FC Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 No job yet, so I'm just working on the house and our antiques business. Wife didn't want me to take the Oklahoma job, though I wanted to, so I said no. They couldn't make up their minds who to hire anyway. A head hunter called me about a very good paying job 90 miles east of Phoenix, and I'm not letting this one go if I get an offer. Yeah, the logistics will be a pain, but this good of pay doesn't come one's way every day. It was darned hot and humid today. I worked outside most of the day. Repairing the fence the heat got to me, and I ache pretty bad. It's not even the really hot time of the year yet. Still, gets so sticky that I have to change clothes up to three times a day if I'm working outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Tony 90 miles east of Phoenix is a nice area. Can you be more specific as to the name of the town or neighborhood. I'll get you as much info about the area as possible. Seems to me I did hear something of a satellite VA facility going up in that neck of the woods. If you take the job, are willing to drive half-way or about 45 miles. Lunch or dinner on my dime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted May 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Globe. I don't like VA anymore, and won't work for them unless they change my mind for the better. WIth tiny towns it's going to be a challenge with three dogs and not buying a house. I thought about RV, but there's no RV parks I'm seeing right now that aren't rated mediocre. The crime rate in Superior, Miami, and Globe is rated an "F". I don't know why? Thank you for the offer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Crime is going to be from the extreme poverty from The Res, I would think. Seems to me that I've been through Globe before. Maybe 25 years ago. Is that up in the mountains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 FC. If heat bothers you in NC, you do NOT want the South West. 100 was not unusual and the Hippy held an umbrella while I dug trenches for our water system at 115. You cannot go anywhere without a bottle of water. If you do buy a home in the SW, you had best make sure that you have good air con. Now having posted that, It must be said that, except for the nose getting a bit dry from time to time, I liked the heat. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 The Globe/Miami area used to be thriving mining towns. Strikes, the price of copper falling due to several factors including foreign competition and the elimination of the copper penny led to its demise. To the best of my knowledge, mines are closed and the town is dieing. I'll look into it and let you know more as I find out. Temperatures in Globe are milder than Phx. due to its elevation. Doc I've heard a few horror stories from the area. Weekend Harley people crossing paths with biker gangs and losing their bikes to thieves. Just something I was told years ago by a former postal patron. His brother was a forest ranger in the area and occasionally found stripped Harleys. Just got off the phone with a friend familiar wit the area. The current economy is dependent on retiree pensions and tourism. A working copper smelter only employs about 200 or less. He claimed it is a popular place for meth labs. He did say houses are low cost compared to Phx and the burbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted May 21, 2015 Report Share Posted May 21, 2015 Well, I think it was probably 1987 when we rode through there. We were in Phoenix or Tuscon at 9:30AM and it was 110F already. I looked at the map and said "There's mountains this way, it's got to be cooler." So that's where we went. It cooled right off once we got up in the mountains. It wasn't bad at all up there. Copper came out of the pennies in '83, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted May 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 Humidity and no breeze will eat your lunch in the south. Go north and freeze (wife doesn't want that), or go south and keep cool. Working outside with no breeze in the 90s isn't good for the body. 105 in Wichita Falls, TX was like an oven, and you could get dehydrated in a hurry, but in the humid Gulf Coast you can't sweat and cool down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 If you can afford it do as many in Arizona do. Spend their summers up north in the mountains then come down south into the desert in the winter. In the extreme are the out of state and Canadian snowbirds. They flock into Arizona in the winter months and head back to their home state as soon as temps here creep into the 80's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted May 22, 2015 Report Share Posted May 22, 2015 Snowbirds..we have a lot of them here. If you can afford it, Az has a very good point. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 Karl don't you just love the way snowbirds drive especially the ones that do 35 in the left lane of the freeway. Wyoming snowbirds just the opposite, they'll drive 75 in the city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted May 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 AZ, if I ever get to Phoenix again I need to go to that mom and pop diner not far from the airport. That was a great place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 The problem that I have with snowbirds is that there are too many of them. I know that this will sound strange, I am from brooklyn after all, but you get used to the politeness of the people of the South and when one bumps into you and does not say excuse me...it gets annoying. That and while this place has golf courses up the butt, it does not have a rifle range. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken98k Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 while this place has golf courses up the butt, it does not have a rifle range. karl Sounds like a business opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted May 23, 2015 Report Share Posted May 23, 2015 A concept that I am thinking about is picking up a few acres, land is cheap away from the Villages, and the law does allow ranges on pvt land. The Hippy is starting to come around as well. While she likes this small house 2/2 far better then the large one we had when we first moved here; she would like more land to plant her gardens and trees on. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 AZ, if I ever get to Phoenix again I need to go to that mom and pop diner not far from the airport. That was a great place! If we're thinking of the same place. Do not go into that area after dark. I'm pretty sure it closes early about 6:00 PM. Most its business is the lunch crowd from the downtown area. Interesting crowd gathers there. When it is busy you have to share your table. It is not unusual to see a professional in a suit and tie sharing his table with a guy in a work uniform. I really love their swiss steak and the pork chops are just like mom made. I always have to have their lumpy mashed potatoes smothered in artery clogging gravy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Karl you would indeed be very wise buying land. I'm sure you remember the Will Roger's slogan. Buy land cause they ain't making any more of it. I gave up any claims to land I owned with X-wife. I couldn't afford to combat her dad's powerhouse law firm. I didn't think the land would be valuable in my lifetime and the owner of an adjacent lot was going to use it for a junk yard. My former father in law got the county to change the zoning to stop the junk yard and my last time through there. It is ranch type horse property and appears to now have electricity. Lots that are zoned for livestock in or close to the city are worth mega bucks to horse loving yuppies. I heard my X is also getting a nice chunk of change paid annually by El Peso Gas for the right to run a natural gas mainline through her lot. X also owned a lot that wasn't considered community property because she owned it prior to marriage. Didn't make any difference I paid the taxes on it for 5 or 6 years. The lot is now medical offices. Not sure if she sold it or is leasing. Sorry I started keyboard rambling again!! Anyhow Karl before you put any money down on land you have to look into water and electricity. In Arizona soil has to be tested and approved by either the state or county to be certain it is suitable for a septic tank before one can build living quarters. If you have to haul water in. A garden might cost mega bucks to maintain. It is always a crap shoot digging a well paying a driller by the foot. Rural neighbors can't be trusted to give truthful details on the depth of their wells or the cost to get the land electrified. They will usually exaggerate not wanting new neighbors. On the other hand there could possibly be a community well you can buy into but there is always the chance somebody wanting their solitude black-balling another line hooked up. If you have to travel on a dirt road to get to a lot. You need to find out of the road is maintained by a govt agency. If a road was built and maintained by a rock quarry or mine for instance. What happens to the road after the business closes down or moves. Some but not all real bad apple real estate sales people in my opinion and experience. Like car salesman will tell you everything you want to hear vocally. If one claims you can get electricity to your lot for 10 grand. Ask them to put it in writing as a contingency in the sales contract to test their veracity. Anyhow before I start rambling away again!! Do the research before investing into land. Don't be discouraged the ideal lot you're after is out there. Just as Teddy said. Walk softly but carry a big stick before dumping your life savings into what could be as Mark Cuban says "a future money suck". I'll shut up for now as my dog is begging for a walk around the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlunity Posted May 24, 2015 Report Share Posted May 24, 2015 Very good points and much worth considering. Thanks Az. karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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