RF Generation Message Board

My wife and I have the ability to transfer to the Phoenix area for her job as she works with a major hospital system that is in the area. I have questions that maybe some Arizona residents could help answer.

I have great interest in working in the alternative energy field and Arizona appears to be a state that is very into solar am I correct? Are any of these power plants close to Phoenix?

I've been looking at housing in the area and I am wondering what areas I should stay away from.

I'm sure Ill eventually think of more.

There are a lot of solar companies around. How the job field is for those I couldn't tell you. The is the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station here also. What hospital is she looking to transfer to? If you need a realtor fo rout here let me know. The guy I used to sell one of my houses and buy my current house is a nice guy.

Sunscreen and shorts.

Sunglasses also.

Yeah the solar energy field is a dream job for me. The reality of it is my companies headquarters (U-haul) is also in Phoenix and I would likely find a job there. My wife would be transferring to Mayo. I'm not sure if we would buy or rent right away but I'll keep the realtor in mind since I know absolutely nobody down there.

Mayo in Scottsdale is 15-20 minutes from my house. I think my realtor can help you find a house to rent also unless you are looking at apartments.

It would be cool to have a local RF Gener for once. We would likely look for a place that is close to Mayo so probably in the Scottsdale area. I am sold on the idea and am ready to move whenever but my wife isn't as receptive to the idea of a new adventure as I am.

Tyns part of AZ is awesome. I certainly wouldn't mind living there.
Hopefully everything pans out for you guys.

If you need a place to stay while looking for a place I can ask the wife it that would be OK. But be warned I have 5 dogs, 4 birds and a cat.

My wife has decided that she doesn't want to transfer at this time. Although it's still not out of the question.

Booooo!

I thought that I would bump this as we are once again looking into Phoenix. My wife is finally ready for something new (I've been ready for years). A few questions. What does your water bill run? How about electric in summer? Having never lived in a large city where could we live that would be a reasonable commute to Mayo? Say about 30 min or less.

Water bill really depends on what is in your yard and if you have a pool. Electric bill REALLY REALLY REALLY depends on the house size. Two floors vs one. Do you have a pool. How old is the A/C are the windows newer. Vaulted ceilings. Mayo in Scottsdale? Really depends on budget. You could be close but need lots of money for a house in Scottsdale. You could also be in North Phoenix for a good price. A year ago would of been a much better time to buy here. Houses have been going up steadily for a few years now. I bought my house 4 year ago in April and it has almost doubled in value.

If you want to call to ask me anything let me know. I have a realtor that I like I could refer you to.

I saw that the home prices are crazy! At least they are compared to my hometown. We will probably rent for a year to get a feel for the area. The places we have been looking at renting are part of an HOA so the pool isn't really a concern. We aren't looking to have any plants to water until we own a home again. We are leaving the Midwest behind and never plan on having grass down there to water or care for. My wife might also possibly be working at the Mayo Arrowhead campus, it really depends on which one she can find work at first. 

I'm fairly certain that you get a discount for having a desert-friendly yard (i.e. zero-scaping). Living in a two-story house myself, the electricity bill definitely depends on whether or not you have a 2-story place, and whether or not it has multiple AC units (to compensate for the top-floor cooling). The difference in having 1 AC unit for downstairs vs 2 AC units for upstairs and downstairs is staggering (~$200/mo difference).

If she is at the AZ campus that is about a mile from my house I think. I have a 2 story house and my electric bill can me 400 in the summer. But my AC units are 25 years old. I am actually starting to call around to get some people to come out and give me quotes for new ones.

$375/mo with new AC units, 2 fridges, and running the house at ~75F for both up and downstairs. We could reduce that some more, but that's what I've been averaging lately.

Wow, that's some big money spent running the AC. I guess though that's not much different than our winter costs running the furnace and then we still have to run the AC all summer here as well. When its all said and done I guess I'm not to worried about cost. We are doing this for a life change. We only live once and spending our lives in the same town or area is mind numbing to us.

Electricity costs tend to top out around $500 here in Florida during the summer if you want to be fairly comfortable, but Arizona's not as bad - the humidity doesn't kill you there.

We keep are house around 80 during the summer. That sounds terrible but when it is 110 outside 80 isn't that bad.

Sweet heavens to Betsy. My apt stays at 68 in the summer. I'd die.

When you're used to 90+ degree heat, 80 is a godsend.

If I had an apartment it would be a lot cooler. But I have a two story house with vaulted ceilings in part of the house. I dont think my AC could get my house to 68. If I did my electric bill would be 700-1000 dollars is my guess. Another good thing is there is no humidity.

Running the house at 72 degrees for me costs ~$600 in the summer - no vaulted ceilings though. My roommate had my AC upstairs at 68 at one point, and the AC unit froze over because it was constantly running.

Gotcha. Yeah, here in the southeast, we definitely deal with some pretty intense humidity. That's certainly a factor. We do not, however, face 110 degree temperatures very frequently

Your utility bills are scary! My highest bill last year was $200 and that's for gas and electric in a 2400 sq ft home.

For comparison, 3600 sq. ft. 2-story with a badly calibrated upstairs AC.

My house is about 2700 sq. ft 2 story with vaulted ceilings and a 25 year old AC systems. My cousin has a 1000 sq. ft condo and keeps it at 68 degrees and only pays 100-150. So like I said it really depends on the house.

We keep it at 68 in the summer.  Hey Barracuda, you have a fellow RF Genner right down the road!  If West Allis counts.