5 Quick Things Never Mentioned in the “MOVE TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA” Sales Brochure  

The approaching Waste Management Open signals the opening of the “Migrate to Arizona” season.  

“The People’s Open”

The PGA stop in Scottsdale, Arizona, that showcases all the splendor that is Arizona IN THE WINTER!  The telecast of this golf event to millions of viewers that are buried in snow and ice in the East and Midwest gets people movin’.

But before you pack up the Country Squire and go West young man, allow me to share 5 things you may not have considered…

#1 The Weather

Of course, it’s hot, and “it’s a dry heat” is right, until it’s not right, but consider what the brochure leaves out…

• Summer Monsoons & Violent Rain Storms – wind, blinding rain, flash-floods.
• Humidity – not East coast nasty, but when the humidity is +/- 10% normally, it gets ugly.
• Flooding Roads – flash floods are common.
• Haboobs – tornado-like dust storms that darken the sky. 
• Microbursts – a down blast of air that can cause comparable, and in some cases, worse damage than some tornadoes.
• All Things Plastic are doomed – This arid climate sucks the moisture out of EVERYTHING!

#2 Your Vehicle and Traffic

• Your car windshield…will be bombarded by a constant barrage of rocks, gravel and random debris flying from construction vehicles and way too big dump trucks and over-filled trash trucks.
• Your car tires…every loose nail, screw, and metal shard will find a way to embed itself into your tire.
• Traffic is brutal…Road construction is everywhere
  • Freeways are being widened and paradoxically, that means some freeway lanes close down during the construction.
  • Side streets are being “improved” causing more lane closures thereby pinching traffic into a smaller space.
  • Backups through traffic lights and intersections, gridlock.
• Auto Accidents…Arizona is a tourist and “snowbird” destination.
  • Drivers not familiar with the roads and having generally no idea where they are going cause accidents.
  • Accidents snarl traffic causing delays.
  • The frequency of auto accidents raises auto insurance rates.
  • Arizona drivers typically pay around 4 percent more per year for full coverage auto insurance than the national average, at $2,744 annually.

#3 It’s Expensive

• Arizona’s minimum wage on January 1, 2025 increased to $14.70 per hour (up from $14.35).
• The federal minimum wage is $7.25. The higher minimum wage demands goods and services to be priced higher as an offset to the higher wage.
• Here is a quick guide to the minimum wage for our neighboring states…
  • California………$16.50
  • Colorado……….$14.81
  • Nevada…………….$12.00
  • New Mexico…$12.00
  • Utah……………………$7.25

#4 No “Home Team Advantage”

• 60% of Arizona residents were born outside of Arizona. Arizona has transplants from all over the country and the world.
• Every professional sports team in Arizona is an expansion team (including the Suns!). I have always felt pro sports came to the desert simply so transplants can cheer their favorite hometown teams.
• Phoenix in particular does not have a unique identity. Phoenix is the 5th most populous city in the United states and other than heat, I cannot point to anything that makes Phoenix special.

#5 Phoenix is Isolated!

• Phoenix is at the minimum an hour and a half drive to next nearest city.
  • 90 minutes south to Tucson
  • 90 minutes north to Flagstaff
  • 4 hours west to Palm Springs
• ..and even after those drives, you’re still only in Tucson, Flagstaff, or Palm Springs!
• Sure, you can fly to more far-reaching destinations, but for me, the expense is too much.

So…

While the allure of Phoenix, Arizona, shines brightly during the Waste Management Open and the mild winter months, life here comes with its fair share of surprises.

From the constant assault on your car to the unforgiving heat and unexpected expenses, the reality of desert living might not be as picturesque as a golf course on a crisp February day.

Before making the leap, take time to consider these factors carefully—because the last thing you want is to trade one set of challenges for another you never saw coming. Arizona has its unique charm, but it’s not for everyone.

…You call the ball!