look at it with rose-tinted glasses and be like, oh, this place is the best place ever. You're having fun, whatever. You're not working there. You're not living there. You're not seeing the bad side of it. So like you're only there for two weeks. I'd say if you want to move somewhere, move there for like a year and test it out rather than just like, oh, I vacation there. Like, you know, I've been to Japan. I've been to California. Yeah, those places are great to visit. I don't know so much about living there. So like I think I'm content for right now staying here and going and visiting places because and especially moving everywhere is pack up your whole life is expensive. So I think everything right now is where it needs to be in my life to stay here. So I'd consider it maybe moving up north, Arizona, just to get some cooler weather year round. Besides that, I think that's really the only reason I'd leave. Like I said, you kind of have everything here. I mean, if we could install a beach in Phoenix, I would keep me here forever. But I do like beaches and that might be a great place to live near someday. Probably just to like see the world. But other than that, I really enjoy living here. I think it's a really fun place. And yeah, you've got a little bit of everywhere. Like I said, if I wanted the seasons changing, though, I could go up to Flagstaff, I guess, things like that. So there's, you know, different places. Arizona is beautiful, but Phoenix is Phoenix is perfect. If my kids all moved away. So we've got four kids and three of which are in college. So we're going to kind of probably follow our kids once they situate otherwise. I mean, my daughter loves Arcadia. So I mean, maybe we'll stay here. So a lot of people obviously love living in Phoenix. But in a few minutes, we're going to ask them if the Phoenix today is better than the Phoenix that they moved to originally. So would you say that Phoenix has changed a lot since you moved here? And is it good or bad? Oh, yeah. More, more people for sure. Like traffic is crazy. Gas, of course, you know how it is. When I came here, it was a dollar and I was like almost five. It's crazy. Less homeless people. OK, so I feel like the homeless people have kind of either. I don't know where they go, but they're not here anymore. I feel like a lot have dissipated and it's not as bad anymore. I feel like that is like one of the biggest changes. Besides that, the roads are getting better. It's definitely growing. This downtown Gilbert area, you know, in just the 17 years I've been here has blown up, you know, more bars, more restaurants. I think home prices are definitely more expensive, as you know. Traffic is quite heavier, but we've got two kids going to UCLA and the traffic in L.A. does not compare. So I would take traffic here any day over California. Would you recommend Phoenix? I mean, obviously being a, you know, I think it's rated at a nine. But would you recommend it to your friends and family back home? Do you ever talk with them about it? How does that conversation go? I do. My brother, every one of my family members were all from the East Coast. They one by one came here. My family tried to convince me to move here for like 15 years. And I said, nope, I'm good. I have my career. I have my family. And then one day out of nowhere, I was just prompted to come here for a job. And I got the job. So once I was here, sometimes you think it's a certain way. You don't want to leave where you're at. But once you're here, you're like, why didn't I come sooner? And I have a friend in Reno who comes to visit because she does have her son lives here. And she's always telling me, I'm telling her, you got to move here. She's like, oh my goodness, I would definitely move here. If my husband were a great, I'm still working on my husband on it. I try to get all my family to move out here because I'm like, it's so it's so nice. It's so fun. You guys could be like vacation. It's like vacation all the time, right? You get to do whatever you want out here. There's so many opportunities for everything. So who do you think might struggle sort of settling in here? If you're from those, you can find anywhere for your type of lifestyle. Maybe again, if you're like really old, maybe you can't take the heat too well, maybe stay away here during the summer. But you can find if you like a more urban area, you can go to Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe. If you like more growth spread out, you can go further away. So you can, most people can find what they're looking for somewhere. Just be careful of the weather, careful of the heat. I recommend, especially talking to my friends back in Bullhead. I'm always, I even try to convince my dad daily. I'm, I think Phoenix is a really great place. And the opportunities are truly never ending. There's an opportunity for every single person, every single niche. Once people see a picture of a saguaro cactus, that usually like seals the deal for them. They see like Looney Tunes growing up and now they're here for it. But I would say get them here in November or in March. And you've pretty much sealed the deal. This place is amazing. So if you guys are seriously considering making the move to Phoenix and enjoying these summers like my ostrich friend right here, then make sure you reach out. Our contact information is right here and down in the description below. And hey, if you guys want to know what it's been like for me living in Phoenix this past decade, I suggest you watch this video right here where I talk about the last nine years living in Phoenix.