California mom relocating to Az

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2005
California mom relocating to Az
13
Thu, 04-05-2007 - 4:03pm

I need some positive feed back regarding my move to AZ. I currently live in westlake Ca, The safest neighborhood,highest rated school district,30 miles from the beach,arts /dining,shopping, and celibrity residence, but very expensive.

My husband ,me and my 4 children live here(16,10,8 & 16 month). My husbands parents and sister live in Avondale. My husband has graet opportunity to take over dads buisiness as he will be retiring. It is also much more affordable to actually own a house and start my own business.

My husband and 2 daughters will move in summer,Me and my 11th grade son and 16month old will stay and move after my son graduadtes next year.

I have lived in Cali all my life not crazy about AZ,but trying to make the best of it. Does anyone have encouraging things to say about AZ. I have heard Scotsdalle has a good neighborhood and scholl district is that true ? What ccccity near pheonix what be comparble to where Im living now? How bad is Avondale because I really not impressed enough to stay there?

And am I doing the right thing by staying with my son ? Wouldn't it be a bad thing to send him to school in his last year? It's just going to be a finacial hardship because I think Its important for my baby to stay with me also but I will have to put him in daycare so i can work.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 04-05-2007 - 5:44pm

I'm not familiar with Westlake.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Thu, 04-05-2007 - 6:02pm

We actually moved from Arizona TO California 8 1/2 years ago. We lived quite close to the Avondale area, in the west side of Glendale. At that time, Avondale was in a 'build-up' stage.

One of the areas you may want to look at is North/East Glendale, in the Arrowhead and surrounding areas. When we left, Arrowhead and East Glendale was VERY much up and coming with nice neighborhoods, schools, malls etc. I'm afraid I don't know much about it now, but it's someplace to check out.

Scottsdale is a huge distance from Avondale (still have friends there and it is nice) and it would be a huge burden of a commute if the business your DH is to take over is on the West side of the valley. There are only two freeways that run through the Phoenix area and it wasn't pretty eight years ago during rush hour. I doubt it's changed much. The commute between Avondale and Northeast Glendale would be pretty much a straight shot west, but on surface streets.

Hope that helps.

Edited to add: As far as your DS goes, I'd probably do the same thing. Tough it out for a year and let him finish up high school where he's at. Maybe you can sell your home and move into a rental during this time to help economize.




Edited 4/5/2007 6:03 pm ET by hydrangea_blue

 

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 04-05-2007 - 6:25pm

Julie, I didn't know you had lived in Arizona.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2005
Thu, 04-05-2007 - 7:23pm
thanks for the info .Westlake is in ventura county.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2005
Thu, 04-05-2007 - 7:31pm
Thanks for the info, I thought scottsdale was only like 35 miles from Avondale ,which is the distance my husband commutes to work now. The traffic is something to consider. The buisness is contruction which the office was ran from the home of my in laws in Avondale. but now the office has moved to a trailer a believe in Tempe because they finally have a track home deal that will take 3 years then hes retiring , so actually the office will be set up pretty much wherever we want after that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2006
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 10:42pm

Can't help you with Phoenix, much, but I know I would not mind living there!

DS17 and I stayed here in MI so that he could finish HS when DH moved to VA last June. Because DH had been traveling a lot, and DS and he were not super close, I thought DS would be fine. I was wrong! Because I'm a whole lot quieter than DH, and DS is also low key, DS misses him a whole lot more than I expected. But still, I know DS never would have been happy at a totally new school 600 miles away for his senior year.

The fact that you'll have your 16-mo-old with you,too, should make things better for you. Three can still make a family, and a toddler will always keep things lively at home. I bet things will work out fine. Good luck!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Wed, 04-11-2007 - 11:22pm

Sorry I know you don't know me, but I saw your post on a link and wanted to chime in. My name is Jen and I'm the mom of a new teen and a toddler. I'm an AF wife and live in lived in Goodyear/Avondale, for quite some time. It's a cute little town. Like any town it has it's nice areas and the side you want to avoid. I left about 6 years ago, and I'm sure it's changed QUITE a bit since then. I agree with the PP though north of Avondale is much nicer. If you have to stay in the west try Litchfield Park or even further north. Being on the west side prepare for living under jet's flying over all the time. I remember signing our purchase for the house and we had to sign a paper stating that we understood there was an airbase and that we were in the flight path.

I'm interested in your comment about the trailer being in Tempe tough. That's on the opposite side of town. If the trailer is going to move regardless, maybe rent for a while and find out where you're most comforatable before buying a house.

It may only be 35 miles away but I used to live in Goodyear/Avondale and drive to downtown Phoenix for work, it could take up to an hour depending on the morning, and MORE people have moved there since then. You get used to it and learn the back roads real well. The good thing is the people that set up the town and surrounding areas were genius with road maps and streets, it's all very logical. If I remember correctly Main street is in the middle and the to the west you start at 1st Ave and go up and to the east you start at 1st St or something and go up. (does anyone remeber??) We used to joke that no matter where you had to go it took about 45 mins.

Have you asked your son what he wants to do? If he wants to stay put and you can all make it happen, at least try and see what happens, right?

Good luck in any case.

P.S. Avoid the roads by the base at 7 am and 3 pm, or you'll get stuck.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2005
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 1:39pm
Thank you for your encouraging words.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 4:07pm

Hi! I've lived in Arizona all my life and had to relocate to Pennsylvania (central) five years ago due to my husband's work. Arizona is absolutely beautiful. You will love it if you give it a chance. But, of course, the summers are HOT. But, it's a "dry" heat which it truly is. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know much about Avondale. If I'm correct, it's on the west side of Phoenix and once was a farming community? Phoenix is now the fifth largest city in the country. I grew up in Phoenix, went to college at Arizona State University in Tempe (very much a college/tech town), and married and settled in North Scottsdale. I'm chuckling because North Scottsdale, and south near Chandler is what we consider "California East" because so so many Californians have migrated to Arizona due to the cost of living. Although, you'll find that if you venture into North Phoenix, North Scottsdale, or south to Chandler, you'll find the cost of living very high as well. The lifestyle I left was extremely similar to California but without the beaches and mild, temperate weather. We traveled to California quite a bit for vacations each year. I think Californians used to call Arizona vacationers "Zonies".

I have two teenage daughters who had to move before entering the 7th and 8th grade. They handled the move well. I don't know how to answer your question regarding changing your son's school while he's a senior. I suppose it would depend on the nature of the child and his temperment. I found the school districts in Scottsdale to be excellent. You'll find a difference between Scottsale and North Scottsdale.

There is so much to see/do that it's unbelievable. The shopping, restaurants, theatre, sporting events alone will keep your family busy for years to come. Don't forget that to the south is Tucson which is still maintains its "southwestern" flair, and to the north is Sedona (red rocks), Flagstaff (snow - the Snow Bowl ski resort), and of course, the Grand Canyon.

I've found that children seem to look to their parents for clues to whether the move is a successful move or not. If you've made your decision, please go into it with a positive frame of mind and look to it as a challenge. If you feel you need to reside in Avondale, the 101 freeway will take you anywhere you want to go within minutes. You're lucky in that California is only an hour's flight away or a six hour drive. I have to handle nearly a 5 hour flight to come "home". Good-luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2005
Thu, 04-12-2007 - 4:31pm
thank you so much for all your informative information, and encouraging words

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